Specialized Toxicity Testing

EnviroScience biologists have extensive experience in performing specialized toxicity testing for our clients. Culturing and examining many different species of freshwater, saltwater, and sediment organisms for over 30 years, our toxicologists have the resources and expertise to tailor study plans for specialty projects to meet each of our client’s unique needs.

Product Toxicity Testing

Aquatic Ecotoxicity Testing for LC50

Aquatic toxicity is useful data to include in a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) for products that will be used in the environment and could affect aquatic life. The EnviroScience ecotoxicity lab provides testing to obtain aquatic toxicity LC50 data.

The LC in LC50 stands for lethal concentration. The LC50 is an estimate of the product concentration that would kill 50% of the exposed specimens for the specified exposure period.

Providing aquatic toxicity data also serves as a useful tool for obtaining an EcoLogo. An EcoLogo is a seal of approval that is printed on a certified product’s label, designating the product as eco-friendly.

Numerous methods and species can be utilized depending on your requirements. Some common freshwater test species include Ceriodaphnia dubia (water flea), Daphnia magna (water flea), Pimephales promelas (fathead minnow), Oncorhynchus mykiss (rainbow trout), and Selenastrum capricornutum (algae). EnviroScience also provides testing with other freshwater and marine organisms.

Elutriate Testing

Elutriate bioassays provide another method for assessing the potential toxicity of sediments in aquatic systems. Elutriate testing identifies harmful toxins within the sediment that can ultimately affect aquatic organisms living in the water column. EnviroScience biologists follow the procedures for elutriate testing outlined in U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) 503/8-91/001, in which site sediments are combined with laboratory water to solubilize components present in the sediment. Test organisms are exposed for a specified amount of time, depending on whether acute or chronic endpoints are required.

Brine Studies

Brine water is a by-product of hydraulic fracturing or “fracking,” which is a way of extracting oil and natural gas from shale deposits. Brine studies provide a method for determining the level of toxicity that brine water, discharged by a treatment plant or major discharger, may have on an aquatic environment.

A brine study is designed to determine at what concentration the brine water may be discharged to minimize the effect on the receiving water quality. These studies additionally ensure that the aquatic organisms are not affected by the addition of brine water into the water system.

EnviroScience provides high-quality environmental services to hundreds of satisfied municipal, industrial, and private sector clients throughout the U.S. Our excellent reputation with regulatory agencies on both the state and federal levels, our proven methodology, and the professionalism of our experienced biologists afford us confidence in guaranteeing our procedures and reported data will meet all acceptance criteria.

In Action

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Few environmental firms in the country retain EnviroScience’s degree of scientific know-how, talent, and capability under one roof. The diverse backgrounds of our biologists, environmental engineers, scientists, and divers enable us to provide comprehensive in-house services and an integrated approach to solving environmental challenges—saving clients time, reducing costs, and ensuring high-quality results.

Our client guarantee is to provide “Excellence in Any Environment,” meaning no matter what we do, we will deliver on our Core Values of respect, client advocacy, quality work, accountability, teamwork, and safety. EnviroScience was created with the concept that we could solve complex problems by empowering great people. This concept still holds true today as our scientists explore the latest environmental legislation and regulations and incorporate the most up-to-date technology to gather and report data.

EnviroScience expertise includes but is not limited to: aquatic survey (including macroinvertebrate surveys and biological assessments); ecological restoration; ecological services (including impact assessments, invasive species control, and water quality monitoring);  emergency response; engineering and compliance services; endangered mussel surveys; laboratory and analysis; stormwater management; threatened and endangered species; and wetlands and streams (including delineation and mitigation). Further, EnviroScience is one of the few biological firms in the country that is a general member of the Association of Diving Contractors International (ADCI) and offers full-service commercial diving services.