An ecological risk assessment for a South African acid mine drainage

• Published in: Water science and technology Vol. 39; no. 10-11; pp. 297 - 303
• Main Authors: Jooste, Sebastian, Thirion, Christa
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Elsevier Ltd 1999; Pergamon Press; IWA Publishing
• Subjects: Acid mine drainage; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Applied sciences; Aquatic organisms; Biological and medical sciences; biotic integrity; Chronic toxicity; Coal mines; Cohorts; Daphnia pulex; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Ecological risk assessment; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Engineering and environment geology. Geothermics; Environmental impact; Exact sciences and technology; Fresh water environment; Freshwater crustaceans; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Heavy metals; Industrial wastewaters; invertebrates; Manganese; Metal concentrations; Mine drainage; Pollution; Pollution, environment geology; Population (statistical); population dynamics; Probability theory; Risk assessment; Rivers; South Africa; Species extinction; Toxicity; Toxicity testing; Wastewaters; Water analysis; Water pollution; Water sampling; Water treatment; Water treatment and pollution; Zinc; South Africa(Republic); Africa; South Africa; risk assessment; biotic integrity; Acid mine drainage; invertebrates; Daphnia pulex; population dynamics; Toxicity; Cladocera; Risk analysis; Crustacea; Freshwater environment; Industrial waste water; Arthropoda; Surface water; Water pollution; Invertebrata; Branchiopoda; Mining industry
• ISBN: 0080428185; 9780080428185
• ISSN: 0273-1223; 1996-9732
• DOI: 10.1016/S0273-1223(99)00289-9

Biotic integrity assessment of a stream subject to acid mine drainage (AMD) indicated that a number of the expected taxa were absent. Acute and chronic toxicity assessment of water sampled in a stream subject to AMD impact indicate that even at near neutral pH the metal concentration in the water dominates the toxicity toward Daphma pulex. Extending the observation period to the death of test cohort in an otherwise standard sub-chrome toxicity test, allowed for generating a life table for the D. pulex. The probability of population extinction was estimated from the statistical characteristics of a bootstrap estimation of the dominant eigenvalue of a Leslie matrix based on the life table. At the current concentration levels of metals, notably manganese and zinc, in the water, a high risk to aquatic life exists. It is suggested that the metal content of the stream water also be addressed in an AMD water treatment plan.