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SOP10 – Toxicity Analysis
78
11.0 SOP 10 – Discharge Toxicity and Residual Chemical Analyses
Version 2.0
Date of Issuance: July 11, 2012
Author: Greg Ziegler
11.1. Introduction
These tests include both a sub-lethal endpoint (growth) and a survival endpoint using test
methods and species employed by the EPA for whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing of
effluents. The methods are approved by the EPA (2002) and the American Society for Testing
and Materials (ASTM, 2006). The test methods are summarized in 5 tables in section 10.4
below (see Appendices C through E for complete detail).
11.2. Test Species
A fish, an invertebrate and a plant (algae) will be used in ballast discharge tests. Because testing
will take place in a variety of locations, including Baltimore Harbor and Norfolk, euryhaline
organisms will be used in these tests. All three organisms are acceptable as test species in
salinities ranging from 7 to 30psu.
The algal species will be
Isochrysis galbana.
The algae will be purchased from the University of
Texas Algal Culture, University of Texas, Austin, Texas. The growth media for these species
will be those given in Appendix A3 of ASTM Designation E 1218-04 “
Standard Guide for
Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Microalgae
” (ASTM, 2006). The culture conditions will
follow those given in this guide.
Sheepshead minnow (
Cyprinodon variegatus
) are used as the fish species in testing and the
mysid (
Americamysis bahia
; formerly
Mysidopsis bahia
) are the invertebrates species used in
testing. These are test species suggested for use in EPA’s Short-term Methods for Estimating the
Chronic Toxicity of Effluents and Receiving Waters to Marine and Estuarine Organisms (EPA,
2002).
Test organisms are purchased from Aquatic BioSystems of Fort Collins, Colorado. Upon receipt
by the Wye Research and Education Center (WREC), holding of test organisms is conducted in
accordance to guidelines outlined in the above referenced EPA manual (2002).
11.3. Active Substance and Measurement
The test solution will be ballast water discharged from the test tanks during each trial.
When the active substance involved in treatment (e.g., chlorine or ozone) the oxidant levels are
measured in accordance with Section 5.2.8 of the IMO G9 resolution calling for information on
Total Residual Oxidants (TRO) and Total Residual Chlorine (TRC) to be provided as part of the
evaluation, for both the ballast treatment process and the ballast water discharge.
A LaMotte colorimetric kit based on standard DPD method will be used to analyze samples for
total residual oxidant. The free and total chlorine range is 0-10 ppm with a MDL of 0.03 ppm.
The DPD test method using the LaMotte Chlorine Colorimeter Kit meets or exceeds EPA design
specifications for NPDWR and NPDES chlorine monitoring programs (EPA 330.5).