| Marine and estuarine sediments concentrate various pollutants. Thus, they can constitute a risk of contamination for aquatic organisms, and cause a public health problem. The potential toxicity of various sediments was studied by different bioassays and by assessing the bioavailability of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and metals they contained. Among the various stages of development investigated in oysters, Crassostrea gigas, and in sea urchins, Paracentrotus lividus, oyster embryos and larvae proved to be the most sensitive and useful tool for the evaluation of sediment effects on benthic organisms (whole sediment treatment ; embryotoxicity test) as well as on pelagic species (elutriate treatment; embryotoxicity and larval growth tests).... |
