Environmental Effects of Dredging. Simplified Approach for Evaluating Bioavailability of Neutral Organic Chemicals in Sediment.

摘要

This note outlines a tiered approach for evaluation of bioavailability of neutral organic contaminants in sediment and provides a method for the numerical expression of bioavailability. The first tier is a simple mathematical calculation, from sediment chemistry, of maximum potential bioaccumulation. If Tier I calculations indicate potential bioaccumulation of neutral organic contaminants to concentrations of concern, then Tier II laboratory tests could be conducted to determine the actual amount of bioaccumulation. In the second tier, bioaccumulation is assessed in laboratory exposures of organisms to the contaminated sediment. Comparison of the actual bioaccumulation at projected steady state to the calculated maximum potential bioaccumulation results in a measure of bioavailability. pg1. JMD.