GROUND AND SURFACE-WATER DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICITY AT A MUNICIPAL LANDFILL - DESCRIPTION AND WEATHER-RELATED VARIATION

Contaminated groundwater poses a significant health hazard and may als o impact wildlife such as amphibians when it surfaces. Using FETAX (Fr og Embryo Teratogenesis Assay-Xenopus), the developmental toxicity of ground and surface water samples near a closed municipal landfill at N orman, OK, were evaluated. The groundwater samples were taken from a n etwork of wells in a shallow, unconfined aquifer downgradient from the landfill. Surface water samples were obtained from a pond and small s tream adjacent to the landfill. Surface water samples from a reference site in similar habitat were also analyzed. Groundwater samples were highly toxic in the area near the landfill, indicating a plume of toxi cants. Surface water samples from the landfill site demonstrated eleva ted developmental toxicity. This toxicity was temporally variable and was significantly correlated with weather conditions during the 3 days prior to sampling. Mortality was negatively correlated with cumulativ e rain and relative humidity. Mortality was positively correlated with solar radiation and net radiation. No significant correlations were o bserved between mortality and weather parameters for days 4-7 precedin g sampling. (C) 1998 Academic Press.