Preparation and characterization of nickel-spiked freshwater sediments for toxicity tests: toward more environmentally realistic nickel partitioning

William G. Brumbaugh; John M. Besser; Christopher G. Ingersoll; Thomas W. May; Chris D. Ivey; Christian E. Schlekat; Emily R. Garman

doi:10.1002/etc.2272

USGS · 70059744

Preparation and characterization of nickel-spiked freshwater sediments for toxicity tests: toward more environmentally realistic nickel partitioning

William G. Brumbaugh·John M. Besser·Christopher G. Ingersoll·Thomas W. May·Chris D. Ivey·Christian E. Schlekat·Emily R. Garman

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Abstract

Two spiking methods were compared and nickel (Ni) partitioning was evaluated during a series of toxicity tests with 8 different freshwater sediments having a range of physicochemical characteristics. A 2-step spiking approach with immediate pH adjustment by addition of NaOH at a 2:1 molar ratio to the spiked Ni was effective in producing consistent pH and other chemical characteristics across a range of Ni spiking levels. When Ni was spiked into sediment having a high acid-volatile sulfide and organic matter content, a total equilibration period of at least 10 wk was needed to stabilize Ni partitioning. However, highest spiking levels evidently exceeded sediment binding capacities; therefore, a 7-d equilibration in toxicity test chambers and 8 volume-additions/d of aerobic overlying water were used to avoid unrealistic Ni partitioning during toxicity testing. The 7-d pretest equilibration allowed excess spiked Ni and other ions from pH adjustment to diffuse from sediment porewater and promoted development of an environmentally relevant, 0.5- to 1-cm oxic/suboxic sediment layer in the test chambers. Among the 8 different spiked sediments, the logarithm of sediment/porewater distribution coefficient values (log K d ) for Ni during the toxicity tests ranged from 3.5 to 4.5. These K d values closely match the range of values reported for various field Ni-contaminated sediments, indicating that testing conditions with our spiked sediments were environmentally realistic.

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William G. Brumbaugh, John M. Besser, Christopher G. Ingersoll, Thomas W. May, Chris D. Ivey, Christian E. Schlekat, Emily R. Garman. 2013-05-08. Preparation and characterization of nickel-spiked freshwater sediments for toxicity tests: toward more environmentally realistic nickel partitioning. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.2272

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