Chronic effects of organochlorine exposure in sediment to the marine polychaeteNeanthes arenaceodentata

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Abstract
Organisms exposed to organochlorinated compounds in sediments are likely to suffer chronic rather than acute effects. Thus, acute toxicity tests are unlikely to truly assess their potential impact. A 120‐d toxicity test was designed to assess the impact of organochlorine exposure (polychlorinated biphenyl and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) on the marine polychaeteNeanthes arenaceodentata.A two‐tiered approach was used: Tier I involved reference sediment spiked with a range of concentrations of the two organochlorines bracketing the concentrations found in natural sediments, and tier II involved field sediments collected from a coastal area contaminated with high concentrations of the same two organochlorines. Testing measured a number of endpoints, including survival, growth, and reproduction. Survival and growth were unaffected in either tier by any of the test sediments. Reproductive endpoints, however, were depressed in both tiers relative to the reference sediment.