Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

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If no historical aquatic toxicity information is available, investigators can perform 24-hour to 96-hour acute toxicity studies to determine whether the samples are acutely toxic.If no acute toxicity is observed, investigators can initiate short-term chronic toxicitystudies. Acute toxicity studies are quicker and cheaper than chronic studies. However,because aqueous samples can be diluted, it is often easier to go straight to the short-termchronic toxicity test, including a series of dilutions (sample mixed with clean laboratorywater). For ERAs, chronic studies are often more appropriate because of the long-termexposure of the receptors to the contaminant of potential ecological concern (COPECs)(assessment of maintenance and reproduction of a healthy population).Toxicity Test DesignAquatic toxicity studies are conducted by exposing a predetermined number of organisms(e.g., four replicates of ten organisms) to an undiluted sample or to a series ofconcentrations of a surface water or wastewater sample. Aquatic organisms are placed inappropriate test chambers (e.g., beakers, flasks, test tubes) containing the samples, and intest chambers containing clean laboratory water to serve as an experimental control.Investigators make direct observations of the exposed test organisms at regular intervalsfor the duration of the test to determine responses such as mortality, reduction in growth,or reduced reproduction.Surface water and wastewater samples can be tested undiluted at 100 percent strength;however, if toxicity is observed, such a test does not indicate how toxic the sample is.Both USEPA and NJDEP recommend using five serial dilutions of the sample water(e.g., 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25%) mixed with clean laboratory water. The cleanlaboratory water is also used as a negative control to assess the health of the testorganisms (if toxic effects are noted in laboratory water, the batch of test organisms isconsidered suspect, and the test may have to be re-run using a different batch oforganisms). A second “reference” control can also be included in the study, using surfacewater from outside the influence of the site (e.g., upstream).To perform statistical analyses to determine whether significant differences exist betweenthe laboratory controls or reference area samples, toxicity studies should be set up withmultiple replicates. As a general rule, more replicates mean greater statistical power andmore confidence in the final results. Acute toxicity studies are typically performed withtwo replicates of ten organisms for each test concentration, which is sufficient forcalculation of lethal concentrations.Short-term chronic toxicity studies should be performed with four or more replicates often organisms per exposure concentration for fish and mysid shrimp, and with tenreplicates of a single organism per exposure concentration for Ceriodaphnia. Replicationensures sufficient statistical power for the more sensitive sublethal endpoints (e.g.,growth and reproduction).Toxicity Test EndpointsFor acute toxicity studies, the typical endpoint is lethality, which is generally expressedas the LC 50 (the concentration of test water that kills half of the exposed organisms).Statistical calculation methods are discussed at length in the USEPA guidance manual.Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 107Version 1.2 8/29/12
Short-term chronic studies, endpoints include lethality, growth, or reproduction. Testsmay include the following: The seven-day fathead minnow larval survival and growth assay (USEPA Method1000), and the seven-day sheepshead minnow larval survival and growth assay(USEPA Method 1004) assess survival at test termination as a percentage of thenumber of fish exposed at test initiation. Growth is assessed as the dry weight of thesurviving fish. The seven-day daphnid survival and reproduction assay (USEPA Method 1002) alsoassesses survival at test termination. Reproduction is assessed by comparing the totalnumber of progeny produced by each female in each test exposure at test termination.Ceriodaphnia are parthenogenic (meaning the female does not need a male to fertilizeher eggs) and will generally produce three broods of progeny in seven days. Tenreplicates, each with a single Ceriodaphnia, are monitored daily for the number ofprogeny released. The seven-day mysid shrimp survival, growth, and fecundity assay (USEPA Method1007) also assesses survival at test termination. Fecundity is assessed by microscopicevaluation of all surviving organisms to determine their sex and the percentage ofsurviving females that are carrying eggs. After fecundity counts, growth is assessed asthe dry weight of the surviving shrimp.Data EvaluationThe seven-day short-term chronic endpoints include the LC 50 , the no observed effectconcentration (NOEC) and the lowest observed effect concentration (LOEC). The NOECis the highest test concentration at which there was no statistically significant reduction insurvival, growth, or reproduction or fecundity as compared to the laboratory control orreference area sample. The LOEC is the lowest test concentration at which a significantreduction was observed. The inhibitory concentration (IC) can also be calculated for anypercentage of concern. For example, the IC 25 is the test concentration that yielded aninhibitory effect on 25 percent of the exposed organisms.All statistical analyses are to be performed as specified in the USEPA guidance manuals.Statistical programs developed