Toxizität und Risk Assessment fluvialer Sedimente und Schwebstoffe: Eine kurze Übersicht bisheriger und neuerer Entwicklungen

Abstract

Background In recent years, sediments have become a central topic of scientific and public discussion as an important factor for determining water quality. While the quality of surface waters in Germany has significantly improved during the past years, highly contaminated sediments still create a considerable threat to the quality of several European catchment areas.Main features Here, we summarize different concepts and methods for the assessment of sediment quality and report on some novel integrative test methods for assessing sediment toxicity including contaminant re-mobilization during simulated re-suspension events.Results and discussion Currently, different approaches for assessment of sediment pollution exist. While instrumental chemical analyses are not suitable to accurately describe sediment toxicity, combinations of biological and chemical test procedures and integrated approaches, for example weight-of-evidence studies and effect-directed analysis (EDA), have the potential to identify key contaminants. Inter-disciplinary studies combining hydrodynamic and toxicological aspects coupled to real exposure of aquatic organisms to contaminants are currently being developed.Conclusions Monitoring and assessment of sediment quality are of increasing importance, not only for national legislation but also for the implementation of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Integrated approaches for the determination of sediment stability play a key role in the appropriate sediment-monitoring strategies.

Water quality assessment in the “German River of the years 2014/2015”: how a case study on the impact of a storm water sedimentation basin displayed impairment of fish health in the Argen River (Southern Germany)

“…Another non-negligible problem is the bioaccumulation of hydrophobic substances in riverine sediments. PAHs are usually attached to particles and organic matter [44], by which sediments can act as both sinks and secondary sources for hydrophobic compounds [45]. Due to the remobilization via bioturbation or flood events [46, 47], sediment-bound pollutants can again become available for aquatic organisms and consequently affect their health [48].…”

Dioxin in the Elbe river basin: policy and science under the water framework directive 2000–2015 and toward 2021

“…It should be emphasized, however, that the approach is of relatively limited value for very lipophilic compounds. In particular, experimental research at the intersection between hydrodynamics and ecotoxicology has developed into a promising field that may help to overcome these limitations [ 160 – 167 ].…”

Micro-computed tomography (μCT) as a novel method in ecotoxicology — determination of morphometric and somatic data in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss)

“…Despite the rapidly growing number of methods to assess mechanistic effects of chemicals (Brinkmann et al, 2010, Wernersson et al, 2015, ecotoxicological research still relies on apical endpoints, i.e. empirically verifiable evidences of exposure, such as effects on development, reproduction, or survival (Villeneuve and Garcia-Reyero, 2011).…”