Premium
Applying adverse outcome pathways and species sensitivity–weighted distribution to predicted‐no‐effect concentration derivation and quantitative ecological risk assessment for bisphenol A and 4‐nonylphenol in aquatic environments: A case study on Tianjin City, China
Author(s) -
Wang Ying,
Na Guangshui,
Zong Humin,
Ma Xindong,
Yang Xianhai,
Mu Jingli,
Wang Lijun,
Lin Zhongsheng,
Zhang Zhifeng,
Wang Juying,
Zhao Jinsong
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.3994
Subject(s) - nonylphenol , hazard quotient , environmental science , risk assessment , environmental chemistry , aquatic ecosystem , endocrine disruptor , ecotoxicology , alkylphenol , ecology , biology , chemistry , contamination , endocrine system , computer science , biochemistry , alkyl , computer security , organic chemistry , hormone
Adverse outcome pathways (AOPs) are a novel concept that effectively considers the toxic modes of action and guides the ecological risk assessment of chemicals. To better use toxicity data including biochemical or molecular responses and mechanistic data, we further developed a species sensitivity–weighted distribution (SSWD) method for bisphenol A and 4‐nonylphenol. Their aquatic predicted‐no‐effect concentrations (PNECs) were derived using the log‐normal statistical extrapolation method. We calculated aquatic PNECs of bisphenol A and 4‐nonylphenol with values of 4.01 and 0.721 µg/L, respectively. The ecological risk of each chemical in different aquatic environments near Tianjin, China, a coastal municipality along the Bohai Sea, was characterized by hazard quotient and probabilistic risk quotient assessment techniques. Hazard quotients of 7.02 and 5.99 at 2 municipal sewage sites using all of the endpoints were observed for 4‐nonylphenol, which indicated high ecological risks posed by 4‐nonylphenol to aquatic organisms, especially endocrine‐disrupting effects. Moreover, a high ecological risk of 4‐nonylphenol was indicated based on the probabilistic risk quotient method. The present results show that combining the SSWD method and the AOP concept could better protect aquatic organisms from adverse effects such as endocrine disruption and could decrease uncertainty in ecological risk assessment. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:551–562. © 2017 SETAC