United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Wate
(WH-585)
823N92001
Number 5
April 1992
v°/EPA Contaminated
Sediments News
Sediment Strategy Forums Scheduled
EPA's Office of Water, Risk Assessment and Management Branch, is sponsor-
ing three forums this spring/summer focusing on issues important to the Agency
in developing a strategy for contaminated sediments. Each forum will include
panel presentations by invited experts and discussion periods, as well as
periods of time set aside for comments from the audience. Speakers will
include representatives from EPA EMAP, NOAA NS&T, USGS, ACOE, MA
Division of Food and Drugs, and others. A document summarizing the three
forums will be produced and available in July 1992. The topics for these forums
are as follows:
• Forum #1 - Extent and Severity of Sediment Contamination
Chicago, IL, April 21-22,1992
• Forum #2 - Contaminated Sediments: Building Alliances Among Federal
Agencies, Washington, DC, May 27-28, 1992
• Forum #3 - Contaminated Sediments: Outreach and Public Awareness
Washington, DC, June 16,1992
For more information contact Tim Kastin, EPA-OST, at (202)260-5994.
Sediment Activities
Around the Country
EPA Headquarters
Tiered Testing Workgroup
Developing Standard Methods
On March 5, 1992, a detailed outline
of EPA's sediment management
strategy was distributed for public
review and comment. Under the
strategy, EPA will develop and use a
consistent, minimum set of chemical
CS Afews is produced by EPA-OST to
exchange retevant information on con-
taminated sedimants and to increase
communication among interested par-
ttes. To abtda copies rto
eontrtoute information, contact Beveriy
Baker, EPA HO, at (202)260-7037,
and biological methods across Agency
programs to determine whether sedi-
ments are contaminated. These
methods will be incorporated into
various programs for the prevention,
remediation, and management of
dredged material disposal. Once a
standard set of tests is established,
the"y may be supplemented with EPA
program-specific assessment meth-
ods. Individual programs may also
develop their own guidance detailing
the regulatory actions to be taken
based on the assessment methods
used.
An Agency wide "tiered testing
workgroup" is currently working to
identify the suite of tests that can be
used by all EPA programs to consis-
tently assess environmental problems
caused by contaminated sediment.
The workgroup met on March 31 to
complete a review of EPA regulatory
continued on p. 2
Contaminated Sediment
Activities Timeline
April 21-22,1992. EPA Sediment
Strategy Forum #1 - Extent and Severity
of Sediment Contamination. Chicago,
L. Contact Deborah Kanter at (617)
641-5317.
April 28-30,1992. 2d ASTM Sympo-
sium on Environmental Toxicology and
Risk Assessment. Pittsburgh, PA.
lontact Chris Ingersoll at (314)875-
5399.
May 14-15,1992. National Conference
on Bioavailability of Dioxin, PCBs, and
Metals in Aquatic Ecosystems. Wash-
ington, DC. Contact Nora Claudias at
(301)596-3855.
May 24-30,1992. Water Quality Inter-
national '92: 16th Biennial Conference
and Exposition. Washington, DC.
May 27-28,1992. EPA Sediment
Strategy Forum #2 - Contaminated
Sediments: Building Alliances Among
Federal Agencies. Washington, DC.
Contact Deborah Kanter at (617)641-
5317.
June 16,1992. EPA Sediment Strategy
Forum #3 - Contaminated Sediments:
Outreach and Public Awareness.
Washington, DC. Contact Deborah
Kanter at (617)641-5317.
June 21-24,1992. Subsurface Restora
tion Conference. Dallas, TX. Contact
Kathy Balshaw-Biddle at (713)527-4951
September 1-3,1992. 3rd National
Meeting: Water Quality Standards for
the 21st Century. Las Vegas, NV.
Contact Patti Morris at (202)260-2806.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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program sediment testing needs and
requirements and the testing guidance
that is now available. The workgroup
also consulted with EPA's Office of
Research and Development to design
a program of research that will gener-
ate a set of standard sediment testing
protocols. The research program,
funded by the Office of Water, will be
undertaken by EPA's Environmental
Research Laboratories in Duluth, MN,
and Narragansett, Rl. Initial research
will focus on the completion of acute
sediment toxicity test protocols for
appropriately sensitive marine and
freshwater species, as well as bioac-
cumulation test protocols. Work is
also planned to develop chronic
sediment testing protocols. Quality
assurance requirements and guide-
lines will be developed by the
workgroup jointly with EPA's Environ-
mental Research Laboratories and
Environmental Monitoring and Sys-
tems Laboratories.
