ASTM E1367-03(2008)
(Guide)Standard Test Method for Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Estuarine and Marine Invertebrates
Standard Test Method for Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Estuarine and Marine Invertebrates
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
General:
Sediment provides habitat for many aquatic organisms and is a major repository for many of the more persistent chemicals that are introduced into surface waters. In the aquatic environment, most anthropogenic chemicals and waste materials including toxic organic and inorganic chemicals eventually accumulate in sediment. Mounting evidences exists of environmental degradation in areas where USEPA Water Quality Criteria (WQC; Stephan et al.(67)) are not exceeded, yet organisms in or near sediments are adversely affected Chapman, 1989 (68). The WQC were developed to protect organisms in the water column and were not directed toward protecting organisms in sediment. Concentrations of contaminants in sediment may be several orders of magnitude higher than in the overlying water; however, whole sediment concentrations have not been strongly correlated to bioavailability Burton, 1991(69). Partitioning or sorption of a compound between water and sediment may depend on many factors including: aqueous solubility, pH, redox, affinity for sediment organic carbon and dissolved organic carbon, grain size of the sediment, sediment mineral constituents (oxides of iron, manganese, and aluminum), and the quantity of acid volatile sulfides in sediment Di Toro et al. 1991(70) Giesy et al. 1988 (71). Although certain chemicals are highly sorbed to sediment, these compounds may still be available to the biota. Chemicals in sediments may be directly toxic to aquatic life or can be a source of chemicals for bioaccumulation in the food chain.
The objective of a sediment test is to determine whether chemicals in sediment are harmful to or are bioaccumulated by benthic organisms. The tests can be used to measure interactive toxic effects of complex chemical mixtures in sediment. Furthermore, knowledge of specific pathways of interactions among sediments and test organisms is not necessary to conduct the tests Kemp et al. 1988, (72). Sediment tests can be used to: (1) determine ...
SCOPE
1.1 This test method covers procedures for testing estuarine or marine organisms in the laboratory to evaluate the toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sediments. Sediments may be collected from the field or spiked with compounds in the laboratory. General guidance is presented in Sections 1-15 for conducting sediment toxicity tests with estuarine or marine amphipods. Specific guidance for conducting 10-d sediment toxicity tests with estuarine or marine amphipods is outlined in Annex A1 and specific guidance for conducting 28-d sediment toxicity tests with Leptocheirus plumulosus is outlined in Annex A2.
1.2 Procedures are described for testing estuarine or marine amphipod crustaceans in 10-d laboratory exposures to evaluate the toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sediments (Annex A1; USEPA 1994a (1)). Sediments may be collected from the field or spiked with compounds in the laboratory. A toxicity method is outlined for four species of estuarine or marine sediment-burrowing amphipods found within United States coastal waters. The species are Ampelisca abdita, a marine species that inhabits marine and mesohaline portions of the Atlantic coast, the Gulf of Mexico, and San Francisco Bay; Eohaustorius estuarius, a Pacific coast estuarine species; Leptocheirus plumulosus, an Atlantic coast estuarine species; and Rhepoxynius abronius, a Pacific coast marine species. Generally, the method described may be applied to all four species, although acclimation procedures and some test conditions (that is, temperature and salinity) will be species-specific (Sections 12 and Annex A1). The toxicity test is conducted in 1-L glass chambers containing 175 mL of sediment and 775 mL of overlying seawater. Exposure is static (that is, water is not renewed), and the animals are not fed over the 10-d exposure period. The endpoint in the toxicity test is survival with reburial of surviving amphipods as an additional measur...
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Designation: E1367 − 03(Reapproved 2008)
Standard Test Method for
Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated
Contaminants with Estuarine and Marine Invertebrates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1367; 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* species(for R. abroniusand E. estuarius).Performancecriteria
established for this test include the average survival of amphi-
1.1 This test method covers procedures for testing estuarine
pods in negative control treatment must be greater than or
or marine organisms in the laboratory to evaluate the toxicity
equalto90%.Proceduresaredescribedforusewithsediments
of contaminants associated with whole sediments. Sediments
o
with pore-water salinity ranging from >0 ⁄oo to fully marine.
