MP13 Aquatic Ecotoxicology
Monday, 14 November 2005: 8:00 AM - 6:30 PM in Exhibit Hall

(ELP-1117-843801) Evaluation of inter- and intra-laboratory variability of toxicity test methods using Pacific herring, Clupea pallasi.

Elphick, J¹, Dinnel, P², Bergmann, K¹, Bailey, H¹, Paisano, L², Marshall, R³, ¹ Nautilus Environmental, Tacoma, WA, USA² Shannon Point Marine Center, Anacortes, WA, USA³ Washington State Department of Ecology, Olympia, WA, USA

ABSTRACT- Efforts to evaluate and protect Pacific herring stocks in Washington State have resulted in a demand for aquatic toxicity tests using this species for application in NPDES permits to ensure that discharges from industries and other point sources are not having adverse effects on this fish species. Consequently, test methods using early life-stages of Pacific herring have been developed, including a 96-hr survival test, an 18-day embryonic development test, and a 10-day larval growth and survival test. This presentation summarizes the results of tests conducted in a commercial laboratory for each of the three test methods using three reference toxicants, and compares them with results from tests conducted previously in the laboratory where the methods were developed. Thus, these data provide an indication in inter- and intra-laboratory variability associated with the test methods. In addition, the sensitivity of the herring tests to the three reference toxicants, as well as two other toxicant mixtures, are compared with results from a suite of other standardized toxicity tests that have been applied in NPDES permits.

Key words: pacific herring, inter-laboratory variability, intra-laboratory variability