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Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems
D D MacDonald1, C G Ingersoll, T A Berger
1MacDonald Environmental Sciences Ltd., 2376 Yellow Point Road, Nanaimo, British Columbia V9X 1W5, Canada.
Summary
Consensus-based sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for freshwater ecosystems were developed for 28 chemicals. These guidelines, including threshold effect concentrations (TECs) and probable effect concentrations (PECs), accurately predict sediment toxicity and absence of toxicity.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Chemistry
- Ecotoxicology
- Freshwater Ecology
Background:
- Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) are crucial for assessing freshwater ecosystem health.
- Previous SQGs used various methods, each with limitations.
- A need existed to harmonize existing SQGs for broader applicability.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop consensus-based SQGs for 28 freshwater sediment contaminants.
- To establish threshold effect concentrations (TECs) and probable effect concentrations (PECs).
- To evaluate the reliability of these consensus-based SQGs.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized existing published SQGs for 28 chemicals.
- Developed consensus TECs and PECs for each contaminant.
- Validated SQGs using field sediment chemistry and toxicity data from the US.
Main Results:
- Most TECs (21/28) accurately predict the absence of sediment toxicity.
- Most PECs (16/28) accurately predict the presence of sediment toxicity.
- Mean PEC quotients strongly correlated with observed toxicity (R² = 0.98).
Conclusions:
- Consensus-based SQGs provide a reliable framework for sediment quality assessment.
- The developed TECs and PECs are effective predictors of sediment toxicity.
- Mean PEC quotients can assess combined effects of multiple sediment contaminants.