AQUATOX coupled foodweb model for ecosystem risk assessment of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in lake ecosystems

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 191; pp. 80 - 92
• Main Authors: Zhang, Lulu, Liu, Jingling
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.08.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; AQUATOX model; Biological and medical sciences; China; Ecology; Ecosystem; Ecosystem risk assessment; Ecosystems; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Ethers; Food Chain; Fresh water environment; Freshwater; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - poisoning; Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers - toxicity; Lakes; Mathematical models; Models, Biological; Pelagic-benthic coupled foodweb; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); Risk; Risk Assessment - methods; Sensitivity analysis; Toxicity; Water Pollutants, Chemical - poisoning; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Asia; China; AQUATOX model; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs); Ecosystem risk assessment; Pelagic-benthic coupled foodweb; Flame retardant; Organic bromine compounds; Risk analysis; Low volatile compound; Modeling; Pelagic zone; Persistent organic pollutant; Freshwater environment; Polybrominated diphenyl ethers; Food web; Risk evaluation; Ecosystem; Risk assessment; Surface water; Lakes; Poison; Bromine Organic compounds; Organic compounds; Benthic zone
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.04.013

The AQUATOX model considers the direct toxic effects of chemicals and their indirect effects through foodwebs. For this study, the AQUATOX model was applied to evaluating the ecological risk of Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in a highly anthropogenically disturbed lake-Baiyangdian Lake. Calibration and validation results indicated that the model can adequately describe the dynamics of 18 biological populations. Sensitivity analysis results suggested that the model is highly sensitive to temperature limitation. PBDEs risk estimate results demonstrate that estimated risk for natural ecosystems cannot be fully explained by single species toxicity data alone. The AQUATOX model could provide a good basis in ascertaining ecological protection levels of “chemicals of concern” for aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, AQUATOX can potentially be used to provide necessary information corresponding to early warning and rapid forecasting of pollutant transport and fate in the management of chemicals that put aquatic ecosystems at risk. •AQUATOX model incorporates direct toxic effects and indirect ecological effects.•Ecological risk of PBDEs was assessed by the AQUATOX model.•The model could help determine ecological threshold of “chemicals of concern”. Capsule abstract: Application of the AQUATOX model to assess the direct and indirect ecological risk of PBDEs.