The use of the Microtox system for evaluation of toxicity of the wastes in Vítkovice Steelworks, Ostrava (Czechoslovakia)

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 1993, Vol.134 (Suppl. Pts. 1-2), p.195-206
• Main Authors: Skacel, A, Riha, V, Raclavsky, K, Hlavata, M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/S0048-9697(05)80019-1

Ostrava's Industrial Agglomeration is one of the most polluted areas in Czechoslovakia due to an enormous production of wastes and wastewaters from both industry and municipal sources. As most of the wastes are deposited in the environment in a very simple way (usually in landfills) they may cause negative environmental effects and represent a serious hazardous factor for the surroundings. Complex legislative regulations on waste treatment with respect to environmental protection are currently accepted. Many data on the character of produced and deposited wastes which are necessary for classification of wastes are, however, missing. Rapid and reliable estimates of biological effects of wastes were made in one of the biggest steelwork enterprises which belongs to the most significant producers of wastes in the Ostrava region. Typical wastes which are produced in the greatest amount were selected and the leachates of the wastes were tested using the microbial toxicity test, Microtox. The results contribute to a monitoring programme for evaluation of environmental quality.