TOXICOLOGICAL AND CHEMICAL-SCREENING OF ANTARCTICA SEDIMENTS - USE OFWHOLE SEDIMENT TOXICITY TESTS, MICROTOX, MUTATOX AND SEMIPERMEABLE-MEMBRANE DEVICES (SPMDS)

Eight whole sediment samples from Antarctica (four from Winter Quarter s Bay and four from McMurdo Sound) were toxicologically and chemically evaluated, Also, the influence of ultraviolet radiation on the toxici ty and bioavailability of contaminants associated with the sediment sa mples was assessed, The evaluations were accomplished by use of a 10-d ay whole sediment test with Leptocheirus plumulosus, Microtox(R), Muta tox(R) and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), Winter Quarters Bay sediments contained about 250 ng g(-1) (dry weight) total PCBs and 20 mu g g(-1) total PAHs. These sediments elicited toxicity in the Micro tox test and avoidance and inhibited burrowing in the L. plumulosus te st, The McMurdo Sound sediment samples contained only trace amounts of PCBs and no PAHs, and were less toxic in both the L. plumulosus and M icrotox tests compared to the Winter Quarters Bay sediments, The sedim ents from McMurdo Sound apparently contained some unidentified substan ce which was photolytically modified to a more toxic form, The photoly tic modification of sediment-associated contaminants, coupled with the polar ozone hole and increased incidence of ultraviolet radiation cou ld significantly increase hazards to Antarctic marine life.