A model compound study: the ecotoxicological evaluation of five organic contaminants employing a battery of marine bioassays.
This paper describes the ecotoxicological evaluation of five organic contaminants frequently detected in marine sediments (tributyltin, triphenyltin, benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, and PCB 153) using three marine species (Vibrio fischeri, Tetraselmis suecica, and Tisbe battagliai). The sensitivity of each species varied for all compounds. The triorganotins were consistently the most toxic to all species. The applicability of each test system to assess the acute toxicity of environmental contaminants and their use in Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) is discussed. Suitability of the Microtox and T. battagliai tests for employment in TIE studies were further assessed through spiking experiments with tributyltin. Results demonstrated that the most effective treatment to remove organotin toxicity from the sample was the C18 resin. The results of this study have important implications for risk assessment in estuarine and coastal waters in Ireland, where, at present the monitoring of sediment and water quality is predominantly reliant on chemical analysis alone.
Macken
Ailbhe
A
Radiation and Environmental Science Centre, Focas Institute, DIT, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland. ailbhe.macken@dit.ie
Giltrap
Michelle
M
Foley
Barry
B
McGovern
Evin
E
McHugh
Brendan
B
Davoren
Maria
M
D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects; D000818:Animals; D001580:Benzopyrenes / Q000633:toxicity; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D000460:Chlorophyta / Q000187:drug effects; D033342:Copepoda / Q000187:drug effects; D005449:Fluorenes / Q000633:toxicity; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D007494:Ireland; D009947:Organotin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000633:toxicity; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012623:Seawater; D023382:Toxicity Tests, Acute / Q000379:methods*; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000633:toxicity*
D001580:Benzopyrenes; D005449:Fluorenes; D009947:Organotin Compounds; D014220:Trialkyltin Compounds; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; C007738:fluoranthene; C011559:tributyltin; C030665:triphenyltin; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; C014024:2,4,5,2',4',5'-hexachlorobiphenyl