PTS: 83359RZ.23.0 Title: Potential Endocrine Disruptors in the Potomac River Watershed Using Passive Samplers Keywords:sediment, toxicology, aquatic, fish, amphibians, invertebrates, acute, chronic, listed species, endangered species, threatened species Leaders: * Alvarez, David , dalvarez@usgs.gov, 573-441-2970, FAX 573-876-1896, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201 Accomplishments: Analysis of all samples has been completed and the data summaried in a report to the USFWS customer. Journal articles detailing this work are in preparation. Communication Plan: Results of this research will be presented at scientific meetings and will be published in peer reviewed reports, manuscripts, monoghraphs, and in books, as appropriate. Reports, with the client's permission, will be posted on the CERC web site. Highlights and Key Findings: As expected, the more urbanized reaches of the watershed had the greatest contaminant load. Several of the persistent organochlorine pesticides, most of the priority pollutant PAHs, and chemicals related to wastewater inputs (fragrances and flame retardants) were commonly found. Chemicals related to agriculture (i.e., atrazine, metolachlor, and simazine) were also found at most sites in both the 2005 and 2006 sampling periods. Objectives: The primary program goal is Contaminants Biology, Goal #1, Toxicology and Chemistry. A single line of inquiry is proposed to assess the presence (and concentration where possible) of a suite of targeted chemicals in the Potomac River watershed. SPMDs and POCIS will be deployed at sites selected by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to address the potential impact of both agricultural and municipal inputs into the watershed. The samplers will be processed and analyzed for a set of chemicals including PAHs, pesticides, total PCBs, hormones and select wastewater-related contaminants. The data provided by CERC will be used by the USFWS to determine the presence of potentially endocrine disrupting chemicals in the Potomac River watershed. Statement of Problem: The Potomac River watershed is an important spawning and nursery ground for both migratory and resident fish species. The upper Potomac watershed in Maryland and parts of Virginia are dominated by rural communities and animal agricultural facilities. Closer to the Chesapeake Bay, the Potomac watershed becomes more urban with predominately municipal sewage treatment plant discharges. According to the Maryland Department of the Environment, of the 747 permitted surface water discharges within the Maryland portion of the Potomac River watershed, 117 are municipal sewage wastewater treatment plants. Studies on fish health in the regions have found sites with 57% of the fish exhibiting external lesions and incidences on intersex in male smallmouth bass as high as 80% in areas receiving runoff from animal wastes (Iwanowicz et al., 2004; McGee et al., 2003). Similar effects have been observed in regions with intensive sewage treatment plant influences (V. Blazer, USGS-NFHRL, pers. comm.). In this work, passive samplers will be used to evaluate the presence of potentially endocrine-disrupting compounds in streams within the Potomac River watershed that receive substantial quantities of effluent from agricultural practices and sewage treatment plants. 2005 Progress: Passive samplers were returned to CERC and put into the section's inventory system awaiting processing. 2005 Statement of Work: Semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS) will be prepared by CERC scientists and sent to USFWS field members for deployment at five sites in the Potomac River watershed during the fall of 2005. 2006 Progress: Passive samplers from the first year's deployment are currently at various stages of processing and analysis. Additional samplers were prepared and shipped to the FWS collaborator for a second deployment. Those samplers have been returned to CERC and are awaiting processing. 2006 Progress: Sample processing was initiated for the SPMD and POCIS passive samplers. This processing includes both chemical and bioindicator testing. 2006 Statement of Work: The passive samplers returned from the field will be processed for the analysis of a list of targeted chemicals. Targeted chemical classes will include total PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, hormones, and select wastewater-related contaminants. A second deployment of samplers is tentitively scheduled for year 2 dependent on the availability of additional funding. 2007 Progress: Chemical analysis and data review for all the passive sampler extracts from both the 2005 and 2006 study were completed. The data was compiled and summarized in a report which has been delivered to the USFWS. Future manuscripts in the scientific literature are planned. 2007 Statement of Work: A second deployment of SPMDs and POCIS will be conducted in April of 2006 at four sites selected by the FWS. Following depoyment, the samplers will be processed and reported by CERC scientists. All final reporting of the results from this work will be completed during this FY. 2008 Progress: The upper Potomac watershed in Maryland and parts of Virginia are dominated by rural communities and animal agricultural facilities. In this work, passive samplers will be used to evaluate the presence of potentially endocrine-disrupting compounds in streams within the Potomac River watershed that receive substantial quantities of effluent from agricultural practices and sewage treatment plants. A draft of the manuscript from this work has been completed and submitted to the journal Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry. It is currently in the review stage. 2008 Statement of Work: In FY2008, the results from this study will be compiled into a manuscript for submission to a scientific journal. Product: Other Planned Alvarez, D.A.; Cranor, W.L.; Perkins, S.D.; Schroeder, V.; Iwanowicz, L.R.; Clark, R.C.; Guy, C.P.; Pinkney, A.E.; Blazer, V.S.; Mullican, J.E., Reproductive Health of Bass in the Potomac Drainage: II) Seasaonl Occurrence of Persistent and Emerging Organic Contaminants, Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Product: Presentations Planned Identification of Potential Endocrine Disruptors inthe Potomac River Watershed Using Passive Samplers, USGS Product: Report Delivered Alvarez, D.A., Cranor, W.L., Perkins, S.D., Schroeder, V.S., Identification of Potential Endocrine Disruptors inthe Potomac River Watershed Using Passive Samplers, USGS, Administrative Reports
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