PATHWAYS ANALYSIS METHOD FOR ESTIMATING WATER AND SEDIMENT CRITERIA AT HAZARDOUS-WASTE SITES

A model was developed to estimate surface water and sediment criteria for the protection of animal populations and ecosystems at a hazardous waste site where the major contaminants of concern to wildlife populations included persistent, bioaccumulative chemicals. The model evaluates potential exposure pathways for a site and estimates acceptable concentrations in abiotic media for each exposure pathway. To estimate criteria based on food web exposure, the model utilizes a site-specific food web and addresses bioaccumulation in multiple food chains that terminate in a high-trophic-level species. The input data for the food web were obtained from on-site sampling as well as from literature sources. The pathways analysis model can be applied to other hazardous waste sites by selecting appropriate species and chemical specific input parameters to include in the model. Estimated criteria can be compared to on-site analytical data to evaluate risk to wildlife populations.