BATTERY OF TESTS APPROACH APPLIED TO 3 DIFFERENT TYPES OF SEDIMENT EXTRACTS

Over the past eight years we have been evaluating a variety of sedimen t extraction procedures and have finally settled for a three phase seq uential procedure which involves pore water extraction followed by Mil li-Q water extraction. Then the dewatered sediment is extracted by a s olution containing 10% methanol, 10% DMSO and 80% Milli-Q water. This three phase sequential extraction procedure was applied to Hamilton Ha rbour sediments and the extracts were tested for toxicant activity by the battery of tests approach. Based on these samples, it would appear that pore water bioassay results are probably most indicative of the bioavailable toxicants load in Hamilton Harbour sediments.