Abstract
Several experiments were designed to examine the acute toxicity of surfactants toDaphnia. Specific tests were designed to develop comparisons between existing acute toxicity data for fish and similar data forDaphnia, and to provide data on the effects of various environmental factors on resultant toxicity of surfactants toDaphnia.
Acute toxicity data for a series of homologous linear alkyl benzene sulfonates (LAS) demonstrate increases of up to one order of magnitude in toxicity for each increase of two alkyl carbons. LC 50's obtained withDaphnia magna are similar to those obtained with bluegills,L. Macrochirus. Comparative tests withD. magna andD. pulex indicate no statistical differences in 48-hr LC 50 values for three anionic and two nonionic surfactants. A 50 mg/L concentration of suspended, naturally-occurring kaolin significantly reduced the toxicity of longer chain length LAS homologs and had no effect on nonionic surfactant toxicity.
In tests with variable hardness concentrations, the acute toxicity of LAS toD. magna is a combined function of both culture and test water hardness. The toxicity of a nonionic surfactant toD. magna was higher in soft water and was not affected by culture water hardness levels.
Unlike previously published data for fish, the results of acute toxicity tests withD. magna cultures previously exposed to 0.4 mg/L LAS for periods up to seven generations indicated no significant difference in LAS susceptibility compared to simultaneously tested unexposed controls.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Abel, P.D: Toxicity of synthetic detergents to fish and aquatic invertebrates. J. Fish Biol.6, 279 (1974).
A. D. Little, Inc: Human safety and environmental aspects of major surfactants. (1977).
American Public Health Association: Standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 13 ed. APHA, AWWA, Water Pollution Control Federation, 1015 18th St., N. W., Washington, D. C. (1971).
Brooks, J. L: The systematics of North AmericanDaphnia. Mem. Conn. Acad. Arts Sci.13, (1957).
Buikema, A. L., D. R. Lee, and J. Cairns, Jr.: A screening bioassay usingDaphnia pulex for refinery wastes discharged into freshwater. J. Testing and Evaluation.4, 119 (1976).
Canton, J. H., and D. M. M. Adema: Reproducibility of short-term and reproduction toxicity experimentswith Daphnia magna and comparison of the sensitivity ofDaphnia magna withDaphnia pulex andDaphnia cucullata in short-term experiments. Hydrobiologia.59, 135 (1978).
Eisler, R: Some effects of synthetic detergents on estuarine fish. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.94, 26 (1965).
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Methods for acute toxicity tests with fish, macroinverte-brates, and amphibians. EPA-660/3-75-009 Washington, D.C. (1975).
Finney, D. J.: Probit analysis. London:Cambridge University Press. (1971).
Henderson, C., Q. H. Pickering, and I. M. Cohen: The toxicity of synthetic detergents and soaps to fish. Sew. Ind. Wastes31, 295 (1959).
Herbert, D. W. M., G. H. J. Elkins, H. T. Mann, and J. Hemens: Toxicity of synthetic detergents to rainbow trout. Water Waste Treat. J.6, 394 (1957).
Hokanson, J. E. F., and L. L. Smith: Some factors influencing the toxicity of LAS to the bluegill. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.100, 1 (1971).
Lemke, A. E., and D. I. Mount: Some effects of alkyl benzene sulphonate on the bluegill,L. macrochirus. Trans. Am. Fish. Soc.92, 373 (1963).
Swedmark, M., B. Braaten, E. Amanuelsson, and A. Granmo: Biological effects of surface-active agents on marine animals. Mar. Biol.9, 183 (1971).
Tovell, P. W. A., C. Newsome, and D. Howes: Effect of water hardness on the toxicity of an anionic detergent to fish. Water Res.8, 291 (1974).
: Effect of water hardness on the toxicity of a nonionic detergent to fish. Water Res.9, 31 (1975).
Winner, R. W., and M. P. Farrell: Acute and chronic toxicity of copper to four species ofDaphnia. J. Fish. Res. Board Can.33, 1685 (1976).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Maki, A.W., Bishop, W.E. Acute toxicity studies of surfactants toDaphnia magna andDaphnia pulex . Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 8, 599–612 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055040
Received:
Revised:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01055040