vvEPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Fish and Shellfish Program
NEWSLETTER
September/October
2019
EPA 823-N-19-008
In This Issue
Recent Advisory News 1
EPA News 2
Other News 4
Recently Awarded Research 6
Tech and Tools 7
Recent Publications 8
Upcoming Meetings
and Conferences 10
This newsletter provides information
only. This newsletter does not
impose legally binding requirements
on the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA), states, tribes, other
regulatory authorities, or the
regulated community. The Office of
Science and Technology, Office of
Water, U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency has approved this newsletter
for publication. Mention of trade
names, products, or services does
not convey and should not be
interpreted as conveying official EPA
approval, endorsement, or
recommendation for use.
https://www.eoa.gov/fish-tech
This issue of the Fish and Shellfish Program Newsletter generally focuses on mercury.
Recent Advisory News
«
ADEQ Issues Fish Consumption Advisory for
Lyman Lake in Apache County
On September 12, 2018, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in
association with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (AGFD), issued a fish
consumption advisory for walleye caught from Lyman Lake in Apache County. This
advisory recommends that walleye caught from Lyman Lake not be consumed. It is based
on recent analysis of fish tissue data that indicated elevated levels of mercury.
Generally, any mercury contaminant levels found in water are significantly lower than
those found in fish tissue. Therefore, fishing, bird watching, swimming, and other
recreational activities at Lyman Lake are not affected by this advisory and are encouraged
for enjoying the great outdoors.
Fish are an excellent source of protein and can be an important part of a healthy, diverse
diet as they are low in saturated fat. The American Heart Association recommends people
eat at least two fish or seafood meals every week.
Background
Fish Consumption Advisory: A fish consumption advisory recommends either limited
or no consumption of fish when ADEQ determines contaminant levels in fish tissues
taken from an Arizona waterway exceed state health standards. These advisories do not
apply to commercial fish sold in markets.
Pollutant of Concern: Mercury in the environment can come from various sources and
cause numerous health problems such as damage to the central nervous system,
depending on the exposure. Infants and pregnant or nursing mothers are considered most
at risk to possible health effects. Fish can accumulate elevated levels of mercury when
larger fish consume smaller fish and insects.
This newsletter provides a monthly summary of news about fish and shellfish
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
Resources
• ADEO Fish Consumption Advisories
• ADEO Fish Consumption Advisory Fact Sheet
• ADEO Fish Consumption Advisory Interactive Map
• Arizona Game and Fish Department Fish Consumption Advisories for Arizona Waters
• EPA-FDA Advice about Eating Fish and Shellfish
For more information, contact:
• ADEQ Public Information Officer at 602-771-2215 or pio@azdeq.gov.
• Nick Walter, AGFD, at 623-236-7214 or nwalter@azgfd.gov.
Source: https://azdeq.gov/press-releases/immediate-release-adeq-issues-fish-consumption-advisorv-lvman-lake-
apache-countv
EPA News
EPA and Partners Release Data and Findings from Kootenai River
Sampling Effort
Water quality and fish tissue results show elevated levels of selenium and nitrates associated with
upstream sources
On September 23, 2019, the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA), in cooperation with the U.S.
Geological Survey (USGS), released the results of a water
quality study indicating elevated levels of selenium in
water and fish and elevated nitrates in water in the
Kootenai River. Elevated levels of both contaminants are
associated with upstream sources in Canada's Elk Valley
and Lake Koocanusa.
The study, part of a collaborative effort between federal,
state, and tribal agencies to assess the Kootenai River
watershed, is based on water chemistry and fish tissue Processing fish samples for community population assessments and
samples taken on the river in Montana and Idaho from tissue collections, Kootenai River at Troy, MT. September, 2018.
immediately below Libby Dam to the Canadian Pictured is Jim Dunnigan, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, (Photo
courtesy of USGS)
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
border. Data contributing to the study were collected by USGS, the states of Idaho and Montana, and the Kootenai
Tribe of Idaho.
