Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for measuring the concentration of contaminants in an aqueous water system, wherein the contaminants are measured with the bioreactor containing a biofilm or microbial community which acts on the water to be analyzed to provide a measure of the amount of the dissolved organic carbon which is biodegradable. A bed for facilitating regulation of water flow through the bioreactor is provided, and an autosampling mechanism enables the measurement of total organic carbon, inorganic carbon and oxygen, between sample inflow and sample outflow at specified time intervals.

Abstract: A method of determining the effect of a test substance on any life stage of at least one clone of a Centroptilum triangulifer mayfly comprising (A) identifying and selecting at least one clone of Centroptilum triangulifer as a test clone to be subjected to the test substance; (B) exposing each test clone to the test substance for a predetermined time; and (C) determining the effect of the test substance on each test clone by at least one of (i) observing the test clone for a lethal or sublethal effect and (ii) Sacrificing the test clone, and analyzing the sacrificed test clone for at least one of (a) the presence of at least one of the test substance and any of its metabolites, (b) the quantity of at least one of the test substance and any of its metabolites, and (c) a lethal or sublethal effect of at least one of the test substance and any of its metabolites.