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Effects of alumina refinery wastewater and signature metal constituents at the upper thermal tolerance of: 1. The tropical diatom Nitzschia closterium |
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| Authors: | Harford A J Hogan A C Tsang J J Parry D L Negri A P Adams M S Stauber J L van Dam R A |
| Institution: | a Environmental Research Institute of the Supervising Scientist (ERISS), Supervising Scientist Division, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities, GPO Box 461, Darwin 0801, Northern Territory, Australia b Tropical Futures: Mineral Program, Charles Darwin University, Darwin 0909, Northern Territory, Australia c Australian Institute of Marine Science, PMB 3, Townsville 4810, Queensland, Australia d Centre for Environmental Contaminants Research, CSIRO Land and Water, Locked Bag 2007, Kirrawee 2232, New South Wales, Australia |
| Abstract: | Ecotoxicological studies, using the tropical marine diatom, Nitzschia closterium (72-h growth rate), were undertaken to assess potential issues relating to the discharge from an alumina refinery in northern Australia. The studies assessed: (i) the species’ upper thermal tolerance; (ii) the effects of three signature metals, aluminium (Al), vanadium (V) and gallium (Ga) (at 32 °C); and (iii) the effects of wastewater (at 27 and 32 °C). The critical thermal maximum and median inhibition temperature for N. closterium were 32.7 °C and 33.1 °C, respectively. Single metal toxicity tests found that N. closterium was more sensitive to Al compared to Ga and V, with IC50s (95% confidence limits) of 190 (140-280), 19,640 (11,600-25,200) and 42,000 (32,770-56,000) μg L−1, respectively. The undiluted wastewater samples were of low toxicity to N. closterium (IC50s > 100% wastewater). Environmental chemistry data suggested that the key metals and discharge are a very low risk to this species. |
| Keywords: | Nitzschia closterium Northern Australia Toxicity Aluminium Gallium Vanadium |
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