ASTM E2455-22
(Guide)Standard Guide for Conducting Laboratory Toxicity Tests with Freshwater Mussels
Standard Guide for Conducting Laboratory Toxicity Tests with Freshwater Mussels
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Protection of a species requires prevention of unacceptable effects on the number, weight, health, and uses of the individuals of that species. Toxicity tests can be used provide information about the toxicity of a test material to a specific life stage of a particular species of mussel. The primary adverse effects studied are reduced survival or growth.
5.2 Results of toxicity tests might be used to predict effects likely to occur on mussels in field situations as a result of an exposure under comparable conditions.
5.3 Results of toxicity tests might be used to compare the sensitivities of different mussel species and the toxicity of different test materials, and to study the effects of various environmental factors on results of such tests.
5.4 Results of toxicity tests conducted with mussels might be an important consideration when assessing the risks of test materials to aquatic organisms or when deriving environmental guideline values for toxicants.
5.5 An acute toxicity test is conducted to obtain information concerning the immediate effects on mussels of a short exposure to a test material under specific experimental conditions. An acute toxicity test does not provide information about whether delayed effects will occur, although a post-exposure observation period, with appropriate feeding, if necessary, might provide such information (Guide E729).
5.6 Results of chronic (at least 28 d) toxicity tests with mussels might be used to predict chronic or partial chronic effects on species in field situations as a result of exposure under comparable conditions.
5.7 Short-term chronic toxicity tests are conducted for 7 d, a complementary test duration in the USEPA shot-term methods for estimating the chronic toxicity of effluents and receiving waters to fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas; USEPA 2002) (31) and provides a more direct estimate of the safe concentrations of effluents and receiving waters than acute toxicity tests, at a slightly ...
SCOPE
1.1 This standard guide describes methods for conducting laboratory toxicity tests with early life stages of freshwater mussels including glochidia and juvenile mussels in water-only and effluent exposures (Annex A1). Future revisions to this standard may describe methods for conducting toxicity tests with endpoints of reproduction, behaviors, and biomarkers.
1.2 Freshwater mussels (order Unionida) are one of the most imperiled groups of animals in the world, and environmental contamination has been linked as a contributing factor to the decline of mussel populations (Lydeard et al. 2004 (1); Strayer et al. 2004 (2); Haag 2012 (3); Lopes-Lima et al. 2017 (4)).2 Three critical life stages (glochidia, juvenile mussels, and adults) have been used in toxicity assessments and the toxicity studies are separated according to the medium of exposure (water, sediment, and host fish (Ingersoll et al. 2007 (5)). Recent studies on early life stages of mussels have demonstrated that the mussels are among the most sensitive freshwater species to a variety of contaminants, including ammonia, some metals (for example, aluminum, copper, nickel, and zinc), and major ions (for example, chloride, nitrate, potassium, and sulfate) (Bringolf et al. 2007 (6); Newton et al. 2007 (7); Wang et al. 2007ab, 2010, 2011ab, 2016, 2017ab, 2018abc, 2020ab (8-20); Cope et al. 2008 (21); Gillis et al. 2008, 2010, 2011, 2021 (22-25); Miao et al. 2010 (26); Salerno et al. 2020 (27)). These studies indicate that environmental guideline values for individual chemicals established for the protection of aquatic organisms may not be adequately protective of sensitive stages of freshwater mussels. For example, when freshwater mussel toxicity data were included in an update to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) ambient water quality criteria (WQC) for ammonia, the acute criterion decreased by about a 1.4 fold and the chronic crite...
