Effects of mixtures of sediment contaminants on the marine infaunal amphipod, rhepoxynius abronius

Abstract

The infaunal amphipod, Rhepoxynius abronius Barnard, was exposed to mixtures of sediment contaminants at concentrations of the individual compounds that produce few or no effects. Combinations of zinc, mercury, polychlorinated biphenyls (Aroclor® 1254) and fluoranthene produced joint toxicological actions that could be classified as additive or less than additive. To be more ecologically relevant, sediment quality criteria should be expressed in relation to a model of interactive effects. A relatively small decrease in the total volatile solids content of sediment from 1.72 to 1.30% increased the concentration of contaminants in interstitial water and increased sediment toxicity.