Interlaboratory assessment of marine bioassays to evaluate the environmental quality of coastal sediments in Spain. IV. Whole sediment toxicity test using crustacean amphipods

• Published in: Ciencias marinas Vol. 32; no. 1B; pp. 149 - 157
• Main Authors: Casado-Martinez, M C, Beiras, R, Belzunce, MJ, Gonzalez-Castromil, MA, Marin-Guirao, L, Postma, J F, Riba, I
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English; Spanish
• Published: Universidad Autónoma de Baja California 01.03.2006
• Subjects: Ampelisca brevicornis; bioassay; Corophium multisetosum; Corophium volutator; dredged material; Microdeutopus gryllotalpa; sediment quality; Spain; Spain
• ISSN: 0185-3880; 2395-9053
• DOI: 10.7773/cm.v32i12.1039

Interlaboratory variability for the bioassay using crustacean amphipods was studied. Nine series of data were obtained from different laboratories using four different species, all previously used for sediment toxicity assessment in Spain. Results were studied for interlaboratory variability and according to different confounding factors. The results indicated that the test was suitable for dredged material characterization since laboratories classified the samples based on sediment contamination. False toxic sediments were also important when using a bioassay for decision-making and especially if they were used as principal regulatory tool for managing dredged materials. Storage time was an important factor. Results indicated that the double criterion method used for sediment toxicity was suitable to avoid differences in test species selection and different sensitivities.