Ecological Research Series
NTA  and Mercury  in
Artificial Stream Systems
                                   Office of Research and Development
                                   U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
                                   Washington, D.C. 20460

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                                      EPA-660/3-73-025
                                      February 1974
NTA AND MERCURY IN ARTIFICIAL STREAM SYSTEMS
                     By
    Henry J. Kania and Robert J. Beyers
           University of Georgia
              Athens, Georgia
             Project 16050 GQQ
          Program Element 1BA023
               Project Officer

          Dr. Walter M. Sanders III
 Southeast Environmental Research Laboratory
          Athens, Georgia  30601
                Prepared for

    OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
    U. S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
          WASHINGTON, D. C.  20460

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                             ABSTRACT

Studies were conducted in six artificial stream channels to determine
the fate of NTA (nitrilotriacetic acid, trisodium salt) added with
and without sodium phosphate to these systems.  In the two hour
period required for a given water mass to traverse the channels,
there was no appreciable removal of NTA or phosphate, even after a
one month period of continuous input.  Visible biological differences
were noted between the various treatments.  These differences may
have been a result of pH alteration caused by the addition of the
trisodium phosphate and NTA.

In anticipation of a long term program involving the fate of mercury
and possible mercury-NTA interactions, several modifications were
incorporated into the artificial stream system.  Based on the results
of laboratory studies, a mercury removal system utilizing shredded
rubber tires as obtained from commercial tire recapping firms, was
constructed.  Laboratory studies indicated that NTA did not influence
the uptake of mercuric ion by the rubber.  The presence of NTA did
alter the uptake pattern and final concentration by mosquitofish,
Gambusia affinis.

This report was submitted in fulfillment of Grant 16050 GQQ, Program
Element 1BA023, to the University of Georgia under the sponsorship of
the Environmental Protection Agency.
                                ii

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                        CONTENTS






Section                                      Page




  I          Conclusions                      1




  II         Recommendations                  2




  III        Introduction                     3




  IV         Analytical Methods               4




  V          Experimental Results             5




               Phase One -                    5




               Phase Two -                   12




  VI           References                    25

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                        FIGURES

                                                   Paqe
 1.  View of upper portion of stream  channels,
    head pools, and water input  system               6

 2.  Weirs by which flows into the  channels  are
    measured                                         7

 3.  NTA and phosphate chemical feed  system          10

 4.  View of PVC covered channels showing  moat
    at extreme left and pump system  feeding
    water quality monitors                          13

 5.  Pumping system and water quality monitor at
    head end of streams                             14

 6.  Water treatment facility consisting of
    limestone filled tubes                          16

 7.  Mercury input feed system with four channel
    peristaltic pump                                17

 8.  Results of rubber uptake                        19

 9-  Rubber beds in tail pools for  removal of
    mercury from artificial stream water            20

10.  The uptake of mercury from a mercuric
    chloride solution by a polyvinyl chloride
    film                                            21

11.  Plastic strips suspended in  streams             22

12.  Influence of NTA on mercury  uptake by
    mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis                  23
                      IV

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                         TABLES
No.
    Well Water Analysis
Page




 8

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                            ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The support of the staff of the National Pollutants Fate Research
Program, Southeast Environmental Research Laboratory, is acknowledged
with sincere thanks.  Special recognition is due Mr. Bruce C.
Ferguson of this group who coordinated the effort between the Savannah
River Ecology Laboratory and the Southeast Environmental Research
Laboratory.
                               vi

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                        SECTION I
                       CONCLUSIONS

1.  There is. no detectable degradation of NTA,  either
added alone or with trisodium phosphate, during a  two
hour period in artificial stream systems.

2.  Biological differences between treatments,  as
determined by visual observations and bacterial
counts, may have been the result of treatment  -
induced pH changes in these soft water systems.

3.  Granulated vulcanized rubber, a waste product
of commercial tire recapping operations, provides
a convenient and economical method of removing in-
organic mercury from water.  Uptake is not affected
by NTA.

