Issue 40 - August 2003
Welcome to the Contaminated Sediments News, a monthly review of
recent journal articles, issues in the press, upcoming conferences,
and other news. 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.
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.
Summarized Journal Articles
- Stable isotopes and fatty acids reveal
that Chironomus riparius feeds selectively on added food
in standardized toxicity tests – The midge, Chironomus
riparius, is used in long-term standardized toxicity tests
of sediments, which require food additives as a prerequisite for
normal development and to avoid false-positive results. If the
larvae selectively feed on the added food and not on the contaminated
sediment being evaluated for toxicity, the test results may not
accurately reflect the toxicity of the sediment. The authors designed
a feeding study to estimate the degree of feeding by Chironomus
riparius on different foods. They used stable isotope and
fatty acid analyses to determine the feed preferences of several
groups of larvae. In one treatment, larvae were offered both artificial
sediment (peat, kaolin clay, sand, and calcium carbonate) and
added food (TetraPhyll). Larvae in the two other treatments had
access to only one of these potential food items. The highest
biomass and survival were found among larvae with access to both
artificial sediment and TetraPhyll. The stable isotope method
used two-source mixing models, which revealed larval Chironomus
offered both TetraPhyll and artificial sediment obtained 94 +/-
6.9% of their carbon and 90 +/- 4.3% of their nitrogen from added
TetraPhyll. Larvae with access to only sediment had lower delta13C
and delta15N (-23.34 +/- 0.56 per thousand and 0.33 +/- 0.52 per
thousand) than those that were offered both sediment and TetraPhyll
(-20.95 +/- 0.13 per thousand and 7.45 +/- 0.36 per thousand)
or only TetraPhyll (-20.17 +/- 0.20 per thousand and 7.82 +/-
0.15 per thousand). The fatty acid composition of larvae that
were offered both artificial sediment and TetraPhyll closely resembled
that of those fed exclusively TetraPhyll. The authors concluded
that their results show larval Chironumus strongly prefer
added food, rather than artificial sediment in long-term toxicity
tests. The preferential feeding behavior of the larval Chironumus
affects toxin exposure pathways and ultimately toxicity test results.
Source: Akerblom, N.and W. Goedkoop; Stable isotopes and
fatty acids reveal that Chironomus ripaius feeds selectively
on added food in standardized toxicity tests; Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22 (7): 1473-1480, 2003.
- Monitoring freshwater
sediments – The SENSPOL Expert Meeting
on 'Monitoring Freshwater Sediments' was held in Antwerp, Belgium,
12-13 September, 2001. The meeting objectives were to identify
and define problems associated with monitoring freshwater sediments
and to develop a realistic strategy to solve these problems. Two
stakeholder groups (government and the dredging industry) participated
in detailed discussions about the role of sensors for monitoring
sediments and sediment/water interfaces. Nineteen invited experts
agreed that in situ monitoring systems are needed to monitor freshwater
sediments. New methods, which are recognized by government agencies,
for sediment monitoring would help industry to meet sediment quality
criteria and to collect historic river contamination and geological
background data. The industry also stressed the desire for monitoring
programs that couple effect-related studies with chemical monitoring.
Development of new sensor tools should focus on on-site determinations
of key priority pollutants that offer efficiency advantages over
existing methods. New tools are also important for conditions
where no suitable method exists and for monitoring biological
effects to elicit alarm states when contamination exceeds criteria
levels and to establish cause and effect relationships. The meeting
participants also agreed that new sensing technologies would be
useful to monitor bioavailability in sediments in situ to provide
information for risk assessment and for in situ monitoring of
bioremediation. For example, the participants could use novel
monitoring tools when dredging sediments, for in situ sediment
screening, and to guide treatment of dredged material. The new
sensing tools presented at the meeting included:
• Determination of metal concentrations in sediments using
the diffuse gradients in thin films (DGT) technique (Lancaster
University, UK)
• An analytical protocol for determination of metal speciation
in sediments (Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona, Spain)
• Microbiotests for determination of sediment toxicity (University
of Ghent, Belgium)
• A portable, whole-cell sensor device for heavy metal bioavailability
(VITO, Belgium)
• A microfabricated sensor array system for Pb concentration
profile measurement in the microM range at the liquid-solid interface
(University of Geneva, Switzerland).
