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USGS1997

Effects of a crude oil spill on the benthic invertebrate community in the Gasconade River, Missouri

Effects of a 3.3-million–L crude oil spill on the benthic macroinvertebrate community of the Gasconade River, a large river in Missouri, were evaluated by comparing several macroinvertebrate community indices in riffle and backwater habitats above and below the spill. Concentrations of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in sediments decreased dramatically in riffle habitats within 6 months of the spill, but elevated hydrocarbon levels (TPH = 80–270 μg/g) were still present in backwater habitats at the end of the study. Correspondingly, riffle macroinvertebrate communities recovered rapidly, but overall benthic diversity continued to be reduced in backwater areas until the end of the study 18 months after the spill. In addition, statistical analysis of benthic functional feeding groups revealed that both scrapers and shredders were reduced in backwater habitats below the oil spill. Decreased abundance of shredders and scrapers in these habitats is likely caused by oil contamination of aquatic sediments and associated organic matter required by these groups for food and substrate. Results of this study suggest that the persistence of oil in backwater habitats has a negative effect on the benthic community in large rivers.

Missouri↗

USGS1997

Concentrations of chlorinated organic compounds in biota and bed sediment in streams of the San Joaquin Valley, California

Samples of resident biota and bed sediments were collected in 1992 from 18 sites on or near the floor of the San Joaquin Valley, California, for analysis of 33 organochlorine compounds. The sites were divided into five groups on the basis of physiographic region and land use. Ten compounds were detected in tissue, and 15 compounds were detected in bed sediment. The most frequently detected compound in both media was p,p'-DDE. Concentrations of ??DDT (sum of o,p'- and p, p' forms of DDD, DDE, and DDT) were statistically different among groups of sites for both tissue and sediment (Kruskal- Wallis, p < 0.05). Concentrations in both media were highest in streams draining the west side of the valley. Concentrations of ??DDT in tissue were significantly correlated with specific conductance, pH, and total alkalinity (p < 0.05), which are indicators of the proportion of irrigation return flows in stream discharge. Concentrations in sediment on a dry-weight basis were not correlated with these water-quality parameters, but total organic carbon (TOC) normalized concentrations were significantly correlated with specific conductance and pH (p < 0.05). Regressions of the concentration of ??DDT in tissue, as a function of ??DDT in bed sediment, were significant and explained up to 76% of the variance in the data. The concentration of ??DDT in sediment may be related to mechanisms of soil transport to surface water with bioavailability of compounds related to the concentration of TOC in sediment. The results of this study did not indicate any clear advantage to using either bed sediment or tissues in studies of organochlorine chemicals in the environment. Some guidelines for protection of fish and wildlife were exceeded. Concentrations of organochlorine chemicals in biota, and perhaps sediment, have declined from concentrations measured in the 1970s and 1980s, but remain high compared to other regions of the United States.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1997

Concentration and transport of chlordane and nonachlor associated with suspended sediment in the Mississippi River, May 1988 to June 1990

Technical chlordane, a formerly widely used organochlorine pesticide, has become widespread in the environment. The distribution of technical chlordane in riverine environments may be due in part to resuspension and aqueous transport of contaminated bed sediment. To test this hypothesis, the Mississippi River was sampled for suspended sediment five times over a two- year period, at up to 17 sites from St. Louis to below New Orleans, including major tributaries. The ratio of chlordane to nonachlor concentrations averaged 3.6 during May-June 1988 for the Mississippi River below its confluence with the Ohio River. During March-April 1989, the ratio was 0.6, suggesting weathered technical chlordane contributions to the suspended sediment. During June 1989, the ratio averaged 1.1, indicating some input of less weathered technical chlordane. During February-March and May-June 1990, the ratios again shifted, from 0.8 to 1.3. This shifting ratio is likely due to resuspension of weathered technical chlordane associated with bed sediment during spring runoff. Annual transport by suspended sediment from the Mississippi River to the Gulf of Mexico was estimated to be 110 kg of chlordane and 100 kg of nonachlor.

Mississippi River↗

USGS1998

Concentrations of metals associated with mining waste in sediments, biofilm, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish from the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho

Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn were measured in sediments, biofilm, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish from the Coeur d'Alene (CDA) River to characterize the pathway of metals transfer between these components. Metals enter the CDA Basin via tributaries where mining activities have occurred. In general, the ranking of food-web components from the greatest to smallest concentrations of metals was as follows: biofilm (the layer of abiotic and biotic material on rock surfaces) and sediments > invertebrates > whole fish. Elevated Pb was documented in invertebrates, and elevated Cd and Zn were documented in sediment and biofilm approximately 80 km downstream to the Spokane River. The accumulation of metals in invertebrates was dependent on functional feeding group and shredders-scrapers that feed on biofilm accumulated the largest concentrations of metals. Although the absolute concentrations of metals were the largest in biofilm and sediments, the metals have accumulated in fish approximately 50 km downstream from Kellogg, near the town of Harrison. While metals do not biomagnify between trophic levels, the metals in the CDA Basin are bioavailable and do biotransfer. Trout less than 100 mm long feed exclusively on small invertebrates, and small invertebrates accumulate greater concentrations of metals than large invertebrates. Therefore, early-lifestage fish may be exposed to a larger dose of metals than adults.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1998

The influence of extraction procedure on ion concentrations in sediment pore water

Sediment pore water has the potential to yield important information on sediment quality, but the influence of isolation procedures on the chemistry and toxicity are not completely known and consensus on methods used for the isolation from sediment has not been reached. To provide additional insight into the influence of collection procedures on pore water chemistry, anion (filtered only) and cation concentrations were measured in filtered and unfiltered pore water isolated from four sediments using three different procedures: dialysis, centrifugation, and vacuum. Peepers were constructed using 24-cell culture plates and cellulose membranes and vacuum extractors consisted of fused-glass air stones attached with airline tubing to 60-cc syringes. Centrifugation was accomplished at two speeds (2,500 and 10,000 g ) for 30 min in a refrigerated centrifuge maintained at 4°C. Only minor differences in chemical characteristics and cation and anion concentrations were found among the different collecting methods with differences being sediment-specific. Filtering of the pore water did not appreciably reduce major cation concentrations, but trace metals (Cu and Pb) were markedly reduced. Although the extraction methods evaluated produced pore waters of similar chemistries, the vacuum extractor provided the following advantages over the other methods: ease of extraction, volumes of pore water isolated, minimal preparation time, and least time required for extraction of pore water from multiple samples at one time.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1998

Assessing sediment toxicity from navigational pools of the Upper Mississippi River using a 28-day Hyalella azteca test

To assess the extent of sediment contamination in the Upper Mississippi River (UMR) system after the flood of 1993, sediment samples were collected from 24 of the 26 navigational pools in the river and from one site in the Saint Croix River in the summer of 1994. Whole-sediment tests were conducted with the amphipod Hyalella azteca for 28 days measuring the effects on survival, growth, and sexual maturation. Amphipod survival was significantly reduced in only one sediment (13B) relative to the control and reference sediments. Body length of amphipods was significantly reduced relative to the control and reference sediments in only one sample (26C). Sexual maturation was not significantly reduced in any treatment when compared to the control and reference sediments. No significant correlations were observed between survival, growth, and maturation to either the physical or chemical characteristics of the sediment samples from the river. When highly reliable effect range medians (ERMs) were used to evaluate sediment chemistry, 47 of 49 (96%) of the samples were correctly classified as nontoxic. These results indicate that sediment samples from the Upper Mississippi River are relatively uncontaminated compared to other areas of known contamination in the United States.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1998

Assessing the bioaccumulation of contaminants from sediments of the Upper Mississippi River using field-collected oligochaetes and laboratory- exposed Lumbriculus variegatus

