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Assessment of Contaminant Impacts in Estuarine and Marine Environments
Biological Impacts of Metals from Abandoned Mine Lands in the Upper Animas River Watershed, Colorado
Development of Analytical Methods for Determining Organic Contaminants in Environmental Matrices
Development of Methods for Assessing the Quality of Marine and Estuarine Sediments
Ecotoxicological Investigations of Effects of Contaminants on Native Wildlife Species
Embryonic, Developmental, and Early Life Stage Toxicity of Environmental Contaminants in Fish
Photoenhanced Toxicity of Forest and Range Management Chemicals to Amphibians
Pilot Implementation of the Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program
Assessment
of Contaminant Impacts in Estuarine and Marine Environments (Contact:
Scott Carr Marine
Ecotoxicology Research Station)
Determining the significance of contaminants in sediments to marine and
estuarine organisms is a challenging new topic in environmental toxicology.
Mounting evidence exists of environmental degradation in areas where water
quality criteria are not exceeded, yet organisms are adversely affected.
Historically, emphasis has been placed on evaluating contaminant effects in
surface waters, not sediment. Most assessments of water quality focus on
water-soluble compounds, and sediment is considered a safe repository of sorbed
contaminants. This approach emphasizes testing organisms in the water column
without considering the fate of chemicals in sediment. The assessment of
sediment quality is often limited to chemical characterizations. However,
quantifying contaminant concentration alone cannot provide enough information to
adequately evaluate potential adverse effects, interactions among chemicals, or
the time- dependent availability of contaminants to aquatic organisms.
Definitive protocols that the USGS developed are being used to assess the
quality of marine and estuarine environments in coastal areas of the east, west
and Gulf coasts. The objectives of this project are to (1) perform field
validation sediment porewater toxicity test methods with the sea urchin Arbacia
punctulata, (2) assess the quality of marine and estuarine sediments from a wide
variety of coastal areas, and (3) develop a database which can be used in the
development of sediment quality guidelines.
Assessment
of the Aquatic Toxicity of Leachates from an Abandoned Uranium Tailings Pile
Adjacent to the Upper Colorado River (Contact:
Jim
Fairchild Ecology)
This project is conducted to determine the
adverse ecological impacts of contaminated groundwater leaching from beneath
the Atlas Uranium Mill Tailings (Atlas) site located near Moab,
UT. The
Atlas site is on the west bank of the Colorado River in the 100-year flood
plain; property and facilities originally owned by the Uranium
Reduction Company. The mill and site were acquired by
the Atlas Corporation in 1962, but ceased operation in 1984, and now are currently in the process of closing and reclaiming the Atlas
site, and implementing a Corrective Action Plan
(CAP). Additional data collection is underway to
update and revise the CAP for NRC review. Milling of ore at the Atlas site has
resulted in a large tailings pile located 230 m from the west bank of the
Colorado River and 3.7 km northwest of Moab, UT. The pile occupies about 53 ha
of land and is about 0.8 km in diameter and 28.65 m high, rises to an
elevation of 1237m above mean sea level with a height of about 27 m above the
surface of the Colorado River terrace. A ground water contamination plume
extends beyond the Atlas property to the south and is over 5,000 feet wide and
40 feet deep and discharges directly into the Colorado River, discharging
ammonia, uranium, molybdenum and nitrates. Limited water quality
measurements by the Utah DEQ have identified a
site-specific source of contaminated ground water entering the Colorado River
from beneath the tailings pile. Data indicates that ground water
discharge may pose a
threat to federally endangered fishes including the Colorado squawfish and
razorback sucker in their designated critical habitat. Critical
habitats include the Colorado River and the 100-year floodplain of the river
adjacent to and downstream of the Atlas Mill Tailings Site. The direct impacts
from ground water contamination associated with the
tailings pile leaching into the river are not fully assessed.
An on-site investigation will be conducted to determine the spatial extent of
contamination of the Upper Colorado River in the vicinity of the Atlas
tailings pile. On-site and laboratory toxicity studies
will be conducted with larval fathead minnows, juvenile Colorado squawfish (Ptychocheilus
lucius), and juvenile razorback suckers to evaluate survival,
growth, and behavioral responses. Results will be used by the USFWS in planning and implementation of
remediation efforts needed to reduce the entry of contaminants into the river.
Assessing
the Effects of Metals-Contaminated Water and Food Chain on the Fishery of the
Coeur d'Alene Basin, Idaho (Contact: Aida
Farag Jackson Field Research
Station)
Metals are elevated in water, sediment, and biota of the Coeur d'Alene
(CDA)
River Basin, ID, and can become acutely toxic in surface waters
after rainfall or during periods of high runoff when spring snow is melting.
Recent studies indicated fish and aquatic invertebrates were exposed to
chronic metals contamination throughout the year. Arsenic, cadmium, copper,
lead, and zinc concentration in aquatic invertebrates and fish were 2 to 14
times greater than the concentrations found in the same sources from less
contaminated tributaries. Other studies show that trout diets containing
metals-contaminated invertebrates result in reduced survival, growth, and
health of the fish. Also, both rainbow trout and
brown trout avoid low metals
concentrations that chronically exist in the river. Cutthroat trout and bull
trout inhabit rivers, streams, or the lake within the basin as juveniles and
adults and return to their natal tributaries for spawning and nursery areas.
