Preliminary results of fish tissue analysis in the Mississippi Embayment NAWQA Program (original) (raw)
Related papers
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1998
The approach of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) to monitoring of fish tissue contaminants is shown to have utility for regional assessment, and for discrimination of regional from local contamination. The survey sampling design employed by EMAP can be used to make regional assessments without conducting a complete resource inventory. The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Surface Waters conducted a survey of 167 lakes in the northeastern United States during 1992 through 1994 and analyzed whole fish composite samples for contaminants, including Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. Using fish tissue contaminant consumption risk levels derived from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hazard assessment models, methylmercury (MeHg) was determined to be the elemental contaminant of regional concern to fish consumers: 26% of lakes contained fish with MeHg exceeding a human critical value of 0.2 g/g; 54 and 98% of lakes contained fish with MeHg exceeding wildlife critical values for piscivorous mammals (0.1 g/g) and birds (0.02 g/g), respectively. The other elements analyzed appeared to be at safe levels on a regional scale, or only of localized concern with regard to human health.
Environmental Science & Technology, 1995
Recent reports have questioned the validity of dissolved trace element concentrations reported by the U.S. Geological Survey's National Stream Quality Accounting Network (NASQAN) as well as by other water-quality monitoring programs. To address these concerns and to evaluate the NASQAN protocols, the US. Geological Survey undertook the Mississippi River Methods Comparison Study. We report here the major results and implications of this study. In particular, we confirm the possible inaccuracy of previous NASQAN dissolved trace element data. The results suggest that all steps of the NASQAN protocol (sampling, processing, and analysis) require revision, though the sample filtration step appears to be of pa rtic u I ar concern.
2000
This report is an element of the comprehensive body of information developed as part of the NAWQA Program. The program depends heavily on the advice, cooperation, and information from many Federal, State, interstate, Tribal, and local agencies and the public. The assistance and suggestions of all are greatly appreciated.
Due to the bioaccumulation and biomagnification effects of Methyl Mercury (MeHg), elevated Hg concentration in fish has been found in some lakes and new impoundment reservoirs. Thus, this study analyzes the presence of Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) to determine the composite of whole-body largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) samples across three Missouri Lakes. The three lakes (Port Hudson, Buffalo Bill, and Ben Branch reservoirs) were compared with US-EPA Standard values to determine the concentration of 26 elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Se, V, Zn, B, Hg, Pb, P, Tl, Be, Ba, Sb, Ag, Al, and As) in largemouth bass (LMB; skin–off fillet). The two methods were validated from the analyses of certified reference materials (DOLT-5 and DORM-4). In addition, the weekly intakes of metals and metalloids in comparison with regulatory thresholds and the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks via ...
Assessing element-specific patterns of bioaccumulation across New England lakes
Science of The Total Environment, 2012
Little is known about differences among trace elements in patterns of bioaccumulation in freshwater food webs. Our goal was to identify patterns in bioaccumulation of different elements that are large and consistent enough to discern despite variation across lakes. We measured methylmercury (MeHg) and trace element (As, Cd, Hg, Pb, and Zn) concentrations in food web components of seven New England lakes on 3-5 dates per lake, and contrasted patterns of bioaccumulation across lakes, metals and seasons. In each lake, trace element concentrations were compared across trophic levels, including three size fractions of zooplankton, planktivorous fish, and piscivorous fish. The trophic position of each food web component was estimated from N isotope analysis. Trace element concentrations varied widely among taxa, lakes and sampling dates. Yet, we identified four consistent patterns of bioaccumulation that were consistent across lakes: (1) MeHg concentration increased (i.e., was biomagnified) and Pb concentration decreased (i.e., was biodiminished) with increased trophic position. (2) Zinc concentration (as with MeHg) was higher in fish than in zooplankton, but overall variation in Zn concentration (unlike MeHg) was low. (3) Arsenic and Cd concentrations (as with Pb) were lower in fish than in zooplankton, but (unlike Pb) were not significantly correlated with trophic position within zooplankton or fish groups. (4) Average summer concentrations of As, Pb, Hg, and MeHg in zooplankton significantly predicted their concentrations in either planktivorous or piscivorous fish. Our secondary goal was to review sampling approaches in forty-five published studies to determine the extent to which current sampling programs facilitate cross-lake and cross-study comparisons of bioaccumulation. We found that studies include different components of the food web and sample too infrequently to enable strong cross-lake and cross-study comparisons. We discuss sampling strategies that would improve our capacity to identify consistent patterns of bioaccumulation and drivers of elevated trace element concentrations under naturally high levels of variability.
Fish tissue quality in the lower Mississippi River and health risks from fish consumption
The Science of The Total Environment, 2003
Between 1990 and 1994, samples of three shellfish species (i.e. blue crab, Callinectes sapidus;crayfish, Procambarus acutis; and river shrimp, Macrobrachium ohionii) and 16 fish species and were collected at six sites along the lower Mississippi River by the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Office of Water Resources in coordination with the US Environmental Protection Agency. The fish species included: bigmouth buffalo (Ictiobus cyanellus); blue catfish (Ictalurus furcatus); carp (Cyprinus carpio); channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus); cobia (Rachycentron canadum); flathead catfish (Pylodictis olivaris); freshwater drum (Aplodinotus grunniens); largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides); long nose gar (Lepisosteus osseus); red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus); red snapper (Lutjanus campechanus); smallmouth buffalo (Ictiobus bubalus); spotted gar (Lepisosteus oculatus); striped bass (Morone saxatilis); white bass (Morone chrysops); and white crappie (Pomoxis annularis). Organic compound and heavy metal concentrations were measured in 161 composite fish tissue samples where each composite included three to 10 individual fish. Nineteen chemicals, found at measurable levels in sample tissues, were used in calculations of lifetime excess cancer and non-cancer risks due to fish consumption. We calculated: 574 chemical-specific cancer risks; 41 total cancer risks; and 697 margins of exposure based on a consumption rate of one 8-ounce meal per week (0.032 kgyday), a body weight of 70 kg and reported cancer potency factors and reference doses. We identified nine species of concern (blue catfish, carp, channel catfish, cobia, crayfish, flathead catfish, red drum, spotted gar and striped bass) based on total cancer risk greater than 10 or margin of exposure greater than 1, and whether or not samples y4 collected in subsequent years resulted in lower risks. The compounds primarily responsible for the elevated risks were aldrin, dieldrin, alpha-benzene hexachloride, gamma-benzene hexachloride, heptachlor epoxide, arsenic and mercury. ᮊ
Open-File Report
This report presents the results of a contaminant monitoring survey conducted annually by the Missouri Department of Conservation to examine the levels of selected elemental contaminants in fish fillets, fish muscle plugs, and crayfish. Fillets of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), bass (Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus dolomieu, Morone chrysops), walleye (Sander vitreus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), northern hog sucker (Hypentelium nigricans), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were collected from 21 sites as part of the Department's Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program. Long-pincered crayfish (Orconectes longidigitus) were collected from one site to assess trophic transfer of metals to fish. Fish muscle plugs were collected from smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) at two different locations from one site.
Science of The Total Environment, 1988
from the San Joaquin River and two tributaries (Merced River and Salt Slough) were analyzed to determine if the concentrations of any of nine elements were elevated as a result of exposure of the fish to agricultural subsurface (tile) drainage water. Highest concentrations (pg/g dry weight) detected were as follows (first number in each pair applies to bluegills and the second to carp): arsenic (As), 0.97 and 1.5; boron (B), 14 and 20; cadmium (Cd), 0.14 and 0.27; chromium (Cr), 2.7 and 2.2; mercury (Hg), 3.3 and 2.9; molybdenum (Mo), 2.8 and 3.6; nickel (Ni), 0.87 and 2.2; lead (Pb), 0.26 and 2.3; and selenium (Se), 3.2 and 5.5. The lowest concentrations were below the levels of detection, except for Hg (0.15 in bluegills and 0.12 in carp) and Se (0.43 and 0.56). As judged by comparisons with data from the National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program and other published surveys, the concentrations of B, Hg, Mo, and Se were moderately elevated in fish from several sites in the San Joaquin Valley. However, only the Se concentrations were positively correlated with water quality variables (e.g., total alkalinity, conductivity, and turbidity) known to be influenced by irrigation return flows. Historical data from one site (Salt Slough), where trace elements in whole fish have been measured since 1969, indicated that Se concentrations increased more than twofold between 1973 and 1977, but thereafter remained near 3.0.F~gg 1 (dry weight basis), presumably due to the continuing practice of disposing seleniferous tile drainage water into the most convenient stream channel.
Distribution, sources, and behavior of trace elements in the Clinton River Watershed, Michigan
Journal of Great Lakes Research, 2010
The Clinton River watershed near Detroit, Michigan, USA was separated in six different land uses: agricultural, residential, mixed industrial and residential, downstream industrial, Clinton River Spillway, and Lake St. Clair, utilizing As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn contents of the sediment that has median values of 3, 0.3, 15, 14, 13, and 57 mg kg − 1 , respectively. However, trace element concentrations in the lower Clinton River rivaled those in the most contaminated watersheds of the world. Enrichment factors and principal component analysis (PCA) separated trace elements into 2 categories: anthropogenic (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and geogenic (Al, As, Ca, Fe, K, Mg, TOC) sources. PCA linked agricultural, residential, and mixed industrial and residential land uses to anthropogenic Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, and lake sediments to geogenic elements, organic matter and clay contents. The downstream industrial zone has a unique source signature. Trace element concentrations varied with land use. The upper Clinton River (N 20 km from mouth; residential land use; median concentrations up to 25 mg kg − 1) appeared to meet delisting criteria. Partitioning was also land use and element specific with: (1) exchangeable fraction (up to 94% of total) related to road salt and mobile chloride complex formation; (2) carbonate-bound fraction (up to 100%) resulting from Ca substitution or adsorption; (3) presence of immobile (hydr)oxide-bound fraction (up to 90%) instead of potentially mobile organic matter and sulphide-bound fraction (up to 20%); and (4) residual fraction (up to 65%) originating from geogenic and/or anthropogenic sources. Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of International Association for Great Lakes Research.