"These data indicate upstream activities may be affecting water quality and aquatic resources in Montana and
Idaho," said EPA Regional Administrator Gregory Sopkin. "The results, particularly selenium impacts to fish,
underscore the need for a more detailed understanding of water quality and continued collaboration to protect Lake
Koocanusa and the Kootenai River."
EPA has long been engaged in efforts to address water quality impacts to Lake Koocanusa, which straddles the
border of British Columbia, Canada, and the state of Montana. Selenium and nitrate concentrations entering the
lake from British Columbia's Elk River have been increasing since data collection began several decades ago. EPA
initiated this study in 2018 to address questions posed by state and tribal partners and to better understand the
presence, sources, and movement of selenium and nutrients in the Kootenai River watershed downstream of Libby
Dam. USGS led the EPA-funded study, in collaboration with EPA, state, and tribal partners. EPA conducted the fish
tissue analysis.
Results
The sampling results showed elevated selenium levels in some of the 142 fish evaluated in the study. Levels in some
mountain whitefish eggs exceeded EPA's recommended freshwater aquatic life criterion of 15.1 micrograms per liter
(ug/L), the level at which fish reproduction may be harmed. Six of eight mountain whitefish exceeded the EPA
criterion. In addition, one redside shiner exceeded EPA's whole-body criterion for selenium.
Selenium concentrations in water were elevated above background levels but did not exceed EPA recommended
criteria for selenium in flowing waters. Selenium was not detected in water samples from Kootenai River tributaries
unaffected by discharge from Lake Koocanusa, indicating that the source is the discharge of mine-related
constituents from the lake. Nitrate was detected in water immediately below Libby Dam at nearly three times the
concentrations observed in previous samples collected from 2000-2004, and significantly higher than those found
on the tributaries. Previous studies show that most of the selenium and nitrate in Lake Koocanusa originates from
coal mining in the Elk Valley.
Communities and tribes in Montana and Idaho depend upon good water quality and healthy fisheries. EPA's study
indicates that the Kootenai River is being impacted by upstream mining in British Columbia and points to the need
for continued monitoring to assess Kootenai River health and to track future trends. EPA is sharing the results of
this study with state, tribal, and international partners, and will continue to support the development of
information and measures to protect water quality.
Fish tissue samples were also analyzed for mercury, which can be harmful to people who consume fish. Mercury
concentrations were generally below EPA fish tissue criteria for methylmercury except for three northern
pikeminnow. Tribes and state agencies will consider whether fish advisories are appropriate.
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
Background
EPA issued revised national freshwater aquatic life criteria recommendations in 2016 for selenium in water and
fish. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) is currently working with the British Columbia
Ministry of Environment and Climate Change Strategies and other parties, including EPA, to develop site-specific
water quality criteria for selenium in Lake Koocanusa. MDEQ expects to submit revised selenium criteria to EPA for
review next year. Montana also plans to adopt EPA-recommended selenium criteria for the Kootenai River below
Libby Dam. Idaho has water quality standards for selenium in the Kootenai River that are consistent with EPA's
2016 recommendations.
For more information, visit: https://d0i.0rg/10.5066/PQYYW7R or contact Lisa McClain-Vanderpool at 303-312-
6077 or mcclain-vanderpool.lisa@epa.gov.
For information on EPA's national chronic aquatic life criterion for the pollutant selenium in freshwater see
https://www.epa.gov/wqc/aquatic-life-criterion-selenium.
Source: https://www.epa.gov/newsreleases/epa-and-partners-release-data-and-findings-kootenai-river-sampling-
effort
Other News
Mercury Levels in Fish Are on the Rise
Climate change and overfishing likely to increase human exposure to toxic methylmercury in seafood
Warming oceans are leading to an increase of the harmful neurotoxicant methylmercury in popular seafood,
including cod, Atlantic bluefin tuna, and swordfish, according to research led by researchers at Harvard University.
The scientists developed a first-of-its-kind, comprehensive model that simulates how environmental factors,
including increasing ocean temperatures and overfishing, affect levels of methylmercury in fish. The researchers
found that, while the regulation of mercury emissions has successfully reduced methylmercury levels in fish, spiking
temperatures are driving those levels back up and will play a major role in the methylmercury levels of marine life
in the future.
