Extension and validation of the target lipid model for deriving predicted no-effect concentrations for soils and sediments

Evaluating the sensitivity of a chronic plant bioassay relative to an independently derived predicted no-effect thresholds to support risk assessment of very hydrophobic organic chemicals

Environmental risk assessments of very hydrophobic organic compounds (VHOCs) in soils are often difficult because multiple processes (e.g., sorption, volatilization, biodegradation) can complicate the interpretation of results. A standardized soil dosing and aging procedure is presented for assessing bioavailability of VHOCs in a synthetic soil, which was used to evaluate the phytotoxicity of VHOCs. The soil preparation protocol resulted in relatively stable freely dissolved concentrations of test substance compared to bulk soil concentrations with some losses likely due to volatility and biodegradation. This dosing method was used in a chronic terrestrial plant toxicity bioassay to evaluate the potential toxicity of VHOCs on complex reproductive endpoints like inflorescence and seed bud formation. Testing included representative hydrocarbons and three very hydrophobic lubricant substances (logKow > 10). The toxicity data were used to evaluate existing predicted no-effect concentrations (PNECs) that had originally been derived with the target lipid model, which did not have these higher order chronic plant endpoints. The initial exposure concentrations were set at the PNECs to provide an independent validation of the PNEC. This evaluation was performed to expand the domain of applicability of the PNEC to VHOCs and for the chronic terrestrial plant endpoints. No effects were observed on plant biomass or inflorescence production at these low exposure concentrations, demonstrating that the established PNEC is protective of long-term plant health. The results of the present study confirm that the new dosing method is fit for purpose, and that the existing PNEC framework can be extended to chronic plant endpoints for VHOCs.

Sediment organic matter predicts polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon distribution in port sediments

We evaluated the influence of organic matter in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in port sediments using multiple linear regression (MLR) and prediction models. Total sediment PAHs ranged between 45 and 3230 ng/g dw (average: 557 ± 962 ng/g dw), with PAHs primarily originating from river inputs, confined to areas near the estuaries. Coal/biomaterial combustion and petroleum mainly contribute to the presence of PAHs along estuaries, with medium-high to high ecological risks. MLR TPAHs prediction model included variables, namely, the marine-derived total organic carbon (TOCmar), terrestrial fraction of organic matter (Fterr), and carbon-to‑nitrogen ratio (CNR). Results indicate that mainly marine- followed by terrestrially-derived organic matter influenced sediment PAH distribution. Total organic nitrogen and CNR were variables in the toxic equivalent (TEQ) prediction model, demonstrating that terrestrial pollution sources primarily influenced TEQ. The study analyzes and predicts the impact of organic matter and its sources on the fate and transport of PAHs in port sediments.

Improving Sediment Toxicity Testing for Very Hydrophobic Chemicals: Part 2-Exposure Duration, Upper Limit Test Concentrations, and Distinguishing Actual Toxicity from Physical Effects

Sediment toxicity testing with very hydrophobic organic chemicals (VHOCs) is challenging because of the chemicals' low aqueous solubilities and slow kinetics. The present study presents the results of experiments investigating whether the standard exposure duration of 28 days with benthic invertebrates is sufficient for VHOCs; above which concentrations in sediment VHOCs are present as "free phase," that is, crystals or non-aqueous-phase liquids (NAPLs); and whether it is possible to discriminate between actual VHOC toxicity and physical effects caused by NAPLs through fouling of the test organisms. The results suggest that the standard sediment toxicity test duration is sufficient for obtaining steady-state VHOC concentrations in Hyalella azteca and Lumbriculus variegatus, provided that spiking and equilibration are performed properly (i.e., no free phase present). Under these conditions, transient (days 3-20) peak-shaped toxicokinetics were observed, with steady-state concentrations reached at approximately 28 days. The concentration above which NAPLs are present, the so-called critical separate phase concentration (CSPC), was determined for several VHOCs by modeling and two experimental methods. Modeling resulted in unrealistic and variable data and therefore should be applied with caution. Experimentally determining CSPCs was successful and yielded values of approximately 1000 (400-2000) mg/kg dry weight, depending on the chemical. Finally, it was demonstrated that distinguishing actual toxicity from physical effects is possible by applying a well-considered test setup, combining toxicity tests with multiple invertebrates (including Lumbriculus, which serves as a negative control for fouling); a broad test concentration range, preferably up to at least 30 000 mg/kg; and passive sampling to localize the CSPC. Applying this setup, false-positive effects due to fouling, as well as false-negative results due to testing at too low concentrations (trying to stay below the CSPC), can be avoided. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1728-1739. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Improving Sediment Toxicity Testing for Very Hydrophobic Chemicals: Part 1-Spiking, Equilibrating, and Exposure Quantification