may be collected from the field or spiked with compounds in
the laboratory. General guidance is presented in Sections 1-15
1.3 A procedure is also described for determining the
for conducting sediment toxicity tests with estuarine or marine
chronic toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sedi-
amphipods. Specific guidance for conducting 10-d sediment
ments with the amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus in labora-
toxicitytestswithestuarineormarineamphipodsisoutlinedin
tory exposures (Annex A2; USEPA-USACE 2001(2)). The
AnnexA1 and specific guidance for conducting 28-d sediment
toxicity test is conducted for 28 d in 1-L glass chambers
toxicity tests with Leptocheirus plumulosus is outlined in
containing175mLofsedimentandabout775mLofoverlying
Annex A2.
water. Test temperature is 25° 6 2°C, and the recommended
o o
1.2 Procedures are described for testing estuarine or marine
overlyingwatersalinityis5 ⁄oo 62 ⁄oo(fortestsedimentwith
o o o o
amphipodcrustaceansin10-dlaboratoryexposurestoevaluate
pore water at 1 ⁄oo to 10 ⁄oo)or20 ⁄oo 6 2 ⁄oo (for test
o
the toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sediments
sediment with pore water >10 ⁄oo). Four hundred millilitres of
(Annex A1; USEPA 1994a (1)). Sediments may be collected
overlying water is renewed three times per week, at which
from the field or spiked with compounds in the laboratory. A
times test organisms are fed. The endpoints in the toxicity test
toxicity method is outlined for four species of estuarine or
are survival, growth, and reproduction of amphipods. Perfor-
marine sediment-burrowing amphipods found within United
mance criteria established for this test include the average
States coastal waters. The species are Ampelisca abdita,a
survival of amphipods in negative control treatment must be
marinespeciesthatinhabitsmarineandmesohalineportionsof
greater than or equal to 80% and there must be measurable
theAtlanticcoast,theGulfofMexico,andSanFranciscoBay;
growth and reproduction in all replicates of the negative
Eohaustorius estuarius, a Pacific coast estuarine species;
controltreatment.Thistestisapplicableforusewithsediments
Leptocheirus plumulosus, an Atlantic coast estuarine species;
from oligohaline to fully marine environments, with a silt
and Rhepoxynius abronius, a Pacific coast marine species.
content greater than 5% and a clay content less than 85%.
Generally, the method described may be applied to all four
o
species, although acclimation procedures and some test condi- 1.4 A salinity of 5 or 20 ⁄oo is recommended for routine
tions (that is, temperature and salinity) will be species-specific application of 28-d test with L. plumulosus (Annex A2;
o
(Sections 12 and AnnexA1). The toxicity test is conducted in USEPA-USACE 2001 (2)) and a salinity of 20 ⁄oo is recom-
1-L glass chambers containing 175 mL of sediment and 775 mended for routine application of the 10-d test with E.
mL of overlying seawater. Exposure is static (that is, water is
estuarius or L. plumulosus (Annex A1). However, the salinity
not renewed), and the animals are not fed over the 10-d of the overlying water for tests with these two species can be
exposure period. The endpoint in the toxicity test is survival
adjusted to a specific salinity of interest (for example, salinity
withreburialofsurvivingamphipodsasanadditionalmeasure-
representative of site of interest or the objective of the study
ment that can be used as an endpoint for some of the test
may be to evaluate the influence of salinity on the bioavail-
ability of chemicals in sediment). More importantly, the
salinity tested must be within the tolerance range of the test
This test method is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on
organisms(asoutlinedinAnnexA1andAnnexA2).Iftestsare
Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the
direct responsibility of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environ-
conducted with procedures different from those described in
mental Fate.
1.3 or in Table A1.1 (for example, different salinity, lighting,
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally
ε1 temperature, feeding conditions), additional tests are required
approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E1367–03 . DOI:
10.1520/E1367-03R08. to determine comparability of results (1.10). If there is not a
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
E1367 − 03 (2008)
TABLE 1 Rating of Selection Criteria for Estuarine or Marine Amphipod Sediment Toxicity Testing
A “+” or “−” Rating Indicates a Positive or Negative Attribute
Ampelisca Eohaustorius Leptocheirus Rhepoxynius
Criterion
abdita estuarius plumulosus abronius
Relative sensitivity toxicity data base + + + +
Round-robin studies conducted + + + +
Contact with sediment + + + +
Laboratory culture +/- - + -
Taxonomic identification + + + +
Ecological importance + + + +
Geographical distribution ATL, PAC, GOM PAC ATL PAC
Sediment physicochemical tolerance + + + +
A
Response confirmed with benthos populations + + ++
Peer reviewed + + + +
Endpoints monitored Survival Survival, reburial Survival Survival, reburial
A
Anderson et al. (2001 (40)).
ATL = Atlantic Coast, PAC = Pacific Coast, GOM= Gulf of Mexico
need to make comparisons among studies, then the test could also needed to link the toxicity test endpoints to a field-
be conducted just at a selected salinity for the sediment of validated population model of L. plumulosus that would then
interest. generate estimates of population-level responses of the am-
phipod to test sediments and thereby provide additional eco-
1.5 Future revisions of this standard may include additional
logically relevant interpretive guidance for the laboratory
annexes describing whole-sediment toxicity tests with other
toxicity test.
groups of estuarine or marine invertebrates (for example,
informationpresentedinGuideE1611onsedimenttestingwith
1.9 This standard outlines specific test methods for evalu-
polychaetes could be added as an annex to future revisions to
ating the toxicity of sediments with A. abdita, E. estuarius, L.
thisstandard).Futureeditionstothisstandardmayalsoinclude
plumulosus, and R. abronius. While standard procedures are
methods for conducting the toxicity tests in smaller chambers
described in this standard, further investigation of certain
with less sediment (Ho et al. 2000 (3), Ferretti et al. 2002 (4)).
issues could aid in the interpretation of test results. Some of
these issues include the effect of shipping on organism
1.6 Procedures outlined in this standard are based primarily
sensitivity,additionalperformancecriteriafororganismhealth,
on procedures described in the USEPA (1994a (1)), USEPA-
sensitivity of various populations of the same test species, and
USACE (2001(2)), Test Method E1706, and Guides E1391,
confirmation of responses in laboratory tests with natural
E1525, E1688, Environment Canada (1992 (5)), DeWitt et al.
benthos populations.
(1992a (6);1997a (7)),Emeryetal.(1997 (8)),andEmeryand
Moore(1996 (9)),Swartzetal.(1985 (10)),DeWittetal.(1989
1.10 Generalproceduresdescribedinthisstandardmightbe
(11)), Scott and Redmond (1989 (12)), and Schlekat et al.
useful for conducting tests with other estuarine or marine
(1992 (13)).
organisms (for example, Corophium spp., Grandidierella
japonica, Lepidactylus dytiscus, Streblospio benedicti), al-
1.7 Additional sediment toxicity research and methods de-
though modifications may be necessary. Results of tests, even
velopment are now in progress to (1) refine sediment spiking
those with the same species, using procedures different from
procedures, (2) refine sediment dilution procedures, (3) refine
those described in the test method may not be comparable and
sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedures,
using these different procedures may alter bioavailability.
(4) produce additional data on confirmation of responses in
Comparison of results obtained using modified versions of
laboratory tests with natural populations of benthic organisms
these procedures might provide useful information concerning
(that is, field validation studies), and (5) evaluate relative
new concepts and procedures for conducting sediment tests
sensitivityofendpointsmeasuredin10-and28-dtoxicitytests
with aquatic organisms. If tests are conducted with procedures
using estuarine or marine amphipods.This information will be
different from those described in this test method, additional
described in future editions of this standard.
tests are required to determine comparability of results. Gen-
1.8 Although standard procedures are described in Annex
eral procedures described in this test method might be useful
A2 of this standard for conducting chronic sediment tests with
for conducting tests with other aquatic organisms; however,
L. plumulosus, further investigation of certain issues could aid
modifications may be necessary.
intheinterpretationoftestresults.Someoftheseissuesinclude
1.11 Selection of Toxicity Testing Organisms:
further investigation to evaluate the relative toxicological
sensitivity of the lethal and sublethal endpoints to a wide 1.11.1 The choice of a test organism has a major influence
variety of chemicals spiked in sediment and to mixtures of on the relevance, success, and interpretation of a test.
chemicals in sediments from contamination gradients in the Furthermore, no one organism is best suited for all sediments.
field(USEPA-USACE2001 (2)).Additionalresearchisneeded The following criteria were considered when selecting test
to evaluate the ability of the lethal and sublethal endpoints to organisms to be described in this standard (Table 1 and Guide
estimate the responses of populations and communities of E1525). Ideally, a test organism should: (1) have a toxicologi-
benthic invertebrates to contaminated sediments. Research is cal database demonstrating relative sensitivity to a range of
E1367 − 03 (2008)
contaminants of interest in sediment, (2) have a database for abdita, E. estuarius, L. plumulosus, and R. abronius must be
interlaboratory comparisons of procedures (for example, developedinorderfortheseandotherorganismstobeincluded
in future editions of this standard.
round-robinstudies), (3)beindirectcontactwithsediment, (4)
bereadilyavailablefromcultureorthroughfieldcollection,(5) 1.11.3 The primary criterion used for selecting L. plumulo-
sus for chronic testing of sediments was that this species is
be easily maintained in the laboratory, (6) be easily identified,
found in both oligohaline and mesohaline regions of estuaries
(7)beecologicallyoreconomicallyimportant,(8)haveabroad
on the East Coast of the United States and is tolerant to a wide
geographical distribution, be indigenous (either present or
range of sediment grain size distribution (USEPA-USACE
historical)tothesitebeingevaluated,orhaveanichesimilarto
2001 (2),Annex AnnexA2). This species is easily cultured in
organisms of concern (for example, similar feeding guild or
the laboratory and has a relatively short generation time (that
behavior to the indigenous organisms), (9) be tolerant of a
is, about 24 d at 23°C, DeWitt et al. 1992a(6)) that makes this
broad range of sediment physico-chemical characteristics (for
species adaptable to chronic testing (Section 12).
example, grain size), and (10) be compatible with selected
1.11.4 An important consideration in the selection of spe-
exposure methods and endpoints (Guide E1525). Methods
cific species for test method development is the existence of
utilizing selected organisms should also be (11) peer reviewed
information concerning relative sensitivity of the organisms
(for example, journal articles) and (12) confirmed with re-
bothtosinglechemicalsandcomplexmixtures.Severalstudies
sponses with natural populations of benthic organisms.
have evaluated the sensitivities of A. abdita, E. estuarius, L.
1.11.2 Of these criteria (Table 1), a database demonstrating
plumulosus,or R. abronius, either relative to one another, or to
relative sensitivity to contaminants, contact with sediment,
other commonly tested estuarine or marine species. For
ease of culture in the laboratory or availability for field-
example,thesensitivityofmarineamphipodswascomparedto
collection, ease of handling in the laboratory, tolerance to
other species that were used in generating saltwater Water
varying sediment physico-chemical characteristics, and confir-
Quality Criteria. Seven amphipod genera, including Ampelisca
mation with responses with natural benthic populations were
abdita and Rhepoxynius abronius, were among the test species
the primary criteria used for selecting A. abdita, E. estuarius,
used to generate saltwater Water Quality Criteria for 12
L. plumulosus, and R. abronius for the current edition of this
chemicals. Acute amphipod toxicity data from 4-d water-only
standard for 10-d sediment tests (Annex A1). The species
testsforeachofthe12chemicalswascomparedtodatafor (1)
chosenforthismethodareintimatelyassociatedwithsediment,
all other species, (2) other benthic species, and (3) other
due to their tube- dwelling or free-burrowing, and sediment
infaunal species. Amphipods were generally of median sensi-
ingestingnature.Amphipodshavebeenusedextensivelytotest
tivity for each comparison. The average percentile rank of
the toxicity of marine, estuarine, and freshwater sediments
amphipods among all species tested was 57%; among all
(Swartz et al., 1985 (10); DeWitt et al., 1989 (11); Scott and
benthic species, 56%; and, among all infaunal species, 54%.
Redmond, 1989 (12); DeWitt et al., 1992a (6); Schlekat et al.,
Thus,
...