Concern with the redistribution of contaminants associated with sediment in the upper Mississippi River (UMR) arose after the flood of 1993. This project is designed to evaluate the status of sediments in the UMR and is one article in a series designed to assess the extent of sediment contamination in navigational pools of the river. Companion articles evaluate sediment toxicity and benthic community composition in navigation pools of the river. The objectives of the present study were to: (1) to assess the bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants in the UMR using laboratory exposures with the oligochaete Lumbriculus variegatus, and (2) to compare bioaccumulation in laboratory-exposed oligochaetes to field-collected oligochaetes. Sediment samples and native oligochaetes were collected from 23 navigational pools on the Upper Mississippi River and the Saint Croix River. Contaminant concentrations measured in the L. variegatus after 28-day exposures to sediment in the laboratory were compared to contaminant concentrations in field-collected oligochaetes from the 13 pools where these sediments were collected. Contaminant concentrations were relatively low in sediments and tissues from the pools evaluated. Only polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were frequently measured above detection limits. The majority of the biota- sediment-accumulation factors (BSAFs) for PAHs were within a range of about 1.0 to 2.6, suggesting that the theoretical BSAF value of 1.7 could be used to predict these mean BSAFs with a reasonable degree of certainty. A positive correlation was observed between lipid-normalized concentrations of PAHs detected in laboratory-exposed and field-collected oligochaetes across all sampling locations. Rank correlations for concentrations of individual compounds between laboratory-exposed and field-collected oligochaetes were strongest for benzo(e)pyrene, perylene, benzo(b,k)fluoranthene, and pyrene. About 90% of the paired PAH concentrations in laboratory-exposed and field- collected oligochaetes were within a factor of three of one another indicating laboratory results could be extrapolated to the field with a reasonable degree of certainty.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1998

Toxicity of sediment collected upriver and downriver of major cities along the Lower Mississippi River

The Lower Mississippi River contributes significantly to the biodiversity and ecological stability of the alluvial valley, but agricultural, industrial, and municipal developments have historically impacted environmental quality of the river. Toxicity of sediment and sediment pore water was used to assess the current effects of major cities on sediment quality along the Lower Mississippi River. Composite sediment samples were collected from four sites upriver and four sites downriver of five major cities: Cairo, IL; Memphis, TN; Vicksburg, MS; Baton Rouge, LA; and New Orleans, LA. Acute toxicity was determined by exposing Hyalella azteca to solid-phase sediment for 10 days with two water renewals per day and to sediment pore water under static conditions for 96 h. After the initial tests, animals were exposed to ultraviolet light for 16 h. Sediments were analyzed for organics (organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, organophosphate insecticides, and PAHs) and metals (Cr, Cu, Pb, Mn, Ni, Zn). With the exception of upriver from Memphis, solid-phase sediments were not toxic to H. azteca. Pore water from sediments collected upriver of Memphis also showed slight toxicity. Exposure of H. azteca to ultraviolet light did not increase the toxicity of the sediment or pore-water samples, indicating a lack of toxicity from PAHs that are photoactivated by ultraviolet light. Chemical analyses did not reveal any contaminant levels of concern in the sediments. Based on toxicity testing and chemical analyses, quality of sediments collected from the Lower Mississippi was good, with the exception of sites sampled upriver of Memphis.

Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee↗

USGS1998

The environmental occurrence of herbicides: The importance of degradates in ground water

Numerous studies are being conducted to investigate the occurrence, fate, and effects on human health and the environment from the extensive worldwide use of herbicides to control weeds. Few studies, however, are considering the degradates of these herbicides in their investigations. Our study of herbicides in aquifers across Iowa found herbicide degradates to be prevalent in ground water, being detected in about 75% of the wells sampled. With the exception of atrazine, the frequencies of detection in ground water for a given herbicide increased multifold when its degradates were considered. Furthermore, a majority of the measured concentration for a given herbicide was in the form of its degradates—even for a relatively persistent compound such as atrazine. For this study, degradates comprised from 60 to over 99% of a herbicide's measured concentration. Because herbicide degradates can have similar acute and chronic toxicity as their parent compounds, these compounds have environmental significance as well as providing a more complete understanding of the fate and transport of a given herbicide. Thus, it is essential that degradates are included in any type of herbicide investigation.

