| Abstract: | Goal, Scope and Background Based on a bioassay battery covering only primary producers and consumers as well as degraders, the potential ecological hazard
of sediments to vertebrates cannot be estimated comprehensively. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop and standardize
integrated vertebrate-based test systems for sediment investigation strategies. Whereas vertebrate-based in vitro systems
have frequently been used for the investigation of aqueous samples, there is a significant lack of whole sediment assays.
Thus, the purpose of the present study was: (1) to develop a rapid and reliable, but comprehensive method to investigate native
sediments and particulate matters without preceding extraction procedures; (2) to compare the hazard potential of solid phase
sediments to the effects of corresponding pore waters and organic extracts in order to characterize the bioavailability of
the particle-bound pollutants; and (3) to relatively evaluate the embryotoxic effects of sediments from the catchment areas
of the rivers Rhine, Neckar and Danube. |
