Long‐term sediment bioassay of lead toxicity in two generations of the marine amphipod Elasmopus laevis, S.I. Smith, 1873

Abstract

Abstract-Sediments are evaluated for toxicity by measuring mortality in a single cohort of amphipods in either acute (10-d) or chronic (28-d) bioassays. This investigation differed from conventional bioassays in four ways: Sublethal effects (fecundity) were estimated; the testing period was 60ϩ d; two successive generations were examined; and Elasmopus laevis Smith, 1873, amphipods were employed. Four test sediments were created between 58 and 424 g/g of lead using the 30-g/g whole-sediment as the control. Bioaccumulated lead at 60 d varied as a linear function of lead concentration in the sediments. Fecundity, as estimated by offspringper-chamber and/or percent reproductive success, was reduced as sediment lead concentrations increased and reproduction was delayed compared with the control. The reduction in offspring production per test chamber varied significantly as an inverse function of lead sediment concentration, best described by a curvilinear exponential equation. It was concluded that E. laevis exposed to 118 g/g and higher could not maintain a population as large as that in the control. Although the current sediment quality guideline for lead stipulates that adverse biological effects likely will occur above 218 g/g, this study revealed a statistically significant negative reproductive response at 118 g/g lead, and suggests that the current regulatory guideline for lead, based on lethality, should be reconsidered.

An empirical approach to the determination of metal regional Sediment Quality Guidelines, in marine waters, within the European Water Framework Directive

“…In this sense, comparing the values calculated here with available ecotoxicological data (NOEC/EC 10 ) on spiked-sediment test, the Basque Country SQG values are within the range of those calculated for marine amphipods by Ringenary et al [73] for Pb, Ciarelli et al [74] for Cd, Roman et al [75] for Cu and Hagopian-Schlekat et al [65] for Ni.…”

Development and application of a rapid amphipod reproduction test for sediment‐quality assessment

“…Gale et al [6] concluded that exposure of juvenile M. plumulosa over a six-week life-cycle test to a field-collected sediment contaminated with Zn, Pb, and Cd resulted in lower numbers of juveniles in the first brood after they reached sexual maturity. More recently, Ringenary et al [23] demonstrated a dose-dependant relationship between the numbers of offspring of the amphipod Elasmopus laevis recovered from sediments at the termination of nine-week chronic exposures to Pb-spiked sediments (five concentrations between 30 and 424 mg/kg).…”

Ovarian cycle and embryonic development in Gammarus fossarum: Application for reproductive toxicity assessment

“…Any disruption of the synchronism of these endpoints by a chemical contaminant would highlight a possible endocrine disruption mechanism. In general, available methodologies for an amphipod reproductive toxicity test cannot discriminate or assess whether the reproductive impairment observed results from a decrease in the number of oocytes produced, an impact on the fertility related to embryonic impairment, or a delay in organism growth [4,5,50].…”