Comparative ecotoxicity of suspended sediment in the lower Rhone River using algal fractionation,Microtox® and Daphnia magna bioassays

The toxicity associated with suspended sediments from the Rhone River (Switzerland-France) was determined with three acute bioassays. Large volume water samples were centrifuged for recovery of suspended solids in November 1989; one sample was taken as a control upstream from Lake Geneva and the 9 remainder downstream from Geneva to the Mediterranean Sea, with a single sample of the major tributary the Saône at Lyon. Heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) and organic contaminants (OCs, PCBs, PAHs) bound to sediment were analysed and extracted by elutriation with filtered lake water and by organic solvent (dichloromethane). Sediment water elutriates were tested with algal fractionation bioassays (AFB) using Lake Geneva ambient phytoplankton, with Daphnia magna and Microtox® acute toxicity tests, whereas organic extracts were utilized in the latter two bioassays to evaluate the potential sediment toxicity.The bulk analyses of the sediment together with elutriate metal concentrations indicated the highest contamination of sediment downstream of Lyon. Medium contamination appeared for the stations downstream of Geneva, in the Saône River and at the Rhone River mouth. The station upstream of Lyon had low concentrations, comparable to the values in the Upper Rhone. Organic contaminants are mainly observed downstream of Lyon and their concentrations decline onwards to the sea. The bioassays Microtox® on organic extracts and AFB on the elutriates show a similar toxicity trend, but differ in that Microtox was more sensitive to organics whereas the algal test responded predominantly to metals. This difference is believed to be due to the different extraction procedures used, rather than to the tests themselves. Daphnia magna was the least sensitive and appeared to give a broader band response to the observed contaminants in the sediment. The bioassay results when integrated confirm that the biotoxicity trends relate well to the composition of the sediment, a factor which emphasizes the need for battery testing in ecotoxicological assessment.     

Effect of sediment elutriate on the growth of Gymnodinium sp. (Dinophyceae). I.

Abstract

Sediments from the Emilia Romagna coast, an area periodically subjected to eutrophication, were investigated to determine the organic carbon and nitrogen content from the solid phase and organic and inorganic phosphorus, nitrogen and N/P ratio from a liquid elutriate from these sediments. The elutriates were tested for growth using a bioassay with a Gymnodinium sp. which previously caused extensive blooms in the Adriatic. Cultures were grown in the elutriates either enriched or unenriched with F/2 medium. Comparisons with controls were made on the basis of the maximum standing stock. The results obtained with the unenriched elutriates demonstrated the primary role of phosphate, while enriched elutriates produced slighter enhancement than the control. In most cases, the chemical composition of the elutriate was characterized by a negligible phosphate concentration, with respect to ammonium: the nutrient balance did not agree with the nutritional algal requirement. However, all the elutriates showed large quantities of inorganic and organic nitrogen. This finding could indicate that sediment-bound nitrogen may be a ready source of nitrogen for algal growth.     

Assessing toxicity of Lake Diefenbaker (Saskatchewan,Canada) sediments using algal and nematode bioassays

Lake Diefenbaker, on the South Saskatchewan River, Saskatchewan, Canada, receives, on average, 90% of its inflow from snowmelt and rainfall in the Rocky Mountains. The inflowing rivers also receive irrigation return flows and municipal and industrial effluents which may result in the contamination of lake sediments. The sediments were assessed by nematode and algal bioassays.The toxicity of five chemical fractions of the sediment was determined using the nematode Panagrellus redivivus as the test organisms. The results suggest that the sediment chemical fractions frequently inhibit growth and maturation, while lethality was observed at 4 of 12 sites.Samples from 3 of these sites were further evaluated using conventional elutriate Algal Fractionation Bioassays (AFB) with both natural Lake Diefenbaker phytoplankton and a mixed laboratory grown algal culture. The natural phytoplankton showed inhibition at sediment: water ratios of 10: 1; whereas the algal cultures showed both enhancement and inhibition. Evidently, the sediments are frequently toxic to the species tested except for the algal culture. The AFB assesses the mitigative and synergistic effects of contaminants and nutrients and being a conventional elutriate, is more realistic and potentially more acceptable than the chemical fractionation/nematode bioassay technique which essentially considers potential trace organic contaminant effects.     