Source: Alcock, S. et al.; Monitoring freshwater sediments;
Biosensors & Bioelectronics 18 (8): 1077-1083, 2003.
- Evaluation of sequential
extractions on dry and wet sediments – This
study evaluated a five-step sequential extraction procedure that
was applied on dried and wet Ballastplaat Scheldt estuary sediments.
The method used an inert atmosphere for wet (fresh) sediments
through the 3rd extraction step. The repeatability of the procedure
was very good on dry samples. Results (using the dried samples)
show that Fe and Mn had RSD values that are lower than 4%, except
for Mn in the fifth extraction step where a spread of 10% is observed.
The observed RSDs for Pb are of the same order of magnitude as
those for Mn. When wet samples were analyzed, the spread of the
results is greater than for dry samples. The largest RSDs observed
for Fe were about 20%, for Mn about 15%, and for Pb up to 44%.
Better homogenization of the solid sediment part of lyophilized
sediments and different porosities of wet sediment sub-samples
were thought to be the explanation. The test results also indicated
that drying/oxidizing of the sediment sample causes a shift from
less available/mobile metal fractions to more available/mobile
fractions. The Mn and Fe oxyhydroxide spikes added to a wet sediment
sample were recovered between 100+/-10%. The results obtained
after changing the sequence of the extraction steps (multiple
rotations and inversions were tested) corroborated the progressive
increase in the aggressive nature of the extraction solutions
used in the standard methodology. The authors found no need to
change the ratio volume of extractant to amount of sediment, by
increasing the number of extraction repetitions in steps 1 to
3 resulted, for some of those extraction steps, in a partially
modified analyte distribution. When the method was applied to
sandy and muddy sediment cores of the Scheldt estuary, it revealed
clear differences between metal distributions in both types of
sediment.
Source: Baeyens, W. et al.; Evaluation of sequential extractions
on dry and wet sediments; Analytical and Bioanalytical
Chemistry 376 (6): 890-901, 2003.
- Sequential fractionation
procedure for the identification of potentially cytochrome P4501A-inducing
compounds – In this paper, the authors describe
a multistep fractionation procedure for the separation of nonpolar
aromatic compounds with respect to cytochrome P4501A induction.
The first step in the process tests for group-specific separation
by analyzing normal-phase HPLC on nitrophenylpropyl silica and
cyanopropyl silica. Using reversed-phase HPLC, the authors completed
testing on individual compound-specific PAH fractionation. The
method uses electron-donor-acceptor HPLC and size-exclusion chromatography
to separate PAHs, PCBs, PCNs, and PCDD/Fs according to the:
· Number of aromatic carbon atoms
· Hydrophobicity
· Degree of chlorination
· Planarity
· Molecular size
In conclusion, the study showed that the fractionation procedure
was useful in identifying complex environmental mixtures through
two sediment extracts.
Source: Brack, W. et al.; Sequential fractionation procedure
for the identifcation of potentially cytochrome P4501A-inducing
compounds; Journal of Chromatography 986 (1): 55-66,
2003.
- Spatial sampling
design for sediment quality assessment in estuaries
– Characterizing the spatial distribution of the properties
that collectively define the state of estuaries is a difficult
task. Estuarine conditions are often quite variable, which necessitates
greater sampling efforts to describe estuarine environments, as
compared to other aquatic systems. Thus, where the collection
of data is sometimes very difficult and time-consuming in coastal
management studies, a robust sampling strategy is essential. The
research presented in this study represents an initial phase in
the development of a Sado Estuary environmental management system
integrated into a Geographic Information System. The authors used
systematic unaligned sampling with a grid cell size of 750 x 500
m, chosen on the basis of semi-variogram analysis. This design
was sampled for sediment parameters using a GPS-receiver and mapped
within the digitized shoreline of the estuary, which was based
on aerial ortho-photography with tidal ebb determination. The
sampling design is intended to define the boundaries of environmental
management areas for the Sado Estuary, situated on the west coast
of Portugal.
Source: Caeiro, S. et al.; Spatial sampling design for sediment
quality assessment in estuaries; Environmental Modelling
& Software, 2003.
-
Bioturbation effects on cadmium and zinc transfers
from a contaminated sediment and on metal bioavailability to
benthic bivalves – This study compares cadmium
and zinc fluxes from a contaminated sediment to the water column
in bioturbated and unbioturbated systems. The authors also analyzed
accumulation kinetics of the released metals by benthic filter-feeder
bivalves. This method used indoor microcosms containing a two-compartment
biotope of natural contaminated sediment (containing 45 +/-
5 µg Cd/g, dry weight and 1,938 µg Zn/g, dry weight)
and water column. Four experiment conditions were evaluated,
including:
· No organism added to the sediment-water biotope
· Presence of bivalves Corbicula fluminea
· Presence of Hexagenia rigida nymphs
· Presence of C. fluminea and H. rigida
simultaneously
The authors found that bioturbation emits a significant metal
release into the water column via the resuspended sediment particles.
C. fluminea was used as an indicator of transferred metals
in the water column, revealing the limitation of metal bioavailability.
The amounts of cadmium and zinc bioaccumulated in soft bodies
of the C. fluminea were less than the measured amounts
in unbioturbated systems. In conclusion, the results show that
only the dissolved fraction resulting from diffusive metal fluxes
across the sediment water interface is bioavailable for benthic
bivalves.
Source: Ciutat, A. and A. Boudou; Bioturbation effects on
cadmium and zinc transfers from a contaminated sediment and
on metal bioavailability to benthic bivalves; Environmental
Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22 (7): 1574-1581, 2003.
-
Modification of the equilibrium partitioning approach
for volatile organic compounds in sediment –
There are no standard methods available to assess the risks,
to benthic organisms, of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in
sediments. VOCs tend to be weakly hydrophobic chemicals, which
do not to persist in sediments. However, they may be present
in some sediments because of recent or ongoing releases. The
method for assessing more strongly hydrophobic organic chemicals
is typically the equilibrium partitioning (EqP) approach, which
predicts the bioavailable fraction of chemical (the concentration
dissolved in pore water) from the sediment-sorbed fraction,
assuming that partitioning is at equilibrium. As typically applied,
the EqP approach is ineffective for assessing VOCs in sediment,
because the standard EqP equation fails to account for the contribution
of dissolved chemical to the total chemical concentration in
sediment. For chemicals with low organic carbon-water partition
coefficients (Koc), this results in nonsensical sediment-quality
benchmarks that are more conservative (i.e., lower) than benchmarks
calculated by assuming 100% bioavailability. The authors present
a modified EqP equation that accounts for the dissolved fraction
of total chemical concentrations in sediment. Results of the
standard and modified EqP equations converge with increasing
Koc and are essentially identical at log Koc values exceeding
approximately 3.5.
Source: Fuchsman, P.C.; Modification of the equilibrium
partitioning approach for volatile organic compounds in sediment;
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22 (7); 1532-1534,
2003.
- Synchronous fluorescence spectrometry of
1-hydroxypyrene: a rapid screening method for identifcation of
PAH exposure in tissue from marine polychaetes –
The study screened for PAH-derived metabolites to reveal the uptake
of PAHs by marine deposit-feeding invertebrates. The only intermediate
metabolite in tissue of four species of deposit-feeding polychaetes
exposed to pyrene spiked sediment was 1-hydroypyrene. The four
species included Nereis diversicolor, Nereis virens,
Arenicola marina, and Capitella sp. I. Synchronous
fluorescence spectroscopy (SFS) provides a fast and simple method
for both qualitative and quantitative analysis of 1-hydroxypyrene
in all four species. The study used HPLC with ultraviolet detection
to validate the SFS assay and showed good correlation between
1-hydroxypyrene concentrations. Results showed that Nereid
polychaetes use glucuronide conjugation, which was indicated by
a tentative aqueous metabolite identification scheme. On the other
hand, Capitella sp. I and Arenicola marina use mainly
sulfate and/or glucoside conjugation. The authors conclude with
a discussion on the usefulness of 1-hydroxypyrene as a biomarker
for PAH exposure in deposit-feeding invertebrates.
