Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Using Consensus-Based Freshwater Sediment Quality Guidelines
01 Jul 2001-Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology (Arch Environ Contam Toxicol)-Vol. 41, Iss: 1, pp 8-21
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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01 Jan 2015
TL;DR: In this article, the authors present an approach to investigate, with local stakeholders, options to plan a resilient and sustainable shrimp farming sector in the Mekong Delta, using Role Playing Games (RPG).
Abstract: While providing an option for development in coastal areas, shrimp farming is usually associated with high environmental cost due to the loss of mangrove forest and high social cost as farmers suffer heavy financial losses due to disease outbreaks. Planning shrimp farming requires to integrate risk as well as social and environmental cost. This thesis, using the Mekong Delta as a case, presents an approach to investigate, with local stakeholders, options to plan a resilient and sustainable shrimp farming sector. First, Olivier Joffre analyzed the different shrimp production systems from economic point of view before analyzing farmer’s strategies and providing insights on drivers that will push or, at the opposite, constraint farmers to choose integrated mangrove shrimp systems. This knowledge was integrated in an Agent Based Model (ABM) that was calibrated using Role Playing Games (RPG). The effect of future scenarios and different policies on the farmers’ decisions was tested using a combination of RPG and ABM. For one coastal district of the Mekong Delta, the results showed that promotion of intensification of shrimp production has a high social cost and decreases the total production in the study area after 10 years. Policies for supporting the spread of integrated mangrove-shrimp systems, such as Payment for Ecosystem Services, or access to an organic value chain, are not strong enough to influence farmers’ decision toward adopting these systems. Without any adaptation to climate change a sharp decrease of the production is expected. The approach brought local farmers’ knowledge to the attention of decision makers.
2 citations
TL;DR: A large proportion of the populations in the Napo River basin has high vulnerability to contamination from petroleum exploitation, and this contamination risk may be traced in some indicators of health risk.
Abstract: Background: contamination of aquatic ecosystems by oil spills associated with petroleum exploitation represents a serious problem of environmental contamination that can affect human health. We developed a spatial model of contamination risk in the Ecuadorian Amazon, and evaluated the model using independent datasets on environmental contamination and clinical indicators of human health risk factors. Methods: the spatial risk of contamination for the Napo River basin was based on the calculation of a friction surface and the accessibility of possible oil contamination. Human health was evaluated using peripheral blood samples from 256 individuals. We used monitoring data on contamination to validate the spatial model of contamination risk and analyzed whether the estimated risk explained the incidence of human health risk factors. Results: our risk model showed a significant association with actual contamination detected in the study area. According to our risk model, around 30% of the territory has some level of contamination. Risk of contamination was associated with an increasing mean incidence in risk factors for human health in resident populations, but elevated contamination risk was not a significant predictor of the incidence of selected health indicators; only the incidence of inflammation was significantly increased. Conclusions: a large proportion of the populations in the Napo River basin has high vulnerability to contamination from petroleum exploitation, and this contamination risk may be traced in some indicators of health risk. Closer examination of health risk factors is warranted, and our spatial model of contamination risk can inform the design and analysis of such studies, as well as risk mitigation and management. Our approach to building the model of contamination risk could be applied in other catchments where petroleum exploitation is contemplated.
2 citations
01 Jan 2012
TL;DR: In this article, the GC-ECD method was used to detect DDTs in lake and river sediments collected from the whole area of Poland by using a GC-ECC method.
Abstract: DDT AND ITS METABOLITES IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS OF LAKES AND RIVERS OF POLAND Abstract. The contents of p,p'-DDT, p,p'-DDh, p,p'-DDD were determined in 300 samples of river sediments and 150 samples of lake sediments, collected from the whole area of Poland, by using the GC-ECD method. In river sediments the maximum contents were as follows: p,p'-DDT - 2780 µg/kg, p,p'-DDD - 913 µg/kg. and p,p'-DDE -298 µg/kg. The presence of p,p'-DDT was detected in 38.9% of the samples, p,p'-DDE - in 90.0%, and p,p'-DDD - in 78.4%. The ratio of p,p'-DDD/p,p'-DDT in river sediments ranged from 0.08 to 46.3, and the ratio of p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT was in the range of 0.04—24.7. In the lake sediments the contents of p,p'-DDT ranged up to 4.7 µg/kg, p,p'-DDE - up to 63.5 µg/kg, and p.p'-DDD - up to 70.1 µg/kg. The presence of p.p'-DDT was detected in 36% of the samples, p,p'-DDD - in 96.67%, and the metabolite p,p'-DDE - in alt samples. The ratio of p,p'-DDD/p,p'-DDT in lake sediments ranged from 0.4 to 112.2, and the ratio of p,p'-DDE/p,p'-DDT was in the range of 0.2-163.8. In the lake sediments, a high correlation of the contents of DDTs with the concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and Zn, and a significant correlation with the phosphorus and sulphur content were found. In the river sediments, a weak correlation with the TOC content is the only one noticed.
2 citations
TL;DR: In this paper, the Assabet River and its sediments were studied and a mapping of Bathymetry and Sediment Thickness and Bathymetric Maps was presented. But the results were limited to six impoundments in Central Massachusetts.
Abstract: ..........................................................................................................................................................1 The Assabet River and its Sediments ........................................................................................................2 Part 1. Sediment Distribution and Chemistry in Six Impoundments in the Assabet River, Central Massachusetts ........................................................................................................5 Study Design ...................................................................................................................................................5 Mapping of Bathymetry and Sediment Thickness ..........................................................................5 Selection of Sediment-Sampling Sites ..............................................................................................5 Collection of Sediment Cores .............................................................................................................5 Sample Preparation .............................................................................................................................7 Analytical Methods...............................................................................................................................7 Quality Assurance and Quality Control ...........................................................................................12 Sediment Thickness and Bathymetric Maps ..........................................................................................13 Sediment Chemistry of the Assabet River Impoundments ...................................................................21 Elemental Analyses ............................................................................................................................21 Phosphorus .................................................................................................................................21 Toxic Trace Elements.................................................................................................................27 Reactive Sulfide .........................................................................................................................28 Organic Analyses ................................................................................................................................28 Volatile Organic Compounds and Organochlorine Pesticides ...........................................29 Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ........................................................................................29 Polychlorinated Biphenyls .......................................................................................................29 Extractable Petroleum Hydrocarbons ....................................................................................34 Potential for Adverse Biological Effects .........................................................................................34 Sediment Distribution and Chemistry—Possible Implications for Sediment Management ...................................................................................................................................39 Part 2. Phosphorus Dynamics in a Wastewater-Dominated Impoundment, Hudson, Massachusetts ...............................................................................................................4
2 citations
Dissertation•
01 Jan 2005
TL;DR: In situ bioassays with Chironomus riparius larvae successfully evaluated the water quality of rivers, except when nutrient pollution was present, and it was found that the toxicity caused by heavy metals and pesticides during in situBioassays, was also detected in laboratory conditions.
Abstract: This thesis deals with the use of in situ bioassays with Chironomus riparius larvae to assess water quality and the risk of contaminants on freshwater ecosystems. These bioassays were seasonally deployed in selected sites on contaminated and reference rivers of North and Central Portugal, to evaluate their performance in assessing water quality in lotic ecosystems. Several biological responses (development, growth, survival and post-exposure feeding rate) were determined and the biotic, physical and chemical parameters were collected for each site. It was found that in situ bioassays successfully evaluated the water quality of rivers, except when nutrient pollution was present. The impact of pesticides (used worldwide in agriculture) on river and macroinvertebrates is difficult to assess due to its quick degradation. To determine pesticide water contamination effects on biological parameters of the C. riparius larvae (development, growth, survival, post-exposure feeding rate and biomass), bioassays were carried out in indoor artificial streams (contaminated with the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin), and in rice fields (contaminated with the insecticide endosulfan and the herbicides molinate and propanil). Exposure to the insecticide in artificial streams resulted in significant impairment in growth and inhibition in development of larvae. In rice fields, only larval growth was inhibited by the insecticide. The mining industry and mine drainage from abandoned mines are often the cause of environmental damage due to its chemical impact. In situ bioassays were carried out in streams impacted by a tungsten mine and also used to monitor metal contamination variation in rivers during an environmental rehabilitation process of an abandoned goldmine. It was observed that growth and development of larvae could discriminate between high and low metal contaminated sites and could detect differences in river contamination throughout the environmental rehabilitation process. Laboratory bioassays were also performed (1) to verify if in situ bioassays responded in the same way as in laboratory conditions, (2) to compare sensitivity of biological endpoints (development, growth and biomass) to metal contamination in water and sediment and (3) to determine toxicity of heavy metals that enter the organism through ingested material. It was found a) that the toxicity caused by heavy metals and pesticides during in situ bioassays, was also detected in laboratory conditions, b) that the larvae were affected mostly by metal contamination on sediment, and c) a decrease in toxicity when the sediment ingestion by larvae was avoided. In conclusion, this thesis allowed us to evaluate the efficacy of the bioassays with C. riparius larvae, and their limitations, in the assessment of water quality in the presence of several contaminants. indice Introduction 1 Chapter 1 Biological and functional responses of in situ bioassays with Chironomus riparius larvae to assess river water quality and contamination 9 Chapter 2 Biological and functional responses of Chironomus riparius larvae to assess water contamination by the insecticide lambda-cyhalothrin 30 Chapter 3 Pesticide effects on development, growth and biomass of Chironomus riparius larvae in a wetland channel adjacent to rice fields 45 Chapter 4 Biological responses of in situ bioassays with Chironomus riparius larvae to biomonitor metal pollution in rivers 63 Chapter 5 Application of an in situ bioassay with Chironomus riparius larvae to assess ecological impact of metal contamination in rivers. The case of a tungsten mine in Portugal 91 General discussion 109
2 citations
Cites background from "Predictions of Sediment Toxicity Us..."
...habitat alteration, water depth decrease, low flow rate) (Coimbra et al. 1996; Coimbra and Graça 1998; Ingersoll et al. 2001) and benthic macroinvertebrates can develop tolerance to pollution during the long term chemical exposure (McWilliam and Baird 2002b)....
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...2003), and because they are more effective in discriminating different human impacts of running waters and sediments (Charvet et al. 2000; Ingersoll et al. 2001)....
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...Structure of benthic macroinvertebrates community is influenced by other factors besides pollution such as habitat characteristics and water hardness (Coimbra et al. 1996; Coimbra and Graça 1998; Ingersoll et al. 2001)....
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...Structure of benthic macroinvertebrates community is influenced by other factors besides pollution such as habitat characteristics and water hardness (Coimbra et al. 1996; Coimbra and Graça 1998; Ingersoll et al. 2001)....
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References
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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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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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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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01 Jan 1993
613 citations