Abstract-In whole effluent toxicity tests, organisms are exposed to various effluent concentrations for a specific time period to estimate the potential effects of an effluent on a receiving stream. Laboratories typically have good success performing valid chronic toxicity tests. However, some difficulty in conducting valid chronic whole effluent toxicity tests with Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow) has been encountered as a result of sporadic control mortality. Some investigators report an interference that causes anomalous patterns of survival in chronic fathead minnow tests. This interference has been termed sporadic mortality phenomenon. Characteristics of sporadic mortality phenomenon include high variability among replicates, nonmonotonic dose responses, mortality beginning on or about day 4 of the test, and fungal growths often observed on the larvae. Histopathologic examinations often indicate bacterial and/or fungal infections on fish exhibiting symptoms of sporadic mortality phenomenon. The most plausible explanation of sporadic mortality phenomenon is a naturally occurring pathogen or pathogens that interfere with the test method. This interference may invalidate tests or falsely indicate toxicity. Sporadic mortality phenomenon can be reduced or eliminated by sample treatments intended to inactivate (heating, antibiotics, or ultraviolet light) or remove (filtration) pathogenic microorganisms. These methods must be used with forethought because of their potential to alter the toxicity of a sample.

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