Comparing laboratory‐ and field‐measured biota–sediment accumulation factors

Abstract

Standardized laboratory protocols for measuring the accumulation of chemicals from sediments are used in assessing new and existing chemicals, evaluating navigational dredging materials, and establishing site-specific biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for contaminated sediment sites. The BSAFs resulting from the testing protocols provide insight into the behavior and risks associated with individual chemicals. In addition to laboratory measurement, BSAFs can also be calculated from field data, including samples from studies using in situ exposure chambers and caging studies. The objective of this report is to compare and evaluate paired laboratory and field measurement of BSAFs and to evaluate the extent of their agreement. The peer-reviewed literature was searched for studies that conducted laboratory and field measurements of chemical bioaccumulation using the same or taxonomically related organisms. In addition, numerous Superfund and contaminated sediment site study reports were examined for relevant data. A limited number of studies were identified with paired laboratory and field measurements of BSAFs. BSAF comparisons were made between field-collected oligochaetes and the laboratory test organism Lumbriculus variegatus and field-collected bivalves and the laboratory test organisms Macoma nasuta and Corbicula fluminea. Our analysis suggests that laboratory BSAFs for the oligochaete L. variegatus are typically within a factor of 2 of the BSAFs for field-collected oligochaetes. Bivalve study results also suggest that laboratory BSAFs can provide reasonable estimates of field BSAF values if certain precautions are taken, such as ensuring that steady-state values are compared and that extrapolation among bivalve species is conducted with caution.

Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAF) for Radionuclides and Sediment Associated Biota of the Ottawa River

“…In contrast with these littoral biota, 40 K was not detected in deposit feeding benthic invertebrates from deeper water, at least in part due to the smaller sample sizes of these organisms. Sediment concentrations of 40 K were much greater than those in biota, but are likely not the source of 40 K to sediment associated biota, as potassium enters aquatic foodwebs through direct uptake from water by primary producers (including macrophytes), with food the primary source for consumers [9]. Ra in macrophytes, unionid bivalves and crayfish were not related to each other or to distance from the CRL process outfall, with no significant differences between upstream, adjacent and downstream sites ( Figure 5), although the two highest macrophyte values were located in shallow water at the process outfall.…”

“…40 K in Ottawa River biota and sediment Potassium is an essential, regulated element in biota [9], and Table 1). In contrast with these littoral biota, 40 K was not detected in deposit feeding benthic invertebrates from deeper water, at least in part due to the smaller sample sizes of these organisms.…”

“…These studies are usually interested in ongoing releases where concentrations in water may be expected to drive bioaccumulation and sediment-water partitioning. For both organics and metals, uptake from sediment is usually evaluated in the laboratory [9], often in conjunction with toxicity tests.…”

Processes, Assessment and Remediation of Contaminated Sediments

“…A recent critical review on this subject compared and evaluated paired laboratory and field measurement of BSAFs, and concluded that the limited available data on laboratory BSAFs can provide reasonable estimates of field BSAF values as long as the limitations of the extrapolation approach are considered (Burkhard et al, 2011).…”

Mathematical relationships between metrics of chemical bioaccumulation in fish

“…A frequently used concentration in sediment is the organic-carbon (OC)-normalized value, the implication being that most of the hydrophobic organic chemical present is associated with the OC fraction of sediment solids. Biota-sediment accumulation factors, expressed as ratios of lipid-normalized concentration in the organism to the OC-normalized concentration in sediment, are particularly enlightening because they contain information on the equilibrium status of the organism and sediment phases [8,20].…”