A reductionist mechanistic model for bioconcentration of neutral and weakly polar organic compounds in fish

The bioconcentration factor (BCF) of neutral and weakly polar organic chemicals in fish is modeled using independently calibrated models of chemical partitioning (freely dissolved fraction of chemical in the aqueous phase [φ_sys] and wet-weight fish-water partition coefficient [K_FW]), respiratory exchange (respiratory update rate constant [k₁], and respiratory elimination rate constant [k₂=k₁/K_FW]), and biotransformation (whole-body biotransformation rate constant [k_M]) as BCF=φ_sysK_FW/(1+k_M/k₂). Existing k₁ models tend to overestimate for chemicals with log K_OW1 model covering a wider log K_OW range (0-8.5) is presented k₁=(5.46×10^-6 MW+0.261/K_OW)^-1, where MW is the molecular weight. The biotransformation rate constant k_M is modeled using biota internal partitioning and Abraham parameters as reactivity descriptors. The reductionist model was tested using 3 different BCF data sets (US Environmental Protection Agency's Estimation Programs Interface [EPI], n=548; Hertfordshire, n=210; Arnot-Gobas, n=1855) and compared with the following 3 state-of-the-art models: 1) the EPI Suite BCFBAF module, 2) the European Commision's Computer Assisted Evaluation of industrial chemical Substances According to Regulations (CAESAR), and 3) the EPI/Arnot mechanistic kinetic model. The reductionist model performed comparably with the alternative models (root mean square errors [RMSEs]=0.72-0.77), with only 5 fitting parameters and no training against experimental BCFs. Respiratory elimination and biotransformation dominate the total depuration (i.e., [k₂+k_M]/k_T≥0.8) for approximately 98% of the data entries, thus validating the reductionist approximation. Mechanistic models provide greater insights into bioaccumulation and are more sensitive to biological variation. All three BCF data sets and relevant properties and checkpoint values necessary for reproducing predictions of the reductionist model have been documented. The present study shows that a streamlined mechanistic model of BCF is possible for assessment purposes. © 2013 SETAC.