1.1This guide covers procedures for obtaining data concerning the adverse effects of a test material added to marine and estuarine waters on certain species of polychaetes during short- or long-term continuous exposure. The polychaete species used in these tests are either field collected or from laboratory cultures and exposed to varying concentrations of a toxicant in static or static-renewal conditions. These procedures may be useful for conducting toxicity tests with other species of polychaetes, although modifications might be necessary.

1.2Modifications of these procedures might be justified by special needs or circumstances. Although using appropriate procedures is more important than following prescribed procedures, the results of tests conducted using unusual procedures are not likely to be comparable to those of many other tests. Comparisons of results obtained using modified and unmodified versions of these procedures might provide useful information concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting acute, chronic, or life-cycle tests with other species of polychaetes.

1.3These procedures are applicable to most chemicals, either individually or in formulations, commercial products, and known or unknown mixtures. With appropriate modifications, these procedures can be used to conduct these tests on factors such as temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. These procedures can also be used to assess the toxicity of potentially toxic discharges such as municipal wastes, sediments/soils, oil drilling fluids, produced water from oil well production, and other types of industrial wastes. An LC50 (medial lethal concentration) may be calculated from the data generated in each acute and chronic toxicity test when multiple concentrations are tested. Growth, determined by a change in measured weight, and reproduction, as the change in total number of organisms, are used to measure the effect of a toxicant on life-cycle tests; data are analyzed statistically to indicate that concentration at which a significant difference occurs between the test solutions and control(s).

1.4The results of dose-response acute or chronic toxicity tests with toxicants added experimentally to salt water should usually be reported in terms of an LC50 (mortality), or EC50 (medial effect concentration). The results of life-cycle toxicity tests with toxicants added experimentally to salt water should be reported as that concentration at which a statistically significant difference in the number of offspring or growth (determined by weight) is produced with reference to the control(s).

1.5Where appropriate, this standard has been designed to be consistent with or complementary to other methods for assessing toxicity to invertebrates described in Test Methods E1367 and E1706, and Guides E1391, E1525, E1611, and E1688.

1.6This guide is arranged as follows:

1.7The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.8This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 7.

1.9This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.