Skip to main content
Log in

A guidance for the assessment and evaluation of sediment quality a German Approach based on ecotoxicological and chemical measurements

  • Strategies: Sediment Quality
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The recommendations presented in this paper use an integrated hierarchical approach combining toxicological, chemical and ecological information to assess and evaluate the quality of sediments. For this reason, biological methods, in combination with the tools of chemical analysis, are given priority when examining the quality of the sediment to establish adverse effects. The trigger is the biotest, instead of chemical methods commonly used. The individual methods are presented for a German approach and can be adopted to other countries by applying ISO, OECD methods. Support is provided on how to best integrate data generated using different assessment tools. Keywords: Bioassays; biological and chemical analysis; ecotoxicology; integrated assessment; sediment assessment; sediment quality; stepwise strategy

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahlf W, Braunbeck T, Heise S, Hollert H (2002): Sediment and Soil Quality Criteria. In: Burdon F (ed) Environmental Monitoring Handbook. McGraw, in press

  • Ahlf W, Förstner U (2001): Managing Contaminated sediments, Part I: Improving chemical and biological criteria. Journal of Soils and Sediments1, 30–36

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ahlf W, Gratzer H (1999): Erarbeitung von Kriterien zur Ableitung von Qualitätszielen für Sedimente und Schwebstoffe. UBA-Texte, 44/99 171

  • Anderson BS, Hunt JW, Phillips BM, Fairey R, Roberts CA, Oakden JM, Puckett HM, Stephenson M, Tjeerdema RS, Long ER, Wilson CJ, Lyons JM (2001): Sediment quality in Los Angeles Harbor, USA: A triad assessment. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry20, 359–370

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • ASTM (1994): American Society for Testing and Materials: ASTM/ E 1383-94—Standard guide for conducting sediment toxicity tests with freshwater invertebrates

  • ATV (1997): ATV-Regelwerk Abwasser-Abfall Merkblatt ATV-M362, Teil 1: Umgang mit Baggergut; Bad Honnef

  • Berbner T, Rahman N, Braunbeck T (1999): Induction of P450 1A and DNA damage in isolated rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) hepatocytes by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Biomarkers4, 214–228

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Boese BL, Ozretich RJ, Lamberson JO, Cole FA, Swartz RC, Ferraro SP (2000): Phototoxic evaluation of marine sediments collected from a PAH-contaminated site. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology38, 274–282

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Burton Jr GA, (2001 ): Moving beyond sediment quality values and simple laboratory toxicity tests. SETAC Globe2, 26–27

    Google Scholar 

  • Brack W, Altenburger R, Ensenbach U, Möder M, Segner H, Schüürmann G (1999): Bioassay-directed Identification of organic toxicants in river sediments in the industrial region of Bitterfeld (Germany) - A contribution to Hazard assessment. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology37, 164–174

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman PM (1996): Presentation and interpretation of sediment quality triad data. Ecotoxicology5, 327–339

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman PM (2000): The Sediment Quality Triad: Then, now and tomorrow. International Journal of Environment and Pollution13, 351–356

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cleveland L, Little EE, Petty JD, Johnson BT, Lebo JA, Orazio CE, Dionne J, Crockett A (1997): Toxicological and chemical screening of Antarctica sediments: Use of whole sediment toxicity tests, Microtox, Mutatox and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). Marine Pollution Bulletin34, 194–202

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ensenbach U (1998): Embryonic development of fish—A model to assess the toxicity of sediments to vertebrates. Fresenius Environmental Bulletin7, 531–538

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Förstner U (1989): Contaminated sediments. Lecture notes in Earth Sciences 21

  • Heise S, Maaß V, Gratzer H, Ahlf W (2000): Ecotoxicolgical sediment classification—Capabilities and potentials—Presented for Elbe river sediments. Mitteilungen der Bundesanstalt für Gewässerkunde22, 96–104

    Google Scholar 

  • Hollert H, Braunbeck T (1997): Ökotoxikologie in vitro—Gefährdungspotential in Wasser, Sediment und Schwebstoffen. Veröff.

