Bioassays used for Detection of Ecotoxicity at Contaminated Areas

Ten bioassays were used for the evaluation of acute, (sub)chronic toxicity and genotoxicity of an unknown soil from a military base and six model soils that were contaminated at former military bases with the major pollutants: kerosene, petroleum and used motor oil. The test species represented algae and higher plants, invertebrates and bacteria. The ability to detect toxicants in test soils and their water extracts was investigated and the sensitivity of each bioassay was compared with regard to the tested material (soil vs. water extract from soil) and other test species.