Rules and guidance promulgated under the Great Lakes Initiative require industry to meet healthbased effluent permit limitations calculated from water quality standards and criteria. Many of these are based on bioaccumulation factors that are “estimated” from generic models using little or no available data. This document presents the results of research conducted to inventory all of the current computer models that address the bioaccumulation of persistent hydrophobic compounds in the environment. The identification and review of these models considered all of the current (1982 to 1997) peer-reviewed literature on the subject of bioaccumulation, and leading scientists in this field were contacted. The information was tabulated in a database format, and included details on the originating author(s), the model purpose, type and theory, trophic structure, user information, calibration and reference citation. Many of the models reviewed addressed more than one class of chemicals, including Polychlorinated Biphenyls, “Hydrophobic Organic Compounds”, Mercury, Organochlorine Pesticides, Chlorinated Dioxins/Furans, Metals/Organometals, Volatile Organic Compounds, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons.

PCBs and mercury, which are classically studied as indicator compounds for mechanisms of bioaccumulation, are addressed by one-half of the models reviewed. Only a select few models address compounds that are not considered a real concern from a regulatory perspective (e.g., VOCs, PAHs). Additionally, almost all of the models exclusively simulated aquatic species, and only a select few addressed semiaquatic or terrestrial species, which included earthworms, beetles, tree swallows, sea gulls, bald eagles, mink, and dairy cows. The study concludes with a brief recommendation of models that were selected from the database for further in-depth review by NCASI staff.