ABSTRACT

This chapter deals with the derivation of aquatic environmental quality standards (EQSs), including standards for the protection of water dwellers, predators of water dwellers, and human water users. However, the main focus is on standards for the protection of organisms that live in water or aquatic sediment and are able to absorb contaminants directly via their gills, skin, and/or cell surfaces. In other words, the chapter primarily covers the derivation of standards for the protection of aquatic ecosystems.