162 sediment samples were collected from five estuaries in coastal South Carolina and Georgia. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Centers for Environmental Information (NOAA NCEI) gathered this data through a survey performed in 1993 and 1994. Samples were tested for toxicity using multiple laboratory bioassays and analyzed for trace metals and organic compounds.
Use Cases
- Correlate amphipod survival test results with trace metal concentrations to identify toxic chemical thresholds.
- Map the spatial extent of sediment toxicity across Charleston Harbor, Winyah Bay, and other estuaries using geospatial sample locations.
- Compare toxicity signals between microbial bioluminescence (Microtox) tests and sea urchin embryo development tests of porewaters.
- Analyze relationships between sedimentological factors and copepod reproduction bioassay outcomes for a subset of samples.
Strengths
- Data covers 162 distinct sampling locations across five major estuaries.
- Multiple bioassay types (amphipod survival, Microtox, sea urchin tests) provide complementary toxicity measures.
- Chemical analyses include a suite of trace metals and organic compounds for most samples.
Limitations
- Data is from a single survey in 1993-1994 and lacks temporal recency.
- Sample size of 162 may limit statistical power for rare compound detection.
- Unknown if all 162 samples underwent the full battery of bioassays and chemical analyses.
Provenance
- Source
- NOAA_NCEI
- Collection Method
- Field collection of surficial sediment samples followed by laboratory toxicity bioassays and chemical analysis.
- Time Range
- 1993-1994
- Freshness
- 1994-01-01
- Geography
- Five estuaries in coastal South Carolina and Georgia: Charleston Harbor, Winyah Bay, Leadenwah Creek, Savannah River, St. Simons Sound.