Predicting the toxicity of metals-contaminated field sediments using interstitial water metal and acid volatile sulfide normalizations

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:201174

Berry, W; Hansen, D; Boothman, W; Pesch, C ^[1]; Robson, D ^[2]; Mahony, J; Di Toro, D ^[3]; Ankley, G ^[4]; Ma, D; Yan, Q ^[5]

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1. Environmental Protection Agency, Narragansett, RI (United States)
2. RIDEM, Providence, RI (United States)
3. Manhattan College, Riverdale, NY (United States)
4. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States)
5. PRC Oceanic Administration, Dalian (China)

Several studies have investigated the utility of interstitial metals concentrations and simultaneously extracted metals/acid volatile sulfide ratios (SEM/AVS) in explaining the bioavailability of sediment-associated metals to benthic organisms in the laboratory and field. These studies have used both metal-spiked and field-contaminated freshwater and saltwater sediments, with acute, chronic, and colonization designs. Organism responses were generally predictable given known metals-sediment chemistry interactions. Sediment toxicity was not related to dry weight metals concentrations. Spiked sediments with SEM/AVS ratios {<=}1.0 or IWTU {<=}0.5 did not show metals-related toxicity. Spiked sediments with SEM/AVS > 1 or IWTU > 0.5 were generally toxic. Metals were available in the order of their sulfide solubility product constants. The presence of non-metal contaminants and other metal-binding phases in field sediments can confuse interpretation of organism response. However, SEM/AVS ratios and IWTUs can provide valuable insight into the role of metals in the toxicity of field sediments, relationship between the chemistry of anaerobic sediments and their toxicity to aerobic organisms, and importance of the seasonal cycle of metal sulfides. The difference (SEM-AVS) between the molar concentrations should be used over the previously recommended SEM/AVS ratios; toxicity predictions are identical and insight can be gained into the amount of additional available sulfide metal-binding capacity, or the extent to which it has been exceeded, and, along with organism response, the potential importance of other metal binding phases.

• OSTI ID: 201174
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BENTHOS
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
FORECASTING
INTERSTITIAL WATER
METALS
SEDIMENTS
SENSITIVITY
SULFIDES
WATER CHEMISTRY
WATER POLLUTION