Biological test method for measuring terrestrial plants exposed to contaminants in soil: foreword

Foreword

This is one of a series of recommended methods for measuring and assessing the toxic effect(s) on single species of terrestrial or aquatic organisms, caused by their exposure to samples of toxic or potentially toxic substances or materials under controlled and defined laboratory conditions. Recommended methods are those that have been evaluated by Environment Canada (EC), and are favoured:

• for use in EC environmental toxicity laboratories;
• for testing which is contracted out by Environment Canada or requested from outside agencies or industry;
• in the absence of more specific instructions, such as are contained in regulations; and
• as a foundation for the provision of very explicit instructions as might be required in a regulatory protocol or standard reference method.

The different types of tests included in this series were selected because of their acceptability for the needs of programs for environmental protection and management carried out by Environment Canada. These reports are intended to provide guidance and to facilitate the use of consistent, appropriate, and comprehensive procedures for obtaining data on the toxicity to terrestrial or aquatic life of specific test substances or materials destined for or within the environment. Depending on the biological test method(s) chosen and the environmental compartment of concern, substances or materials to be tested for toxicity could include samples of chemical or chemical product, soil or similar particulate material, sediment or similar particulate material, effluent, elutriate, leachate, or receiving water. Appendix A lists the biological test methods and supporting guidance documents published to date by Environment Canada's Method Development and Applications Section in Ottawa, ON.

Words defined in the Terminology section of this document are italicized when first used in the body of the report according to the definition. Italics are also used as emphasis for these and other words, throughout the report.