A toxicity identification evaluation of silty marine harbor sediments to characterize persistent and non-persistent constituents.
Sediment toxicity in silty marine harbor sediments is frequently dominated by ammonia or sulfide, leaving the adverse effects of persistent toxic substances unnoticed. To investigate the latter, we subjected interstitial water from three contaminated silty sediments to toxicity identification evaluation (TIE) phase I manipulations and tested for toxicity with four bioassays: the amphipod Corophium volutator (survival as an endpoint), the sea urchin Psammechinus miliaris (fertilization, embryo development) and the bacterium Vibrio fischeri (bioluminescence inhibition). The graduated pH manipulations identified the prominent toxicity of ammonia in the amphipod and sea urchin embryo tests, and also sulfide toxicity in the bacterium test. In two of the three samples tested with the amphipods, sea urchin embryos and bacteria, a small but significant reduction in interstitial water toxicity was achieved by removing persistent compounds through C(18) solid phase extraction. EDTA chelation resulted in a slight detoxification of the interstitial water for the amphipods and sea urchin embryos, but this was not related to any measured trace metals. Despite the presence of toxic levels of ammonia and sulfide in the harbor sediments, we established the adverse biological effects of persistent constituents by means of the TIE manipulations and in vivo interstitial water bioassays.
Stronkhorst
Joost
J
National Institute of Coastal and Marine Management, P.O. Box 20907, 2500 EX, The Hague, The Netherlands.
Schot
Marlies E
ME
Dubbeldam
Marco C
MC
Ho
Kay T
KT
D000641:Ammonia / Q000633:toxicity*; D033304:Amphipoda; D000818:Animals; D002614:Chelating Agents / Q000737:chemistry; D004492:Edetic Acid / Q000737:chemistry; D004625:Embryo, Nonmammalian / Q000187:drug effects; D047108:Embryonic Development; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000187:drug effects; D005306:Fertilization / Q000187:drug effects; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012617:Sea Urchins; D013440:Sulfides / Q000633:toxicity*; D013534:Survival; D018675:Toxicity Tests; D014733:Vibrio
D002614:Chelating Agents; D013440:Sulfides; D000641:Ammonia; D004492:Edetic Acid