Keywords: 
• multimedia model /
• microcosm /
• sediment /
• prediction /
• concentration variation

Abstract: Sediment-water microcosm system, which is one of the recommended test systems in the OECD guidelines for the testing of chemicals, can be used to test chronic toxicity of chemicals to sediment-dwelling organisms. Before test performance, it is necessary to predict chemicals concentration changes and then confirm test method. This study aimed to build a mathematical model for this prediction. The model, parameterized for chironomid chronic toxicity test system as an example, could predict chemicals concentration changes in the sediment-water test system by chemical properties and test system parameters using multimedia environmental modeling approach. Combined with test data and documentation, recommended values were put forward for test system parameters in the model. The model was programmed and solved by Simulink tools in Matlab software. Based on the model, its three application fields were given, e.g. predicting accumulation period, equilibration period and matching test data. And then accumulation and equilibration periods of 80 existing or hypothetical chemicals were calculated, and scopes were <1-204 d and <1-73 d respectively. In addition, via modifying model structures and parameters properly, the model could also be applied in other exposure scenarios. However, when predicting chemicals concentrations, the model could only give relatively accurate results for chemicals concentration in sediment and the results for that in water deviated from the measured values by 1-2 order of magnitudes, which still needs to be improved further. The results presented in this study perfect the sediment-water microcosm system test method.