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2015
Journal Article
Title
Consideration of the bioavailability of metal/metalloid species in freshwaters: Experiences regarding the implementation of biotic ligand model-based approaches in risk assessment frameworks
Abstract
After the scientific development of biotic ligand models (BLMs) in recent decades, these models are now considered suitable for implementation in regulatory risk assessment of metals in freshwater bodies. The BLM approach has been described in many peer-reviewed publications, and the original complex BLMs have been applied in prospective risk assessment reports for metals and metal compounds. BLMs are now also recommended as suitable concepts for the site-specific evaluation of monitoring data in the context of the EuropeanWater Framework Directive. However, the use is hampered by the data requirements for the original BLMs (about 10 water parameters). Recently, several user-friendly BLM-based bioavailability software tools for assessing the aquatic toxicity of relevant metals (mainly copper, nickel, and zinc) became available. These tools only need a basic set of commonly determined water parameters as input (i.e., pH, hardness, dissolved organic matter, and dissolved metal concentration). Such tools seem appropriate to foster the implementation of routine site-specific water quality assessments. This work aims to review the existing bioavailability-based regulatory approaches and the application of available BLMbased bioavailability tools for this purpose. Advantages and possible drawbacks of these tools (e.g., feasibility, boundaries of validity) are discussed, and recommendations for further implementation are given.
Author(s)
Díaz Muñiz, Cristina
Cantabrian Basin Authority, Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Environment - Spain
Miller, Bradley W.
United States Environmental Protection Agency, National Enforcement Investigations Center - USA
Peijnenburg, Willie J.G.M.
National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Center for Safety of Substances and Products, Bilthoven - The Netherlands
Purchase, Diane
Department of Natural Sciences, School of Science and Technology, Middlesex University, The Burroughs - London
Vijver, Martina
Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Faculty of Science, University Leiden - The Netherlands