Using a spiked sediment bioassay to establish a no-effect concentration for dioxin exposure to the amphipodAmpelisca abdita

Abstract

AbstractA recent study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) reported a highly significant correlation between 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) concentrations and amphipod (Ampelisca abdita) mortality in sediment samples collected from the lower Passaic River and Newark Bay. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the potential effects of 2,3,7,8-TCDD on benthic invertebrates under controlled laboratory exposures. In this study, 10-d whole-sediment bioassays using the marine amphipod A. abdita were conducted on spiked sediment samples representing a range of 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentrations (0–25 μg/kg dry weight). No effects on survival or growth relative to controls were observed at any test concentration. The highest 2,3,7,8-TCDD concentration reported from the NOAA study was 0.62 μg/kg. Therefore, the lack of 2,3,7,8-TCDD toxicity in this study indicates that the mortality observed in the NOAA study was probably due to factors or chemicals other than 2,3,7,8-TCDD. This study demonstrates the utility of spiked sediment bioassays in evaluating cause and effect relationships between sediment contamination and benthic invertebrate mortality.