Abstract
The present paper aims to evaluate the toxic effects generated by conventional treated mine water as well as freshwater samples (Macris river) on primary producers (green algae, Selenastrum capricornutum) and primary consumers (planktonic crustaceans, Daphnia magna). Those organisms could be very realiable biological models to assess the toxic effect of mine waters on the environment. The green algae growth inhibition test (performed according to OECD201) and the acute immobilization test of freshwater crustaceans (Daphnia magna) (performed according to OECD 202) showed no growth inhibition or Daphnia magna immobilization / mortality during 72h and 48h incubation in presence of surface water samples from Macris river. The aqueous system with 1.89 g/L sulphate ion (SO42-) concentration, containing treated mine water mixed with freshwater sample (ratio 2.4:1), generated 100% toxic effect on crustaceans (Daphnia magna) after 48h incubation.
Highlights
The present paper aims to evaluate the toxic effects generated by conventional treated mine water as well as freshwater samples (Macris river) on primary producers and primary consumers
The bioassays have been designed in order to have an extensive repertoire of responses when they are exposed to specific stressors [1, 2]
Comparative acute toxicity studies using conventional biological models and alternative toxicity tests showed similar sensitivity, which leads to the hypothesis that microbiotests are cost-effective and a valid alternative for assessing the toxic effects generated by chemical compounds / pollutants [4-8]
Summary
The present paper aims to evaluate the toxic effects generated by conventional treated mine water as well as freshwater samples (Macris river) on primary producers (green algae, Selenastrum capricornutum) and primary consumers (planktonic crustaceans, Daphnia magna). Those organisms could be very realiable biological models to assess the toxic effect of mine waters on the environment. The assessment of the toxic effects generated by a simulated mixture of conventionally treated mine water and surface water from Macris river as well as Macris river water (upstream of mine water confluence) was performed on two biological models belonging to two trophic levels, primary producers (green algae, Selenastrum capricornutum) and primary consumers (planktonic crustaceans, Daphnia magna), given that nowadays the mine water is discharged untreated into the Macris freshwater system. MBT Regetox 2.0 software (Microbiotests Inc., Belgium) was used for experimental data interpretation
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