Diffuse sources of human fecal pollution allow for the direct discharge of waste into receiving waters with minimal or no treatment. Traditional culture-based methods are commonly used to characterize fecal pollution in ambient waters, however these methods do not discern between human and other animal sources of fecal pollution making it difficult to identify diffuse pollution sources. Human-associated quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) methods in combination with low-order headwatershed sampling, precipitation information, and high-resolution geographic information system land use data can be useful for identifying diffuse source of human fecal pollution in receiving waters. To test this assertion, this study monitored nine headwatersheds over a two-year period potentially impacted by faulty septic systems and leaky sanitary sewer lines. Human fecal pollution was measured using three different human-associated qPCR methods and a positive significant correlation was seen between abundance of human-associated genetic markers and septic systems following wet weather events. In contrast, a negative correlation was observed with sanitary sewer line densities suggesting septic systems are the predominant diffuse source of human fecal pollution in the study area. These results demonstrate the advantages of combining water sampling, climate information, land-use computer-based modeling, and molecular biology disciplines to better characterize diffuse sources of human fecal pollution in environmental waters.

Elevated manganese (Mn) is a common contaminant issue for mine water discharges, and previous studies have reported that its toxicity is ameliorated by H(+), Ca(2+), and Mg(2+) ions. In the present study, the toxicity of Mn was assessed in a high risk scenario, that is, the slightly acidic, soft waters of Magela Creek, Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia. Toxicity estimates were derived for 6 tropical freshwater species (Chlorella sp., Lemna aequinoctialis, Amerianna cumingi, Moinodaphnia macleayi, Hydra viridissima, and Mogurnda mogurnda). Low effect chronic inhibition concentration (IC10) and acute lethal concentration (LC05) values ranged between 140 μg L(-1) and 80,000 μg L(-1), with 3 of the species tested (M. macleayi, A. cumingi, and H. viridissima) being more sensitive to Mn than all but 1 species in the international literature (Hyalella azteca). A loss of Mn was observed on the final day for 2 of the H. viridissima toxicity tests, which may be a result of the complex speciation of Mn and biological oxidation. International data from toxicity tests conducted in natural water with a similar physicochemistry to Magela Creek water were combined with the present study's data to increase the sample size to produce a more reliable species sensitivity distribution. A 99% protection guideline value of 73 μg L(-1) (33-466 μg L(-1)) was derived; the low value of this guideline value reflects the higher toxicity of Mn in slightly acidic soft waters.

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Environmental challenges persist across the world, including the Australasian region of Oceania, where biodiversity hotspots and unique ecosystems such as the Great Barrier Reef are common. These systems are routinely affected by multiple stressors from anthropogenic activities, and increasingly influenced by global megatrends (e.g., the food–energy–water nexus, demographic transitions to cities) and climate change. Here we report priority research questions from the Global Horizon Scanning Project, which aimed to identify, prioritize, and advance environmental quality research needs from an Australasian perspective, within a global context. We employed a transparent and inclusive process of soliciting key questions from Australasian members of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. Following submission of 78 questions, 20 priority research questions were identified during an expert workshop in Nelson, New Zealand. These research questions covered a range of issues of global relevance, including research needed to more closely integrate ecotoxicology and ecology for the protection of ecosystems, increase flexibility for prioritizing chemical substances currently in commerce, understand the impacts of complex mixtures and multiple stressors, and define environmental quality and ecosystem integrity of temporary waters. Some questions have specific relevance to Australasia, particularly the uncertainties associated with using toxicity data from exotic species to protect unique indigenous species. Several related priority questions deal with the theme of how widely international ecotoxicological data and databases can be applied to regional ecosystems. Other timely questions, which focus on improving predictive chemistry and toxicology tools and techniques, will be important to answer several of the priority questions identified here. Another important question raised was how to protect local cultural and social values and maintain indigenous engagement during problem formulation and identification of ecosystem protection goals. Addressing these questions will be challenging, but doing so promises to advance environmental sustainability in Oceania and globally.

Abstract-Several fuel spills have occurred on subantarctic Macquarie Island (54830 0 S 158857 0 E) associated with storing fuel and generating power for the island's research station. The Australian Antarctic Division began full-scale, on-site remediation of these sites in 2009. To develop appropriate target concentrations for remediation, acute and chronic tests were developed with the endemic earthworm, Microscolex macquariensis, using avoidance, survival, and reproduction as endpoints. Uncontaminated low (3%), medium (11%), and high (38-48%) carbon content soils from Macquarie Island were used to examine the influence of soil carbon on toxicity. Soils were spiked with Special Antarctic Blend (SAB) diesel and used either immediately to simulate a fresh spill or after four weeks to simulate an aged spill. Earthworms were sensitive to fresh SAB, with significant avoidance at 181 mg/kg; acute 14-d survival median lethal concentration (LC50) of 103 mg/kg for low carbon soil; and juvenile production median effective concentration (EC50) of 317 mg/kg for high carbon soil. Earthworms were less sensitive to aged SAB than to fresh SAB in high carbon soil for juvenile production (EC50 of 1,753 and 317 mg/kg, respectively), but were more sensitive for adult survival (LC50 of 2,322 and 1,364 mg/kg, respectively). Using M. macquariensis as a surrogate for soil quality, approximately 50 to 200 mg SAB/kg soil would be a sufficiently protective remediation target.

