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Contaminated Sediments News

Issue 29 - August 2002

Welcome to the Contaminated Sediments News, a monthly review of recent journal articles, issues in the press, upcoming conferences, and other news. This website will replace the Contaminated Sediments Newsletter, which was published quarterly through the summer of 2000. Items for the CS News are chosen from the results of a detailed search of a number of scientific and technical publication databases, as well as from searches of media publication databases (including newspapers and magazines).

Check back to this site frequently to see each new issue of the Contaminated Sediments News, and visit the CS News Archive to find past issues.

Contents

Note: The summaries found on this website are based on articles from the press and from peer-reviewed publications, and they represent the opinions of the original authors. The views of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government, and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes. Reference herein to any specific commercial products, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government.

Current News

Recent Journal Articles of Interest

  • Toxicity assessment of sediments from the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor canal - This study evaluated the toxicity of sediments from the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor Canal (northwestern Indiana). Thirty sampling stations were selected in locations that had limited historic matching toxicity and chemistry data. Toxic effects on amphipod survival were observed in 60% of the samples. Results of a toxicity test with oligochaetes indicated that sediments from the assessment area were too toxic to be used in proposed bioaccumulation testing. Samples that were toxic tended to have the highest concentrations of metals, PAHs, and PCBs. The toxic samples often had an excess of simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) relative to acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and had multiple exceedances of probable effect concentrations (PECs). A mean PEC quotient of 3.4 (based on concentrations of metals, PAHs, and PCBs) was exceeded in 33% of the sediment samples and a mean quotient of 0.63 was exceeded in 70% of the samples. The authors conclude that the results of this study and others show that sediments from this area are among the most contaminated and toxic ever reported.

    Source: Ingersoll CG, MacDonald DD, Brumbaugh WG, Johnson BT, Kemble NE, Kunz JL, May TW, Wang N, Smith JR, Sparks DW, Ireland DS. 2002. Toxicity assessment of sediments from the Grand Calumet River and Indiana Harbor canal in northwestern Indiana, USAArch Environ Contam Toxicol;43(2):156-67.

  • Toxicity of sediments following the Exxon Valdez oil spill - After the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill, a one-year study found that spill residues on the oiled shorelines rapidly lost toxicity through weathering. After 1990, toxicity of sediments remained at only a few heavily oiled locations in Prince William Sound. This paper describes the results of an analysis of data from 648 sediment samples taken during the 1990 to 1993 period. The analysis was undertaken to determine the relationship between the total concentration of 39 parent and methyl-substituted TPAHs and amphipod mortality and the effect of oil weathering on toxicity. A logistic regression model gave estimates of the lower threshold, LC10 (lethal concentration to 10% of the population), and LC50 (median lethal concentration) values of 2,600, 4,100, and 10,750 ng/g TPAH (dry wt), respectively. Estimates of the threshold and LC50 values here relate well to corresponding sediment quality guideline (SQG) values reported in the literature. By 1999, the median sediment TPAH concentration of 117 ng/g for the post-1989 worst-case sites studied were well below the 2,600 ng/g toxicity threshold value, confirming the lack of potential for long-term toxic effects. Researchers also found that species richness and Shannon diversity decreased with increasing TPAH above the 2,600 ng/g threshold.

    Source: Page DS, Boehm PD, Stubblefield WA, Parker KR, Gilfillan ES, Neff JM, Maki AW. 2002. Hydrocarbon composition and toxicity of sediments following the Exxon Valdez oil spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska, USA. Environ Toxicol Chem;21(7):1438-50.

  • Detection of estrogenic activity in sediment-associated compounds - Researchers measured sediment-associated estrogenic potency with an estrogen receptor-mediated luciferase reporter gene (ER-CALUX) assay and compared their results with those from a recombinant yeast screen method. The ER-CALUX assay was found to be more sensitive to 17 beta-estradiol (E2) than the recombinant yeast screen. Sediments from industrialized areas such as the Port of Rotterdam showed the highest estrogenic potency of the 12 marine sediments tested (up to 40 pmol estradiol equivalents per gram of sediment). The estrogenic activity of other individual chemicals that can be found in sediments was also tested. These results showed that increasing sidechain length of various nonylphenol ethoxylates resulted in decreased estrogenic activity. As metabolic activation may be required to induce estrogenic activity, a metabolic transformation step was added to the ER-CALUX assay using incubation of compounds with liver microsomes obtained from PCB-treated rats. The authors report that metabolites of E2, NP and bisphenol A were less active than their parent compounds, while metabolites of methoxychlor were more estrogenic following metabolic transformation.

    Source: Legler J, Dennekamp M, Vethaak AD, Brouwer A, Koeman JH, van der Burg B, Murk AJ. 2002. Detection of estrogenic activity in sediment-associated compounds using in vitro reporter gene assays. Sci Total Environ;293(1-3):69-83.

  • Cytochrome P4501A in killifish: heritability of altered expression - This study was conducted to test the cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) protein expression of first, second, and third generation laboratory-raised offspring of Elizabeth River killifish in response to exposure to sediments from a contaminated site as well as to PAH-type CYP1A inducers. The Elizabeth River offspring's responses were compared to those of offspring of killifish from two reference sites. As with wild Elizabeth River killifish, the first generation embryos and larvae were refractory to CYP1A induction. However, the response observed in 3-year-old first generation adults, as well as with second and third generation fish, was much closer to that observed in reference-site fish. The authors suggest that the pattern of altered CYP1A response in Elizabeth River killifish, while persistent and heritable for one generation, is mostly nongenetically based.

    Source: Meyer JN, Nacci DE, Di Giulio RT. 2002. Cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) in killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus): heritability of altered expression and relationship to survival in contaminated sediments.Toxicol Sci 2002 Jul;68(1):69-81.

  • Field validation of two sediment-amphipod toxicity tests - The authors conducted a field validation study of two sediment-amphipod toxicity tests using sediment samples collected near a PAH-contaminated Superfund site in Elliott Bay, Washington. Sediment samples were collected at 30 stations and standard 10-d sediment-amphipod toxicity tests were conducted with Rhepoxynius abronius and Leptocheiros plumulosus. Total PAHs were found to be an important common causal agent of the changes in the two toxicity tests and five macrofaunal community endpoints. Field validations were conducted by statistically analyzing the association between or among each toxicity test endpoint, each of seven macrofaunal community metrics, and Total PAHs. As a result of these analyses both toxicity test endpoints were validated as indicators of macrofaunal community changes. The resolution power of the relationships between the laboratory toxicity test and macrofaunal field endpoints was low, but sufficient to discriminate ecologically important effects. The authors conclude that standard sediment-amphipod toxicity tests are ecologically relevant and that their results can be used for lab-to-field extrapolation.

    Source: Ferraro, S. P. and F. A. Cole. 2002. A field validation of two sediment-amphipod toxicity tests. Environ Toxicol Chem; 21(7):1423-37.

  • Ambient water column and sediment toxicity tests in the Chesapeake Bay - The authors summarized ten years of sediment toxicity testing in Chesapeake Bay, with the goal of identifying the relative toxicity of ambient areas. Inorganic and organic contaminants were evaluated in ambient water and sediment concurrently with water column and sediment tests to assess possible causes of toxicity. Water column tests from the 10-year testing period showed that 49% of the time, some degree of toxicity was reported. Some degree of sediment toxicity was reported from 62% of the tests conducted during the 10-year period. The Elizabeth River and Baltimore Harbor stations were reported as the most toxic areas based on sediment results. Sediment toxicity guidelines were exceeded for one or more of the following metals at these two locations: arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. At the Elizabeth River stations, nine of sixteen semi-volatile organics and two of seven pesticides measured exceeded the ER-M values in 1990. Ambient sediment toxicity tests in the Elizabeth River in 1996 showed reduced toxicity. Various semi-volatile organics exceeded the ER-M values at a number of Baltimore Harbor sites; pyrene and dibenzo(a,h)anthracene were particularly high at one of the stations (Northwest Harbor). A comparison of water column and sediment toxicity data for the various stations over the 10-year study showed that approximately half the time agreement occurred.

    Source: Hall LW Jr, Anderson RD, Alden RW 3rd. 2002. A ten year summary of concurrent ambient water column and sediment toxicity tests in the Chesapeake Bay watershed: 1990-1999. .Environ Monit Assess;76(3):311-52.

  • Emissions and sediment loads in an urban area - The sediment deposition of Cd and Pb in the waters around Stockholm was investigated to examine how fluxes in the aquatic environment reflect the reduced use of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the area between 1975 and 1995. The researchers used laminated sediment cores to reconstruct historical annual metal deposition to the sediments. The resulting reconstructions were compared to independent estimations of the emissions to the aquatic environment during the phase-out period. The loads of Cd and Pb from sewage treatment plants, storm water and atmospheric deposition were studied using literature data. The reduction in Pb and Cd is not as pronounced in the sediment as in the calculated emissions for the same time period, indicating that emissions may be delayed on their way to the sediments or that there are other sources such as the resuspension of older sediments. The authors conclude that sediment investigations are an essential component in environmental monitoring in order to get a complete picture of the metal fluxes to and in the environment in urban areas.

