Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment (Final Report)
In March 2009, EPA's Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC) released the final report entitled, Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment. This report was written in response to a request from the Ecological Risk Assessment Forum (RAF) for information about estimating Biota Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs). BSAF is a parameter describing bioaccumulation of sediment-associated organic compounds or metals into tissues of ecological receptors. The report addressing this request provides information on methodologies to estimate BSAF. It is focused solely on the determination of BSAFs for nonionic organic chemicals and is primarily applicable to fish and high level shellfish, e.g., crabs. The determination of BSAFs for metals is not discussed.
Impact/Purpose
This report was written in response to a March 2004 request from EPA's Ecological Risk Assessment Forum (ERAF) for information about estimating Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs).
Citation
BURKHARD, L. Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment (Final Report). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center, Cincinnati, OH, EPA/600/R-06/047, 2009.
History/Chronology
| Date | Description |
|---|---|
| Jul 2004 | An Internal Review Draft was completed. |
| Mar 2006 | Internal review was completed and comments were addressed to produce the ERASC BSAF External Review Draft. |
| Jun 2006 | A Federal Register Notice was published to solicit public comments on the ERASC BSAF External Review Draft. |
| Apr 2009 | EPA released the final report. |
This document has been reviewed in accordance with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency policy and approved for publication. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.