USGS Science⌕ Search

Geology topics

J.C. Harshbarger

Publications and source records attributed to J.C. Harshbarger.

7 recordsLinked to original sources
USGS2004

Tumor prevalence and biomarkers of exposure in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) from Back River, Furnace Creek, and Tuckahoe River, Maryland

Brown bullheads ( Ameiurus nebulosus ) were collected from 2 locations near Baltimore, Maryland, Back River and Furnace Creek, and 1 (reference) location, Tuckahoe River, to compare the prevalence of tumors (liver and skin) and visible skin lesions (fin erosion and abnormal barbels). Cytochrome P450 activity measured as ethoxyresorufin- O -deethylase, biliary PAH-like fluorescent metabolites, and fillet contaminant concentrations were determined as indicators of exposure in a randomly selected subset of the fish. There were no significant differences in liver tumor prevalence: Back River = 8% (4/50), Furnace Creek = 0% (0/50), and Tuckahoe River = 2.6% (1/39; p = 0.20, extension of Fisher’s exact test). Skin tumor prevalence was as follows: Furnace Creek = 12% (6/50), Back River = 8% (4/50), and Tuckahoe River = 0% (0/39; p = 0.063). In the Back River fish, there was a 40% (20/50) prevalence of fin erosion and a 28% (14/50) prevalence of abnormal (shortened, clubbed, or missing) barbels. Fin erosion was not observed in the other collections, and only 10% (5/50) of the Furnace Creek fish had abnormal barbels ( p < 0.001 for both lesions). There were statistically significant differences in mean EROD activity, with levels in Furnace Creek and Back River fish approximately twice that found in Tuckahoe River fish. There were also significant differences in mean benzo(a)pyrene-like bile metabolite concentrations: the lowest mean was in the Tuckahoe River fish, 8 times higher in Furnace Creek fish, and 13 times higher in Back River fish. Of the 3 groups, the Back River bullheads appear to be most adversely affected by contaminant exposure because they had the highest prevalence of liver tumors, fin erosion, and abnormal barbels.

Maryland↗
USGS2001

Tumor prevalence and biomarkers of exposure in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from the tidal Potomac River, USA, watershed

Associations between contaminant exposure and liver and skin tumor prevalence were evaluated in brown bullheads ( Ameiurus nebulosus ) from the tidal Potomac River, USA, watershed. Thirty bullheads (≥ age 3) were collected from Quantico embayment, near a Superfund site that released organochlorine contaminants; Neabsco Creek, a tributary with petroleum inputs from runoff and marinas; and Anacostia River (spring and fall), an urban tributary designated as a Chesapeake Bay region of concern, that was contaminated with polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and organochlorine pesticides. Fish were collected from the Tuckahoe River, as a reference. Cytochrome P450 activity, bile PAH metabolites, and muscle organochlorine pesticide and PCB concentrations were measured in randomly selected individuals and sediment contaminants were analyzed. We found statistically significant differences in liver tumor prevalences: Anacostia (spring), 50%; Anacostia (fall), 60%; Neabsco, 17%; Quantico, 7%; and Tuckahoe, 10%. Skin tumor prevalences were significantly different: Anacostia (spring), 37%; Anacostia (fall), 10%; Neabsco, 3%; Quantico, 3%; and Tuckahoe, 0%. Tumor prevalence in Anacostia bullheads warrants concern and was similar to those at highly contaminated sites in the Great Lakes. Evidence was found of higher PAH exposure in Anacostia fish but a cause-effect linkage could not be established. Fish tumor surveys, with histopathologic examination of internal and external organs, are recommended for monitoring the status of regions of concern.

Maryland, Virginia↗
USGS2000

Tumor Prevalence and Biomarkers of Exposure and Response in Brown Bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from the Tidal Potomac River Watershed

Four groups of thirty brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) were collected from the tidal Potomac River watershed to survey tumor prevalence in relation to contaminant exposure. Fish were obtained from the Quantico embayment, near a Superfund site that released polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and DDT compounds; Neabsco Creek,.a tributary with petroleum inputs from upstream areas and marinas; and the Anacostia River (both in spring and fall),where sediment is contaminated with polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), PCBs, and organochlorine pesticides. Fish were also collected from the Tuckahoe River, on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, as a reference. Fish were necropsied and examined grossly and histopathologically for skin and liver neoplasms. Cytochrome P450 activity, bile PAH metabolites, and muscle organochlorine pesticide/PCB concentrations were determined in randomly selected individuals. There were significant differences among sites in liver tumor prevalence: Anacostia (spring)-50%, Anacostia (fall)-60%, Neabsco-17%, Quantico-7%, Tuckahoe-10%. Skin tumor prevalences were also significantly different: Anacostia (spring)-37%, Anacostia (fall)-10%, Neabsco-3%, Quantico-3%, Tuckahoe-0%. Tumor prevalences in Anacostia fish were comparable to those at contaminated sites in the Great Lakes. PAH concentrations were higher in Anacostia sediments than at the other sites and there were significantly higher concentrations of PAH metabolites in bile of the Anacostia fish. At present, there are insufficient data, however, to establish a cause-effect linkage with a particular class of contaminants. Tumor surveys in selected species are recommended for monitoring the status and remediation of Regions of Concern and other areas in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

