1. Scope

1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining, storing, characterizing, and manipulating saltwater and freshwater sediments, for use in laboratory sediment toxicity evaluations. It is not meant to provide guidance for all aspects of sediment assessments, such as chemical analyses or monitoring, geophysical characterization, or extractable phase and fractionation analyses. However, some of this information might have applications for some of these activities. A variety of test methods are reviewed in this guide. A statement on the consensus approach then follows this review of the test methods. This consensus approach has been included in order to foster consistency among studies. The state-of-the-art is currently in its infancy, and the development of standard test methods is not feasible; however, it is crucial that there be an understanding of the significant effects that these test methods have on sediment quality evaluations. It is anticipated that recommended test methods and this guide will be updated routinely to reflect progress in our understanding of sediments and how to best study them.

1.2 There are several regulatory guidance documents concerned with sediment collection and characterization procedures that might be important for individuals performing federal or state agency-related work. Discussion of some of the principles and current thoughts on these approaches can be found in Dickson, et al (1) .

1.3 Three documents, (Environment Canada (2) , USEPA 2001 (3) and Test Method E 1706) provide supplemental guidance on procedures dealing with the collection, storage, characterization, and manipulation of sediments used in toxicological assessments.

1.4 This guide is arranged as follows:

1.5 Field-collected sediments might contain potentially toxic materials and should thus be treated with caution to minimize occupational exposure to workers. Worker safety must also be considered when working with spiked sediments containing various organic, inorganic, or radiolabeled contaminants, or some combination thereof. Careful consideration should be given to those chemicals that might biodegrade, volatilize, oxidize, or photolyze during the exposure.

1.6 The values stated in either SI or inch-pound units are to be regarded as the standard. The values given in parentheses are for information only.

1.7 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazards statements are given in Section 8.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D1067 Test Methods for Acidity or Alkalinity of Water

D1126 Test Method for Hardness in Water

D1129 Terminology Relating to Water

D1426 Test Methods for Ammonia Nitrogen In Water

D3976 Practice for Preparation of Sediment Samples for Chemical Analysis

D4387 Guide for Selecting Grab Sampling Devices for Collecting Benthic Macroinvertebrates

D4822 Guide for Selection of Methods of Particle Size Analysis of Fluvial Sediments (Manual Methods)

D4823 Guide for Core Sampling Submerged, Unconsolidated Sediments

E729 Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Test Materials with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians

E943 Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Environmental Fate

E1241 Guide for Conducting Early Life-Stage Toxicity Tests with Fishes

E1367 Test Method for Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Estuarine and Marine Invertebrates

E1525 Guide for Designing Biological Tests with Sediments

E1611 Guide for Conducting Sediment Toxicity Tests with Polychaetous Annelids

E1688 Guide for Determination of the Bioaccumulation of Sediment-Associated Contaminants by Benthic Invertebrates

E1706 Test Method for Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Freshwater Invertebrates

Keywords

basket samplers; benthic macroinvertebrates; characterization; collection; interstitial water; manipulation; multiplate samplers; pore water; sediment; sediment grab samplers; spiking; storage; stream net sampling devices; toxicity; transport; Benthic macroinvertebrates (collecting); Characteristics/characterization; Contamination--environmental; Equilibration and mixing; Field testing--environmental materials/applications; Fresh water; Interstitial water chemistry; Manipulation system; Organic compounds--water; Reference samples/specimens; Safety precautions--environmental materials/applications; Saltwater; Sampling water analysis applications; Sediment toxicity testing; Spiking; Storage--environmental materials; Toxicity/toxicology--water environments

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 11.120.01 (Pharmaceutics in general)

DOI: 10.1520/E1391-02

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