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Microtox EC50 values for drinking water by-products produced by ozonolysis
1Department of Environmental Health Sciences, UCLA Center for Occupational and Environmental Health, UCLA School of Public Health 90024-1772.
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
|June 1, 1992
Summary
The Microtox EC50 values for aliphatic aldehydes and carboxylic acids were determined. Toxicity generally increased with chain length, with aldehydes being more toxic than acids above C7.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Toxicology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Aliphatic aldehydes and carboxylic acids are by-products of drinking water ozonolysis.
- Understanding their toxicity is crucial for water safety.
- Previous toxicity data for these compounds, especially longer chain lengths, is limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- Determine Microtox EC50 values for aliphatic aldehydes and carboxylic acids (C1-C14).
- Investigate the influence of chain length and chemical class on toxicity.
- Assess the suitability of the Microtox assay for detecting these ozonolysis by-products.
Main Methods:
- Microtox assay using Photobacterium phosphoreum.
- Tested aqueous and methanolic saline solutions for solubility.
- Measured EC50 values at 5, 15, and 25 minutes.
Main Results:
- EC50 values decreased with increasing chain length for most compounds.
- Aldehydes were more toxic than carboxylic acids above C7 chain length.
- Microtox assay could not detect reported concentrations of these by-products in drinking water.
Conclusions:
- Toxicity of aliphatic aldehydes and carboxylic acids is chain-length dependent.
- The Microtox assay provides valuable EC50 data for these compounds.
- Current drinking water concentrations of these ozonolysis by-products are below Microtox detection limits.