The interplay of environmental toxicology and chemistry in the development of sediment quality criteria

Risk assessment for sediment associated heavy metals using sediment quality guidelines modified by sediment properties

Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) are a fundamental component of sediment quality assessment framework, frequently used in the first tier of assessment to predict the potential risks of contaminants in sediment. A recognized weakness of SQGs concerns the bioavailability of sediment contaminants, which may vary considerably with different physical-chemical properties. To better evaluate the ecological risks and predict the toxicity of the heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) in the sediments of Haihe River of China, the risk quotients derived from total metal concentrations and SQG values were modified using multiple linear regressions with sediment properties, i.e. total organic carbon (TOC), acid-volatile sulfide (AVS), and particle size distribution (PSD). Then, the sediment toxicity was tested with the benthic organisms of chironomids and tubificids, and the relationships between the observed toxicity with the modified risk quotients were investigated. We found that the risk quotient modified with TOC and AVS displayed significantly improved relationship with the toxicity (p < 0.001) compared to the original risk quotient without modification (p = 0.062-0.074 > 0.05). Risk assessment indicated that although the heavy metals in the sediments of Haihe River of China are at a relatively low level, potential ecological risks caused by Ni and Zn still exist in some area, especially in the lower reaches along the estuary. The results indicated that the risk quotient and SQG values modified with sediment properties are promising for risk assessment of the metal contaminants in sediments.

Application of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) for evaluating bioavailability of metal contaminants in the sediments of Taihu Lake, China

The toxicities of heavy metals in sediments are related to their bioavailability, which is critical for deriving reliable sediment quality guidelines. To evaluate the bioavailability of the metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn), sediments were collected from Taihu Lake, one of the largest and most important freshwater lakes in China. Concentrations of simultaneously extracted metals (1-M HCl extraction, C_SEM) in the sediments, metals released from sediment to pore waters and accumulated by diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT, C_DGT), and dissolved metals in the overlying water (C_OLW) were measured separately. Sediment toxicity was assessed with tubificids (Monopylephorus limosus) and chironomids (Chironomus kiiensis and Chironomus tentans). Significant relationships existed between the total metal concentrations and C_SEM, C_DGT, and C_OLW measurements (r² = 0.43-0.95, n = 27, p < 0.001), with stronger relationships with C_SEM (r² = 0.91-0.95) than C_DGT (r² = 0.56-0.85) and C_OLW (r² = 0.43-0.71). Risk quotients were derived by dividing C_SEM by sediment quality guideline values (SQGVs), and by dividing both C_DGT and C_OLW by water quality criteria (WQC). Toxicity of the sediments to the three species was better explained by the C_SEM-based risk quotient than those derived from C_DGT and C_OLW. The study indicated that DGT piston probes deployed face down in sediments did not accumulate metals in proportion to the bioavailable metal fraction that caused toxicity to these freshwater benthic organisms, and that single measurements of metals in overlying waters are not adequate for predicting risks of toxicity from sediments. The measurement of C_SEM was determined to be effective for assessing the risk posed by the metals in the Taihu Lake sediments, but offered limited improvement over measurement of total metal concentrations.

Toxicities and risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments of Taihu Lake, China, based on sediment quality guidelines

The occurrence, toxicities, and ecological risks of five heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn and Ni) in the sediment of Taihu Lake were investigated in this study. To evaluate the toxicities caused by the heavy metals, the toxicities induced by organic contaminants and ammonia in the sediments were screened out with activated carbon and zeolite. The toxicities of heavy metals in sediments were tested with benthic invertebrates (tubificid and chironomid). The correlations between toxicity of sediment and the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) derived previously were evaluated. There were significant correlations (p<0.0001) between the observed toxicities and the total risk quotients of the heavy metals based on SQGs, indicating that threshold effect level (TEL) and probable effect level (PEL) were reliable to predict the toxicities of heavy metals in the sediments of Taihu Lake. By contrast, the method based on acid volatile sulfides (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM), such as ∑SEM/AVS and ∑SEM-AVS, did not show correlations with the toxicities. Moreover, the predictive ability of SQGs was confirmed by a total predicting accuracy of 77%. Ecological risk assessment based on TELs and PELs showed that the contaminations of Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn in the sediments of Taihu Lake were at relatively low or medium levels. The risks caused by heavy metals in the sediments of northern bay of the lake, which received more wastewater discharge from upper stream, were higher than other area of the lake.

Use of acute and chronic ecotoxicity data in environmental risk assessment of pharmaceuticals

For many older pharmaceuticals, chronic aquatic toxicity data are limited. To assess risk during development, scale-up, and manufacturing processes, acute data and physicochemical properties need to be leveraged to reduce potential long-term impacts to the environment. Aquatic toxicity data were pooled from daphnid, fish, and algae studies for 102 active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to evaluate the relationship between predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) derived from acute and chronic tests. The relationships between acute and chronic aquatic toxicity and the n-octanol/water distribution coefficient (D(OW)) were also characterized. Statistically significant but weak correlations were observed between toxicity and log D(OW), indicating that D(OW) is not the only contributor to toxicity. Both acute and chronic PNEC values could be calculated for 60 of the 102 APIs. For most compounds, PNECs derived from acute data were lower than PNECs derived from chronic data, with the exception of steroid estrogens. Seven percent of the PNECs derived from acute data were below the European Union action limit of 0.01 μg/L and all were anti-infectives affecting algal species. Eight percent of available PNECs derived from chronic data were below the European Union action limit, and fish were the most sensitive species for all but 1 API. These analyses suggest that the use of acute data may be acceptable if chronic data are unavailable, unless specific mode of action concerns suggest otherwise.

Survival and Growth of the Marine Polychaete, Neanthes arenaceodentata, Following Laboratory Exposure to Copper-Spiked Sediment

Juvenile marine polychaetes, Neanthes arenaceodentata, were exposed for 28 days to copper (Cu)-spiked sediment at six concentrations ranging from 48.3 to 2380 mg Cu/kg dry sediment, plus control. Survival was reduced (p ≤ 0.05) at concentrations ≥1190 mg Cu/kg. Growth was inhibited at Cu concentrations ≥506 mg Cu/kg. Dose-response relationships yielded LC10 and LC50 estimates of 514 and 1230 mg Cu/kg, respectively. The growth effect EC50 estimate was 409 mg Cu/kg. Ranges for the no observable effect concentration and lowest observable effect concentration were 506-1190 mg Cu/kg for survival, and 230-506 mg Cu/kg for growth. Pore water concentrations of Cu were 38.7-65.8 µg Cu/L in exposures where toxic effects were observed, compared to a range of 15.1-22.4 µg Cu/L in exposures where significant effects were not evident. The results of the study were compared with empirical and mechanistic sediment quality guidelines for the protection of benthic organisms.