Development, evaluation, and application of a food web bioaccumulation model for PCBs in the Strait of Georgia, British Columbia

In an effort to enhance the understanding of persistent organic pollutant (POP) bioaccumulation in the Strait of Georgia, I developed, parameterized, and tested a mechanistic bioaccumulation model for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Strait of Georgia. Review of the literature required to support the model uncovered significant gaps in the empirical dataset. These gaps limit the usefulness of the model as a management tool; however, enough data were available to support analysis of the current sediment quality guideline for PCBs in British Columbia. This analysis suggests that the guideline is inadequate to protect top predators in the Strait of Georgia and may not meet the Ministry of Environment’s protection objectives. I recommend that research be directed at improving the empirical database required for bioaccumulation modelling in the Strait of Georgia and that bioaccumulation models similar to that developed here be used when deriving sediment quality guidelines for other POPs.