What does 'toxicity' describe?

Toxicity describes the relative degree of being poisonous or harmful to living organisms. This term is particularly important in the context of wastewater treatment because it refers to how harmful a substance can be to aquatic life, humans, and the environment. In wastewater treatment, assessing toxicity helps operators understand the potential risks associated with the effluent being processed and its impact on downstream environments and ecosystems.

Nutrients in wastewater, such as nitrogen and phosphorus, are important for evaluating potential eutrophication, but they do not define toxicity. The pH level and temperature of a substance are critical parameters for water quality and treatment processes but do not directly address the harmful effects or poisonous characteristics of substances. Understanding toxicity is crucial for ensuring that treatment processes adequately neutralize harmful compounds before effluent is released into the environment.