The Importance of Biological Testing in the Assessment of Metal Contamination and Site Remediation: A Case Study

Lee, CR; Jw, Simmers; Brandon, D.M.; Folsom, Bobby L.

doi:10.1520/stp13184s

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Both CERCLA and SARA address the toxic effects of hazardous wastes, and, consequently, toxicity is one of the principal characteristics used to identify and characterize hazardous waste sites. Toxicity measurements have already been used in several cases for monitoring site contamination and remediation [4][5][6][7][8][9]. Toxicity measurements have already been used in several cases for monitoring site contamination and remediation [4][5][6][7][8][9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Plant and Earthworm Bioassays to Evaluate Remediation of Soil From a Site Contaminated With Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Meier¹,

Chang²,

Jacobs³

et al. 1997

Environ Toxicol Chem

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Soil from a site heavily contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was treated with a pilot‐scale, solvent extraction technology. Bioassays in earthworms and plants were used to examine the efficacy of the remediation process for reducing the toxicity of the soil. The earthworm toxicity bioassays were the 14‐d survival test and 21‐d reproduction test, using Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida andrei. The plant bioassays included phytotoxicity tests for seed germination and root elongation in lettuce and oats, and a genotoxicity test (anaphase aberrations) in Allium cepa (common onion). Although the PCB content of the soil was reduced by 99% (below the remediation goal), toxicity to earthworm reproduction remained essentially unchanged following remediation. Furthermore, phytotoxicity and genotoxicity were higher for the remediated soil compared to the untreated soil. The toxicity remaining after treatment appeared to be due to residual solvent introduced during the remediation process, and/or to heavy metals or other inorganic contaminants not removed by the treatment. Mixture studies involving isopropanol and known toxicants indicated possible synergistic effects of the extraction solvent and soil contaminants. The toxicity in plants was essentially eliminated by a postremediation, water‐rinsing step. These results demonstrate a need for including toxicity measurements in the evaluation of technologies used in hazardous waste site remediations, and illustrate the potential value of such measurements for making modifications to remediation processes.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of Plant and Earthworm Bioassays to Evaluate Remediation of Soil From a Site Contaminated With Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Meier¹,

Chang²,

Jacobs³

et al. 1997

Environ Toxicol Chem

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show abstract

“…There is increasing interest in the inclusion of toxicity bioassays for ecological assessments at hazardous waste sites and for supporting management decisions for remediation (e.g., establish cleanup goals) [1–4]. Toxicity measurements have already been used in several cases for monitoring site contamination and remediation [4–9]. These measurements also have been used for evaluating new technologies being considered for remediation of contaminated aqueous and solid media at hazardous waste sites [10–12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Use of plant and earthworm bioassays to evaluate remediation of soil from a site contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls

Meier

Chang

Jacobs³

et al. 1997

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Abstract-Soil from a site heavily contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was treated with a pilot-scale, solvent extraction technology. Bioassays in earthworms and plants were used to examine the efficacy of the remediation process for reducing the toxicity of the soil. The earthworm toxicity bioassays were the 14-d survival test and 21-d reproduction test, using Lumbricus terrestris and Eisenia fetida andrei. The plant bioassays included phytotoxicity tests for seed germination and root elongation in lettuce and oats, and a genotoxicity test (anaphase aberrations) in Allium cepa (common onion). Although the PCB content of the soil was reduced by 99% (below the remediation goal), toxicity to earthworm reproduction remained essentially unchanged following remediation. Furthermore, phytotoxicity and genotoxicity were higher for the remediated soil compared to the untreated soil. The toxicity remaining after treatment appeared to be due to residual solvent introduced during the remediation process, and/or to heavy metals or other inorganic contaminants not removed by the treatment. Mixture studies involving isopropanol and known toxicants indicated possible synergistic effects of the extraction solvent and soil contaminants. The toxicity in plants was essentially eliminated by a postremediation, water-rinsing step. These results demonstrate a need for including toxicity measurements in the evaluation of technologies used in hazardous waste site remediations, and illustrate the potential value of such measurements for making modifications to remediation processes.

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In-Situ Bioassays Using Transplanted Mussels: II. Assessing Contaminated Sediment at a Superfund Site in Puget Sound

Salazar

Duncan

Salazar³

et al. 1995

Environmental Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Third Volume

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In a pilot study for the U.S. EPA, bioaccumulation and growth in mussels (Mytilus trossulus) were used to assess the bioavailability of contaminants and potentially adverse bioeffects in water overlying contaminated sediments. Caged juvenile and adult mussels were transplanted to 12 locations around a Super fund Site (Harbor Island), and a reference site (Carr Inlet) in Puget Sound, Washington. The exposure period was 82 days and animals were held 1 meter from the bottom. Accumulation of contaminants in adult mussel tissues was used to help identify the extent and magnitude of contamination in the overlying water. Reduced growth in juvenile mussels was used as an indicator of adverse bioeffects. Sites were ranked for these potentially adverse biological impacts. Juvenile mussel growth rates combined with toxicity-normalized sediment chemistry and toxicity-normalized tissue chemistry, provided a first-order approximation of potential biological effects associated with chemicals of concern in sediment and mussel tissues. Mussels from Harbor Island accumulated higher concentrations of contaminants and had significantly lower growth rates than the reference site mussels. Some differences were detected among the Harbor Island sites. Mussels from one site were much more contaminated than the others and, based on extremely low growth rates, exhibited the greatest potential for adverse biological effects. TBT and copper were the contaminants of greatest concern in both tissues and sediments; lead and zinc were an additional concern in sediments. A statistically significant inverse relationship was found between growth rate, toxicity-normalized tissue accumulation, and toxicity-normalized sediment contamination. Based on our results, we recommend the following integrated approach for evaluating contaminated sediments: (1) conduct in-situ bioassays, (2) estimate bioaccumulation in addition to bioeffects, and (3) evaluate water overlying the sediments.

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The Importance of Biological Testing in the Assessment of Metal Contamination and Site Remediation: A Case Study

Cited by 3 publications

References 0 publications

Use of Plant and Earthworm Bioassays to Evaluate Remediation of Soil From a Site Contaminated With Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Use of Plant and Earthworm Bioassays to Evaluate Remediation of Soil From a Site Contaminated With Polychlorinated Biphenyls

Use of plant and earthworm bioassays to evaluate remediation of soil from a site contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls

In-Situ Bioassays Using Transplanted Mussels: II. Assessing Contaminated Sediment at a Superfund Site in Puget Sound

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