¹Science Applications International Corporation, 221 Third Street, Newport RI, 02840
²Science Applications International Corporation, 11251 Roger Bacon Drive, Reston, VA 20190
³U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 6, 1445 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75202-2733

Abstract

  A Toxicity Identification Evaluation of sediments from various reaches of the Calcasieu Estuary in Louisiana was performed to improve the technical basis for Total Maximum Daily Loads under development for this water body. The Toxicity Identification Evaluation methodology involved manipulations of the physical/chemical properties of sediment pore water samples in order to sequentially remove or bind each of the major classes of contaminant compounds and confounding factors. Toxicity tests were performed in conjunction with these manipulations to directly correlate reduction in toxicity with the specifically targeted contaminant classes. Toxicity of sediment porewaters from seven locations was evaluated using the amphipod, Ampelisca abdita and the mysid, Americamysis bahia. Toxicity Identification Evaluation results demonstrated improved survival after filtration, indicating that suspended particulates and associated contaminants were a significant source of toxicity. Subsequent treatments with column extraction and ethylene diamine tetra amino acid reduced toxicity, indicating both organics and metal constituents of pore waters as contributors to toxicity. The analysis of the filters used in the Toxicity Identification Evaluation revealed that particulate copper in the porewater was above criteria values, indicating that adverse exposure potential existed from the particulate phases, and that shifts in partitioning equilibrium could mediate dissolved-phase exposures. The identification of specific contaminant classes as well as particulate effects as sources of acute toxicity from Toxicity Identification Evaluation results indicate that present in place sediment contamination as well as pore water flux and resuspension are likely contributors to habitat impairment that should be considered in Total Maximum Daily Load development.