Applications of Contaminant Fate and Bioaccumulation Models in Assessing Ecological Risks of Chemicals: A Case Study for Gasoline Hydrocarbons

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• 作者：Matthew MacLeod ; Thomas E. McKone ; Karen L. Foster ; Randy L. Maddalena ; Thomas F. Parkerton ; and Don Mackay
• 刊名：Environmental Science & Technology
• 出版年：2004
• 出版时间：December 1, 2004
• 年：2004
• 卷：38
• 期：23
• 页码：6225 - 6233
• 全文大小：711K
• 年卷期：v.38,no.23(December 1, 2004)
• ISSN：1520-5851

文摘

Mass balance models of chemical fate and transport canbe applied in ecological risk assessments for quantitativeestimation of concentrations in air, water, soil, and sediment.These concentrations can, in turn, be used to estimateorganism exposures and ultimately internal tissueconcentrations that can be compared to mode-of-action-based critical body residues that induce toxic effects. Fromthis comparison, risks to the exposed organism can beevaluated. To demonstrate the use of fate models in ecologicalrisk assessment, we combine the EQuilibrium Criterion(EQC) environmental fate model with a simple screeninglevel biouptake model for three representative organisms:a bird, a mammal, and a fish. This effort yields estimatesof internal body concentrations that can be compared withlevels known to elicit toxic effects. As an illustration, wepresent an analysis of 24 hydrocarbon components of gasolinethat differ in properties but are assumed to elicit toxicityby a common narcotic mode of action. Results demonstratethat differences in chemical properties and mode ofentry into the environment lead to profound differences inthe efficiency of transport from emission to target biota.We discuss the implications of these results and draw attentionto the insights gained about regional fate and ecologicalrisks associated with gasoline. This approach is suitable forassessing single chemicals or mixtures that have similarmodes of action. We conclude that the model-basedmethodologies presented are widely applicable for screeninglevel ecological risk assessments that support effectivechemicals management.