Abstract

Application of Effect-Related Methods for Assessing and Monitoring Industrial Wastewaters within the Framework of OSPAR Activities

Within the framework of an OSPAR expert group, a whole effluent assessment concept (WEA concept) for assessing the persistence, bio-accumulation potential and toxicity of wastewater samples was developed, and its applicability was tested in two practical lest programmes. Low to moderate eco-toxicity Ievels were found in the wastewater samples from the chemical industry, textile industry, metal-working and paper industry (up to LI DA= 8, LIDL = 24, LIDE99 = 6). Two samples turned out to be genotoxic or mutagenic in the "umu" test and/ or Ames test. For potentially bioaccumulating substances concentrations were determined up to Ievels that exceeded the blank values by a factor of twelve. A combination of the Zahn-Wellens lest with effect based tests turned out to be a meaningful method to determine the ecotoxicity that is relevant for the receiving waters. To a large extent, the results of the WEA working group reflect the current strategy of wastewater monitoring in Germany, which is based on the emission principle. The concept can be applied to European requirements for the monitoring of wastewater discharges from emission point sources (IPPC Directive, Water Framework Directive).