This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:E1367–99
Standard Guide for Conducting 10-day Static Sediment
Toxicity Tests with Marine and Estuarine
AmphipodsDesignation: E 1367 – 03 (Reapproved 2008)
Standard Test Method for
Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated
Contaminants with Estuarine and Marine Invertebrates
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1367; 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 (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1This guide Scope*
1.1 This test method covers procedures for testing estuarine or marine organisms in the laboratory to evaluate the toxicity of
contaminants associated with whole sediments. Sediments may be collected from the field or spiked with compounds in the
laboratory. General guidance is presented in Sections 1-15 for conducting sediment toxicity tests with estuarine or marine
amphipods.Specificguidanceforconducting10-dsedimenttoxicitytestswithestuarineormarineamphipodsisoutlinedinAnnex
A1 and specific guidance for conducting 28-d sediment toxicity tests with Leptocheirus plumulosus is outlined in Annex A2.
1.2 Procedures are described for testing estuarine or marine amphipod crustaceans in 10-d laboratory exposures to evaluate the
toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sediments (Annex A1; USEPA 1994a (1)). Sediments may be collected from the
field or spiked with compounds in the laboratory. A toxicity method is outlined for four species of estuarine or marine
sediment-burrowingamphipodsfoundwithinUnitedStatescoastalwaters.Thespeciesare Ampelisca abdita,amarinespeciesthat
inhabitsmarineandmesohalineportionsoftheAtlanticcoast,theGulfofMexico,andSanFranciscoBay; Eohaustorius estuarius,
aPacificcoastestuarinespecies;Leptocheirusplumulosus,anAtlanticcoastestuarinespecies;andRhepoxyniusabronius,aPacific
coast marine species. Generally, the method described may be applied to all four species, although acclimation procedures and
some test conditions (that is, temperature and salinity) will be species-specific (Sections 12 and Annex A1). The toxicity test is
conducted in 1-L glass chambers containing 175 mL of sediment and 775 mL of overlying seawater. Exposure is static (that is,
water is not renewed), and the animals are not fed over the 10-d exposure period.The endpoint in the toxicity test is survival with
reburial of surviving amphipods as an additional measurement that can be used as an endpoint for some of the test species (for
R. abronius and E. estuarius). Performance criteria established for this test include the average survival of amphipods in negative
control treatment must be greater than or equal to 90%. Procedures are described for use with sediments with pore-water salinity
o
ranging from >0 ⁄oo to fully marine.
1.3 A procedure is also described for determining the chronic toxicity of contaminants associated with whole sediments with
the amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus in laboratory exposures (Annex A2; USEPA-USACE 2001(2) ). The toxicity test is
conducted for 28 d in 1-Lglass chambers containing 175 mLof sediment and about 775 mLof overlying water. Test temperature
o o o o
is 25° 6 2°C, and the recommended overlying water salinity is 5 ⁄oo 6 2 ⁄oo (for test sediment with pore water at 1 ⁄oo to 10 ⁄oo)
o o o
or 20 ⁄oo 6 2 ⁄oo (for test sediment with pore water >10 ⁄oo). Four hundred millilitres of overlying water is renewed three times
per week, at which times test organisms are fed. The endpoints in the toxicity test are survival, growth, and reproduction of
amphipods. Performance criteria established for this test include the average survival of amphipods in negative control treatment
must be greater than or equal to 80% and there must be measurable growth and reproduction in all replicates of the negative
control treatment.This test is applicable for use with sediments from oligohaline to fully marine environments, with a silt content
greater than 5% and a clay content less than 85%.
o
1.4 A salinity of 5 or 20 ⁄oo is recommended for routine application of 28-d test with L. plumulosus (Annex A2;
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E-47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E47.03
on Sediment Assessment and Toxicology.
Current edition approved April 10, 1999. Published July 1999. Originally published as E1367–90. Last previous edition E1367–92.
ThistestmethodisunderthejurisdictionofASTMCommitteeE47onBiologicalEffectsandEnvironmentalFateandisthedirectresponsibilityofSubcommitteeE47.03
on Sediment Assessment and Toxicology.
e1
Current edition approved Feb. 1, 2008. Published April 2008. Originally approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2003 as E1367–03 .
