An Ecological Risk Assessment of Ammonia in the Aquatic Environment |
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| Authors: | Miles Constable Murray Charlton Fern Jensen Karen McDonald Gordon Craig Ken W Taylor |
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| Institution: | 1. Environment Canada - Prairie and Northern Region, 4999 98th Avenue, Edmonton, AB, Canada T6B 2X3;2. Aquatic Ecosystem Management Research Branch, National Water Research Institute, Environment Canada, 867 Lakeshore Road, Burlington, ON, Canada L7R 4A6;3. G.R. Craig and Associates Inc., 7785 -17th SR, King Township, Bolton, ON, Canada L7E 5R7;4. Existing Substances Branch, Environment Canada, Place Vincent Massey, 14th Floor, 351 St. Joseph Boulevard, Gatineau, QC, Canada K1A 0H3 |
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| Abstract: | Ammonia is released in the environment by many industries and other human activities. The major quantifiable sources of ammonia released to aquatic ecosystems across Canada are municipal wastewater treatment plants, at an estimated total quantity of 62,000 tonnes per year. Given the sources of ammonia releases in the environment and the properties of the substance, terrestrial plants and aquatic organisms are potential risk targets. A tiered assessment approach has been used to determine the ecological risk in the aquatic environment from ammonia released in municipal wastewater effluents. The results obtained for two case studies with the probabilistic risk analysis used in the highest tier support the conclusion that the conditions encountered in these two locations can lead to ammonia concentrations capable of producing an adverse ecological impact. |
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| Keywords: | tiered assessment probabilistic assessment municipal wastewater effluent ammonia |
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