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Journal ArticleDOI

Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Using Consensus-Based Freshwater Sediment Quality Guidelines

TL;DR: Analytical results indicate that the consensus-based PECs can be used to reliably predict toxicity of sediments on both a regional and national basis and that the different patterns in toxicity may be the result of unique chemical signals associated with individual contaminants in samples.
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to compare approaches for evaluating the combined effects of chemical mixtures on the toxicity in field-collected sediments and to evaluate the ability of consensus-based probable effect concentrations (PECs) to predict toxicity in a freshwater database on both a national and regional geographic basis. A database was developed from 92 published reports, which included a total of 1,657 samples with high-quality matching sediment toxicity and chemistry data from across North America. The database was comprised primarily of 10- to 14-day or 28- to 42-day toxicity tests with the amphipod Hyalella azteca (designated as the HA10 or HA28 tests) and 10- to 14-day toxicity tests with the midges Chironomus tentans or C. riparius (designated as the CS10 test). Mean PEC quotients were calculated to provide an overall measure of chemical contamination and to support an evaluation of the combined effects of multiple contaminants in sediments. There was an overall increase in the incidence of toxicity with an increase in the mean quotients in all three tests. A consistent increase in the toxicity in all three tests occurred at a mean quotient > 0.5, however, the overall incidence of toxicity was greater in the HA28 test compared to the short-term tests. The longer-term tests, in which survival and growth are measured, tend to be more sensitive than the shorter-term tests, with acute to chronic ratios on the order of six indicated for H. azteca. Different patterns were observed among the various procedures used to calculate mean quotients. For example, in the HA28 test, a relatively abrupt increase in toxicity was associated with elevated polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) alone or with elevated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) alone, compared to the pattern of a gradual increase in toxicity observed with quotients calculated using a combination of metals, PAHs, and PCBs. These analyses indicate that the different patterns in toxicity may be the result of unique chemical signals associated with individual contaminants in samples. Though mean quotients can be used to classify samples as toxic or nontoxic, individual quotients might be useful in helping identify substances that may be causing or substantially contributing to the observed toxicity. An increase in the incidence of toxicity was observed with increasing mean quotients within most of the regions, basins, and areas in North America for all three toxicity tests. The results of these analyses indicate that the consensus-based PECs can be used to reliably predict toxicity of sediments on both a regional and national basis.

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OtherDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a selection of samples for Cycle 1a and Cycle 1b Toxicity and Bioaccumulation Testing for Pore Water: General Water Quality, Inorganics and Dissolved Organic Carbon.
Abstract: 17 Introduction 17 Methods 20 Sediment Collection and Handling 20 Selection of Samples for Cycle 1a and Cycle 1b Toxicity and Bioaccumulation Testing .......21 Grain Size and Total Organic Carbon Analyses of Whole Sediment 22 Chemical Characterization of Whole Sediment 23 Organic Analyses 23 Inorganic Analyses 23 Chemical Characterization of Pore Water 24 Sampling of Pore Water by Centrifugation 24 Sampling of Pore Water with Peepers 24 Solid-Phase Microextraction 25 Results and Discussion 25 Physical Characterization of Whole Sediment 25 Chemical Characterization of Whole Sediment 25 Organics 25 Total Metals 26 Acid Volatile Sulfide and Simultaneously Extracted Metals 26 Chemical Characterization of Pore Water: General Water Quality, Inorganics and Dissolved Organic Carbon 27 References Cited 28

