Pm. Chapman et al., REFINERY WATER (INTAKE AND EFFLUENT) QUALITY - UPDATE OF 1970S WITH 1990S TOXICITY TESTING, Environmental toxicology and chemistry, 13(6), 1994, pp. 897-909
The quality of two separate refinery intake waters and effluents was i
nvestigated: Petro-Canada (Oakville) and Novacor (Corunna Operations).
This study comprised eight different test organisms and 22 different
toxicity end points, was built on and complemented pioneering 1970s wo
rk at the Petro-Canada refinery, and was designed to (a) determine any
changes in effluent quality, (b) determine any previously unsuspected
effluent toxicity, and (c) determine any potential for chronic toxici
ty in the effluent. Although Petro-Canada has steadily reduced contami
nants in its effluent since the earlier study, toxicity has not change
d and no new toxic effects were identified. Effect thresholds for the
most sensitive animal species (Daphnia pulex) were 1 to 10% effluent i
n both studies. The Novacor effluent had lesser effects on biota than
the Petro-Canada effluent. Intake waters demonstrated toxicity in some
tests. Chronic effects on invertebrates and fish in receiving waters
are predicted not to occur if the Novacor effluent is diluted 10- to 2
0-fold and the Petro-Canada effluent is diluted 50- to 100-fold.