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Experts to the Core of Bioluminescent Toxicity
Aqua Science is a water quality testing provider located in Newark, Delaware, USA
Our Knowledge… Your Confidence
Bioluminescent Toxicity Testing
Toxicity monitoring methods using a bioluminescent bacterium (Aliivibrio fischeri) are convenient and are especially valuable when the identities of the toxic agents are unknown. The bacterium luminesces as part of its metabolism and is non-invasive, rapid, reproducible, and user-friendly. When exposed to a toxic substance, the cellular respiration of the bacteria is inhibited, reducing light output. The change in the light is used to calculate percent inhibition which directly correlates to toxicity.
What is BioLight?
BioLight is a custom set of bioluminescent bacteria reagents, consumables and the BioLight Toxy instrument used for acute toxicity testing in the lab or in the field. Aliivibrio fischeri is the bacterium used in the production of BioLight freeze-dried reagents. The BioLight Toxy measures the changes in the light to indicate the levels of toxicity. Over 3600 chemical compounds are tested simultaneously.
ToxKits
TOXKITS are used for research and toxicity monitoring for a variety of applications. The test species and the test protocols are the same as in many standardized toxicity tests.Toxkits offer a broad range of aquatic and terrestrial ecotoxicity bioassays with freshwater, seawater, sediment organisms and higher plants according to several international standards and guidelines such as ISO, OECD, USEPA and ASTM.The dormant or immobilized test species can be stored for months and “activated” (= hatched, de-immobilized or germinated) at the time of the performance of the assays.
The Aqua Science management team is well-versed in the water quality market
40+ years combined experience in the manufacture of acute toxicity and other custom reagents used for water quality testing.
Giving customers the ability to make rapid decisions based on accurate, consistent test results.
Committed to supplying customers with specialized reagents and complimentary products.
SOME OF THE INDUSTRIES SERVED
DRINKING WATER
Influent or raw water coming into a drinking water facility from a surface water source is an area of concern related to potential toxicity. Source water is tested daily and for some parameters multiple times per day for pH, chlorine, Total Coliform and others, but acute toxicity is not a regulated test. What if there was a spill upstream? Intentional contamination? Using a screening test for rapid toxicity testing such as the industry recognized bacterium, AliiVibrio Fischeri which is used in the Aqua Science Biolight Reagents is a source of protection and early warning for drinking water facilities. BioLight reagents and consumables along with the Biolight Toxy luminometer provide a 20-minute field portable test result or a 30-minute bench top test that can be used to make decisions at a screening level.
WASTEWATER – INDUSTRIAL WATER
Toxicity Testing of waste and industrial water often includes sampling from various points. The types of waters handled by the facility will determine what is required for testing. Industrial waste or other potential influent toxicity can be tested for acute toxicity to understand the requirements for pre-treatment, dilution or separating into a specific holding pond. This will help to prevent upsets to the process or to the biobed. Acute toxicity can also be used to test throughout the process to ensure the plant is operating at acceptable levels and there will not be issues with the passing of the Whole Effluent Toxicity (WET) test required for most waste facilities under an NPDES permit. An EC50 test using
ENVIRONMENTAL
Sediment toxicity testing has become increasingly important for assessing the risk potential based on the levels of contamination in the sediment. The data is valuable in the assessment and remediation efforts of contaminated sites, research and monitoring. Sediment toxicity testing may also be used on projects where dredging or disposing of dredged materials takes place.
Soil and sediments have been tested and studied for almost 40 years for toxicity contamination. Sediment toxicity can occur from environmental contaminants being continually introduced, chemical waste that is not handled properly, spills from boats, industry and other waste pollution
UNIVERSITIES AND RESEARCH LABORATORIES
Universities and research labs are often tasked with projects that require or benefit from toxicity testing. New chemicals, synergistic effects, water quality, stormwater run-off, and much more. Testing for acute toxicity using bioluminescent toxicity or ecotoxicity bioassays provides a reliable source of data. Over 700 peer reviewed papers have been written related to the use of vibrio fischeri to perform bioluminescent toxicity testing. Many of these were projects that were done at universities.
