Methods for measuring the toxicity and bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants with freshwater invertebrates

Technical Report · Wed Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994

OSTI ID:6607152

The procedures are described for testing freshwater organisms in the laboratory to evaluate the toxicity or bioaccumulation of contaminants associated with whole sediments. Sediments may be collected from the field or spiked with compounds in the laboratory. Toxicity methods are outlined for two organisms, the amphipod Hyalella azteca and the midge Chironomus tentans. The toxicity tests are conducted for 10 d in 300 ml chambers containing 100 ml of sediment and 175 ml of overlying water. Overlying water is renewed daily and test organisms are fed during the toxicity tests. The endpoint in the toxicity test with H. azteca is survival and the endpoints in the toxicity test with C. tentans are survival and growth. Procedures are primarily described for testing freshwater sediments; however, estaurine sediments (up to 15%) can also be tested with H. azteca. Guidance for conducting 28-d bioaccumulation tests with the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus is provided in the manual.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States). Environmental Research Lab.
• OSTI ID: 6607152
• Report Number(s): PB-95-144614/XAB; EPA-600/R-94/024
• Resource Relation: Other Information: See also PB--94-177730
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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