Source: Giessing, A.M.B. et al.; Synchronous fluorescence
spectrometry of 1-hydroxypyrene: a rapid screening method for
identification of PAH exposure in tissue from marine polychaetes;
Marine Environmental Research 56 (5): 599-615, 2003.
-
Determination of semivolatile organic compounds in
environmental samples by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
after extraction by cyclic steam distillation –
The authors of this study developed a method for the multiple
determination of semivolatile organic compounds found in groundwater,
river water, seawater, sediment, and soil. Forty standard compounds
were determined, including n-alkenes, cycloalkanes, aromatic
hydrocarbons, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The method
isolates (extracts) the compounds from water and soil samples
by using an essential oil distillator (cyclic steam distillator)
with hexane as a solvent. The extract is then cleaned using
a silica gel cartridge with an acetone-hexane solution. The
method uses a gas chromatograph/mass spectrometer with 12 stable
isotope-labeled compounds (surrogate compounds) to determine
the compounds of interest. Recovery efficiencies were 80.0-106%
for groundwater, 80.1-106% for river water, and 81.2-103% for
seawater. The relative standard deviation (RSD) values were
2.05-16.0% for groundwater, 3.22-16.6% for river water, and
4.45-16.0% for seawater. Recovery efficiencies from sediment
and soil were 71.5-96.4% and 70.1-99.8%, respectively. RSD values
ranged from 2.27 to 16.0% for sediment and from 2.12 to 15.1%
for soil. The authors found that adjustment of standard compound
recovery efficiencies with surrogate compounds gave more accurate
values. The authors concluded that an essential oil distillator
provides satisfactory results for multiple determinations of
the semivolatile compounds in environmental waters, sediment,
and soil.
Source: Kawata, K. et al.; Determination of semivolatile
organic compounds in environmental samples by gas chromatography/mass
spectrometry after extraction by cyclic steam distillation;
Journal of AOAC International 86 (2): 246-256, 2003.
-
Biochemical effects of petroleum exposure in hornyhead
turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) exposed to a gradient
of sediments collected from a natural petroleum seep in CA,
USA – This study evaluated the impacts to sexually
mature hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) from
7-day laboratory exposure to a gradient of sediments collected
from a natural petroleum seep in the Santa Barbara Channel.
The researchers measured concentrations of serum/plasma estradiol,
biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds (FACs), levels of hepatic
CYP1A expression, and DNA damage. Coal oil point (COP) sediments
were homogenized and divided into four treatments containing
0, 33, 66, and 100% (COP) sediments. The 0 % COP sediment was
from the Orange County Sanitation District's reference location.
Sediment concentrations of 20 PAHs ranged from below the detection
limit for the 0% COP sediment treatments to 105 µg/g in
the 100% treatments with lower molecular weight compounds predominating.
Concentrations of biliary FACs were not found to have a linear
relationship with COP treatment but levels of hepatic DNA damage
increased linearly with increasing concentrations of high molecular
weight PAHs. Hepatic CYP1A expression was elevated only in the
100% treatments. A reduction of plasma estradiol in male and
female fish was observed in all COP exposures. The authors concluded
that these results demonstrate acute sediment-only exposure
of flatfish to naturally-derived PAHs elicits alterations in
biochemical endpoints indicative of PAH bioavailability and
adverse effects with different sensitivities.
Source: Roy, L.A. et al.; Biochemical effects of petroleum
exposure in hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis)
exposed to a gradient of sediments collected from natural petroleum
seep in CA, USA; Aquatic Toxicology, 2003.
- Mercury determination in solid phases from application of
the modified BCR-sequential extraction procedure: a valuable tool
for assessing its mobility in sediments – The authors
evaluate the feasibility of using a modified BCR three-step sequential
extraction procedure (BCR-SEP) to evaluate mercury mobility in
sediments. First, the SEP was validated with other trace metals.
