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FIELD VALIDATION OF SEDIMENT TIE METHODS
Citation:
Ho, K, M. L. Gielazyn, R Burgess, M Pelletier, J R. Serbst, S Ryba, M. M. Perron, AND M Cantwell. FIELD VALIDATION OF SEDIMENT TIE METHODS. Presented at North Atlantic Chapter of the Society of Enivornmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Mystic, CT, April 24-25, 2003.
Description:
Sediment toxicity is a widely recognized problem in many regions of the world. Frequently, however, the cause of toxicity is not known. The ability to identify the cause(s) of toxicity in sediments allows managers to determine sources of continuing contamination to support selection of management strategies, and to make informed decisions on appropriate alternatives for remediation and disposal of toxic dredged material. We have recently developed sediment Toxicity Identification and Evaluation (TIE) methods to aid in the toxicant identification process; however, the question of field validation of these methods still remains. We report on preliminary efforts to link our results in the laboratory with effects in the field. Field endpoints investigated include benthic community condition, sediment chemistry, and evidence of effects to organisms in the field. Specifically, we used contaminated sediment from the Elizabeth River, VA, and compared field endpoints with observed toxicity in preliminary TIE toxicity tests using the bivalve clam Mercenaria merceneria. Preliminary results indicate that toxicity was correlated with positive COMET assay (DNA damage) results in deployed Merceneria and evidence of an impaired benthic community.