ASTM E943-08

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Designation: E943 − 08
StandardTerminology Relating to
1
Biological Effects and Environmental Fate
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E943; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope behavior, n—observable, recordable, or measurable actions or
activity of an organism.
1.1 This terminology document defines terms commonly
DISCUSSION—This definition conveys the idea of motion whether
used in standards developed by ASTM Committee E47 on
motility is involved or not, and excludes physiological responses,
Biological Effects and Environmental Fate. This terminology
death, and so forth, from the concept. It avoids the issue of internal
document is intended to be consistent with the use of terms in
versus external stimuli.
ASTMstandardsrelatedtothisfieldand,totheextentpossible,
bioaccumulation—the net accumulation of a substance by an
with use by other organizations.
organism as a result of uptake from all environmental
1.1.1 If a specific Committee E47 standard uses one of these
sources.
terms in a different context, then the term must be defined in
that standard. A term used only in a specific ASTM standard
bioassay—an experiment that uses living whole organisms,
need not be included in this terminology document.
tissues or cells to measure the presence, the concentration, or
the relative potency of one or more chemicals.
2. Terminology DISCUSSION—A bioassay must include the appropriate controls(s).
Thereisnointendedstipulationofendpointforsuchatest;theresponse
2.1 Definitions:
may be positive of negative. This term defines a subset of the protocols
acute test—a comparative study in which organisms, that are
(methods) referred by the term “biological assay” (Finney, 1947)
subjected to different treatments, are observed for a short
bioconcentration—the net accumulation of a substance by an
period usually not constituting a substantial portion of their
aquatic organism as a result of uptake directly from aqueous
life span.
solution.
DISCUSSION—There is no specific test duration that represents a
distinct boundary between acute and chronic test durations for any
biomagnification—the increase in tissue concentration of
species. Although acute or chronic test procedures may specify stan-
poorly depurated materials in organisms along a series of
dard duration(s), these durations have not been intended to define an
predator-preyassociations,primarilythroughthemechanism
acute:chronic boundary.
of dietary accumulation.
Acute tests often utilize mortality as the only measure of effect;
chronic tests usually include additional measures of effect such as
biomarker, n—a biological measure (within organisms) of
growth or reproduction.
exposure to, effects of, or susceptibility to, environmental
attraction—a response towards or to facilitate contact with a
stress using molecular, genetic, biochemical, histological, or
material or condition.
physiological techniques.
avoidance—a response away from or to limit contact with a
biomarker assay—an experiment that uses a molecular,
material or condition.
genetic, biochemical, histological, anatomical, or physi-
ological technique to assess exposure, response, or suscep-
BAF (bioaccumulation factor), n—the quotient obtained by
tibility of an organisms tissue or cells to environmental
dividing the concentration of a substance in an organism (or
stress.
specified tissue) by its concentration in a specified exposure
medium, for example, air, food, sediment, soil, water, when
chronic test—a comparative study in which organisms that are
several media are possible sources (see bioaccumalation). subjected to different treatments are observed for a long
period or a substantial portion of their life span.
DISCUSSION—There is no specific test duration that represents a
distinct boundary between acute and chronic test durations for any
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This terminology is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E50 on
species. Although acute or chronic test procedures may specify stan-
Environmental Assessment, Risk Management and Corrective Action and is the
dard duration(s), these durations have not been intended to define an
direct responsibility of Subcommittee E50.47 on Biological Effects and Environ-
acute:chronic boundary.
mental Fate.
Acute tests often utilize mortality as the only measure of effect;
Current edition approved March 1, 2008. Published March 2008. Originally
chronic tests usually include additional measures of effect such as
approved in 1983. Last previous edition approved in 2004 as E943 – 04a. DOI:
10.1520/E0943-08. growth or reproduction.
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