C. Hoffmann et N. Christofi, Testing the toxicity of influents to activated sludge plants with the Vibrio fischeri bioassay utilising a sludge matrix, ENVIRON TOX, 16(5), 2001, pp. 422-427
To protect the bioceonosis within activated sludge, a method of predicting
the toxic effect of influents to the biological treatment stage of waste wa
ter treatment plants, based on DIN method 38412 L 34, has been developed. A
population of the luminescent marine bacterium Vibrio fischeri was incorpo
rated into a sludge testing matrix derived from a model laboratory and real
activated sludge plants. The sludge was challenged with different concentr
ations of pure toxicants and complex aqueous samples, and light output by V
fischeri monitored. The results were compared to toxicant testing in the a
bsence of sludge (standard test). The modified method was found to be less
sensitive for some toxicants tested than the standard DIN and other biolumi
nescent tests, but considered more realistic as it provides buffering and t
akes into account sorption which can affect the sensitivity of the test tow
ards some compounds. The method is comparable in terms of ease of use, spee
d, reproducibility and cost effectiveness to standard V fischeri luminescen
ce methods. (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.