Lead hazard quotients in contradiction with site-specific biological results

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:372539

Barta, M; Mayernik, J ^[1]

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1. ICF Kaiser, Fairfax, VA (United States)

Screening-level ecological risk assessments often use site-specific chemical data to evaluate potential risks to ecological receptors without the benefit of site-specific biological investigations. The results of an ecological risk assessment of a former lead smelter site illustrate a situation where reliance upon only chemical data can lead to improper risk conclusions. Although comparisons of surface water and sediment concentrations with toxicity values from the scientific literature (i.e., hazard quotients) suggested that aquatic receptors may be adversely affected by lead in surface water and sediment, actual site-specific biological testing (benthic macroinvertebrate surveys and toxicity tests) indicated that no significant observable adverse effects seemed to be occurring. The main reason for this disparity was most likely because lead was bound to particulate matter and not bioavailable. The preferential binding of lead to particulate matter in aquatic ecosystems has been noted in the literature. Various physical and chemical variables (e.g., site-specific water hardness and pH) that affect both the bioavailability and the toxic action of lead also were examined.

• OSTI ID: 372539
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BENTHOS
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
BIOLOGICAL STRESS
INVERTEBRATES
LEAD
SEDIMENTS
SURFACE WATERS
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION