GLEC conducted a laboratory research program that was designed to evaluate the overall value and potential utility of recently developed abbreviated chronic toxicity testing procedures. To complete this project, GLEC assembled an in-house team of freshwater and marine aquatic toxicologists and biostatisticians experienced in chronic toxicity testing with fish and invertebrates and in statistical evaluation of toxicity data produced in life-cycle bioassays. To approach this problem, GLEC concentrated on identifying and evaluating the most promising marine and freshwater rapid chronic test procedures, followed by a thorough laboratory program designed to evaluate those factors affecting two rapid chronic tests recently developed by EPA scientists -- one with Ceriodaphnia dubia and one with the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). In order to evaluate the potential application of these EPA-developed seven-day chronic testing procedures, GLEC used reference toxicants to determine how factors such as temperature, photoperiod, light intensity, water hardness, food type and amount, test chamber size, and toxicant renewal frequency affected test results. GLEC worked closely with the EPA scientists who developed these tests to ensure that the project was completed in a cooperative fashion.
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