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BSAF (Biota-Sediment Accumulation Factor)

EPA MED researchers developed a data set of approximately 20,000 biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) from 20 locations (mostly Superfund sites) for nonionic organic chemicals, e.g., PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, DDTs, PAHs, and pesticides. Fresh, tidal, and marine ecosystems are included in the data set, and species in the data set include fish and benthic species (e.g., lobster, crayfish, and benthic invertebrates). The purpose of the data set is fivefold: i) provides tools for evaluating the reasonableness of BSAFs from other locations, ii) provides a tool for building a BSAF data set for locations of your interest, iii) provides data for performing bounding assessments of risks for locations where limited or no bioaccumulation are available, iv) permits inquiry into underlying relationships and dependences of BSAFs upon ecosystem conditions and parameters, and v) allows comparison of PCB, PCDD, and PCDF residues to residue-effects data download from PCBRes (see prods_pubs.htm).

Researchers and managers using BSAF data set for analyses or projects need to understand that this data set does contain, in all likelihood, some outliers even though efforts were taken to eliminate them. Further, because users can input BSAF data from their sites of interest, incorporation of highly anomalous data will skew the outputs from the data set.

The BSAF data set self-extracting zip file (11 MB) includes the BSAF data set with a user-friendly interface, the full BSAF User Guide, a two-page Quick User Guide, an Excel Template for use when importing data, a Plotting Template, and a ReadMe file that should be read prior to using the database. The database requires 500 MB space on your PC and Microsoft Access 2003 or higher.

For more information on the BSAF data set, contact the ECOTOX helpline at: E: ecotox.support@epa.gov or T: 218-529-5225.


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