Development and evaluation of sediment quality guidelines for Florida coastal waters

Abstract

: The weight-of-evidence approach to the development of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) was modified to support the derivation of biological effects-based SQGs for Florida coastal waters. Numerical SQGs were derived for 34 substances, including nine trace metals, 13 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), three groups of PAHs, total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), seven pesticides and one phthalate ester. For each substance, a threshold effects level (TEL) and a probable effects level (PEL) was calculated. These two values defined three ranges of chemical concentrations, including those that were (1) rarely, (2) occasionally or (3) frequently associated with adverse effects. The SQGs were then evaluated to determine their degree of agreement with other guidelines (an indicator of comparability) and the percent incidence of adverse effects within each concentration range (an indicator of reliability). The guidelines also were used to classify (using a dichotomous system: toxic, with one or more exceedances of the PELs or non-toxic, with no exceedances of the TELs) sediment samples collected from various locations in Florida and the Gulf of Mexico. The accuracy of these predictions was then evaluated using the results of the biological tests that were performed on the same sediment samples. The resultant SQGs were demonstrated to provide practical, reliable and predictive tools for assessing sediment quality in Florida and elsewhere in the southeastern portion of the United States.

Florida seagrass habitat evaluation: A comparative survey for chemical quality

“…Concentrations are for one sample. Concentrations are for one sample and those in bold exceed proposed sediment quality guidelines for Florida near-coastal areas (MacDonald et al, 1996). BD e less than method detection limit.…”

“…were 1.0 (PAHs) and 0.2 (PCB congeners and chlorinated pesticides). Sediment contaminant concentrations in sediment were compared to sediment quality assessment guidelines (SQG) proposed for Florida coastal areas (Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 1994;MacDonald et al, 1996). The threshold effects level (TEL) and probable effects level (PEL) guidelines were used in the comparisons (U.S. EPA, 1994).…”

Pollution status of the Bohai Sea: An overview of the environmental quality assessment related trace metals

“…Similar to ERL and ERM, the threshold effects level (TEL) and probable effects level (PEL) of some substances with potential environmental risks were derived to aid the interpretation of sediment chemistry data (Table 2; MacDonald et al, 1996). Generally, the TELs have been used to identify relatively uncontaminated samples that pose a limited risk of toxicity; the PELs have been used to identify those samples in which chemical concentrations were sufficiently elevated to warrant further evaluation (Long et al, 1998).…”

Trace metal fractionation in the Pichavaram mangrove–estuarine sediments in southeast India after the tsunami of 2004

“…A major fraction of the metals (>80 %) in sediments concentrate in the residual fraction, and are mostly unavailable for biological uptake (Table 3). These potentially bioavailable fractions (i.e., F1+F2) are below the ERL-ERM, PEL, and TEL values (Long et al 1995;MacDonald et al 1996). The only exception is Mn, which exhibits higher bioavailability and poses a medium risk (RAC; Table 3).…”

“…We also use the 10 th Effect Range Low (ERL) and 50 th Effect Range Median (ERM) percentile values to establish the sediment quality guidelines (Long et al 1995). TEL (Threshold Effects Range), an estimate of minimal effects, and PEL (Probable Effects Range), an estimate above which adverse effects occur (MacDonald et al 1996), were also calculated. Metal fractionation and RAC indicate that metals concentrate in the residual fraction.…”