The presence of metals contamination in the Coeur d'Alene River may limit
movement of mature bull trout and cutthroat trout upriver from Lake Coeur d'Alene
or uncontaminated tributaries. Survival during the period following emergence
from the redd has the greatest influence on population density for both
species. Emergent cutthroat and bull trout fry feed exclusively
on aquatic insects. Dependence of this sensitive life stage on a
metals-contaminated diet may also be a limiting factor for cutthroat trout and
bull trout populations in the South Fork of the Coeur d'Alene River. Cutthroat trout were exposed to water simulating the Coeur d'Alene River and
fed diets consisting of aquatic invertebrates collected from the South Fork of
the Coeur d'Alene River between Kellogg, ID, and the confluence of the North
Fork. Appropriate reference and control diets were used and fish were
monitored for survival, growth, metals accumulation, and health condition,
along with avoidance tests performed. Upstream migration of adult male chinook
salmon was monitored by radio telemetry to determine their response to the
presence of metals contamination in an upstream natal stream in a different
drainage to the CDA River. The
research findings will be used by DOI natural resource managers to
assess damages to aquatic resources. The information will be used in
restoration planning.
Biological
Impacts of Metals from Abandoned Mine Lands in the Upper Animas River Watershed, Colorado
(Contact: John Besser
Toxicology)
Numerous abandoned mine lands are located on or adjacent to public lands
administered by federal land management agencies (FLMAs). The USGS Abandoned
Mine Lands (AML) Initiative started in FY97 to provide technical assistance to
FLMAs in support of remediation efforts in watersheds in Montana and Colorado.
The goal of the AML Initiative is to develop and test a watershed-based
strategy to provide information needed to guide and evaluate remediation of
mined lands. One of the two target watersheds selected for the AML Initiative
is the upper Animas River basin, in southwest Colorado. Effluents and waste
deposits from past and present heavy metal mining activities can adversely
affect aquatic biota by acidification and metal contamination of water and
sediment, contamination and reduced productivity of food resources, and
degradation of stream and riparian habitat. Dissolved metals and acidity may
be acutely toxic to sensitive fish, invertebrates, and algae in
streams directly affected by mine drainage. Aqueous metal concentrations less than those causing acute toxicity
may affect fish survival, growth, and reproduction. Stream salmonids can
detect and avoid aqueous metal concentrations much less than those causing
direct toxicity, which may effectively increase the area of stream impacted by
metal contamination. Benthic invertebrates may also be affected by toxicity of
both water and metal-contaminated sediments. The resulting altered composition
and reduced productivity of invertebrate communities can result in reduced growth
rates and lower population densities of fish such as trout, which rely heavily
on invertebrate diets. Consumption of diets of metal-contaminated
invertebrates is also an important route of metal exposure for stream fishes,
and metal-contaminated diets can result in reduced growth and other adverse
effects in trout populations. The goal of the AML Initiative is to provide a sound scientific basis for remediation efforts by
FLMAs. The watershed-based approach of the AML Initiative is intended to
allow prioritization of sites for remediation, ensuring that remediation is
performed in the most cost-effective manner possible. Studies in the
upper Animas Watershed is closely linked to ongoing efforts by the
Animas River Stakeholders Group, who is also preparing a plan for
remediation of mining impacts on the watershed and which is conducting a
Use-Attainability Analysis to determine feasible goals for water quality
improvement in the upper Animas.
Characterize
the Source and Distribution of Metals in Key Aquatic Organisms in Boulder
River, Montana (Contact: Aida
Farag Jackson Field Research
Station)
The Boulder River and some of its tributaries receive direct effluent from
abandoned mines and runoff from old tailing piles located in the basin.
As a result, metals could potentially accumulate in the sediment, water, and
aquatic biota present in the Boulder River. The quantity and quality of the
aquatic biota present and the overall ecological health of the Boulder River
may ultimately deteriorate because of these metal exposures. This biological
assessment will identify the source and movement of metals in key aquatic
organisms and provide an assessment of exposure of resident fish. These data
along with data from fishery population surveys that will be performed by
staff from the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks will be used to
assess the ecological health of the Boulder River and its tributaries. We will determine if exposure to metals has resulted in a quantitative loss in
fish populations in the Boulder River basin. This study will be performed in
conjunction with the sediment and water sampling that has been implemented and
funded as part of the USGS Abandoned Mine Land Initiative
Initiative. The aquatic study described is needed to define baseline conditions for
metals loading in various aquatic communities and to determine the magnitude
and pathways of exposure from mining waste activities. Analysis of baseline
and impacted streams will allow us the opportunity to determine the loss in
quantity and health of the fishery resource and to determine how this loss
relates to metals exposure through various pathways. The recovery of fishery
resources will be one of the gages by which successful remediation in the
Boulder River Basin will be measured. Not only does the presence of benthic
macroinvertebrates indicate ecological health, but their important role as a
food source for fish translates into their direct influence on fish
distribution and population. The objective of this study is to determine the
pathway of fish exposure to metals and to determine if the exposure has
resulted in a quantitative loss in fish populations in the Boulder River
Basin.
Contaminant
Tends in Fisheries of the Nation's Major Lakes and Streams: National
Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP) (Contact:
Chris
Schmitt Ecology)
The National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP) was established to
document trends in the occurrence of persistent toxic chemicals that may
threaten fish and wildlife resources. Begun in the early 1960s as part of the
National Pesticide Monitoring Program, the NCBP has expanded its initial focus
on persistent organochlorine insecticides to include industrial chemicals,
herbicides, and potentially toxic elemental contaminants. The program also
provides necessary feedback to the regulatory process by documenting the
success (or failure) of regulatory actions related to environmental
contaminants. The NCBP provides a nationwide source of material that is
searched analytically for the occurrence of new or previously undetected
environmental contaminants to provide information on emerging problems and for
the development of new and improved analytical methods. Through its archival
function, the NCBP also provides a means for retrospective analyses and
documentation of historical trends for newly identified environmental
contaminants. Information from this historical program has also provided an
impetus for developing a revised and expanded monitoring program
(Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends
BEST), which was transferred
to USGS in 1996. Through 1986 (Study 1), the most recent
collection that was analyzed in its entirety, the collection frequency, was
generally two-years, with collection occurring in the fall or even-numbered
(calendar) years. A subset of the fish collected in 1988 (Study 2) was
analyzed for an expanded suite of contaminants. The next collection was
originally scheduled for 1992 but was canceled pending development of an
expanded monitoring program, BEST. Pilot studies conducted for BEST (Study 3)
were transferred to work unit 40098 in FY95. Study 4 involved preparation of a
monograph for inclusion in the BRD Status and Trends
Report; Study 5 is
the retabulation of legacy data from the NCBP (through 1986) to be served on
the World-Wide Web under the auspices of the NBII. The objective of this
research is to determine and interpret temporal and geographic trends in
contaminant concentrations in the nations major freshwater ecosystems to
ascertain the ecological role of bioaccumulation contaminants.