Then the procedure was used to analyze the effect of acidification,
reduction, and oxidation processes on mercury mobility from sediments.
Extractable mercury amounts were found predominantly under the
detection limits of the advanced mercury analyzer (AMA-254) that
is used for measuring extracts. In order to obtain extractability
up to 64% of the total content in a highly polluted lagoon sediment,
an oxidation step with hydrogen peroxide was required.
Source: Sahuquillo, A. et al.; Mercury determination in solid
phases from application of the modified BCR-sequential extraction
procedure: a valuable tool for assessing its mobility in sediments;
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 375 (4): 578-583, 2003.
- Using a freshwater amphipod in situ bioassay as a sensitive
tool to detect pesticide effects in the field – The
authors used in situ testing as an alternative methodology to
conventional laboratory toxicity testing of field samples. The
study evaluated the potential toxicity of pesticides in runoff
from fruit orchards. Juvenile Paramelita nigroculus (Crustacea:
Amphipoda) were exposed in situ in two rivers downstream of fruit
orchard areas in the Western Cape, South Africa. Exposure took
place during six time intervals (3-7 d), of which three represented
the first rainfall-induced edge-of-field runoff events of the
wet season. These runoff events occurred at about two months after
the last pesticide application in the orchards. Survival rates
of the test organisms were significantly reduced (35-70%) during
runoff events 1 and 2 at both sites. However, no difference between
the no-runoff survival rate (>90%) and the runoff survival
rate during storm event 3. The researchers measured peak levels
of total insecticides (azinphosmethyl, chlorpyrifos, endosulfan,
and prothiofos) in samples taken with water level-triggered samplers
during the runoff events. They found the levels to be between
0.03 and 0.26 microg/L in filtered water and between 305 and 870
microg/kg in suspended particles during runoff events 1 and 2
and only up to 0.01 microg/L and 101 microg/kg during event 3.
Total suspended solids (TSS) varied between 400 and 700 mg/L during
all three runoff events but never exceeded 65 mg/L during no-runoff
time intervals. In an effort to better understand the cause of
the toxic effect, a laboratory experiment was done to determine
the effects of TSS on the organisms. These results show that uncontaminated
TSS levels of 1,500 mg/L during a 7-d exposure caused insignificant
mortality (<2.5%) in P. nigroculus. In addition, no
acute toxicity was observed in standard 48-h toxicity tests with
juvenile Daphnia pulex using the filtered water samples
taken during runoff and no-runoff conditions. This led the authors
to conclude that particle-associated pesticides caused the observed
in situ mortalities. They also noted that the present amphipod
in situ bioassay represents a sound and sensitive tool to detect
runoff-related insecticide effects under field conditions.
Source: Schulz, R.; Using a frewshwater amphipod in situ bioassay
as a sensitive tool to detect pesticide effects in the field;
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22 (5): 1172-1176,
2003.
- The contribution of particles washed from rooftops to contaminant
loading to urban streams – The authors investigated
the importance of particle-associated contamination in runoff
from rooftops in urban environments. Particles washed from asphalt
shingle and galvanized metal roof sites located at 12 and 102m
adjacent to a major expressway. This study analyzed the particles
for major and trace elements and PAHs. Rooftop sources of contaminants
and their potential to contribute to stream loading were evaluated.
This was accomplished through comparisons of concentrations and
yields from rooftops at different locations and made from different
materials to loads that were monitored during runoff events in
the receiving urban stream.
Specifically, the authors found that concentrations of zinc,
lead, pyrene, and chrysene on a mass per mass basis exceeded
established sediment quality guidelines for probably toxicity
of bed sediments to benthic biota. The estimated contribution
of rooftop washoff to the watershed ranged from 6% for chromium
to 55% for zinc. Roofing materials were estimated to contribute
about 20% of zinc and 18% of lead to the receiving watershed.
Atmospheric deposition of mercury onto rooftop particles and
eventually to the watershed accounted for about 46%. Larger
yields of all contaminants investigated showed that fallout
near the expressway was greater than farther away. Further,
results revealed metal roofing as a source of cadmium and zinc,
while asphalt shingles were a source of lead.