    Source: Jonsson A, Lindstrom M, Bergback B. 2002. Phasing out cadmium and lead--emissions and sediment loads in an urban area. Sci Total Environ; 292(1-2):91-100.

  • Evaluation of numerical sediment quality targets for St. Louis River - This study evaluated the predictive ability of the numerical sediment quality targets (SQTs) for the St. Louis River Area of Concern (AOC) by using the matching sediment chemistry and toxicity data set for the area. This evaluation involved determination of the incidence of toxicity to amphipods and midges within five ranges of Level II SQT quotients (i.e., mean probable effect concentration quotients [PEC-Qs]). The incidence of toxicity was determined based on the results of 10-day toxicity tests with amphipods and midges. For both tests, the incidence of toxicity increased as the mean PEC-Q ranges increased. The incidence of toxicity was also compared to similar regions, and the authors found that the predictive ability of the mean PEC-Qs was similar across geographic areas. The authors conclude that these results indicate the mean PEC-Qs provide a reliable basis for classifying sediments as toxic or not toxic in the St. Louis River AOC, in the larger geographic areas of the Great Lakes, and elsewhere in North America.

    Source: Crane JL, MacDonald DD, Ingersoll CG, Smorong DE, Lindskoog RA, Severn CG, Berger TA Field LJ. 2002. Evaluation of numerical sediment quality targets for the St. Louis river area of concern. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol; 43(1):1-10.

  • Ozonation for remediation of PAH-contaminated sediments - This study used ozonation as a remediation technique to investigate the treatability of a PAH-contaminated sediment sample from a freshwater boat slip subjected to coal tar contamination over a long period. The sediment was made into 3% w/w soil slurries and ozonated, and then samples were collected after different ozonation durations and tested for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), UV absorbance, and toxicity. Results suggested that ozonation for 2 hours removed 50-100% of various PAHs in the solid and liquid phases of the sediment sample and that organic and inorganic constituents of the sediment were also altered by ozonation. Measurements and comparisons of BOD, COD, UV absorbance, and toxicity of the samples further suggested that ozonation improved the bioavailability and biodegradability of the contaminants, despite the increased toxicity of the treatment effluent. The authors suggest that an integrated chemical-biological system appeared to be feasible for treating recalcitrant compounds.

    Source: Zeng, Yu; Hong, PK Andrew. 2002. Slurry-phase ozonation for remediation of sediments contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association Vol. 52, no. 1, pp. 58-68. 2002.

  • Impact of organochlorine contamination on amphibian populations - In this study, five PCB-contaminated wetlands were surveyed for frog densities relative to four uncontaminated sites. Although the researchers found that sediments contained PCB concentrations toxic to some organisms, there was no significant correlation between frog density or species richness and severity of PCB contamination. In the laboratory, tadpoles and eggs of Rana pipiens and Rana utricularia were negatively affected by PCB concentrations comparable to field levels. Adults and larvae of these species collected from contaminated field sites contained tissue PCB levels much lower than that of the sediments. The authors suggest that the lack of population-level impact of PCBs in the field may be explained by limited contaminant accumulation in the frogs themselves.

    Source: Glennemeier Karen A; Begnoche Linda J. 2002. Impact of organochlorine contamination on amphibian populations in southwestern Michigan. Journal of Herpetology; 36(2), 233-244

  • Effects of tributyltin on structure of estuarine nematode assemblages - The authors performed a microcosm experiment to evaluate the effects of different levels of paint-derived tributyltin (TBT), and different modes of exposure, on the diversity, feeding mode, and assemblage structure of estuarine nematodes. Estuarine meiofauna were exposed to two types of treatments (mixture and deposit) containing uncontaminated sediment and sediment spiked with paint-derived TBT at 1 and 10 mg/kg for a duration of 4 and 8 weeks. The numbers of many species differed greatly between treatments. The survival rates of nematode species in the top layer of these sediments depended on their ability to withstand TBT contamination as well as their potential to migrate, survive and reproduce in the deposit. These results show that the response of nematode species depends not only on the level of TBT contamination but also on the duration and mode of exposure to contaminated sediment.

    Source: Schratzberger Michaela; Wall Caroline M; Reynolds William J; Reed Jacqueline; Waldock Michael J. 2002. Effects of paint-derived tributyltin on structure of estuarine nematode assemblages in experimental microcosms. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology; 272(2), 217-235.

