title: Ring test for whole-sediment toxicity assay with -a- benthic marine diatom.
abstract: This work presents the results of an interlaboratory proficiency exercise for whole-sediment toxicity assays with the benthic marine diatom Cylindrotheca closterium. An assay protocol was established and followed by all participating laboratories. Cell growth after 72 h exposure was the endpoint used. Four sediment samples of unknown toxicity were assayed. The main problem encountered during this exercise was the differences in the cell growth of algae exposed to reference sediment. Those differences may be associated with changes in the physiological status of the initial culture due to temperature changes during transport to the other laboratories. In general, the method proposed presented good replicability (precision between replicates) and reproducibility (interlaboratory precision). Around 80% (17 out of 21) of results obtained were classified as satisfactory (Z-scores <2). The whole-sediment assay with C. closterium presented here can be considered sufficiently successful for possible use as a standard toxicity test. The assay is simple to perform, the proposed species is ecologically relevant as an integral component of microphytobenthos, and is widely distributed around the world. These positive factors suggest that the whole-sediment assay with the benthic marine diatom C. closterium can be used as a reliable tool in marine sediment quality assessment.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Ciencias Marinas de Andalucía (CSIC), Campus Universitario Río San Pedro s/n, 11510, Puerto Real, Cádiz, Spain. cristiano.araujo@icman.csic.es
authors.forename: Cristiano V M
authors.initials: CV
authors.lastname: Araújo
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Tornero
authors.forename: Luís M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Lubián
authors.forename: Julián
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blasco
authors.forename: Stef A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van Bergeijk
authors.forename: Pedro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cañavate
authors.forename: Angeles
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cid
authors.forename: Dora
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Franco
authors.forename: Raquel
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Prado
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bartual
authors.forename: Manuel Gil
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: López
authors.forename: Rui
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Matilde
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moreira-Santos
authors.forename: Amparo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Torreblanca
authors.forename: Beatriz
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jurado
authors.forename: Ignacio
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Moreno-Garrido
mesh_terms: D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D017377:Diatoms / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D011174:Portugal; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013030:Spain; D018675:Toxicity Tests / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical