Environmental quality criteria: Some considerations

摘要: The physicochemical characteristics of the recipient environment into which chemical contaminants are deposited may influence their speciation, mobility, bioavailability, and toxicity. In formulating Water Quality Criteria, Environmental Protection Agency United States (EPA) considered modifying effect abiotic environmental factors on pollutant toxicity in an innovative regulatory approach. Scientific knowledge interactions correlations between remains limited. Recognition has implications for eventual formulation regional, rather than uniform national, criteria. addition, developing Criteria that incorporate effects pollutants “aquatic life,” EPA primarily focused to aquatic animals plants (including unicellular algae). microbe-mediated ecological processes necessary maintaining state quality ecosphere (such as biogeochemical cyclings, litter decomposition, mineralization) were not included Criteria. To facilitate recognition quantification adverse these processes, development a computation, termed “ecological dosage 50%” (EcD50) is recommended. Such could also be applied setting criteria terrestrial ecosystems.