Effects of storage time on the toxicity of sediments to freshwater benthic invertebrates
- Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, MN (United States)
The objective of this study was to define the effects of storage time on the toxicity of a series of freshwater sediments. Sixteen sediments with varying types of contaminants (metals, pesticides, PCBs, ammonia) were collected, held at 4 C, and periodically tested for toxicity to the amphipod Hyalella azteca and the midge Chironomus tentans for storage times ranging from 8.5 to 25 months. The sediments ranged from nontoxic to extremely toxic (100% mortality) in 10-d assays with both species, with the majority of samples displaying an intermediate degree of toxicity (e.g., partial kills, reduced growth). Toxicity of sediments causing total mortality of organisms in 10-d was quantified through the determination of LT50 (lethal time to 50% mortality) assays, in addition to the standard 10-d tests. Toxicity of nearly all the samples did not vary significantly with storage time; in those instances when toxicity did change, the same relative conclusions concerning sample toxicity generally would have been made regardless of when they were tested (e.g., toxic samples did not become non-toxic). This data suggests that current guidelines concerning sediment storage times (e.g., 0--8 weeks) may be overly restrictive, at least with respect to toxicity testing. The results also suggested that some test variability inherent in whole sediment assays can actually be reduced by short term storage. That is, among replicates, variability appeared to decrease with increasing storage time.
- OSTI ID:
- 372558
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9641%%635
- 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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