Presentation of a general algorithm for effect-assessment on secondary poisoning. II Terrestrial food chains

In an earlier report, a simple algorithm for effect-assessment on secondary poisoning of birds and mammals was presented. This algorithm (MAR = NOEC/BCF) was drawn up by analyzing an aquatic food chain. In the present study it was tested whether this algorithm can be used equally well for effect-assessment on terrestrial food chains. The pathway soil - earthworm - bird/mammal was used as an example for a terrestrial food chain. Literature data on both bioconcentration factors (BCF-soil-worm) and toxicity data (NOEC-birds/mammals) for six compounds (lindane, dieldrin, DDT, PCP, cadmium and mercury) were studied. As in the aquatic food chain, BCFs can be dertermined both with experimental data and QSARs. However, important differences were found between BCFs for this terrestrial pathway and BCFs for the aquatic pathway analyzed in the previous report. BCFs for the terrestrial pathway are frequently