With the recent advent of improved analytical and biomarker
detection capabilities, a variety of organic chemicals have been
found in trace amounts (Trace Organic Chemicals, TOrCs) in surface
waters and fish tissue. TOrCs include pharmaceuticals, personal
care products, surfactants, pesticides, flame retardants, and other
organic chemicals, some with unknown modes of action or effects.
Identifying or predicting ecological effects of TOrCs in typical
aquatic multi-stressor situations is challenging, requiring a
variety of epidemiological tools that together, can diagnose
effects at multiple scales of ecological organization. Five
objectives were addressed in this research: (1) develop and apply a
procedure to prioritize which TOrCs are of most concern; (2)
develop and test a conceptual site screening framework; (3)
evaluate and test diagnostic approaches to identify potential risks
due to TOrCs using various case studies; (4) develop a relational
database and user interface with which the water resource community
can enter, store, and search TOrC exposure data in the U.S.; and
(5) foster partnerships and transfer knowledge gained in this
research to the water quality community. TOrC fate, effects, and
occurrence data were compiled in a database for over 500 organic
chemicals based on over 100 published studies representing more
than 50 organizations and 700 sites. Alternative risk-based
prioritization processes and draft lists of high priority TOrCs
were developed. A preliminary site screening and diagnostic
framework was developed and evaluated using seven different case
study sites. EPA's causal analysis (stressor identification)
procedures, Canada's Environmental Effects Monitoring (EEM)
procedure, the ecosystem model CASM (Comprehensive Aquatic System
Model), and several other specialized diagnostic tools were used
and evaluated. A relational database based on Tetra Tech's EDAS2
was developed using the Microsoft platform. The modified version of
EDAS2, built on the EPA WQX data model, provides web-based data
queries using a combination of tabular data for downloads and a
visual map interface that allows the user to view, query, and
select sites from the map having chemical or biological data. The
database is not discussed in this report but can be accessed
through WERF. This Final Report summarizes all other approaches
used and results obtained in this research, discusses critical data
gaps and other important uncertainties, and provides testable
hypotheses and recommendations for Phase 2 testing and analyses.
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