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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Interlaboratory comparison of standardized sediment toxicity test methods using estuarine and marine amphipods

Conference ·
OSTI ID:42903
;  [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. SAIC, Narragansett, RI (United States)
  2. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC (United States)
  3. Environmental Protection Agency, Newport, OR (United States)

USEPA`s Office of Science and Technology has developed standardized sediment toxicity test methods that use four estuarine and marine amphipod species. An interlaboratory comparison was conducted to evaluate the precision of these methods. This comparison included three species, Ampelisca abdita, Eohaustorius estuarius, and Leptocheirus plumulosus. A similar study with the fourth species, Rhepoxynius abronius, has already been conducted. A matrix of ten participating laboratories, including both government and contract laboratories, ensure that each species was tested by at least six laboratories. Each species was exposed for 10 d under static, non-renewal conditions to four sediment treatments using standardized, species-specific test protocols. Sediment treatments were selected for each species to include one negative control sediment and three contaminated sediments. Highly contaminated sediment from Black Rock Harbor, CT, was diluted with species-specific, non-contaminated control sediment, creating test sediments that ranged in relative contamination from low to high. Each laboratory also conducted 4-d water-only reference toxicant tests with Cd. Independent suppliers distributed amphipods to each laboratory. Results of sediment exposures were analyzed to evaluate (1) the magnitude of variability for each treatment among laboratories, (2) differences in mean survival for each species among laboratories, and (3) differences in rank survival for each species among laboratories.

OSTI ID:
42903
Report Number(s):
CONF-9410273--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English