Science
ToRESULTS
SCIENCE lies at the heart of the mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Agency must rely on cutting edge research, accurate
measurements and effective technology to implement its programs to protect the environment and human health. Without sound science and credible data,
EPA can not wisely set environmental and health standards, clean up contaminated sites, measure ambient air and water quality conditions, or identify the new
technologies or practices that will reduce releases to the environment. These fact sheets shore with you some of our EPA New England's laboratory capabilities
and exemplify some of the very best science we do to meet our agency miss/on.
GOAL:
EPA New England, in collaboration with EPA's Office of Research and Development and academic scientists,
is conducting research on mercury bioaccumulation patterns in wetland vegetation, insects, amphibians, mam-
mals and birds in the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge in Sudbury, Massachusetts. This state-of-the-art
field evaluation will help determine the impact of mercury from a nearby Superfund site on both the aquatic
and terrestrial biological food web. While bioaccumulation of mercury in the food chains of lakes and rivers has
been well studied, this project breaks new ground in documenting mercury bioaccumulation in wetlands-based
ecosystems. The study will also help determine appropriate cleanup standards for the Superfund site.
KEY CONTACTS:
ALAN VAN ARSDALE
Environmental Scientist
(617) 918-8610
van arsdale, alan@epa.gov
BART HOSKINS
Biologist
(617) "18-8375
hoskms.bart@epa.gov
KATRINA KIPP
Chief, Ecosystem Assessment
(617)018-8309
kipp.katnnai3Sepa.gov
ROBERT HILLGER
Sen/or Science Advisor
(b!7) "318-8660
hillger.robert@epa.gov
GENERAL INFO:
EPA NEW ENGLAND
REGIONAL LABORATORY
11 Technology Dr.
North Chelmsford. MA 01863
(6I7) 9I8-8300
www.epa.gov/ne/lab
TOLL-FREE
CUSTOMER SERVICE
1-800-EPA-7341
PROGRESS:
Starting in 2005. EPA New England, in partnership
with scientists from EPA Office of Research and Devel-
opment in Athens, Georgia, initiated a research study
that focused on understanding the impact of mercury
exposure from a Superfund waste site and how that
exposure results in mercury bioaccumulation in wildlife.
The study site is a 26-mile stretch of riverine ecosystem
downstream from the Nyanza Waste Dump Superfund
Site in Sudbury, Massachusetts. Of particular interest is
the Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge, where
the Sudbury River is bordered by extensive floodplain
wetlands. Relatively little has been known about the
movement of mercury in this type of wetlands habitat.
In earlier studies, EPA characterized the extent of mer-
cury contamination downstream of the Nyanza site,
focusing its work almost entirely on aquatic ecosystem
contamination. More recent assessments analyzed the
movement pattern of mercury (as methyl mercury) into
bird and mammal carnivores at the middle and top of
the food chain, such as kingfishers, waterfowl and minks.
which feed on fish and invertebrates. Using findings
from the earlier studies, including blood-rnercury data
from insect-eating birds and mammals that inhabit the
Sudbury River floodplain, EPA researchers refocused
their investigations on the movement of mercury from
lower links in the food chain to the predators that in-
habit the floodplain wetlands. Scientists now are testing
for mercury contamination in vegetation, insect herbi-
vores and scavengers, avian insectivores, bats, shrews,
mice and free-flying insect predators, such as damselflies
and dragonflies. Scientists are analyzing a subset of these
samples for methyl and inorganic mercury to establish
possible relationships between these different contami-
nants. In addition, they are testing samples of the various
animals and plants for isotopes that identify the status
of the organisms within the food chain of the wetland
ecosystem. This information is critical in understanding
how wetland mercury methylation and biomagnification
of methyl mercury in the wetland foodweb may accumu-
late in higher level predators.
BENEFITS:
The study provides cutting-edge information on the
potential role insects play in biomagnifymg mercury
in food webs along river banks and creates a scientific
bridge between biomagnification processes of mercury
in the riverine and wetlands ecosystems. It also pro-
vides key information for decision-makers to help them
determine what steps can and should be taken to miti-
gate mercury contamination in the Sudbury River and
Great Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
EPA-901-F-09-018
April 2009
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