Bioassay Laboratory

The Bioassay Laboratory at SSC Pacific uses both standardized and innovative toxicity and bioaccumulation test methods for evaluation of effluents, receiving water, sediment (i.e., solid-phase, interstitial water, elutriates) and other environmental samples for a variety of projects within the Environmental Sciences Branch.

The laboratory is outfitted with several temperature-controlled light chambers and recirculating water bath systems for controlling test conditions, and all relevant equipment including microscopes and numerous instruments for monitoring water quality. The lab is located steps away from San Diego Bay and has the potential to conduct flow-through and in situ testing, as well as more traditional static or static-renewal exposures. QwikLite, a unique test developed at SSC Pacific to rapidly screen samples using dinoflagellate bioluminescence reduction as a measure of toxicity, is also conducted in the laboratory.

Accreditation

The laboratory is accredited by both the State of California Department of Health Services and the State of Washington Department of Ecology for a number of whole effluent toxicity (WET) testing methods, through the Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (ELAP). The laboratory routinely uses larval fish (Menidia beryllina), mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia), bivalve (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and echinoderm (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus) embryo, polychaete worm (Neanthes arenaceodentata), and amphipod (Eohaustorius estuarius) test protocols (e.g., ASTM, USEPA).

Temperature-controlled light chambers and recirculating water bath systems (left) and flow-through chambers (right) at the SSC San Diego Bioassay Laboratory.

Current and recent projects supported by the SSC Pacific Bioassay Laboratory include:

• San Diego Bay Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Sediment Evaluation
• Sediment Ecosystem Assessment Protocol (SEAP)
• Bacterial and Benthic Community Response to Inorganic and Organic Sediment Amendments
• Investigations on the Biological Effects of Munitions Constituents (MC) in the Marine Environment
• Copper Studies in Sinclair and Dyes Inlets, WA
• Site-specfic Copper Criteria Development for Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Activity
• Integrated Compliance Model for Predicting Fate and Effects of Copper in DoD Harbors
• Storm Water Toxicity Evaluation for San Diego Bay Navy Facilities
• Submarine Base San Diego Sediment Site Assessment

More Information:

For further Information, contact the SSC Pacific Bioassay Laboratory.