Bioassay responses to sediment elutriates and multivariate data analysis for hazard assessment of sediment-bound chemicals

A sediment study, involving both chemical and biological analyses, was carried out in the Hamburg harbour area. A total of 71 stations were sampled during 1988 and the sediments extracted using a 1:4 sediment:water ratio either with or without an addition of a water-soluble detergent to solubilize organic compounds. The resulting extracts were applied in algal and bacterial assays to measure toxicity. A principal components analysis showed that no single bioassay explained all the variation in toxicity among the locations studied. Hierarchical cluster analysis was used to rank sediments into four groups based on their toxicity. The relationship of toxic responses to the chemistry of the sediments was determined using varimax factor analysis. One factor was loaded with algal responses and mercury contents of sediments, another with bacterial responses and Lindane contents of sediments.     

Photosynthetic and population growth response of the test alga Selenastrum capricornutum Printz to zinc, cadmium and suspended sediment elutriates

Short-term ¹⁴C-fixation (4 h) Selenastrum capricornutum algal toxicity tests were conducted with Cd (n=8), Zn (n=9) and suspended sediment aqueous elutriates (n=28) and the results were compared to those obtained in a 48 h population growth test. In order to provide more realistic experimental conditions, toxicity tests were carried out in prefiltered nutrient-spiked Lake Geneva water. The population growth inhibition test was significantly more sensitive than the¹⁴ C-fixation test for Cd (median EC50-4h and EC50-48h values of 600 and 118 μg L^-1, respectively) whereas no significant difference was measured for Zn toxicity (median EC50-4h and EC50-48h values of 97 and 96 μg L^-1, respectively). With suspended sediment aqueous elutriates, the relative sensitivity of the two different end points is sample dependent, with ratios of the EC25 for the¹⁴ C-fixation: population growth test ranging from <0.26 to >53.3. Elutriate toxicity shows no apparent relationship between the acute and chronic test, indicating that population growth inhibition cannot be derived directly or predicted from¹⁴ C-fixation. Both tests with their specific advantages and limitations provide valuable complementary information to measure the impact of single toxicants or complex mixtures on aquatic plants. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Sediment Toxicity Bioassays Using Ruditapes decussatus Embryos and Larvae to Assess the Contamination in Four Sites on the Coast of Tunisia

This paper aims to assess the marine sediment quality along the Tunisian coast using clam Ruditapes decussatus embryos and larval bioassays tests. Elutriate samples prepared with sediment from four sites (Monastir Lagoon, Chebba, Mahres, and Zarat) were used for chemical analysis and clam bioassays tests (embryogenesis, larval growth. and metamorphosis). For embryogenesis test, five elutriates concentrations (12%, 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100%) were prepared. Metal concentrations were highest at the Mahres and Monastir Lagoon sites. Clam embryogenesis success was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in all elutriates preparations at concentrations up to 50% except Chebba, where inhibition was evident at only the highest concentration (100%). Compared to the control (9.4 μm day^?1), larval growth rate was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced only in two sites, Monastir Lagoon (6.8 μm day^?1) and Zarat (5.6 μm day^?1). However, larval survival was lower (42.9%) in elutriates prepared from Mahres sediment compared to other studied sites and control treatment. We did not note any significant (p > 0.05) effect of elutriate preparations on clam metamorphosis; conversely, survival in this stage was significantly affected in three sites (Monastir: 59.0 ± 6.7%; Zarat: 52.1 ± 6.3%, and Mahres: 64.1 ± 5.4%) compared to the control (83.2 ± 4.7%). This work shows that both clam embryos and larvae are sensitive to contaminants and can be used to evaluate sediment contamination and monitor pollution.     

Oligochaete respiration as a measure of sediment toxicity in Puget Sound,Washington

Respiration rate measurements were conducted with the marine oligochaete Monopylephorus cuticulatus Baker and Brinkhurst to determine the sublethal toxicity of sediments collected from Puget Sound, Washington. Worms were exposed to elutriates prepared from centrifuged sediment slurries. Standard respiration rates were measured at high dissolved oxygen levels for each sample tested and were compared with control and other test results. A total of 97 sediment samples were tested; 40 samples demonstrated significant respiration effects (elevation or depression). Comparison with results of other tests conducted at the same stations or geographic locations (genotoxicity to fish cells, lethality to sensitive species, reproductive impairment tests) indicated very good agreement on broad scale toxicity patterns at different geographical areas, and that respiration measurements effectively determined sublethal toxicity of sediments. This study represents the first application of respiration measurements as a sublethal toxicity test for field-collected sediments.     

Effects of river sediment elutriates on Daphnia magna

Laboratory sediment bioassays, both acute and chronic, were conducted on sediment elutriates from the River Eurajoki, SW Finland. The river is under impacts of industrial discharges, community effluents and agricultural run-offs. The water flea Daphnia magna Straus was used as a test organism. None of the elutriates tested were acutely toxic. In a long-term bioassay sediment elutriates had effects on survival, body growth and reproduction. Elutriates prepared from samples of a downstream station were characterized by low survival, small body size, reduced total offspring production, and delayed start of reproduction.     

Effects of natural sediment properties on test results in bioassays with oyster larvae (Crassostrea gigas) on sediment elutriates

Toxicity tests with oyster larvae are becoming increasingly important as sensitive bioassays for assessing water and sediment quality. In 1983 a procedure was presented specifically for the testing of seawater elutriates of sediment samples. Testing sediment elutriates with oyster larvae in a sediment-water system invokes specific problems related to natural sediment characteristics. Experiments were set up to study the effects of these sediment properties on the bioassay results. The effects of sediment grain size, suspended solids, elutriation period, as well as the possible effects of naturally occurring toxic nutrients, like ammonia, were studied. Also the effect of presence or absence of the elutriated sediment and the distribution of larvae in the test vessels were studied.It is concluded that natural sediment properties can have substantial effects on the test results in elutriate tests with sediment present in the test vessel. Recommendations are formulated to minimize these effects or to use other test fractions for predicting bulk sediment toxicity.     

Relating macroinvertebrate community structure to environmental characteristics and sediment contamination at the scale of the St. Lawrence River

There is still no assessment of the impact of sediment chemicals and environmental conditions on macroinvertebrates at the scale of the St. Lawrence River. In order to assess these impacts in the fluvial section of the St. Lawrence River including the Montreal harbour, the community structure of macroinvertebrates using different taxonomic aggregations (genus and family) and taxa attributes (abundance, presence–absence, indicator taxa) was assessed. The goal of the study was to determine the indicator taxa of macroinvertebrates along the fluvial continuum and relate changes in macroinvertebrate community to sediment chemical conditions and environmental characteristics of habitats using variance partitioning. This study also evaluated which taxonomic level and taxa attributes of macroinvertebrates were the most suitable for bioassessment of quality of sediments and habitat environment in the St. Lawrence River. Four different macroinvertebrate assemblages were found distributed along the fluvial continuum using either abundance or presence–absence data and genus or family levels. Indicator taxa characteristic of the different macroinvertebrate communities were associated with the sediment contamination gradient. However, habitat environmental characteristics (water masses, sulphur and DOC in sediments) had more influence on macroinvertebrate assemblages than sediment contamination. Our study confirms that family level analysis can give information comparable to the genus level analysis using presence–absence or abundance of macroinvertebrates, yet a higher number of indicator taxa were detected at the genus level.     

Application of a microcomputer-based algal fluorescence technique for assessing toxicity: Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River examples

The use of a multi-trophic assay strategy is now being encouraged in toxicological investigations which provides for rapid and sensitive tests. Such a strategy, a microcomputer-based algal fluorescence technique, was applied for the bioassessment of Lake St. Clair and St. Clair River ecosystems. The technique was found to be rapid, sensitive, and relatively inexpensive. In addition, it permitted microscopic examination of the impact of contaminants on individual cells/organisms, a feature which is not possible by other tests using radioisotopes and enzymes. The algal fluorescence technique appears to have a considerable potential for fast screening of large numbers of environmental samples.     

Monitoring bioremediation in creosote-contaminated soils using chemical analysis and toxicity tests

Three soils with a history of creosote contamination (designated NB, TI and AC) were treated in bench-scale microcosms using conditions (nutrient amendment, moisture content and temperature) which had promoted mineralization of ¹⁴C-pyrene in a preliminary study. Bioremediation was monitored using the solid-phase Microtox test, seed germination and earthworm survival assays, SOS-chromotest, Toxi-chromotest and a red blood cell (RBC) haemolysis assay. Contaminant concentrations in the AC soil did not change after 150 days. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations decreased in the NB soil, and toxicity decreased overall according to the earthworm, seed germination and Microtox tests. Although total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPHs) in the TI soil were reduced following treatment, results of the earthworm, seed germination, RBC and Microtox tests suggested an initial increase in toxicity indicating that toxic intermediary metabolites may have formed during biodegradation. Toxicity testing results did not always correlate with contaminant concentrations, nor were the trends indicated by each test consistent for any one soil. Each test demonstrated a different capacity to detect reductions in soil contamination. Journal of Industrial Microbiology & Biotechnology (2000) 24, 132–139. Received 14 June 1999/ Accepted in revised form 12 November 1999     

Effect of sediment elutriate on the chemical composition of Gymnodinium sp. (Dinophyceae). II.

Abstract

The chemical composition of Gymnodinium sp. was studied in cells grown in batch cultures with sediment elutriate, enriched or unenriched with F/2 as the culture medium. The cellular protein, chlorophyll a, nitrogen, carbon and phosphorus content were determined in conjunction with cell density. For the enriched media, a high density of biomass was always measured; differences in cellular composition between control and elutriate cells were not observed and the atomic C:N:P ratios were typical of unstarved phytoplankton. Unenriched media produced different effects on the algal growth, which also affected the biochemical composition of the cells. Relative to the control, some elutriates reduced the algal growth, affected the chemical composition of the cells which showed very high levels of carbon, nitrogen and protein, and resulted in an aberrant morphology. The stimulating growth elutriate affected the chemical composition of the cell in another manner: the greatest effect was a decrease of carbon content, whereas the other compounds remained similar to the control; aberrant forms were not observed.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surficial sediments and caged mussels of the St. Marys River, 1985

During 1985, a biological monitoring study was conducted in the St. Marys River to determine the availability and source areas of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and the relative importance of water and sediment to tissue contaminant concentrations. Clean unionid mussels (Elliptio complanata) were exposed in cages for three weeks at 14 stations and surficial sediments were obtained at 12 of these. The highest concentrations of total PAHs as well as many individual compounds were found in sediments and mussels from the Algoma Steel Slip above St. Marys Falls and in sediments below the discharge of the Edison Sault Electric Co. Canal. Although concentrations were lower below the Falls, elevated levels persisted downstream along the Ontario shore into Lake George. PAHs were also accumulated by mussels exposed along the Michigan shoreline, but at lower levels than along the Ontario shore. From 23 to 63 percent of the PAHs in sediments and 6 to 27 percent of those in mussels were comprised of compounds with mutagenic and/or carcinogenic properties. The predominance of higher molecular weight PAHs in both sediments and mussels as well as lower molecular weight PAHs and nitrogen- and sulfur-containing PAHs in certain areas, indicates that high temperature combustion of fossil fuels is the major source of PAHs, augmented by localized spills of fossil fuels and coke oven by-products.Mussels contained fewer PAHs (up to 18 vs. 25) at lower concentrations (µg kg^-1 vs. mg kg^-1) than the associated surficial sediments. Also, mussels suspended at mid-depth in the water column accumulated similar concentrations to those exposed to sediments, indicating that the major exposure pathway is via the water filtered by these organisms, and hence, is due primarily to external industrial inputs.     

