Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance - State of New Jersey

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chronic toxicity test, including a series of dilutions (pore water or elutriate sample mixedwith clean laboratory water).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 pore water or elutriate 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 growthor reduced reproduction.Pore water and elutriate samples can be tested undiluted, at 100 percent strength, but iftoxicity is observed, such a test does not indicate how toxic the sample is. For surfacewater and wastewater assays, both the USEPA and NJDEP recommend using five serialdilutions of the sample water (e.g., 100%, 50%, 25%, 12.5% and 6.25%) mixed withclean laboratory water. The clean laboratory water is also used as a negative control toassess the health of the test organisms (if toxic effects are noted in laboratory water, thebatch of test organisms is considered suspect, and the test may have to be re-run using adifferent batch of organisms). A second “reference” control can also be included in thestudy, using pore water or elutriate derived from sediment samples collected outside theinfluence 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. Lethality is generallyexpressed as the LC 50 (the concentration of test water that kills half of the exposedorganisms). Statistical calculation methods are discussed at length in the USEPAguidance manual.For short-term chronic studies, endpoints include lethality, growth or reproductionendpoints. The seven-day fathead minnow larval survival and growth assay (USEPAMethod 1000) and the seven-day sheepshead minnow larval survival and growth assay(USEPA Method 1004) assess survival at test termination as a percentage of the numberof fish exposed at test initiation. Growth is assessed as the dry weight of the survivingfish.Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 115Version 1.2 8/29/12
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 fertilize hereggs), and will generally produce three broods of progeny in seven days. Ten replicates,each with a single Ceriodaphnia are monitored daily for the number of progeny 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 carrying eggs. After fecundity counts, growth is assessed as the dryweight of the surviving shrimp.Data EvaluationThe seven-day short-term chronic endpoints include the LC 50 , the NOEC and the LOEC.The NOEC is the highest test concentration at which there was no statistically significantreduction in survival, growth, reproduction or fecundity as compared to the laboratorycontrol or reference area sample. The LOEC is the lowest test concentration at which asignificant reduction was observed. The IC can also be calculated for any percentage ofconcern. For example, the IC 25 is the test concentration that yielded an inhibiting effecton 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 pore water or elutriate samplederived from sediment collected upstream of a site is an appropriate reference area for apore water or elutriate sample derived from site sediment. If the upstream reference areasample shows toxic effects, it is possible that at least a portion of any toxic effectsobserved from the downstream sample is 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 thesame batch of organisms used for the test samples (so the SRT is directly related to thestudy). The lab should have a reference toxicant control chart for each species and agegroup they regularly use in testing. The object of the SRT is to assess the organismhealth, the lab procedure and the technician's handling.Ecological Evaluation Technical Guidance Document 116Version 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
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e present at intervals greater than
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elatively sedentary organisms that
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COPECs. The following references ar
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tests (USEPA, 2002e). After collect
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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
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Page 101 and 102: Appendix A - Habitat Survey FormsEc
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Page 107 and 108: Appendix C - Surface Water Toxicity
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Page 113 and 114: Toxicity Test DesignSediment toxici
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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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