Benchmarks for Developing Ecological Soil Screening Levels (ECO-SSL): Effects of Selenium on Soil Invertebrates
Abstract
Army concepts for the Objective Force include the need to be responsive and deployable. Both of these rely upon proper testing and training. Neither testing nor training can occur without environmental compliance with NEPA, that routinely calls for Environmental Assessments including Human Health Risk Assessment and Ecological Risk Assessment. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in a collaborative effort of a multi-stakeholder workgroup including Army, Navy, and Air Force, has established national guidance and SOPs for deriving Ecological Soil Screening Levels (Eco-SSL) for ecological receptors. Unfortunately data in the published literature were insufficient in quantity and quality to establish an Eco-SSL for selenium, critical in various DoD advanced technologies, and frequently found in the environment at testing and training areas. The EC20 ecotoxicological benchmarks based on toxicity of selenium to reproduction by the common soil invertebrates earthworm Eisenia fetida, potworm Enchytraeus crypticus, and collembolan Folsomia candida, were remarkably similar yielding the values 3.4, 4.4, and 4.7 mg kg-1, respectively. Selenium benchmarks will be submitted to the Eco-SSL National Task Group for use in developing a selenium Eco-SSL for soil invertebrates. Establishing Eco-SSL leads to increased Army/DoD readiness by supporting environmental documentation required for testing and training.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Dec 01, 2004
- Accession Number
- ADA433517
Entities
People
- Carlton T. Phillips
- Dennis W. Johnson
- Keith Sappington
- Michael Simini
- Richard M. Higashi
- Roman G Kuperman
- Ronald T. Checkai
- Teresa W-m Fan
Organizations
- Edgewood Chemical Biological Center