Purpose
Since 2005, freshwater fish contamination by polychlorobiphenyls (PCBs), polychlorodibenzodioxins, and polychlorodibenzofurans has been assessed in the Rhone River basin (France). A large database of surface sediment contamination by PCBs is also available, opening the way to the study of biota-to-sediment accumulation factor (BSAF) distribution throughout this basin. The ultimate goal of the study was to determine a sediment quality guideline (SQG) corresponding to the regulatory fish consumption limit. 相似文献Basing decisions for the management of contaminated sediments on ecotoxicological data is still often met with skepticism by European stakeholders. These concerns are discussed as they pertain to bioassays to show how ecotoxicological data may provide added value for the sustainable management of sediment in aquatic systems.
Materials and methodsFive “concerns” are selected that are often raised by stakeholders. The ecotoxicological practice is discussed in light of the knowledge gained in recent decades and compared with chemical sediment analysis and chemical data.
Results and discussionCommon assumptions such as a higher uncertainty of biotest results for sediments compared to chemical analyses are not supported by interlaboratory comparisons. Some confusion also arises, because the meaning of biotest data is often misunderstood, questioning their significance in light of a limited number of organisms and altered test conditions in the lab. Because biotest results describe a sediment property, they should not be directly equated with an impact upon the biological community. To identify a hazard, however, the possibility of false-negative results due to the presence of contaminants that are not analyzed but are toxic is lower.
ConclusionsThe cost of increased investment in ecotoxicological tests is, in our view, small compared with that of making false-negative assessments of sediment/dredged material that can ultimately have long-term environmental costs. As such, we conclude that ecotoxicological testing is an opportunity for sediment management decision-making that warrants more attention and confidence in Europe.
相似文献• | Biological Effects-Based Assessment of in situ risks (referred to as in situ BEBA); |
• | Biological Effects-Based Assessment of the ex situ quality of dredged sediments (referred to as ex situ BEBA). |
• | Objectives for sediment management; |
• | The level of integration of BEBA in legal frameworks; |
• | The use of chemical (numeric) SQG’s in BEBA and their integration with biological information; |
• | The criteria used to infer effects and to classify sediment quality. |