title: Acquisition of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by Pacific chinook salmon: an exploration of various exposure scenarios.
abstract: In 2011, as part of an update to its state water quality standards (WQS) for protection of human health, the State of Oregon adopted a fish consumption rate of 175 g/day for freshwater and estuarine finfish and shellfish, including anadromous species. WQS for the protection of human health whose derivation is based in part on anadromous fish, create the expectation that implementation of these WQS will lead to lower contaminant levels in returning adult fish. Whether this expectation can be met is likely a function of where and when such fish are exposed. Various exposure scenarios have been advanced to explain acquisition of bioaccumulative contaminants by Pacific salmonids. This study examined 16 different scenarios with bioenergetics and toxicokinetic models to identify those where WQS might be effective in reducing polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)--a representative bioaccumulative contaminant--in returning adult Fall chinook salmon, a representative salmonid. Model estimates of tissue concentrations and body burdens in juveniles and adults were corroborated with observations reported in the literature. Model results suggest that WQS may effect limited (< approximately 2 ×) reductions in PCB levels in adults who were resident in a confined marine water body or who transited a highly contaminated estuary as out-migrating juveniles. In all other scenarios examined, WQS would have little effect on PCB levels in returning adults. Although the results of any modeling study must be interpreted with caution and are not necessarily applicable to all salmonid species, they do suggest that the ability of WQS to meet the expectation of reducing contaminant loadings in anadromous species is limited.
authors.affiliation: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, Oregon 97204-1390, USA. bruce.hope@ch2m.com
authors.forename: Bruce K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Hope
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001822:Body Burden; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008954:Models, Biological; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D012474:Salmon / Q000378:metabolism*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D060753:Water Quality / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls