Customer Service:
Mon - Fri: 8:30 am - 6 pm EST

Tests for Toxicity in Wastewater

Standards for testing wastewater for bacteria, toxicity, and biodegradable material specify test and screening methods. Detailing the scenarios in which a particular test is applicable, as well as the sampling and scale elements of a test, these standards address the detection and enumeration of multiple types of bacteria, as well as both the effects of wastewater on bacteria and the effects of the bacteria on larger forms of life.

ASTM E1768-95(2013)

Standard Guide for Ventilatory Behavioral Toxicology Testing of Freshwater Fish

1.1 This guide covers information on methods to measure and interpret ventilatory behavioral responses of freshwater fish to contaminants. 1.2 Ventilatory responses are often some of the first prelethal symptoms exhibited by animals to environmental stressors ( 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 ) . 2 Continued, abnormal ventilatory behavior (that is, rapid or shallow breathing, erratic breathing) can indicate physiological damage that may be irreversible. Such damage could eventually result in decreased survival, growth, or reproduction of the organism, or all of these. 1.3 Ventilatory responses of some fish species can be measured relatively easily and quickly, providing a useful tool for biomonitoring studies of wastewaters, pure chemicals, surface water, and ground water. 1.4 Appropriate studies of ventilatory responses can yield definitive endpoints such as no observable effect concentration (NOEC) or an EC 50 , often more rapidly than standard toxicity test methods ( 11 , 12 ) . 1.5 The mode of action of test substances and the type of chemical toxicant can be determined by examining ventilatory behavioral responses in conjunction with other physiological responses ( 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ) .

Available for Subscriptions

ISO 13641-1:2003

Water quality - Determination of inhibition of gas production of anaerobic bacteria - Part 1: General test

ISO 13641-1:2003 specifies a screening method for assessing the potential toxicity of substances, mixtures, surface waters, groundwaters and wastewaters, effluents, sludges or other environmental samples by determining the production of biogas (carbon dioxide and methane) from the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge over periods of up to 3 days. The growth rate of anaerobic bacteria is much lower compared with that of aerobic microorganisms. For this reason, the test periods are longer for anaerobic methods than those used for aerobic bacteria. This method is applicable to substances, soluble or insoluble in water, including volatile chemicals. Note that special care is necessary with compounds of low water-solubility, and in these cases, other methods might be more suitable. This method can provide information that is useful in predicting the likely effect of a test material on biogas production in anaerobic digesters. For example, only longer tests, which simulate working digesters more closely can indicate whether adaptation of the microorganisms to the test material can occur or whether compounds likely to be adsorbed onto sludge can build up to a toxic concentration over a longer period than allowed in this test. Information obtained by ISO 13641-1:2003 can also be helpful in choosing suitable initial mass concentrations for anaerobic biodegradability tests (e.g. ISO 11734). However, ISO 13641-1:2003 using undiluted sludge is less suitable for testing dilute digesting sludge than the method described in ISO 13641-2 where the mass concentrations are a hundredfold more dilute.

Available for Subscriptions

ISO 13641-2:2003

Water quality - Determination of inhibition of gas production of anaerobic bacteria - Part 2: Test for low biomass concentrations

ISO 13641-2:2003 specifies a screening method for assessing the potential toxicity of substances, mixtures, surface waters, groundwaters and wastewaters, effluents, sludges, or other environmental samples by determining the production of biogas (carbon dioxide and methane) from muds, sediments and other anaerobic environments with low biomass concentration. The growth rate of anaerobic bacteria is much lower, compared with that of aerobic microorganisms. For this reason, the test periods in anaerobic methods are longer than in those with aerobic bacteria. The conditions of this test (for example amount of inoculum and substrate in the test bottles) were adopted to a defined test period over several days. The inoculum can be collected from anaerobic sediments or from large, or laboratory scale, anaerobic digesters. This method is applicable to materials, soluble or insoluble in water, including volatile chemicals. Note that special care is necessary with compounds of low water-solubility, and in these cases, other methods might be more suitable. Information obtained by this method may be helpful prior to anaerobic biodegradability testing with low inoculum mass concentrations and for estimations of the potential effects of chemicals and wastewater to anaerobic processes in habitats characterized by a relatively low anaerobic biomass, for example natural sediments and soils.

Available for Subscriptions

ISO 12890:1999

Water quality -- Determination of toxicity to embryos and larvae of freshwater fish -- Semi-static method

This International Standard specifies a semi-static method for determination of toxicity of chemicals, waters and wastewaters to embryos and early larval developmental stages of a species of freshwater fish, Danio rerio (Hamilton-Buchanan), Teleostei, Cyprinidae (common name zebrafish). Where necessary this determination may include an acute toxicity test using Danio rerio to determine the 96-h LC 50 for zebrafish in accordance with ISO 7346-1, ISO 7346-2 or ISO 7346-3. The method is also applicable to freshwater fish other than zebrafish if appropriate modifications of the test conditions are made, particularly with regard to the temperature and volume per fish biomass.

Available for Subscriptions

ISO 16240:2005

Water quality - Determination of the genotoxicity of water and waste water - Salmonella/microsome test (Ames test)

ISO 16240:2005 specifies a method for the determination of the genotoxic potential of water and wastewater using the bacterial strains Salmonella typhimurium TA 100 and TA 98. This method includes sterile filtration of water and wastewater prior to the test. ISO 16240:2005 is applicable only to the detection of genotoxic substances which are in the filtered aqueous phase. It is not applicable to the detection of genotoxic substances adsorbed by the retained particles.

Available for Subscriptions

ISO 20079:2005

Water quality - Determination of the toxic effect of water constituents and waste water on duckweed (Lemna minor) - Duckweed growth inhibition test

ISO 20079:2005 specifies a method for the determination of the growth-inhibiting response of duckweed ( Lemna minor ) to substances and mixtures contained in water, treated municipal wastewater and industrial effluents.

Available for Subscriptions

ISO 15522:1999

Water quality -- Determination of the inhibitory effect of water constituents on the growth of activated sludge microorganisms

This International Standard specifies a method for assessing the potential toxicity of a test material to the growth of aerobic bacteria present in activated sludge. The inhibitory effect is restricted to those microorganisms capable of growth on the chosen organic test medium. This method gives information on inhibitory effects on the microorganisms over incubation periods up to 6 h. This method is applicable to water, wastewater and chemical substances which are soluble under the conditions of the test. Special care is needed with volatile or coloured materials and materials which form turbid suspensions or dispersions.

Available for Subscriptions

ISO/TR 15462:2006

Water quality - Selection of tests for biodegradability

ISO/TR 15462:2006 gives an overview of biodegradation tests for the aquatic environment standardized by ISO and provides recommendations on their use. The biodegradation tests listed are designed to determine the biodegradability of chemical substances or wastewaters under standardized conditions. Inhibitory tests with bacteria and mixed bacterial inocula are included because a possible toxicity on the inoculum is important information for the choice and performance of biodegradation tests.

Available for Subscriptions
ANSI Logo

As the voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment system, the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) empowers its members and constituents to strengthen the U.S. marketplace position in the global economy while helping to assure the safety and health of consumers and the protection of the environment.

Useful Links
CUSTOMER SERVICE
NEW YORK OFFICE
ANSI HEADQUARTERS
2024 © American National Standards Institute (ANSI) All Rights Reserved.