Sensitivity of microscale ecotoxicity tests and their suitability to measure toxicity of environmental samples
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Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Report
Language
en
Date
1998-05-31
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Sensitivity of microscale ecotoxicity tests and
their suitability to measure toxicity of environmental
samples
Translated Title
Kleinschalige ecotoxiciteitstesten onderzocht op
hun gevoeligheid en geschiktheid voor het meten van de toxiciteit van
milieumonsters
Published in
Abstract
Microbiotesten met waterorganismen zijn geevalueerd op
hun bruikbaarheid voor het meten van milieutoxiciteit. Microbiotesten zijn
testen met ongewervelde waterorganismen die een kortere blootstellingstijd
en een kleiner testvolume vereisen dan de traditionele ecotoxiciteitstesten
met waterorganismen. De geevalueerde testen zijn de Thamnotox F test, de
Rotox F test, de Algentoxkit F test, de Microtox test en de Daphnia IQ test.
Ze zijn getest met een metaalzout, en, behalve de Algentoxkit F, met twee
gedefinieerde mengsels van toxische stoffen. Het ene mengsel bevatte
toxische stoffen met een niet-specifiek werkingsmechanisme, het andere
mengsel bestond uit bestrijdingsmiddelen. De gevoeligheid en
reproduceerbaarheid van de microbiotesten werd vergeleken met de
traditionele kortdurende testen met de watervlo en de stekelbaars. Het
verlies van zelfs matig vluchtige mengselstoffen uit de originele
microbiotestvaten bleek behoorlijk groot te zijn. In monitoringsprogramma's
kan dat tot een onderschatting van de milieutoxiciteit leiden. Aanpassing
van de testvaten van de Thamnotox F en Daphnia IQ test gaf een verbetering
van de testresultaten. Samen met de Microtox test zijn zij een goede basis
voor een testbatterij. De huidige opzet van de Rotox F test kon niet worden
verbeterd en bleek vanwege zijn geringe gevoeligheid minder geschikt.
Vanwege hun ecologische functie zou een microbiotest met algen aan de
batterij moeten worden toegevoegd, maar momenteel is er geen geschikte
methode voorhanden.
Aquatic microbiotests were selected and evaluated for their potential usefulness in measuring ecotoxicity in monitoring programs. Microbiotests are tests with aquatic invertebrates that demand a shorter exposure period and a smaller test volume than conventional aquatic ecotoxicity test methods. Microbiotests evaluated were the Thamnotox F test, the Rotox F test, the Algaltoxkit F test, the Microtox test and the Daphnia IQ test. They were tested with a reference toxicant (a metal salt), and, except for the Algaltoxkit F, with two defined mixtures of chemicals. One mixture contained toxicants with a non-specific mode of action and the other pesticides. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the microbiotests were compared with the conventional short-term tests on Daphnia magna and a fish species. Since the loss of even moderately volatile organic compounds from the original microbiotest containers appeared to be considerable, it could therefore result in a serious underestimation of toxicity when used in monitoring programmes. Modification of the test containers of the Thamnotox F and Daphnia IQ tests resulted in an improvement of the test performance. Along with the Microtox test, they form a good base for a test battery. The Rotox F test in its present form, appeared to be less useful because of its low sensitivity. At present, no suitable algal microbiotest is operational. Because of their ecological function as primary producers, algae need to be included in the test battery.
Aquatic microbiotests were selected and evaluated for their potential usefulness in measuring ecotoxicity in monitoring programs. Microbiotests are tests with aquatic invertebrates that demand a shorter exposure period and a smaller test volume than conventional aquatic ecotoxicity test methods. Microbiotests evaluated were the Thamnotox F test, the Rotox F test, the Algaltoxkit F test, the Microtox test and the Daphnia IQ test. They were tested with a reference toxicant (a metal salt), and, except for the Algaltoxkit F, with two defined mixtures of chemicals. One mixture contained toxicants with a non-specific mode of action and the other pesticides. The sensitivity and reproducibility of the microbiotests were compared with the conventional short-term tests on Daphnia magna and a fish species. Since the loss of even moderately volatile organic compounds from the original microbiotest containers appeared to be considerable, it could therefore result in a serious underestimation of toxicity when used in monitoring programmes. Modification of the test containers of the Thamnotox F and Daphnia IQ tests resulted in an improvement of the test performance. Along with the Microtox test, they form a good base for a test battery. The Rotox F test in its present form, appeared to be less useful because of its low sensitivity. At present, no suitable algal microbiotest is operational. Because of their ecological function as primary producers, algae need to be included in the test battery.
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