Biological assessment of polluted sediment using marine rotifer Brachionus sp. for beneficial use and replacement

Abstract

Solidification and stabilization has been considered as an approach to stabilized pollutants from marine sediments for further uses as superficial, landfill, or filler materials. Furthermore, the relocation of sediments after solidification/stabilization is carefully being considered as an alternative way to improve marine environments as a part of the project for sediment improvement in Korea. However, a little study has been conducted on the environmental effects of these treatment on human as well as marine ecosystem, Marine sediments collected from the coastal areas where there are candidate sites for the remedaition of contaminated matine sediment were treat with the two solidification agents that were selected based on physical properties and characteristics. Then, elutriates were prepared for biological impact assessment. The marine rotifer (Brachionus sp.) was used as an experimental organism. To assess the physiological effects of the agents, the mortality and the molecular responses (Phase I related genes, antioxidant related genes, and chaperoning genes) were measured in the rotifer exposed to elutriates of solidified sediments which were treated with different concentrations of agents. TCLP (standard toxicity characteristic leaching procedures, USEPA) also showed significant effects on the stabilization of metal concentrations. In a short term exposure the effect on the survival of the rotifers was genera/stabilization is carefully being considered as an alternative way to improve marine environments as a part of the project for sediment improvement in Korea. However, a little study has been conducted on the environmental effects of these treatment on human as well as marine ecosystem, Marine sediments collected from the coastal areas where there are candidate sites for the remedaition of contaminated matine sediment were treat with the two solidification agents that were selected based on physical properties and characteristics. Then, elutriates were prepared for biological impact assessment. The marine rotifer (Brachionus sp.) was used as an experimental organism. To assess the physiological effects of the agents, the mortality and the molecular responses (Phase I related genes, antioxidant related genes, and chaperoning genes) were measured in the rotifer exposed to elutriates of solidified sediments which were treated with different concentrations of agents. TCLP (standard toxicity characteristic leaching procedures, USEPA) also showed significant effects on the stabilization of metal concentrations. In a short term exposure the effect on the survival of the rotifers was genera