A comparison between whole effluent toxicity testing (wet) and active biomonitoring (abm) as indicators of in stream aquatic health

The biological integrity of aquatic ecosystems has become threatened by the effects of high nutrient loads, inorganic and organic chemicals. The effect of these xenobiotics needs to be investigated by the application of biotests in whole effluent toxicity testing and biomarkers in active biomonitoring. Whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing determines the toxicity/effect of whole effluent on aquatic organisms. Sub-lethal effects can be determined by analysing the levels of subcellular/physiological indicators/enzymes in aquatic organisms exposed to in situ conditions. The procedure used for in situ assessments was active biomonitoring (ABM). The aim of this study was to assess the instream health of a known contaminated system (Rietvlei Wetland System, Gauteng, South Africa) using WET and ABM methodologies. Three sites in the Rietvlei Wetland System were selected and sampling was undertaken during high flow (April 2003) and low flow (August 2003) periods. The ABM sampling protocol involved the deployment of aquatic molluscs (Melanoides tuberculata) and fish (Oreochromis mossambicus) for a period of four weeks at the sites. Following the four week exposure period the organisms were transported back to the laboratory and the following biomarkers were assessed: ethoxyresorufin o-deethylase (EROD), acetylcholine esterase (AChE) and metallothione (MT). Water samples were also collected for WET testing during the low flow period, since this was the only period where mortality was observed in the ABM organisms. Standard WET protocols were used to assess the toxicity of the water from the three sites. These protocols were: 96 h Poecilia reticulata lethality test, 48 h Daphnia pulex lethality test and 72 h Selenastrum capricorutum growth inhibition test. In addition the same biomarker analyses that were done on the ABM organisms were carried out on WET exposed D. pulex and P. reticulata. The WET testing and ABM indicated highest toxicity at Sites 1 and 3. Algal growth inhibition test showed highest stimulation of algal growth at Site 2 and inhibition at Site 3. Sites 1 and 2 showed signs of contamination by organophosphates and carbamates due to elevated AChE and reduced EROD. However there were no significant differences in AChE activity between fish tested in the 96h toxicity test and those used in ABM. Very low AChE activity was recorded in D. pulex. Snails also had lower AChE activity when compared to the exposed fish species. Metallothionein content was higher in field-exposed fish than those used in WET, however both assessment protocols indicated that Site 3 was affected the greatest by metals. Snails exhibited higher MT content than fish and D. pulex showed no MT activity. There were no significant differences in MT content between the sites. Acetylcholine esterase appears to be a relevant means of investigating biological effects of many neurotoxic contaminants on aquatic habitats and trophic levels. Metallothionein content is a good indicator of toxicity due to heavy metals for active biomonitoring as well as the WET test. Ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase is a more difficult biomarker to work with since it shows no differences in activity between control and exposed organisms. The EROD assay does not detect very low levels of EROD induction. Acetylecholinesterase and MT are the recommended biomarker assays for the detection of sublethal responses in the WET laboratory toxicity test. The AChE activities and MT exhibit comparable results in both ABM and WET assessment protocols. In future studies WET testing needs to be complimented with a suite biomarker analyses to determine the type of pollutants in a system and sufficiently describe the pollution status of a system.Dr. V. Wepene