[Ecotoxicological bioassays on aquatic sediments: experimental problems of exposure matrices].
In this review a discussion on some factors influencing the exposure matrices which, in turn, influences the reliability of ecotoxicological bioassays on aquatic sediments, has been carried out. These factors include the variability induced on sediments by the sampling, storage, handling, and preparative operations. The exposure matrices-sediments in toto, interstitial water and elutriate, can be deeply modified by these actions, which alter the chemicals bioavailability and, therefore, the bioassay meaning. In order to obtain reproducible and scientifically valid data, to be used in the ecological risk assessment, all these factors need to be considered and kept under control.
Miniero
Roberto
R
Dipartimento di Ambiente e Connessa Prevenzione Primaria, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome. roberto.miniero@iss.it
Dellatte
Elena
E
Lupi
Carlo
C
Di Domenico
Alessandro
A
D001681:Biological Assay; D001682:Biological Availability; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D004356:Drug Storage; D004463:Ecology / Q000379:methods*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis*; D011309:Preservation, Biological; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012995:Solubility; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D014116:Toxicology / Q000379:methods*; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D014867:Water