Sediment toxicity tests have applications in ecological risk and chemical safety assessments. Despite the many years of experience in testing and the availability of standard protocols, sediment toxicity testing remains challenging with very hydrophobic organic chemicals (VHOCs; i.e., chemicals with a log octanol/water partition coefficient of more than 6). The challenges primarily relate to the chemicals' low aqueous solubilities and slow kinetics, due to which several experimental artifacts may occur. To investigate the potential artifacts, experiments were performed, focusing on spiking and equilibrating (aging) sediments, as well as exposure quantification with passive sampling. The results demonstrated that generally applied, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development-recommended spiking (coating) methods may lead to significant chemical losses and the formation of nondissolved, nonbioavailable VHOCs. Direct spiking appeared to be the most optimal, provided that intensive mixing was applied simultaneously. Passive dosing was tested as a novel way of spiking liquid VHOCs, but the approach proved unsuccessful. Intensive postspiking mixing during sediment equilibration for 1 to 2 weeks was shown to be essential for producing a homogeneous system, minimizing the presence of nondissolved chemical (crystals or nonaqueous phase liquids; NAPLs), and creating a stable toxicological response in subsequent toxicity tests. Finally, exposure quantification of VHOCs in sediments through passive sampling was found to be feasible with different polymers, although prolonged equilibration times may be required, and determining sampler/water partition coefficients can be extremely challenging. The results of additional experiments, focusing on toxicity test exposure duration, concentrations above which NAPLs will occur, and ways to distinguish actual toxicity from false-positive results, are presented in Part 2 of this publication series. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1717-1727. © 2024 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

A Review of Mechanistic Models for Predicting Adverse Effects in Sediment Toxicity Testing

Since recognizing the importance of bioavailability for understanding the toxicity of chemicals in sediments, mechanistic modeling has advanced over the last 40 years by building better tools for estimating exposure and making predictions of probable adverse effects. Our review provides an up-to-date survey of the status of mechanistic modeling in contaminated sediment toxicity assessments. Relative to exposure, advances have been most substantial for non-ionic organic contaminants (NOCs) and divalent cationic metals, with several equilibrium partitioning-based (Eq-P) models having been developed. This has included the use of Abraham equations to estimate partition coefficients for environmental media. As a result of the complexity of their partitioning behavior, progress has been less substantial for ionic/polar organic contaminants. When the EqP-based estimates of exposure and bioavailability are combined with water-only effects measurements, predictions of sediment toxicity can be successfully made for NOCs and selected metals. Both species sensitivity distributions and toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic models are increasingly being applied to better predict contaminated sediment toxicity. Furthermore, for some classes of contaminants, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, adverse effects can be modeled as mixtures, making the models useful in real-world applications, where contaminants seldomly occur individually. Despite the impressive advances in the development and application of mechanistic models to predict sediment toxicity, several critical research needs remain to be addressed. These needs and others represent the next frontier in the continuing development and application of mechanistic models for informing environmental scientists, managers, and decisions makers of the risks associated with contaminated sediments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;43:1778-1794. © 2023 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Target Lipid Model and Empirical Organic Carbon Partition Coefficients Predict Sediment Toxicity of Polychlorinated Biphenyls to Benthic Invertebrates

