A sediment‐contact bioassay with Photobacterium phosphoreum

Abstract
A new, rapid test is reported for the toxicity screening of sediments using inhibition of Photobacterium phosphoreum. The bacteria are placed in direct contact with the sediment and the change in luminescence of the Photobacterium is used to determine the toxicity of the sediment relative to a control site. This sediment‐contact bioassay appears to be more sensitive to hydrophobic contaminants such as a polychlorinated biphenyl than the standard sediment elutriate test with Microtox® bioassay.