Toxicity of Terephthalic Acid (TPA) Smoke Mix to Algae, Daphnia, Fathead Minnows, and Earthworms.

Abstract

Terephthalic Acid (TPA) is being considered as a replacement smoke for Hexachloroethane (HC). The TPA smoke mix was subjected to toxicity studies to test its effects on Daphnia magna (water flea), Selenastrum capricornutum (unicellular green algae), Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), and Eisenia foetida (earthworm). Toxicity screening was conducted using neat TPA smoke mix in pressed (to simulate grenade packaging) and loose forms, and as burned residues. The toxicity of neat TPA was less toxic than neat HC (burned HC residues were not available). When added to water, the burned TPA residues caused the pH to drop to 4.5, which is not tolerated by the test organisms. However, when the pH was adjusted, the toxicity was greatly reduced. The severity of environmental impact from burned TPA mix will be inversely proportional to the buffering capacity of the ecosystem.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1995
Accession Number
ADA299941

Entities

People

  • C. T. Phillips
  • C. W. Kurnas
  • M. V. Haley
  • N. A. Chester
  • W. T. Muse

Organizations

  • Edgewood Chemical Biological Center

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Abstracts
  • Aquatic Organisms
  • Artificial Soils
  • Chambers
  • Combustion
  • Ecosystems
  • Engineering
  • Environment
  • Environmental Protection
  • Factor Analysis
  • Fish
  • Liquid Chromatography
  • Materials
  • Packaging
  • Terephthalic Acid
  • Test Methods
  • Toxicity

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Agricultural Chemistry/Soil Science
  • Aquatic Ecology
  • Chemistry (specifically Chemical Fluorescence)