Once the course work was complete, the procedures and equipment were in place to begin sediment testing. A sediment toxicity test is one method in which field sediment is brought into the laboratory. Aquatic organisms are exposed to determine if the sediment produces any adverse effects on survival. The ten day test entails daily feeding and water exchange for the test organism Hyalella azteca. The testing process is very similar to effluent toxicity testing.
Overlying water is moderately hard reconstituted water.
Temperature and light must be regulated, organisms must be less than 14 days old, and protocol is established for number of organisms used as well as the replicates needed for statistical analysis. Reference tests are conducted using NaCl to assure quality of the test organisms. The Bioassay Section has completed several rounds of testing. Sediment toxicity testing was conducted in conjunction with work done in western Kentucky at ambient pesticide monitoring stations. Sediment tests were also run on Greasy Creek near Ketchup Lake near Madisionville to determine the extent that acid mine drainage had degraded the aquatic environment.