Fuzzy model for risk assessment of persistent organic pollutants in aquatic ecosystems

We developed a model for evaluating the environmental risk of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) to aquatic organisms. The model is based on fuzzy theory and uses information provided by international experts through a questionnaire. It has been tested in two case studies for a particular type of POPs: brominated flame retardants (BFRs). The first case study is related to the EU-funded AQUATERRA project, with sampling campaigns carried out in two Ebro tributaries in Spain (the Cinca and Vero Rivers). The second one, named the BROMACUA project, assessed different aquatic ecosystems in Chile (San Vicente Bay) and Colombia (Santa Marta Marsh). In both projects, the BFRs under study were polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and hexabromocyclododecane (HBCD). However, the model can be extrapolated to other POPs and to different aquatic ecosystems to provide useful results for decision-makers. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The authors are grateful for the participation of the 38 scientists who replied to the questionnaire. In addition, the authors would like to thank the Autonomous Government of Catalonia (project No. 2009SGR1118), the BBVA Foundation through the BROMACUA project (Evaluación del impacto ambiental de los retardantes de llama bromados en ecosistemas acuáticos de América Latina) and the European Union under the Global Change and Ecosystems (FP6) Water Cycle and Soil Related Aspects (AQUATERRA, Project number 505428).

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