VDI 4230 Blatt 5:2017-04

This standard describes methods for recording chronic effects of stressors in fishes as indicator of the quality of water bodies. Thereby the sampling procedure is of crucial importance and has to be standardised in many cases to prevent artefacts, to avoid the loss of biological information, to minimise the high variability of biological samples and to ensure reproducibility and comparability of the acquired samples and data. Standards for obtaining a reproducible and representative procedure of sampling are prescribed and a set of endpoints (examination parameters) for possible issues in the range of examination of effects are also recommended. Thus, the health of fishes as indicator of the status of water bodies and the environmental state shall be described as comprehensive as possible. Methods, whose use is less established in biomonitoring with fishes, remain unconsidered.