Acute and Chronic Toxicity of Fluoranthene, With and Without Additional Ultraviolet Light, to Twelve Species of Freshwater Organisms

Abstract

The Environmental Health Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin­ Superior (UW-S) conducted tests to complete the freshwater data set to derive the national water quality criteria for the compound fluoranthene. The tests were conducted under normal light conditions, then repeated with additional ultraviolet (UV) light to compare the effect of photoactivation on the toxicity of fluoranthene. The tests were the eight acute tests specified in the "Guidelines for deriving numerical national water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic organisms and their uses" (Stephan, et al. 1985). Acute tests were also run with two plants, hydra and a second benthic species. The guidelines require three chronic tests to derive a chronic criterion. Two chronic tests were conducted with freshwater species sensitive to fluoranthene. The third chronic test must be conducted with a saltwater species if both fresh and saltwater criteria are to be developed.