Evaluation of produced water toxicity from an oil maritime terminal through Skeletonema costatum toxicity tests

Abstracts

The liquid effluent from an oil maritime terminal, with produced water as the main component, had its toxicity evaluated through toxicity tests with the diatom Skeletonema costatum. Two previously treated effluent samples (effluents A and B), were provided by PETROBRAS for the experiments. Both samples presented high salinity (67‰ for effluent A and 62‰ for effluent B) and low pH values (6.2), whereas total sulphide, phenol and nutrient content, dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbon concentration, BOD and COD values were quite different from each other. During the toxicity experiment, three replicate flasks with samples for each treatment were exposed to a light radiation of 266µE m² S-1 and maintained under a 10 h/14 h lightldark cycle, at a temperature of 24 :t 2ºC. The EC50 values could not be accurately estimated for effluent A: 60 h and 132 h after starting the experiment they were below 3% and between 3-6% effluent concentration, respectively. Synergistic effects between effluent toxicity and salinity on the growth of S. costatum were detected. The effluent B showed higher toxicity: the EC5O values were 0.17% and 0.40% of effluent concentrations, after 48 h and 96 h, respectively. These results evidenced the deleterious effects of residual organic compounds contained in the aqueous effluents from the oil terminal under the present pretreatment on S. costatum. In the light of the present data, the direct disposal ofthese effluents into São Sebastião Channel waters might be very hazardous to its indigenous biota.

Produced water; Oil terminal; Toxicity tests; Skeletonema costatum

A toxicidade do efluente líquido do "Dutos e Terminais Centro-Oeste São Paulo" (DTCS) terminal marítimo de petróleo da PETROBRAS, em São Sebastião (SP, Brasil), cujo principal componente é a água de produção, foi avaliada através de testes de toxicidade com a diatomácea Skeletonema costatum. Amostras de dois efluentes (A e B), previamente tratados pela PETROBRAS, foram utilizadas nos experimentos. As duas amostras apresentaram alta salinidade (A=67‰; B=62‰) e baixo valor de pH (6,2), enquanto que as suas concentrações de sulfetos, fenóis e hidrocarbonetos de petróleo dissolvidos/dispersos, bem como os seus valores de DBO e DQO, foram bastante distintos. Nos experimentos de toxicidade, os frascos experimentais, em triplicata, para cada tratamento foram expostos à radiação luminosa fluorescente de 266 µm² S-1 e mantidas em um ciclo luz/escuro de 10 h/14 h, a uma temperatura de 24 :t 2ºC. Os valores de CE50 não puderam ser determinados com precisão para o efluente A: após 60 h e 132 h do início dos experimentos esses valores estavam abaixo de 3% e entre 3-6% da concentração de efluente, respectivamente. Foi observado sinergismo entre a toxicidade e a salinidade do efluente sobre o crescimento de S. costatum. O efluente B apresentou uma toxicidade mais elevada: os valores de CEso foram 0,17% e 0,40% da concentração do efluente, após 48 h e 96 h, respectivamente. Estes resultados evidenciaram claramente os efeitos deletérios dos compostos orgânicos residuais contidos no efluente líquido do DTCS, sobre S. costatum. Pode-se concluir que a disposição do efluente nas águas do canal de São Sebastião poderá ser prejudicial à biota local.

Água de produção; Terminal de óleo; Testes de toxicidade; Skeletonema costatum

RESEARCH ARTICLES

Evaluation of produced water toxicity from an oil maritime terminal through Skeletonema costatum toxicity tests

Aidar, Elizabeth; Sigaud-Kutner, Teresa C. S.; Bicega, Márcia C.; Schinke, Katya P.; Gianesella, Sania M. F.; Braga, Elisabete S.

Instituto Oceanográfico da Universidade de São Paulo (Caixa Postal 66149, 05315-970, São Paulo, SP, Brazil)

ABSTRACT

The liquid effluent from an oil maritime terminal, with produced water as the main component, had its toxicity evaluated through toxicity tests with the diatom Skeletonema costatum. Two previously treated effluent samples (effluents A and B), were provided by PETROBRAS for the experiments. Both samples presented high salinity (67‰ for effluent A and 62‰ for effluent B) and low pH values (6.2), whereas total sulphide, phenol and nutrient content, dissolved/dispersed petroleum hydrocarbon concentration, BOD and COD values were quite different from each other. During the toxicity experiment, three replicate flasks with samples for each treatment were exposed to a light radiation of 266µE m² S^-1 and maintained under a 10 h/14 h lightldark cycle, at a temperature of 24 :t 2ºC. The EC₅₀ values could not be accurately estimated for effluent A: 60 h and 132 h after starting the experiment they were below 3% and between 3-6% effluent concentration, respectively. Synergistic effects between effluent toxicity and salinity on the growth of S. costatum were detected. The effluent B showed higher toxicity: the EC_5O values were 0.17% and 0.40% of effluent concentrations, after 48 h and 96 h, respectively. These results evidenced the deleterious effects of residual organic compounds contained in the aqueous effluents from the oil terminal under the present pretreatment on S. costatum. In the light of the present data, the direct disposal ofthese effluents into São Sebastião Channel waters might be very hazardous to its indigenous biota.