Development
of Analytical Methods for Determining Organic Contaminants in Environmental
Matrices (Contact: Carl
Orazio Environmental Chemistry)
As various classes of chemical pollutants become more
clearly defined, the need arises for more sensitive and more specific
analyses. Long recognized pollutants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated dioxins, and organochlorine
pesticides are being subjected to ever-closer scrutiny. As more information on
their modes of action becomes available, the lowest level of possible
biological effect is often revised downward, requiring detection limits be
reduced. Many existing analytical methods lack the specificity to determine
closely related compounds or their toxic metabolites. Organic contaminants
often occur in complex mixtures that are bioconcentrated in organisms, where
synergistic and antagonistic effects have been shown to result. The ability to
quantify the broad spectrum of chemicals present in the environment is
critical to assessing potential effects resulting from organism exposure.
Methods of analysis need to incorporate new separation and detection
technology. By optimizing methods, site assessment activities can be better
supported. The information generated will enable resource managers to
transform research findings into sound environmental policy decisions. Methods of chemical analysis will be developed to meet research and assessment
needs related to the distribution and effects of toxic chemicals, including
endocrine-disrupting compounds; phototoxic PAHs, polar contaminants and
emerging environmental contaminants. Trace organic analytical methods will be
developed to measure members of these contaminant classes. To isolate
and identify contaminants in biota, water, and sediment these advanced
capabilities will be used: capillary gas
chromatography (GC), high-performance liquid chromatography, high-performance
gel permeation chromatography, low and high-resolution mass spectrometry (MS),
customized sorbent chromatography, and
field sampling techniques. New methods
will be used to validate toxicity determinations made by various bioassay
techniques and immunochemical assays.
Development
and Application of Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) as Environmental
Dosimeters for Contaminants in Water, Air, Sediment and Soil (Contact:
David Alverez Environmental
Chemistry)
Scientists have long recognized the unfortunate tendency of fish and wildlife
to concentrate trace contaminants both directly from water and through the
food web to potentially harmful levels. Knowledge of the types and amounts of
biologically available trace contaminants in the environment is a fundamental
part of assessing the overall quality of critical fish and wildlife habitats.
Unfortunately, these key environmental concentration data are often
unavailable to resource managers and regulators because of the transient
nature of most chemical spills and pesticide applications and the limited
ability of analytical laboratories to detect very low but often harmful levels
of persistent environmental contaminants. CERC research chemists have
demonstrated the selective movement of toxic organic contaminants from water
and air into semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs), forming the basis for a
unique methodology to separate and recover toxic organic compounds in fish and
wildlife habitats. The SPMD has the potential to function as an in-situ
passive sampling device that mimics the bioconcentration of environmental
contaminants. This work unit will document progress in the development of SPMD
technology and its application to define fish, wildlife, and human exposure to
pollution and to determine the quality of wetland, riverine, and riparian
habitats. The full development of the SPMD technology will require
designing several appropriate device configurations (currently, the SPMDs
consist of high molecular weight lipids enclosed in thin polymeric membranes)
and determining the uptake rates of a wide array of environmental contaminant
classes by SPMDs. The SPMDs, containing the appropriate concentration media,
will be placed in microcosms, flow-through dilutors, generator column systems,
mesocosms, ponds, lakes, and rivers to extend our knowledge to the sampling
rates of synthetic mixtures of contaminants and ultimately as estimators of
ambient concentrations of pollutants. The SPMD technology will also be used to
create high-efficiency air samplers and explored for use as sequestration
devices for heavy metals (e.g., Cd, Pb, Hg). Following exposure, the SPMD
extracts will be processed using class- or element-specific enrichment
procedures and the isolated residues will be analyzed by appropriate
instrumentation (GC, HPLC, GC/MS, etc.). Kinetic experiments, including both
static and flow-through exposure, are underway to provide data for development
of models for estimating environmental concentrations of contaminant mixtures
(e.g., PAHs and PCBs). The purpose of this research is to fully develop and
validate SPMDs and other passive integrative samplers as estimators of fish,
wildlife and human exposure to environmental contaminants and for use in
defining habitat quality.
Development
and Testing of Biomarkers: Suitability for Use in the Biomonitoring of
Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) Program (Contact:
Don Tillitt,
Biochemistry)
A revised and expanded contaminant monitoring program is necessary to assess
existing, and anticipate future, contaminant-related impacts to fish and
wildlife and their habitats. To achieve these objectives, the revised program,
to be named
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends
(BEST), will use
a biologically integrated approach to monitor resources at the tissue,
organism, population, and community levels; and address Trust Resource issues
on and off Department lands. The BEST program will emphasize a holistic
ecosystem approach to environmental contaminant monitoring of aquatic and
terrestrial habitats and will help resource managers such as the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service complete their missions by serving as a framework for
operational, research, and administrative environmental contaminant
activities. Monitoring programs such as the National Contaminant Biomonitoring
Program (NCBP) originated in the 1960s and were based upon tissue residue
analyses for environmental contaminants that accumulate in fish and wildlife.
