title: Toxicology evaluation of Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plant effluent.
abstract: The purpose of this study was to carry out an acute aquatic toxicity assessment on select effluent samples from Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plants. Raw effluent acute aquatic toxicity for the flatfish and salmon effluents was assessed using the acute lethality test and Microtox test. The effectiveness of dissolved air flotation treatment (DAF) in removing acute toxicity from these effluents was evaluated using the Microtox test. The salmon effluent failed the acute lethality test using rainbow trout while the flatfish effluent showed acute toxicity in the Microtox test with a 50% inhibiting concentration (IC(50)) of 38.84%. Subsequent treatment by DAF of the flatfish and salmon effluents increased IC(50) values by 20% and 26% respectively. The findings of this study indicate that all of the processing effluents sampled showed characteristics that could potentially degrade effluent receiving waters and acute toxicity was demonstrated in the two raw finfish effluents. Application of DAF treatment was successful in significantly increasing Microtox IC(50) values, thereby reducing acute toxicity, but failed to entirely remove acute toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil & Resources Engineering, Center of Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3J 1Z1.
authors.forename: Bryan Lee
authors.initials: BL
authors.lastname: Jamieson
authors.forename: Alex Augusto
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Gonçalves
authors.forename: Graham A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Gagnon
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D001267:Atlantic Ocean; D002170:Canada; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D019649:Food Industry; D007220:Industrial Waste / Q000032:analysis*; D012037:Refuse Disposal / Q000379:methods*; D017747:Seafood; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute; D014873:Water Pollutants / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D007220:Industrial Waste; D014873:Water Pollutants