In situ toxicity evaluations of turbidity and photoinduction of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are prevalent pollutants in the aquatic environment that can cause a wide range of toxic effects. Earlier studies have shown that toxicity of PAHs can be enhanced by ultraviolet (UV) radiation. In situ and laboratory exposures with Ceriodaphnia dubia were used to evaluate photoinduced toxicity of PAHs in wet-weather runoff and in turbid conditions. Exposure to UV increased the toxicity of PAH-contaminated sediment to C. dubia. Toxicity was removed when UV wavelengths did not penetrate the water column to the exposed organisms. A significant correlation was observed between in situ C. dubia survival and turbidity when organisms were exposed to sunlight. Stormwater runoff samples exhibited an increase in chronic toxicity (reproduction) to C. dubia when exposed to UV wavelengths as compared to C. dubia not exposed to UV wavelengths. Toxicity was reduced significantly in the presence of UV radiation when the organic fraction of stormwater runoff was removed. The PAHs are bound to the sediment and resuspended into the water column once the sediment is disturbed (e.g., during a storm). The in situ and laboratory results showed that photoinduced toxicity occurred frequently during low flow conditions and wet weather runoff and was reduced in turbid conditions.

Behavioral and histopathological effects of fluoranthene on bullfrog larvae (Rana catesbeiana)

“…Both behavioral and histopathological endpoints provide evidence that fluoranthene exposure in conjunction with SUVR can have detrimental effects at concentrations below water solubility. In particular, the concentrations that caused adverse effects in this study are within the range of PAH concentrations found in stormwater runoff and at the Little Scioto River in Marion County, Ohio, USA [16,42]. Thus, it appears that in some locations the photoinduced toxicity of fluoranthene may be of concern for larval amphibians.…”

Do amphipods have the same concentration‐response to contaminated sediment in situ as in vitro?

“…Mortalities of embryos and larvae of four species of fish exposed to water with different pH were similar in laboratory and in situ exposures [33]. We are not aware of any studies that have reported higher toxicological sensitivity for in situ exposures relative to in vitro, with the exception of UV light-related photoactivation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) toxicity [34]. The photoactivation of PAH toxicity by UV light has been demonstrated to cause marked increases in toxicity in aquatic organisms [35] and in sediment-associated species [36] and represents a major area where laboratory tests may markedly underestimate in situ toxicity.…”

Optimization of in Situ Bioassays With Hyalella Azteca and Chironomus Tentans

“…In situ chambers were modified from a design by Ireland et al [25]. Chambers were constructed from clear tubing (extruded from Eastman Tenite Butyrate, Consolidated Plastics, Twinsburg, OH, USA) with a wall thickness of 0.08 cm.…”

“…Recently we developed methods for the use of C. dubia, P. promelas, H. azteca, and C. tentans in field (in situ) exposures [2,3,[24][25][26]. These studies have shown that in situ toxicity responses of C. dubia, P. promelas, and H. azteca over periods of 2 to 7 d provide an effective means of assessing both receiving water and sediment quality, with results frequently differing from laboratory responses.…”