Feldspar minerals, hematite and quartz, calcination products of copper mining residues

Bioaccumulation: aquatic / sediment

Additional information

For the impurity LEAD:

Bioconcentration (BCFs) and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for Pb from water to aquatic invertebrates and fish were summarized in the voluntary risk assessment of lead, VRAL (LDAI, 2008)..

Within typical environmental concentration range, the gathered BAFs for fish ranged between 11 and 143 L/kg_ww (10 – 90^th%) with a median value of 23 L/kg_ww while the BAFs for molluscs ranged between 18 and 3,850 L/kg_ww (median value of 675 L/kg_ww), for insects between 968 and 4,740 L/kg_ww (median value of 1,830 L/kg_ww) and for crustaceans between 1,583 and 11,260 L/kg_ww (median value of 3,440 L/kg_ww)

 

The range of bioaccumulation factor (BAF in L/kg_ww) of Pb in freshwater organisms.

Diet	Variable	10^th%	50^th%	90^th%	n
Crustaceans	All exposures	1,187	3,159	10,570	8
	0.18-15 µg/L	1,583	3,440	11,260	7
Molluscs	All exposures	11	473	3,535	14
	0.18-15 µg/L	18	675	3,850	11
Annelids	All exposures	1,620	1,620	1,620	1
	0.18-15 µg/L	1,620	1,620	1,620	1
Acarides	All exposures	1,730	1,730	1,730	1
	0.18-15 µg/L	1,730	1,730	1,730	1
Insects	All exposures	968	1,830	4,740	7
	0.18-15 µg/L	968	1,830	4,740	7
Fish	All exposures	11	24	245	16
	0.18-15 µg/L	11	23	143	16

 

According to the VRAL (2008) a mixed diet scenario is assumed, considering that birds/mammals consume equal proportion of the different food types. Based on significant high bioaccumulation in molluscs, secondary poisoning was also considered for a “mollusc food chain”. The range of bioaccumulation factor (BAF in L/kg_ww) of Pb in the mixed and mollusc food diet is presented below.

 

The range of bioaccumulation factor (BAF in L/kg_ww) of Pb in the mixed diet.

Diet	variable	10^th%	50^th%	90^th%	n
Mixed food diet	All exposures	921	1,472	3,740	49
	0.18-15 µg/L	988	1,553	3,890	44
Mollusc food diet	All exposures	11	473	3,535	14
	0.18-15 µg/L	18	675	3,850	11

 

This table shows that the 50^th% of the mixed diet BAF for aquatic organisms is 1,553 L/kg (90^th%: 3,890 L/kg) and that the mixed diet scenario is driven by the BAF values retrieved from the invertebrates. The 50^th% BAF of the mollusc food diet is somewhat lower, i.e. 675 l/kg (90^th%: 3,850 L/kg). The BAF value of 1,553 L/kg is further used for the assessment of the secondary poisoning in the aquatic environment.