Sediment Quality Guidelines
and toxicity screening for estuarine sediments

About Sediment Toxicity
A NOAA State of the Coastal Environment essay on Sediment Toxicity

Sediment Quality Guidelines

Values in this table indicate sediment quality guidelines (SQG) for metal concentrations in bulk sediments. Concentrations that exceed naturally-occurring background values are considered to be contaminated and those which exceed screening levels, such as the Toxics Efffects Range-Low (ER-L) or Toxics Effects Range-Medium (ER-M) of Long et al. (1995), may induce detrimental bioeffects in bottom organisms. Soil data, from Bowen (1979), are taken as materials most closely resembling a natural background of uncontaminated estuarine sediment. SQG screening levels of ER-L and ER-M are defined as ranges of bulk sediment concentration that have statistical potential for toxicity as determined in laboratory tests with benthic organisms. Other guidelines may also be used with sediment concentrations to predict or screen for bioeffects from exposure to contaminated sediment.

Soil data from Bowen (1979) and contaminant Screening levels from Long et al. (1995).