Potential ecotoxic effects probe (PEEP): A novel index to assess and compare the toxic potential of industrial effluents

Abstract

An index allowing the assessment and comparison of the toxic potential of industrial effluents is described. Integrating the results of practical small‐scale screening bioassays (Photobacterium phosphoreum Microtox® test. Selenastrum capricornutum growth inhibition microtest, Ceriodaphnia dubia lethality and reproduction inhibition tests, Escherichia coli genotoxicity SOS Chromotest), this index takes into account persistence of toxicity, (multi) specificity of toxic impact, as well as effluent flow. The resulting Potential Ecotoxic Effects Probe (PEEP) index number is reflected by a log10 value that varies from 0 to infinity but normally will not surpass a value of 10. The structure of the mathematical formula generating PEEP values is simple and “user friendly” in that it can accommodate numbers and types of bioassays to fit particular needs. Thirty‐seven effluents from 8 industrial sectors (pulp and paper, petroleum refining, inorganic/organic chemical production, mining, metallurgy, metal plating, textile production) were appraised and compared with the proposed PEEP scale. The pulp and paper sector effluents (n = 15) markedly stood out from the others owing to their greater toxicity and higher discharge volume, with reported PEEP values lying between 4.4 and 7.5. For most of these effluents, toxicity was found to be persistent, multitrophic (i.e., affecting our bacterial, algal, and crustacean bioindicators), and it expressed itself at all levels of assessment (i.e., lethal, acute sublethal, chronic sublethal, and genotoxic levels). The usefulness of the PEEP index in the environmental management of industrial effluent toxicity is discussed herein. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Chemical speciation and toxicity of metals assessed by three bioluminescence‐based assays using marine organisms

“…Hence, toxicity measurements are usually performed by quantifying the alteration of given biological characteristics (e.g., gene expression, enzyme functionality, fertilization efficiency, growth, behavior) upon exposure to known added concentrations of a specific substance. Change in a biological characteristic is then considered a reflection of an adverse effect of the substance, with the observed changes possibly integrating toxicity that is occurring at various levels of biological complexity, from the genetic to the molecular, cellular, tissue, and organismal levels (Costan et al, 1993;Clark, 1997;Kennish, 1997). Biomonitoring programs use a battery of bioassays to screen such a variety of routes of contamination, involving a diversity of organisms (bacteria, crustaceans, bivalves, fishs), possibly at different stages of development (embryo, larvae, adult).…”

Toxicological risk assessment of complex mixtures through the Wtox model

“…Other researchers have proposed methodologies for risk assessments or environmental hazard of complex mixtures that resemble WTox Model for using the information resulting of batteries of toxicological tests, and integrate these results, classifying the risk or hazard levels (Tigini et al, 2011;Piva et al;Constan et al 1993). Tigini et al (2011) have proposed a methodology for assessing toxicity, genotoxicity and environmental risk from the textile industry waste.…”

“…A methodology that can also be compared with WTox Model is the one designed by Constan (1993), called PEEP Index (Potential Ecotoxic Effects Probe). This index is used to evaluate and compare the ecotoxic potential of effluents and industrial waste.…”

Toxicological Evaluation for the Hazard Assessment of Tire Crumb for Use in Public Playgrounds

“…In all instances except one, the PEEP index was determined to be less than 3, which is considered acceptable by Environment Canada. 17 In the case of the schoolyard material, which was freshly installed and kept in place for three months, the PEEP index was only marginally greater than 3 (3.2). With further aging in place or treatment before installation, this value should drop below 3.…”