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Biomonitoring Laboratory
The
Biomonitoring Laboratory conducts toxicity test for use in the National
Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) and the Region
6 TOXNET program to identify effluents, receiving waters, ambient
waters and sediments containing toxic materials in acute or chronic toxic
concentration. Acute and chronic refer to the length of time organisms
are exposed to toxicants before adverse responses are observed.
The Biomonitoring Laboratory maintains both marine and freshwater vertebrate and invertebrate brood stock from which test organisms are obtained . The majority of tests conducted by the Houston Biomonitoring Laboratory is for vertebrate and invertebrate chronic testing.
Invertebrate freshwater tests are conducted on young less
than twenty four hours old. One juvenile is added to each of ten replicates
for the control culture water and to each concentration of test solution.
Test chambers are 30 ml beakers containing 15 ml of test or control water.
The organisms are fed daily. Mortality and number of young produced is
monitored daily. After seven days, the tests are terminated. Mortality
and reproduction data are then analyzed statistically to determine differences
between control organisms and those exposed to the test solutions.
Vertebrates
(freshwater and marine) fish embryos less than thirty six hours old are
used to initiate the tests. Ten embryos are added to each of three replicated
for the control culture water and each concentration of test solution.
Test chambers are 400 ml Nalgene culture dishes containing 250 ml of test
ml of test or control water. Larvae generally hatch on day five of the
seven day test. Mortality, dissolved oxygen, and temperature is recorded
daily. At the termination of the test, mortality and growth (weight) are
analyzed statistically to determine differences between control organisms
and those exposed to the test solutions. The Biomonitoring Laborarory
is part of the Sample Management Team, under the direction of the Deputy
Branch Chief.