DIRECT TOXICITY ASSESSMENT OF SOLID-PHASE SAMPLES USING THE TOXI-CHROMOTEST KIT

Toxicity screening of sediments, suspended sediments, soils, and solid wastes is becoming increasingly important in environmental studies. T o date toxicity testing of sediments, suspended sediments, soils, and solid wastes has almost always been performed on exudates, water, and/ or solvent extracts. These procedures are often complicated, labor int ensive, and expensive. This report describes a simple, quick, inexpens ive qualitative/semiquantitative direct sediment/solid phase toxicity testing procedure (DSTTP) using the Toxi-Chromotest kit. This procedur e only requires the use of a balance, vortex mixer, and a 37-degrees-C incubator, and can easily be used under field conditions. The DSTTP m easures the available toxicants of the test sediments, suspended sedim ents, soils, and any other solid wastes without altering the original characteristics of the samples as occurs in extraction and concentrati on procedures.