title: Assessing the impact of chemical pollution on benthic invertebrates from three different European rivers using a weight-of-evidence approach.
abstract: The aim of this study was to combine different lines of evidence on the impact of chemical pollution on benthic invertebrate communities in three European river basins (Elbe, Scheldt, and Llobregat). The study integrates chemical analyses, a battery of different sediment toxicity tests, and field data from soft-sediment meio- and macrobenthic fauna within a sediment-quality triad in which chironomids, oligochaetes, and nematodes are identified on the species level. The use of TU (toxic units) and msPAF (multi-substance potentially affected fraction) in an approach assessing the chemical impact as well as the integration of sediment toxicity tests with bacteria (Vibrio fischeri), benthic invertebrates (Caenorhabditis elegans, Potamopyrgus antipodarum, Lumbriculus variegatus, Chironomus riparius), and fish embryos (Danio rerio), together with univariate and non-parametric multivariate statistical analyses of the biological data revealed significant differences between unpolluted and polluted sites in all three river basins. To combine the different results obtained in the sediment-quality triad, a scoring system was successfully developed based on a simple algorithm. This system provides an easily understandable scheme for non-experts among decision makers and water managers.
authors.affiliation: DWS Hydro-Ökologie GmbH, Zentagasse 47, 1050 Wien, Austria. georg.wolfram@dws-hydro-oekologie.at
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wolfram
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Höss
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Orendt
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schmitt
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Adámek
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bandow
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Großschartner
authors.forename: J V K
authors.initials: JV
authors.lastname: Kukkonen
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Leloup
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: López Doval
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muñoz
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Traunspurger
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tuikka
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Van Liefferinge
authors.forename: P C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: von der Ohe
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Deckere
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri / Q000187:drug effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002683:Chironomidae / Q000187:drug effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005060:Europe; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis; D009348:Nematoda / Q000187:drug effects*; D009835:Oligochaeta / Q000187:drug effects*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*; D015027:Zebrafish / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019216:Metals, Heavy; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical