A Bioassay for the Toxicity of Sediment to Marine Macrobenthos

摘要

The final Revision of Ocean Dumping Regulations and Criteria published by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requires, under certain conditions, bioassays of the liquid, suspended particulate, and solid phases of dredged sediments proposed for disposal in the marine environment. The objective was to develop a test for the acute toxicity of the settleable components. The bioassay was designed not to be sensitive to burial or changes in sediment particle size distribution.