Although still present at potentially harmful concentrations in some areas,
most of the contaminants included in the NCBP are no longer used; however,
alternative pesticides and other contaminants have since been developed,
discovered, or both, and have been introduced into the environment. Many of
these newer contaminants do not bioaccumulate and alternative methods are
required to assess exposure and effects. To maximize the
overall efficiency of the biomarker validation process, field studies were to
be conducted in concert with other investigations that include more
traditional measures (tissue and sediment residue chemistry, solid- and
liquid-phase toxicity testing, and community ecology). Accordingly, the Center
focused on field-validating the SPMD
at sites known to be contaminated by nonpolar organic contaminants of
industrial and agricultural origin (i.e., the Upper Mississippi River,
Apalachicola River, and the Klamath Basin) and on interfacing short-term
biochemical tests for organic chemical exposure (AHH and EROD induction) with
the SPMD (Study 1). The Center also worked on improving existing techniques
for measuring delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALA-D) inhibition as an
indicator of lead exposure in fish at selected mining-contaminated sites in
Missouri (Study 2) and on developing methods for the risk assessment of
contaminated sediments based on chemical and toxicity testing, and community
indicators using data from a multiyear regional investigation of Great Lakes
sediments (Study 3). The objective of this study is to examine a suite of
biomarkers of contaminants exposure and effects to determine which would be
useable in the BEST program.
Development
of Methods for Assessing the Quality of Marine and Estuarine Sediments (Contact:
Scott Carr Marine
Ecotoxicology Research Station)
Determining the significance of contaminants in sediments to marine and
estuarine organisms is a challenging new topic in environmental toxicology.
Mounting evidence exists of environmental degradation in areas where water
quality criteria are not exceeded, yet organisms are adversely affected.
Historically, emphasis has been placed on evaluating contaminant effects in
surface waters, not sediment. Most assessments of water quality focus on
water-soluble compounds, and sediment is considered a safe repository of
sorbed contaminants. This approach emphasizes testing organisms in the water
column without considering the fate of chemicals in sediment. The assessment
of sediment quality is often limited to chemical characterizations. However,
quantifying contaminant concentration alone cannot provide enough information
to adequately evaluate potential adverse effects, interactions among
chemicals, or the time-dependent availability of contaminants to aquatic
organisms. The focus of this project is to develop novel techniques for
assessing the quality of marine and estuarine environments. The objectives of
this project are (1) to evaluate and optimize the porewater toxicity testing
approach, (2) to develop and evaluate toxicity identification evaluation (TIE)
procedures for marine and estuarine sediments, and (3) to develop and evaluate
in situ toxicity testing methods for marine and estuarine sediments.
Development
of Microscale Toxicity Tests and Risk Assessment Strategies for Resource
Contaminant Problems (Contact:
Biochemistry/Physiology)
Biological monitoring tools are needed for routine use to assess the toxicological impact of aquatic pollutants on
fish and wildlife. In the last two decades,
microscale bacterial in vitro toxicity assays emerged as important
ecotoxicological screening tools to monitor the hazards of chemical
contaminants in the biosphere. Microscale toxicological testing has the
potential to identify and quantify the extent of resource damage, predict the
effects of complex mixtures of chemicals, and identify the contaminant(s) responsible for resource degradation. In addition, microscale testing is a
simple, cost-effective, and sensitive alternative to traditional and costly
whole-animal tests with fish and invertebrates. The applicability of
microscale tests is presently limited because of insufficient validation and
standardization. The present challenge is to develop objective criteria to
determine which ecotoxicological tests can be used most effectively to
standardize test and data protocols and to define, as clearly as possible, how
results will be evaluated to identify areas of concern. Completion of this
work unit will provide tools applicable to Natural Resource Damage Assessments
and Restoration Program
(NRDAR) and Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) as well as
remediation programs of polluted sites on DOI lands, and as a result will
directly benefit management plans for aquatic resources. This work unit will
provide the USGS with standardized and validated assays that will directly
monitor and assess toxicological stresses in aquatic ecosystems. Microscale assays will be developed and modified to monitor and assess the
presence of toxicological chemicals of ecological concern.
Ecotoxicological
Investigations of Effects of Contaminants on Native Wildlife Species (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
Certain populations of the wildlife fauna of the Texas-New Mexico region are
believed to be suffering serious impacts from environmental contaminants. This
project was undertaken to identify, study, and evaluate contaminant-wildlife
problems where the viability of populations is thought to be at risk. Emphasis
is on amphibians, reptiles, birds and bats. Dicofol and DDT residues were measured in lizard carcasses
and bird eggs from Texas, Florida, and California (spotted
whiptail lizard, Cnemidophorus
gularis; six-lined
racerunner, C. sexlineatus; green
anole, Anolis
carolinensis; great-tailed
grackle, Quiscalus mexicanus;
white-tipped dove, Leptotila verreauxi; white- winged
dove, Zenaida
asiatic; black-headed
stilt, Himantopus mexicanus; American
avocet, Recurvirostra
americana; Northern
harrier, Circus cyaneus; American
bittern, Botaurus
lentiginosus; killdeer, Charadrius vociferus;
cinnamon
teal, Anas
cyanoptera; mallard, A. platyrhynchos). Residue concentrations were
evaluated in reference to published reproductive effects in birds in the
literature. (b) Uptake of arsenic and metals by tadpoles (cricket
frog, Acris
crepitans; leopard
frog, Rana sphenocephala; green
frog, R.
clamitans; bullfrog, R. catesbeiana) at a historically contaminated
Texas site was compared to tadpoles from other contaminated and non-contaminated
sites described in the literature. Concentrations were evaluated as potential
toxic threats for tadpole predators. (c) Comparative sublethal effects of two
common agricultural chemicals to toads (Gulf Coast
toad, Bufo valliceps;
East Texas toad, B. velatus) were compared. Sublethal, behavioral
effects and brain cholinesterase levels were measured relative to carbofuran
and trifluralin exposure. (d) Contaminant exposure and effects in blood of
wetland reptiles at two sites in central Texas will be measured (diamond-backed water
snake, Nerodia rhombifer; blotched water
snake, N.
erythrogaster; cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus;
red-eared
slider, Trachemys scripta). Pesticide and metal concentrations in blood
will be evaluated in relation to bird reproduction reported in the literature.