Descriptors: Produced water, Oil terminal, Toxicity tests, Skeletonema costatum.

RESUMO

A toxicidade do efluente líquido do "Dutos e Terminais Centro-Oeste São Paulo" (DTCS) terminal marítimo de petróleo da PETROBRAS, em São Sebastião (SP, Brasil), cujo principal componente é a água de produção, foi avaliada através de testes de toxicidade com a diatomácea Skeletonema costatum. Amostras de dois efluentes (A e B), previamente tratados pela PETROBRAS, foram utilizadas nos experimentos. As duas amostras apresentaram alta salinidade (A=67‰; B=62‰) e baixo valor de pH (6,2), enquanto que as suas concentrações de sulfetos, fenóis e hidrocarbonetos de petróleo dissolvidos/dispersos, bem como os seus valores de DBO e DQO, foram bastante distintos. Nos experimentos de toxicidade, os frascos experimentais, em triplicata, para cada tratamento foram expostos à radiação luminosa fluorescente de 266 µm²S^-1 e mantidas em um ciclo luz/escuro de 10 h/14 h, a uma temperatura de 24 :t 2ºC. Os valores de CE₅₀ não puderam ser determinados com precisão para o efluente A: após 60 h e 132 h do início dos experimentos esses valores estavam abaixo de 3% e entre 3-6% da concentração de efluente, respectivamente. Foi observado sinergismo entre a toxicidade e a salinidade do efluente sobre o crescimento de S. costatum. O efluente B apresentou uma toxicidade mais elevada: os valores de CEso foram 0,17% e 0,40% da concentração do efluente, após 48 h e 96 h, respectivamente. Estes resultados evidenciaram claramente os efeitos deletérios dos compostos orgânicos residuais contidos no efluente líquido do DTCS, sobre S. costatum. Pode-se concluir que a disposição do efluente nas águas do canal de São Sebastião poderá ser prejudicial à biota local.

Descritores: Água de produção, Terminal de óleo, Testes de toxicidade, Skeletonema costatum.

Full text available only in PDF format.

Texto completo disponível apenas em PDF.

Acknowledgements

We thank "Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo" (FAPESP), "Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico" (CNPq) for financial sUPPOrt for the Laboratory of Marine Microalgal Cultures ­IOUSP, "Fundação de Estudos e Pesquisas Aquáticas" (FUNDESPA) and PETROBRÁS, for providing funds for this research and permission for publishing the results. We also thank to the colleagues Phan Van Ngan, Vicente Gomes, Murilo Damato and an anonymous reviewer for the critical reading of the manuscript, to Pablo Augusto Ferrari for the statistical analysis of data and to lone Irulegui for the English revision.

References

Aidar-Aragão, E. 1980. Alguns aspectos da autoecologia de Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve, de Cananéia (25ºS - 48ºW), com especial referência ao fator salinidade. Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico. 2v.

APHA. American Public Health Association. 1985. Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, 16th 00. Washington, APHA. 1268 p.

Castro Filho, B. M. de 1990. Wind driven currents in the Channel of São Sebastião: winter, 1979. Bolm Inst. oceanogr., S Paulo, 38(2): 111-132.

Daniels, C. B. & Means, 1. C. 1989. Assessment of the genotoxicity of produced water discharges associated with oil and gas production using a fish embryo and larval testo Mar. environ. Res., 28(1-4):303-307.

E & P Forum. 1994. North sea produced water: fate and effects in the marine environment. Report 2.62/ 204. 48p.

Ehrhardt, M. 1983. Determination of petroleum residues dissolved and/or finely dispersed in surface seawater. In: Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M. & Kremling, K. eds Methods of seawater analysis. 2^nd ed. Weinhen, Verlag Chemie. p. 281-290.

Gianesella, S. M. F.; Kutner, M. B. 8.; Saldanha-Corrêa, F. M. P. & Pompeu, M. 1999. Assessment of plankton community and environmental conditions in São Sebastião Channel prior to the construction of a produced water outfall. Rev. bras. oceanogr., 47(1):29-46.

Grasshoff, K. 1976. Methods of seawater analysis. New York, Verlag Chemie. 317 p.

Guillard, R. R. L. 1973. Division rates. ln: Stein, J. R. ed. Handbook of physiological methods: culture methods and growth measurements. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. p.289-311.

