Sediment Toxicity

Sediments play an important role in aquatic ecosystems since they serve as a source and sink for organic and inorganic materials. Sediment toxicity tests and bioassays are crucial tools for regulators and scientists researching toxicity, bioaccumulation and bioavailability of chemicals to benthic organisms. Sediment ecotoxicity testing is considered complex as the properties of the sediment matrix and compound being tested can greatly affect bioavailability to benthic organisms

Smithers tests the toxicity of sediment through sediment matrix and spiked bioassays. We routinely perform whole sediment acute and chronic studies with invertebrates in both fresh and salt water. Smithers is a leading provider of sediment water chironomid studies using spiked sediment or spiked water. We customize studies to meet specific objectives: bioaccumulation exposures with oligochaetes, polychaetes and clams, Sediment Toxicity Identification Evaluations (TIE), and outdoor sediment exposures / microcosms.

Chironomid Toxicity Using Spiked Sediment - OECD 218
Chironomid Toxicity Using Spiked Water - OECD 219
Lumbriculus Toxicity Test Using Spiked Sediment - OECD 225
Chironomid Life-Cycle Toxicity Test Using Spiked Water or Spiked Sediment - OECD 233
Bioaccumulation in Sediment-dwelling Benthic Oligochaetes - OECD 315
Whole Sediment Acute Toxicity Invertebrates - OCSPP 850.1735, OCSPP 850.1740
Hyalella azteca 42-day (chronic) Test - EPA 600/R-99/064. March 2000. Test Method 100.4
Life-cycle Test for Measuring the Effects of Sediment associated Contaminants on Chironomus dilutus - EPA 600/R-99/064. March 2000. Test Method 100.5
Method for assessing the chronic toxicity of marine and estuarine sediment associated contaminants with the amphipod Leptocheirus plumulosus - U.S. EPA Test Method 600/R-01/020