The findings are published in the journal Nature.
"This research is a major advance in understanding how and why ocean predators, such as tuna and swordfish, are
accumulating mercury," said Elsie Sunderland, senior author of the paper.
"Being able to predict the future of mercury levels in fish has been difficult to answer because, until now, we didn't
have a good understanding of why methylmercury levels were so high in big fish," said Amina Schartup, first author
of the paper.
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
Based on the new model, the researchers predict that an increase of 1 degree Celsius (°C) in seawater temperature,
relative to the year 2000, would lead to a 32% increase in methyl mercury levels in cod and a 70% increase in spiny
dogfish.
"This study brings together different kinds of data with models in a way that will have a direct impact on how we
manage fisheries," says Hedy Edmonds, a program director in National Science Foundation's Division of Ocean
Sciences, which funded the research.
For more information, contact the National Science Foundation Public Affairs at (703) 292-7090
or media@nsf.gov.
Source: https://wwvv.nsf.gov/disc.overies/disc summ.isp?cntn id=2000^7&org=NSF8d:rom=nevvs
Isotopic Tracers in Fish in Northeast Provide Clue to Mercury
Sources
On August 20, 2019, the USGS Regional Stream Quality Assessment (" RSQ A") released a new study reporting that
isotopes of mercury in fish can indicate the source of that mercury.
The isotopic signature of mercury in fish in urban regions of the Northeast indicates that the mercury comes from
current and legacy point sources, such as industrial activities. In more rural areas, the mercury signature in fish
indicates that the mercury has undergone long-range atmospheric transport.
Mercury is a potent neurotoxin that accumulates in the tissue of fish and other organisms, and humans can be
exposed to mercury by consuming fish that have bioaccumulated mercury. There are numerous statewide and
waterbody-specific fishing advisories across the U.S. for mercury. In areas with many potential mercury sources,
such as the Northeast, one challenge is to determine which sources are the greatest contributors to mercury in fish.
Identification of mercury sources can inform management actions in regions with mercury fishing advisories and
improve our understanding of the bioavailability of mercury to fish and the rest of the food web.
Using 69 fish from 23 small streams in the Northeast and
three isotopic tracers of mercury in the fish tissue,
researchers determined that point sources, such as
industrial emissions, were the predominant source of
mercury in fish in urban areas with a relatively large
amount of current or past industrial activity. In contrast,
mercury in fish in rural streams was from atmospheric
deposition of mercury onto the land surface that then
washes into streams with stormwater runoff. These
patterns were consistent across both game and prey fish.
This is one of the first studies to use mercury isotopes in
fish tissue to track mercury sources.
Rainbow trout [ Oncorhynchus mykis^ was one of the sampled fish
species. (Photo courtesy of U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
Sediments also had mercury isotopic compositions that corresponded to land use, but the compositions were
different than those in fish collected at the same site. This indicates that mercury in both fish and sediment is
affected by factors such as land use and proximity to point sources, but that mercury in fish and sediment are not
necessarily directly linked as has been commonly assumed.
For more information, contact Sarah E. Janssen. Research Chemist at the Upper Midwest Water Science Center, at
608-821-3976 or sianssen@usgs.gov.
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/center-news/isotopic-tracers-fish-northeast-provide-clue-mercurv-sources7qt-
news science products=i#qt-news science products
Recently Awarded Research
$3 Million Grant Funds Study of Colombian River Contamination,
Effects on Locals
The Atrato River in Colombia has been tainted by decades of illegal mining, leading to mercury contamination and
other pollutants.
On February 13, 2019, Robert Stempel College of Public Health and Social Work at the Florida International
University (FIU) — in collaboration with Universidad de Cordoba and Universidad Tecnologica del Choco Diego
Luis Cordoba, both in Colombia — was awarded a $3 million grant to evaluate the degree of contamination
throughout the river basin and how it is impacting the health of local populations.
The FIU portion of the project will be led by Carlos Espinal, director of the Global Health Consortium; Tomas R.
