USE OF THE LETHAL BODY BURDEN IN THE RISK QUANTIFICATION OF FIELD SEDIMENTS - INFLUENCE OF TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY

The concentration of 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene that is additionally requi red within an organism for lethality, after long-term exposure to sedi ments, is evaluated as an endpoint for risk assessment. This additiona lly required body burden for lethality after 2 months of exposure to s ediments from different locations, was significantly lower in stickleb acks exposed to the more polluted sediments. In two sediments a series of chemicals was analyzed; risk assessment using these data in combin ation with biota-to-sediment accumulation factors and supposing concen tration-addition severely underestimated the ecotoxicological risk. Th e lethal body burden (LBB) of seawater acclimated sticklebacks did not differ from that of fish acclimated to fresh water. However, the LBB was significantly influenced by temperature. The use of the lethal bod y burden in risk assessment of sediments is discussed and compared to more conventional techniques. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All right s reserved.