4.  NTA does affect the uptake of mercury from water
by mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis.

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                      SECTION II
                   RECOMMENDATIONS
1.  The interaction of NTA with mercury and other
metals needs intensive investigation before NTA is
released in large quantities to the environment.
Especially needed are studies to determine NTA effects
on heavy metal movement between components of aquatic
ecosystems and how these are influenced by other
additions (thermal, organic, chemical, etc.) to the
aquatic habitat.

2.  The use of vulcanized rubber scrap as a mercury
removal agent should be futher investigated.  De-
contamination of problem areas in the environment
may be feasible.

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                        SECTION III
                      INTRODUCTION
Phosphates have been implicated in the increased rate
of eutrophication in some streams and lakes.  Since a
great portion of the phosphates introduced by man into
the environment result from the use of detergents, a
great effort has been made to find phosphate substi-
tutes.  One compound that is now in use in some countries
is the trisodium salt of nitrilotriacetic acid, usually
referred to as NTA.  This compound was voluntarily
removed by manufacturers from detergents in the United States
at the request of the Surgeon-General.  The request was
made because of the many unknown factors involved in the
release of great quantities of a relatively unknown compound
into the environment.  Two areas of general concern were
the possible production of carcinogenic products under certain
conditions of NTA degradation, and the interaction of NTA,
a well known chelating agent, with heavy metals in the
environment.

The work described in this report consists of two phases.
The first phase, an attempt to determine the fate of NTA
introduced into artificial stream systems, was carried
out in conjunction with personnel from the Environmental
Protection Agency's National Pollutants Fate Research Program,
Southeast Water Laboratory, Athens, Georgia.  The second
phase involved modifications of the stream facility
and preliminary experiments with mercury and mercury-NTA
interactions in preparation for a long term mercury study.
The mercury work is presently underway.

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                         SECTION IV
                     ANALYTICAL METHODS
Analyses for NTA, total organic .carbon,  total  inorganic
carbon, orthophosphate and nitrate were  carried  out  by
personnel of the Southeast Water Laboratory  on samples
prepared at the stream site and transported  on ice  to
Athens, Georgia.

NTA was determined by the Zinc^-Zincon  semi-automatic
procedure for the Technicon Autoanalyzer as  described
by Thompson and Duthie (1968).  The minimum  detectable
concentration of this method is O.2 mg/liter as  N33NTA.
A hydrogen form cation exchange resin  was  used to remove
cations that might have interferred.

Total organic carbon was determined from acidified.
nitrogen-purged samples on a Beckman Model 915 Total
Carbon Analyzer coupled to a Beckman Model 215A
Infrared Analyzer.

Total inorganic carbon was determined  by the procedure
described by Kerr et al. (1970) utilizing  a  Varian
Aerograph Gas Analyzer.

Orthophosphate and nitrate concentrations  were determined
on a Technicon Autoanalyzer according  to procedures
described in FWCPA Methods for Chemical  Analysis of
Water and Wastes, (1969).

Suspended bacteria were counted by serial  dilution  pour
plates made with tryptone glucose extract  agar.

All pH measurements were made with an  Orion  Specific
Ion Meter and a Corning combination electrode.

Mercury determinations were made on a  Coleman  MAS 50 Analyzer
modified by the addition of a digital  read-out system. Fish
were digested using the procedure described  by Uthe  et al.
(1970).  Analytical instructions provided  with the  Coleman
Analyzer were followed.

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                           SECTION V
                    EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS
Phase one

The artificial  stream facility used  in  this  study was
constructed  the summer of 1970 at the Atomic Energy
Commission's  Savannah River Plant.   The particular
site was chosen because of the availability  of an
adequate water  supply and a level concrete platform
of sufficient size.   The facility consists of six
concrete block  channels 300 feet long,  2  feet wide
and one foot  deep with pools, 10 feet long,  five feet
wide and two  feet deep, located at both ends.  Figure 1
shows the  six head pools, flow adjust valves, V-notch
weirs, chemical feed systems and initial  30  feet of
the stream channels.  The system is  arranged so that
water can  be  input either into the pools  or  directly
into the channels.