*A Summary of Changes section appears at the end of this standard.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
E 1367 – 03 (2008)
o
USEPA-USACE 2001 (2)) and a salinity of 20 ⁄oo is recommended for routine application of the 10-d test with E. estuarius or L.
plumulosus (AnnexA1). However, the salinity of the overlying water for tests with these two species can be adjusted to a specific
salinity of interest (for example, salinity representative of site of interest or the objective of the study may be to evaluate the
influence of salinity on the bioavailability of chemicals in sediment). More importantly, the salinity tested must be within the
tolerance range of the test organisms (as outlined in Annex A1 and Annex A2). If tests are conducted with procedures different
from those described in 1.3 or in TableA1.1 (for example, different salinity, lighting, temperature, feeding conditions), additional
tests are required to determine comparability of results (1.10). If there is not a need to make comparisons among studies, then the
test could be conducted just at a selected salinity for the sediment of interest.
1.5 Futurerevisionsofthisstandardmayincludeadditionalannexesdescribingwhole-sedimenttoxicitytestswithothergroups
of estuarine or marine invertebrates (for example, information presented in Guide E1611 on sediment testing with polychaetes
could be added as an annex to future revisions to this standard). Future editions to this standard may also include methods for
,
conducting the toxicity tests in smaller chambers with less sediment (Ho et al. 2000 (3) describes procedures for obtaining
laboratorydataconcerningtheshort-termadverseeffectsofpotentiallycontaminatedsediment,orofatestmaterialexperimentally
added to contaminated or uncontaminated sediment, on marine or estuarine infaunal amphipods during static 10-day exposures.
These procedures are useful for testing the effects of various geochemical characteristics of sediments on marine and estuarine
amphipods, and could be used to assess sediment toxicity to other infaunal taxa, although modifications of the procedures
appropriate to the test species might be necessary. Procedures for 10-day static sediment toxicity tests are described for the
following species: Rhepoxynius abronius) , Ferretti et al. 2002 (4)).
1.6 Procedures outlined in this standard are based primarily on procedures described in the USEPA (1994a (1)), USEPA-
USACE (2001(2) ), Test Method E1706, and Guides E1391, E1525, E1688, Environment Canada (1992 (5) ), DeWitt et al.
(1992a (6); 1997a (7)), Emery et al. (1997 (8)), and Emery and Moore (1996 (9)), Swartz et al. (1985 (10)), DeWitt et al. (1989
(11)), Scott and Redmond (1989 (12)), and Schlekat et al. (1992 (13)).
1.7 Additional sediment toxicity research and methods development are now in progress to (1) refine sediment spiking
procedures, (2) refine sediment dilution procedures, (3) refine sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedures, (4)
produceadditionaldataonconfirmationofresponsesinlaboratorytestswithnaturalpopulationsofbenthicorganisms(thatis,field
validation studies), and (5) evaluate relative sensitivity of endpoints measured in 10- and 28-d toxicity tests using estuarine or
marine amphipods. This information will be described in future editions of this standard.
1.8 Although standard procedures are described in Annex A2 of this standard for conducting chronic sediment tests with L.
plumulosus,furtherinvestigationofcertainissuescouldaidintheinterpretationoftestresults.Someoftheseissuesincludefurther
investigation to evaluate the relative toxicological sensitivity of the lethal and sublethal endpoints to a wide variety of chemicals
spikedinsedimentandtomixturesofchemicalsinsedimentsfromcontaminationgradientsinthefield(USEPA-USACE2001(2)).
Additional research is needed to evaluate the ability of the lethal and sublethal endpoints to estimate the responses of populations
and communities of benthic invertebrates to contaminated sediments. Research is also needed to link the toxicity test endpoints
to a field-validated population model of L. plumulosus that would then generate estimates of population-level responses of the
amphipod to test sediments and thereby provide additional ecologically relevant interpretive guidance for the laboratory toxicity
test.
1.9 ThisstandardoutlinesspecifictestmethodsforevaluatingthetoxicityofsedimentswithA.abdita,EohaustoriusestuariusE.
estuarius, Ampelisca abdita, Grandidierella japonicaL. plumulosus, and R. abronius. While standard procedures are described in
this standard, further investigation of certain issues could aid in the interpretation of test results. Some of these issues include the
effect of shipping on organism sensitivity, additional performance criteria for organism health, sensitivity of various populations
of the same test species, and confirmation of responses in laboratory tests with natural benthos populations.