Guilarte, Dean of Stempel College; and Piero R. Gardinali, marine environmental toxicologist and professor in
the College of Arts. Science & Education.
"The people who live in the Atrato River Basin have been exposed to decades of mercury contamination in their
daily lives, and the effects will be felt for generations to come," Guilarte says. "Our hope is that by understanding
the levels of contamination and where it exists, we can be part of the solution and alleviate some of the damage that
has been caused."
The project is being funded by Colciencias, Colombia's administrative department of science, technology, and
innovation, the government agency that supports fundamental and applied research in the country. The goal of the
project is to evaluate the health conditions of the population that lives in the Atrato River Basin and their relative
exposure to environmental contaminants resulting from both legal and illegal gold mining.
The project will include surveying more than 6,000 local inhabitants of the area, testing their hair, blood, and urine.
The project will also test local water, sediments, plants, and food sources such as fish.
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
On a recent trip to Colombia, both Guilarte and Espinal met with Colciencias to discuss possible future
collaborations between the organization and Stempel College.
The Atrato River is the largest river in Colombia with more than 150 tributary rivers and 3,000 streams. It is a
natural wonder with immense reserves of gold, silver, and platinum. The highly impoverished region is home to a
predominately Afro-Colombian population that has been found to suffer from disproportionate levels of cancer and
neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease, that are believed to be the result of
exposure to the chemicals used for mining and lack of clean water in the region.
According to Mercury Watch, Colombia is the country with the highest rate of mercury and cyanide contamination
in the Americas, and a third of its total 180 tons per year are poured into the Atrato River.
In 2018, a landmark decision by the Colombian government ruled that the Atrato River Basin has the rights to
protection, conservation, maintenance, and restoration. As part of the ruling, the government is working to locate
the sources of contamination and hold responsible parties accountable for their actions.
"Clean water is a basic necessity for populations to live and essential to a healthy ecosystem. Our work in the Atrato
River Basin will help us better understand the degree of contamination to the ecology and the people who reside
there," said Espinal. "This is the first step in cleaning the area and ensuring that the living conditions are safe."
For more information, contact Jessica Drouet at ischenck@fiu.edu.
Source: https://news.fiu.edu/20io/^-iTiillion-grant-funds-studv-of-colombian-river-contamination-effects-on-
locals
Tech and Tools
What's In Your Stream? Get Online to Find Out!
On August 8, 2019, USGS released a new update to an online
interactive tool for learning about pesticides, nutrients, and
overall stream health in major regions of the U.S. It is
available from USGS RSQA.
In addition to results for the Northeast and Pacific Northwest
regions, users now can access results for the Midwest and
Southeast regions made available in 2018.
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By clicking on a stream sampling site, users can access a
"scorecard" that gives a snapshot of water-quality, habitat,
and stream-health metrics for that stream. The site also allows
users to visually compare results across a region and
nationally among regions. The Results Viewer app depicts
How is stream ecology affected by chemical and physical
stressors in small streams? The USGS is addressingthis
question through studies of relations between stressors and
stream ecology across large regions ofthe U.S. Users can click
on a region on RSQA maps to learn more and access data on
water and sediment quality of streams. (Screenshot of map
courtesy of USGS)
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
data collected at the stream sites assessed. Sites are displayed on the map using an easy-to-understand color key
that shows low, medium, and high levels of each metric. The Download Data app allows users to select and
download project data of interest by site or by constituent.
Results available now cover four of the five USGS RSQAs. For each region, samples were collected at about 100
small streams and tested for a wide range of contaminants. Scientists also surveyed stream habitat, algae, fish, and
bottom-dwelling invertebrate communities, such as mayfly and damselfly larvae. Streambed sediment was collected
at every site for chemical analysis and toxicity testing. Results for the fifth and final region, Coastal California, will
be available later this year.
Publications and study design information also are available at the RSOA website. The information from the
assessment can be used by the public and by land and resource managers to better understand the relative effects of
water quality and other stressors on aquatic organisms in streams.