For this phase  of the work, the entire  system was
lined with 11 mil transparent polyethylene sheeting,
a covering selected  because it was immediately available.
Washed quartz builder-'s sand was placed in the channels to
a uniform  depth of 2 inches.

Water supplied  from  a deep well was  input to the head
pools and  the valves adjusted to provide  25  gallons
per minute into each channel as measured  by  weirs
(Figure 2).   The quality of the well water has been
periodically  monitored by E. I. duPont  personnel since
1952 and the  measured parameters vary little in time.
A typical  analysis is given in Table 1.   Adjustable
plates at  the ends of the channels were set  to main-
tain a water  depth of eight inches.  With this depth
and an input  of 25 gallons per minute,  retention times
averaged two  hours in the channels and  thirty minutes
in the pools.

Water flow throught  the channels was started in late
August of  1970.   Material collected  from  local ponds
and streams  originating from artesian outflows from the
same aquifer  supplying the artificial streams, was

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                       **
Figure 1.  View of upper portion of stream channels, head pools, and water input system.

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r
                   Figure 2.   Weirs by which flows  into  the  channels  are measured.

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                          TABLE  I
                    WELL WATER ANALYSIS




Total Organic Carbon          3.2


Inorganic Carbon as CO2      24.75



Nitrate                        .190


Orthophosphate                 .0015


Hardness Ca C03               5.O


Dissolved Oxygen              9.5

                                o
Temperature                  21.O C


pH                            4.7
mg/liter


mg/liter


ing/liter


mg/liter


mg/liter


mg/liter

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introduced on several occasions into the head pools and
channels for seeding purposes.  Unsuccessful attempts
were made to introduce fish (Gambusia affinis and
Semotilua atromaculatus) into the channels.  The last
seeding was in mid September when 10 gallons of material
were placed in each head pool, and the water flow reduced
for a period of 24 hours to allow organisms to settle.
The channels were then not disturbed for one month
except for periodic adjustment of the flows.  After
this period, an intensive diel study was conducted
to establish pre-dosing conditions and optimum sampling
times.  At that time large floating mats (algae and
bacteria) had formed in all the head pools.  Filamentous
growth was visible on the walls and bottoms of both pools
and channels.  The growth was greatest near the input
ends of the channels.  The channels appeared to be very
similar.

A chemical feed system was installed near the head pools to
provide a continuous input of NTA and phosphate solutions.
This system  (Figure 3) consisted of four 54 gallon polyethy-
lene-lined drums, air lift pumps which maintained a constant
liquid level in four polyethylene bottles located on the
drums, and four solenoid valves which were electrically
pulsed to maintain the desired input rate.  Flows from the
solenoid valves entered the head pools near where the water
was input so as to provide instant mixing.

Of the six channels, two were maintained as controls  (1 and
4, looking from tail to head and counting left to right),
two (3 and 5) received inputs of NTA and trisodium phosphate
to provide 10 mg/liter of each compound, one (2) received NTA
alone, and the last (6) received Na3PO. alone, again to pro-
vide concentrations of 10 mg/liter.  The chemical feed system
was started on October 22, 1970.  A continuous input was main-
tained until November 23, 1970 when subfreezing temperatures
caused the feed system to stop and the experiment was termin-
ated .

During the period of phosphate-NTA input, water samples were
taken at 6 am and 2 pm daily from both ends of each channel.
Temperature and pH were determined in situ.  Water samples
were fixed at the streams for titrating for dissolved oxygen.
A single 150 ml water sample was taken for NTA, phosphate, and
nitrate determinations.  This water was filtered through a
washed 0.45.micron sterile membrane filter into an acid rinsed
sterile container and immediately refrigerated.  Total organic
carbon samples were taken in acid washed sterile, containers,
acidified immediately and refrigerated until analyzed.  In-
organic carbon samples were filtered through 0.22 micron filters

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Figure 3.  NTA and phosphate chemical feed system.




