78
4. Protocol for Aquatic Hazard Assessment
risk assessment (eg, Lemly 1985b, 1993b, 1994), the effort and expense of collecting and analyzing additional samples is well justified
from an ecological perspective. Moreover, the components specified
for use in the Protocol are typically sampled in the course of routine
environmental monitoring. To adequately address environmental safety
issues it is necessary to use hazard assessment procedures that yield
the most ecologically sound information. For selenium, the most reliable method is the Protocol.
Conclusions
The Protocol provides a straightforward consistent technique for evaluating the aquatic hazard of selenium. Although the method is simple and
easy to carry out, it is based on a large body of field and laboratory research data. Hazard is characterized from sensitive biological endpoints
linked to important ecosystem-level effects. The integrative nature of the
method (ie, its use of information from 5 ecosystem components) makes
it responsive to site-specific differences in selenium cycling,
bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The Protocol can be applied to all aquatic
habitats, and it produces accurate hazard ratings. It is an excellent tool for
screening a wide variety of sites and identifying those that need further
attention. It is important to understand that the Protocol does not determine toxic impacts to biota. Rather, it characterizes the potential for toxic
impacts to occur and reveals the relative magnitude of threats across different habitats and seasons. Field verification is necessary to determine
actual impacts, which are influenced by the sensitivity of local species to
selenium and site characteristics that regulate food-chain bioaccumulation.
A good technique to use in this verification process is the Teratogenic
Deformity Index, which evaluates impacts on fish populations (see next
chapter).
References
Adams, W. J., and H. E. Johnson. 1977. Survey of the selenium content in
the aquatic biota of western Lake Erie. Journal of Great Lakes Research
3:10-14.
Adams, W. J., and H. E. Johnson. 1981. Selenium: A hazard assessment and a
water quality criterion calculation. In Aquatic Toxicology and Hazard Assessment:
Fourth Conference-ASTM STP-737, eds. D. R. Branson and K. 1. Dickson, 124137. Philadelphia, PA: American Society for Testing and Materials.
Allen, K. N. 1991. Seasonal variation of selenium in outdoor experimental streamwetland systems. Journal ofEnvironmental Quality 20:865-868.
Barnum, D. A., and D. S. Gilmer. 1988. Selenium levels in biota from irrigation
4. Protocol for Aquatic Hazard Assessment
risk assessment (eg, Lemly 1985b, 1993b, 1994), the effort and expense of collecting and analyzing additional samples is well justified
from an ecological perspective. Moreover, the components specified
for use in the Protocol are typically sampled in the course of routine
environmental monitoring. To adequately address environmental safety
issues it is necessary to use hazard assessment procedures that yield
the most ecologically sound information. For selenium, the most reliable method is the Protocol.
Conclusions
The Protocol provides a straightforward consistent technique for evaluating the aquatic hazard of selenium. Although the method is simple and
easy to carry out, it is based on a large body of field and laboratory research data. Hazard is characterized from sensitive biological endpoints
linked to important ecosystem-level effects. The integrative nature of the
method (ie, its use of information from 5 ecosystem components) makes
it responsive to site-specific differences in selenium cycling,
bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The Protocol can be applied to all aquatic
habitats, and it produces accurate hazard ratings. It is an excellent tool for
screening a wide variety of sites and identifying those that need further
attention. It is important to understand that the Protocol does not determine toxic impacts to biota. Rather, it characterizes the potential for toxic
impacts to occur and reveals the relative magnitude of threats across different habitats and seasons. Field verification is necessary to determine
actual impacts, which are influenced by the sensitivity of local species to
selenium and site characteristics that regulate food-chain bioaccumulation.
A good technique to use in this verification process is the Teratogenic
Deformity Index, which evaluates impacts on fish populations (see next
chapter).
References
Adams, W. J., and H. E. Johnson. 1977. Survey of the selenium content in
the aquatic biota of western Lake Erie. Journal of Great Lakes Research
3:10-14.
Adams, W. J., and H. E. Johnson. 1981. Selenium: A hazard assessment and a
water quality criterion calculation. In Aquatic Toxicology and Hazard Assessment:
Fourth Conference-ASTM STP-737, eds. D. R. Branson and K. 1. Dickson, 124137. Philadelphia, PA: American Society for Testing and Materials.
Allen, K. N. 1991. Seasonal variation of selenium in outdoor experimental streamwetland systems. Journal ofEnvironmental Quality 20:865-868.
Barnum, D. A., and D. S. Gilmer. 1988. Selenium levels in biota from irrigation