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Direct Application of Biota-sediment Accumulation Factors
Citation:
BURKHARD, L. P., P. M. COOK, AND M. T. LUKASEWYCZ. Direct Application of Biota-sediment Accumulation Factors. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, 29(1):230-236, (2010).
Impact/Purpose:
This report evaluates the errors in extrapolations performed by directly applying BSAFs from one location and species to another. These results will help to reduce uncertainties in extrapolating BSAFs among Superfund sites.
Description:
Biota-sediment bioaccumulation factors (BSAFs) relate chemical residues in fish to chemical concentrations in contaminated sediments. BSAFs used by EPAs Office of Water in developing water quality criteria and by EPAs Superfund program in performing risk assessments for sites with contaminated sediments. BSAFs can be established mechanistically with food web models, empirically determined by performing field measurements, or by extrapolating existing BSAFs data to the species and location of interest. This report evaluates the errors in extrapolations performed by directly applying BSAFs from one location and species to another. These results will help to reduce uncertainties in extrapolating BSAFs among Superfund sites.