Comparison of Ozone and Chlorine Toxicity to the Developmental Stages of Striped Bass, <i>Morone saxatilis</i>

Abstract

Toxicity of ozone-produced oxidants (OPO) to striped bass, Morone saxatilis, eggs, larvae, and fingerlings was determined under continuous-flow conditions. Eggs, tested in both fresh and estuarine water, were found to be significantly (P &lt; 0.001) more sensitive to OPO in freshwater. The higher sensitivity found for striped bass eggs in freshwater suggests that ozone could have a more pronounced effect if discharged in freshwater industrial or municipal wastewaters located in the vicinity of a striped bass spawning area. The ozone data collected in this study were compared with previously published chlorine toxicity data for each striped bass life stage. The toxicity of chlorine and ozone was found to be similar with striped bass eggs and larvae in estuarine water. LC50's for fingerlings were 0.20 mg/L OPO at 6 h and 0.08 mg/L OPO at 96 h.Key words: ozone, oxidants, chlorine, striped bass, Morone saxatilis; wastewaters