The chronic toxicity of ammonia to tropical freshwater species is understudied, and thus data on temperate species have been used to derive water quality guideline values for tropical regions. Such practices may lead to underprotective guideline values due to differences in toxicities observed between tropical and temperate species. In addition, the presence of ammonia in low‐ionic‐strength waters may also result in higher toxicity, and studies on this factor are limited. The present study assessed the toxicity of ammonia to 6 tropical freshwater species in low‐ionic‐strength waters. Because ammonia toxicity varies depending on the pH and temperature, test water pH concentrations were maintained at approximately pH 6.0 ± 0.3 at temperatures between 27.5 and 30 °C. Low‐effect chronic inhibition concentrations were derived for the following species: Chlorella sp. 66 mg L−1; Lemna aequinoctialis 22 mg L−1; Hydra viridissima 1.8 mg L−1; Moinodaphnia macleayi 27 mg L−1; Amerianna cumingi 17 mg L−1; and Mogurnda mogurnda 5.4 mg L−1 total ammonia nitrogen. Two of the species tested (a cnidarian and a fish species) were among the most sensitive reported anywhere within their taxonomic group. Chronic ammonia datasets representing toxicity estimates for temperate and tropical species were plotted and compared using species sensitivity distributions. The results indicate that the differences in chronic toxicity observed between tropical and temperate species were likely due to the low ionic strength of the waters to which tropical species were exposed, rather than any inherent physiological differences between species from tropical and temperate regions. This finding suggests that tropical waters of low ionic strength may be at a higher risk from ammonia compared with other freshwater ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:177–189. © 2018 Commonwealth of Australia. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of SETAC.

Reproductive inhibition (egg production) of the aquatic snail Amerianna cumingi over 4 d has been used to derive toxicity estimates for toxicants of concern in tropical Australia. Toxicity estimates from this test have been used as chronic data points in species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for deriving site-specific guideline values. However, revised guidance for the Australian and New Zealand Water Quality Guidelines advises that test durations for adult macroinvertebrates should be ≥14 d to be considered chronic. Hence, to strengthen the data set underpinning the site-specific guideline value for uranium (U) in Magela Creek, which receives water from the Ranger Uranium Mine in northern Australia, the toxicity of U to A. cumingi was compared after 4 d, 9 d, and 14 d. Daily U concentrations were measured because of expected U loss during testing, providing extensive chemical analyses of the U exposure during the toxicity tests. Comparison of the U concentrations causing 50% reproductive inhibition (IC50) after 4 d, 9 d, and 14 d showed no difference in toxicity (4 d IC50 = 161 μg L , confidence interval = 133-195; 9-d IC50 = 151 μg L , confidence interval = 127-180; 14-d IC50 = 153 μg L , confidence interval = 29-180). The present study provides evidence that test durations of <14 d are suitable for assessing chronic toxicity to U for this species and supports the use of the 4-d toxicity estimate in the SSD for U. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2851-2858. © 2016 Commonwealth of Australia.

There are limited data concerning the toxicity of ammonia in fresh soft waters. Ammonia toxicity is largely dependent on pH and temperature. The US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) has derived equations to adjust species toxicity estimates based on changes in pH and temperature. It has been reported that the pH-ammonia toxicity relationship, derived by the USEPA, may differ in waters with low ionic concentrations because of the absence of potentially ameliorative ionic constituents. The present study aimed to assess the pH-ammonia toxicity relationship for the tropical green hydra, Hydra viridissima, across a range of pH values in a natural water with low ionic content. Ammonia toxicity to H. viridissima was assessed at a pH range between 6.0 and 8.5 and temperature 27.5 ± 1 °C. Test solution pH was maintained using a pH buffer. The resulting median effect concentrations ranged from 9.62 (7.95-11.65) mg L total ammonia nitrogen at pH 6.0 to 0.64 (0.50-0.81) mg L total ammonia nitrogen at pH 7.9. The results indicated that increasing pH increased the sensitivity of H. viridissima to ammonia. The pH dependence equation derived by the USEPA accurately described the relationship between pH and ammonia toxicity for H. viridissima. However, when the model parameters for the generic pooled relationship were used, the fit was less accurate (r = 0.66), indicating that the generic pooled pH-dependence equations may not be appropriate for use with this species. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1189-1196. © 2017 SETAC.