Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A Mixed-Order Model to Assess Contaminant Declines

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We introduce a generalized form of the common first-order (exponential) decay model, that has potential utility for describing contaminant declines in environmental applications, particularly when declines are a mixture of many underlying processes. The exponent on contaminant concentration is left as a free parameter allowing the order of the reaction to be determined by the data. The mixed-order model is more flexible than models with the exponent determined a priori, facilitating an improved fit to observed behavior. We demonstrate the utility of this model, and compare it to two other models, by estimating PCB concentration declines in Lake Michigan fishes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bates, D. M. and Watts, D. G.: 1988, Nonlinear Regression Analysis and Its Applications, JohnWiley & Sons: New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Berger, J. O. and Berry, D. A.: 1988, Statistical analysis and the illusion of objectivity, American Scientist 76, 159–165.

    Google Scholar 

  • Devault, D. S., Willford, W. A., Hesselberg, R. J., Nortrupt, D. A., Rundber, E. G. S., Alwan, A. K. and Bautista, C.: 1986, Contaminant trends in lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) for the Upper Great Lakes, Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 15, 349–356.

    Google Scholar 

  • Federal Register: 1993, 58, 20806–20809.

  • Hebert, C. E., Shutt, J. L. and Norstrom, R. J.: 1997, Dietary changes cause temporal fluctuations in polychlorinated biphenyl levels in herring gull eggs from Lake Ontario, Environmental Science and Technology 31, 1012–1017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stow, C. A.: 1995, Great Lakes herring gull egg PCB concentrations indicate approximate steadystate conditions, Environmental Science and Technology 29, 2893–2897.

    Google Scholar 

  • Stow, C. A., Carpenter, S. R., Eby, L. A., Amrhein, J. F. and Hesselberg, R. J.: 1995, Evidence that PCBs are approaching stable concentrations in Lake Michigan fishes, Ecological Applications 5, 248–260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tchobanoglous, G. and Schroeder, E. D.: 1985, Water Quality, Addison-Wesley Publishing Company. Reading, MA. 768 p.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment, Box 90328, Durham, NC, 27708, U.S.A

    Craig A. Stow*

  2. Department of Biological Sciences, Division of Ecology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada

    Leland J. Jackson

  3. Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.A

    S. R. Carpenter

Authors
  1. Craig A. Stow*
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Leland J. Jackson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. R. Carpenter
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Stow*, C.A., Jackson, L.J. & Carpenter, S.R. A Mixed-Order Model to Assess Contaminant Declines. Environ Monit Assess 55, 435–444 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005940627896

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005940627896

Search

Navigation