TOXICITY OF CUYAHOGA RIVER AND NEARSHORE LAKE ERIE SEDIMENTS TO PHOTOBACTERIUM-PHOSPHOREUM

The Cuyahoga River Basin and Lake Erie (nearshore of Cleveland) sedime nts were assayed with Photobacterium phosphoreum during the summer of 1991. Of the 33 sediments tested, 23 exhibited toxicity using either i nterstitial or extract water. Nearly all (93%) of the ''navigation cha nnel'' (i.e., the lower 8 km of the river) and nearshore lake samples were toxic. No statistical difference was observed between river sedim ent interstitial and extract waters. With the limited number of lake s amples (seven), more toxicity was observed with extract water than wit h interstitial water.