FATE AND PERSISTENCE OF ANTIFOULIING BIOCIDES IN THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Biocides released from antifouling paints can cause adverse effects on non-target organisms especially in or near marinas, ports, harbors, and bays. To assess overall long-term environmental risk of biocides, multiple parameters such as toxicity, persistence, bioavailability, and bioaccumulation are incorporated in mathematical models. Accuracy of prediction models is highly dependent on the accuracy of input data. However, these parameters reported in the literature have a very wide range of values with up to 4 orders of magnitude differences. It is important to choose values relevant to real field conditions for more accurate prediction of long-term environmental risk. This presentation primarily focuses on organic carbon normalized solid-water partitioning coefficients and environmental persistence of biocides. These values reported in the literature were compiled and reviewed, and values more relevant to real field conditions were selected using a weigh-of-evidence approach.icity, persistence, bioavailability, and bioaccumulation are incorporated in mathematical models. Accuracy of prediction models is highly dependent on the accuracy of input data. However, these parameters reported in the literature have a very wide range of values with up to 4 orders of magnitude differences. It is important to choose values relevant to real field conditions for more accurate prediction of long-term environmental risk. This presentation primarily focuses on organic carbon normalized solid-water partitioning coefficients and environmental persistence of biocides. These values reported in the literature were compiled and reviewed, and values more relevant to real field conditions were selected using a weigh-of-evidence approach.