Metal Mixture Modeling Evaluation project: 2. Comparison of four modeling approaches

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
By: , and 

Links

Abstract

As part of the Metal Mixture Modeling Evaluation (MMME) project, models were developed by the National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (Japan), the U.S. Geological Survey (USA), HDR⎪HydroQual, Inc. (USA), and the Centre for Ecology and Hydrology (UK) to address the effects of metal mixtures on biological responses of aquatic organisms. A comparison of the 4 models, as they were presented at the MMME Workshop in Brussels, Belgium (May 2012), is provided herein. Overall, the models were found to be similar in structure (free ion activities computed by WHAM; specific or non-specific binding of metals/cations in or on the organism; specification of metal potency factors and/or toxicity response functions to relate metal accumulation to biological response). Major differences in modeling approaches are attributed to various modeling assumptions (e.g., single versus multiple types of binding site on the organism) and specific calibration strategies that affected the selection of model parameters. The models provided a reasonable description of additive (or nearly additive) toxicity for a number of individual toxicity test results. Less-than-additive toxicity was more difficult to describe with the available models. Because of limitations in the available datasets and the strong inter-relationships among the model parameters (log KM values, potency factors, toxicity response parameters), further evaluation of specific model assumptions and calibration strategies is needed.
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Metal Mixture Modeling Evaluation project: 2. Comparison of four modeling approaches
Series title Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
DOI 10.1002/etc.2820
Volume 34
Issue 4
Year Published 2015
Language English
Publisher Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC)
Contributing office(s) Geology, Minerals, Energy, and Geophysics Science Center
Description 13 p.
First page 741
Last page 753
Online Only (Y/N) N
Additional Online Files (Y/N) N
Google Analytic Metrics Metrics page
Additional publication details