title: Trophic Magnification of Organic Chemicals: A Global Synthesis.
abstract: Production of organic chemicals (OCs) is increasing exponentially, and some OCs biomagnify through food webs to potentially toxic levels. Biomagnification under field conditions is best described by trophic magnification factors (TMFs; per trophic level change in log-concentration of a chemical) which have been measured for more than two decades. Syntheses of TMF behavior relative to chemical traits and ecosystem properties are lacking. We analyzed >1500 TMFs to identify OCs predisposed to biomagnify and to assess ecosystem vulnerability. The highest TMFs were for OCs that are slowly metabolized by animals (metabolic rate kM < 0.01 day(-1)) and are moderately hydrophobic (log KOW 6-8). TMFs were more variable in marine than freshwaters, unrelated to latitude, and highest in food webs containing endotherms. We modeled the probability that any OC would biomagnify as a combined function of KOW and kM. Probability is greatest (∼100%) for slowly metabolized compounds, regardless of KOW, and lowest for chemicals with rapid transformation rates (kM > 0.2 day(-1)). This probabilistic model provides a new global tool for screening existing and new OCs for their biomagnification potential.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, United States.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Walters
authors.affiliation: University of Saskatchewan , Toxicology Centre, 44 Campus Drive, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan S7N 5B3, Canada.
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Jardine
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, United States.
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Cade
authors.affiliation: University of New Brunswick, Canadian Rivers Institute and Biology Department , 100 Tucker Park Road, Saint John, New Brunswick E2L 4L5, Canada.
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Kidd
authors.affiliation: Environment and Climate Change Canada, Aquatic Contaminants Research Division, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1A1, Canada.
authors.forename: D C G
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Muir
authors.affiliation: U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Avenue, Building C, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, United States.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Leipzig-Scott
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017753:Ecosystem; D020387:Food Chain; D005618:Fresh Water; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls