Acid volatile sulphide as an indicator for sediment toxicity?
- VITO, Mol (Belgium)
The ratio SEM (Simultaneously Extracted Metals) to AVS (Acid Volatile Sulfide) is considered to be a measure for heavy metal bioavailability for benthic species. When the SEM/AVS ratio exceeds 1 heavy metal toxicity for the benthic organisms is expected. The correlation between the SEM/AVS and the toxicity for the bioluminescent bacterium Photobacterium phosphoreum is investigated. Freshwater sediments originating from different locations with high and low heavy metal contamination are tested. The toxicity test is performed according to the Solid Phase Microtox test (SPT). Unexpectedly, negative correlation between SEM/AVS and SPT toxicity was found (r = {minus}0.82, n = 44). However, sediments with a high sulphide content show a correlation between AVS and toxicity determined by SPT (r = 0.90, n = 18). Comparison with literature data and possible hypothesis for the discrepancies with the data will be presented. Additionally, a validation study concerning the AVS determination has been performed. Some of the aspects involved are: the sampling technique preserving the anoxic conditions of the sediment, the influence of the storage time and storage conditions on the AVS content of the standard conditions and the recovery of the metal sulphides used for the SEM calculation.
- OSTI ID:
- 211909
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9617%%225
- 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
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