Explore other water-quality tools and learn more about water quality across the Nation at the USGS National
Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project website.
For additional information, contact:
• Barbara Mahler. Research Hydrologist, USGS National Water Quality Program Communications
Coordinator, Texas Water Science Center, at 512-927-3566 or bimahler@usgs.gov.
• Pete Van Metre at pcvanmet@usgs.gov for additional information on the web tool.
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/center-news/whats-vour-stream-get-online-find-out7qt-
news science products=i#qt-news science products
Recent Publications
Journal Articles
The list below provides a selection of research articles focusing on mercury.
~ The implications of following dietary advice regarding fish consumption frequency and meal size for the benefit (EPA + DHA and Se) versus risk
(MeHg) assessment
Afonso C., I. Bernardo, N. M. Bandarra, L. L. Martins, and C. Cardoso. 2019. The implications of following dietary advice regarding
fish consumption frequency and meal size for the benefit (EPA+ DHA and Se) versus risk (MeHg) assessment. International
Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition 70(5):623-637.
~ Predictors of mitochondrial DNA copy number and damage in a mercury-exposed rural Peruvian population nearartisanal and small-scale gold
mining: An exploratory study
Berky, A. J., I. T. Ryde, B. Feingold, E. J. Ortiz, L. H. Wyatt, C. Weinhouse, H. Hsu-Kim, J. N. Meyer, and W. K. Pan. 2019. Predictors
of mitochondrial DNA copy number and damage in a mercury-exposed rural Peruvian population near artisanal and small-scale
gold mining: An exploratory study. Environ Mol Mutagen 60 (2):197-210.
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
~ Estimated exposure to mercury from fish consumption among women anglers of childbearing age in the Great Lakes region
Connelly N. A., T. B. Lauber, P. J. McCann, J. Niederdeppe, and B. A. Knuth. 2019. Estimated exposure to mercury from fish
consumption among women anglers of childbearing age in the Great Lakes region. Environmental Research, 171:11-17.
~ Ecological drivers of mercury concentrations in fish species in subsistence harvests from Kotzebue Sound. Alaska
Cyr, A. P., J. A. Lopez, M.J. Wooller, A. Whiting, R. Gerlach, and T. O'Hara. 2019. Ecological drivers of mercury concentrations in fish
species in subsistence harvests from Kotzebue Sound, Alaska. Environmental Research 177:108622
~ A model of mercury distribution in tuna from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean: Influence of physiology, ecology and environmental factors
Houssard P., D. Point, L. Tremblay-Boyer, V. Allain, H. Pethybridge, J. Masbou, B. E. Ferriss, P. A. Baya, C. Lagane, C. E. Menkes, Y.
Letourneur, and A. Lorrain. 2019. A model of mercury distribution in tuna from the Western and Central Pacific Ocean: Influence of
physiology, ecology and environmental factors. Environmental Science & Technology 53(3}.1422-1431.
~ Chemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States
Janssen S. E., K. Riva-Murray, J. F. DeWild, J. M. Ogorek, M. T. Tate, P. C. Van Metre, D. P. Krabbenhoft, and J. F. Coles. 2019.
Chemical and physical controls on mercury source signatures in stream fish from the northeastern United States. Environmental
Science & Technology 53(17): 10110-10119.
~ Nutrients mediate the effects of temperature on methvlmercurv concentrations in freshwater zooplankton
Jordan M. P., A. R. Stewart, C. A. Eagles-Smith, and A. L. Strecker. 2019. Nutrients mediate the effects of temperature on
methylmercury concentrations in freshwater zooplankton. Science of The Total Environment 667:601-612.
~ Mercury exposure in mother-children pairs in a seafood eating population: Body burden and related factors
Karatela, S., N. Ward, and J. Paterson. 2019. Mercury exposure in mother-children pairs in a seafood eating population: Body
burden and related factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 16(12):2238.
~ Heavy metals in fish and its association with autoimmunity in the development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A prospective birth cohort study
Kindgren, E., C. Guerrero-Bosagna, and J. Ludvigsson. 2019. Heavy metals in fish and its association with autoimmunity in the
development of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: A prospective birth cohort study. Pediatric Rheumatology 17(1):33.
