(PW223) Assessment of Secondary Poisoning for Metals in Aquatic and Terrestrial Environments.
Brix, K1, Waegeneers, N2, Adams, W3, Green, A4, 1 EcoTox, Key Biscayne, Florida, United States2 Katholieke Universiteit, Leuven, Belgium3 Rio Tinto, Murray, Utah, United States4 Internation Lead Zinc Research Organization, Durham, North Carolina, United States
ABSTRACT- An expert workshop was convened in April 2004 in Prague to critically review the European Technical Guidance Document (TGD) framework for assessing secondary poisoning in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Overall, the workshop participants concluded that the conceptual framework for secondary poisoning assessment as outlined in the TGD was fundamentally appropriate. However, specific methodologies within the framework could be significantly improved. Example areas of improvement include a more rational use of assessment factors, considreation of the inverse relationship between exposure concentration and bioaccumulation, assessment of dietary bioavailablity, evaluation of the ditary composition of predator organisms, and development of data quality criteria analogous to those used in other assessment frameworks within the TGD. Some of these improvement areas could be implemented immediately, while others would require either short- or long-term research efforts. The participants also noted that assessment methodologies for two exposure pathways not currently considered in the TGD - sediment ingestion in the aquatic system and herbivore foodchains in the terrestrial system - should be developed. This presentation will describe the workshop findings and conclusions in detail along with recommendations for short- and long-term research.
Key words: bioaccumulation, secondary poisoning, metals, risk assessment