In addition to completing work on the
test protocols, the workgroup is
planning a national workshop on
sediment toxicity testing. The work-
shop will bring scientists and regula-
tors together to discuss a tiered
sediment testing framework. For more
information contact Tom Armrtage,
EPA-OST, at (202)260-5388.
Fish Consumption Advisory
Special Interest Group Added
to BBS
The Risk Assessment and Manage-
ment Branch has established a Fish
Consumption Advisory Special Interest
Group (SIG) on the Nonpoint Source
Bulletin Board System (BBS). The
SIG functions as a discrete, fully
functioning BBS. The purpose of the
Fish Advisory SIG is to promote the
exchange of fish advisory information
among Federal agencies, State health
departments, State fish and game
services, State water pollution control
agencies and the public.
The Fish Consumption SIG offers
several features. The primary feature
is a database that contains a bibliogra-
phy of fish advisory-related reports, a
table of existing fish advisories/bans
for each State, and the names and
phone numbers of contacts who can
provide additional information. The
table of existing fish advisories con-
tains the following information: the
chemical of concern, the nature of the
advisory (for the
general public, a
subpopulation, or
commercial), the
name of the water
body, and the
geographical extent.
The database of fish
advisories and bans
can be searched for
specific information.
One possible way to
search the database
is to request the
number, location
and type of fish
advisories in a par-
ticular state. A second possibility
includes the number and location of all
the fish advisories that have been
issued in the United States for a
specific contaminant such as chlor-
dane. The bibliography can also be
searched by title, author, and/or key
words.
A second feature includes the posting
of bulletins/news articles. This feature
allows users to share fish advisory-
related information and publicize fish
advisory-related activities undertaken
by the Federal government and the
States. Other features enable users to
leave messages requesting informa-
tion from other users, to conduct
discussions directly with colleagues,
and to exchange computer files,
including databases, electronic
spreadsheets, word-processing files,
and software.
The phone number of the BBS is
(301 )589-0205. To access the NPS
BBS, you will need a personal com-
puter, telecommunications software
(such as Crosstalk or ProComm), a
modem (1200 or 2400 baud) and a
phone line that will handle modem
communications. First-time users will
be asked to fill out a short registration
form and create a password. The Fish
Consumption SIG can be accessed by
typing J 2 at the main board command
prompt. EPA invites everyone to take
a look at the database and welcomes
any suggestions on how to improve its
use.
The draft of EPA's Contaminated
Sediment Management Strategy is
now available in the Fish Consumption
SIG. The Office
of Water is
soliciting input on
the draft proposal
which has been
distributed to
over 900 people.
The schedule
and information
on the three
public forums are
also included in
the file.
A copy of the
User's Manual
can be down-
loaded if you are familiar with the
operation of the NPS BBS, or it can be
mailed to you. If you would like a copy
or have any information to contribute
to the Fish Advisory SIG, contact
Alison Greene at (202)260-7052.
EPA Science Advisory Board
Reviews Green Book
The EPA Science Advisory Board
(SAB) provided a number of recom-
mendations for improving the Green
Book (see Contaminated Sediments
News, Issue No. 4, p. 1) in its January
1992 report, EPA-SAB-EPEC-92-014,
Review of a Testing Manual for
Evaluation of Dredged Material
Proposed for Ocean Disposal. As-
pects of the manual addressed by the
SAB include quality assurance/quality
control, use of sediment quality
criteria, selection of appropriately
sensitive organisms for toxicity tests,
use of application factors, interpreta-
tion of bioaccumulation test results,
reference site selection, and interpre-
tative guidance for decision-making.
Many of the SAB recommendations
will be incorporated into future revi-
sions of the Green Book and into the
Inland Testing Manual (under develop-
ment) for evaluation of dredged mate-
rial proposed for discharge in inland
and near coastal waters (Clean Water
Act waters). For more information
contact Mike Kravitz, EPA-OST, at
(202)260-8085.
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Office of Radiation Programs
On October 8,1991, ORP conducted
a sediment workshop for Dr. Viktor N.
Egorov, Deputy Director, Institute of
Biology of the Southern Seas, in
Washington, DC. Members of the
EPA Sediment Oversight Technical
Committee presented papers showing
current U.S. status in sediment
cleanup endeavors. Chris Zarba
discussed "National Sediment Criter-
ia," Mike Kravitz presented "Sediment
Quality Assessment Methods," and
Janet Burris discussed "Ecological
Risk Assessment and Remedial De-
sign at Superfund Sites." Jim Nei-
heisel and Bill Curtis discussed the
results of the EPA study of the Black
Sea investigation conducted in June
1990 for evidence of Chernobyl fallout
in the Black Sea sediment and water
column, as well as current studies of
radioactivity in sediment of the Kieve
Reservoir.