1.10 Generalproceduresdescribedinthisstandardmightbeusefulforconductingtestswithotherestuarineormarineorganisms
(forexample, Corophium spp., Grandidierella japonica, Lepidactylus dytiscus, Streblospio benedicti),althoughmodificationsmay
benecessary.Resultsoftests,eventhosewiththesamespecies,usingproceduresdifferentfromthosedescribedinthetestmethod
may not be comparable and using these different procedures may alter bioavailability. Comparison of results obtained using
modified versions of these procedures might provide useful information concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting
sediment tests with aquatic organisms. If tests are conducted with procedures different from those described in this test method,
additionaltestsarerequiredtodeterminecomparabilityofresults.Generalproceduresdescribedinthistestmethodmightbeuseful
for conducting tests with other aquatic organisms; however, modifications may be necessary.
1.11 Selection of Toxicity Testing Organisms:
1.11.1 The choice of a test organism has a major influence on the relevance, success, and interpretation of a test. Furthermore,
no one organism is best suited for all sediments. The following criteria were considered when selecting test organisms to be
described in this standard (Table 1 and Guide E1525). Ideally, a test organism should: (1) have a toxicological database
demonstrating relative sensitivity to a range of contaminants of interest in sediment, (2) have a database for interlaboratory
comparisonsofprocedures(forexample,round-robinstudies), (3)beindirectcontactwithsediment, (4)bereadilyavailablefrom
culture or through field collection, (5) be easily maintained in the laboratory, (6) be easily identified, (7) be ecologically or
economically important, (8) have a broad geographical distribution, be indigenous (either present or historical) to the site being
evaluated, or have a niche similar to organisms of concern (for example, similar feeding guild or behavior to the indigenous
E 1367 – 03 (2008)
organisms), (9) be tolerant of a broad range of sediment physico-chemical characteristics (for example, grain size), and (10) be
compatible with selected exposure methods and endpoints (Guide E1525). Methods utilizing selected organisms should also be
(11)peerreviewed(forexample,journalarticles)and(12)confirmedwithresponseswithnaturalpopulationsofbenthicorganisms.
1.11.2 Of these criteria (Table 1), a database demonstrating relative sensitivity to contaminants, contact with sediment, ease of
culture in the laboratory or availability for field-collection, ease of handling in the laboratory, tolerance to varying sediment
physico-chemical characteristics, and confirmation with responses with natural benthic populations were the primary criteria used
for selecting A. abdita, E. estuarius, L. plumulosus, and R. abronius for the current edition of this standard for 10-d sediment tests
(Annex A1). The species chosen for this method are intimately associated with sediment, due to their tube- dwelling or
free-burrowing,andsedimentingestingnature.Amphipodshavebeenusedextensivelytotestthetoxicityofmarine,estuarine,and
freshwater sediments (Swartz et al., 1985 (10); DeWitt et al., 1989 (11); Scott and Redmond, 1989 (12); DeWitt et al., 1992a (6);
Schlekatetal.,1992(13)).Theselectionoftestspeciesforthisstandardfollowedtheconsensusofexpertsinthefieldofsediment
toxicology who participated in a workshop entitled “Testing Issues for Freshwater and Marine Sediments”. The workshop was
sponsored by USEPAOffice of Water, Office of Science and Technology, and Office of Research and Development, and was held
in Washington, D.C. from 16-18 September 1992 (USEPA, 1992 (14) ). Of the candidate species discussed at the workshop, A.
abdita, E. estuarius, L. plumulosus, and R. abronius best fulfilled the selection criteria, and presented the availability of a
combination of one estuarine and one marine species each for both the Atlantic (the estuarine L. plumulosus and the marine A.
abdita ) and Pacific (the estuarine E. estuarius and the marine R. abronius) coasts. Ampelisca abdita is also native to portions of
theGulfofMexicoandSanFranciscoBay.Manyotherorganismsthatmightbeappropriateforsedimenttestingdonotnowmeet
these selection criteria because little emphasis has been placed on developing standardized testing procedures for benthic
organisms. For example, a fifth species, Grandidierella japonica was not selected because workshop participants felt that the use
of this species was not sufficiently broad to warrant
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