Setting sediment quality guidelines: A simple yet effective method |
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| Institution: | 1. State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China;2. College of Animal Science and Technology, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China;3. Engineering Laboratory of Sheep Breeding and Reproduction Biotechnology in Gansu Province, Minqin 733300, China;4. School of Pharmacy Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China;1. Laboratory of Cell Biology and Histology, Department of Zoology and Animal Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena z/g, E-48940 Leioa, Basque Country, Spain;2. Research Centre for Experimental Marine Biology and Biotechnology PIE, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza z/g, E-48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain;3. Environmental Hydraulics Institute “IH Cantabria”, University of Cantabria, c/Isabel Torres n° 15, 39011 Santander, Spain |
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| Abstract: | Deriving sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for marine sediments is a difficult task. It will often be a trade off between reproducibility and relevance. One of the fundamental questions in ecotoxicology is to decide what one should measure to detect response in ecosystems exposed to human disturbance. In this paper we use field data to estimate threshold levels eliciting effects on soft bottom macrobenthos collected at different sediment types and depths on the Norwegian Continental Shelf and test these against natural levels occurring levels in reference conditions. SQGs are presented from multivariate analyses based on 121 gradients (represented with Ba, THC, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) incorporating more than 2000 species. Clear clusters with slightly disturbed communities related to contamination loadings were evident in 35% of the gradients. We found large variations in naturally occurring contamination concentrations and in the threshold levels electing effects on the fauna at different sediment types and depths. For example, an increase in depth of only 100 m can triple the Cu and Zn concentrations that elicit effects. Lowest background and threshold levels were found in shallow, sandy sediment. Our results suggest that current SQGs are too high. We hypothesised that setting a SQG of 4-times background concentrations will give sufficient protection for the fauna from metal contamination. The overall background concentration eliciting effects on metal was 3.6×. |
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