ORP has also developed a soil
characterization protocol for radioac-
tively contaminated soils at Superfund
sites that is also applicable for charac-
terization of radioactive sediments and
remedial considerations. The protocol
was developed by ORP from hands-on
studies at radium-contaminated sites
at Montclair and Glen Ridge, New
Jersey, and from thorium-contami-
nated sites at Wayne and May wood,
New Jersey. The protocol is in press
as an OSWER Technical Bulletin.
ORD ACTIVITIES
ERL-Newport
Sediment contaminants may pose a
human health risk if they are bioaccu-
mulated by clams and other edible
sediment-dwelling organisms. A key
question is whether ecologically-
derived sediment quality criteria are
sufficiently stringent to protect human
health so that health risks do not have
to be explicitly considered. Henry Lee
(EPA), Martha Winsor (AScI), and
Robert Randall (EPA) of the ERL-N
Newport laboratory are addressing this
question by modeling the tissue
residues in shellfish at sediment
quality "guideline" values and then
predicting the associated health
effects.
Cancer risk is estimated by EPA's
linearized multistage cancer model,
whereas noncarcinoginic effects are
predicted from the hazard quotient.
The health risks associated with 12
carcinogens and 8 noncarcinogenic
metals are calculated for shellfish
consumption rates ranging from one
meal per day to one meal per lifetime.
Bioaccumulation of neutral organics is
predicted from the equilibrium parti-
tioning bioaccumulation model and
metals from bioaccumulation factors
(BAFs). The five ecologically-derived
sediment "guidelines" are as follows:
• the interim equilibrium partitioning
(EqP) values,
• the median and sensitive apparent
effect thresholds (AET) from Region
10, and
• the median and low effects range
(ER-M and ER-L) developed by
NOAA.
With the exception of the EqP values,
the sediment guidelines are not
sediment quality "criteria" per se, but
they should bracket the range of any
ecologically-derived criteria.
For the carcinogens, the lifetime
excess cancer risks of 1O'6 and 10"4
were used as cut-offs for unacceptable
risks. At one meal per day, the 10-6
risk was exceeded for at least one of
the ecologically-derived guidelines for
all 12 compounds, with the EqP values
exceeding the 106 risk for 8 to 12 of
the carcinogens. The number of
sediment guidelines resulting in risks
exceeding 10'6 declined with reduced
consumption rates, but at one meal
per year one or more of the sediment
guidelines resulted in risks exceeding
10'6 with 7 of the 12 compounds.
Even at the lowest possible consump-
tion rate, one meal in a lifetime, the
106 risk was exceeded by the AET-M
and EqP values for benzo (a) pyrene
and by the AET-M for PCBs. The
analysis using 10"4 risk showed a
similar pattern although none of the
compounds exceeded 10"* risk with
one meal per lifetime.
For the noncarcinogens, only four
sediment guidelines are used as EqP
does not apply to metals. At a con-
sumption rate of one meal per day,
seven of the eight metals have hazard
quotients exceeding 1.0 for one or
more of the sediment guidelines. The
hazard quotient is a threshold value,
with a value greater than 1.0 indicating
that sensitive individuals would be
adversely affected. At one meal per
month, only cadmium has a hazard
quotient exceeding 1.0 for one of the
sediment guidelines, and there are no
violations with one meal per year or
lifetime.
The main conclusion to draw from this
analysis is that ecologically-derived
sediment quality criteria do not protect
human health for a variety of carcino-
ginic and noncarcinogenic pollutants.
Therefore, human health risks should
be considered in the development of
sediment quality criteria and the
management of contaminated sedi-
ment. For more information contact
Henry Lee, ERL-Newport, at (503)867-
4042.
GREAT IAKES NATIONAL
PROGRAM OFRCE
The ARCS program has initiated
several pilot-scale demonstration
projects to employ innovative tech-
nologies in the treatment of contami-
nated sediments. Three additional
projects will be completed this sum-
mer. All of the pilot projects are being
managed by the local Corps of Engi-
neers office.
