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4.4.4.2 Assessment of measured BCF data<br />

MARINE RISK ASSESSMENT<br />

The decision whether or not a substance fulfils the B criterion should in principle be based on<br />

measured data on bioconcentration in aquatic species. Data from freshwater as well as marine<br />

species can be used. Extensive <strong>guidance</strong> on the quality assessment of such data can be found<br />

elsewhere (e.g. OECD, 2001c). A substance is considered to fulfil the B criterion when the<br />

measured BCF on a wet weight basis exceeds a value of 2,000. A substance is considered very<br />

bioaccumulative (vB) when the BCF exceeds a value of 5,000.<br />

4.4.4.3 Assessment of the potential <strong>for</strong> bioaccumulation<br />

When measured BCF values are not available the Kow or the BCF based on modelling can be<br />

used to indicate the liability to bioaccumulate from water. For substances with log Kow < 6<br />

assessment on the basis of Kow or estimated BCF does not make a real difference since all<br />

available BCF models are linear (see Section 3.8.3.2). The B criterion <strong>for</strong> log Kow is there<strong>for</strong>e<br />

directly derived from this linear relationship. A substance is considered to potentially fulfil the B<br />

criterion when log Kow exceeds a value of 4.5.<br />

For highly hydrophobic substances, e.g. with log Kow > 6, experimentally derived BCF values<br />

tend to decrease with increasing log Kow. Several conceptual explanations as well as<br />

explanations referring to experimental artefacts can be given <strong>for</strong> this decline. For these<br />

substances the available BCF models can lead to very different results. As a consequence the<br />

potential <strong>for</strong> bioaccumulation is assessed by expert judgement on the basis of the log Kow value<br />

<strong>and</strong> the estimated BCF using the available BCF models. Such an assessment must be done on a<br />

case-by-case basis taking into account what is known about the BCF QSAR-models <strong>and</strong> the<br />

specific properties of the substance, in particular what is known to affect uptake <strong>and</strong> the potential<br />

<strong>for</strong> metabolism in aquatic organisms. Care must be taken that substances with high log Kow<br />

values are not deleted from selection processes without applying expert judgement to them.<br />

It must be noted that <strong>for</strong> priority existing substances, new substances <strong>and</strong> biocides a measured<br />

octanol/water partition coefficient is usually available. Additionally a range of QSAR models<br />

can be used to estimate this parameter (see e.g. Chapter 4, Meylan et al., 1999; OECD, 2001c).<br />

4.4.4.4 Other in<strong>for</strong>mation relevant <strong>for</strong> assessment of the B criterion<br />

In addition to the above-mentioned data on bioconcentration or bioaccumulation in aquatic<br />

species evidence that a substance shows high bioaccumulation in other species may also be used<br />

to decide whether the B criterion is fulfilled. Such evidence may be based on in<strong>for</strong>mation from<br />

specific laboratory tests or from field studies. Specific attention needs to be paid to measured<br />

data in biota. Measured data in biota are a clear indicator that a substance is taken up by an<br />

organism. However, they are not an indicator that significant bioconcentration or<br />

bioaccumulation has occurred. The interpretation of such data in terms of actual bioaccumulation<br />

or biomagnification factors can especially be difficult when the sources <strong>and</strong> levels of the<br />

exposure (through water as well as through food) are not known or cannot be estimated<br />

reasonably.<br />

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