Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment (External Review Draft)

Abstract

This report was written in response to a March 2004 request from EPA's Ecological Risk Assessment Forum (ERAF) for information about estimating Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs). BSAF is a parameter describing bioaccumulation of sediment-associated organic compounds or metals into tissues of ecological receptors. The External Review Draft addressing this request provides information on methodologies to estimate BSAF. It is focused solely on the determination of BSAFs for nonionic organic chemicals and is primarily applicable to fish and high level shellfish, e.g., crabs. The determination of BSAFs for metals is not discussed.

Impact/Purpose

This report focuses on the determination of Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factors (BSAFs) for nonionic organic chemicals and is primarily applicable to fish and high level shellfish, e.g., crabs.

Status

The document will be revised in accordance with any public comments from the external review. Then the Final document will be posted shortly thereafter.

Citation

U.S. EPA. Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment (External Review Draft). U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/R-06/047, 2006.

Date	Description
01- Jul 2004	An Internal Review Draft was completed.
02- Mar 2006	Internal review was completed and comments were addressed to produce the ERASC BSAF External Review Draft.
03- Jun 2006	A Federal Register Notice was published to solicit public comments on the ERASC BSAF External Review Draft.

• Estimation of Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor (BSAF) from Paired Observations of Chemical Concentrations in Biota and Sediment (PDF)  (33  pp, 1.0 MB, about PDF)

Related Link(s)

• Ecological Risk Assessment Support Center (ERASC) List of Technical Information and Documents