General Information
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2455 − 22
Standard Guide for
Conducting Laboratory Toxicity Tests with Freshwater
1
Mussels
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2455; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.3 Summary of Life History of Freshwater Mussels:
1.3.1 Freshwater mussels are bivalve mollusks belonging to
1.1 This standard guide describes methods for conducting
the taxonomic Order Unionida (section 10.1). Like most
laboratory toxicity tests with early life stages of freshwater
bivalves, mussels are totally aquatic, relatively sedentary,
musselsincludingglochidiaandjuvenilemusselsinwater-only
filter-feedinganimals,andspendmostoftheirlivespartiallyor
and effluent exposures (Annex A1). Future revisions to this
standard may describe methods for conducting toxicity tests completely burrowed in the substrate of streams, rivers, or
lakes. Freshwater mussels have an unusual and complex life
with endpoints of reproduction, behaviors, and biomarkers.
cyclethatincludesalarvalstage,theglochidium,thatisbriefly
1.2 Freshwater mussels (order Unionida) are one of the
parasitic on fish (Fig. 1).
most imperiled groups of animals in the world, and environ-
1.3.2 The successful transfer of mature glochidia to a
mental contamination has been linked as a contributing factor
suitablehostconstitutesacriticaleventinthelifecycleofmost
to the decline of mussel populations (Lydeard et al. 2004 (1);
freshwater mussels (Haag 2012) (3). Once the glochidia are
Strayer et al. 2004 (2); Haag 2012 (3); Lopes-Lima et al. 2017
2
released from the female, the glochidia need to attach to the
(4)). Threecriticallifestages(glochidia,juvenilemussels,and
gills or the fins of an appropriate fish host and encyst to
adults) have been used in toxicity assessments and the toxicity
studies are separated according to the medium of exposure complete development. Although glochidia may survive for
months during brooding in the female mussel, glochidia
(water, sediment, and host fish (Ingersoll et al. 2007 (5)).
Recent studies on early life stages of mussels have demon- typically survive for only a few days after release unless the
strated that the mussels are among the most sensitive freshwa- glochidia reach a compatible host. Host fish specificity varies
ter species to a variety of contaminants, including ammonia, among mussels. While some mussel taxa appear to require a
some metals (for example, aluminum, copper, nickel, and single host species, others can utilize several species of host
zinc), and major ions (for example, chloride, nitrate,
fish. Encapsulation on the host occurs by overgrowth of host
potassium, and sulfate) (Bringolf et al. 2007 (6); Newton et al. tissue. Within the capsule, glochidia obtain nutrition from the
2007 (7); Wang et al. 2007ab, 2010, 2011ab, 2016, 2017ab,
host, continue their development, and metamorphose within
2018abc, 2020ab (8-20); Cope et al. 2008 (21); Gillis et al.
days to weeks. Metamorphosis is followed by excapsulation
2008,2010,2011,2021 (22-25);Miaoetal.2010 (26);Salerno
(drop-off)andtransitiontoself-sustainedexistenceasabenthic
et al. 2020 (27)). These studies indicate that environmental
organism.
guideline values for individual chemicals established for the
1.3.3 Both juvenile and adult mussels live embedded in
protection of aquatic organisms may not be adequately protec-
sediment and feed using ciliary mechanisms to capture fine
tive of sensitive stages of freshwater mussels. For example,
particles (Haag 2012) (3). However, young juvenile mussels
when freshwater mussel toxicity data were included in an
(~0.2mm –10 mm) may bury several centimeters in sediment
update to the United States Environmental Protection Agency
wheretheyfeedandrespirefrominterstitialwater,whilelarger
(USEPA) ambient water quality criteria (WQC) for ammonia,
adult mussels can access the water column. Water column and
the acute criterion decreased by about a 1.4 fold and the
substrate conditions suitable for adult life stages may not be
chronic criterion decreased by 2.4 fold (USEPA 2013) (28).
protective of juvenile life stages of freshwater mussels.
1
ThisguideisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE50onEnvironmental 1.4 Summary of Toxicity Testing Conditions:
Assessment, Risk Management and CorrectiveAction and is the direct responsibil-
1.4.1 Section 4 provides a summary of conditions for
ity of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.
cond
...
Questions, Comments and Discussion
Ask us and Technical Secretary will try to provide an answer. You can facilitate discussion about the standard in here.