Overview
EN ISO 10872:2021 - adopted from ISO 10872:2020 - defines a standardized biological test to assess the toxic effects of environmental samples on the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. The method measures sublethal and reproductive endpoints - growth, fertility and reproduction - and applies to whole freshwater sediments (maximum salinity 5 g/l), soils, wastes, and aqueous fractions derived from these matrices (pore water, elutriates and aqueous extracts). EN ISO 10872:2021 is published by CEN following ISO/TC 147 work on water quality.
Key Topics and Requirements
- Test organism: Use of the bacterivorous nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (N2 Bristol) as the indicator species.
- Measured endpoints: Quantification of effects on growth, fertility and reproduction to detect toxic impacts of dissolved and particle-bound substances.
- Applicable sample types: Contaminated freshwater sediment (≤ 5 g/l salinity), soils, waste and associated pore water, elutriates and aqueous extracts.
- Test components covered: Procedures for reagents and media, required apparatus, reference substances, organism culture and pre-cultures, sample preparation, test execution, nematode separation, measurements, calculations, validity criteria and reporting.
- Quality control: Inclusion of reference/control materials and explicit validity criteria and performance data to ensure reliable, repeatable results.
- Scope limits: Designed to assess both dissolved and particle-bound toxicants; intended for freshwater and terrestrial sediment/soil contexts.
Applications and Who Uses It
- Environmental and ecotoxicology laboratories performing sediment and soil toxicity testing.
- Regulatory authorities and consultants conducting contaminated site assessments, risk evaluation and compliance testing.
- Research organizations studying toxic effects of chemicals in soils and sediments, or developing remediation strategies.
- Waste management and industrial facilities monitoring potential ecological impacts of discharges or reuse of wastes and dredged materials.
Practical uses include screening contaminated sediments/soils, evaluating remediation efficacy, and providing biological effect data to complement chemical analyses.
Related Standards
- Developed under ISO/TC 147 (“Water quality”) and adopted by CEN/TC 230 (“Water analysis”).
- EN ISO 10872:2021 is the European adoption of ISO 10872:2020; it complements other water and soil biological methods within ISO/CEN portfolios for ecological and sediment quality assessment.
Keywords: EN ISO 10872:2021, ISO 10872:2020, C. elegans, soil toxicity test, sediment toxicity, pore water, elutriate, ecotoxicology, environmental monitoring, growth fertility reproduction test.
