Methods for assessing the bioaccumulation of hydrocarbons and related substances in terrestrial organisms: A critical review

Abstract

AbstractThis study investigates and reviews methods for the assessment of the terrestrial bioaccumulation potential of hydrocarbons and related organic substances. The study concludes that the unitless biomagnification factor (BMF) and/or the trophic magnification factor (TMF) are appropriate, practical, and thermodynamically meaningful metrics for identifying bioaccumulative substances in terrestrial food chains. The study shows that various methods, including physical–chemical properties like the KOA and KOW, in vitro biotransformation assays, quantitative structure–activity relationships, in vivo pharmacokinetic and dietary bioaccumulation tests, and field‐based trophic magnification studies, can inform on whether a substance has the potential to biomagnify in a terrestrial food chain as defined by a unitless BMF exceeding 1. The study further illustrates how these methods can be arranged in a four‐tier evaluation scheme for the purpose of screening assessments that aim to minimize effort and costs and expediate bioaccumulation assessment of the vast numbers of organic substances in commerce, identifies knowledge gaps, and provides recommendations for further research to improve bioaccumulation assessment. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2023;19:1433–1456. © 2023 The Authors. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC).