title: AQUATOX coupled foodweb model for ecosystem risk assessment of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in lake ecosystems.
abstract: The AQUATOX model considers the direct toxic effects of chemicals and their indirect effects through foodwebs. For this study, the AQUATOX model was applied to evaluating the ecological risk of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a highly anthropogenically disturbed lake-Baiyangdian Lake. Calibration and validation results indicated that the model can adequately describe the dynamics of 18 biological populations. Sensitivity analysis results suggested that the model is highly sensitive to temperature limitation. PBDEs risk estimate results demonstrate that estimated risk for natural ecosystems cannot be fully explained by single species toxicity data alone. The AQUATOX model could provide a good basis in ascertaining ecological protection levels of "chemicals of concern" for aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, AQUATOX can potentially be used to provide necessary information corresponding to early warning and rapid forecasting of pollutant transport and fate in the management of chemicals that put aquatic ecosystems at risk.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekou Waidajie, Haidian District, 100875 Beijing, China. Electronic address: zhanglulu19850703@163.com.
authors.forename: Lulu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, No.19, Xinjiekou Waidajie, Haidian District, 100875 Beijing, China. Electronic address: jingling@bnu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Jingling
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002681:China; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D020387:Food Chain; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000633:toxicity; D060106:Lakes; D008954:Models, Biological; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000506:poisoning* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: AQUATOX model; Ecosystem risk assessment; Pelagic-benthic coupled foodweb; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs)