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Whole Effluent Toxicity Assessment of Industrial Effluents

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Toxicity and Biodegradation Testing

Part of the book series: Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology ((MIPT))

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Abstract

Direct discharge of industrial effluents into aquatic ecosystems continues to be an important area of concern because of potential ecotoxic impact on biota in receiving water. Biological tests with aquatic organisms have the capacity to respond to chemicals and quantify their effects even if they are present as mixtures or are unidentified. To compensate for the shortcomings of traditional effluent regulation, whole-effluent toxicity (WET) testing was introduced in the USA, Canada, European countries, and South Korea. Additionally, to reduce the toxicity levels detected in effluents, a procedure called toxicity reduction evaluation (TRE) was proposed. Based on the lessons learnt in the implementation of WET testing in these countries, this approach, involving chronic assays, was suggested for introduction in Japan. Here, we present a short review on the bioassay-based regulations and biological methods prevalent in these countries. Furthermore, we introduce two case studies from Japan. The first study reports on short-chronic assays used as WET tests whereas the second discusses TRE and the application of toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) to identify causative factors, employing a combination of biological tests and physiochemical manipulations. We also discuss simple and rapid bioassays for routine monitoring of effluent toxicity.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Dr. Christian Blaise for helpful comments on the manuscript.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, 5180 Kurokawa, Imizu, Toyama, 939-0398, Japan

    Takashi Kusui, Yasuyuki Itatsu & Jun Jin

Authors
  1. Takashi Kusui
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  2. Yasuyuki Itatsu
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  3. Jun Jin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Takashi Kusui .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil

    Ederio Dino Bidoia

  2. Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, São Paulo, Brazil

    Renato Nallin Montagnolli

Glossary

ECx

x percentage of effective concentration

ICx

x percentage of inhibitory concentration

NOEC

No observed effect concentration

TIE

Toxicity identification evaluation

TRE

Toxicity reduction evaluation

TUc

Chronic toxicity unit

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Kusui, T., Itatsu, Y., Jin, J. (2018). Whole Effluent Toxicity Assessment of Industrial Effluents. In: Bidoia, E., Montagnolli, R. (eds) Toxicity and Biodegradation Testing. Methods in Pharmacology and Toxicology. Humana Press, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7425-2_17

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-7425-2_17

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  • Publisher Name: Humana Press, New York, NY

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4939-7424-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4939-7425-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Protocols

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