Guillard, R. R. L. 1975. Culture of phytoplankton for feeding marine invertebrates. In: Smith, W. L. & Chanley, M. H. eds Culture of marine invertebrate animaIs. New York, Plenum Publish. Corporation. p.29-60.

Hamilton, M. A.; Russo, R. C. & Thurston, R. V. 1977. Trimmed Spearman-Karber method for estimating median lethal concentrations in toxicity bioassays. Environ. Sci. Technol., 11(7): 714-719. Correction: 12 (4):417, 1978.

Macek, K. 1. 1985. Eftluent evaluation. In: Rand, G. M. & Petrocelli, S. R., eds. Fundamentais of aquatic toxicology. Methods and applications. New York, Hemisphere Publish. Corporation. p.636-649.

Phan, V. N.; Gomes,V. & Passos, M. J. A. C. R. 1994. Avaliação prévia da toxicidade de um efluente simulado derivado de petróleo sobre Promysis at/antica (Crustacea, Mysidacea). Bolm Inst. oceanogr., S Paulo, 42 (1/2):129-141.

Prouse, N. J.; Gordon Jr., D. C. & Keizer, P. D. 1976. Effects of low concentrations of oil accomodated in sea water on the growth of unialgal marine phytoplankton cultures. 1. Fish. Res. Bd Can., 33(4): 810-818.

Provasoli, L.; McLaughlin, J. J. A. & Droop, M. R. 1957. The development of artificial media for marine algae. Arch. Mikrobiol., 25:392-428.

Read, A. D. & Blackman, R. A. A. 1980. Oily water discharges from offshore north Sea installations: a perspective. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 11 (2): 44-47.

Shailaja, M. S. 1988. The influence of dissolved residues petroleum hydrocarbon phytoplankton biomass on natural Mar. environ. Res., 25(4): 315-324.

Somerville, H. J.; Bennett, D.; Davenport, J. N.; Holt, M. S.; Lynes, A.; Mahieu, A.; McCourt, B.; Parker, J. G.; Stephenson, R. R.; Watkinson, R. J. & Wilkinson, T. G. 1987. Environrnental effect of water from North Sea oil operations. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 18( 10): 549-558.

Sousa, E. C. P. M. & Tommasi, L. R. 1997. Toxicidade do efluente derivado do terminal marítimo da Petrobrás sobre o gastropoda Costoanachis sertulariarum. Rev. bras. oceanogr., 45(1/2): 95-99.

Strickland, J. D. H. & Parsons, T. R. 1968. A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can., 167: 1-311.

Stromgren, T.; S0rstr0m, S. E.; Schou, L; Kaarstad, L; Aunaas, T.; Brakstad, O. G. & Johansen, 0. 1995. Acute toxic effects of produced water in relation to chemical composition and dispersion. Mar. Environ. Res., 40(2):147-169.

Svanberg, O. & Renberg, L. 1988. Biological-chemical characterization of eftluents for the evaluation of the potential impact on the aquatic environment. In: Angeletti, G. & Bjmseth, A. eds Organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment. The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 244-255.

Teixeira, C.; Kutner, M. B. B; Aidar-Aragão, E. & Schmidt, G. 1986. Algal assay of limiting nutrients for phytoplankton production and growth at Flamengo Bay (Ubatuba-Brazil). Rev. Brasil. Biol., 46(3):491-506.

Treguer, P. & Le Corre, P. 1975. Manuel d'analyse des seis nutritifs dans l'eau de mer (utilization de l'autoanalyser II Technicon R). 2eme ed. Université de Bretagne Occidentale. 109 p.

Zar, J. H. 1984. Biostatistical analysis. New York, Englewood Cliffs/Prentice Hall. 718p.

(Manuscript received 17 February 1997; revised 03 November 1999; accepted 17 Fehruary 2000)