Quantifying causal exposure-response relationships for polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) toxicity to benthic invertebrates can be an important component of contaminated sediment assessments, informing cleanup decisions and natural resource injury determinations. Building on prior analyses, we demonstrate that the target lipid model accurately predicts aquatic toxicity of PCBs to invertebrates, providing a means to account for effects of PCB mixture composition on the toxicity of bioavailable PCBs. We also incorporate updated data on PCB partitioning between particles and interstitial water in field-collected sediments, to better account for effects of PCB mixture composition on PCB bioavailability. To validate the resulting model, we compare its predictions with sediment toxicity data from spiked sediment toxicity tests and a variety of recent case studies from sites where PCBs are the primary sediment contaminant. The updated model should provide a useful tool for both screening-level and in-depth risk analyses for PCBs in sediment, and it should aid in diagnosing potential contributing factors at sites where sediment toxicity and benthic community impairment are observed. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:1134-1151. © 2023 SETAC.

Ecological Risk Analysis for Benzalkonium Chloride, Benzethonium Chloride, and Chloroxylenol in US Disinfecting and Sanitizing Products

Use of three topical antiseptic compounds-benzalkonium chloride (BAC), benzethonium chloride (BZT), and chloroxylenol (PCMX)-has recently increased because of the phaseout of other antimicrobial ingredients (such as triclosan) in soaps and other disinfecting and sanitizing products. Further, use of sanitizing products in general increased during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. We assessed the environmental safety of BAC, BZT, and PCMX based on best available environmental fate and effects data from the scientific literature and privately held sources. The ecological exposure assessment focused on aquatic systems receiving effluent from wastewater-treatment plants (WWTPs) and terrestrial systems receiving land-applied WWTP biosolids. Recent exposure levels were characterized based on environmental monitoring data supplemented by modeling, while future exposures were modeled based on a hypothetical triclosan replacement scenario. Hazard profiles were developed based on acute and chronic studies examining toxicity to aquatic life (fish, invertebrates, algae, vascular plants) and terrestrial endpoints (plants, soil invertebrates, and microbial functions related to soil fertility). Risks to higher trophic levels were not assessed because these compounds are not appreciably bioaccumulative. The risk analysis indicated that neither BZT nor PCMX in any exposure media is likely to cause adverse ecological effects under the exposure scenarios assessed in the present study. Under these scenarios, total BAC exposures are at least three times less than estimated effect thresholds, while margins of safety for freely dissolved BAC are estimated to be greater than an order of magnitude. Because the modeling did not specifically account for COVID-19 pandemic-related usage, further environmental monitoring is anticipated to understand potential changes in environmental exposures as a result of increased antiseptic use. The analysis presented provides a framework to interpret future antiseptic monitoring results, including monitoring parameters and modeling approaches to address bioavailability of the chemicals of interest. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:3095-3115. © 2022 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Potential sources and toxicity risks of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of commercial ports in Taiwan

The accumulation of pollutants in the semi-enclosed waters of ports has long been a concern. This study assessed the pollution status, sources, and toxicity risks of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of 7 major ports in Taiwan. Total PAHs concentrations in sediments ranged between 8.4 and 572.5 ng/g dw, with an average of 112.4 ± 136.5 ng/g dw. The 3- and 4-ring PAHs (63 %) were the major constituents of PAHs in the sediments. Diagnostic ratios and positive matrix factorization analyses indicated that PAHs in sediments were mainly contributed by biomass combustion (45.0 %), coal combustion (31.5 %), and vehicle emissions and related fossil fuels (23.5 %). The results of ecological risk assessment showed a low-medium risk of PAHs in the sediments outside the port, whereas most of the sediments within the port presented a medium-high risk. An assessment of the possible human health risks indicated that PAHs were present at acceptable levels.

