Toxicity bioassays in marine sediments

Many organic and in organic contaminants originated from human activities are deposited and concentrated in aquatic sediments. The purpose of this review article is to analyze and discuss, the objectives, procedures and applications of bioassays on the triad of marine sediments, aiming at a reflection on the possibility of implementing regulations on the environmental monitoring of these studies in our country, so as to improve the environmental quality and its management on coastal zones. The main objective is to highlight the understanding of the adequate application and interpretation of bioassays. A summary of reports is presented, knowledge and analysis concerning marine sediments including, the chemical analysis, the direct determination of ecological changes, the toxicity bioassays and the lines of multiple evidence, the objectives of the toxicity test on sediments, the most important approaches and considerations of bioassays on whole sediments. One of the most convincing conclusions is the need of evaluating the environmental quality not only testing the chemistry of the chemistry of the sediment and structure of the benthic community, but incorporating the toxicity tests as a line of fundamental evidence on the triad of sediment quality.