Toxicity of fluorescent tracers and their degradation byproducts

Authors

Philippe Gombert, INERISFollow
Hugues Biaudet, INERIS
René de Sèze, INERIS
Pascal Pandard, INERIS
Jean Carré, EHESP

Highlights

• State of the art regarding toxicity and ecotocxicity of fluorescent tracers
• Degradation experiments of fluorescent tracers in two different ways
• Results of toxicity tests of degradation byproducts
• Results of ecooxicity tests of degradation byproducts

Abstract

Tracer tests are frequently used to delineate catchment area of water supply springs in karstic zones. In the karstic chalk of Normandy, the main tracers used are fluorescent: uranine, sulforhodamine B, naphtionate, and Tinopal®. In this area, a statistical analysis shows that less than half of the injected tracers joins the monitored restitution points and enters the drinking water system where they undergo chlorination. Most of the injected tracers is absorbed in the rock matrix or is thrown out of the aquifer via karstic springs: then it can join superficial waters where it is degraded due to the sun and air action. The paper presents firstly the laboratory degradation of a first batch of fluorescent tracers in contact with chlorine, in order to simulate their passage through a water treatment system for human consumption. A second batch of the same tracers is subjected to agents of natural degradation: ultraviolet illumination, sunlight and air sparging. Most tracers is degraded, and toxicity and ecotoxicity tests (on rats, daphniae and algae) are performed on degradation byproducts. These tests do not show any acute toxicity but a low to moderate ecotoxicity. In conclusion, the most used fluorescent tracers of the Normandy karstic chalk and their artificial and natural degradation byproducts do not exhibit significant toxicity to humans and the aquatic environment, at the concentrations generally noted at the restitution points.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.5038/1827-806X.46.1.1995

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

Recommended Citation

Gombert, Philippe; Hugues Biaudet; René de Sèze; Pascal Pandard; and Jean Carré. 2017. Toxicity of fluorescent tracers and their degradation byproducts. International Journal of Speleology, 46: 23-31.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ijs/vol46/iss1/5