Microtox as an indicator of sediment toxicity in southeastern estuaries
- Clemson Univ., SC (United States)
- Marine Resources Research Inst., Charleston, SC (United States)
- The Citadel, Charleston, SC (United States)
Sediment quality is an important factor in the health of an aquatic environment. Microtox has proven to be a sensitive, quick and repeatable method for analyzing sediment toxicity. The Microtox bioassay was used as an estuarine sediment toxicity test in the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) of the southeast (Carolinian Province) during the 1993--1995 sampling seasons. Photobacterium phosphoreum, naturally bioluminescent bacteria, were exposed to sediments and EC50 values were obtained by measuring decreases in light production. The correlation between Microtox-generated EC50 values and the sediment chemistry of 24 EMAP sites in South Carolina and Georgia was evaluated. Multivariate analyses were used to determine the variables most influential in differentiating the sites. Concentrations of PAHs, PCBs, pesticides, metals, and other abiotic variables were considered in the analyses.
- OSTI ID:
- 242300
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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