Seasonal changes in sediment and water chemistry of a subtropical shallow eutrophic lake

A field study was conducted (May 1981 to June 1982) to develop a data-base on seasonal changes of water and sediment chemistry of Lake Monroe (4 000 ha surface and ca. 2 m deep) located in central Florida, USA. This shallow eutrophic lake is a part of the St. Johns River. Quantitative samples of lake water and sediments were collected on a monthly basis from 16 stations and analyzed for various physico-chemical parameters. Relatively high levels of dissolved solids (mean electrical conductivity (EC) = 1832 µS cm¹) prevailed in the lake water, and seasonal changes in EC were probably associated with hydrologic flushing from external sources, such as incoming water from upstream as well as precipitation. Average monthly levels of total N and P during the study period were 1.82 and 0.21 mg l^–1, respectively. Nutrient concentrations in the water did not show any strong seasonal trends. Organic matter content of lake sediments ranged from 1 to 182 g C kg^–1 of dry sediment, reflecting considerable spatial variability. All nutrient elements in the sediments showed highly significant (P < 0.01) correlations with sediment organic C, though little or no significant relationship appeared at any sampling period between water and sediment chemistry of the lake. Temporal trends in water and sediment chemical parameters may have been concealed by periodic hydrologic flushing of the St. Johns River into Lake Monroe.Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations Journal Series No. 7836.     

Comparison of the relative sensitivity of three benthic invertebrates to copper-contaminated sediments from the Keweenaw Waterway

The Keweenaw Peninsula in northern Michigan was once a major copper mining area and these mining activities were responsible for depositing tons of tailings in and around the Keweenaw Waterway. In recent years there has been concern about possible toxic effects of the contaminated sediments on aquatic communities in the system. In the fall of 1990, sediments were collected from various locations along the Waterway. Ten-day tests were conducted with the samples using three species of benthic invertebrates that have been proposed as suitable for evaluating the toxicity of freshwater sediments: Hyalella azteca (amphipods), Chironomus tentans (chironomids) and Lumbriculus variegatus(oligochaetes). A number of sediments were toxic to one or more of the three species and, in general, there was good agreement among the tests with regard to identifying toxic samples. Unexpectedly, the relative sensitivity of the three species to the test sediments was not accurately predicted from water-only copper exposures. This indicates that factors modifying exposure, such as different lifestyles and/or varying sensitivity to physico-chemical characteristics of sediments can influence results of sediment toxicity tests.     

Sediment toxicity testing in two areas of concern of the Laurentian Great Lakes: Toronto (Ontario) and Toledo (Ohio) Harbours

The impact of elutriated sediment-associated contaminants from Toronto and Toledo Harbours on ultraplankton (5–20 µm) and microplankton/netplankton (> 20 µm) carbon assimilation rates was determined using Algal Fractionation Bioassays (AFBs). All of the Toronto elutriate caused significant inhibition of ultraplankton carbon assimilation. The Toronto Site 2 elutriate caused the greatest significant inhibition (38 percent, p < 0.001) with a 20 percent dose of standard elutriate. Similarly, all Toledo elutriates caused significant inhibition of ultraplankton productivity. Toledo Site 2 elutriate was the most toxic with the 20 percent elutriate dose (35 percent, p < 0.001).The treatment of elutriates with Chelex-100 resin was used to remove dissolved free metal ions which, in some samples, resulted in the recovery of ¹⁴C assimilation. This was attributed to the elimination of the toxic effects of dissolved metals removed by the Chelex treatment. Residual toxicity after the Chelex treatment was ascribed to the high PCB levels observed in the sediment samples taken from both harbours and possibly to other organic contaminants. Due to the extreme sensitivity of the technique, an EC25 is proposed as an early warning indicator for applied use by regulatory agencies. Our procedure has been included amongst a battery of tests recommended by the International Joint Commission for monitoring areas of concern in the Laurentian Great Lakes.     

The Impact of Chemical Compounds on Benthic Invertebrates from the Danube and Danube Delta Systems

The aim of this study is to assess freshwater sediment in terms of biological and preliminary toxicological control linked to a series of variables along the Danube River and Danube Delta systems. The research is focused on eight points of the Romanian sector in the summer to autumn of 2012. Results show a high concentration of metals, pesticides, and petroleum products in sediment samples in the monitored period. The survey is designed to gauge the total chemical pollution effects on the composition, living, and growth of benthic organisms. To assess the toxic hazard of contaminated sediment samples, a microbiotest with meiobenthic ostracods Heterocypris incongruens was performed with evaluation of mortality and growth-inhibition percentages. The preliminary results showed an increase of sediment toxicity, in terms of growth inhibition (>80%), especially at Murighiol and Ivancea. The chemical pressures alongside the temporal conditions were important variables which affected benthic communities. Low benthic diversity was found in the Isaccea–St. Gheorghe Branch sector of the Danube River. In terms of ecological status, the study reveals that the Danube and Danube Delta ecosystem are eutrophic systems equilibrated for good ecological status.     

Rapid screening for soil ecotoxicity with a battery of luminescent bacteria tests

A bacterial test battery, involving i) Microtox, an aquatic test, ii) the Flash assay, a soil-suspension test (with Vibrio fischeri as the test organism), and iii) the Metal Detector assay, a semi-specific aquatic test for heavy metals (with recombinant luminescent Escherichia coli), was used in a combined toxicological and chemical hazard assessment of Estonian soils sampled from a former Soviet military airfield (13 samples) and from traffic-influenced roadsides (5 samples). The soils showed slightly elevated levels of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH), but not of heavy metals. In most of the samples, the levels of TPH did not exceed the Estonian permitted limit values set for residential areas. Toxicity testing was performed on both fresh and dried soils, after aqueous extraction for 1 hour and 24 hours. The toxicity results obtained with the Microtox test did not significantly differ in all of the sample treatment schemes; however, it appeared that the drying and sieving of the soils increased the bioavailability of toxicants, probably due to an enlarged reactive soil surface area. According to chemical analysis of the soils and the data from the Microtox test and the Metal Detector assay (performed on aqueous elutriates of the soils), these soils would not be considered to be hazardous. In contrast, the Flash assay performed on soil-water suspensions of dried soils, showed that most of the soils were toxic and thus probably contained undetermined particle-bound bioavailable toxicants. The photobacterial toxicity test (the Flash assay) can be recommended for the rapid screening of soils, as it is sensitive, cheap and inexpensive, and provides valuable information on particle-bound bioavailable toxicants, useful for complementing a chemical analysis and for assessing the risks originating from polluted soils.     

Bioavailability of heavy metals bound to estuarine sediments as a function of pH and salinity values

Abstract

The role of two key-variables such as pH and salinity in chemical speciation and bioavailability of heavy metals originated by mining activities bound to sediments was evaluated under estuarine conditions. Two sediment samples collected in two estuaries in southern Spain (Ría of Huelva and Guadalquivir estuary) together with dilution of toxic mud from the Aznalcóllar mining spill (April, 1998) were used to determine their chemical speciation and bioavailability at different pH (6.5, 7.5, 8.5) and salinity (10, 20, 35) values using the estuarine clam Ruditapes philippinarum. The chemical speciation was established by means of measurements of the mobilization of heavy metals from sediments to waters and determining in it pH, salinity, alkalinity and heavy metal concentration. The geochemical model MINTEQA2 was used to establish the thermodynamic species in the assays. To assess the bioavailability of the heavy metals the concentration of metallothioneins in the clam tissues and the mortality of this organism was measured at different pH and salinity values. The influence of both salinity and pH was detected in the chemical behavior of metals and in their associated biological responses established by metallothioneins and the percentage of mortality. At low values of both variables (pH=6.5 and S=10), the biological effects were highest, and it was related to the free ion Zn²⁺.