Toxicity of Terephthalic Acid (TPA) Smoke Mix to Algae, Daphnia, Fathead Minnows, and Earthworms

Terephthalic Acid (TPA) is being considered as a replacement smoke for Hexachloroethane (HC). The TPA smoke mix was subjected to toxicity studies to test its effects on Daphnia magna (water flea), Selenastrum capricornutum (unicellular green algae), Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), and Eisenia...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Haley, M. V, Chester, N. A, Kurnas, C. W, Muse, W. T, Phillips, C. T
Format: Report
Language:English
Subjects:
ACIDS
ALGAE
ANNELIDA
Biology
CAPACITY(QUANTITY)
CELLS(BIOLOGY)
DAPHNIA
EARTHWORMS
ECOSYSTEMS
EISENIE FOETIDA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
FATHEAD MINNOWS
GREEN(COLOR)
GRENADES
MINNOWS
PACKAGING
PE62622A
PHTHALIC ACIDS
Pyrotechnics
REPLACEMENT
SELENASTRUM CAPRICORNUTUM
SIPHONAPTERA
SMOKE
TEST AND EVALUATION
TOXICITY
Toxicology
WATER
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Summary:Terephthalic Acid (TPA) is being considered as a replacement smoke for Hexachloroethane (HC). The TPA smoke mix was subjected to toxicity studies to test its effects on Daphnia magna (water flea), Selenastrum capricornutum (unicellular green algae), Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), and Eisenia foetida (earthworm). Toxicity screening was conducted using neat TPA smoke mix in pressed (to simulate grenade packaging) and loose forms, and as burned residues. The toxicity of neat TPA was less toxic than neat HC (burned HC residues were not available). When added to water, the burned TPA residues caused the pH to drop to 4.5, which is not tolerated by the test organisms. However, when the pH was adjusted, the toxicity was greatly reduced. The severity of environmental impact from burned TPA mix will be inversely proportional to the buffering capacity of the ecosystem.