Uma das principais fontes de poluição dos recursos hídricos são os efluentes líquidos industriais. Dentre esses, destacam-se os efluentes de refinaria de petróleo, pois geram efluentes bastante complexos e de difícil tratabilidade. Desta forma, evidencia-se a necessidade de monitoramento contínuo da qualidade desses efluentes, uma vez que são considerados de alto risco. Além do monitoramento físico-químico, o monitoramento biológico é uma importante ferramenta para avaliação da qualidade de efluentes. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a eficiência de quatro ensaios na determinação da toxicidade de efluente tratado de refinaria de petróleo. Foram realizados ensaios de toxicidade aguda com Daphnia magna e com bactérias aeróbias heterotróficas (Teste D), e ensaios de toxicidade crônica com Ceriodaphnia dubia e Caenorhabditis elegans. Os ensaios com D. magna seguiram a NBR 12713 (ABNT, 2004) e tiveram como endpoint a mortalidade. O Teste D foi baseado em Krebs (1985) e avaliou efeitos de estímulo ou inibição do consumo bioquímico de oxigênio (CBO). Ensaios com C. dubia avaliaram a mortalidade e a reprodução dos organismos, segundo a NBR 13373 (ABNT, 2005). Os ensaios com C. elegans foram realizados de acordo com a ISO/DIS 10872 (2009), e tiveram o crescimento e a reprodução como endpoints. As cinco amostras avaliadas foram provenientes de refinaria de petróleo do estado do Paraná. A análise estatística dos resultados mostrou que C. elegans foi o organismo mais sensível ao efluente, apresentando concentração de efeito observado (CEO) a partir de 12,5%, sendo classificado como organismo moderadamente sensível. Os ensaios com C. elegans e o Teste D apresentaram estímulo na concentração mais baixa, fenômeno conhecido como hormese. Esse fenômeno deveria ser considerado em avaliações ambientais uma vez que toda alteração na composição e estrutura de comunidades interfere na integridade dos ecossistemas. / One of the main sources of water pollution is industrial wastewater. Among these, stands the waste of oil refinery effluents because is quite complex and of difficult tractability. Therefore, it is evident the need for continuous monitoring of the quality of these effluents, since they are considered high risk waste. In addition to monitoring physical and chemical, biological monitoring is an important tool for assessing the quality of effluents. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of four tests in determining the toxicity of treated wastewater of oil refinery. Were performed acute toxicity tests with Daphnia magna and heterotrophic aerobic bacteria (D Test), and chronic toxicity tests with Ceriodaphnia dubia and Caenorhabditis elegans. Tests with D. magna followed the NBR 12713 (ABNT, 2004) and had the mortality as endpoint. The D Test was based on Krebs (1985) and assessed the effects of stimulation or inhibition of biochemical oxygen consumption (BOD). Tests with C. dubia evaluated the mortality rate and reproduction of organisms, according to NBR 13373 (ABNT, 2005). Tests with C. elegans were performed according to ISO / DIS 10872 (2009), and had the growth and reproduction as endpoints. The five evaluated samples were from an oil refinery in the state of Parana, Brazil. The statistical analysis showed that C. elegans was the most sensitive organism to the effluent, presenting the observed effect concentration (OEC) from 12.5%, which classified it as moderately sensitive organism. Tests with C. elegans and the D Test showed low-dose stimulation, a phenomenon known as hormesis. This phenomenon should be considered in environmental assessments because every change in communities composition and structure interferes in the ecosystems integrity.

The uptake, distribution and depuration of a water soluble, mono-aromatic hydrocarbon contained in petroleum and refined products was studied in two species of marine fish, Nature northern anchovy (Engraulis mordax) and juvenile striped bass (Horone saxatilis) were exposed to sub-lethal concentrations of 14c benzene for 48 hours. Residues in tissues exhibiting a high lipid content (non-metabolic pathway) or representing apparent major metabolic sites were measured during the exposure and afterwards when the fish were transferred to clean seawater. Fish exhibited a rapid uptake over a wide range of benzene concentrations in the water column. Accumulation in anchovy was considerably greater than in striped bass. Results indicate that the pathway of hydrocarbons through the liver, gall bladder, intestines and colon is a major depuration route. Residues were depurated rapidly after cessation of exposure; in striped bass tissues. most residues were undetectable by seven days,

The purpose of this study was to compare the simultaneous effects of the water soluble fraction (WSF) of JP-4, a common military and civilian jet fuel, on survival, ventilatory rate, preference-avoidance behavior, and blood enzymes and ions of the bluegill sunfish (Lepomis rnacrochirus) to determine possible interrelationships and which procedures might be most descriptive of sublethal stress. The dynamic 96-h LCSO for WSF JP-4 was 26.2% (percent of the maximum soluble amount of JP-4). A concentration of 5.1% WSF JP-4 caused a detectable shift in ventilatory functions (rate and amplitude); this concentration was equivalent to the 96-h LCOl. Fish did not display a strong preference-avoidance reaction when exposed to WSF JP-4. Some avoidance occurred at 3.5% and 4.9% WSF JP-4. At concentrations near the 96-h LCSO fish appeared to lose their ability to detect WSF JP-4, indicating potential for fish not to avoid lethal levels of WSF JP-4. Few significant changes in whole and serum blood parameters were measured in fish exposed to 13% WSF JP-4; at near lethal concentrations changes were primarily attributed to osmoregulatory failure. Therefore such changes in blood parameters would not be useful to validate or confirm exposure to WSF JP-4. There were few significant changes in gill and liver histology of fish exposed to WSF JP-4 other than an increase in size or number of lipid vacuoles in the liver of exposed fish. / Ph. D.

Graduation date: 1995