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Lethal effects on different marine organisms, associated with sediment–seawater acidification deriving from CO2 leakage

  • 15th International Symposium on Toxicity Assessment
  • Published:
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Abstract

CO2 leakages during carbon capture and storage in sub-seabed geological structures could produce potential impacts on the marine environment. To study lethal effects on marine organisms attributable to CO2 seawater acidification, a bubbling CO2 system was designed enabling a battery of different tests to be conducted, under laboratory conditions, employing various pH treatments (8.0, 7.5, 7.0, 6.5, 6.0, and 5.5). Assays were performed of three exposure routes (seawater, whole sediment, and sediment elutriate). Individuals of the clam (Ruditapes philippinarum) and early-life stages of the gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata, were exposed for 10 days and 72 h, respectively, to acidified clean seawater. S. aurata larvae were also exposed to acidified elutriate samples, and polychaete organisms of the specie Hediste diversicolor and clams R. philippinarum were also exposed for 10 days to estuarine whole sediment. In the fish larvae elutriate test, 100 % mortality was recorded at pH 6.0, after 48 h of exposure. Similar results were obtained in the clam sediment exposure test. In the other organisms, significant mortality (p < 0.05) was observed at pH values lower than 6.0. Very high lethal effects (calculating L[H+]50, defined as the H+ concentration that causes lethal effects in 50 % of the population exposed) were detected in association with the lowest pH treatment for all the species. The implication of these results is that a severe decrease of seawater pH would cause high mortality in marine organisms of several different kinds and life stages. The study addresses the potential risks incurred due to CO2 leakages in marine environments.

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Acknowledgments

The work described was supported partially by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CTM2008-06344-C03-02/ TECNO, CTM2008-06344-C03-03/TECNO, and CTM2011-28437-C02-02) and by grant P08-556 RNM 3924 from the Regional Government of Andalusia (Junta de Andalucía). We thank the following for their contributions: M. De Orte for her valuable collaboration in the setup of the CO2 system and performance of the toxicity tests and the Marine Aquaculture Working Group (Marine and Environmental Science Faculty, University of Cádiz). MDB also thanks Prof. Dr. Jesús Forja for his personal clarifications. This is the CEIMAR journal publication 5.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Química-Física, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar y Ambientales, Universidad de Cádiz. UNESCO/UNITWIN Wicop. Campus de Excelencia Internacional del Mar (CEIMAR), Polígono Río San Pedro s/n, Puerto Real, 11510, Cádiz, Spain

    M. D. Basallote, A. DelValls & I. Riba

  2. Departamento de Ecología y Gestión Costera, Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (CSIC), Campus Río San Pedro, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    A. Rodríguez-Romero & J. Blasco

  3. Unidad Asociada Oceanografía Interdisciplinar UCA-CSIC, Campus Río San Pedro, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain

    J. Blasco

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  1. M. D. Basallote
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  2. A. Rodríguez-Romero
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  3. J. Blasco
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  5. I. Riba
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Correspondence to M. D. Basallote.

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Communicated by Philippe Garrigues

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Basallote, M.D., Rodríguez-Romero, A., Blasco, J. et al. Lethal effects on different marine organisms, associated with sediment–seawater acidification deriving from CO2 leakage. Environ Sci Pollut Res 19, 2550–2560 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0899-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-012-0899-8

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