Suspecting screening "known unknown" pesticides and transformation products in soil at pesticide manufacturing sites

The occurrence and risks of pesticides and their transformation products in soil at the manufacturing sites are "known unknowns." In this study, pesticides and their transformation products were screened in soil at 6 pesticide manufacturing sites across China using liquid and gas chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry. The screening strategy can correctly identify 75% of 209 pesticides spiked at 50 ng g^-1. A total of 212 pesticides were identified; 23.1% of pesticides detected were above 200 ng g^-1, and the maximum concentration was 1.5 × 10⁵ ng g^-1. The risk quotients of 20% pesticides were greater than 1, and the maximum risk quotient of imidacloprid reached 6.3 × 10⁴. The most recent site showed a larger number of pesticides with higher diversity, whereas older sites were dominated by organochlorine insecticides. The extended screen identified 163 transformation products with concentrations up to 6.6 × 10⁴ ng g^-1. Half of the transformation products had higher concentrations than their parent compounds, and metabolic ratios up to 371 were observed. The results of this study validate the prevalence of pesticides and their transformation products in soil at pesticide manufacturing sites. The results also highlight the importance of comprehensive screening at industrial sites and call for improved management and regulation of pesticide manufacturing, particularly for in-service facilities.

Comparison of Species Sensitivity Distributions for Sediment-Associated Nonionic Organic Chemicals Through Equilibrium Partitioning Theory and Spiked-Sediment Toxicity Tests with Invertebrates

Equilibrium partitioning (EqP) theory and spiked-sediment toxicity tests are useful methods to develop sediment quality benchmarks. However, neither approach has been directly compared based on species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) to date. In the present study, we compared SSDs for 10 nonionic hydrophobic chemicals (e.g., pyrethroid insecticides, other insecticides, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) based on 10-14-day spiked-sediment toxicity test data with those based on EqP theory using acute water-only tests. Because the exposure periods were different between the two tests, effective concentrations (i.e., median effective/lethal concentration) were corrected to compare SSDs. Accordingly, we found that hazardous concentrations for 50% and 5% of species (HC50 and HC5, respectively) differed by up to a factor of 100 and 129 between the two approaches, respectively. However, when five or more species were used for SSD estimation, their differences were reduced to a factor of 1.7 and 5.1 for HC50 and HC5, respectively, and the 95% confidence intervals of HC50 values overlapped considerably between the two approaches. These results suggest that when the number of test species is adequate, SSDs based on EqP theory and spiked-sediment tests are comparable in sediment risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:462-473. © 2021 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.

Is the Arrhenius-correction of biodegradation rates, as recommended through REACH guidance, fit for environmentally relevant conditions? An example from petroleum biodegradation in environmental systems

Biodegradation is a major determinant of chemical persistence in the environment and an important consideration for PBT and environmental risk assessments. It is influenced by several environmental factors including temperature and microbial community structure. According to REACH guidance, a temperature correction based on the Arrhenius equation is recommended for chemical persistence data not performed at the recommended EU mean surface water temperature. Such corrections, however, can lead to overly conservative P/vP assessments. In this paper, the relevance of this temperature correction is assessed for petroleum hydrocarbons, using measured surface water (marine and freshwater) degradation half-time (DT50) and degradation half-life (HL) data compiled from relevant literature. Stringent screening criteria were used to specifically select data from biodegradation tests containing indigenous microbes and conducted at temperatures close to their ambient sampling temperature. As a result, ten independent studies were identified, with 993 data points covering 326 hydrocarbon constituents. These data were derived from tests conducted with natural seawater, or freshwater, at temperatures ranging from 5 to 21 °C. Regressions were performed on the full hydrocarbon dataset and on several individual hydrocarbons. The results were compared to the trend as predicted by the Arrhenius equation and using the activation energy (E_a) as recommend in the REACH Guidance. The comparison shows that the correction recommended in REACH Guidance over predicts the effect of temperature on hydrocarbon biodegradation. These results contrast with temperature manipulated inocula where the test temperature is different from the ambient sampling temperature. In these manipulated systems, the effect of temperature follows the Arrhenius equation more closely. In addition, a more striking effect of temperature on the lag phase was observed with longer lag phases more apparent at lower temperatures. This indicates that the effect of temperature may indeed be even lower when considering hydrocarbon biodegradation without the initial lag phase.

