Deriving site-specific water quality criteria for ammonia from national versus international toxicity data

Abstract Bisphenol A (BPA) is an environmental estrogen that occurs widely in the aquatic environment and causes feminization to various species, including fishes and gastropods. This study aims to develop the water quality criteria for BPA in the marine environment using the species sensitivity distribution (SSD) methodology from a scientific basis. Both acute and chronic toxicity data tested with saltwater species resident to China were collected. Additional tests were conducted to supplement toxicity data with local saltwater biota, including mollusk (Ruditapes philippinarum) and fish species (Scophthalmus maximus and Pagrosomus major). Based on SSD modelling, the criterion maximum concentration of BPA was estimated to be 273 μg/L. The criterion continuous concentration (CCC) for reproductive and non-reproductive effects was calculated to be 0.46 μg/L and 4.90 μg/L, respectively. Based on the derived criteria, the acute risk of BPA in coastal waters of China was determined to be negligible with RQs (risk quotients) of <0.01. The chronic risk was however much higher with RQs of up to 0.4 and 4.3 based on non-reproductive and reproductive CCC, respectively. The ecological risk assessment for BPA based on reproductive CCC can, therefore, better protect the safety of marine species.

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Evaluation of water-effect ratio methodology for establishing site-specific water quality criteria

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry ◽

10.1002/etc.5620190619 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 19 (6) ◽

pp. 1616-1623 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Paul G. Welsh ◽

Joshua Lipton ◽

Gary A. Chapman

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Water Quality Criteria ◽

Water Effect ◽

Site Specific ◽

Effect Ratio

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Use of Aquatic Macrocosms for Determining Site-Specific Water Quality Criteria

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.1992.0640 ◽

1992 ◽

Vol 26 (7-8) ◽

pp. 1953-1964 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

B. G. Isom

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Organic Carbon ◽

Laboratory Data ◽

Quality Criteria ◽

Organic Carbon Content ◽

Water Quality Criteria ◽

Local Conditions ◽

Site Specific ◽

Humic Materials ◽

High Organic Carbon Content

Use of aquatic macrocosms for determining site-specific water quality criteria for hardness dependent metals (copper, lead) and total dissolved solids (salinity) is discussed. Inadequacies of generic criteria for application to site-specific needs was indicated. Generic criteria for metals were based on laboratory data alone. Site-specific water quality effects such as naturally occurring total organic carbon were not considered by USEPA when developing critera. It is often advantageous to develop site-specific criteria for an effluent due to local conditions that protect the environment. The case studies were conducted on an acidic stream with high organic carbon content associated with natural humic materials.

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