Ecotoxicological assessment of industrial wastewaters in Trancão River Basin (Portugal).
It is important to assess the toxicity of complex effluents, since chemical evaluation alone is insufficient to protect the environment. Direct Toxicity Assessment is valuable in the decision process regarding the final disposal of complex wastewaters as it measures the total effects of the discharge, because of its known and unknown chemicals, additionally having some degree of ecological relevance. In Portugal, ecotoxicity tests are not used on a regular basis to control wastewaters. So, an integrated ecotoxicological, physical, and chemical study of wastewaters from 17 industries, in the Trancão River Basin, was carried out viewing proposing a test battery to be used in wastewater evaluation. An approach which does not include an ecotoxicological characterization may not properly evaluate the potential risks of effluent discharges, especially when they are complex. From the study carried out the use of a battery of assays to apply in the monitoring of complex wastewaters was proposed, including Microtox test, Daphnia test, and an algal test. Moreover, the added value of the ecotoxicological assessment of industrial wastewaters was demonstrated and could support the implementation of EU Directives (e.g. IPPC, WFD) within the Portuguese situation.
Picado
Ana
A
INETI, Estrada Paço Lumiar, Lisboa 1649-038, Portugal. ana.picado@ineti.pt
Mendonça
Elsa
E
Silva
Luís
L
Paixão
Susana M
SM
Brito
Fátima
F
Cunha
Maria Ana
MA
Leitão
Sara
S
Moura
Isabel
I
Hernan
Robert
R
D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D056890:Eukaryota; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D008670:Metals / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D011174:Portugal; D025341:Principal Component Analysis; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D014877:Water Pollution, Chemical
D007220:Industrial Waste; D008670:Metals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical