The Science (and Art!) of Sediment Toxicity Testing

By popular demand, the Aquatic Toxicity Unit of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment in Etobicoke (Toronto, Ontario) witnessed a second edition of the workshop “The Science (and Art!) of Sediment Toxicity Testing.” This successful workshop aimed to give participants a background in some of the environmental programs and legislation that involve contaminated site assessment (aquatic) and clean-up, and through case studies demonstrate the process of project planning through to data analysis and reporting. Nearly 30 participants of diverse backgrounds (industry, academia, and government) enjoyed this full day workshop on the 8th of March taught by David Poirier, Trudy Watson-Leung, and Dr. Paul Welsh (Ontario Ministry of the Environment). The morning started with a brief introduction of MOE’s mission and relevant accomplishments related to contaminated sediments by David Poirier, followed by the main background section on methods and legislature by Trudy Watson-Leung. Before lunch, the participants had a chance to tour the state-of-the-art facilities and experience some hands-on work learning culturing and testing (toxicity and bioaccumulation) techniques for the common freshwater sediment testing organisms Chironomus dilutus, Hyalella azteca, Hexagenia spp., Lumbriculus variegatus, and fathead minnow Pimephales promelas. After a nutritious lunch, the main section of the course was wrapped up and Dr. Paul Welsh put the learnt materials in perspective with a series of case studies in which the MOE has been involved in recent years. Laurentian SETAC is currently organizing new, relevant, and exciting workshops. Stay tuned! Submitted by Pepe Rodriguez – L-SETAC Board Member