Freshwater Sediment Testing


	Back to Services Page Available Freshwater Sediment Tests


	NAS has been providing freshwater sediment toxicity testing services since 1989. Projects have ranged from as few as two to more than 90 samples. Many have involved work from the Portland, Oregon, area including the Willamette and Columbia rivers. Others have


	Hyalella test in progress

involved samples from mining operations in Alaska, wetlands in Texas, freshwater lakes in Missouri and Washington, and sediments from Onondaga Lake, in New York. These freshwater sediment tests have frequently been performed as part of remedial investigation/feasibility studies. NAS has conducted freshwater sediment testing as part of major agency efforts, such as the U.S. EPA's EMAP program, and has also specially designed projects for clients to test soil materials and specific types of wastes mixed at various concentrations with sediments.

Test protocols and guidelines used include the following:

U.S.EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) and U.S.ACE (Army Corps of Engineers) Sediment Toxicity Testing Manuals:

EPA/823/B-98/004 Evaluation of Dredged Material Proposed for Discharge in Waters of the U.S. - Testing Manual: Inland Testing Manual. EPA/ACE, February 1998.

EPA/600/R-99/064 Methods for Measuring the Toxicity and Bioaccumulation of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Freshwater Invertebrates, Second Edition, March 2000.

Regional Guidance Manuals:

Dredged Material Evaluation Framework: Lower Columbia River Management Area. November 1998.

Portland Harbor Sediment Management Plan, Appendix G: Technical volume - Sediment Assessment Methodology. June 1999.

ASTM (American Society for Testing and Materials) Sediment Testing Methods:

E 1391- 94 Standard Guide for Collection, Storage, Characterization and Manipulation of Sediments for Toxicological Testing.

E 1525-94a Standard Guide for Designing Biological Tests with Sediments.

E 729-96 Standard Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Test Materials with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians.

E 1706-95b Test Method for Measuring the Toxicity of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Fresh Water Invertebrates.

Environment Canada protocols:

EPS 1/RM/33 Biological Test Method: Test for survival and Growth in Sediment Using the Freshwater Amphipod Hyalella azteca. December 1997.

EPS 1/RM/32 Biological Test Method: Test for survival and Growth in Sediment Using the Larvae of Freshwater Midges (Chironomus tentans or Chironomus riparius). December 1997.