CHARACTERIZATION OF SEDIMENTS FROM COPENHAGEN HARBOR BY USE OF BIOTESTS

The potential environmental hazard of sediment samples from Copenhagen Harbour was investigated by a combination of chemical analyses and bi ological tests. The chemical analyses comprised determination of the c ontent of heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlor inated biphenyls, and the biological tests comprised whole sediment bi oassays with the amphipod Corophium volutator, testing of a sediment s uspension with the Microtox Solid Phase test, and testing of sediment pore water by the copepod Acartia tonsa and the alga Skeletonema costa tum. For all sediment samples, the concentrations of contaminants exce eded the Probable Effect Levels and toxic effects should therefore be expected. However, various degrees of toxicity were determined by the biotests with the Microtox Solid Phase test system being the most sens itive, the amphipod and the copepod being intermediately sensitive, an d no toxicity of the pore water was registered to the algae. Moreover, no direct correlation between the content of the contaminants in the sediment samples and the registered toxicity could be established. It is therefore concluded that the combination of biotesting and chemical analysis is a valuable tool for evaluating the environmental risks of sediments. (C) 1998 IAWQ. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd.