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Using a spiked sediment bioassay to establish a no‐effect concentration for dioxin exposure to the amphipod Ampelisca abdita
Author(s) -
Barber Timothy R.,
Chappie Daniel J.,
Duda Deborah J.,
Fuchsman Phyllis C.,
Finley Brent L.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620170311
Subject(s) - bioassay , benthic zone , sediment , environmental chemistry , bay , amphipoda , invertebrate , dry weight , environmental science , biology , chemistry , oceanography , ecology , crustacean , geology , paleontology , botany
A recent study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported a highly significant correlation between 2,3,7,8‐tetrachlorodibenzo‐ p ‐dioxin (2,3,7,8‐TCDD) concentrations and amphipod ( Ampelisca abdita ) mortality in sediment samples collected from the lower Passaic River and Newark Bay. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the potential effects of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD on benthic invertebrates under controlled laboratory exposures. In this study, 10‐d whole‐sediment bioassays using the marine amphipod A. abdita were conducted on spiked sediment samples representing a range of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD concentrations (0–25 μg/kg dry weight). No effects on survival or growth relative to controls were observed at any test concentration. The highest 2,3,7,8‐TCDD concentration reported from the NOAA study was 0.62 μg/kg. Therefore, the lack of 2,3,7,8‐TCDD toxicity in this study indicates that the mortality observed in the NOAA study was probably due to factors or chemicals other than 2,3,7,8‐TCDD. This study demonstrates the utility of spiked sediment bioassays in evaluating cause and effect relationships between sediment contamination and benthic invertebrate mortality.