Cholinesterase levels will be assessed in relation to baseline data. Genetic
damage will be measured by flow cytometry relative to other reports for
reptiles in the literature. (e) Possible effects of pesticide drift on
herpetofauna in resacas on the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife
Refuge, Texas (red-eared slider, Trachemys scripta; diamond-backed
water snake, Nerodia rhombifer; Rio Grande lesser
siren, Siren
intermedia texana) (the siren is a state-listed threatened species) will
be assessed by examining blood cholinesterase and genetic damage and comparing
between the three species. (f) Pesticide exposure and endocrine disruption in
the Rio Grande leopard frog (Rana berlandieri). Field exposure to
pesticides will be evaluated and laboratory studies will evaluate possible
effects on thyroid and sex hormones.
Effects
of Environmental Contaminants on Major Wildlife Species of the Lower Rio Grande
Valley, Texas (Contact:
Laverne Cleveland)
The Lower Rio Grande Valley (LRGV) is a major agricultural area in Texas. Recent
findings of deformed reddish egrets in the lower Laguna Madre have caused
concern among DOI resource managers regarding impacts of agricultural pesticides
and other contaminants on regional wildlife populations, especially colonial
waterbirds and endangered species. Additionally, the Lower Rio Grande Valley is
subject to non-point source pollution from surrounding municipal and industrial
activities. Some of the chemicals these sources typically produced have been
shown to act as estrogens in laboratory studies. A variety of local and
migratory birds rely on resacas and aquatic environments for feeding, nesting,
and cover habitat. Our studies are designed to determine if colonial,
fish-eating aquatic birds in the LRGV are exposed to and affected by (anti) estrogenic
substances. Also, investigations of contaminant concentrations in tissues of
selected wildlife species and their relationships with pesticide use and
reproduction will provide information regarding current impacts of environmental
contaminants on wildlife of the region. This information is needed to protect
and manage wildlife populations in the Lower Rio Grande Valley. In this
study we will assess (1) exposure and effects of organochlorine pesticides,
polychlorinated biphenyls, and heavy metals on wading birds, aplomado
falcons,
and ocelots of the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, (2) a framework for assessing
the adverse effects of environmental contaminants on biota of the Rio Grande
Basin, and (3) provide screening for endocrine-disrupting chemicals in fish and
aquatic birds of the Lower Rio Grande Valley. The objective of this study are 1) determine effects of environmental contaminants on wildlife
with emphasis on aquatic birds, the aplomado falcon, and ocelot of the LRGV; 2) identify the relevant resource and contamination issues, assess
exposure and ecological effects, identify data gaps, and determine risks by
conducting a detailed review and synthesis of current and historic information
on contaminant stressors; and 3) monitor endocrine-disrupting
chemicals and their effects on breeding birds in the LRGV.
Embryonic,
Developmental, and Early Life Stage Toxicity of Environmental Contaminants in
Fish (Contact: Don
Tillitt Biochemistry/Physiology)
The most sensitive portion of a fish's life to the toxic effects of chemical
contaminants is from embryonic development through the fry stages. This has been
demonstrated to be true for numerous classes of chemicals. However, there are
two shortcomings of the standard protocols for testing the toxicity of chemicals
to early life stages of fish. First, the current tests rely on a waterborne exposure. This
is fine for hydrophilic chemicals, but many of the chemicals which are of
concern in the aquatic environment are hydrophobic and persistent. For hydrophobic compounds, the major route of exposure to the developing fish
embryo is from the chemical received from maternal deposition into the oocyte
during maturation in the adult fish. Therefore, test methods are required that
will allow the study of effects on hydrophobic chemicals on early life stages of
fish. We have developed fish egg injection techniques to mimic the
deposition of hydrophobic chemicals into fish eggs. The second shortcoming of current test methods to study early life stage
toxicity in fish is that there are no mechanistic models that have been
developed to understand and study toxicity on fish development.
Such models are needed to understand various modes of action of chemicals and to
be able to predict organismal and population level effects. The models must
consist of endpoints of toxicity from multiple levels of organization
(biochemical, cellular, organ, and organismal) in order for them to be
predictive models. This research will include
the characterization of egg injection techniques for fish species with small
eggs that are of interest to resource managers (i.e., threatened or endangered
species) and those fish that are important in the study of fish developmental
biology (e.g., medaka or zebrafish). The use of these species will allow
multigenerational studies of contaminant effects to be conducted. The second
area of research is the development of
biochemical, molecular and histological probes that can be used to study,
characterize, and develop a fish model for embryonic development and the effects
of environmental contaminants These probes will be linked to markers of
development that will allow their use in a variety of species. As well, the
probes will be able to be used to classify groups of chemicals based on their
mode of chemical action. The third area of research is the
study of complex mixtures of chemicals on early life stages of fish. The
developed techniques will allow the study of complex mixtures of contaminants as
they exist in the environment. Results of these studies are currently applied to
problems of lake trout and salmonid recruitment in the Great Lakes, assessment
of reproductive health in the Housatonic River, MA, and other locations in the U.S.
