title: Toxicity evaluation of waters from a tributary of the River Po using the 7-Day Ceriodaphnia dubia test.
abstract: Seven-day toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia were used to assess ambient water toxicity in the River Lambro, a tributary of the River Po, and in the corresponding stretch of the main river located downstream from their confluence. About once a month, toxicity tests were conducted on water samples of the River Lambro, using as dilution water the water of the main river collected upstream from the confluence. With a lower frequency, the downstream stretch of the River Po was tested for ambient toxicity at four sites located at 6, 11, 16, and 21 km from the emission of the tributary. The River Lambro demonstrated variable toxicity in different time periods, although the most frequent effects were sublethal, on both reproduction and growth. Ammonia, nickel, and zinc can be indicated as possible toxicants. Acute toxic effects to C. dubia were observed with spring samples only, when the action of some pesticides, likely insecticides, have to be taken into account. Tests conducted on downstream water gave limited results, seemingly because the dilution capacity of the River Po reduced Lambro toxicity to a level close to and often below the detection limit of the 7-day test. Accordingly, toxic effects at downstream sites could only be observed on the growth of C. dubia, which was found to be the most sensitive endpoint. Fairly good agreement was found between predictions based on toxicity tests of the River Lambro and the effects observed for downstream samples.
authors.affiliation: Water Research Institute, CNR, Brugherio (Milan), 20047, Italy.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Viganò
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Garino
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D005618:Fresh Water / Q000032:analysis; D007558:Italy; D009532:Nickel / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D010575:Pesticides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014481:United States; D014484:United States Environmental Protection Agency; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity*; D015032:Zinc / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D010575:Pesticides; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000641:Ammonia; D009532:Nickel; D015032:Zinc