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Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics in Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i, Hawaii. Part III: Studies of sediment toxicity

August 6, 2006

Toxicity tests are commonly conducted as a measure of the bioavailability of toxic chemicals to biota in an environment. Chemical analyses alone are insufficient to determine whether contaminants pose a threat to biota. Porewater toxicity tests are extremely sensitive to a broad range of contaminants in marine environments and provide ecologically relevant data on sensitive life stages. The inclusion of porewater toxicity testing as an additional indicator of sediment quality provides a more comprehensive picture of contaminant effects in these sensitive habitats.


In this study purple-spined sea urchin (Arbacia punctulata) fertilization and embryological development porewater toxicity tests were used to evaluate the sediments collected from the coastal environment around Hanalei Bay, Kaua’i, Hawaii. These tests have been used previously to assess the bioavailability of contaminants associated with sediments in the vicinity of coral reefs.

Publication Year 2006
Title Coastal circulation and sediment dynamics in Hanalei Bay, Kaua'i, Hawaii. Part III: Studies of sediment toxicity
DOI 10.3133/ofr20061147
Authors Robert S. Carr, Marion Nipper, Michael Field, James M. Biedenbach
Publication Type Report
Publication Subtype USGS Numbered Series
Series Title Open-File Report
Series Number 2006-1147
Index ID ofr20061147
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
USGS Organization Columbia Environmental Research Center
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