Assessing the Toxic Effects of Brine Discharge from the World’s Largest Desalination Plant, Gulf Coast of Saudi Arabia
Keywords:
Gulf, desalination, brine discharge, chlorination, toxic effectsAbstract
The Jubail desalination and power plants of the Saline Water Conversion Corporation in Saudi Arabia withdraw ≈ 500 × 103 m3/h and discharge ≈ 470 × 103 m3/h of brine and cooling water. In return, the plants produce ≈ 1.4 × 106 m3/d of desalted water. The shallow depths of the Arabian Gulf render it prone to environmental degradation. Brine discharge could potentially result in the loss of marine life, affect biodiversity, and negatively affect the distribution of marine production and food chains. This study presents the results of in vitro and in vivo toxicity of water samples and sediments from the brine discharge site using rotifer cysts, a bioluminescent bacterium, and biofilm formation. Results of in vitro tests showed no difference in the hatching and survival of larval rotifer between discharged brine and pristine seawater. However, there was significant inhibition of light emitted by the bioluminescent bacterium in brine samples, and this was attributed to the effects of chlorination. Attachment slides used in vivo showed the development of algae and bacteria in the brine, indicating a biofilm formation.
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