Use of bioassays to evaluate river water and sediment quality

Abstract

Abstract In trying to establish the extent and degree of impact of point and nonpoint source contaminants on riverine systems, it is important to know the implications of the data obtained from various sampling points in a riverine system. Spatial variability between water and/or sediment samples collected in close approximation at the same sites was assessed by the battery of tests approach. In these samples there appeared to be no consistent relationship between sediment structure, microbial population, and toxicant concentrations. Furthermore the ATP‐TOX System and Mutatox tests were the most responsive tests in all types of samples. Since sediments with their bound contaminants may be an important factor in this data interpretation, different methods for releasing and concentrating the sediment bound contaminants were evaluated. The results and implications of these results are described.