Geology topics

Neil L. Faerber

Publications and source records attributed to Neil L. Faerber.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS1990

Toxicity of organic selenium in the diet to chinook salmon

The toxicity of two organoselenium diets was evaluated in 90- to 120-d partial life cycle tests with two life stages of chinook salmon ( Oncorhynchus tshawytscha Walbaum). One of the diets contained fish meal made from high-selenium mosquitofish ( Gambusia affinis Baird and Girard) collected from the selenium-laden San Luis Drain, California (here termed SLD diet) and the other contained meal made from low-selenium mosquitofish (collected from a reference site) fortified with selenomethionine. A 90-d study was conducted with swim-up larvae in a water-simulating dilution of San Luis Drain water in a standardized fresh water; and a 120-d study was conducted with fingerlings 70-mm long in a water of similar quality but prepared with a standardized brackish water. After 90 d of exposure in the freshwater study, survival was reduced in fish fed ≥9.6 μg Se/g of either diet, and growth was reduced in fish fed ≥5.3 μg Se/g of SLD diet or ≥18.2 μg Se/g of selenomethionine diet. Reduced fish growth, whole-body concentrations of selenium and survival were strongly correlated to concentrations of selenium in both diets. After 120 d of exposure in the brackish-water study, survival was unaffected but growth was reduced in fish fed ≥18.2 μg Se/g of SLD diet or 35.4 μg Se/g of selenomethionine diet. After 120 d of dietary exposure, survival during a 10-d seawater challenge test was reduced in fish fed 35.4 μg Se/g of either diet. In this second dietary study, concentration—response relations were observed in both dietary treatments between the dietary concentrations of selenium and all three characteristics — fish growth, whole-body concentrations of selenium and survival in seawater.

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry↗

USGS1989

Acute toxicity of selected herbicides and surfactants to larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius

The acute toxicities of eight commercial herbicides and two surfactants to early fourth instar larvae of the midge Chironomus riparius were determined under static conditions. The formulated herbicides tested were Eradicane ® (EPTC), Fargo ® (triallate), Lasso ® (alachlor), ME4 Brominal ® (bromoxynil), Ramrod ® (propachlor), Rodeo ® (glyphosate), Sencor ® (metribuzin), and Sutan (+) ® (butylate); the two surfactants were Activator N.F. ® and Ortho X-77 ® . In addition, technical grade alachlor, metribuzin, propachlor, and triallate were tested for comparison with the formulated herbicides. The relative toxicity of the commercial formulations, based on percent active ingredient, varied considerably. The EC50 values ranged from 1.23 mg/L for Fargo ® to 5,600 mg/L for Rodeo ® . Fargo ® , ME4 Brominal ® , and Ramrod ® were moderately toxic to midge larvae; Lasso ® , Sutan (+) ® , and Eradicane ® were slightly toxic; and Sencor ® and Rodeo ® were practically non-toxic. The 48-hr EC50 values of the two surfactants were nearly identical and were considered moderately toxic to midges. For two of the herbicides in which the technical grade material was tested, the inert ingredients in the formulations had a significant effect on the toxicity of the active ingredients. Fargo ® was twice as toxic as technical grade triallate, whereas Sencor ® was considerably less toxic than technical grade metribuzin. A comparison of the slope function values indicated that the toxic action of all the compounds occurred within a relatively narrow range. Published acute toxicity data on these compounds for other freshwater biota were tabulated and compared with our results. In general, the relative order of toxicity to C. riparius was similar to those for other freshwater invertebrates and fish. Maximum concentrations of each herbicide in bulk runoff during a projected “critical” runoff event were calculated as a percentage of the application rate lost in a given volume of runoff. A comparison between estimated maximum herbicide concentrations in runoff and results of acute tests indicated that Ramrod ® , ME4 Brominal ® , and Lasso ® pose the greatest direct risk to midge larvae during a storm event.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1989

A system for reconstituting special water qualities for use in chronic toxicity studies

A water treatment system and procedure are described that are designed for preparing large quantities of reconstituted water with specific chemical and physical characteristics for use in chronic toxicity studies with fish and invertebrates. Water treatment units produce high-purity water in large quantities for storage in high-density cross-linked polyethylene tanks, where it is combined with various salts to reconstitute an appropriate experimental water quality that simulates potential environmental conditions for use as the test medium in an intermittent-flow proportional diluter. Several water quality characteristics for the source water and the receiving water, and respective flow rates must be considered when one calculates the chemical constituents that must be added to closely simulate the water in a potential environmental situation. The water treatment system and procedure have been used to produce four differently reconstituted experimental waters that were used in 60- to 90-day early life stage chronic toxicity studies with fish. Of the ten water quality characteristics measured in the experimental waters during the studies, eight had a coefficient of variation of <5%-indicating that the various physiochemical characteristics could be precisely reproduced throughout long-term exposure studies.

Water Research↗