Source: Van Metre, P.C. and B.J. Mahler; The contribution
of particles washed from rooftops to contaminant loading to
urban streams; Chemosphere 52 (10): 1727-1741, 2003.
- Phytoremediation prospects of willow stands on contaminated
sediment: a field trial – This study revaluated the
use of fast growing willow stands on land disposed contaminated
dredged sediment and showed the possibilities for phytoremediation.
A field trial was used to evaluate the effect of planting a willow
stand (Salix viminalis L. 'Orm') on the dissipation of
organic contaminants (including mineral oil and PAHs) in dredged
sediment and to determine the accumulation of heavy metals (Cd,
Cu, Pb, and Zn) in the biomass. The study was conducted over 1.5
years and included observations of a 57% decrease in the mineral
oil concentration in sediment planted with willow. Mineral oil
degradation included 15% of sediment left fallow and 79% in the
root zone of the stand. In the fallow sediment, the total PAH
load was reduced by 32%, while the planted sediment had a 23%
reduction. The authors measured the moderate and selective metals
uptake and conclude that the willows have limited benefit for
phytoremediation of metals from dredged sediment.
Source: Vervaeke, P. et al.; Phytoremediation prospects of
willow stands on contaminated sediment: a field trial; Environmental
Pollution 126 (2): 275-282, 2003.
- Comparative tolerance of two estuarine annelids to fluoranthene
under normoxic and moderately hypoxic conditions – This
research observed the combined effects of dissolved oxygen and
fluoranthene to toxicity test organisms. The oligochaete Monopylephorus
rubroniveus and the polychaete Streblospio benedicti
were exposed to sediment-associated fluoranthene under normoxic
(>80% dissolved oxygen saturation) and moderately hypoxic (~50%
dissolved oxygen saturation) conditions. Under both conditions,
M. rubroniveus was highly tolerant of fluoranthene. Streblospio
benedicti was considerably less tolerant of fluoranthene compared
with M. rubroniveus. In addition, S. benedicti was
less tolerant to fluoranthene under moderately hypoxic conditions,
although no differences in sensitivity between the two oxygen
conditions were observed based upon median lethal tissue residues.
The researchers found bioaccumulation factors were higher for
S. benedicti exposed to moderate hypoxia. They opined that
this suggests behavioral adaptations in S. benedicti to
compensate for the lower dissolved oxygen, which increased its
bioaccumulation of fluoranthene. The authors concluded that the
results of the present laboratory study demonstrate that (1) changes
in annelid tolerance to fluoranthene under varying oxygen conditions
is a species-dependent phenomenon and (2) the differential tolerance
of these two annelids to these combined stressors is consistent
with their relative abundances in the field.
Source: Weinstein, J.E. and D.M. Sanger; Comparative tolerance
of two estuarine annelids to fluoranthene under normoxic and moderately
hypoxic conditions; Marine Environmental Research 56 (5):
637-648, 2003.
- Comparisons of PAH-induced immunomodulation in three bivalve
molluscs – This study compares the effects of the polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbon, phenanthrene, on the immunocompetence of
three bivalve species. The authors wanted to evaluate the validity
that contaminants may be partly responsible for the increase in
disease in marine organisms. Bivalve molluscs are commonly used
as sentinels of invertebrate immunotoxicology. Previously, studies
using marine bivalves were restricted to only a few resilient
species. In this study, the commonly-studied marine mussel, Mytilus
edulis, was compared with two species less-studied in connection
with immunomodulation, the edible cockle, Cerastoderma edule,
and the razor shell, Ensis siliqua. Animals were exposed
to a range of phenanthrene concentrations ( 50-400 µg/L)
and monitored for a range of haemocyte immune parameters, including:
· Haemocyte counts
· Phagocytosis
· Superoxide generation
· Lysosomal enzymes
· Lectin-binding
Two goals for the project were: (1) to extend existing knowledge
of bivalve immunotoxicology, and (2) to establish comparisons
between contaminant-induced immunomodulation in M. edulis
and other bivalves. The immune responses of the three species
were differentially affected by phenanthrene exposure. The results
also showed that immunomodulation in M. edulis did not
reflect the immunological changes seen in the other two species.
In conclusion, these results reveal that M. edulis may
not be a suitable sentinel bivalve; other species, such as C.
edule, may more accurately reflect the general immunological
response.
Source: Wootton, E.C. et al.; Comparisons of PAH-induced
immunomodulation in three bivalve molluscs; Aquatic Toxicology
65 (1): 13-25, 2003.
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Other Journal Titles of Interest
- Inhibition of embryo development of the commercial
bivalves Ruditapes decussatus and Mytilus galloprovincialis
by trace metals; implications for the implementation of seawater
quality criteria. Beiras, R., and M. Albentosa. Aquaculture,
2003.
- Irreversible sorption of pentachlorophenol to
sediments: experimental observations. Chen, Y.X., H.L. Chen,
Y.T. Xu, and M.W. Shen. Environment International, 2003.
- Factors affecting food chain transfer of mercury
in the vicinity of the Nyanza Site, Sudbury River, Massachusetts.
Haines, T.A., T.W. May, R.T. Finlayson, and S.E. Mierzykowski.
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 86 (3): 211-232, 2003.
- Environmental stress and recovery: the geochemical
record of human disturbance in New Bedford Harbor and Apponagansett
Bay, Massachusetts (USA). Latimer, J.S., W.S. Boothman, C.E.
Pesch, G.L. Chmura, V. Pospelova, and S. Jayaraman. The Science
of the Total Environment 313 (1-3): 153-176, 2003.
- Metal partitioning in a sulfidic canal sediment: metal solubility
as a function of pH combined with EDTA extraction in anoxic conditions.
Maes, A., M. Vanthuyne, P. Cauwenberg, and B. Engels. The Science
of the the Total Environment 312 (1-3): 181-193, 2003.
- Behavior of cadmium, lead, and zinc at the sediment-water
interface by electrochemically initiated processes. Shrestha,
R., R. Fischer, and D. Rahner. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical
and Engineering Aspects 222 (1-3): 261-271, 2003.
- Geochemical evidences of the anthropogenic alteration of
trace metal composition of the sediments of Chiricahueto marsh
(SE Gulf of California). Soto-Jimenez, M., F. Paez-Osuna,
and A.C. Ruiz-Fernandez. Environmental Pollution 125 (3): 423-432,
2003.
- A microcosm system for the study of pollution effects in
shallow, sandy, subtidal communities. Suderman, K., and D.
Thistle. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry/SETAC 22 (5):
1093-1099, 2003.
- Characterization of cholinesterase activity in three bivalves
inhabiting the North Adriatic sea and their possible use as sentinel
organisms for biosurveillance programs. Valbonesi, P., G.
Sartor, and E. Fabbri. The Science of the Total Environment
312 (1-3): 79-88, 2003.
- An environmental assessment of the Charleston Ocean Dredged
Material Disposal Site and surrounding areas after partial completion
of the Charleston Harbor Deepening Project. Zimmerman, L.E.,
P.C. Jutte, and R.F. Van Dolah. Marine Pollution Bulletin,
2003.
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Upcoming Events and Conferences
All weblinks will exit EPA 
- Second International Conference on the Remediation of
Contaminated Sediments - The Second International Sediment
Remediation Conference will be held in September 30th through
October 3rd 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. For more information, contact the Conference
Group at 800-783-6338 (U.S. and Canada) or 614-488-2030; e-mail:
info@confgroupinc.com;
or visit the Sediment
Remediation Conference website.
- Contaminated Soils, Sediments, and Water. The conference
is from October 20-23 in Amherst, MA. For more information, contact
Denise Leonard at 413-545-1239 or info@UMassSoils.com.
Web site: www.umasssoils.com.
