ISO 11348-1-2007 PDF

Full title and description

ISO 11348-1:2007 — Water quality — Determination of the inhibitory effect of water samples on the light emission of Vibrio fischeri (luminescent bacteria test) — Part 1: Method using liquid-dried bacteria

Abstract

ISO 11348-1:2007 specifies a bioassay using the marine luminescent bacterium Vibrio fischeri to assess the acute toxic (inhibitory) effect of aqueous samples and chemicals. The method employs liquid-dried (reconstituted) bacteria and measures decrease in light emission after exposure to test samples compared with controls. Results are reported as percentage inhibition of luminescence and can be used to determine ECx values for effect concentrations. The standard is intended for screening and monitoring of wastewater, surface waters, and other aqueous samples to indicate presence of toxicants affecting microbial metabolic activity.

General information

• Status: Published standard
• Publication date: 2007
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)
• ICS / categories: 13.060 (Water quality); 07.100.99 (Analytical chemistry — other methods)
• Edition / version: First edition 2007
• Number of pages: Typically around 12–20 pages (official ISO document length varies by print); commonly cited as approximately 14 pages

Scope

This part of ISO 11348 specifies a procedure using liquid-dried Vibrio fischeri for determining the inhibitory effect of chemicals and environmental water samples on bacterial luminescence. It defines test conditions, preparation and handling of the bacterial reagent, sample dilution series, measurement procedures, quality control criteria, calculation of percentage inhibition and ECx values, and reporting requirements. The method is applicable to aqueous samples and to soluble or dispersed toxicants; it is not intended for substances that cannot be tested in aqueous media without special treatment.

Key topics and requirements

• Use of liquid-dried (reconstituted) Vibrio fischeri strain as the test organism
• Preparation of bacterial suspension and standard reagents
• Exposure conditions (temperature, exposure times, and mixing)
• Measurement of luminescence (initial and after exposure) and calculation of percent inhibition
• Generation of concentration–response data and determination of ECx (e.g., EC20, EC50) values with appropriate statistical treatment
• Quality control: blanks, culture controls, positive controls using reference toxicants, and acceptability criteria for control luminescence and reproducibility
• Special handling instructions for samples with salinity, pH, or color/opacity that could interfere with the assay
• Reporting requirements including sample description, test conditions, raw luminescence data, calculated inhibition values, and interpretation

Typical use and users

Environmental testing laboratories, water utilities, wastewater treatment operators, regulator laboratories, industrial environmental monitoring units, and research institutions use ISO 11348-1:2007 to screen for toxicity in effluents, receiving waters, and other aqueous matrices. It is commonly applied for rapid, cost-effective screening to detect the presence of acute toxicants, for compliance monitoring, and as part of ecotoxicity test batteries.

Related standards

ISO 11348 is a multipart standard; Part 2 (ISO 11348-2) specifies a method using freeze-dried bacteria. Other related standards and guidances include national or international methods for Vibrio fischeri bioluminescence tests, standard methods for water and wastewater examination that reference Vibrio fischeri assays, and ecotoxicological standards for other test organisms (e.g., Daphnia, algae, fish). Laboratory quality standards (e.g., ISO/IEC 17025) are commonly applied when performing this test.

Keywords

Vibrio fischeri, luminescent bacteria test, bioluminescence inhibition, water quality, ecotoxicity, acute toxicity, EC50, effluent screening, ISO 11348-1:2007, liquid-dried bacteria

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 11348-1:2007 is an international standard describing a bioassay using liquid-dried Vibrio fischeri to determine the inhibitory effect of substances and water samples on bacterial light emission.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers test organism preparation, exposure conditions, luminescence measurement, calculation of percentage inhibition and ECx values, quality control criteria, and reporting for aqueous toxicity testing using reconstituted Vibrio fischeri.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Environmental and analytical laboratories, water and wastewater managers, regulators, and researchers use the method for toxicity screening and monitoring of water and effluent samples.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The document is the 2007 published version of ISO 11348-1. Users should check with the ISO catalog or national standards bodies to confirm whether a more recent revision or withdrawal has occurred before use.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: Yes. ISO 11348 is a multipart standard; Part 1 covers liquid-dried bacteria, and Part 2 covers freeze-dried bacteria. Other related parts or national equivalents address procedural variations and validation.

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: Vibrio fischeri, bioluminescence inhibition, water quality, acute toxicity, EC50, effluent screening.