ASTM E1218-21
Standard Guide for Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Microalgae

Standard No.

ASTM E1218-21

Release Date

2021

Published By

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM)

Latest

ASTM E1218-21

Scope

1.1 This guide covers procedures for obtaining laboratory data concerning the adverse effects of a test material added to growth medium on growth of certain species of freshwater and saltwater microalgae during a static exposure. These procedures will probably be useful for conducting short-term toxicity tests with other species of algae, although modifications might be necessary. Although the test duration is comparable to an acute toxicity test with aquatic animals, an algal toxicity test of short duration (72, 96 or 120 h) allows for examination of effects upon multiple generations of an algal population and thus should not be viewed as an acute toxicity test. 1.2 Other modifications of these procedures might be justified by special needs or circumstances. Although using appropriate procedures is more important than following prescribed procedures, results of tests conducted using unusual procedures are not likely to be comparable to results of many other tests. Comparison of results obtained using modified and unmodified versions of these procedures might provide useful information concerning new concepts and procedures for conducting toxicity tests with microalgae. 1.3 These procedures are applicable to many chemicals, either individually or in formulations, commercial products, or known mixtures. With appropriate modifications, these procedures can be used to conduct tests on temperature, and pH and on such materials as aqueous effluents (see Guide E1192), leachates, oils, particulate matter, sediments, and surface waters. Static tests might not be applicable to materials that are highly volatile, are rapidly biologically or chemically transformed in aqueous solutions, or are removed from test solutions in substantial quantities by the test vessels or organisms during the test. (1)3 However, practical flow-through test procedures with microalgae have not been developed. 1.4 Results of tests using microalgae should usually be reported in terms of the 96-h (or other time period) IC50 (see 3.2.5) based on reduction in growth. In some situations, it might only be necessary to determine whether a specific concentration unacceptably affects the growth of the test species or whether the IC50 is above or below a specific concentration. 1.5 This guide is arranged as follows: Section Referenced Documents 2 Terminology 3 Summary of Guide 4 Significance and Use 5 Hazards 7 Apparatus 6 Facilities 6.1 Equipment 6.2 Test Vessels 6.3 Cleaning 6.4 Acceptability 6.5 Growth Medium 8 Test Material 9 General 9.1 Stock Solution 9.2 Test Concentration(s) 9.3 Test Organisms 10 Species 10.1 Source 10.2 Culture 10.3 Quality 10.4 Procedure 11 Experimental Design 11.1 Temperature 11.2 Illumination 11.3 Beginning the Test 11.4 Gas Exchange 11.5 Duration of Test 11.6 Biological Data 11.7 Other Measurements 11.8 Determination of Algistatic and Algicidal Effects 11.8.5 Analytical Methodology 12 Acceptability of Test 13 Calculation 14 Report 15 Keywords 16 1 This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environmental Fate. Current edition approved Nov. 1, 2021. Published December 2021. Originally approved in 1990. Last previous edition approved in 2012 as E1218-04(2012) which was withdrawn January 2021 and reinstated in November 2021. DOI: 10.1520/ E1218-21. 2 This standard guide is a document, developed using the consensus mechanisms of ASTM, that provides guidance for the selection of procedures to accomplish a specific test, but which does not stipulate specific procedures. 3 The boldface numbers given in parentheses refer to a list of references at the end of the text. Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. 1 8QLYHUVLW\RI7RURQWR 8QLYHUVLW\RI7RURQWR SXUVXDQWWR/LFHQVH$JUHHPHQW1RIXUWKHUUHSURGXFWLRQVDXWKRUL]HG 'RZQORDGHGSULQWHGE\ &RS\ULJKWE\$670,QW O DOOULJKWVUHVHUYHG :HG'HF*07 1.6 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in Section 7. 1.7 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

ASTM E1218-21 Referenced Document

• ASTM D1129 Standard Terminology Relating to Water
• ASTM D3731 Standard Practices for Measurement of Chlorophyll Content of Algae in Surface Waters
• ASTM D3978 Standard Practice for Algal Growth Potential Testing with Selenastrum Capricornutum
• ASTM D4447 Standard Guide for Disposal of Laboratory Chemicals and Samples
• ASTM E1023 Standard Guide for Assessing the Hazard of a Material to Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses
• ASTM E1192 Standard Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Aqueous Ambient Samples and Effluents with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians
• ASTM E1733 Standard Guide for Use of Lighting in Laboratory Testing
• ASTM E1847 Standard Practice for Statistical Analysis of Toxicity Tests Conducted Under ASTM Guidelines
• ASTM E380 Standard Practice for Use of the Internation System of Units (SI) (the Modernized Metric System)
• ASTM E729 Standard Guide for Conducting Acute Toxicity Tests on Test Materials with Fishes, Macroinvertebrates, and Amphibians
• ASTM E943 Standard Terminology Relating to Biological Effects and Environmental Fate*， 2023-06-01 Update

ASTM E1218-21 history

• 2021 ASTM E1218-21 Standard Guide for Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Microalgae
• 2004 ASTM E1218-04(2012) Standard Guide for Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Microalgae
• 2004 ASTM E1218-04e1 Standard Guide for Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Microalgae
• 2004 ASTM E1218-04 Standard Guide for Conducting Static Toxicity Tests with Microalgae
• 1997 ASTM E1218-97a Standard Guide for Conducting Static 96-h Toxicity Tests with Microalgae