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Course Description:
Sediments
and their associated benthic organisms are critically important in maintaining
the overall health and productivity of aquatic ecosystems. However, as the main
repository for particulate matter, and as a medium which often has a high
affinity for sorption and deposition of contaminants, sediments are typically
the primary 'sink' for contaminants in the aquatic systems. As a result,
sediments can be the most sensitive and ecologically important component of
potentially-contaminated aquatic systems, and assessment of sediment toxicity
has become increasingly important in evaluating the impacts of contaminants on
these ecosystems.
Sediment
toxicity testing is currently used in a wide variety of applications, including
dredged material assessments, ecological and human health risk assessment,
pesticide and industrial chemical registration, the TMDL process, and site
remediation. However, while straight-forward, the appropriate design and
interpretation of these tests can sometimes become complicated due to the number
of factors that can affect the tests and test results. This short course is
designed to provide the nuts and bolts of sediment toxicity test sample
collection, toxicity test and test species selection, and interpretation of
(sometimes confusing) test results. The objective of this course is to provide
the informational tools necessary to plan, conduct, and interpret sediment
toxicity tests as part of the evaluation of contaminant impacts on aquatic
systems. Students will apply lessons learned through a hands-on test and review
of a case study. Emerging technologies and trends in sediment toxicity (e.g.,
toxicity identification evaluation, bioavailability of sorbed contaminants,
rapid sediment characterization) will be discussed at the end of the course.
Beginner to intermediate level.
Course Objectives:
The objectives of this course are to guide professionals
in 1) proper sediment sample collection and handling, 2) understanding the
importance of site-specific questions and conditions in choosing appropriate
tests and test species, 3) interpreting complex test results with multiple
endpoints, 4) dissect confounding factors that may contribute to results, and to
5) use case studies to apply lessons learned in the course.
Instructors
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Walter Berry, Atlantic Ecology Division, U.S. EPA, Narragansett, RI
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John
Williams, Aquatec Biologicial Sciences, Williston, VT
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Lotufo Guilherme, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Vicksburg, MS
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