A comparison of standard acute toxicity tests with rapid-screening toxicity tests
- Geo-Centers, Inc., Fort Washington, MD (United States)
- Army Biomedical Research and Development Lab., Frederick, MD (United States)
- Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
- Hood Coll., Frederick, MD (United States). Dept. of Biology
This study compared the relative sensitivity of five inexpensive, rapid toxicity tests to the sensitivity of five standard aquatic acute toxicity tests through literature review and testing. The rapid toxicity tests utilized organisms that require little culturing or handling prior to testing: a freshwater rotifer (Branchionus calyciflorus); brine shrimp (Artemia salina); lettuce (Lactuca sativa); and two microbial tests (Photobacterium phosphoreum--Microtox{reg_sign} test, and a mixture of bacterial species--the Polytox{reg_sign} test). Standard acute toxicity test species included water fleas (Daphnia magna and Ceriodaphnia dubia), green algae (Selenastrum capricornutum), fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas), and mysid shrimp (Mysidopsis bahia). Sensitivity comparisons between rapid and standard acute toxicity tests were based on LC50/EC50 data from 11 test chemicals. Individually, the lettuce and rotifer tests ranked most similar in sensitivity to the standard tests, while Microtox fell just outside the range of sensitivities represented by the group of standard acute toxicity tests. The brine shrimp and Polytox tests were one or more orders of magnitude different from the standard acute toxicity tests for most compounds. The lettuce, rotifer, and Microtox tests could be used as a battery for preliminary toxicity screening of chemicals. Further evaluation of complex real-world environmental samples is recommended.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 64491
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 14, Issue 5; Other Information: PBD: May 1995
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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