Presentation and interpretation of Sediment Quality Triad data.

: Updated guidance is provided for presenting and interpreting individual Sediment Quality Triad components (Triad: chemistry, toxicity and community structure), and for the integration of all components. Three separate methods are identified: summary indices, tabular decision matrices, and multivariate analyses. Indices, an early method, are of limited usefulness. General guidance regarding decision matrices and multivariate analyses (in particular, statistical criteria for the combined Triad components) is provided, in a manner intended not to exclude future new techniques or approaches.