Laboratory sediment bioassay report on Wheatley Harbour sediments 1992

Abstract

Sediments were sampled from Wheatley Harbour and Muddy Creek located along the north shore of Lake Erie in 1992 in order to carry out a laboratory biological assessment of contaminated sediments from that Area of Concern. The main objectives of the study were: 1) To describe the level of inorganic and organic chemical contamination in surficial sediments at one reference and five test locations; 2) To assess the toxicity of whole-sediments in laboratory tests using the mayfly, Hexagenia limbata (survival and growth, 21-day exposure), the midge, Chironomus tentans (survival and growth, 11-day exposure) and the juvenile fathead minnow, Pimephales promelas (survival, 21-day exposure); 3) To determine the availability of sediment-bound organic contaminants to the forage fish, Pimephales promelas after a 21 day exposure period.