ASTM E2172-01(2014)

5.1 Soil toxicity tests provide information concerning the toxicity and bioavailability of chemicals associated with soils to terrestrial organisms. As important members of the soil fauna, nematodes have a number of characteristics that make them appropriate organisms for use in the assessment of potentially hazardous soils. Bacterial-feeding nematodes such as C. elegans feed on soil microbes and contribute to the breakdown of organic matter. They are also of extreme importance in the cycling and degradation of key nutrients in soil ecosystems 5.2 Results from soil tests might be an important consideration when assessing the hazards of materials to terrestrial organisms.

5.3 The soil test might be used to determine the temporal or spatial distribution of soil toxicity. Test methods can be used to detect horizontal and vertical gradients in toxicity.

5.4 Results of soil tests could be used to compare the sensitivities of different species.

5.5 An understanding of the effect of these parameters on toxicity may be gained by varying soil characteristics such as pH, clay content, and organic material.

5.6 Results of soil tests may be useful in helping to predict the effects likely to occur with terrestrial organisms in field situations.

5.7 Soil toxicity tests can be an important tool for making decisions regarding the extent of remedial action necessary for contaminated terrestrial sites.

1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining laboratory data to evaluate the adverse effects of chemicals associated with soil to nematodes from soil toxicity tests. This standard is based on a modification to Guide E1676. The methods are designed to assess lethal or sublethal toxic effects on nematodes in short-term tests in terrestrial systems. Soils to be tested may be (1.2 Summary of Previous Studies—Initial soil toxicity testing using the free-living, bacterivorous soil nematode 1.3 Modification of these procedures might be justified by special needs. The results of tests conducted using typical procedures may not be comparable to results using this guide. Comparison of results obtained using modified and unmodified versions of these procedures might provide useful information concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting soil toxicity tests with terrestrial worms.

1.4 The results from field-collected soils used in toxicity tests to determine a spatial or temporal distribution of soil toxicity may be reported in terms of the biological effects on survival or sublethal endpoints. These procedures can be used with appropriate modifications to conduct soil toxicity tests when factors such as temperature, pH, and soil characteristics (for example, particle size, organic matter content, and clay content) are of interest or when there is a need to test such materials as sewage sludge. These methods might also be useful for conducting bioaccumulation tests.

1.5 The results of toxicity tests with (1.6 This guide is arranged as follows:

1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use. While some safety considerations are included in this guide, it is beyond the scope of this standard to encompass all safety requirements necessary to conduct soil toxicity tests. Specific precautionary statements are given in Section 8.