Chapter 5 - Assessment of Sediment Toxicity with SPME-Based Approaches

Abstract

Abstract The present review provides a summary of the approaches for incorporating bioavailability into sediment quality assessments and the applications and scientific merits of using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) to evaluate the toxicity of sediment-associated contaminants to benthic organisms. As a more relevant dose metric compared to bulk sediment concentration, the freely dissolved concentration in sediment pore water (Cfree) reflects the exposure and the bioaccumulation potential of contaminants to organisms. By incorporating Cfree into the dose-response relationship, exposure indicated by Cfree is directly linked to adverse effects. The incorporation of the Cfree measurement into risk assessment decisions can be accomplished through the use of chemical activity, the direct deployment of passive samplers in sediments during toxicity tests, the application of internal effect concentrations and target lipid models, as well as recalculating water quality criteria based on polymer concentrations. Finally, future perspectives of using SPME for evaluating sediment toxicity are also outlined.