Iowa↗

USGS1998

Contaminants in eggs of colonial waterbirds and hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme levels in pipped tern embryos, Washington State

Eggs of Forster's terns ( Sterna forsteri ) collected in 1991 from nesting colonies on Crescent Island (Columbia River) and the Potholes Reservoir in south central Washington generally contained low residues of organochlorine pesticides and metabolites, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzofuran, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme activity in pipped embryos of Forster's terns from the two colonies seemed unaffected by contaminants. At Crescent Island, examination of 23 Forster's tern eggs with large embryos (19 viable [10 pipped] and four dead [two pipped]) revealed developmental abnormalities in two viable pipped embryos (missing maxilla and deformed pelvic girdle) and a viable prepipping embryo (shortened beak). Our limited sample sizes and number of compounds analyzed preclude us from determining whether or not the abnormalities are related to contaminants. No abnormalities were noted in 10 pipped eggs (nine viable and one dead at collection) of Forster's terns collected from the Potholes Reservoir colony. Eggs of Caspian terns ( Sterna caspia ) collected from Crescent Island in 1991 also contained generally low residues of contaminants, only one developmental abnormality was noted, and limited data indicated that cytochrome P450 enzyme activity apparently was unaffected by contaminants. Organochlorine contaminants were generally low in addled eggs of American white pelicans ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) collected from Crescent Island in 1994.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1998

Retrospective study of the diagnostic criteria in a lead-poisoning survey of waterfowl

Between 1983 and 1986 the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) conducted a nationwide study of lead poisoning of waterfowl from federal and state refuges. This survey was done to assist in identifying zones with lead-poisoning problems. One thousand forty one moribund or dead waterfowl were collected and examined. The presence or absence of 13 gross lesions selected as indicators of lead poisoning and 3 lesions indicating body condition was recorded. Lead-poisoning diagnoses were based on the finding of at least 6 8 ppm (wet weight) lead in the liver and either lead shot in the gizzard content or at least one convincing gross lesion indicative of lead poisoning. Four hundred and twenty-one of these waterfowl were diagnosed as lead-poisoned. The NWHC survey provided a comprehensive basis for estimating the sensitivities, specificities, and likelihood ratios of the gross lesions of lead poisoning and the associated hepatic lead concentrations for several species of waterfowl. Some of the 13 defined gross lesions were more common than others; frequencies ranged from 3% to 80% in the 421 lead-poisoned waterfowl. The most reliable indicators of lead poisoning were impactions of the upper alimentary tract, submandibular edema, myocardial necrosis, and biliary discoloration of the liver. Each of the 13 lesions occurred more frequently in the lead-poisoned birds, but each of the lesions also occurred in waterfowl that died of other causes. The number of lead shot present in a bird?s gizzard was only weakly correlated with its hepatic lead concentration; however, this weak correlation may have been adequate to account for differences in hepatic lead concentrations among species, once the weights of the species were taken into account. Although lead-poisoned ducks tended to have higher hepatic mean lead concentrations than did lead-poisoned geese or swans, the differences were probably a result of a greater dose of shot per body weight than to kinetic differences between species. Hepatic lead concentrations were independent of age and sex. Ninety-five percent of waterfowl diagnosed as lead-poisoned had hepatic lead concentrations of at least 38 ppm, dry weight (10 ppm, wet weight). Fewer than 1% of the waterfowl that died of other causes had a concentration that high. This 5th percentile, of 38 ppm dry weight (10 ppm wet weight), is a defensible criterion for identifying lead-poisoned waterfowl when interpreting hepatic lead concentrations in the absence of pathological observations.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1998

