Abstract
BackgroundAlthough the crucial importance of sediments in aquatic systems is well-known, sediments are often neglected as a factor in the evaluation of water quality assessment. To support and extend previous work in that field, this study was conducted to assess the impact of surface water and sediment on fish embryos in the case of a highly anthropogenically influenced river catchment in Central Hesse, Germany.ResultsThe results of 96 h post fertilisation fish embryo toxicity test with Danio rerio (according to OECD Guideline 236) revealed that river samples comprising both water and sediment exert pivotal effects in embryos, whereas surface water alone did not. The most prominent reactions were developmental delays and, to some extent, malformations of embryos. Developmental delays occurred at rates up to 100% in single runs. Malformation rates ranged mainly below 10% and never exceeded 25%.ConclusionA clear relationship between anthropogenic point sources and detected effects could not be established. However, the study illustrates the critical condition of the entire river system with respect to embryotoxic potentials present even at the most upstream test sites. In addition, the study stresses the necessity to take into account sediments for the evaluation of ecosystem health in industrialised areas.
Highlights
The crucial importance of sediments in aquatic systems is well-known, sediments are often neglected as a factor in the evaluation of water quality assessment
This study was conducted within the joint project NiddaMan, which focused on diagnosis of ecosystem health in the catchment of the Nidda River in Hesse, Germany, as a scientific basis for river management
The main focus is placed on the endpoints ‘developmental delay’ and ‘malformation rate’
Summary
The crucial importance of sediments in aquatic systems is well-known, sediments are often neglected as a factor in the evaluation of water quality assessment. To support and extend previous work in that field, this study was conducted to assess the impact of surface water and sediment on fish embryos in the case of a highly anthropogenically influenced river catchment in Central Hesse, Germany. Directive (2000/60/EC) surface waters were supposed to be in a good ecological state until 2015. The ecological status assessment is based on two main pillars: physicochemical parameters and biological monitoring. Thousands of substances enter our waterbodies on a daily basis, and in the European Union alone, thousands of new ones are registered in REACH [Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 concerning the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals] every year. Analyses of chemical compounds in surface waters are restricted to lead substances that can only give a scattered picture of the actual situation. The idea of complementing the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) with additional biotests gains proponents in the scientific community, in recent years (e.g. [2–5])
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