9 citations

01 Jan 2017
TL;DR: The most recent evaluation of the contamination of sediments superficiels du Leman by micropolluants metalliques et organiques is presented in this article, based on the analysis of sedimentological and metaux trace data.
Abstract: La derniere evaluation globale de la contamination des sediments superficiels du Leman (metaux et nutriments) ayant ete effectuee en 1988, une nouvelle campagne de prelevements et d'analyses etait necessaire pour evaluer l'etat actuel des sediments superficiels vis-a-vis des micropolluants metalliques et organiques. Cette etude se base sur l'analyse des parametres sedimentologiques et des metaux trace sur 80 sites, du phosphore et de ses formes chimiques sur 50 sites, de 54 substances reparties en 12 groupes de micropolluants organiques (HAP, PCB, pesticides, …) sur 31 sites, et de 24 substances peu documentees pour le Leman (dioxines, PFOS, retardateurs de flamme bromes, ...) sur 5 sites pour une etude exploratoire. De plus, des tests ecotoxicologiques bases sur la croissance et la mortalite de l'ostracode Heterocypris incongruens ont ete menes sur 30 sites afin de confronter les resultats avec les teneurs en micropolluants. La plupart des substances recherchees sur les 80 et 31 sites ont ete detectees. Pour les metaux, les concentrations presentent generalement des valeurs deux a trois fois plus elevees que les teneurs naturelles, sauf pour le mercure qui est jusqu'a 20 fois plus concentre. Les teneurs en metaux sont similaires a celles mesurees en 1988, excepte le mercure qui montre une nette diminution generale des concentrations. Concernant les micropolluants organiques, la repartition de leurs teneurs suit deux tendances principales : soit une augmentation avec l'eloignement de l'embouchure du Rhone (DDT, PCB, …), soit une repartition assez homogene sur l'ensemble du lac mais avec des teneurs parfois plus fortes pres des cotes (PBDE, Endosulfan, …). Les concentrations medianes des principaux groupes de substances sont de : sommeHAP 781 µg/kg ; somme7PCBi 8.78 µg/kg ; sommeDDT 2.87 µg/kg ; sommeHCH 0.86 µg/kg ;somme7PBDEi 0.12 µg/kg. L'etude exploratoire sur 5 sites a revele la presence de dioxines et furanes, d'hexabromocyclo-dodecane et de composes perfluores. e site de la Baie de Vidy au large de Lausanne reste le point le plus contamine du lac, tant pour les metaux que la plupart des substances organiques, avec : Hg 2.44 µg/kg ; Cd 1.47 µg/kg ; sommeHAP 3214 µg/kg ;somme7 PCBi 79.07 µg/kg ; somme 7 PBDEi 2.70 µg/kg ;sommeDDT 9.01 µg/kg ; sommeHCH 0.83 µg/kg. Les test ecotoxicologiques ont permis de classer les sites en trois categories, avec 13 sites consideres comme presentant une bonne qualite des sediments, 10 sites de classe moyenne et 7 de classe mauvaise. Une premiere approche de la toxicite potentielle des sediments pour les organismes benthiques a partir des donnees chimiques indique que les sediments ne devraient pas induire de toxicite importante, excepte sur le site de la Baie de Vidy. Les resultats des tests sur ostracode revelent une situation differente, dont la signification reste a explorer.

9 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
07 Nov 2017-Water SA
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors focused on sediment bioassays, namely, Phytotoxkit, Ostracodtoxkit F and the Diptera bioassay, in assessing sediment quality of the Tweelopiespruit-Rietspruit, Bloubankspruit river system in Gauteng.
Abstract: Sediment contamination may occur from various anthropogenic activities, such as mining-, agricultural- and industrial practices. Many of the contaminants arising from these activities enter the aquatic system and precipitate from the surrounding water, becoming bound to sediment particles. These bound contaminants may reach concentrations higher than in the overlying water. Although water quality may be acceptable, an aquatic system may still be at risk if the contaminated sediment were to be disturbed through flooding, bioturbation or changes in the water chemistry. These contaminants may then desorb into the water column and prove detrimental to life forms in contact and dependent on that water source. Sediment quality monitoring has been a widespread international initiative and has led to the development of sediment toxicity assessment methods. This study focused on sediment bioassays, namely, Phytotoxkit, Ostracodtoxkit F and the Diptera bioassay, in assessing sediment quality of the Tweelopiespruit-Rietspruit-Bloubankspruit river system in Gauteng, South Africa. This river is known to have been impacted by acid mine drainage (AMD) since late August, 2002. Exposure of river sediment from 7 sampling sites to these bioassays provided an eco-toxicological estimation of the acute toxicity and chronic toxicity emanating from the contaminated sediments. Physico-chemical analyses revealed higher levels of sediment contamination closer to the mine. The bioassays displayed a similar trend with greater sensitivities to sediments closer to the mine and lower sensitivities to the less contaminated sites further downstream. AMD was therefore the main driver for sediment contamination. Whilst not all contaminants were bioavailable, statistical analysis showed that there were significant correlations between the elevated contaminant concentrations closer to the mine and bioassay responses. Keywords : acid mine drainage, sediment toxicity, bioassay, Ostracodtoxkit F, Phytotoxkit, Diptera bioassay

9 citations


Cites background from "Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..."

  • ...Growth of test organisms may be affected by feeding (Pery et al., 2005) and/or responses to bioavailable contaminants (Ingersoll et al., 2001)....

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ReportDOI
TL;DR: In this article, the authors propose a method to solve the problem of homonymity in homonym identification, i.e., homonym-of-individuals-with-groups.
Abstract: ...............................................................................................................................................................................

9 citations

01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present a Monomial Potential Ecological Risk Factor for the Toxicity of Single Trace element AME Mean Standard Error ANZECC Australia New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council AWQG Australian Water Quality Guidelines BDL Below Detection Limit CF Contamination Factor
Abstract: ............................................................................................. i Acknowledgements............................................................................... iv Research publications............................................................................. v Acronyms and Abbreviations................................................................... vi Table of contents................................................................................. viii List of figures..................................................................................... xii List of tables...................................................................................... xv List of appendices.............................................................................. xvii Acronyms and Abbreviation Al Aluminium Si Silicon Fe Iron Na Sodium Mn Manganese Ca Calcium Pb Lead Zn Zinc Cu Copper Cr Chromium Ni Nickel Co Cobalt As Arsenic Sn Tin Cd Cadmium Sr Strontium Br Bromine Rb Rubidium Ba Barium i r E Monomial Potential Ecological Risk Factor i r T Coefficient for the Toxicity of Single Trace element AME Mean Standard Error ANZECC Australia New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council AWQG Australian Water Quality Guidelines BDL Below Detection Limit CF Contamination Factor

9 citations


Cites methods from "Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..."

  • ...Data were collected from both fieldwork and laboratory studies using various chemical and biological methodologies (MacDonald et al., 2000b; Ingersoll et al., 2001)....

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References
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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: In this article, matching biological and chemical data were compiled from numerous modeling, laboratory, and field studies performed in marine and estuarine sediments, and two guideline values (an effects range low and an effects range median) were determined for nine trace metals, total PCBs, two pesticides, 13 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and three classes of PAHs.
Abstract: Matching biological and chemical data were compiled from numerous modeling, laboratory, and field studies performed in marine and estuarine sediments. Using these data, two guideline values (an effects range-low and an effects range-median) were determined for nine trace metals, total PCBs, two pesticides, 13 polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and three classes of PAHs. The two values defined concentration ranges that were: (1) rarely, (2) occasionally, or (3) frequently associated with adverse effects. The values generally agreed within a factor of 3 or less with those developed with the same methods applied to other data and to those developed with other effects-based methods. The incidence of adverse effects was quantified within each of the three concentration ranges as the number of cases in which effects were observed divided by the total number of observations. The incidence of effects increased markedly with increasing concentrations of all of the individual PAHs, the three classes of PAHs, and most of the trace metals. Relatively poor relationships were observed between the incidence of effects and the concentrations of mercury, nickel, total PCB, total DDT and p,p′-DDE. Based upon this evaluation, the approach provided reliable guidelines for use in sediment quality assessments. This method is being used as a basis for developing National sediment quality guidelines for Canada and informal, sediment quality guidelines for Florida.

3,869 citations


"Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..." refers background in this paper

  • ...…concentrations because previous studies have demonstrated that normalization of SQGs for PAHs or PCBs to total organic carbon (Barrick et al. 1988, Long et al. 1995, Ingersoll et al. 1996) or normalization of metals to acidvolatile sulfides (Long et al. 1998b) did not improve the predictions of…...

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  • ...Similarly, Long et al. (1998a) reported a 56 to 71% incidence of toxicity at mean quotients of >1....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It was concluded that the consensus-based SQGs provide a reliable basis for assessing sediment quality conditions in freshwater ecosystems.
Abstract: Numerical sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for freshwater ecosystems have previously been developed using a variety of approaches. Each approach has certain advantages and limitations which influence their application in the sediment quality assessment process. In an effort to focus on the agreement among these various published SQGs, consensus-based SQGs were developed for 28 chemicals of concern in freshwater sediments (i.e., metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, and pesticides). For each contaminant of concern, two SQGs were developed from the published SQGs, including a threshold effect concentration (TEC) and a probable effect concentration (PEC). The resultant SQGs for each chemical were evaluated for reliability using matching sediment chemistry and toxicity data from field studies conducted throughout the United States. The results of this evaluation indicated that most of the TECs (i.e., 21 of 28) provide an accurate basis for predicting the absence of sediment toxicity. Similarly, most of the PECs (i.e., 16 of 28) provide an accurate basis for predicting sediment toxicity. Mean PEC quotients were calculated to evaluate the combined effects of multiple contaminants in sediment. Results of the evaluation indicate that the incidence of toxicity is highly correlated to the mean PEC quotient (R(2) = 0.98 for 347 samples). It was concluded that the consensus-based SQGs provide a reliable basis for assessing sediment quality conditions in freshwater ecosystems.

