ASTM E1192-23
(Guide)Standard Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Aqueous Ambient Samples and Effluents with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians
Standard Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Aqueous Ambient Samples and Effluents with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians
ABSTRACT
This guide covers procedures for obtaining laboratory data concerning the adverse effects of aqueous ambient samples and effluents on certain species of freshwater and saltwater fishes, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians, during a short-term exposure, depending on the species, using the static, renewal, and flow-through techniques. These procedures will probably be useful for conducting acute toxicity tests on aqueous effluents with many other aquatic species, although modifications might be necessary. Static tests might not be applicable to effluents that have a high oxygen demand, or contain materials that (1) are highly volatile, (2) are rapidly biologically or chemically transformed in aqueous solutions, or (3) are removed from test solutions in substantial quantities by the test chambers or organisms during the test. Results of acute toxicity tests should usually be reported in terms of a median lethal concentration (LC50) or median effective concentration (EC50). An acute toxicity test does not provide information about whether delayed effects will occur. Specified requirements involving the following are detailed: (1) hazards; (2) apparatus: facilities, special requirements, construction materials, metering system, test chambers, cleaning, and acceptability; (3) dilution water requirements, source, treatment, and characterization; (4) effluent sampling point, collection, preservation, treatment, and test concentrations; (5) test organism species, age, source, care and handling, feeding, disease treatment, holding, acclimation, and quality; (6) procedure: experimental design, dissolved oxygen, temperature, loading, beginning the test, feeding, duration of test, biological data, and other measurements; (7) analytical methodology; (8) acceptability of test; (9) calculation of results; and (1) report of results.
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 An acute effluent toxicity test is conducted to obtain information concerning the immediate effects on test organisms of a short-term exposure to an effluent under specific experimental conditions. One can directly examine acute effects of complex mixtures of chemicals as occurs in effluents and some ambient waters. Acute effluent toxicity tests can be used to evaluate the potential for designated-use or aquatic life impairment in the receiving stream, lake, or estuary. 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.
5.2 Results of acute effluent tests might be used to predict acute effects likely to occur on aquatic organisms in field situations as a result of exposure under comparable conditions, except that (1) motile organisms might avoid exposure when possible, (2) toxicity to benthic species might be dependent on sorption or settling of components of the effluent onto the substrate, and (3) the effluent might physically or chemically interact with the receiving water.
5.3 Results of acute effluent tests might be used to compare the acute sensitivities of different species and the acute toxicities of different effluents, and to study the effects of various environmental factors on results of such tests.
5.4 Acute tests are usually the first step in evaluating the effects of an effluent on aquatic organisms.
5.5 Results of acute effluent tests will depend on the temperature, composition of the dilution water, condition of the test organisms, exposure technique, and other factors.
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining laboratory data concerning the adverse effects of an aqueous effluent on certain species of freshwater and saltwater fishes, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians, usually during 2 day to 4 day exposures, depending on the species, using the static, renewal, and flow-through techniques. These procedures will probably be useful for conducting acute toxicity tests on ...
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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: E1192 − 23
Standard Guide for
Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Aqueous Ambient
Samples and Effluents with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and
1
Amphibians
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1192; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope obtained measure of acute toxicity but should not last longer
than 48 h. Renewal and flow-through tests may last longer than
1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining laboratory
48 h because the pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen
data concerning the adverse effects of an aqueous effluent on
and effluent are maintained at desired levels and degradation
certain species of freshwater and saltwater fishes,
and metabolic products are removed. Static tests might not be
macroinvertebrates, and amphibians, usually during 2 day to
applicable to effluents that have a high oxygen demand or
4 day exposures, depending on the species, using the static,
contain materials that (1) are highly volatile, (2) are rapidly
renewal, and flow-through techniques. These procedures will
biologically or chemically transformed in aqueous solutions, or
probably be useful for conducting acute toxicity tests on
(3) are removed from test solutions in substantial quantities by
aqueous effluents with many other aquatic species, although
the test chambers or organisms during the test. Flow-through
modifications might be necessary.
tests are generally preferable to renewal tests, although in some
1.2 Other modifications of these procedures might be justi-
situations a renewal test might be more cost-effective than a
fied by special needs or circumstances. Although using appro-
flow-through test.
priate procedures is more important than following prescribed
1.5 In the development of these procedures, an attempt was
procedures, results of tests conducted using unusual procedures
made to balance scientific and practical considerations and to
are not likely to be comparable to results of many other tests.
ensure that the results will be sufficiently accurate and precise
Comparison of results obtained using modified and unmodified
for the applications for which they are commonly used. A
versions of these procedures might provide useful information
major consideration was that the common uses of the results of
concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting acute
acute tests on effluents do not require or justify stricter
toxicity tests on aqueous effluents.
