RESULTS OF TOXICITY TESTS WITH MARINE ORGANISMS OF KUWAITI COAST

Abstract

For obtaining background information on the sublethal to toxic effects of
th« different types of pollutants entering the marine environment of Kuwait, 33
continuous flow bioassays of 96 h duration, one long duration bioassay of 60 days
and 4 static assays of 96 h duration were carried out. Toxicants tested were salts
of 5 heavy metals, 9 types of mineral oils, 3 types of oil dispersants and mixtures
of oils and dispersants. Test animals included fingerlings of the mullet, Liza macrolepis
(Smith); adults and juveniles of the prawn, Penaeus semisulcatus de Haan;
four species of intertidal gastropods (Lunella coronatus Gmelin, Monodoiita
canalifera Lamarck, Thais fusconigra Dimker and Planaxis sulcatus (Born); the
sea urchin Echinometra mathaei and the brine shrimp, Artemia salina. Estimates
of LC 50 values of all the tests are presented. They reveal marked species variations
in response to the toxicants