Contaminants in ospreys from the Pacific Northwest: I. Trends and patterns in polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and -dibenzofurans in eggs and plasma

Osprey ( Pandion haliaetus ) eggs were collected from 1991 to 1997 at nests (n = 121) upstream and downstream of bleached kraft pulp mills and at reference sites in the Fraser and Columbia River drainage systems of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Blood samples were collected from nestling ospreys during the 1992 breeding season on the Thompson River. Samples were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo- p -dioxins (PCDDs) and -dibenzofurans (PCDFs). Mean concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD were significantly higher in eggs collected in 1991 at downstream compared to upstream nests near pulp mills at Kamloops and Castlegar, British Columbia. There were no significant temporal trends in 2,3,7,8-TCDD, -TCDF or other measured compounds at a sample of nests monitored between 1991 and 1994 downstream of the Castlegar pulp mill, despite changes in bleaching technology (CIO 2 substitution). However, by 1997 concentrations of 2,3,7,8-TCDD and -TCDF were significantly lower than previous years in nests sampled downstream at both Castlegar and Kamloops. An unusual pattern of higher chlorinated PCDDs and PCDFs was found in many of the osprey eggs collected in this study, and considerable individual variation in the pattern existed among eggs from the same site. For example, eggs from four different nests at one study area (Quesnel) on the Fraser River had concentrations of 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD ranging from <1 to 1,100 ng/kg and OCDD from <1 to 7,000 ng/kg wet weight. Higher mean concentrations of HpCDD and OCDD were found in eggs from the Thompson River, a tributary of the Fraser, compared to the Columbia River, and concentrations were generally higher at nests upstream of pulp mills. In plasma samples, 1,2,3,4,6,7,8-HpCDD and OCDD were the main compounds detected, with no significant differences measured between samples upstream versus downstream or earlier versus later in the breeding season. Use of chlorophenolic wood preservatives by lumber processors was considered the main source of higher chlorinated PCDD/Fs throughout the systems, based on patterns of trace PCDFs in eggs and significant correlations between egg concentrations of pentachlorophenol and both HpCDD (r = 0.891, p < 0.01) and OCDD (r = 0.870, p < 0.01).

British Columbia, Oregon, Washington↗

USGS1998

Lack of developmental and reproductive toxicity of 2,3,3',4,4'-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB-105) in ring-necked pheasants

Mono- ortho PCBs are global contaminants of wildlife with the potential to produce toxicity by an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR)–mediated mechanism. To determine the potency of 2,3,3′,4,4′-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB 105) for producing reproductive and developmental toxicity, adult ring-necked pheasant hens ( Phasianus colchicus ) were orally dosed with 0, 0.06, 0.6, or 6 mg PCB 105/kg hen/week for 10 weeks to achieve cumulative doses of 0, 0.6, 6, or 60 mg PCB 105/kg hen after which hens were bred with untreated roosters once per week for 8 weeks. Except at week 6 of the egg-laying period when cumulative egg production in the 6 mg PCB 105/kg hen group was greater than controls, fertilized egg production was not significantly different between treatment groups. Embryo mortality and chick mortality were not significantly different between treatment groups. Total body and heart weights of all chicks 1 day posthatch (dph) were not different between groups, however, liver weights of chicks from the 60 mg/kg treatment group were greater than controls at 1 dph. The first chick to hatch from each hen was reared to 21 dph and among these birds, the total body, liver, and heart weights were not different between groups. There were no dose-related malformations of the beak or limbs, and no signs of subcutaneous edema, ascites, or pericardial edema in chicks at 1 or 21 dph. Hepatic microsomal monooxygenase activities [ethoxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (EROD), benzyloxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (BROD), and methyloxyresorufin-O-dealkylase (MROD)] were significantly elevated in chicks at 1 dph from hens given a cumulative PCB 105 dose of 6 mg/kg and in chicks at 21 dph from hens given a cumulative PCB dose of 60 mg/kg. These results indicate that a cumulative PCB 105 dose up to 60 mg/kg hen does not decrease the production of fertilized eggs or increase embryo or chick mortality in ring-necked pheasants, but does increase chick hepatic monooxygenase activity.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1999

Acute toxicity and sublethal effects of white phosphorus in mute swans, Cygnus olor

Among the waterfowl affected by white phosphorus (P 4 ) at a military base in Alaska are tundra ( Cygnus columbianus ) and trumpeter ( C. buccinator ) swans. To estimate the toxicity of P 4 to swans and compare the toxic effects to those of mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ), we dosed 30 juvenile mute swans ( C. olor ) with 0 to 5.28 mg P 4 /kg body weight. The calculated LD 50 was 3.65 mg/kg (95% CI: 1.40 to 4.68 mg/kg). However, many of the swans still had P 4 in their gizzards after dying, as determined by “smoking gizzards” and characteristic odor, and a lower LD 50 might be calculated if all of the P 4 had passed into the small intestines. We attribute the retention of P 4 in swans to the possibility that P 4 pellets were mistaken for the similarly sized grit in their gizzards. Most swans took 1 to 4.5 days to die in contrast to the few hours normally required in mallards and death appeared to be related more to liver dysfunction than to hemolysis. White phosphorus affected several plasma constituents, most notably elevated aspartate aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, lactate dehydrogenase, and alanine aminotransferase.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS1999

Toxicity of lead-contaminated sediment to mallards

Because consumption of lead-contaminated sediment has been suspected as the cause of waterfowl mortality in the Coeur d?Alene River basin in Idaho, we studied the bioavailability and toxicity of this sediment to mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). In experiment 1, one of 10 adult male mallards died when fed a pelleted commercial duck diet that contained 24% lead-contaminated sediment (with 3,400 μg/g lead in the sediment). Protoporphyrin levels in the blood increased as the percentage of lead-contaminated sediment in the diet increased. Birds fed 24% lead-contaminated sediment exhibited atrophy of the breast muscles, green staining of the feathers around the vent, viscous bile, green staining of the gizzard lining, and renal tubular intranuclear inclusion bodies. Mallards fed 24% lead-contaminated sediment had means of 6.1 μg/g of lead in the blood and 28 μg/g in the liver (wet-weight basis) and 1,660 μg/g in the feces (dry-weight basis). In experiment 2, we raised the dietary concentration of the lead-contaminated sediment to 48%, but only about 20% sediment was actually ingested due to food washing by the birds. Protoporphyrin levels were elevated in the lead-exposed birds, and all of the mallards fed 48% lead-contaminated sediment had renal tubular intranuclear inclusion bodies. The concentrations of lead in the liver were 9.1 μg/g for mallards fed 24% lead-contaminated sediment and 16 μg/g for mallards fed 48% lead-contaminated sediment. In experiment 3, four of five mallards died when fed a ground corn diet containing 24% lead-contaminated sediment (with 4,000 μg/g lead in this sample of sediment), but none died when the 24% lead-contaminated sediment was mixed into a nutritionally balanced commercial duck diet; estimated actual ingestion rates for sediment were 14% and 17% for the corn and commercial diets. Lead exposure caused elevations in protoporphyrin, and four of the five mallards fed 24% lead-contaminated sediment in a commercial diet and all five fed the contaminated sediment in a corn diet had renal intranuclear inclusion bodies. Lead was higher in the livers of mallards fed 24% lead-contaminated sediment in the corn diet (38 μg/g) than in the commercial diet (13 μg/g).

Idaho↗

USGS1999

Distribution of trace elements in streambed sediment associated with mining activities in the Upper Colorado River Basin, Colorado, USA, 1995-96

Streambed-sediment samples were collected in the Southern Rocky Mountains physiographic province in the Upper Colorado River Basin in Colorado to characterize the occurrence and distribution of trace elements in mined and nonmined areas of the basin. During October 1995 and September 1996, streambed sediment was collected at 37 sites, and the samples were analyzed for trace elements. The ranges in concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn at mining sites generally were orders of magnitude higher than the ranges of concentrations at nonmining sites. Sampling sites located in two predominant rock types in mining areas were not significantly different (p > 0.05) for concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. Cu was significantly different (p < 0.05) between sites in the two predominant rock types. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between main-stem sites and tributary sites. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn exceeded established guidelines for adverse effects on aquatic biota at some sites in the study area. The patterns in concentrations of Cd and Zn, Cd and Pb, and Pb and Zn were highly correlated to one another in this study. Concentrations of trace elements in the <63-??m fraction were higher than in the total particle-size fraction analysis. Comparison of reference sites to sites affected by a mine source indicated that trace- element concentrations initially increased downstream of the source and then gradually decreased in concentration with distance from the source.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS2000

Wintering greater scaup as biomonitors of metal contamination in federal wildlife refuges in the Long Island Region

Tissues of greater scaup (Aythya marila mariloides) and components of their habitat (sediment, plankton, macroalgae, and invertebrates) were collected for heavy metal analysis in the winter of 1996-97 from US Department of the Interior wildlife refuges in the Long Island region. Geographic and temporal relationships between the concentration of nine metals in tissue and in habitat components were examined. In greater scaup tissues and habitat components, concentrations of As and Se were highest in Branford, Connecticut; Pb values were greatest in Oyster Bay, New York; and Hg concentrations were largest in Sandy Hook, New Jersey. Over the course of the winter, the concentration of Hg in liver increased, and concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Se, and Zn in kidney decreased. Based on several criteria derived from geographic and temporal trends, metals were ranked using the apparent biomonitoring efficacy of greater scaup (As = Cr > Cu = Pb = Zn = Hg > Se = Cd > Ni). Although the seasonal migration and daily mobility of greater scaup are drawbacks to using this species as a sentinel for metal pollution, it was possible to demonstrate a relationship between geographic and temporal patterns of metals in habitat and greater scaup tissue. However, most metal concentrations in tissue were below thresholds known to adversely affect health of waterfowl.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗

USGS2000

Contaminants in ospreys from the Pacific Northwest: II. Organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury, 1991-1997

Eggs of ospreys ( Pandion haliaetus ) were collected over the period 1991 to 1997 at 111 nests in the Fraser and Columbia River drainage systems of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon. Contents were analyzed for organochlorine (OC) pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and total mercury. Blood samples were taken from nestling ospreys at two time points during the 1992 breeding season on the Thompson River and analyzed for non-ortho PCBs. Concentrations of DDE and related compounds showed high variability among individual eggs within study areas and no significant differences in mean concentrations among study areas. Some eggs contained high concentrations of DDE, up to 20 mg/kg (wet weight), for which there were no evident local sources, suggesting that exposure occurred outside of the breeding grounds. Most other OC pesticides measured in osprey eggs showed a similar distribution, although mean concentrations of chlordane-related compounds were generally, and in some cases significantly, higher in samples collected from the Columbia River sites compared to elsewhere. Significantly greater concentrations of PCBs were found in eggs from the Columbia River basin compared to the Fraser. This was attributed to extensive development of hydroelectric generation and related industries on the Columbia system. Significant differences among sites were also found in the pattern of PCB congeners, e.g., eggs from the lower Columbia River site had proportionally greater concentrations of less chlorinated, Aroclor 1242–type PCBs compared to other sites. In contrast, eggs from upper reaches of the Columbia River had relatively greater amounts of Aroclor 1254 and 1260 congeners. Mercury concentrations in osprey eggs tended to be uniform among sites and comparable to those reported in the literature for ospreys nesting on naturally formed lakes and rivers. There were no significant temporal changes in mean concentrations of any of the measured compounds at sites monitored from 1991 to 1997.

Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxico↗