requirements than those set forth in this guide. Although the
1.3 This guide is based in large part on Guide E729 where
tests may be improved by using more organisms, longer
addition details are provided for test elements that may be
acclimation times, and so forth, the requirements presented in
applicable to the ambient and effluent toxicity testing described
this guide should usually be sufficient.
in this method. The major differences between the two guides
1.6 Results of acute toxicity tests should usually be reported
are (1) the maximum test concentration is 100 % effluent or
in terms of a median lethal concentration (LC50) or median
ambient sample, (2) testing is not chemical-specific, and (3) the
effective concentration (EC50). In some situations, it might be
holding time of effluent and ambient samples is often consid-
necessary only to determine whether a specific concentration is
erably less than that for chemicals and other test materials.
acutely toxic to the test species or whether the LC50 or EC50
Because the sample is often a complex mixture of chemicals,
is above or below a specific concentration.
analytical tests cannot generally be used to confirm exposure
concentrations.
1.7 This guide is arranged as follows:
Section
1.4 Selection of the technique to be used in a specific
situation will depend upon the needs of the investigator and
Referenced Documents 2
upon available resources. Static tests provide the most easily
Terminology 3
Summary of Guide 4
Significance and Use 5
Hazards 7
1
Apparatus 6
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental
Facilities 6.1
Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibil-
Special Requirements 6.2
ity of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.
Construction Materials 6.3
Current edition approved Jan. 1, 2023. Published February 2023. Originally
Metering System 6.4
approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 2014
...
This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM 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: E1192 − 97 (Reapproved 2014) E1192 − 23
Standard Guide for
Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Aqueous Ambient
Samples and Effluents with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and
1
Amphibians
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E1192; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining laboratory data concerning the adverse effects of an aqueous effluent on certain
species of freshwater and saltwater fishes, macroinvertebrates, and amphibians, usually during 2 day to 4-day4 day exposures,
depending on the species, using the static, renewal, and flow-through techniques. These procedures will probably be useful for
conducting acute toxicity tests on aqueous effluents with many other aquatic species, although modifications might be necessary.
1.2 Other modifications of these procedures might be justified by special needs or circumstances. Although using appropriate
procedures is more important than following prescribed procedures, results of tests conducted using unusual procedures are not
likely to be comparable to results of many other tests. Comparison of results obtained using modified and unmodified versions of
these procedures might provide useful information concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting acute toxicity tests on
aqueous effluents.
1.3 This guide is based in large part on Guide E729. where addition details are provided for test elements that may be applicable
to the ambient and effluent toxicity testing described in this method. The major differences between the two guides are (1) the
maximum test concentration is 100 % effluent or ambient sample, (2) testing is not chemical specific, chemical-specific, and (3)
the holding time of effluent and ambient samples is often considerably less than that for chemicals and other test materials. Because
the sample is often a complex mixture of chemicals, analytical tests cannot generally be used to confirm exposure concentrations.
1.4 Selection of the technique to be used in a specific situation will depend upon the needs of the investigator and upon available
resources. Static tests provide the most easily obtained measure of acute toxicity,toxicity but should not last longer than 48 h.
Renewal and flow-through tests may last longer than 48 h because the pH and concentrations of dissolved oxygen and effluent are
maintained at desired levels and degradation and metabolic products are removed. Static tests might not be applicable to effluents
that have a high oxygen demand,demand or contain materials that (1) are highly volatile, (2) are rapidly biologically or chemically
transformed in aqueous solutions, or (3) are removed from test solutions in substantial quantities by the test chambers or organisms
during the test. Flow-through tests are generally preferable to renewal tests, although in some situations a renewal test might be
more cost-effective than a flow-through test.
1.5 In the development of these procedures, an attempt was made to balance scientific and practical considerations and to ensure
that the results will be sufficiently accurate and precise for the applications for which they are commonly used. A major
consideration was that the common uses of the results of acute tests on effluents do not require or justify stricter requirements than
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility
of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate.
Current edition approved Oct. 1, 2014Jan. 1, 2023. Published December 2014February 2023. Originally approved in 1988. Last previous edition approved in 20082014
as E1192 – 97(2008). DOI: 10.1520/E1192-97R14.(2014). DOI: 10.1520/E1192-23.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1
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E1192 − 23
those set forth in this guide. Although the tests may be improved by using more organisms, longer acclimation times, and so forth,
the requirements presented in this guide should usually be sufficient.
1.6 Results of acute toxicity tests should usually be reported in terms of a median lethal concentration (LC50)
...
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