The bioconcentration factor (BCF; units mu g chemical/g fish / mu g chemical/mL

Question

The bioconcentration factor (BCF; units mu g chemical/g fish / mu g chemical/mL water) for a substance in a particular aquatic species (not just in its fat tissues) can be estimated from its Kow value (normally provided in units of mol/L degree ctan degree l) using the regression equations provided in class. Rainbow trout taken from a particular lake were found to contain 22 ppb of parathion in their tissues. Use the information in Table 13-3 of your text to determine the concentration of parathion in this lake (in mu g/Lw), assuming that no biomagnification is occurring (only bioconcentration). Note that Fi for parathion = 0. If biomagnification were to be occurring, would you expect your actual concentration in the water would be larger, or smaller, than the value you just computed?

Explanation / Answer

Log BCF=2.156

BCF= 143.22

BCF= (microgramChem/gWfish)/(microgramChem/mlWater)

do the math to find accurate units and then replace each value.

microgramChem/Lwater = 0,1536

As parathion is not likely to be soluble in water. I expect it acumulates as time goes by. Furthermore, the concentration would be larger.

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