Toxicity test methods

A waste is toxic under 40 CFR Part 261 if the extract from a sample of the waste exceeds specified limits for any one of eight elements and five pesticides (arsenic, barium, cadmium, chromium, lead, mercury, selenium, silver, endrin, methoxychlor, toxaphene, 2,4-D and 2,4,5-TP Silvex using extraction procedure (EP) toxicity test methods. Note that this narrow definition of toxicity relates to whether a waste is defined as hazardous for regulatory purposes in the context of this chapter, toxicity has a broader meaning because most deep-well-injected wastes have properties that can be toxic to living organisms. 

The toxic potencies of many materials have been measured using a variety of the toxicity test methods. Comparison of toxic potency results between the various methods is, in most cases, meaningless. The frequent lack of agreement between methods is due to different methods of combustion, species of animals, and experimental apparatus (i.e., open or closed devices also referred to as dynamic or static systems). 

Hansen, D.J., L.R. Goodman, G.M. Cripe, and S.F. Macauley. 1986. Early life-stage toxicity test methods for Gulf toadfish (Opsanus beta) and results using chlorpyrifos. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Safety 11 15-22. 

Toxicology and environmental health studies often lack a firm foundation of baseline data, and the NASGLP is a perfect starting point for a baseline data survey. During the field component of the survey, the crews collected two composite samples. One represented the top 5 cm of the soil directly below the litter layer (which will include a lot of the airborne components if they are present), and a second came from the 0-30-cm interval, independent of which soil horizon this may represent. Within this interval (the active layer), most of the interactions between biota and the non-living soil components take place, and thus is the important interval for this type if study. Environment Canada s Biological Methods Division selected one of the northern New Brunswick sites to collect a bulk sample in an attempt to create reference sites across Canada for standardized toxicity test methods. 

Gad, S.C. (1992). Industrial application for in vitro toxicity testing methods A tier testing strategy for product safety assessment. In In Vitro Toxicity Testing (Frazier, J., Ed.). Marcel Dekker, New York, pp. 253-279. 

In addition to acute toxicity tests, two standard chronic toxicity test methods are widely accepted by various regulatory agencies the seven-day Ceriodaphnia survival and reproduction test and the 21-day Daphnia reproduction test. 

Bruner, L.H., Carr, G.J. and Curren, R.D. (2002) An investigation of new toxicity test method performance in validation studies 3. sensitivity and specificity are not independent of prevalence or distribution... 

Gersich, F.M. 1984. Evaluation of a static renewal chronic toxicity test method for Daphnia magna Straus using boric acid. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 3 89-94. 

In vivo and in vitro toxicity testing methods are used to assess potential adverse health effects of chemical contaminants. These methods have been used to confirm many suspected substances as toxic and carcinogenic. To date, only a small fraction of the organic makeup of most drinking waters has been elucidated and tested. Broad spectrum... 

Small-scale toxicity tests are numerous and their relative merits (and limitations) for undertaking environmental assessment have been amply documented (Wells et ah, 1998 Persoone et ah, 2000). The small-scale toxicity tests methods described in this book and the hazard assessment schemes into which they can be incorporated are certainly representative of the field of small-scale aquatic toxicology and of tests and approaches being applied actively in today s world. 

Beyond test development and validation, inter-calibration exercises (also known as round robin or inter-laboratory exercises ) are mandatory steps that must be undertaken if a toxicity test method is intended for standardization. These exercises... 

If toxicity tests fulfill the scientific criteria set out by inter-calibration exercises, they can then be considered for the standardization process. If this process is followed, an official toxicity test method document is eventually produced that ensures proper conduct of biological tests (see Section 3.2.1). 

Test method standardization (TMS) calls for several actions that involve 1) preparation of a formal draft test method document for each bioassay intended for standardization, 2) a critical review by an expert subcommittee, 3) the preparation of a final draft test method, 4) an international peer review of each test method, 5) an inter-calibration exercise of the final draft test method, 6) finalization of each test method and 7) the formal publication of the toxicity test method document. Environment Canada (EC) has been particularly active in biological test method standardization and has thus far contributed 18 standardized aquatic and sediment... 

Paixao, S.M. and Anselmo, A.M. (2002) Effect of olive mill wastewaters on the oxygen consumption by activated sludge microorganisms an acute toxicity test method, Journal of Applied Toxicology 22 (3), 173-176. 

Rue, W.J., Fava, J.A. and Grothe, D.R. (1988) A review of inter- and intralaboratory effluent toxicity test method variability, in M.S. Adams, G.A. Chapman and W.G. Landis (eds.), Aquatic Toxicology and Hazard Assessment l(fh Volume, ASTM STP 971, American Society for Testing and Materials,... 

Toxic effects of all classes of contaminants including metals, pesticides, and organic substances can be captured with the pT-method, as long as the test battery employed reflects a sufficiently wide spectrum of sensitivity. Furthermore, test organisms in a battery should be representative of aquatic biota. The composition of test batteries can be varied according to different aquatic environments and country-specific issues. Clearly, application of the pT-method is suitable for several experimental designs which are linked to toxicity testing (methods, test species, endpoints). 

Ferretti JA, Calesso DF, Lazorchak JM, Dolce TJ, Arnold J, Goodfellow WL, Smith ME, Serbst J. 2004. Interlaboratory comparison of a reduced volume marine sediment toxicity test method using the amphipod Ampelisca abdita. Environ Toxicol Chem 23 632-637. 

MIL-STD-2031 Fire and Toxicity Test Methods and Qualification Procedure for Composite Material Systems Used in Hull, Machinery and Structural Applications Inside Naval Submarines. U.S. Department of... 

The range of toxicity test methods is bound to produce different fire conditions, and hence different toxic product yields. Four test methods (NBS Smoke Chamber, NF X 70-100, Fire Propagation Apparatus [FPA], and SSTF) have been compared, primarily from published data64 66 using the carbon monoxide yields and hydrocarbon yields (not recorded in the NFX tests), which are both fairly good indicators of fire condition, for four materials (LDPE, PS, PVC, and Nylon 6.6), at two fire conditions, well-ventilated and under-ventilated. The CO and hydrocarbon yields are shown in Figures 17.9 and 17.10. 

The relationship being found between endocrine system, the nervous system, and immune system will make these endpoints prime areas for further development of chronic toxicity test methods for aquatic organisms and should be considered for ecological and hazard risk assessments of chemicals [7,386]. 

Acute/prolonged toxicity No known toxicity. Test method used... 

Bruner LH, Carr GJ, and Curren RD (2000) Is it good enough Objective assessment of toxicity test method performance in validation studies. In Balls M, Zeller A-M, and Haider M (eds.) Progress in the Reduction, Refinement and Replacement of Animal Experimentation, pp. 375-384. Amsterdam Elsevier. 

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