Sediment Toxicity Tests
Soil and sediment contamination is a significant toxicological problem that has been extensively studied for the last 35 years. Soils and sediments can become polluted from industrial spills, improper disposal of chemical waste or normal deposition from chronic release of environmental contaminants. Knowledge regarding the toxic and genotoxic effect of soil exposure is an important aspect of risk assessments and remains the cornerstone for setting up remediation programs and assessing their success. For example industries involved in the production of manufactured gas (also known as coal gas or town gas), coking operations, and wood preservation facilities generate or use coal tar and/or coal-tar creosote. Improper disposal and release of coal tar and creosote has contaminated significant areas of land close to these sites.
Contaminated areas can contain complex mixtures of hundreds of chemicals, including a range of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(PAHs) and related polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) (e.g., oxygenated PAHs, and O-, N-and S-heterocyclic compounds). Accurate and risk assessments drive custodial decisions and risk management activities, including access restriction, prioritization for remediation, and determination of the suitability of the sites for subsequent agricultural, residential, commercial, or industrial use. As the results from these assessments can have massive financial consequences, it is important to acquire meaningful data for regulators and private industry. Monitoring the types and quantities of toxic substances that are entering into the terrestrial environment is an exhaustive and problematic task due, mainly, to the complexity and cost resulting from the identification of the chemical substances involved. In addition, analysis of pore water or solvent extracts are employed which can underestimate total contaminant concentration. Despite numerous analytical methods available, determining types and quantities of isolated substances by traditional chemical analyses has limited environmental application, since it does not detect the effects on the organisms neither inform about the possible interactions between the substances (additive, antagonistic or synergistic), as well as their bioavailability. Many researchers have pointed to the necessity of applying biological methodologies in order to obtain an ecosystemic approach.
Product No. 7032 (Direct Sediment Toxicity Test)
Product No. 7021 and 7031 (Direct Sediment Genotoxicity Test)
To overcome the problems with current soil and sediment assessment strategies, EBPI has designed the SediTox™ kit which employs a direct sediment toxicity testing method to assess total toxic responses from all soluble, insoluble, organic, inorganic, and volatile molecules in a given sample. EBPI’s SediTox™ Test Kit is a rapid, bacterial-based colorimetric bioassay that determines acute toxicity in sediments, suspended sediments, soils and solid wastes. Perhaps most importantly, the SediTox™ assay will pick up additive, synergistic and antagonistic effects from toxicant mixtures.
EBPI Sediment Toxicity Tests are available as follows:
- Direct Sediment Toxicity (utilizing EBPI's Toxi-ChromoTest Bacteria)
- Direct Sediment Genotoxicity (utilizing EBPI's SOS-ChromoTest Bacteria)
- Direct Sediment Genotoxicity (utilizing EBPI's SOS-ChromoTest Bacteria strains that express human recombinant enzymes; P450 1A1, P450 1A2 or GST T1-1)
- Direct Sediment Genotoxicity (utilizing EBPI's umuC Bacteria)
- Direct Sediment Genotoxicity (utilizing EBPI's umuC Bacteria strains that express human recombinant enzymes; P450 1A1, P450 1A2 or GST T1-1)
Click here to read more on the direct toxicity contact test
Click here to read more on the direct genotoxicity contact test
This kit is provides complete solutions for clients requiring a more accurate and robust assay system that employs the kinetic method for determining toxicity. This method accounts for sample coloration and turbidity and can be used for direct measurement of soil and sediment samples without time consuming correction procedures or filtration. Bacterial reagents are packaged to accommodate 1 entire 96-well plate. Cooling block and luminometer manufactured by Labrox is also offered to provide a complete set up. Individual replacement kit components can be purchased and reagent lease options are available for qualified clients.