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Using the Sediment Quality Triad (Sqt) in ecological risk assessment

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Small-scale Freshwater Toxicity Investigations

Conclusions

The SQT has been accepted internationally as the most comprehensive approach available for assessing contaminated sediments. It has been widely used, not just in North America, but in Europe, Australasia, South America, and the Antarctic. It is extremely cost-effective for the level of information provided when applied in a tiered and iterative fashion. It can be used with all sediment types and can be adapted for use with soils and the water column. It provides information on potential effects of biomagnifying contaminants to the health of humans and wildlife, and can be adapted for use with bacterial contaminants and for human health assessments. It is a framework, not a formula, and thus will continue to be improved and possibly expanded by subsequent investigators.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. EVS Environment Consultants, 195 Pemberton Avenue, North Vancouver, B.C., V7P 2R4, Canada

    Peter M. Chapman & Blair G. McDonald

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  1. Peter M. Chapman
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  2. Blair G. McDonald
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Editors and Affiliations

  1. St. Lawrence Centre, Environment Canada, QC, Canada

    Christian Blaise D.Sc (Senior Research Scientist) (Senior Research Scientist)

  2. Paul Verlaine University, Metz, Laboratoire Ecotoxicité et Santé Environnementale, Metz, France

    Jean-François Férard

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Chapman, P.M., McDonald, B.G. (2005). Using the Sediment Quality Triad (Sqt) in ecological risk assessment. In: Blaise, C., Férard, JF. (eds) Small-scale Freshwater Toxicity Investigations. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/1-4020-3553-5_11

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