SEDIMENT ECOLOGICAL RISK ASSESSMENT - IN-SITU AND LABORATORY TOXICITYTESTING OF LAKE ORTA SEDIMENTS

Specifically designed benthic chambers have been used to test whether the exposure for 48 hrs to polluted Lake Orta sediments could affect s urvival and reproduction behaviour of Daphnia obtusa and Echinogammaru s stammeri. In situ results have been coupled to lab testing with Micr otox, seed germination and root elongation (lactuca sativa, Cucumis sa tivus, Lepidium sativum), and invertebrates (Daphnia obtusa, D. magna, E. stammeri) acute toxicity tests. The technique and results here rep orted indicate the utility of in situ testing and suggest that under c ertain conditions this kind of test may be more realistic (avoiding sa mple manipulation in the lab) than traditional laboratory toxicity tes ts. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.