Report↗
USGS2000

Tumor prevalence and biomarkers in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from the tidal Potomac River watershed [poster]

Associations between contaminant exposure and liver and skin tumor prevalence were evaluated in brown bullheads (Ameiurus nebulosus) from the tidal Potomac River watershed. Thirty bullheads (>260 mm) were collected from (1) Quantico embayment, near a Superfund site which released organochlorine contaminants; (2) Neabsco Creek, a tributary with petroleum inputs from runoff and marinas; and (3) Anacostia River (spring and fall), an urban tributary designated as a Chesapeake Bay Region of Concern, contaminated with PCBs, PAHs, and organochlorine pesticides. Fish were collected from the Tuckahoe River, as a reference. Cytochrome P450 activity, bile PAH metabolites, and muscle organochlorine pesticide/PCB concentrations were measured in randomly-selected individuals and sediment contaminants were analyzed. We found statistically significant differences in liver tumor prevalences: Anacostia (spring)-50%, Anacostia (fall)-60%, Neabsco-17%, Quantico-7%, Tuckahoe-10%. Skin tumor prevalences were significantly different: Anacostia (spring)-37%, Anacostia (fall)-10%, Neabsco-3%, Quantico-3%, Tuckahoe-0%. Tumor prevalence in Anacostia bullheads warrants concern and was similar to those at highly contaminated sites in the Great Lakes. There was evidence of higher PAH exposure in Anacostia fish but a cause-effect linkage cannot be established. Fish tumor surveys, with histopathological examination of internal and external organs, are recommended for monitoring the status of Regions of Concern.

Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry,↗
USGS1999

Cutaneous mastocytomas in the neotenic caudate amphibians Ambystoma mexicanum (axolotl) and Ambystoma tigrinum (tiger salamander)

Spontaneous mastocytomas studied in 18 axolotls ( Ambystoma mexicanum ) and six tiger salamanders ( Ambystoma tigrinum ) were gray-white, uni- to multilobular cutaneous protrusions from 2 mm to 2 cm in diameter. Tumors were moderately cellular unencapsulated masses that usually infiltrated the dermis and hypodermis with the destruction of intervening tissues. Some tumors were invading superficial bundles of the underlying skeletal muscle. Tumors consisted of mitotically active cells derived from a single lineage but showing a range of differentiation. Immature cells had nearly smooth to lightly cleft or folded basophilic nuclei bordered by a band of cytoplasm with few cytoplasmic processes and containing a few small uniform eccentric granules. Mature cells had basophilic nuclei with deep clefts or folds and abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm with multiple long intertwining cytoplasmic extensions packed with metachromatic granules. The axolotls were old individuals from an inbred laboratory colony. The tiger salamanders were wild animals from a single polluted pond. They could have been old and inbred. Both groups were neotenic. These are the first mastocytomas discovered in cold-blooded animals.

Texas↗
USGS1998

Long term trends liver neoplasm epizootics of brown bullhead in the Black River, Ohio

Since 1980, liver neoplasms in brown bullhead and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediment have been researched in a series of studies on the Black River in Lorain, Ohio. In the early 1980s the liver cancer prevalence in fish of age 3 and older was high, ranging from 22% to 39% of the adult population. These high cancer rates corresponded to high levels of PAHs in the sediment resulting from long-term releases by an upstream coking facility (USX). In 1983 this coking plant was closed, and by 1987 the PAH in sediment had declined by about two orders of magnitude. Coincidentally the tumor prevalence in 1987 was only about one-fourth of that in the early 1980s. In 1990, the most contaminated sediments were dredged. Neoplasm surveys in 1992 and 1993 found liver tumor frequencies in mature bullhead were as high as or higher than in the early 1980s. However liver tumor incidence declined in 1994, especially among age 3 fish, where neoplasm incidence was zero. These age 3 fish were the first group sampled that were not present during the 1990 dredging. These data are consistent with a hypothesis that the increase in tumor prevalence in 1992 and 1993 was caused by exposure to buried PAH-contaminated sediments released by the dredging. This research points out the insight provided by long term effects studies.

Ohio↗