  • Historical and present fluxes of mercury to Northeastern lakes - For this study the researchers quantified mercury fluxes to the sediments of ten small drainage lakes across Vermont and New Hampshire from approximately the year 1800 to present. Results showed that present-day total mercury fluxes are between 2.1 to 6.9 times greater than pre-1850 fluxes. Current-day direct atmospheric mercury deposition to the study region was estimated at 21 mug m-2 yr-1, which agrees well with measured deposition. These data also suggest that mercury fluxes to lake sediments have declined in recent decades, owing to reductions in atmospheric mercury deposition to the lake surface. Watershed export of atmospherically deposited mercury remains elevated relative to present-day deposition rates, which contributes to the impression that mercury retention by watershed soils has declined.

    Source: Kamman Neil C; Engstrom Daniel R. 2002. Historical and present fluxes of mercury to Vermont and New Hampshire lakes inferred from 210Pb dated sediment cores. Atmospheric Environment; 36(10), 1599-1609.

  • Molecular assessment of in situ bioremediation of PCBs from sediments - Microbial degradation of sediment pollutants is an economically and environmentally sound alternative to conventional means of remediation such as dredging. This paper describes the development of a PCR-based assay to determine the potential for PCB bioremediation by the resident microbial consortium in contaminated sediments. Using PCR and RT-PCR of DNA and RNA, respectively, the bphA1 gene that encodes the large subunit of biphenyl dioxygenase was amplified from Lake Erie sediment samples. Since other studies have determined that the BphA1 gene product dictates PCB congener specificity, this assay may prove to be a useful screen for endemic catabolic activities for PCB mixtures in aquatic sediments.

    Source: Hoostal Matthew J; Bullerjahn George S; McKay R Michael L. 2002. Molecular assessment of the potential for in situ bioremediation of PCBs from aquatic sediments. Hydrobiologia; 469, pp. 59-65.

  • Determination of mercury by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry - This study examines the direct analysis of mercury in sediment samples from Minamata Bay, Japan using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). Direct analysis of sediment samples without internal standardization yielded satisfactory results. Elemental speciation and particle size within the studied range did not appear to significantly affect the measurements. With the LA-ICP-MS system, the authors achieved a sample throughput of 10 per h and a detection limit of 0.02 mg/kg. Analytical results of 14 sediment samples using the LA-ICP-MS system matched well with those obtained by isotope dilution cold vapour.

    Source: Tao Guanhong; Fujikawa Yoko; Mitsui Mitsuhiko; Yamada Ryuji. 2002. Determination of mercury in sediment samples by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Journal of Analytical Atomic Spectrometry; 17(5), 560-562.

Upcoming Conferences and Events

  • International Symposium on Sediment Quality Assessments - The Fifth International Symposium on Sediment Quality Assessments will be held October 16-18, 2002 in Chicago, Illinois. This symposium is the fifth in a series being organized by the Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management Society (AEHMS).

    The five principal areas for the 2002 conference are:

    • Sediment Transport and Contaminant Flux
    • Sediments and Watershed Management
    • Microbial Pathogens: Are Sediments A Risk?
    • Weight of Evidence and Risk-Based Decision Making
    • Emerging Technologies for Assessment and Remediation of Sediments

    For further information, see the symposuim website at:
    http://www.aehms.org/SQA5_event.html

  • Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments & Water - The 18th Annual International Conference on Contaminated Soils, Sediments & Water will be held October 21-24, 2002 in Amherst, Massachusetts. The theme of this year's conference is "Expediting and Economizing Cleanups," and live equipment demonstrations will augment the exhibition section. Visit the conference website www.umasssoils.com for more information.

  • Second International Conference on the Remediation of Contaminated Sediments - The Second International Sediment Remediation Conference will be held in the autumn of 2003 in Venice, Italy. Organizers say the city is an ideal setting for a conference on this topic because of the sediments remediation efforts being exerted there by the local, regional, and national governments. The Call for Abstracts brochure is expected to be available in July 2002, and abstracts to be considered for the program will be due in December 2002. To request a copy of the Call for Abstracts, visit the Sediment Remediation Conference website.
  • Coastal Sediments 2003 - Coastal Sediments '03 is a multi-disciplinary international conference convened for researchers and practitioners to discuss science and engineering issues of coastal sediment processes. The conference will be held May 18-23, 2003 in Clearwater Beach, Florida. Visit the website for more information: www.coastalsediments.net

  • 2nd International Symposium on Contaminated Sediments - Subtitled "Characterisation, Evaluation, Mitigation/Restoration, Management Strategy, and Performance." Conference to be held May 26-28, 2003 Quebec City, Canada. Visit the website for more information.
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