Water samples from a contaminated site adversely affected the crustacean Ceriodaphnia dubia in laboratory toxicity tests. Contaminants present included metals, PAHs, extractable petroleum hydrocarbons, and chlorinated and non-chlorinated phenols. Initial TIE procedures suggested that toxicity was related to organic constituents associated with the particulate fraction, and enhanced by UV light, further suggesting PAH involvement. The particulate phase was isolated and extracted with methanol. The methanol extract was diluted with water and applied to an SPE column that was subsequently eluted with a methanol gradient.  Discrete solvent fractions were tested with and without UV. Toxicity was associated with specific fractions and enhanced under UV. Chemical analysis of these fractions suggested that the HMW PAHs benzo(a)pyrene and benzo(b&j)fluoranthene were responsible for toxicity. In the risk management context, PAH contamination at the site was primarily limited to surface water and the source of the HMW PAHs appeared to be the upgradient landfill.

Finding the needle in the haystack: A case example of using toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) in aquatic ecological risk assessment to establish causality and focus risk management actions at a contaminated site

243rd National Meeting (2012)

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