  • PAÖ 21. Landesanstalt für Umweltschutz Baden-Württemberg, Karlsruhe, 189 pp

  • Hollert H, Braunbeck T (2001): Identifizierung und Bewertung (öko)toxikologisch belasteter Gewässer in Baden-Württemberg. Abschlussbericht an das Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Projekt BW-Plus (Förderkennzeichen Ö97 004), online at http://bwplus.fzk.de/260

  • Hollert H, Dürr M, Erdinger L, Braunbeck T (2000): Cytotoxicity of settling paniculate matter (SPM) and sediments of the Neckar river (Germany) during a winter flood. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry19, 528–534

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hollert H, Dürr M, Olsman H, Halldin K, Bavel BV, Brack W, Tysklind M, Engwall M, Braunbeck T (2002a): Biological and chemical determination of dioxin-like compounds in sediments by means of a sediment triad approach in the catchment area of the Neckar River Ecotoxicology, accepted for publication

  • Hollert H, Heise S, Pudenz S, Brüggemann R, Ahlf W, Braunbeck T (2002b): Application of a sediment quality triad and different statistical approaches (hasse diagrams and fuzzy logic) for the comparative evaluation of small streams. Ecotoxicology, accepted for publication

  • Hupfer M, Steinberg C (1997): Auswirkungen von Restaurierungsverfahren auf den Phosphat-Rückhalt in Sees-Sedimenten. DGM,4, 238–245

    Google Scholar 

  • Ingersoll CG, Dillon T, Biddinger GR (1997): Ecological risk assessment of contaminated sediments. SETAC Special Publication Series. SETAC-Press, Pensacola, Florida, 389 pp

    Google Scholar 

  • Islinger M, Pawlowski S, Hollert H, Völkl A, Braunbeck T (1999): Measurement of vitellogenin-mRNA expression in primary cultures of rainbow trout hepatocytes in a non-radioactive dot blot/RNAse protection-assay. Science of the Total Environment15, 109–122

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keddy CJ, Greene JC, Bonnell MA (1995) Review of Whole-Organism Bioassays: Soil, Freshwater Sediment, and Freshwater Assessment in Canada. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety30, 221–251

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kwan KK, Dukta BJ (1990): Simple two-step sediment extraction procedure for the use in genotoxicity and toxicity. Toxicology Assessment5, 395–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maaß V, Schmidt C, Lüschow R, Leitz T (1997): Sedimentuntersuchungen im Hamburger Hafen 1994/95. Ergebnisse aus dem Baggergutuntersuchungsprogramm, Heft 6. Stadt Hamburg, Wirtschaftsbehörde, Strom- und Hafenbau, Hamburg, 149 pp

  • Maron DM, Ames BN (1983): Revised methods for theSalmonella mutagenicity test. Mutation Research113, 173–215

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Meyers P, Ishiwatari R (1992): Organic matter accumulation records in lake sediments. In: Lerman A., Imboden D, Gatt J (eds) Physics and chemistry of lakes. Springer, pp 279–328

  • OECD (1997): OECD-Guidline 471—Bacterial reverse mutation test. Draft

  • Peeters ETHM, DeWitte A, Koelmans AA, Van der Velden JA, den Besten PJ (2001) Evaluation of bioassays versus contaminant concentrations in explaining the macroinvertebrate community structure in the Rhine-Meuse delta, The Netherlands. Toxicology and Chemistry20, 2883–2891

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Safe SH, Gaido K (1998): Phytoestrogens and anthropogenic estrogenic compounds. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry17, 119–126

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ricking M, Pachur H-J (1999):Methodisches Konzept zur vergleichenden Messung von chlorierten Kohlenwasserstoffen in Sedimenten als Entscheidungsbasis für Sanierungsmaßnahmen; Abschlussbericht DBU AZ 06936

  • Ryssen van R, Leermakers M, Baeyens W (1999): The mobilisation of trace metals in aquatic sediments as a tool for sediment quality classification. Environmental Science and Policy2, 75–86

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Traunspurger W, Haitzer M, Hoss S, Beier S, Ahlf W, Steinberg C (1997): Ecotoxicological assessment of aquatic sediments with Caenorhabditis elegans (nematoda)—A method for testing liquid medium and whole-sediment samples. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry16, 245–250

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • US-EPA (1996): Ecological Effects Test Guidelines, OPPTS 850440, Aquatic toxicity test using Lemna ssp. Phases I and II, Public draft

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Wolfgang Ahlf.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ahlf, W., Hollert, H., Neumann-Hensel, H. et al. A guidance for the assessment and evaluation of sediment quality a German Approach based on ecotoxicological and chemical measurements. J Soils & Sediments 2, 37–42 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02991249

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02991249

Keywords

Navigation