Estimating the Effect of the Flint Mineral on Water Quality by the Results of Biotesting on Crustaceans

Abstract

The effect of the flint mineral on water quality has been studied by biotesting on invertebrate test organisms, such as daphnia (Daphnia magna) and ceriodaphnia (Ceriodaphnia affinis). It has been shown that infusion on flint reduces the acute and chronic toxicity of tap water and increases the reproducibility of test organisms in an artificially prepared simulator. In flint treated water, an increase in the number of test crustacean organisms approaches the reference values for water from natural reservoirs. The adaptation of test organisms to an aqueous medium and their reproduction are immediately related with the physicochemical properties of water. It has been proven that flint neutralizes the negative effect of water toxicity on the functional state of crustaceans.