Framework for derivation of water quality criteria using the biotic ligand model: Copper as a case study

Abstract

Acceptance of the biotic ligand model (BLM) to derive aquatic life criteria, for metals in general and copper (Cu) in particular, is growing among regulatory agencies worldwide. Thus, it is important to ensure that water quality data are used appropriately and consistently in deriving such criteria. Here we present a suggested BLM implementation framework (hereafter referred to as "the Framework") to help guide the decision-making process when designing sampling and analysis programs for use of the BLM to derive water quality criteria applied on a site-specific basis. Such a framework will help inform stakeholders on the requirements needed to derive BLM-based criteria, and thus ensure that the appropriate types and amount of data are being collected and interpreted. The Framework was developed for calculating BLM-based criteria when data are available from multiple sampling locations on a stream. The Framework aspires to promote consistency when applying the BLM across data sets of disparate water quality, data quantity, and spatial and temporal representativeness and is meant to be flexible to maximize applicability over a wide range of scenarios. Therefore, the Framework allows for a certain level of interpretation and adjustment to address the issues unique to each data set. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2018;14:736-749. © 2018 SETAC.

A review of regulatory modeling frameworks supporting numeric water quality criteria development in the United States

“…For example, Ciffroy et al (2013) specifically incorporated probabilistic approaches into traditional BLM implementations for predicting aquatic toxicity risks from metals, particularly copper. In addition, USEPA's fixed monitoring benchmark (Ryan et al, 2018) implements a probabilistic approach to determine expected criteria excursion frequency during criteria derivation and has been used in conjunction with the BLM to derive site-specific criteria for copper (Gensemer et al, 2016;Gondek et al, 2018). The use of probabilistic methods in environmental modeling has generally been supported by USEPA, including for exposure assessment related to the derivation of human health criteria (USEPA, 1992(USEPA, , 2000c(USEPA, , 2011, and the latest regression-based aquatic life criteria for aluminum (USEPA, 2019).…”

Best Practices for Derivation and Application of Thresholds for Metals Using Bioavailability‐Based Approaches

“…However, if initial sampling wileyonlinelibrary.com/ETC © 2019 SETAC shows a site has consistent water quality conditions across seasons and flow conditions, the sampling frequency may be relaxed without loss of accuracy. Until anticipated trends in water chemistry can be characterized, a minimum of monthly samples taken over a 1-to 2-yr period would help to establish variability patterns to refine future sampling needs (Gondek et al 2018). Variability in concentrations of the metal itself can also influence probabilities of exceeding bioavailability-based criteria calculations, particularly when using a probabilistic method (Ryan et al 2018).…”

Uso de modelagem ecotoxicológica na Lagoa de Imboassica Macaé- RJ: uma breve análise

“…Contudo, esses índices são empregados não levando em consideração os usos múltiplos do recurso e os aspectos locais (PASSOS et al, 2018). Em relação a estes últimos, torna-se necessária a derivação de critérios de qualidade de água para contaminantes que sejam mais relevantes para uma determinada região, que seja sítio especí co, tais como critério de qualidade para metais (GONDEK et al, 2018).…”