Sediment Toxicity Assessment provides the latest information regarding how to evaluate sediment contamination and its effects on aquatic ecosystems. It presents an integrated ecosystem approach by detailing effective assessment methods, considerations, and effects to each major component of marine and freshwater systems, including the benthos, plankton, and fish communities. The approaches emphasize defining habitat conditions (physical and chemical), toxicant bioavailability, factors influencing toxicity (lab and field), biomarkers, acute and chronic toxicity, study design, collection methods, and EPA management strategies. The book also explains how to integrate the assessments. Sediment Toxicity Assessment will be useful to to all environmental managers, environmental scientists, ecotoxicologists, environmental regulators, aquatic ecologists, environmental contractors and consultants, instructors, students, conservation commissions, and environmental activist organizations.

Table of Contents:
ASSESSING SEDIMENT QUALITY (Elizabeth A. Power and Peter M. Chapman). Introduction. Overview. What is Sediment? Bioavailability and Toxicity. Sediment Quality Assessment. The Future. The Next Step. Summary and Conclusions. References. SEDIMENT VARIABILITY (Lars Håkanson). Introduction and Aim. The Number of Samples. Bottom Dynamics. Impact of Sediment Contamination. Influence of Lake Size and F. Conclusions. References. SEDIMENT COLLECTION AND PROCESSING: FACTORS AFFECTING REALISM (G. Allen Burton, Jr.). Introduction. Integrity and Spatial/Temporal Patterns. Toxicant Dynamics. Ecosystem Interactions. Sampling and Processing. Conclusions. References. ECOSYSTEM ASSESSMENT USING ESTUARINE AND MARINE BENTHIC COMMUNITY STRUCTURE (Robert J. Diaz). Introduction. Community Structure Parameters. Approaches to Assessment of Estuarine and Marine Ecosystems Using Community Structure. Strategies and Guidelines for Using Community Structure in Assessing Pollution Impacts. Summary. References. EVALUATION OF SEDIMENT CONTAMINANT TOXICITY: THE USE OF FRESHWATER COMMUNITY STRUCTURE (Thomas W. La Point and James F. Fairchild). Introduction. Bioassessment of Contaminated Sediments in Lentic and Lotic Habitats: Common Concepts. Methods and Indices for Aquatic Ecosystems. Integration of Methods: Case Studies of Multivariate Approaches for Contaminant Bioassessment. Recommendations. Research Needs. References. THE EMERGENCE OF FUNCTIONAL ATTRIBUTES AS ENDPOINTS IN ECOTOXICOLOGY (John Cairns, Jr., B.R. Niederlehner, and E.P. Smith). Introduction. Structural vs. Functional Assessment of Ecosystem Condition. Examples of Functional Measures in Bioassessment of Sediments. Statistical Considerations in Using Functional Measures. Future Research. Acknowledgments. References. THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IN-PLACE CONTAMINATED MARINE SEDIMENTS ON THE WATER COLUMN: PROCESSES AND EFFECTS (Robert M. Burgess and K. John Scott). Introduction. Processes. Effects. Conclusions. Acknowledgments. References. PLANKTON, MACROPHYTE, FISH, AND AMPHIBIAN TOXICITY TESTING OF FRESHWATER SEDIMENTS (G. Allen Burton, Jr.). Introduction. In Situ Assays. Conclusions. References. ASSESSMENT OF SEDIMENT TOXICITY TO MARINE BENTHOS (Janet O. Lamberson, Theodore H. DeWitt, and Richard C. Swartz). Introduction. Factors Affecting Sediment Toxicity. Overview of Representative Sediment Toxicity Tests with Marine and Estuarine Benthic Organisms. Quality Assurance and Quality Control Considerations. Applications of Sediment Toxicity Tests. Problems Facing Sediment Toxicity Tests: Challenges for Research. References. FRESHWATER BENTHIC TOXICITY TESTS (G.A. Burton, Jr., M.K. Nelson, and C.G. Ingersoll). Introduction. History. Test Conditions. Exposure Conditions. Tests of Sediment Toxicity. Conclusions. References. BIOMARKERS IN HAZARD ASSESSMENTS OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS (William H. Benson and Richard T. Di Giulio). Introduction. Selected Biomarkers. Biomarker Applications. Conclusions. References. MODELS, MUDDLES AND MUD: PREDICTING BIOACCUMULATION OF SEDIMENT-ASSOCIATED POLLUTANTS. Introduction. Field Monitoring. Laboratory Bioaccumulation Test. Bioaccumulation Factor. Equilibrium Partitioning Bioaccumulation Model. First-Order Kinetic Model. Bioenergetic-Based Toxicokinetic Models. Conclusions. Acknowledgments and Disclaimer. References. SEDIMENT BIOACCUMULATION TESTING WITH FISH (Michael J. Mac and Christopher J. Schmitt). Introduction. Bioaccumulation Testing with Fish Rather Than Invertebrates. Bioaccumulation in Regulatory Testing. Available Methods for Testing Fish. Methodological Problems. Statistical Considerations. Acknowledgments. References. INTEGRATIVE ASSESSMENTS IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS (Peter M. Chapman, Elizabeth A. Power, and G. Allen Burton, Jr.). Introduction and Overview. Assessment Components. Reference Areas and the Question of Significance. Attempts at Integrative Assessments. Tiered Testing. Summary and Conclusions. Recommendations. References. MANAGEMENT FRAMEWORK FOR CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS (The U.S. EPA Sediment Management Strategy) (Elizabeth Southerland, Michael Kravitz, and Thomas Wall). Overview. Assessment Strategy. Prevention Strategy. Remediation Strategy. Dredged Material Management Strategy. Conclusion. References. PUGET SOUND CASE STUDY (Thomas C. Ginn and Robert A. Pastorok). Introduction. Sediment Management Programs. Assessment Approaches. Sediment Remedial Activity. Future Direction. Summary and Recommendations. References. THE EFFECTS OF CONTAMINATED SEDIMENTS IN THE ELIZABETH RIVER (R.J. Huggett, P.A. Van Veld, C.L. Smith, W.J. Hargis Jr., W.K. Vogelbein, and B.A. Weeks). Introduction. Physical Description of the System. Chemical Contamination in Sediments. Biological Effects. References. INDEX.