Toxicity of 1,4-dichlorobenzene in sediments to juvenile polychaete worms

Investigation of sediment contamination associated with a marine sewage outfall in Victoria (BC, Canada) found elevated concentrations of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB). Juvenile polychaete worm ( Neanthes) growth was significantly reduced at or near the outfall, roughly corresponding to elevated 1,4...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Marine pollution bulletin 2002-12, Vol.44 (12), p.1405-1414
Main Authors: McPherson, Cathy A, Tang, Armando, Chapman, Peter M, Taylor, Laura A, Gormican, Stephen J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
1,4-Dichlorobenzene
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Applied ecology
Biological and medical sciences
Canada, British Columbia, Victoria
Chlorobenzenes - analysis
Chlorobenzenes - toxicity
dichlorobenzene
Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution
Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates
Environmental Monitoring
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Geologic Sediments
Neanthes
Polychaeta
Polychaetes
Population Dynamics
Sediments
Sewage
Toxicity
Victoria
Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis
Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity
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Summary:Investigation of sediment contamination associated with a marine sewage outfall in Victoria (BC, Canada) found elevated concentrations of 1,4-dichlorobenzene (1,4-DCB). Juvenile polychaete worm ( Neanthes) growth was significantly reduced at or near the outfall, roughly corresponding to elevated 1,4-DCB concentrations. There are few data on 1,4-DCB toxicity to marine organisms and no published literature on its toxicity to benthic marine organisms. To determine whether reduced polychaete growth (measured as dry weight) was due to 1,4-DCB exposure, a laboratory investigation was conducted. Uncontaminated marine sediment was spiked with 1,4-DCB and juvenile Neanthes were exposed in 20-d sublethal toxicity tests. There were no adverse effects on survival at any test concentration; mean survival was 80–100%. Statistically significant decreases in average dry weight only occurred at the highest 1,4-DCB concentration (19,900 μg/kg, dry weight); this represented a 1,4-DCB concentration more than 10 times higher than previously measured at the outfall (1710 μg/kg, dry weight). There were no adverse effects on survival or dry weight at the range of concentrations previously measured in sediments from the vicinity of the outfall.
ISSN:0025-326X
1879-3363
DOI:10.1016/S0025-326X(02)00305-3