Abstract：The biotoxicity of sediments from Wenruitang River was characterized and analyzed using luminescent bacteria Vibrio qinghaiensis sp. Nov-Q67 and Xenopus tropicalis embryos. The maximum, minimum and average luminous intensity of Q67was 81.9%, 40.6% and 63.3%, respectively, which indicated moderate biotoxicity. In terms of the developmental toxicity of the sediment leachate, the average, maximum and minimum hatching rate of the Xenopus tropicalis embryos was 75.98%, 100% and 42.5%, respectively. The average, minimum and maximum survival rate of the embryos was 83.77%, 66.25% and 100%, respectively. Four sites among all sampling points did not show embryos malformations. The average and maximum teratogenic rate of the embryos was 16.6% and 36.3%. The average, minimum and maximum body length of the embryos was 3.58, 2.64 and 4.06cm, respectively. Sediments collected from combined industrial and residential area exhibited significant biotoxicity, while sediments from the river source area and/or isolated residential area had relatively low biotoxicity.
