Presentation of a general algorithm to include secondary poisoning in effect assessment.
A general algorithm for effect assessment on secondary poisoning for birds and mammals is presented. This algorithm (Maximum Permissible Concentration = NOECbird/mammal/BCF) was drawn up by analysing an aquatic food chain (water--fish--bird or mammal) and a terrestrial food chain (soil--worm--bird or mammal). NOECs and bioconcentration factors (BCFs) were collected for a set of selected compounds: lindane, dieldrin, cadmium and mercury in both water and soil, PCB153 only in water and DDT and PCP only in soil. BCFs for the terrestrial pathway are frequently < 1 and rarely above 10, though for the aquatic pathway BCFs up to 10(4) were found for the same compounds. By calculating MPCs for fish-eaters and comparing these to MPCs calculated for aquatic organisms, secondary poisoning could be a critical pathway for methyl-mercury and PCB153. For lindane the conclusion depends on whether a separate or combined data set is chosen for birds and mammals. By calculating MPCs for a standard soil situation and comparing these to MPCs for terrestrial organisms, secondary poisoning could be a critical pathway for cadmium and methyl-mercury.
Luttik
R
R
National Institute of Public Health and Environmental Protection, Bilthoven, Netherlands.
Romijn
C A
CA
Canton
J H
JH
D000465:Algorithms; D000818:Animals; D001717:Birds; D007306:Insecticides / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D008322:Mammals; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000378:metabolism / Q000506:poisoning*; D012989:Soil Pollutants / Q000506:poisoning*; D013045:Species Specificity; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning*
D007306:Insecticides; D008670:Metals; D012989:Soil Pollutants; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls