Abstract
Duckweed, Lemna minor, was used for testing single elements and leachates of coal ashes and sediments by expressing growth as surface coverage. The EC50 for the elements Cd, Cu, Zn, As(III), As(V), Se(IV), Se(VI), SeO2 were 0.86, 2.2, 4.4, 8.4, 297, 21, 67, 37 μM, respectively. Leachates were tested of pulverized coal fuel ash (PFA), including “low NOx” ashes, coal gasification slag (CGS), and, as a reference, the polluted sediments of a canal. The concentrations of elements in leachates of “low NOx” PFA were higher than those in leachates of conventional PFA. The leaching of anions from PFA was more quickly than the cations. CGS showed an absolutely minimal element leaching. Comparison of the effects of conventional PFA with sediments from Rotterdam harbor, River Rhine, and the canal shows PFA to be the far less toxic one. The sediment samples from the canal demonstrated strong growth inhibition, probably due to high zinc concentrations originating from industrial activity.
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Jenner, H.A., Janssen-Mommen, J.P.M. Duckweed Lemna minor as a tool for testing toxicity of coal residues and polluted sediments. Arch. Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 25, 3–11 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00230704
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00230704