GLEC designed and conducted a field study for the derivation of water body-specific and baseline bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) for benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) to be used by the State of Indiana in the calculation of human health criteria. Historical data and information on the operation of the client's facility were evaluated prior to designing the sampling plan. The sampling plan was designed to evaluate the representativeness of the samples being collected over a six month period, by examining the temporal and spatial variability associated with the concentration of B[a]P in the water body and in the fish from the water body which were being consumed by humans. Unique methods were employed for the collection and extraction of large volume (100 liters) water samples. The concentration of B[a]P, dissolved organic carbon, and particulate organic carbon were determined in twelve large volume water samples; and the B[a]P concentration and percent lipid were determined in eleven composite fish tissue samples. Extensive QA/QC measures were implemented to provide information on the quality of the data. Site-specific BAFs and baseline BAFs for B[a]P in various trophic levels were determined using the results.
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