2,732 citations


"Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..." refers background or methods or result in this paper

  • ...The TECs were calculated by determining the geometric mean of the SQGs that were included in this category (MacDonald et al. 2000a)....

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  • ...…results of these three previous investigations demonstrated that the consensus-based SQGs provide a unifying synthesis of the existing guidelines, reflect causal rather than correlative effects, and account for the effects of contaminant mixtures in sediment (Swartz 1999, MacDonald et al. 2000a,b)....

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  • ...A second paper developed and evaluated consensus-based SQGs for total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to address a similar mixture paradox for that group of contaminants (MacDonald et al. 2000b)....

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  • ...The consensus-based PECs listed in Table 1 were critically evaluated by MacDonald et al. (2000a) to determine if they would provide effective tools for assessing sediment quality conditions in freshwater ecosystems....

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  • ...Therefore, the differences in this “MPP approach” from the approach used by MacDonald et al. (2000a) are: (1) an average quotient for metals was used instead of the individual quotients for metals and (2) sum DDE was not used in the calculation....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The ERhls and PELs indicated high predictive ability in samples in which many substances exceeded these concentrations, and the incidence of toxicity increased with increases in concentntions of mixtures of chemicals normalized to the SQGs.
Abstract: .-Mat~hing'syno~tically collected chemical and laboratory bioassay data (n = 1.068) were compiled from analyses of surficial sediment samples collecred during 1990 to 1993 to evaluate the predictive ability of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). specifically, effects range-low (ERL). effects range-median (ERM). threshold effects level (TELL and probable eifects level (PEL) values. Dam were acquired from surveys of sediment quality periomed in estuaries along the Atlantic. Pacific. and Gulf of hlexico coasts. Samples were classified as either nontoxic (p > 0.05 re!ative to controls). marginally toxic @ < 0.05 only). or highly toxic @ < 0.05 and response greater than minimum significant difference :elalive to controls). This analysis indic-red that. when nor exceeded. [he ERLs and TELs were highly predictive of nontoxicity. The percenrages of samples that were highly toxic generally increased with increasing numbers of guidelines (panicularly the EX.\.ls and PELS) that were exceeded. Also. the incidence of toxicity increased with increases in concentntions of mixtures of chemicals normalized to (divided by) the SQGs. The ERhls and PELs indicated high predictive ability in samples in which many substances exceeded these concentrations. Suggestions are provided on the uses of these estimates of the predictive ability oi sediment ~uidelines.

771 citations


"Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..." refers background or methods or result in this paper

  • ...Alternatively, Long et al. (1998a) classified sediments in a marine amphipod database as either marginally toxic (significantly reduced relative to the control) or as highly toxic (significantly reduced relative to the control with a reduction greater than a minimum significant difference; MSD)....

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  • ...Long et al. (1998a) and Field et al. (1999) reported reduced variability in the relationship between toxicity and sediment contamination when toxicity was evaluated using a standardized approach....

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  • ...The incidence of toxicity was only 12% at mean quotients of <0.1 (quotients calculated using either marine effect range median (ERM) or probable effect level (PEL) guidelines; Long et al. 1998a)....

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  • ...Long et al. (1998a) also observed an elevated incidence of toxicity with marine amphipods at low mean quotients....

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  • ...For this reason, the evaluation of the predictive ability of the SQGs in the present study was conducted to determine the incidence of effects above and below various mean PEC quotients (mean quotients of 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0; Ingersoll et al. 1998, Long et al. 1998a, Fairey et al. 2000)....

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01 Mar 1990

657 citations


"Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..." refers background or methods in this paper

  • ...Alternatively, Long et al. (1998a) classified sediments in a marine amphipod database as either marginally toxic (significantly reduced relative to the control) or as highly toxic (significantly reduced relative to the control with a reduction greater than a minimum significant difference; MSD). The MSD was established by Long et al. (1998a) using a power analysis of data from 10-day marine amphipod tests (Thursby et al....

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  • ...Alternatively, Long et al. (1998a) classified sediments in a marine amphipod database as either marginally toxic (significantly reduced relative to the control) or as highly toxic (significantly reduced relative to the control with a reduction greater than a minimum significant difference; MSD)....

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