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Toxicity Reduction Evaluation (TRE)

A TRE is defined as a site-specific study conducted in a step-wise process which is designed to: (1) identify the agent causing effluent toxicity,  (2) isolate the source of the toxicity, (3) evaluate the effectiveness of toxicity control options, and (4) confirm the reduction in effluent toxicity.

Toxicity Indentification Evaluation (TIE)

A TIE is defined as a set of procedures to identify the specific agent responsible for toxicity in an effluent.  Thus a TIE is usually an important first step in any successful TRE.

When should a TRE/TIE be performed?

When biomonitoring tests indicate that an effluent shows continued and repeated toxicity to aquatic organisms, the regulatory agency usually requires the facility to submit a proposal to perform a TRE (Toxicity Reduction Evaluation).  The proposal specifies the approach and methodology to be used in reducing the toxicity of the effluent released from the facility.

Typically, the first step in any TRE proposal is to perform a TIE (Toxicity Identification Evaluation) to attempt to identify (or at least characterize) the chemical substance(s) responsible for the toxicity.   Because of the complexity of TIE tests, they are usually more expensive than standard biomonitoring tests.  A typical TIE may cost $10,000 or more.

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Page last updated on 07/29/99