• Aidar-Aragão, E. 1980. Alguns aspectos da autoecologia de Skeletonema costatum (Greville) Cleve, de Cananéia (25şS - 48şW), com especial referência ao fator salinidade. Tese de doutorado. Universidade de São Paulo, Instituto Oceanográfico. 2v.
• APHA. American Public Health Association. 1985. Standard methods for the examination of water and waste water, 16th 00. Washington, APHA. 1268 p.
• Castro Filho, B. M. de 1990. Wind driven currents in the Channel of São Sebastião: winter, 1979. Bolm Inst. oceanogr., S Paulo, 38(2): 111-132.
• Daniels, C. B. & Means, 1. C. 1989. Assessment of the genotoxicity of produced water discharges associated with oil and gas production using a fish embryo and larval testo Mar. environ. Res., 28(1-4):303-307.
• E & P Forum. 1994. North sea produced water: fate and effects in the marine environment. Report 2.62/ 204. 48p.
• Ehrhardt, M. 1983. Determination of petroleum residues dissolved and/or finely dispersed in surface seawater. In: Grasshoff, K., Ehrhardt, M. & Kremling, K. eds Methods of seawater analysis. 2^nd ed. Weinhen, Verlag Chemie. p. 281-290.
• Gianesella, S. M. F.; Kutner, M. B. 8.; Saldanha-Corrêa, F. M. P. & Pompeu, M. 1999. Assessment of plankton community and environmental conditions in São Sebastião Channel prior to the construction of a produced water outfall. Rev. bras. oceanogr., 47(1):29-46.
• Grasshoff, K. 1976. Methods of seawater analysis. New York, Verlag Chemie. 317 p.
• Guillard, R. R. L. 1973. Division rates. ln: Stein, J. R. ed. Handbook of physiological methods: culture methods and growth measurements. Cambridge, Cambridge University Press. p.289-311.
• Hamilton, M. A.; Russo, R. C. & Thurston, R. V. 1977. Trimmed Spearman-Karber method for estimating median lethal concentrations in toxicity bioassays. Environ. Sci. Technol., 11(7): 714-719. Correction: 12 (4):417, 1978.
• Macek, K. 1. 1985. Eftluent evaluation. In: Rand, G. M. & Petrocelli, S. R., eds. Fundamentais of aquatic toxicology. Methods and applications. New York, Hemisphere Publish. Corporation. p.636-649.
• Phan, V. N.; Gomes,V. & Passos, M. J. A. C. R. 1994. Avaliação prévia da toxicidade de um efluente simulado derivado de petróleo sobre Promysis at/antica (Crustacea, Mysidacea). Bolm Inst. oceanogr., S Paulo, 42 (1/2):129-141.
• Prouse, N. J.; Gordon Jr., D. C. & Keizer, P. D. 1976. Effects of low concentrations of oil accomodated in sea water on the growth of unialgal marine phytoplankton cultures. 1. Fish. Res. Bd Can., 33(4): 810-818.
• Provasoli, L.; McLaughlin, J. J. A. & Droop, M. R. 1957. The development of artificial media for marine algae. Arch. Mikrobiol., 25:392-428.
• Read, A. D. & Blackman, R. A. A. 1980. Oily water discharges from offshore north Sea installations: a perspective. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 11 (2): 44-47.
• Shailaja, M. S. 1988. The influence of dissolved residues petroleum hydrocarbon phytoplankton biomass on natural Mar. environ. Res., 25(4): 315-324.
• Somerville, H. J.; Bennett, D.; Davenport, J. N.; Holt, M. S.; Lynes, A.; Mahieu, A.; McCourt, B.; Parker, J. G.; Stephenson, R. R.; Watkinson, R. J. & Wilkinson, T. G. 1987. Environrnental effect of water from North Sea oil operations. Mar. Pollut. Bull., 18( 10): 549-558.
• Sousa, E. C. P. M. & Tommasi, L. R. 1997. Toxicidade do efluente derivado do terminal marítimo da Petrobrás sobre o gastropoda Costoanachis sertulariarum. Rev. bras. oceanogr., 45(1/2): 95-99.
• Strickland, J. D. H. & Parsons, T. R. 1968. A practical handbook of seawater analysis. Bull. Fish. Res. Bd Can., 167: 1-311.
• Stromgren, T.; S0rstr0m, S. E.; Schou, L; Kaarstad, L; Aunaas, T.; Brakstad, O. G. & Johansen, 0. 1995. Acute toxic effects of produced water in relation to chemical composition and dispersion. Mar. Environ. Res., 40(2):147-169.
• Svanberg, O. & Renberg, L. 1988. Biological-chemical characterization of eftluents for the evaluation of the potential impact on the aquatic environment. In: Angeletti, G. & Bjmseth, A. eds Organic micropollutants in the aquatic environment. The Netherlands, Kluwer Academic Publishers. p. 244-255.
• Teixeira, C.; Kutner, M. B. B; Aidar-Aragão, E. & Schmidt, G. 1986. Algal assay of limiting nutrients for phytoplankton production and growth at Flamengo Bay (Ubatuba-Brazil). Rev. Brasil. Biol., 46(3):491-506.
• Treguer, P. & Le Corre, P. 1975. Manuel d'analyse des seis nutritifs dans l'eau de mer (utilization de l'autoanalyser II Technicon R). 2eme ed. Université de Bretagne Occidentale. 109 p.
• Zar, J. H. 1984. Biostatistical analysis. New York, Englewood Cliffs/Prentice Hall. 718p.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  22 Apr 2013
• Date of issue
  1999

History

• Accepted
  17 Feb 2000
• Reviewed
  03 Nov 1999
• Received
  17 Feb 1997