Ecotoxicological investigation in cooling water reservoirs of NPP and Dnepr cascade water reservoirs by using biotest

Investigation data obtained during 1988-1992 have shown that NPP waste waters effected test-organisms: they induced changes in growth intensity and morphology of Spirodela polyrrhiza and high mortality of spawn and larvae of Salmo gairdneri as well as somatic mutations and mortality in Tradescantia SLC system. It indicates that toxic matters discharge to cooling reservoirs with NPP waste waters. Similar levels of toxicity and genotoxicity were found in Ignalina and Leningrad NPP waste waters, as well as in cooling reservoirs waters. The water of Dnepr cascade reservoirs was more eutrophic, toxic and genotoxic than the water of NPP cooling reservoirs. Water genotoxicity in the Dnepr cascade water reservoirs was equal to that of NPP waste waters. The Kiev reservoir water showed the highest genotoxicity.Bottom sediments of some biotopes of Kiev and Kachovsk water reservoirs were found to be the most genotoxic. The genotoxicity of these bottom sediments was equal to the Ignalina NPP EDS waste water treatment plant sludge, which commonly is utilized as hazardous waste. The use of test-organism system allows to estimate more precisely ecotoxicological situation in water reservoirs - to establish their eutrophic level, to identify radioactive and chemical water and bottom sediments pollution and to reveal synergetic effects of pollutant complex effect. 8 refs., 6 tabs