Preliminary experiments were carried out to estimate the potential toxicity of an effluent derived from petroleum to be dumped into São Sebastião channel through a submarine emissary which is being built at the Maritime Terminal "Almirante Barroso" (TEBAR). Two simulated samples of this effluent (denominated A and B) were supplied by PETROBRÁS. The toxicity of sample A was tested with young and adult Promysis atlántica (Crustacea, Mysidacea) and the toxicity of sample B only with young individuals of the same species. In relation to Effluent-A, concentrations between 1% and 5% increase significantly the rate of mortality of animals in short term tests (24-96 hrs). The results also indicated that, in this case, adults are less resistant than youngs. Concentrations of 0.075% of Effluent-B are at the maximum limits of no effect observation for short term expositions of young animals (96 hrs). The two effluent samples are different from each other. Both of them are very toxic, but the second is about 10 times more toxic than the first one. The toxicity of the samples also varies in function of time of storage. It seems that this variation is not predictable as the results indicated that the toxicity increased with storage for sample A and diminished for sample B. Other possible effects of the effluent on the ecosystem are discussed.
Mysidacea; Promysis atlântica; marine toxicology; toxicity; petroleum