reference site. The suite of cytochrome P-450/EROD/P-450E measures appear to be sensitive, 

 relatively low in within-site variability, relatively high in between-site discriminatory 

 power, correlated with contaminant concentrations, and have indicated a similar pattern in 

 response among species. Fish from the most contaminated sites often had the highest AHH 

 activity, but differences between sites were not significant. Compared to the other measures 

 performed with fish, the AHH activity analyses were less sensitive, had moderate within- 

 site variability, had moderate between-site discriminatory power, but were correlated with 

 chemical concentrations. Data from tests of plasma steroid hormone analyses did not show 

 any significant differences among sites. Interpretation of the results of measures of impaired 

 reproductive success in the fish was confounded by small sample sizes. Generally, there was 

 good concordance between the biological measures and the data for some chemicals. Also, 

 there generally was good, but not significant, concordance among the measures of cytochrome 

 P-450 induction, AHH activity, and micronuclei incidence. 



It is apparent from this evaluation and previous use of the tests that most of the 

 biological measures generally perform well and could qualify as candidates for future use in 

 the NS&T Program. However, certain of the tests appear to better meet the criteria for 

 inclusion in the Program. They include the tests of acute toxicity of sediments with bivalve 

 larvae and amphipods; tests of mutagenicity/genotoxicity in echinoderm larvae exposed to 

 sediments; AHH and EROD activities and cytochrome P-450 content in liver microsomes of 

 fish; and counts of erythrocyte micronuclei in fish. The use of sediment photography 

 profiling techniques is best suited for evaluations of organic enrichment of depositional 

 sediments and assessments of recovery of disturbed benthic habitats. The pore water 

 bioassay needs further testing and evaluation to fully develop this very promising 

 technique. Plasma steroid hormone content in fish can be influenced by a wide variety of 

 factors. The data gathered in the present evaluation did not indicate significiant 

 differences between sites under the conditions extant at that time. Although tests of 

 impairment of reproductive success through spawning studies have provided useful and 

 pollution-sensitive information in research with P. stelktus and other bottomfish, they were 

 difficult to evaluate in this study because of the small sample sizes. 



It is also apparent from this evaluation and that performed at the Group of Experts on 

 the Effects of Pollutants (GEEP) workshop that no single measure of biological effects can 

 suffice for determining the biological effects of pollution. The complexity and multitude of 

 biological responses to contaminants cannot be expressed with any single test, just as the 

 complex mixture of chemicals in most urban areas cannot be indicated with the 

 quantification of any single chemical. A suite of complementary tests can be selected from 

 those evaluated in this study and tailored to meet specific programmatic needs and used to 

 assess the occurrence and severity of effects associated with elevated contaminant levels. 

 Therefore, in order to maintain flexibility needed to satisfy various (unforeseen) 

 programmatic objectives, all of the biological measures should be considered as potential 

 candidates and none should be eliminated from future potential use. All have certain 

 strengths and weakness that should be considered in selection of a suite of tests to meet 

 specific objectives. 