- U.S. Section PIANC Annual Meeting - The meeting occurs
October 28-30 in Portland, OR. Roundtable on Protecting America's
Ports from Natural and Man-made Disasters. Technical Workshops
On Wetlands Restoration and Passing Vessel Issues. For more information,
visit http://www.coprinstitute.org/partners/PIANC_octprogram2.pdf
- SETAC 24th Annual Meeting: Science Without Borders: Developing
Solutions for Global Environmental Challenges. This meeting
takes place November 8-13 in Austin, TX. This conference supports
efforts scientists and engineers to work together to develop solutions
to global problems. Topics including the factors influencing bioavailability
and sediment chemistry will be addressed. For more information,
contact SETAC North America, 1010 North 12th Avenue, Pensacola,
FL 32501. Phone: 850-469-1500; website: http://setac.org/austin.html.
- Specialist Dredging Techniques, Inspiring Dredging Solutions.
This conference occurs November 20-21 in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
The Central Dredging Association has programmed this conference
to present a state of the art review of specialized dredging techniques
and innovative approaches to individual dredging operations. The
conference addresses techniques for core business but also from
the so-called niche applications. The aim is to discuss and share
ideas and to initiate the exchange of experience and technology.
For more information, visit http://www.dredging.org
and click on the Dredging Days 2003 link.
- 14th Annual West Coast Confrence on Soil, Sediment, and Water.
The workshop is March 15-18 in San Diego, California. The workshop
will offer attendees an opportunity to exchange findings, ideas,
and recommendations in a professional setting. The strong and
diverse technical program has been developed to meet the changing
needs of the environmental field. For more information, visit
http://www.aehs.com/conferences/westcoast/index.htm;
or contact Brenna Bartell at 413-549-5170 or e-mail brenna@aehs.com.
- Watersheds 2004. This conference takes place July 11-14,
2004 in Dearborn, Michigan. For more information contact Water
Environment Federation, 601 Wythe Street, Alexandria, VA 22314-1994.
Phone: 703-684-2400 x7010; fax: 703-684-2413; e-mail: watershed04@wef.org.
- Coastal Structures Conference - The conference occurs
July 26-29 in Portland, OR. This conference will offer a forum
to discuss the following topics: functional and structural design;
rubble mound breakwaters, revetments, jetties; shore protection
structures; caisson breakwaters; innovative structures; wave-structure
interaction; physical modeling; geotechnical design and performance;
and many other subjects, including dredge disposal caps/environmental
containment. For more information, contact the American Society
of Civil Engineers, World Headquarters, 1801 Alexander Bell Drive
Reston, Virginia 20191-4400. Phone: 800-548-2723 or 703-295-6300
or visit http://www.asce.org/conferences/coastal2003/index.cfm.
- Ninth International Symposium on River Sedimentation
- The conference is October 18-21, 2004, in Yichang, China. This
conference will be sponsored by the International Research and
Training Center on Erosion and Sedimentation. Topics to be covered
include river sedimentation, estuarine and coastal engineering,
soil erosion, and environmental sedimentation. For more information,
e-mail Dr. Hu Chunhong at irtces@public.bta.net.cn
or visit the Web site http://www.irtces.org/isshhu/9ISRS.htm.
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Websites of Interest
All weblinks will exit EPA
Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection's PCB Web
Page. This page provides background information on PCBs, health
effects, and river contamination. It also discusses sources of PCB
contamination and gives a contact number for further questions.
http://dep.state.ct.us/wst/pcb/pcbindex.htm
Environmental Atlas of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin. This
USGS sponsored site provides information on trace metal distribution
in sediment in Lake Pontchartrain. The web site provides maps and
data on aluminum, silicon, magnesium, and other trace metals.
http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2002/of02-206/env-issues/trace-metal.html
Hudson River Sloop Clearwater Article on Environmental Dredging.
This article, written for a non-technical audience, describes the
difference between navigational dredging and environmental dredging
to remove toxic substances, especially PCBs. Additional information
is provided on the Hudson River Cleanup plan as well as pictures
of dredging operations. http://www.clearwater.org/news/dredging.html
Lake Champlain Basin Program Toxic Substance Pollution.
The Lake Champlain Basin Program reviewed the substances found to
date in Lake Champlain and ranked them as "high priority"
and of "potential concern." Ranking was based on the extent
and levels at which they are found, the risk that they may pose
to human health, and the risk they may pose to the ecosystem. http://www.lcbp.org/toxicsum.htm
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