Schmidtdallmier, M. J., Atchison, G. J., Steingraeber, M. T., and Knights, B. C., 1992,
A sediment suspension system for bioassays with small aquatic organisms:
Hydrobiologia, v. 245, no. 3., p. 157-161.

Abstract

Exposure of aquatic organisms to suspended sediments can impair growth and survival
and increase bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants. However,
evaluation of the effects of suspended sediments and their associated contaminants on
aquatic organisms has been hampered by the lack of a practical and inexpensive
exposure system for conducting bioassays. We present a cost-effective system for
assessing the effects of suspended sediments and associated contaminants on small
aquatic organisms. A 7-day suspension test was conducted with nominal sediment
concentrations ranging from 0.0 To 5.0 G l-1. The system maintained relatively
constant suspended sediment concentrations, as measured by turbidity, and caused
minimal mortality to test organisms.

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