Toxicology evaluation of Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plant effluent

  1. Bryan Lee Jamieson,
  2. Alex Augusto Gonçalves,
  3. Graham A. Gagnon*

Article first published online: 12 MAR 2009

DOI: 10.1002/tox.20479

Issue

Environmental Toxicology

Environmental Toxicology

Volume 25, Issue 2, pages 137–146, April 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Jamieson, B. L., Gonçalves, A. A. and Gagnon, G. A. (2010), Toxicology evaluation of Atlantic Canadian seafood processing plant effluent. Environmental Toxicology, 25: 137–146. doi: 10.1002/tox.20479

Author Information

  1. Department of Civil & Resources Engineering, Center of Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3J 1Z1

*Department of Civil & Resources Engineering, Center of Water Resources Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, Canada B3J 1Z1

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 5 MAR 2010
  2. Article first published online: 12 MAR 2009
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 11 JAN 2009
  4. Manuscript Revised: 2 JAN 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 15 SEP 2008

Funded by

  • Environment Canada, Atlantic Region
  • Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, St. John's, NL

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Keywords:

  • seafood processing;
  • effluent;
  • toxicity;
  • environment

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 (IC50) of 38.84%. Subsequent treatment by DAF of the flatfish and salmon effluents increased IC50 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™ IC50 values, thereby reducing acute toxicity, but failed to entirely remove acute toxicity. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol, 2010.

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