Environmental
Assessment of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals (Contact:
Diana Papoulias Biochemistry/Physiology)
The ability of environmental contaminants to affect reproductive and
developmental processes in fish and wildlife species has long been known. An
increasingly persuasive body of evidence indicates that many of these chemicals
may be causing such effects through interference and disruption of normal
endocrine function. Field observations have correlated abnormal sex organ morphology,
unusual sex hormone levels and rations, and altered physiological and
biochemical processes (such as high levels of production of vitellogenin by male
fish) with exposure to environmental contaminants. These biological endpoints
are modulated by the endocrine system, lending credence to the hypothesis that
environmental contaminants may disrupt endocrine function. However, a linkage
between altered endocrine function and reproductive success in fish and wildlife
populations in the field is not well established. Study 1) Physiological assessment of individual and mixtures of
putative endocrine disrupting
chemicals. Physiological effects of exposure to
putative endocrine disrupting chemicals will be characterized by measuring a
number of biological endpoints in rainbow trout exposed to single and multiple
known chemicals. In addition, the effects of environmentally relevant chemical
mixtures sequestered in semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) on these same
biological endpoints will be characterized. Study 2) Screening for the presence
and effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals in fish-eating birds of the Lower
Rio Grande Valley. The reproductive success of fish-eating birds nesting in
Falcon Dam in the Rio Grande, Texas will be assessed on a physiological level by
measuring plasma hormone and vitellogenin levels and comparing these effects to
behavioral and anatomical determinations. In addition, chemicals mixtures in
tissues and eggs will be analyzed by traditional tests. Study 3) In vivo fish
bioassay directed identification of endocrine disrupting chemicals in complex
environmental mixtures. Methods will be developed to fractionate pulp and paper
mill effluent from a bleached-kraft source. The fish, medaka, will
be exposed to the resulting fractions for assessment of endocrine disruption. In
addition, the chemicals in the resulting active fractions will be identified.
Study 4) Development, characterization and validation of an in vivo model for
endocrine disrupting chemicals on sexual differentiation and development in
fish. A screening assay for the effects of chemicals on sexual development and
differentiation in a medaka model will be characterized using egg/embryo
exposure to sex hormones and anti-hormones and assessing responses in the
reproductive organs. The model will then be evaluated by assessing the
reproductive behaviors of mature egg/embryo-exposed medaka. Study 5) Effects of
dioxin-like chemicals on the embryonic development and behavioral responses in
early life stages of fishes. The role of endocrine disrupting chemicals on the
depletion of thiamine and subsequent induction of early mortality syndrome in
salmonids will be determined. In addition, a model for testing endocrine
disrupting chemicals on fish populations and at the community level will be
developed. The objective of this project is to develop and implement a research
program that embodies the goals of the Federal strategy for addressing the
ecological effects of endocrine disrupting chemicals developed by the National
Science and Technology Council and also meets the scientific information and
technology needs of Department of Interior bureaus managing fish and wildlife
resources potentially threatened by endocrine disrupting chemicals.
Immunochemical
Methods for the Determination of Environmental Contaminants and Their
Biochemical Responses in Fish (Contact:
Jim
Zajicek Biochemistry/Physiology)
Currently, highly specific and sensitive state-of-the-art
instrumental methods exist to determine many routine contaminants.
However, a number of shortcomings are associated with these traditional
instrumental determinative methods. Traditional methods of analyses
are expensive, require highly trained individuals to
operate expensive instrumentation, and require significant
amounts of time. As a result, the scope of many
important environmental projects is often limited, and some projects not
feasible. Nearly a hundred commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)
kits have been commercialized to measure about 30 target contaminants in water
and soil extracts. These target contaminants include agri-chemicals and
industrial chemicals.
Commercial ELISA kits provide a range of advantages over traditional
determinative methods: (a) no sample cleanup or pre-concentration; (b) where cleanup is required it is often reduced; (c) even when a rigorous
extraction and cleanup are required, the ELISA determinative analysis is less
expensive; (d) the ELISA instrumentation is less expensive and easy to operate; and (e) some ELISA determinations are amenable to
automation and miniaturization. Together these advantages of ELISA facilitate
the analysis of increased numbers of samples, with less sample, decreased
manpower, and faster reporting. Although not a panacea, ELISA determinations
have proven to be superior for a number of situations and complementary to
traditional instrumental analyses when they are used in quick semi-quantitative
screening mode to select samples for more detailed instrumental analyses. Research in this work unit will first include the characterization of commercial
ELISA kits for a variety of contaminants that are important to ongoing and
planned environmental studies. These studies
will be designed to characterize the kits using calibration standards,
vendor-supplied control materials, and in-house quality assurance and quality
control materials. Since a majority of the commercial kits have been
characterized only for direct analysis of water samples and soil extracts, the
second area of research will focus on application of the ELISA kits to
traditional extracts of alternative environmental matrices, such as biological
tissues and sediments and the nontraditional matrices, such as passive samplers.
These matrices provide additional, as yet, poorly characterized analytical
challenge, due to their hydrophobic properties that require special techniques
to make them compatible with the predominately hydrophilic ELISA media. The
third area of this research the study of alternative ELISA and immunochemical
techniques. These developed techniques will be used to begin to immunochemically
identify the biochemical responses in tissues of target organs of fish and
wildlife. Additionally, we are developing biochemical methods of analysis for
nutrients and enzymes which can metabolize nutrients in the aquatic food chain.
