ABSTRACT
The Simultaneously Extracted Metals/Acid Volatile Sulfides (SEM/AVS) method for predicting toxicological impacts to benthic organisms joined the library of sediment quality assessment techniques several decades ago. With theoretical underpinnings that are reasonable and straightforward, ERA practitioners had no problems latching on. For all of SEM/AVS's theoretical background and fine measurements of stoichiometric ratios, the method might not be an accurate toxicity predictor or even a predictor at all for the situation in which it is thought to be needed. Twenty or more years after the availability of a sanctioned predictive toxicity method is an odd time to be seeking a method's true validation. Field validation is nevertheless needed in this instance because the heretofore-supporting information for SEM/AVS is open to certain challenge. The field validation study holds the potential to confirm or refute the reasons for benthic organism testing and evaluation.
