PT04 Water Quality Monitoring
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday, 11 November 2003
(PT058) Toxicity Evaluation of Wastewater Discharge from Commercial Passenger Marine Vessels.
Bergmann, K1, Liebl, M1, Morehouse, C2, Lindstrom, Dr. J3, Schwartz, M1, 1 AMEC Earth & Environmental2 Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation3 Shannon & Wilson
ABSTRACT- The commercial passenger cruise ship business is an expanding and valuable economic asset in many regions. Along with increased revenue in the form of tourist dollars, the vessels may also, however, contribute to an increase in pollutants discharged to both air and water. Concern over potential problems from such discharge has prompted Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation to develop a program to monitor wastewater and air emission of commercial passenger vessels present in Alaskan marine waters. Whole effluent toxicity testing was included as part of this broader study. Acute and chronic toxicity tests using representative marine organisms were conducted on samples of both blackwater, wastewater discharged from the sanitation system, or graywater, a combination of laundry water, galley water and accommodation water. In vessels that combine the two effluent types prior to discharge a mixed sample was collected and tested for toxicity. Acute survival was evaluated using Mysidopsis bahia and Atherinops affinis. Additionally, the effect of exposure to effluent on sublethal endpoints was evaluated using Strongylocentrotus purpuratus sperm cell fertilization and Mytilus galloprovincialis larval development tests. A selection of vessels were sampled while discharging into Southeast Alaska marine waters in 2002 and into Southcentral Alaska marine waters in 2003. The study is currently in its second year.
Key words: graywater toxicity, blackwater toxicity, commerical vessel discharges, Alaska cruise ship discharges