A Summary and Evaluation of Aquatic Environmental Data in Relation to Establishing Water Quality Criteria for Munitions Unique Compounds - Nitrocellulose.
Abstract
The purpose of this report is to review the effects of nitrocellulose on the aquatic environment and to recommend water quality criteria for the protection of aquatic organisms. Four species of invertebrates and four species of fish were unaffected by nitrocellulose concentrations as high as 1000 mg/l. Four species of algae were exposed to nitrocellulose concentrations up to 1000 mg/l. Three species were unaffected and the fourth, Selenastrum capricornutum, showed a 96-hr. EC50 of 731 mg/l. This species is very sensitive to light intensity and it was concluded that the response noted was due to light reduction caused by the suspended nitrocellulose particles. The particulate nature of nitrocellulose wastes, the compound's relative insolubility in water, as well as its observed ability to attenuate light transmission through a suspension medium, indicate that current EPA water quality criteria for solids and turbidity are sufficient to provide for safe levels of nitrocellulose in the aquatic environment. These criteria (EPA 1976) suggest for the protection of freshwater fish and aquatic life: Settleable and suspended solids should not reduce the depth of the compensation point for photosynthetic activity by more than 10 percent from the seasonally established norm for aquatic life.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1978
- Accession Number
- ADA060767
Entities
People
- B. C. Pruitt Jr.
- H. D. Putnam
- J. C. Nichols
- J. H. Sullivan Jr.
- M. A. Keirn