Comparison of five bioassay techniques for assessing sediment-bound contaminants

Abstract

Biological response could not be predicted based on chemical concentration of the sediment contaminants. Bioassays integrate the response of test organisms to contaminants and nutrients. Comparative results of five acute bioassays indicated that Neubauer phytoassay was the most sensitive. The microbial biomass and algal growth tests indicated a response to the availability of contaminants and nutrients. These results suggest the usefulness of a diversity of bioassays in toxicity testing of sediment contamination.

Probing ecosystem health: a multi-disciplinary and multi-trophic assay strategy

“…Several techniques and strategies are emerging including enzymatic and genotoxic testing. A few examples of the developing procedures are microcomputer-based VAS-fluore-scence, Colpidium (protozoan) bioassays, SOS chromotests, Dark mutant test, Microtest, Limited Sample Bioassay (LSB), Rotifer test (Brachionus calyciflorus), Oligochaete test, Microbial DNA assays, seed germination and plant growth (Lolium multiflorum and Lepidium sativum), Lemna minor and flow cytometry (Ahlf et al, 1989;Dutka et al, 1989;Sloterdijk et al, 1989;Smith & Kwan, 1989; C. Blaise, Environment Canada, R. Dermott, Fisheries & Oceans, W. Gala and G.P. Giesy, Michigan State University -personal communications).…”

Bioassay responses of micro-organisms to sediment elutriates from the St. Lawrence River (Lake St. Louis)

“…Toxicity hazard associated with contaminated sediments should be evaluated by using appropriate biotests, the 'battery approach' is recommended, where various trophic and organizational levels are represented (see Ahlf et al, 1989;Munawar et al, 1989). It should be realized that the use of 'surrogate species' only gives an indication of a potential hazard at best.…”