specifically for aquatic toxicity studies are commerciallyavailable. Data from site samples should be compared to the laboratory controls todetermine whether observed toxic effects are statistically significant. In addition to thelaboratory control, an appropriately selected field reference area sample may yield resultsthat are more representative of actual field conditions. A surface water sample fromupstream of a site is an appropriate reference area for a surface water sample fromdownstream of a site. If the upstream reference area sample shows toxic effects, it ispossible that at least a portion of any toxic effect observed from the downstream sampleis not related to the site.Quality AssuranceAll toxicity studies should meet the minimum test acceptability criteria for controlorganism survival, growth, reproduction or fecundity set forth in the appropriate guidancedocuments. Additionally, Standard Reference Toxicant (SRT) tests should be performedby the laboratory at regular intervals (at least monthly for surface water species). It ispreferable that the SRT be initiated on the same day, by the same technicians, with theEcological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 108Version 1.2 8/29/12
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Ecological EvaluationTechnical Guid
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6.2.1.3 Biological Sampling of Fish
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Acronyms and AbbreviationsADDAETAFA
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Executive SummaryThis document prov
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environmentally sensitive areas pur
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Figure 3-1: Flow diagram to describ
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assessment may also include evaluat
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“Hazard quotient” or “HQ” m
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“Site investigation” means the
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parameters as specified in ERAGS (i
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document otherwise). The investigat
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5.3.2.1 Potential Contaminant Migra
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71 0Sampling pointsSampling transec
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5.3.4 Background ConsiderationsIt i
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III. GroundwaterAnalytical data fro
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5.5 Ecological Evaluation ReportThe
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Step 1 - Preliminary Screening Leve
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specific measurements of receptor h
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Figure 6-2: Ecological Conceptual S
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ingested, air inhaled, or material
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Fugacity, which is described as the
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environment. As noted in ERAGS, the
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Sample SelectionAfter completing th
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While there are many laboratories t
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ioavailability, and by doing so, of
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For the purposes of surface water,
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higher trophic level receptors. Lip
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Details regarding surface water tox
Page 57 and 58: e present at intervals greater than
Page 59 and 60: elatively sedentary organisms that
Page 61 and 62: COPECs. The following references ar
Page 63 and 64: tests (USEPA, 2002e). After collect
Page 65 and 66: multiple reference area soils repre
Page 67 and 68: In ERAs, tissue residue analyses ar
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Page 71 and 72: evaluation might necessitate the co
Page 73 and 74: N.J.A.C. 7:26E-4.8(c)1. The ERA may
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Page 77 and 78: Twelve dioxin-like PCB congeners ha
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Page 81 and 82: of evidence for evaluating risk unt
Page 83 and 84: 7.2.1 Apparent Effects Threshold Ap
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Page 91 and 92: Establishing Sediment Quality Crite
Page 93 and 94: N.J.A.C. (New Jersey Administrative
Page 95 and 96: USEPA. 1989c. Risk Assessment Guida
Page 97 and 98: http://www.epa.gov/owow/oceans/regu
Page 99 and 100: USEPA 2006a. Data Quality Assessmen
Page 101 and 102: Appendix A - Habitat Survey FormsEc
Page 103 and 104: Ecological Evaluation Technical Gui
Page 105 and 106: Appendix B - Sampling Procedures fo
Page 107: Appendix C - Surface Water Toxicity
Page 111 and 112: Appendix D - Sediment Toxicity Test
Page 113 and 114: Toxicity Test DesignSediment toxici
Page 115 and 116: Appendix E - Sediment Pore Water an
Page 117 and 118: The seven-day daphnid survival and
Page 119 and 120: esults are then evaluated using USE
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Page 123 and 124: Appendix H - Soil Toxicity TestingS
Page 125 and 126: another sample may still have a sub
Page 127 and 128: conservative approach from an ecolo
Page 129: Data PresentationTabular presentati
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Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

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