Integrated Assessment of Bioconcentration, Toxicity, and Hazards of Chlorobenzenes in the Aquatic Environment

The evaluation of bioconcentration, toxicity, and hazard (BTH) of persistent lipophilic organic compounds (LOCs) are generally performed as separate rather than integrated assessments. There are adequate data sets in the literature for chlorobenzenes (CBs) consisting of (a) concentrations in aquatic biota (C_B) and water (C_w) in the natural environment, (b) laboratory-derived bioconcentration factors (K_B) and field concentration ratios (CR), the field equivalent factor of K_B, (c) measured internal lethal concentrations (ILC₅₀) and model estimated ILC₅₀ calculated from K_B and lethal concentrations (LC₅₀), and (d) calculated hazard quotients in aquatic biota (HQ_B) and in water (HQ_W). However, there have been no integrated studies of those parameter values based on the respective lipid-based parameters (C_BL, K_BL, CR_L, ILC_50L, HQ_BL) performed. This study utilized the lipid-based parameters for CBs; a group of widely occuring, bioaccumulative, and toxic LOCs, and integrated those parameters into a bioconcentration-toxicity-hazard (BTH_L) index. The values of the parameters were obtained from selected literature with known lipid contents of the aquatic biota. The results showed that the laboratory derived bioconcentration factors, K_BLs, were comparable to the corresponding field based factors, CR_Ls, and the measured internal lethal concentrations, ILC_50L, showed comparable values with the estimated ones. The integrated BTH_L index was less than an order of magnitude or moderately acceptable for the assessment of variability, uncertainty, and predictive power of the index. This integrated assessment can be used to support decision making dealing with CBs in specific and LOCs in general, both in regional and global aquatic environments.

Review of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) Sediment Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Benthic Life

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments can pose harm to the benthic community. Numerous sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) for the protection of benthic life are available to assess the risk of individual PAHs and PAH mixtures in sediments. Sediment quality guidelines are derived using empirical or mechanistic approaches. Empirically based guidelines are derived using databases of paired sediment chemistry and biological responses and relating sediment concentration to the frequency of an adverse response. Mechanistically based SQGs are derived by considering the inherent aqueous toxicity of the chemical to different biota coupled with site-specific sediment characteristics (i.e., organic C) known to influence PAH bioavailability. Additionally, SQGs are derived to be either protective or predictive of adverse effects in benthic organisms. The objective of this critical review was to evaluate SQGs for use in screening-level risk assessments to identify sediments that may pose a risk to the benthic community. SQGs for PAHs were compiled and compared, and performance evaluated for predicting the presence and absence of toxicity using an extensive field data set. Furthermore, a 2-carbon equilibrium partitioning model and direct measurement of porewater via passive sampling were evaluated for improved performance in higher tiered risk assessments. Recommendations for the use of SQGs in screening evaluations, enhancements to current approaches, and opportunities to refine site risk estimate assessments using passive sampling measurements are discussed. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2019;15:505-518. © 2019 SETAC.

The aquatic hazard of hydrocarbon liquids and gases and the modulating role of pressure on dissolved gas and oil toxicity

Hydrostatic pressure enhances gas solubility and potentially alters toxicity and risks of oil and gas releases to deep-sea organisms. This study has two primary objectives. First, the aquatic hazard of dissolved hydrocarbon gases is characterized using results of previously published laboratory and field studies and modeling. The target lipid model (TLM) is used to predict effects at ambient pressure, and results are compared to effect concentrations derived from extrapolation of liquid alkane hazard data. Second, existing literature data are used to quantify and predict pressure effects on toxicity using an extension of the TLM framework. Results indicate elevated pressure mitigates narcosis, particularly for sensitive species. A simple adjustment is proposed to allow TLM-based estimates of acute effect and TLM-derived HC5 values (concentrations intended to provide 95% species protection) for oil or gas constituents to be calculated at depth. Future applications, and opportunities and challenges for providing validation, are discussed.