                           10

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into air tight vials,  sealed and refrigerated.  Bacterial
samples were taken  in  acid washed sterile containers,  acid-
ified immediately and  refrigerated until analyzed.   Inor-
ganic carbon samples were  filtered through O.22 micron filters
into air tight vials,  sealed and refrigerated.  Bacterial
samples were taken  in  sterile dilution bottles and pour plates
made within 15 minutes.   The results of all chemical  analyses
and bacterial counts were  punched on computer cards  and
computer programs written  for data analysis by Southeast
Water Laboratory personnel.   A summary of results is  given
in the final report of Project 16050 GJB, Environmental
Fate of NTA,  (SEW,  1971).   The variability of the data was
such that tests for upstream-down-stream changes, and  differ-
ences between treatments were very insensitive.  No  signif-
cant removal of NTA in any of the channels was detected.
There were significant differences between treatments  with
respect to the bacterial counts, Nas POONasPO^ + NTA>NTA
controls, as determined by a Duncan's Multiple Range  Test.
This ranking corresponds to the average pH of the water in
the channels, which was greatly influenced by the additions
of the NTA and Na3  PO4.

During the period of this  study, several general observa-
tions were made that could not be considered quantitatively
due to the lack of  available personnel.  At the start  of the
chemical input, there  were extensive algal mats in all the
head pools.  The character of the mats other than the  con-
trols changed in time, apparently as a result of the  chemical
input.  The mats in pools  receiving NTA, either alone  or with
phosphate, became a brighter green, while the mat in  the pool
receiving only Na^PO^  was  destroyed and transported  over
the weirs into the  channels.  The mats in the remaining pools
were manually destroyed and allowed to pass downstream to
maintain all channel systems in a similar condition.   Micro-
scopic examination  of  the  mats shortly before this time
showed no gross differences in qualitative species structure.
Mats reformed quickly  in the control pools, more slowly in
all the pools receiving NTA, and did not form at all  in the
pool receiving only Na_PCK.

These observations  suggest an effect of NTA on the biological
communities, even though the results of chemical analyses did
not indicate a significant removal, hence utilization,  of this
compound.  Also indicated  is some type of interaction  between
NTA and trisodium phosphate.
                          11

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Phase two

The initial experiments with NTA demonstrated a number
of problems with the artificial stream facility.  No
attempt was made to rectify most of these during the NTA
work so that all personnel time could be devoted to data
acquisition.  The next use planned for the stream facility
was a study to determine the fate of low levels of mercury
introduced as mercuric ion into the channels and to deter-
mine biological effects resulting from the mercury.  A
great deal of preparation was necessary before this work
could be started.

When the NTA study was over, all sand was removed from
the channels and the plastic lining, which was already
beginning to deteriorate, was removed.  Based on the
recommendations of experts familiar with reservoir and
irrigation channel linings, a 20 mil black PVC  (polyvinyl
chloride) film was selected for lining material.  This
plastic was purchased so that each channel lining would be
a single piece.  After the streams and pools were covered,
a two inch layer of new sand was placed on the bottoms of the
channels.  To cut down on the input of organic material into
channels 1 and 6 (insects, mice, spiders and millepedes were
often found in these channels), a PVC lined moat about six
inches deep was constructed on each side of the channel
system (Figure 4).  The moat next to channel one also served
to eliminate the extra heat input to the outside wall of
channel one by direct sunlight.  The areas between the channel
pairs were partitioned and flooded to somewhat alleviate
excessive heating of channel three and channel five walls
and, secondarily, provide additional experimental chambers and
conditioning areas.  These are also visible in Figure 4.

Continuous recording water quality monitors were installed
at the head and tail ends_of the channels.  These units,
Schneider Instrument Company RM25 Robot Monitors, have
provisions for recording dissolved oxygen, pH, conductivity,
temperature and solar radiation input.  A switching system
was designed so that each channel is monitored for ten
minutes each hour.  The submersible pumps and building
housing the monitor at the head end of the channels are shown
in Figure 5.

