Evaluation of freshwater sediment quality values including apparent effects thresholds of Hyalella azteca and Microtox{reg_sign}
- Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA (United States)
Data from 36 studies in Washington State were merged into a single database to derive Apparent Effects Thresholds (AETS) for freshwater sediments and to evaluate other sediment quality values. Sediments from 235 sites were analyzed for several contaminants, Bioassays tested at 30 or more of these sites included Hyalella azteca, Daphnia magna and Chironomus tentans mortality, Ceriodaphnia dubia reproduction and growth, and Microtox{reg_sign} luminescence reduction. Adequate sample size (n > 50) and wide range of response were available for Hyalella (n = 235) and Microtox{reg_sign} (n = 61) to determine AETs for organic carbon normalized PAHs, pesticides, and PCBs, and dry weight normalized metals, phenols and chlorinated phenols. The ability of these AETs to predict response in any bioassay at the sites in the database was compared with Ontario Ministry Environment and Energy (OMEE) Sediment Quality Guidelines and the Environment Canada (EC) Interim Sediment Quality Values. Measures of sensitivity (number correctly predicted/number impacted) and efficiency (number correctly predicted/number predicted) were compared. The EC Threshold Effects Level (TEL) was the most sensitive (fewest Type 2 errors) at 92%, but the least efficient (most Type 1 errors) at 35%. The lowest AET (LAET) of Hyalella and Microtox{reg_sign}, derived from the current study, was the next most sensitive (77%) and more efficient (44%). The OMEE Severe Effects Level was the least sensitive (59%) and the most efficient (53%). The EC Probable Effects Level (PEL) was 50% efficient and 72% sensitive. Of the four sets of sediment quality values, the OMEE Severe Effects Level had the highest overall reliability (number of correct predictions of effects and non-effects/number of sites examined) in predicting bioassay effects in the Washington State freshwater sediment database.
- OSTI ID:
- 203580
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9614%%92
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Sediment toxicity in the Duluth-Superior Harbor: Use of Microtox{reg_sign} and Mutatox{reg_sign} as screening assays
Toxicokinetics and critical body burden of fluoranthene in amphipod bioassays with Hyalella azteca and Diporeia sp.