Solid-phase extraction for toxicity reduction evaluations of industrial wastewater effluents

The physical, chemical and biological characteristics of industrial and municipal wastewater effluents in the United States are limited in National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Toxicity reduction evaluations (TREs) involving fractionation of wastewater effluents, biomonitoring for aquatic toxicity and determinations of specific chemicals are conducted when adverse effects on water quality are detected during routine biomonitoring as required by the NPDES permit. However, certain fractionation techniques are incompatible with subsequent testing for aquatic toxicity. The effect of various schemes for fractionation of wastewater effluent on biomonitoring with freshwater Cladocerans (Daphnia magna, Daphnia pulex, Ceriodaphnia dubia or Ceriodaphnia reticulata) is reviewed. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is discussed as a chromatographic technique used for the selective fractionation of wastewater effluents during toxicity reduction evaluation.