When stream operation was first begun as described in Phase
one of this report, a number of attempts were made to intro-
duce fish, especially mosquitofish  (Gambusia affinis) into the
channels.  No amount of conditioning was sufficient to allow
these animals to survive for more than several days.  Twenty
yards from the ends of the channels in the effluent stream,
however, there appeared a breeding mosquitofish population
                        12

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Figure 4.  View of PVC covered channels showing moat at extreme
           left and pump system feeding water quality monitors.

                              13

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                                                        • •
Figure 5.  Pumping system and water quality monitor at head end
           of streams.
                              14

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resulting from animals  that  had  escaped.   Even these could
not survive when transferred back  to the  channels.   The
major differences  in water quality between the effluent
stream where the fish  survived and thje channel water were
pH and total hardness.   The  water  leaving the tail  pools
passes with much turbulence  through a poured concrete
channel.

A water treatment  system was installed at the head  pools to
make the water entering the  channels more like what is found
in natural streams  in  this area.   The cost of a single large
system to treat all the water, the most desirable approach,
was too high and six separate systems were constructed.  Each
consists of three  PVC  sewer  pipes  filled  with limestone chips
through which the  water must pass  before  entering the head
pools (Figure 6).   We  have found  that the limestone must be
changed at least monthly to  maintain a relatively constant
water quality.  Fish survive with  no difficulty in  the treated
water.

After the installation  of the water treatment facility, the
water was turned on, adjusted to  a flow of 25 gallons per
minute, and the streams allowed  to seed naturally-   Four
hundred mosquitofish were introduced into each channel.

A major source of  variability in  the NTA-phosphate  data was
due to erratic functioning of the  chemical feed system.  The
pulsed solenoid valve  technique,  which has been used so suc-
cessfully in laboratory studies  at the Southeast Water Labor-
atory, behaved poorly  in the field because of the highly
alkaline phosphate  solutions and  the extreme temperature fluc-
tuations.  For the  mercury study,  a four  channel peristaltic
tubing pump was obtained (Figure  7)  and procedures  established
whereby the pump is recalibrated  daily.  The mercury solutions
are input directly  into the  channels at a depth selected from
the results of a series of dye dispersal  studies.

Because of the sensitive position  of the  Savannah River Plant
with respect to environmental contamination, there  was some
concern over our proposed experiments which would result in
releases of mercury to  the environment.  A method was sought
whereby mercury in  water from the  channels would be removed
before the water was released into natural streams.  A number
of approaches were  suggested but  the most feasible  appeared
to be a system that would utilize  the ability of vulcanized
rubber to tightly  bind  mercury.   This property of rubber was
pointed out by Mr.  Edwin R.  Russell of the Savannah River Lab=
oratory (SRL) and,  indeed, forms  the basis for a patent appli-
cation by Mr- Russell  and others  from SRL.
                        15

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CTi
                      Figure 6.  Water treatment facility consisting  of  limestone filled tubes.

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Figure 7.  Mercury input feed system with four channel peristaltic pump.

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Granulated vulcanized rubber is available as a waste product
resulting from commercial tire recapping operations.  We
tested rubber samples obtained locally for mercury uptake and,
while results were somewhat influenced by the source of the
material and the amount of pre-soaking in water, found very
good removal of mercuric ions from low aqueous concentrations
in ail cases.  Since we were interested in removing mercury
from our stream water, experiments were carried out at room
temperature and a slightly acid pH.   Figure 8 shows a typical
result.  In this particular case, 200 mis of pre-soaked (6
weeks) granulated rubber was added,  both with and without
continuous mixing, to 800 mis of a mercuric chloride solution
containing 1 mg Hg++/liter.  10 mg/litter NTA did not affect
the uptake of the mercury by the rubber.  Based on these labor-
atory studies, the tail pools at the ends of the channels
were modified into mercury recovery facilities with the under-
standing that the contaminated rubber would be buried as radio-
active waste at the end of the experiments.  Figure 9 shows
two systems already filled with the rubber granules.

The ability of mercury to adsorb to many surfaces prompted a
study to determine uptake by the PVC stream lining.  Isotope
tracer techniques were used.  Small measured pieces of PVC
film were submersed in one liter of 1 mg/liter Hg++ solution
spiked with Hg 203.  Pieces were removed periodically, rinsed
with distilled water, counted for activity, and total attached
mercury calculated.  The mercury solution was made up using
artificial stream water.  Results are summarized in Figure 10.
The PVC appears to saturate at about 3250 micrograms of mercury
per squ'are meter of exposed surface.  To measure actual up-
take in the streams, 80 PVC strips were suspended in each of
the channels to be removed periodically for Hg analysis
(Figure 11).  These same strips are to be used for biomass'
data to estimate growth on the channel walls.

At a time when it still seemed likely NTA would be immediately
introduced on a large scale into detergents, laboratory studies
were begun to consider some possible interactions between NTA
and mercury.  Mosquitofish were exposed to sublethal levels
of mercuric ion (O.O5, O.10, O.2O mgs/liter) both in the
presence and absence of 10 mg/liter NTA.  Results are pre-
sented in Figure 12.  After 18 hours of exposure, fish were
digested and analyzed for total mercury.  Body concentrations
of fish exposed to mercury and NTA were independent of the
mercury content of the water while the concentrations of those
exposed to mercury alone was significantly correlated (r=
0.72, p<0.01) to the mercury concentration.
                         18

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Uptake   Of  Mercury  By
       Granulated   Rubber
     100
                                 With Mixing
                                 Without Mixing
                        Hours
       Figure 8.  Results of rubber uptake.
                     19

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IS3
o
               Figure 9.   Rubber beds in tail pools for removal of mercury from artificial stream water.

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 Mercury   Uptake    By    PVC    Film
4000-
ağ

 .  3000-
8-
2000 J
1000.
                                             „.Ğğ•*""
                                      \^ ^
                                                     18
                                                                  22
 I     I
26
  02         6          10         14

              Exposure   Time   in   Hours

Figure 10.  The uptake  of mercury from a mercuric chloride solution by a polyvinyl chloride film.

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       _V- *,•;.*••,• •'•  -    •; "  .

      ; ";-*'    r   -   :  '   ••'
      •  -t       •  . -'- -•• •' • ••* •+•> t*.
             •i.    V  ^C1^'-'^*
       • /.:•••"''; :   '   -,•  .• •'  f  r,l
Figure 11.   Plastic  strips  suspended  in streams,




                          22

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       Mercury    Uptake    By   Mosquitofish

            As    Influenced   By    NT A
   3.5
   3.0
-H

IX
 O)
 a>
   2.5
   2.0
E
a
a
   1.5
o

3
o  1.0
c
Ğ  0.5
•o

3
eo
•  NTA (10 mg/| )

O  No  NTA
                 O
      0       0.05       0-10      0.20

                 mg/ |   Hg ++  In  Water


      Figure 12.   Influence of NTA on mercury uptake by mosquitofish,
                 Gambusia affinis.
                                23

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Further analysis of the data showed significant negative
correlations between body weight and mercury concentration
in the NTA +Hg treatments but not in the Hg treatments
alone.

Several tests were made which showed the NTA in no way
interferes with the mercury analyses as performed.  Since
it appears that NTA may yet become a major detergent
constituent in this country, further work is needed on
the interaction of this compound with mercury and other
heavy metals.
                        24

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                       SECTION VI
                       REFERENCES
1.  Federal Water Pollution Control Administration, FWPCA
    Methods for Chemical Analysis of Water and Wastes, U. S.
    Dep. Interior, FWPCA, Cincinnati, Ohio, 280 p.  (November
    1969) .

2.  Kerr,  P. C., D. F. Paris, and D. L. Brockway, The  Inter-
    relation of Carbon and Phosphorus in Regulating Hetero-
    tropic  and Autotrophic Populations in Aquatic Ecosystems,
    U. S.  Dep. Interior, Fed. Water Quality Admin., Water
    Pollution Control Research Series 16050 FGS, U. S. Govt.
    Printing Office, Washington, D. D., 53 p.  (July 1970).

3.  Southeast Water Laboratory, Environmental Fate of  NTA,
    Environmental Protection Agency, Water Quality Office,
    Project 16050 GJB, U. S. Govt. Printing Office, Washing-
    ton, D. C., 50 p. (May, 1971).

4.  Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and  Waste-
    water ,  12th Ed., Am. Public Health Assoc., Inc.,  N. Y.,
    N. Y.   (1965) .

5.  Thompson, J. E., and J. R. Duthie, "The Biodegradability
    and Treatability of NTA,"  J_. Water Pollution Control
    Federation 40(2): 306-319  (1969).

6.  Uthe,  J. F., F. A. J. Armstrong, and M. P. Stainton.
    1970.   "Mercury determination in fish samples by  wet
    digestion and flameless atomic absorption spectro-
    photometry."  J. Fish. Res. Bd. Canada 27: 805-811.
                           25

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SELECTED WATER
RESOURCES ABSTRACTS
INPUT TRANSACTION FORM
                                             1. Repfir-t-Jtfo.
                                                                  3.  Accession No.
                                                                 w
4.  Title

  NTA AND MERCURY IN ARTIFICIAL STREAM SYSTEMS
 .  Author(s)
  Kania, Henry J.,  and Beyers, Robert J.
9.  Organization
  Institute  of Ecology
  The University of Georgia
  Athens,  Georgia

12.  Sponsoring Organization Environmental  Protection Agency

IS.  Supplementary Notes
                                                                  •5.
                                                                  6,
                                                                  S. Performing Organization
                                                                    Report No.
                                                                 10. Project Wo.
                                                                 11, -irewTcse frj Grant No.
                                                                     16050 GQQ
                                                                 '.13. Type tot. Repot? and
                                                                    Period Covered
                                                                        Final Report
  Environmental Protection Agency report number, EPA-660/3-73-025, February  1974.
 16.  Abstract
Studies were conducted in six  artificial stream channels  to  determine the fate of NTA
(nitrilotriacetic acid, trisodium  salt)  added with and without sodium phosphate to  these
systems.  In the two hour period required for a given water  mass  to traverse the
channels, there was no appreciable amount of NTA or phosphate,  even after a one month
period of continuous input.  Visible biological differences  were  noted between the
various treatments.  These differences may have been a result  of  pH alteration caused
by the addition of the trisodium phosphate and NTA.

In anticipation of a long term program involving the fate of mercury and possible
mercury-NTA interactions, several  modifications were incorporated into the artificial
stream system.   Based on the results of  laboratory studies,  a  mercury removal system
utilizing shredded rubber tires as obtained from commercial  tire  recapping firms, was
constructed.  Laboratory studies indicated that NTA did not  influence the Uptake of
mercuric ion by the rubber.  The presence of NTA did alter the uptake pattern and
final concentration by mosquitofish, Gambusia affinis.   (Kania -  University of Georgia)
 17a. Descriptors
 17b. Identifiers
               *Heavy metals, Phosphates,  Degradation, Environmental Effects,
               *Detergents
                *Nitrolotriacetic  acid,  *NTA, Mercury, ^Artificial Stream Channels
 17c. COWRR Field & Group  05B
 18.  Availability
                        19. Securi
                           (Report)
                        20. Security Class.
                           (Psge)
21. So of
   Pages

22. Price
Send To:
                                                       WATER RESOURCES SCIENTIFIC INFORMATION CENTER
                                                       U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
                                                       WASHINGTON, D. C. 2O24O
                                     |  Institution University of Georgia
Absttsctyr  Henry J. Kania
                                              U.S. MVERHMEKT PRINTING OFFICE: 1974— 546-319/380

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