Buffalo River, Buffalo, NY
The Buffalo River demonstration was
completed in November 1991 at a
confined disposal facility (CDF)
managed by the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. Twelve cubic yards (yd3)
of contaminated sediments from the
Buffalo River were processed in a low-
temperature thermal desorption unit
provided by Remediation Technolo-
gies, Inc. This unit volatilizes the
organics of concern (PAHs, oil and
grease) and recondenses them in an
oil mixture. The remaining solid
continued on p. 6
-------
Focus:
New England
polluted that the use of divers to
collect intact sediment cores for
subsequent research studies could
represent a serious health threat to the
investigators. This corer eliminates
such risks to human health. For more
information contact Kenneth Perez,
ERL-Narragansett, at (401)782-3052.
Summary of Recent
Capping Investigations
with Dredged Sediments
in New England
ERL-Narragansett
Develops "Soft Bottom"
Sediment Corer
After a long series of tests and modifi-
cations, a sediment corer developed at
ERL-Narragansett has been shown to
be capable of collecting intact and
undisturbed sediment cores from "soft
bottom" locales in Narragansett Bay,
Rl. Present cores are 6 inches in
diameter and up to 24 inches in
length. The collection method uses a
water vacuum, created at the sedi-
ment-water interface, that is capable
of removing the core from the sedi-
ment bottom. The core is then trans-
ferred to the water surface and subse-
quently placed on the deck of the ship,
where a removable nose cone con-
taining the core is put into a life sup-
port system for transport to laboratory
microcosms. Future efforts will be
directed toward increasing the diame-
ter of the sediment core from 6 inches
to 12 inches. In addition, the degree
of "soft bottom" hardness will be
quantified (via grain-size analysis)
throughout the Bay so that the range
of sediments in which the corer can
function successfully will be rigorously
defined for future users.
This corer is valuable because many
aquatic environments are so highly
Casco Bay Critical
Habitat Pilot Study
The Casco Bay National Estuary
Program has developed a menu-
driven GIS application to support the
National Estuary Program's need for
multimedia information for watershed
characterization and protection of
shellfish resources in Casco Bay.
Data were digitized and integrated for
shoreline areas, shellfish beds,
biological areas, critical resource
areas, hydrography and drainage
areas, and NPDES locations. Future
efforts will include the addition of soils,
contours, land use/land cover,
landfills, and an agricultural inventory
to assess impacts of nonpoint source
pollution on critical habitats and shell-
fish. In addition to creating the GIS
layers, an interface for EPA's PCS
data base will be created to allow easy
downloading of monitoring data for
input into the GIS application. Once
the system is fully implemented, users
will be able to evaluate potential
causes of degradation, assess the po-
tential impact of point and nonpoint
source pollution, and target high-risk
dischargers for further controls. For
more information contact Ray Hall,
EPA-OCPD, at (202)260-1998.
Capping of contaminated dredged
sediments in mounds at shallow (20-
60 m) offshore disposal sites with less
contaminated sediments has been
used as a management practice in
New England since the early 1970s.
Evaluation of the success of this
technique and extension of its use to
deep-water sites (60-100 m) has been
the focus of a number of studies over
the last several years. These studies
have included assessment of physical
mound stability, the long-term isolation
of contaminants within the mounds,
and surveys to determine the feasibil-
ity of creating sediment mounds at
sites in the 100-m depth range. The
passage of Hurricane Gloria in 1985
was found to have limited erosion
effects on capped disposal mounds at
the central Long Island Sound dis-
posal site at the 15 to 20-m depth.
This observation has also been
supported by observations of mound
stability at several sites for up to15
years. Chemical profiles measured in
cores taken in mounds in 1990, more
than 10 years after contaminated
sediment and cap sediment place-
ment, showed no detectable contami-
nant migration. More recently, studies
of mound formation with disposed
sediments at the Massachusetts Bay
disposal site, at a 90-m depth, have
begun to support the feasibility of
capping sediments at this and other
sites with similar depths. For more
information contact Tom Fredette, US-
ACE, at (617)647-8291.
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Sediment Database Compiled
The U.S. Geological Survey Office of
Energy and Marine Geology has main-
tained a scientific East Coast (off-
shore) sediment database since the
1970s. In an effort to extend coverage
to inshore coastal areas and compile a
contaminated sediment database that
would attempt to include as compre-
hensive as possible an inventory of
chemical, geological/physical, and en-
vironmental parameters from all
sources (published and unpublished),
USGS initiated a pilot program using
Boston Harbor-Massachusetts Bay.
In the past, many scientists have
regarded working with heterogeneous
older data as difficult and have often
simply launched new field studies.
Working with the Massachusetts
Water Resources Authority (MWRA)
and EPA Region I, USGS sifted
through quantities of older data and
documents to demonstrate that special
approaches permit large-scale pro-
cessing (computer entry, validation,
and integration) of data from hetero-
geneous sources. For example, re-
covery of data from some 1300
samples from the area to date re-
vealed a more detailed breakdown of
sediments in terms of their toxicity
potential for mercury and 7 other
metals, when the effects-based
sediment toxicity criteria of Long and
Morgan (1990) were applied. Different
toxicity criteria will after toxicrty ratings,
but the new data input transforms the
scope of knowledge of environmental
parameters used to make manage-
ment decisions.
Besides continuing data compilation
and disseminating the data to users,
current and future efforts focus on
linking pollutant distribution with
bottom sediment maps and creating
maps of pollutant concentrations at
different time intervals. These may
help to evaluate and predict changes
caused by major events such as
storms or dredging. For more informa-
tion contact Frank Manheim, USGS, at
(508)457-2235.
Mercury in Sediments
100
80
60
40
20 !-
No. of Samples
Hg (ppm)
0 0.5 10
Below
acute toxicity—^.
levels [f~~
0.001 0.01 0.1 1 10 100
CONCENTRATION OF MERCURY (ppm)
ENVIRONMENT CANADA
The Environmental Quality GukJe-
ines Division of Environment
lanada has the responsibility for
developing national sediment quality
guidelines. These guidelines are
defined as numerical concentrations
or narrative statements recom-
mended to support and enhance
designated uses of the aquatic
environment. These activities are
carried out under the auspices of the
Canadian Council of Ministers of the
Environment (CCME), and all
guidelines are reviewed and ap-
proved by the provincial and territo-
rial members.
Currently, the protocol for the deriva-
tion and use of sediment quality
guidelines (for the protection of
freshwater and marine aquatic life
and their uses) is being finalized.
Once the protocol is approved by
the CCME, guidelines wil be devel-
oped for priority substances identi-
fied by such clients as provincial and
territorial agencies, the National
Contaminated Sites Remediation
Program, and the Canadian Environ-
mental Protection Act (which in-
cludes ocean dumping activities).
Sediment quality guidelines are
intended to provide scientifically-
based "yardsticks" or reference
points for addressing sediment
quality issues and concerns. These
guidelines will contribute to the
consistent development of site-
specific objectives" which account
for local environmental conditions,
as well as socio-economic factors),
remediation objectives, and the
regulatory requirements of various
Canadian programs.
For more information on the devel-
opment of sediment quality guide-
lines in Canada, contact Sherri
Smith at (819)953-3082 or Amanda
Brady at (819)953-3206.
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material was either combined with
Portland cement to determine the
effectiveness of restricting the leach-
ing of heavy metals or disposed of at
an appropriate facility.
Saginaw River and Bay, Ml
Using particle size separation tech-
nologies, Bergmann, USA initiated a
demonstration project in Saginaw Bay,
Ml, in the fall of 1991. The project will
be completed this summer. This dem-
onstration project combines soil wash-
ing and particle separation technolo-
gies to treat PCB-contaminated sedi-
ment. Using a barge-mounted unit
located at a COE-operated CDF in
Saginaw Bay, a total of 300 to 400 yd3
of sediment will be processed through
the apparatus to separate the sands
from the silts and clays. In a full-scale
project, PCBs will bind to the smaller
grained silts and clays so that the
sand mixture, which is roughly 80 per-
cent of the total volume, will hopefully
be clean enough to be used for some
beneficial purpose (beach nourish-
ment or construction fill). The remain-
ing 20 percent will be disposed of in a
CDF or destroyed using other treat-
ment technologies. A portion of the
contaminated silt will be sent to the
Risk Reduction Engineering Labora-
tory in Cincinnati, OH, to be treated
using biodegradation techniques.
Grand Calumet River, IN
This demonstration project will take
place in May 1992 at the U.S. Steel
Gary plant, adjacent to the Grand
Calumet River, IN. The Basic Extrac-
tion Sludge Technology (BEST), a
solvent extraction process, will be
used to extract PCBs, PAHs, and oil
and grease from 140 gallons of
contaminated sediment. The solvent,
triethylamine, was developed by the
Resource Conservation Company.
Ashtabula, OH
A low thermal desorption technology
will be used this summer to treat 15 to
20 yd3 of sediment contaminated with
PCBs and other chlorinated hydrocar-
bons from the Astabula River in Ash-
tabula, OH.
