Abstract

PAREDES, Christian  and  MIGLIO, María Cristina. Ecological risk assessment of barite (BASO₄) using ecotoxicological tests with twelve organisms . Ecol. apl. [online]. 2018, vol.17, n.1, pp.23-37. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v17i1.1170.

The effect of barite in aquatic ecosystems related to places where hydrocarbon activities are performed nationally is unknown. Therefore, the environmental risk of barite was undertaken using the ecotoxicological response of twelve organisms in order to assess the effects that this compound may cause to organisms related to marine and continental ecosystems where hydrocarbon activities are developed. Ecotoxicological tests included the microalgae Isochrysis galbana, and Chlorella sp., terrestrial plants Medicago sativa and Zea mays, crustaceans Daphnia magna, Emerita analoga, and Apohyale sp., the echinoderm Tetrapygus niger, the aquatic insect Chironomus calligraphus, and fishes Odontesthes regia regia, Poecilia reticulata, and Paracheirodon innesi. Measurements of parameters and bioassays protocols as the environmental risk assessment followed USEPA guidelines and recommendations and other authors. Main ecotoxicological results with barite and soluble forms, showed a negative effect of barite on cell growth of epicontinental microalgae Chlorella sp. (96 h), which recorded a half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC₅₀) of 0.1 g/l and an unobservable effective concentration (NOEC) of 0.02 g/l. Likewise, a negative effect of barium on leaf growth of monocot terrestrial plant Z. mays (10 d) which recorded an half maximal effective concentration (EC₅₀) of 0.0011 g/l and NOEC of 0.0002 g/l. Finally, we concluded that there is high environmental risk for barium sulfate (RQ = 1.224) and soluble forms (RQ = 37 500) using a deterministic method, while there is not environmental risk for barium sulfate (RQ = 0.4) and there is an environmental risk for soluble forms (RQ = 122.95) using the ecotoxicological response of twelve organisms.

Keywords : IC₅₀; EC₅₀; NOEC; ecotoxicological tests; environmental risk; barite.

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