Photoenhanced Toxicity of Forest and
Range Management Chemicals to Amphibians (Contact:
Ed
Little Ecology)
The ultraviolet radiation (UV) component of sunlight can pose a direct threat to
aquatic flora and fauna and can also compound the impact of environmental
contamination through additive and synergistic interactions. Under additive
interactions the UV exposure can provide stress that is additive with stresses
induced by toxicant exposure. UV can also directly interact with the aquatic
contaminant to increase the contaminants toxicity through changes in chemical
structure or enhanced biotic uptake. Contaminants that are potentially
photoenhanced by UV are not well known but include certain metals and
polyaromatic hydrocarbons. In recent studies scientists at CERC have found that
the toxicity of the common pesticide, carbaryl, to amphibians increases 12 fold
in the presence of UV; toxicity of water accommodated fractions of petroleum
increased by 6-fold, and the toxicity of forest fire-fighting chemicals
increased by 400-fold under environmentally relevant UV intensities. The use of
such products in forest and range management practices is of concern since many
of these products are applied directly to amphibian habitats. Malathion
applications for grasshopper control has been implicated in the recent
endangerment of the Wyoming toad. Fire-retardant/suppressant chemicals can be
used in areas where the loss of boreal toad and tiger salamander populations is
occurring. Photoenhanced toxicity is likely a function of UV radiation intensity
and duration of exposure, and thus is dependent on the amount of suspended
solids, plankton, and organic matter which absorb UV wave lengths in the water
column. During this three year investigation CERC will study the interactive
effects of ultraviolet radiation and chemical substances commonly applied in
forest and range management practices on amphibians. Amphibians, such as Rana
pipins, Bufo boreas, Bufo woodhousii, and Hyla versicolor,
will be exposed as embryos and larvae to various intensities of UV-B and aquatic
contaminants as single stressors as well as combined stressors using a
dose-response approach. Tests with selected chemicals will determine the
persistence of toxicity following field applications and may include exposures
of metamorphosed amphibians to determine impact on terrestrial life stages. UV
radiation and related water quality variables will be measured in the water
column of their habitats. Contaminants tested will include pesticides, such as
malathion and permethrin used for forest pest management, and other substances
used in forest management. The contaminant treatments will bracket expected
environmental concentrations. The UV treatments will reflect the range of
intensities observed in their habitat. Results of these studies will identify
compounds that are toxicologically photoenhanced. The data will be used to
determine the threshold sensitivities of aquatic organisms for such compounds in
their habitats using survival, mortality, behavioral modification, and
biochemical measures as indicators of stress. This research will: a) determine
the extent to which the toxicity of forest/range management chemicals to various
life stages of species of concern is influenced by the environmentally realistic
solar irradiance levels, b) determine if the photoenhancement occurs in the
water column or in bound tissue residues, c) determine water quality
characteristics of the habitat that may mitigate or enhance photoenhanced
toxicity, and d) assess persistence of toxicity following field applications.
Pilot
Implementation of the Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST)
Program (Contact: Chris
Schmitt Ecology)
The
Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST)
program was designed to monitor and assess the effects of a
broader array of contaminants by incorporating endpoints known to respond to a
variety of chemical stressors and to the accumulative chemicals measured in the
NCBP, BEST was also designed to provide information on chemical effects and
exposure. Study 1
represents a pilot for national-scale, large rivers monitoring by the BEST
program. Fish were collected at 34 of the 38 historic NCBP sites in the
Mississippi River basin by cooperating biologists from the FWS and USGS. To test
compatibility with the USGS- National Water Quality Assessment (NAWQA) program,
fish were also collected at selected sites in the Mississippi embayment (n=9)
and eastern Iowa basins (n=5) NAWQA study units. At each NCBP site, the target
was 10 each of male and female largemouth bass and common carp; at NAWQA sites,
only one species was collected (common carp primary species, largemouth bass
secondary). For each fish, a field health assessment was conducted at the time
of capture, and specified tissues and fluids were collected for biomarker
analyses to be performed by cooperating scientists at the CERC, FCSC, and LSC of
USGS-BRD and at the University of Florida. Biomarkers of endocrine disruption
were included for evaluation. Composite samples of whole fish were retained for
analysis of accumulative contaminants. In Study 2, we are evaluating a suite of
methods for assessing the benthic invertebrate community of large floodplain
rivers. A suite of methods were tested at selected sites on the Missouri River
to evaluate the feasibility of monitoring the benthic community and water
quality of a large riverine ecosystem. In Study 3, a literature review and
supporting bibliography are being compiled on the biological markers being used
in Studies 1 and 4. In Study 4, the markers tested in Study 1 and under review
in Study 3 are being applied at selected NCBP sites in the Columbia River and
Rio Grande basins; NASQAN II sites were sampled to test and evaluate
compatibility between BEST and the latter program of the USGS-WRD. Study 5 is
the management, analysis, and interpretation of data from a 1994 reconnaissance
study of endocrine disruption in fish conducted jointly by WRD and BRD in
selected NAWQA study units. Study 6 is the implementation of the BEST design at
sites in the Great Lakes and tributaries that CERC, GLSC, BRD-NAWQA, and EPA are
conducting jointly. In study 6, selected BEST biomarkers are being used in a
cooperative study of western estuaries (with FWS and EPA-EMAP). The goal of the
BEST program is to monitor, identify, and understand the effects of
environmental contaminants on the Nations biological resources, particularly
those under the stewardship of the Department of the Interior; and to provide
scientific information for guiding management decisions related to environmental
contaminants and their effects on trust resources.
The
Effects of Anthropogenic Factors on Ecosystems Supporting the Neosho Madtom (Noturus
placidus), with Emphasis on Historic Zinc-Lead Mining (Contact:
Chris Schmitt Ecology)
The Spring-Neosho (Grand) River system in KS, OK, and MO
supports the only remaining populations of the Neosho madtom (Noturus
placidus), a federally listed threatened species. Once distributed
throughout the system, the species is now abundant only in portions of the
Neosho and Cottonwood Rivers in KS and OK. A remnant population exists
in the Spring River, in Jasper County, MO, and Cherokee County, KS.
Much historic habitat has been inundated by impoundments. Additional habitat has
been degraded by in-stream gravel mining, feedlot operations, and historic
lead-zinc mining in the Tri-State Mining Distinct of MO, OK, and KS. Both Jasper and Cherokee Counties have been declared Superfund Sites by
the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and are on the National Priority List (NPL)
for remediation. Additional remediation in OK is anticipated. The present
study seeks to determine the extent to which metals from historic mining
activities in the Tri-State District influence the distribution of N.
placidus in the Spring River Basin and to guide the remediation of these
mining Superfund sites to prevent further harm to the remnant population. This study involves determining the present distribution and relative abundance
of Neosho madtoms in the mining-affected portions of the Spring River system;
quantifying the habitat requirements of the species; and differentiating among
physical, chemical, and biological factors that may control the distribution.
Task 1 will focus on riffles and gravel bars, the interstitial spaces of which
are occupied by N. placidus adults in spring and summer, and the
abundance and quality of which are presently believed to be limiting.
Potentially suitable habitat in the mining-affected portions of the Spring River
will be mapped. A habitat model based on the Neosho River population will be
refined and applied to the Spring River to estimate the potential of the habitat
without contaminants. Fish and benthic macroinvertebrate communities will be
sampled and mapped to assess the influence of competing, predatory, and food
organisms on the distribution of N. placidus. Invertebrate food organisms
will be analyzed to document trophic transfer of metals. In Study 2, sediment
pore-waters will be collected and evaluated for contaminants and toxicity. The
objective of this study is to determine the extent to which anthropogenic
factors such as historic zinc-lead mining and the remediation of historic mining
sites may influence the abundance and distribution of Neosho madtoms (N.
placidus), a federally listed threatened species.
The Potential for Chromium to
Adversely Affect Chinook Salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawystcha) Under Exposure
Conditions Simulating the Hanford Reach of the Columbia River, Washington, USA (Contact:
Aida Farag Jackson
Field Research Station)
Extensive dam building and development occurred throughout the Columbia River
Basin from 1943 to 1971 and led to severely reduced populations of chinook
salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawystcha). An area that did not experience
development is a 90 km section within the Hanford Nuclear Reservation which was
claimed by the federal government in 1943 as a site for the production of
plutonium. Currently, the Hanford Reach remains a free flowing stretch of the
Columbia River and is the only remaining area where significant mainstem chinook
salmon spawning occurs in the Columbia River. The Hanford Reach of the Columbia
River is regulated by upstream dams, but is the last unimpounded stretch of the
Columbia River. The use of the Hanford Reach for fall chinook spawning and
rearing has dramatically increased since 1960. The 10 year average adult
escapement increased from 27,660 (1964-1973) to 54,661 (1983-1992). This
increase is pronounced when compared with the rest of the mid and upper Columbia
River where chinook runs have declined during the same time period. Plutonium
production within the Hanford Reservation required the use of large quantities
of Columbia River water to cool nuclear reactors. The cooling water was treated
with sodium dichromate to prevent corrosion and mineral collection within
cooling system pipes. During operations, cooling water with associated
radionuclides and chromium were discharged directly to the Columbia River and
also entered ground water through leakage of pipes and seepage from retention
areas. Currently, groundwater at the Hanford site continues to be contaminated
with chemical and radiological constituents. The Hanford Reach of the Columbia
River is critically important as spawning habitat for the chinook salmon and it
is essential to determine if current water quality standards protect chinook
salmon. Chromium is one contaminant of major concern and it is associated with
the 100 Area (National Priority List Site) groundwater and seeps. The
concentrations of chromium in the groundwater upwellings (Hope and Peterson
1996) exceed the chronic ambient water quality criteria of (AWQC) of 11 g/L for
the protection of aquatic life, established by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (USEPA 1986) and the State of Washington (WAC-173-201A-040). Studies will
be conducted to determine if the current water quality standards for chromium
protect survival and development of early-life stages of chinook salmon. The
direct effects of hexavalent chromium on chinook salmon egg fertilization,
health status, potential for recovery after exposure, and physiological
impairment will be assessed. The studies will be conducted with chinook salmon
early life stages including eggs, alevins, and parr. The data gathered from
these studies will (1) provide an assessment of injury to chinook salmon exposed
to chromium in the Hanford area of the Columbia River Basin, (2) will be useful
in recovering damages for lost resources and in evaluating remedial options,
including immobilization, treatment, and the no-action alternative, and (3) will
be useful to Trustees, including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Hanford
Natural Resource Trustees, the U.S. Department of the Interior, and the States
of Oregon and Washington in efforts to manage the Columbia River salmon
population.
Toxicity
of Forest Fire Retardant and Foam Suppressant Chemicals to Aquatic Plant and
Animal Communities (Contact:
Kevin Buhl Yankton Field Research
Station)
Fire-fighting chemicals are used extensively in the United States (and internationally)
to suppress
and control range and forest fires and are often applied in environmentally
sensitive areas that may contain endangered, threatened, or economically
significant plant and animal species. The most commonly used compounds are
composed of ammonium sulfate or polyphosphate with an attapulgite clay
thickener, or diammonium phosphate with a guar gum derivative thickener. Because
these compounds are highly corrosive, they also contain rust inhibitor chemicals
such as sodium dichromate and trace amounts of ferric oxide to mark the location
of aerial retardant drops. Although the extensively used ammonium compounds are
essentially fertilizer formulations and are thought to have minimal
toxicological effects, many important resources are contaminated by
fire-fighting chemicals and fish kills have been associated with retardant use.
The resources of greatest concern are endangered fish such as Lahonton
cutthroat, Greenback cutthroat, and
Apache
trout. A new generation of foam fire
suppressants composed of mixtures of surfactants with small amounts of solvents
is being increasingly used in fire-fighting operations. Information from foam
fire suppressant manufacturers indicates these compounds may be very toxic to
aquatic organisms. Laboratory and field studies will be used to assess the
toxicity of fire-fighting chemicals. The chemicals to be tested are Fire-Trol
GTS-R, Fire-Trol LCG-R, Phos-Chek D75-R, Phos-Chek WD881, and Silv-Ex (U.S.
formulation). Laboratory acute toxicity tests will involve exposing the
chemicals to four life stages of rainbow trout (egg, fry, 60-day, and 90-day
post-hatch juveniles), and three life stages for fathead minnow (egg, fry,
30-day, and 60-day post hatch juveniles), chinook salmon, Daphnia magna
(water flea), Hyalella azteca (amphipod), and green algae. Each test
organism will be tested in two water qualities. The water qualities used will be
reconstituted USEPA hard and soft waters. The objective of this study is to
determine the toxicity of fire retardant and suppressant chemicals
on plant and
animal communities to protect endangered fish.
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