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DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL STRESSORS THROUGH ASTM COMMITTEE E47: A PAST FOUNDATION OF PROVEN STANDARDS, A FUTURE OF GREAT POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY
Citation:
CANFIELD, T. J. AND C. G. INGERSOLL. DEVELOPING STANDARDS FOR ASSESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL, PHYSICAL, AND BIOLOGICAL STRESSORS THROUGH ASTM COMMITTEE E47: A PAST FOUNDATION OF PROVEN STANDARDS, A FUTURE OF GREAT POTENTIAL AND OPPORTUNITY. Presented at E:47 Committee of the ASTM, Reno, NV, April 17 - 21, 2005.
Impact/Purpose:
To inform the public.
Description:
Development of standards associated with assessing the bioavailability of contaminants in sediment will be used as a case study for how standards have been developed through Committee E47. In 1987, Committee E47 established Subcommittee E47.03 on Sediment Assessment and Toxicity. Committee E47 has provided a forum for individuals to meet twice yearly to debate and discuss approaches for conducting sediment assessments and development of standards through ASTM subcommittee meetings, workshops, and symposia. Important to the process is that participation has occurred with representatives from government organization such as the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Environment Canada along with members from industry and academia to developing standards for assessing sediment toxicology in freshwater, estuarine, and marine environments. During the 1990s, USEPA, Environment Canada, and OECD developed their own methods for collection and handling of sediments and for conducting whole-sediment toxicity tests. Importantly, these methods were harmonized with the existing ASTM standards. Over the past 5 years, information described in these USEPA and Environment Canada documents has been used to add more specificity to existing ASTM standards.