Abstract

GAETE, Hernán; BAY-SCHMITH, Enrique  and  RIVEROS, Any. TOXICIDAD CRÓNICA DE LAS AGUAS RECEPTORAS DE EFLUENTES DE INDUSTRIAS DE CELULOSA SOBRE LARVAS DE Chironomus piger. Rev. Int. Contam. Ambient [online]. 2005, vol.21, n.2, pp.83-89. ISSN 0188-4999.

The toxicity of the Biobío river waters affected by the discharges of effluents from two pulp mill, was evaluated through bioassays with Chironomus piger larvae. To achieve this, several samples from the receiving waters of effluents were taken in three different locations along the river. The first, before the discharge (pre-impact), the second, in an area where the effluents were discharged (impact), and the third, after the discharge (post-impact). No toxic effects were seen on C. pigerin the receiving waters from both industries. A significant growth stimulation for the C piger larvae was observed in the receiving waters from industry A, whereas in industry B, no effect was observed. In addition, we did not find any relation between growth and adsorbible organic halogens (AOX) and extractables organic halogens (EOX) concentrations.

Keywords : toxicity; water quality; bioassays; cellulose; Chironomus piger.