The acute and chronic toxicity of hexadecyl and heptadecyl sulfate to aquatic organisms.

HSAS (high-solubility alkyl sulfate) is a new anionic surfactant composed predominantly of methyl and ethyl branched hexadecyl and heptadecyl sulfate. Effects of HSAS on a wide range of fish, algae, and invertebrates were investigated in conventional laboratory toxicity tests as well as in exposures conducted as part of an experimental stream model ecosystem study. For invertebrates and fish, C(16.7)HSAS (average alkyl chain length 16.7) acute LC(50) values ranged from 0.23 (channel catfish) to 2.9 (Asiatic clam, Corbicula) mg/L in well and river waters. LC(50) values for those species tested in both waters were typically within a factor of 1.5 and all were within a factor of 2 of each other, suggesting bioavailability is similar in these waters. Chronic toxicity values ranged from 0.070 (fathead minnow) to 0.42 (amphipod, Hyalella) mg/L across fish and invertebrates with algal chronic toxicity values ranging from 0.5 (blue-green algae, Anabaena flos-aquae) to 7.8 (green algae, Scenedesmus) mg/L. The order of sensitivity to HSAS acute and chronic toxicity was fish = invertebrate > algae. Based on the chronic single species sensitivity distribution, the concentrations protective of 90 and 95% of species were estimated to be 0.058 and 0.036 mg/L, respectively. These compare well with the model ecosystem NOEC of 0.064 mg/L.