Re-evaluation of target lipid model-derived HC5 predictions for hydrocarbons

The target lipid model (TLM) has been previously applied to predict the aquatic toxicity of hydrocarbons and other nonionic organic chemicals and for deriving the concentrations above which 95% of species should be protected (HC5 values). Several concerns have been identified with the TLM-derived HC5 when it is applied in a substance risk assessment context. These shortcomings were addressed by expanding the acute and chronic toxicity databases to include more diverse taxonomic groups and increase the number of species. The TLM was recalibrated with these expanded databases, resulting in critical target lipid body burdens and acute-to-chronic ratios that met the required guidelines for using species sensitivity distributions in substance risk assessment. The HC5 equation was further revised to consider covarying model parameters. The calculated HC5 values derived from the revised TLM framework were validated using an independent data set for hydrocarbons comprising 106 chronic values across plants, invertebrates, and fish. Assuming a sum binomial distribution, the 95% confidence limit for a 5% failure is between 0.8 and 9.2%. Eight chronic values fell below the HC5, corresponding to an excursion of 7.5%, which falls within the expected uncertainty bounds. Thus, calculated HC5s derived from the revised TLM framework were found to be consistent with the intended protection goals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:1579-1593. © 2018 SETAC.

A re-evaluation of PETROTOX for predicting acute and chronic toxicity of petroleum substances

The PETROTOX model was developed to perform aquatic hazard assessment of petroleum substances based on substance composition. The model relies on the hydrocarbon block method, which is widely used for conducting petroleum substance risk assessments providing further justification for evaluating model performance. Previous work described this model and provided a preliminary calibration and validation using acute toxicity data for limited petroleum substance. The objective of the present study was to re-evaluate PETROTOX using expanded data covering both acute and chronic toxicity endpoints on invertebrates, algae, and fish for a wider range of petroleum substances. The results indicated that recalibration of 2 model parameters was required, namely, the algal critical target lipid body burden and the log octanol-water partition coefficient (K_OW ) limit, used to account for reduced bioavailability of hydrophobic constituents. Acute predictions from the updated model were compared with observed toxicity data and found to generally be within a factor of 3 for algae and invertebrates but overestimated fish toxicity. Chronic predictions were generally within a factor of 5 of empirical data. Furthermore, PETROTOX predicted acute and chronic hazard classifications that were consistent or conservative in 93 and 84% of comparisons, respectively. The PETROTOX model is considered suitable for the purpose of characterizing petroleum substance hazard in substance classification and risk assessments. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2245-2252. © 2017 SETAC.

Investigating the role of dissolved and droplet oil in aquatic toxicity using dispersed and passive dosing systems

Characterization of the aquatic toxicity of oil is needed to support hazard assessment and inform spill response. Natural processes and mitigation strategies involving dispersant use can result in exposures to both dissolved and droplet oil that are not typically differentiated when oil exposures are characterized in toxicity tests. Thus, the impact of droplets on aquatic toxicity is largely uncharacterized. To improve the understanding of the role of droplets, acute toxicity tests with Daphnia magna and Americamysis bahia were performed with Endicott crude oil in low-energy mixing systems with and without Corexit 9500 dispersant. Exposures were also prepared by placing crude oil in silicone tubing and passively dosing test media to provide dissolved oil exposures without droplets. A framework is described for characterizing dissolved phase exposures using both mechanistic modeling and passive sampling measurements. The approach is then illustrated by application to data from the present study. Expression of toxicity in terms of toxic units calculated from modeled dissolved oil concentrations or passive sampling measurements showed similar dose responses between exposure systems and organisms, despite the gradient in droplet oil. These results indicate that droplets do not appreciably contribute to toxicity for the 2 species investigated and further support hazard evaluation of dispersed oil on the basis of dissolved exposure metrics. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:1020-1028. © 2016 SETAC.

