Paradigm for Developing Sediment Toxicity Bioassays for the Regulatory Evaluationof Dredged Material

摘要

Sediment toxicity bioassays may be required in the regulatory evaluation ofdredged material. Use of these tests in a major regulatory program implies they have been fully developed. This is not always true. Some bioassays are intuitively more appropriate and more advanced than others. Judging their relative developmental status, however, has been difficult because of a lack of guidance. To meet this need, input from users and developers of sediment bioassays was solicited over a 2-year period. That input is summarized in a four-phased developmental paradigm. Phase I includes activities often conducted by the initial test proponent; e.g., species/end point selection, statistical/experimental design, and quality assurance/quality control. Phase II involves evaluation of the bioassay by multiple laboratories. Phase II concludes with acceptance of the sediment bioassay by the scientific community. Activities under Phase III include intertest comparisons and field validation/verification. Phase III terminates with the publication of a standard method by some standard-setting organization such as the American Society of Testing and Materials. Phase IV recommends a process for regulatory agencies (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency/U.S. Army Corps of Engineers) to judge the appropriateness of bioassays vis-a-vis dredged material evaluations. Bioassays, Development, Sediment.