AbstractBiota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for some chlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxin and dibenzofuran congeners (PCDD/Fs) in Dungeness crab (Cancer magister) hepatopancreas and associated sediments are concentration independent as required by equilibrium partition models. In particular 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p -dioxin (2, 3, 7, 8-TCDD), 2, 3, 7, 8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, the 2, 3, 7, 8-substituted pentachlorodibenzofurans, and the non-2, 3, 7, 8-hexachlorodibenzofurans (HxCDFs) seem to fall into this group. The BSAFs for other isomers exhibit significant, nonlinear variations with sediment or crab PCDD/F concentrations. For some of these other isomers (e.g., the non-2, 3, 7, 8 TCDDs and possibility the 2, 3, 7, 8-substituted HxCDFs), association of a variable fraction of the total present with soot carbon may provide a satisfactory explanation for the concentration behavior. For the HxCDDs we propose that the nonlinear concentration behavior may arise from the thermodynamic properties of fluids confined in hydrophobic voids within particulate and colloidal material produced by the pulp mills. The nonlinear relationship between BSAFs and PCDD/F concentrations greatly complicates prediction of the potential for dioxin and furan bioaccumulation in crabs and the formulation of sediment quality criteria. We provide a nonlinear equation relating toxic equivalency and sediment concentrations.