MA3 WET Testing
Ballroom G, Level 4
8:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Monday, 10 November 2003
Chair: Hall, Scott , Gully, Joe ,
(027) Optimizing WET testing Protocols for More Meaningful Routine Testing and TIEs: the Selenastrum capricornutum example.
Chartrand, A1, Chen, J1, 1 Jones & Stokes Associates, Bellevue, WA, USA
ABSTRACT- S. capricornutum is increasingly used nationally in both routine WET testing and TIE testing because algae are more sensitive than other test organisms to pesticides/herbicides, chlorophenols, synfuels, and other toxicants. However, algal test data can be highly variable and difficult to interpret. Various test refinements developed by several laboratories have not been effectively integrated into routine testing or TIE procedures. This paper will discuss and explore those refinements, and recommend specifically how to optimize testing procedures. Key refinements in algal test methods include: (a) removing "masked" toxicity caused by the biostimulatory effects of ammonia and other nutrients; (b) effectively using the algal test to detect specific toxicants that may remain undetected in wastewater effluent; (c) using receiving water or laboratory water as both diluents and controls; (d) setting meaningful TIE triggers using algal toxicity testing; and (e) developing TIE procedures that are useful for algal testing that may not be necessary or useful for other species. Integrating these and other developments into future algal WET testing and TIE procedures will allow society to more effectively detect and identify toxicants in wastewater effluent, thereby reducing effluent toxicity while improving its quality.
Key words: WET testing, TIE/TRE, aquatic toxicology, algal testing