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Sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs): Manipulating Bioavailability to Whole Organisms to Identify Environmental Toxins
Citation:
BURGESS, R. M., K. T. HO, M. G. CANTWELL, M. C. PELLETIER, AND M. PERRON. Sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIEs): Manipulating Bioavailability to Whole Organisms to Identify Environmental Toxins. Presented at SETAC Europe 19th Annual Meeting, Goteborg, SWEDEN, May 31 - June 04, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
Provide overview of marine whole sediment approach.
Description:
Toxicity tests are a common method for determining whether sediment contaminants represent an environmental risk. Toxicity tests indicate if contaminants in sediments are bioavailable and capable of causing adverse biological effects to whole aquatic organisms. Several environmental regulatory programs concerned with contaminated sediments use this approach. However, a limitation of toxicity testing is that it indicates only if toxicity is present. Toxicity testing does not provide information on the cause(s) of toxicity; that is, which specific toxic chemicals are responsible for observed effects. This information is important for understanding exposure and making informed environmental management decisions. Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) methods were originally developed for use with industrial and municipal effluents to determine the likely causes of toxicity in receiving waters. The TIE approach combines toxicity testing with analytical and environmental chemistry to selectively alter the bioavailability of specific classes of toxicants. This presentation will focus on recently developed TIE methods for contaminated sediments and discuss how toxicant bioavailability is manipulated. Existing sediment TIE methods are designed to detect toxicity caused by cationic and anionic metals, nonionic organic compounds, and ammonia. Currently, methods are being developed using passive sampler technology to identify specific nonionic organic contaminants causing toxicity. When combined with site information, sediment TIEs can be used to identify probable causes of sediment toxicity to whole organisms and contribute to informed environmental management decisions.