Comparison of California methylmercury bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) and translators with proposed national U.S. EPA BAFs and translators for the lotic environment

ENVR 125

James R. Sanborn, Jsanborn@oehha.ca.gov1, Darcy G. Jones2, and Robert K. Brodberg1. (1) Pesticide Environmental Toxicology Branch, Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA 95812, (2) State Water Resources Control Board, 1001 I Street, Sacramento, CA
The U.S. EPA has proposed regulating levels of methylmercury (MeHg) in ambient waters via assessment of the concentration of mercury in fish consumed by humans. Regulation requires bioaccumulation factors and translators for conversions between tissue and water concentrations.

This poster will focus on the lotic environment and

1) compare the National Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFs) derived by the U.S. EPA with those from California data,

2) compare National Translators derived by the U.S. EPA with those from California data and

3) test the applicability of using the U.S. EPA's BAFs to predict mercury concentrations in California fish from dissolved methylmercury in water.

It was found that California BAFs and translators were similar to those derived by the U.S. EPA. Further, it was found that the U.S. EPA BAFs predicted biota mercury concentrations for the California lotic environment fairly well.

 

General Papers
6:00 PM-8:00 PM, Wednesday, August 22, 2007 BCEC -- Exhibit Hall - B2, Poster

Division of Environmental Chemistry

The 234th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, August 19-23, 2007