title: Ecotoxicity of sediments in rivers: Invertebrate community, toxicity bioassays and the toxic unit approach as complementary assessment tools.
abstract: The determination of the real toxicity of sediments in aquatic ecosystems is challenging and necessary for an appropriate risk assessment. Different approaches have been developed and applied over the last several decades. Currently, the joint implementation of chemical, ecological and toxicological tools is recommended for an appropriate and successful toxicity risk assessment. We chose the combination of the toxic unit approach with acute pore water tests (Vibrio fischeri, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Daphnia magna) and whole-sediment exposure tests (V. fischeri, Chironomus riparius), together with invertebrate community composition (multivariate analyses) to detect short and long-term responses of the organisms in four rivers of the Iberian Peninsula. High toxicity was detected in three sites (the downstream sites of the Llobregat and the Júcar, and the most upstream site of the Ebro). We identified organophosphate insecticides and metals as the main variables responsible for this toxicity, particularly in the whole-sediment tests. In particular, chlorpyrifos was mostly responsible for the toxicity (TUs) of D. magna, coinciding with the C. riparius mortality (long-term toxicity) in the mentioned sites, and copper was the main pollutant responsible for the short-term toxicity of P. subcapitata. The combination of the different approaches allowed us to detect ecotoxicological effects in organisms and identify the main contributors to the toxicity in these multi-stressed rivers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain. Electronic address: ndecastro@ub.edu.
authors.forename: Núria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: de Castro-Català
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
authors.forename: Maja
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kuzmanovic
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Neus
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Roig
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Laboratori d'Edafologia, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Joan XXIII s/n, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sierra
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
authors.forename: Antoni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ginebreda
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain; Catalan Institute for Water Research ICRA, C/Emili Grahit, 101, 17003 Girona, Spain.
authors.forename: Damià
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barceló
authors.affiliation: Water and Soil Quality Research Group, Department of Environmental Chemistry, IDAEA-CSIC, Jordi Girona 18-26, Barcelona 08034, Spain.
authors.forename: Sandra
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Catalan Institute for Water Research ICRA, C/Emili Grahit, 101, 17003 Girona, Spain; Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys, 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Mira
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrovic
authors.affiliation: Food and Environmental Safety Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy, Universitat de Valencia, Av. Vicent Andrés Estellés s/n, 46100 Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
authors.forename: Yolanda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Picó
authors.affiliation: Environmental Engineering Laboratory, Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schuhmacher
authors.affiliation: Department of Ecology, Universitat de Barcelona, Av. Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Muñoz
mesh_terms: D048908:Aliivibrio fischeri; D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay; D000460:Chlorophyta; D017753:Ecosystem; D054750:Ecotoxicology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Chironomus riparius; Chlorpyrifos; Heavy metals; Macroinvertebrate community; Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata; Vibrio fischeri