Ecotoxicological and inorganic chemicals' characterization of rainwater in an urban residential area

Abstract

A survey of inorganic chemicals and acute ecotoxicity to Daphnia magna was performed in rain water samples collected in an urban area. Samples were collected from three types of origins namely ground surface contact, non-contact, collected directly from atmosphere, and roof contact. Chemical and ecotoxicological results varied with the locations and origins of the samples. Data were found to be distributed normally by means of Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistics test. All samples were found to be different from each other statistically (100% variance). None of the samples displayed any significant toxicity to Daphnia magna (<30% of immobilization after 48-h exposure time). Anyhow acute ecotoxicity data displayed statistically dependent parameters such as pH and EC, and performing chronic ecotoxicological tests would be useful to be able to assess the risk and to determine mitigation strategies for water quality control.