Chemical Manufacturing
Aquatox provides comprehensive regulatory consulting and GLP testing in support of product registration.

Our consultants have extensive experience in regulatory strategy development, data quality evaluation, preparation of scientific waivers, regulatory liaison, and the preparation of data submission packages and other regulatory dossiers. We identify the most cost-effective strategies for preparing high quality submissions. With an on-site GLP testing facility, the close interaction between regulatory consultants and GLP study directors ensures that all studies are properly designed and in compliance with the appropriate regulations. We work with our clients and regulators to ensure that all submissions are acceptable and meet all regulatory requirements.

Mining
AquaTox offers all freshwater and marine ecotoxicity tests required under Fisheries Act Regulations, Provincial Certificates of Approval, and for the determination of water quality objectives using either the Water Effects Ratio (WER) or Resident Species Approach (RSA), including:

Acute lethality test using Daphnia magna or rainbow trout
Sexual reproduction using Champia parvula
Growth inhibition using Lemna minor or Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata
Survival and reproduction using Ceriodpaphnia dubia
Survival and growth using fathead minnows or Inland Silversides
Fertilization using Sea Urchins

Pulp & Paper
AquaTox offers all freshwater and marine ecotoxicity tests required under Fisheries Act Regulations and Provincial Certificates of Approval, including:

Acute lethality test using Daphnia magna or rainbow trout
Sexual reproduction using Champia parvula
Growth inhibition using Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata
Survival and reproduction using Ceriodpaphnia dubia
Fertilization using Sea Urchins

Municipal Wastewater Management
The Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has established a Development Committee (DC) to develop a Canada-wide Strategy for the management of MWWE. The draft strategy addresses a number of governance and technical issues to create a harmonized management approach. In addition, many provincial jurisdictions appear to be incorporating various aspects of the proposed strategy into certificates of approvals. Ecotoxicity Testing is one component of the proposed strategy.

Environment Canada has developed criteria that will allow a MWWE discharger to use a pH stabilized Rainbow trout toxicity test in parallel with an unadjusted test. Effluent pH often increases over the duration of a toxicity test (e.g. 96-h), which may affect toxicity if the substance responsible for mortality is pH dependent. In the case of ammonia, as pH increases the proportion of un-ionized ammonia increases, with a corresponding increase in toxicity since the un-ionized form is substantially more toxic than the ionized form.

AquaTox can conduct toxicity tests to establish a bench mark of effluent quality with respect to ecotoxicity. We operate one of the largest ecotoxicity testing facilities in Canada, offering all toxicity tests required under Fisheries Act Regulations and Certificates of Approval, including acute lethality tests with fish (rainbow trout) and invertebrates (Daphnia magna). AquaTox’s laboratory is equipped to conduct toxicity tests using accepted pH stabilization procedures. Our professional staff can also assist MWWE dischargers to identify the cause of toxicity by helping them identify the contaminants of concern.

Textile Manufacturing
Textile mills that use wet processing will be required to monitor their effluent for toxicity, under section 91 of the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 199 (CEPA, 1999).

Canadian Textile Mills are required to test their effluents for acute toxicity using luminescent bacteria, Vibrio fischeri (Microtox®). Testing must be performed on a quarterly basis. By 2009, mills must achieve compliance with their toxicity limit (i.e., IC50 greater or equal to 13%). The IC50 is defined as the concentration of effluent that is estimated to cause of 50% inhibition of bacteria.

AquaTox has been conducting Microtox analysis since 1996. Two top-of the-line Microtox® analyzers and up-to-date software complement our laboratory.

Our professional staff can assist mill managers in achieving their toxicity limit by helping them identify the contaminants of concerns. The process combines on –site source evaluations with toxicity testing and chemical analyses to provide a comprehensive approach to characterize identify and eliminate the source(s) of effluent toxicity. Chemical screening tests can be conducted to determine which of a series of similar compounds is most likely to have the lowest environmental toxicity.

Terrestrial Tests