PT14 Toxicity of Mixtures
Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM - Tuesday
(PT215) Application of sodium hydroxymethanesulfonate to identify and remove toxicity caused by ammonia in aquatic toxicity tests.
Bergmann, K1, Elphick, J1, Murphy, S1, Bailey, H2, Schwartz, M2, Tollefson, E1, 1 Nautilus Environmental, Tacoma, WA, USA2 Nautilus Environmental, San Diego, CA, USA
ABSTRACT- Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) studies typically use adjustment of the sample pH and addition of zeolite as tools to identify ammonia toxicity. Neither of these treatments are definitive in nature because they also affect the toxicity of a number of other parameters. Interpretation of the results may be particularly problematic in cases where toxicity is due to ammonia in combination with some other toxicant, which might also be affected by either of these two treatments. Sodium hydroxymethanesulfonate is used in the aquarium trade under the names Amquel and ChlorAm-X to control toxicity caused by ammonia, chlorine and chloramines. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the product at identifying and removing toxicity of ammonia to one marine and one freshwater species. As part of the validation, the effect of the product on the toxicity of two metals, a surfactant and an organic toxicant, was also evaluated, to determine whether the product affected the toxicity of these other contaminants. The effectiveness of the product at removing ammonia in sediment porewater was also evaluated to determine the suitability for use of this product in sediment toxicity tests and TIEs.
Key words: ammonia, toxicity identification evaluation