SEDL / STP / STP1027-EB / STP16820S

Evaluation of a Chronic Estimation Toxicity Test Using Skeletonema costatum

Missimer, CL
Scientist and senior scientist, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., Hunt Valley/Loveton Center, Sparks, MD

Lemarie, DP
Fisheries biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Fish Culture Research Lab, Kearneysville, WV

Rue, WJ
Scientist and senior scientist, EA Engineering, Science, and Technology, Inc., Hunt Valley/Loveton Center, Sparks, MD

Pages: 10    Published: Jan 1989

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Abstract

The marine diatom Skeletonema costatum was cultured and tested as part of a comprehensive study to evaluate chronic toxicity estimation testing methods for five marine and estuarine species. This species was cultured successfully in a medium prepared with Atlantic Ocean water. A medium prepared from an artificial seawater formulation produced inconsistent culturing results. Triplicate 96-h tests were conducted using hexavalent chromium and sodium pentachlorophenate (PCP) as reference toxicants to evaluate intralaboratory variability. Three biological endpoints, number of cells, biomass, and in vivo fluorescence, were quantified. Mean 96-h chronic values were calculated as 1.2 mg/L Cr⁺⁶ and 61.5 μg/L PCP, which were similar to other reported estimates of toxicity for these chemicals. Estimated chronic values increased during the 96-h test period for both toxicants. Standardization of a clonal variety and further studies to determine the intra- and interlaboratory variability are recommended before this test is adopted as a routine effluent monitoring tool.