Dredging operations technical support program: Summary of a workshop on interpreting bioaccumulation data collected during regulatory evaluations of dredged material

Date

1996

Authors

Bridges, T.S.
Moore, D.W.
Landrum, P.
Neff, J.
Cura, J.

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Waterways Experiment Station

Abstract

Dredged material disposal contributes significantly to contaminant bioaccumulation. However, it is costly and difficult to test bioaccumulation. Regulatory guidance uses two approaches for bioaccumulation testing. The first involves comparing the level of bioaccumulation of a contaminant to a numerical effect limit. When the level of the contaminant exceeds the numerical limit, the contaminant is stated to have an unacceptable adverse effect. The second method compares animals exposed to a reference sediment to the animal exposed to the contaminant. If bioaccumulation in the exposed animals exceeds that of the reference animals, then further testing is performed on subjective factors. This subjective data cannot be applied to the decision-making process. Because of this interpretation problem, a workshop was held in order to discover more effective regulatory guidance.

Description

32 pgs.

Keywords

bioaccumulation, dredges, test organisms, benthos, contamination, fish, public health, risks, exposure tolerance, spatial variations, geographical distribution, waste disposal sites, conferences, meetings, conferences, environmental aspects, dredging spoil

Citation