Toxicity of Anthracene on Marine Organisms and Development of Seawater Quality Criteria

Abstract

Presence of anthracene (ANT) in coastal waters is increasingly being reported and has a profound impact on the marine biota. However, numerical guideline values and toxicity data on marine organisms are lacking. Therefore, seawater quality criteria (SWQC) are developed for ANT based on toxicity data on native species for the first time. Acute and chronic toxicity values were derived on diatoms (Thalassiosira subtilis and Endomoneis paludosa), copepods (Oithona similis and Tisbe furcata), and shrimp (Litopenaeus vannamei). 96h-EC50 and 96h-LC50 were ranged between 23.98 ± 2.4 µg/L and 1.73 ± 0.33 mg/L. Chronic toxicity values such as No Observed Effect Concentrated (NOEC), Lowest Observed Effect Concentration (LOEC), and chronic values ranged from 2.1 ± 0.6 µg/L to 267 ± 58 µg/L, 2.5 ± 0.8 µg/L to 400 ± 7 µg/L and 2.4 ± 0.8 µg/L to 327 ± 71 µg/L respectively. Seawater quality criteria viz. Predicted No Effect Concentration (PNEC), Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC), and Criterion Maximum Concentration (CMC) were derived using NOECs, chronic values, and acute data. The PNECs are pertinent to sensitive/protected waters, CCC can be applied across the coastal waters and CMC for accidental spill/outfalls/discharge points in enclosed waters. The PNEC, CCC, and CMC are derived as 2.7, 8.8, and 17 µg/L respectively from the Australian Burrlioz SSD whereas the USEPA SSD resulted in 3.89 µg/L of PNEC, 10.7 µg/L of CCC, and 26.7 µg/L of CMC. Sensitive SWQCs were obtained using the Australian Burrlioz SSDs which may ensure the protection of marine life from ANT pollution.