~ Change in mercury speciation in seafood after cooking and gastrointestinal digestion
Liao W., G. Wang, W. Zhao, M. Zhang, Y. Wu, X. Liu, and K. Li. 2019. Change in mercury speciation in seafood after cooking and
gastrointestinal digestion. Journal of Hazardous Materials 375:130-137.
~ Tracking declines in mercury exposure in the New York Citv adult population. 2004-2014
McKelvey, W., B. Alex, C. Chernov, P. Hore, C. D. Palmer, A. J. Steuerwald, P. J. Parsons, and S. E. Perlman. 2018. Tracking declines
in mercury exposure in the New York City adult population, 2004-2014. Journal of Urban Health 95(6): 813-825.
~ Scaling mercury biodvnamics from individuals to populations: Implications of an herbivorous fish on mercury cycles in streams
McManamay, R. A., F. Linam, T. J. Mathews, S.C. Brooks, and M.J. Peterson. 2019. Scaling mercury biodynamics from individuals
to populations: Implications of an herbivorous fish on mercury cycles in streams. Freshwater Biology 64(5):815-831.
~ Factors influencing fish mercury concentrations in Iowa rivers
Mills, N., M. J. Weber, C. L. Pierce, and D. Cashatt. 2019. Factors influencing fish mercury concentrations in Iowa rivers.
Ecotoxicology 28(2):229-241.
~ Climate change and overfishing increase neurotoxicant in marine predators
Schartup, A. T., C. P. Thackray, A. Qureshi, C. Dassuncao, K. Gillespie, A. Hanke, and E. Sunderland. 2019. Climate change and
overfishing increase neurotoxicant in marine predators. Nature 572:648-650.
~ Exposure to mercury among 9-vear-old Spanish children: Associated factors and trend throughout childhood
Soler-Blasco R., M. Murcia, M. Lozano, X. Aguinagalde, G. Iriarte, M.-J. Lopez-Espinosa, J. Vioque, C. Ifiiguez, F. Ballester, and S.
Llop. 2019. Exposure to mercury among 9-year-old Spanish children: Associated factors and trend throughout childhood.
Environment International 130:104835.
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Fish and Shellfish Program newsletter September/October 2019
~ Prenatal and early postnatal exposure to total mercury and methvlmercurv from low maternal fish consumption
Ursinyova, M., V. Masanova, I. Uhnakova, L. P. Murinova, H. Patayova, K. Rausova, T. Trnovec, J. Stencl, and M. Gajdos. 2019.
Prenatal and early postnatal exposure to total mercury and methylmercury from low maternal fish consumption. Biological Trace
Element Research 191(1): 16-26.
~ Timber harvest alters mercury bioaccumulation and food web structure in headwater streams
Willacker J. J., C. A. Eagles-Smith, B. M. Kowalski, R. J. Danehy, A. K. Jackson, E. M. Adams, D. C. Evers, C. S. Eckley, M. T. Tate, and
D. P. Krabbenhoft. 2019. Timber harvest alters mercury bioaccumulation and food web structure in headwater streams.
Environmental Pollution 253:636-645.
Upcoming Meetings and Conferences
13th World Congress on Aauaculture and Fisheries
October 28-29, 2019
Tokyo, Japan
80th Midwest Fish and Wildlife Conference
January 26-29, 2020
Springfield, Illinois
Catfish 2020 - The Third International Catfish Symposium
February 18-20, 2020
Little Rock, Arkansas
Additional Information
This monthly newsletter highlights current information about fish and shellfish.
For more information about specific advisories within the state, territory, or tribe, contact the appropriate
state agency listed on EPA's National Listing of Fish Advisories website at https://fishadvisorvonline.epa.gov/Contacts.aspx.
For more information about this newsletter, contact Sharon Frey (Frev.Sharon@epa.gov. 202-566-1480).
Additional information about advisories and fish and shellfish consumption can be found at https://www.epa.gov/fish-tech.
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