title: Sublethal Effects of Chlorine-Free Kraft Mill Effluents on Daphnia magna.
abstract: The implementation of elemental chlorine-free (ECF) bleaching methods has drastically reduced the aquatic toxicity of Kraft mill effluents during the last decade. However, the residual toxicity of Kraft mill effluents is still a potential concern for the environment, even when subjected to secondary wastewater treatment. The aim of this study is characterize potential sublethal effects of ECF Kraft mill effluents using Daphnia magna as model species. D. magna exposed towards increasing concentration of ECF Kraft mill effluent showed a significant, dose-dependent reduction in feeding. Conversely, post-feeding assay, life history, and allometric growth analyses showed stimulatory, rather than inhibitory effects in exposed animals at low concentrations, while high concentrations of ECF Kraft mill effluents reduced their reproductive output. These results suggest a hormetic effect in which moderate concentrations of the effluent had a stimulatory effect with higher concentrations causing inhibition in some variables.
authors.affiliation: Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Soledad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chamorro
authors.affiliation: Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: López
authors.affiliation: Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Pablina
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile.
authors.forename: Mayra
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jarpa
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research, Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Piña
authors.affiliation: Engineering and Environmental Biotechnology Group, Environmental Science Faculty and Center EULA-Chile, University of Concepción, P.O. Box 160-C, Concepción, Chile. glvidal@udec.cl.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vidal
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D003621:Daphnia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000187:drug effects*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Allometric growth rate; Daphnia magna; Feeding assay; Kraft mill effluent