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

MacLeod, M. ; McKone, T. E. ; Foster, K. L. ; Maddalena, R. L. ; Parkerton, T. F. ; Mackay, D.

Technical Information Center Oak Ridge Tennessee

关键词: Fate models;    Bioaccumulation models;    Ecological risks;    Chemical fate;    Chemical transport;   

RP-ID  :  DE2005836545

学科分类：工程和技术（综合）

美国|英语

来源: National Technical Reports Library

【 摘 要 】

Mass balance models of chemical fate and transport can be applied in ecological risk assessments for quantitative estimation of concentrations in air, water, soil and sediment. These concentrations can, in turn, be used to estimate organism exposures and ultimately internal tissue concentrations that can be compared to mode-of-action-based critical body residues that correspond to toxic effects. From this comparison, risks to the exposed organism can be evaluated. To illustrate the practical utility of fate models in ecological risk assessments of commercial products, the EQC model and a simple screening level biouptake model including three organisms, (a bird, a mammal and a fish) is applied to gasoline. In this analysis, gasoline is divided into 24 components or 'blocks' with similar environmental fate properties that are assumed to elicit ecotoxicity via a narcotic mode of action. Results demonstrate that differences in chemical properties and mode of entry into the environment lead to profound differences in the efficiency of transport from emission to target biota. We discuss the implications of these results and insights gained into the regional fate and ecological risks associated with gasoline.