Prospective Environmental Risk Assessment for Sediment-Bound Organic Chemicals: A Proposal for Tiered Effect Assessment

A broadly accepted framework for prospective environmental risk assessment (ERA) of sediment-bound organic chemicals is currently lacking. Such a framework requires clear protection goals, evidence-based concepts that link exposure to effects and a transparent tiered-effect assessment. In this paper, we provide a tiered prospective sediment ERA procedure for organic chemicals in sediment, with a focus on the applicable European regulations and the underlying data requirements. Using the ecosystem services concept, we derived specific protection goals for ecosystem service providing units: microorganisms, benthic algae, sediment-rooted macrophytes, benthic invertebrates and benthic vertebrates. Triggers for sediment toxicity testing are discussed.We recommend a tiered approach (Tier 0 through Tier 3). Tier-0 is a cost-effective screening based on chronic water-exposure toxicity data for pelagic species and equilibrium partitioning. Tier-1 is based on spiked sediment laboratory toxicity tests with standard benthic test species and standardised test methods. If comparable chronic toxicity data for both standard and additional benthic test species are available, the Species Sensitivity Distribution (SSD) approach is a more viable Tier-2 option than the geometric mean approach. This paper includes criteria for accepting results of sediment-spiked single species toxicity tests in prospective ERA, and for the application of the SSD approach. We propose micro/mesocosm experiments with spiked sediment, to study colonisation success by benthic organisms, as a Tier-3 option. Ecological effect models can be used to supplement the experimental tiers. A strategy for unifying information from various tiers by experimental work and exposure-and effect modelling is provided.

Assessing Aromatic-Hydrocarbon Toxicity to Fish Early Life Stages Using Passive-Dosing Methods and Target-Lipid and Chemical-Activity Models

Aromatic hydrocarbons (AH) are known to impair fish early life stages (ELS). However, poorly defined exposures often confound ELS-test interpretation. Passive dosing (PD) overcomes these challenges by delivering consistent, controlled exposures. The objectives of this study were to apply PD to obtain 5 d acute embryo lethality and developmental data and 30 d chronic embryo-larval survival and growth-effects data using zebrafish with different AHs; to analyze study and literature toxicity data using target-lipid (TLM) and chemical-activity (CA) models; and to extend PD to a mixture and test the assumption of AH additivity. PD maintained targeted exposures over a concentration range of 6 orders of magnitude. AH toxicity increased with log Kow up to pyrene (5.2). Pericardial edema was the most sensitive sublethal effect that often preceded embryo mortality, although some AHs did not produce developmental effects at concentrations causing mortality. Cumulative embryo-larval mortality was more sensitive than larval growth, with acute-to-chronic ratios of <10. More-hydrophobic AHs did not exhibit toxicity at aqueous saturation. The relationship and utility of the TLM-CA models for characterizing fish ELS toxicity is discussed. Application of these models indicated that concentration addition provided a conservative basis for predicting ELS effects for the mixture investigated.

Aqueous and tissue residue-based interspecies correlation estimation models provide conservative hazard estimates for aromatic compounds

Interspecies correlation estimation (ICE) models were developed for 30 nonpolar aromatic compounds to allow comparison of prediction accuracy between 2 data compilation approaches. Type 1 models used data combined across studies, and type 2 models used data combined only within studies. Target lipid (TLM) ICE models were also developed using target lipid concentrations of the type 2 model dataset (type 2-TLM). Analyses were performed to assess model prediction uncertainty introduced by each approach. Most statistically significant models (90%; 266 models total) had mean square errors < 0.27 and adjusted coefficients of determination (adj R(2) ) > 0.59, with the lowest amount of variation in mean square errors noted for type 2-TLM followed by type 2 models. Cross-validation success (>0.62) across most models (86% of all models) confirmed the agreement between ICE predicted and observed values. Despite differences in model predictive ability, most predicted values across all 3 ICE model types were within a 2-fold difference of the observed values. As a result, no statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between most ICE-based and empirical species sensitivity distributions (SSDs). In most cases hazard concentrations were within or below the 95% confidence intervals of the direct-empirical SSD-based values, regardless of model choice. Interspecies correlation estimation-based 5th percentile (HC5) values showed a 200- to 900-fold increase as the log KOW increased from 2 to 5.3. Results indicate that ICE models for aromatic compounds provide a statistically based approach for deriving conservative hazard estimates for protecting aquatic life.