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Comparative Toxicology of Laboratory Organisms for Assessing Hazardous Waste Sites¹

ABSTRACT

Multi-media/multi-trophic level bioassays have been proposed to determine the extent and severity of environmental contamination at hazardous waste sites. Comparative toxicological profiles for algae (Selenastrum capricornutum), daphnia (Daphnia magna), earthworms (Eisenia foetida), microbes (Photobacterium fisherii, mixed sewage microorganisms) and plants; wheat "Stephens," (Triticum aestivum), lettuce, butter crunch, (Lactuca sativa L.), radish, "Cherry Belle," (Raphanus sativa L.), red clover, "Kenland," (Trifolium pratense L.) and cucumber, "Spartan Valor," (Cucumis sativa L.) are presented for selected heavy metals, herbicides and insecticides. Specific chemical EC₅₀ values are presented for each test organism. Differences in standard deviations were compared between each individual test organism, as well as for the chemical subgroup assayed. Algae and daphnia are the most sensitive test organisms to heavy metals and insecticides followed in order of decreasing sensitivity by Microtox (Photobacterium fisherii), DO depletion rate, seed germination and earthworms. Higher plants were most sensitive to 2,4-D, (2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid) followed by algae, Microtox, daphnia and earthworms. Differences in toxicity of 2,4-D chemical formulations and commercial sources of insecticides were observed with algae and daphnia tests.

Key Words: comparative toxicology • heavy metals • hazardous waste • complex chemical mixtures

¹ Contribution of the Hazardous Waste Assessment Team, U.S. EPA, Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR 97333.

² Research staff members, Hazardous Waste Assessment Team, Corvallis Environmental Research Laboratory, Corvallis, OR.

Received for publication January 9, 1985.