Sheboygan, Wl
Bioremediation technologies will be
used to treat 3300 yd3 of contaminated
sediments from the Tecumseh Motors
Superfund site. These sediments are
currently stored in a confined treat-
ment facility on Tecumseh property.
Sediments will be cycled from oxic to
anoxic conditions, and/or nutrients will
be added to achieve complete PCB
degradation. The firm Blasland and
Bouck will be working with ERL-
Athens to complete this demonstration
project.
For more information on these demon-
stration projects, contact Steve
Garbaciak, GLNPO, at (312)353-0117.
NOAA
As part of the assessments of the
biological effects of toxicants in the
marine environment, NOAA's National
Status and Trends Program has
conducted a series of surveys of
sediment toxicrty in selected regions.
The first of these surveys was con-
ducted in the San Francisco Bay
estuary. The survey was intended to
determine the spatial extent, spatial
pattern, and
severity of toxicity
throughout the
estuary. Toxicity
data both from
historical surveys
and from the
testing of sedi-
ments from 45
sites were evalu-
ated.
Crassostrea gigas) normal morpho-
logical development tests during the
period of 1985-1990. Based upon the
cumulative record from these surveys,
most of the estuary has been tested
for toxicity with one or both of these
tests. Out of a total of 111 samples
tested with R. abronius, 56 (50.4
percent) were significantly toxic. Of
202 samples tested with bivalve
larvae, 116 (57.4 percent) were signifi-
cantly toxic. In some areas tested in
the historical surveys, toxicity was very
patchy and inconsistent among tests
and surveys; in other areas, toxicity
was relatively consistent. Highest
toxicity was observed mainly in
peripheral harbors such as Mare
Island Strait near Vallejo, Richmond
Harbor, Oakland Harbor, along the
San Francisco waterfront, Redwood
Creek, and Guadalupe Slough at the
extreme southern end of the estuary.
The Alcatraz dredged material dis-
posal site was relatively toxic, and
some of the sediments from the basins
of San Pablo Bay, Central Bay, and
South Bay were very toxic. Toxicity
continued on p. 7
Numerous sites
have been
sampled for sedi-
ment toxicity in
historical surveys
performed by
several laborato-
ries and spon-
sored by numer-
ous agencies.
Sediments from
these sites were
tested for toxicity
with amphipod
(Rhepoxynius
abronius) survival
tests and/or
bivalve larvae
(Mytilus edulis or
San Pablo Bay
*
Non-toxic sites
Toxic sites
Palo Alto ^Vr~'"C;=\ £
Locations of 45 sampling sites including 9 that were
toxic to bivalve larvae
-------
was relatively highly correlated with
the concentrations of aromatic hydro-
carbons and, to a lesser extent,
certain trace metals and pesticides.
In 1990 NOAA sponsored a synoptic
survey of sediment toxicrty, performed
by ToxScan, Inc. Surficial sediments
were collected at 45 sites within the
estuary, mainly in the Central and
South Bay basins and adjacent
peripheral areas. Toxicity was deter-
mined with a battery of tests, one of
which was the bivalve larvae (M.
edulis) test of survival and normal
development. Sediments from 9 of the
45 (20 percent) sampling sites were
significantly toxic to either survival or
normal development of the bivalve
larvae. The toxic sites were located in
San Pablo Bay, South Bay, and
Oakland Harbor/San Leandro Bay.
Tests of cytogenetic/cytologic end-
points in both mussel larvae and sea
urchin larvae indicated significant
effects in most or all of the 15 samples
tested.
The results of both the historical
surveys performed in 1985-1990 and
the survey performed for NOAA in
1990 indicated that toxic conditions
are widespread throughout the estu-
ary. Toxicity was more frequent and
often most severe in peripheral
harbors and waterways, but as
expected, some basin areas also were
toxic in some tests. The results of this
work in San Francisco Bay are ex-
pected to be published as a NOAA
technical memorandum this spring.
For more information contact Ed Long,
NOAA, at (206)526-6338.
Relevant Literature
Curtis, W.R., and J. Broadway. In press. Preliminary cesium data from a
cooperative US/USSR monitoring survey for Chernobyl radioactivity in the
Black Sea. Journal of Chemistry and Ecology. ^K '-«»•!•""
Diamond, J.M., E.L. Winchester, D.G. Mackler, and D. Gruber. 1992. Use
of the mayfly Stenonema modestum (Heptageniida) in subacute toxicrty
assessments. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 11:415-425.
Durant, J.L, H.F. Hemond, and W.G. Thilly. 1992. Determination of mut-
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