Development of a bioassay battery for assessing water quality

Development of a bioassay battery for assessing water quality

Within the framework of the national monitoring of surface water quality (NAWA), the foundations are laid for documenting and assessing the status and development of Swiss water bodies. Both chemical and biological analyses are used. Chemical analyses measure the concentrations of chemicals in surface wtares and allow to assess the associated risk to water organisms. Biological analyses, on the other hand, allow to investigate the status of communities such as aquatic plants, aquatic invertebrates and fish. In this context, ecotoxicological bioassays as screening tools represent an important bridge between the measured chemical concentrations and the associated risk to aquatic life. Bioassays measure the response of living cells, organisms or communities to exposure to contaminants. A distinction is made between bioassays that examine specific effects on individual cells or cell lines (in vitro bioassays) and those that examine whole, multicellular organisms (in vivo bioassays). Since no single bioassay can detect all possible effects on different organisms, it makes sense to combine different tests in a "bioassay battery".

The project includes the following tasks:

  • Application of a bioassay battery to water samples from 15 selected sampling sites from the NAWA programme
  • Assess water quality based on effects-based thresholds for the applied bioassays and identify potentially problematic sites
  • Assess the suitability of the bioassays used and propose a suitable bioassay battery for further monitoring projects in Switzerland.

Test systems used

  • Combined algae assay with unicellular green algae
  • Toxicity test with ostracods
  • CALUX® panel (Cytotox-, DR-, ER-, anti-AR-, Nrf2-, PXR-, PFAS- and PAH-CALUX®)
  • Ames fluctuation test
  • Ceriodaphnia dubia reproduction test
  • Fish Early Life Stage Toxicity Test (FET)
  • Test with fish cell lines (RTgill-W1)

Contact

Dr. Cornelia Kienle
Dr. Cornelia Kienle Send mail Tel. +41 58 765 5563

News

17. May 2023

Bioassays and biomarkers to assess water and sediment quality

The Ecotox Centre used numerous bioassays and biomarkers to investigate the water quality at 17 sites. The ecotoxicological risks were determined on the basis of the bioassays and compared with the risks determined on the basis of chemical measurements. Based on the results, the Centre proposes suitable methods for routine use.

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17. May 2023

Assessment of water quality with a bioassay battery

A comprehensive study on the assessment of water quality in Switzerland shows that chemical measurements and bioassays complement each other. While risks to fish were detected more sensitively with bioassays, chemical analysis was the more sensitive method for risks to invertebrates from pyrethroid insecticides. The Ecotox Centre proposes a bioassay battery for routine testing.

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