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Flows of dioxins and furans in coastal food webs: Inverse modeling, sensitivity analysis, and applications of linear system theory
Author(s) -
Saloranta Tuomo M.,
Andersen Tom,
Næs Kristoffer
Publication year - 2006
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 - 10.1897/05-091r.1
Subject(s) - bioaccumulation , food web , fjord , environmental science , pollutant , sensitivity (control systems) , forcing (mathematics) , food chain , sediment , environmental chemistry , inverse , chemistry , ecology , trophic level , mathematics , atmospheric sciences , oceanography , geology , biology , paleontology , geometry , electronic engineering , engineering
Rate constant bioaccumulation models are applied to simulate the flow of polychlorinated dibenzo‐ p ‐dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the coastal marine food web of Frierfjorden, a contaminated fjord in southern Norway. We apply two different ways to parameterize the rate constants in the model, global sensitivity analysis of the models using Extended Fourier Amplitude Sensitivity Test (Extended FAST) method, as well as results from general linear system theory, in order to obtain a more thorough insight to the system's behavior and to the flow pathways of the PCDD/Fs. We calibrate our models against observed body concentrations of PCDD/Fs in the food web of Frierfjorden. Differences between the predictions from the two models (using the same forcing and parameter values) are of the same magnitude as their individual deviations from observations, and the models can be said to perform about equally well in our case. Sensitivity analysis indicates that the success or failure of the models in predicting the PCDD/F concentrations in the food web organisms highly depends on the adequate estimation of the truly dissolved concentrations in water and sediment pore water. We discuss the pros and cons of such models in understanding and estimating the present and future concentrations and bioaccumulation of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic food webs.