Document zdmmJb66x2BR9VMX24NyzpM8a

I f J? CONTAMINANTS IN GREAT STAFF REPORT ' JUNE 1975 LAKES FISH by John L. Hesse MICHIGAN WATER RESOURCES COMMISSION DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION BRANCH BUREAU OF WATER MANAGEMENT DSW 037541 STLCOPCB4021366 SU-WASY 1. DDT In la<e Michigan fish continues To decline and Is now above the 5 ppm r3A guicolir.o cr.ly In largo lake trout. 2. Mercury levels have dropped below The 0.5 FDA guideline In most Lake St. Clair area fish but rerain above ffie limit In wal leyo. 5. Ciolirtn, which has averaged just below Tbs 0.3 ppm FDA guideline in La<a Michigan lake Trout and chubs for years, was over The limit in ftve of six recent shipments of chubs seized by FDA. DIeldrin and aldrin production has recently been suspended by SPA. ' .4 Levols of polychlorinated biphenyls in Great Lakes fish have not do- cllned. Large saloon and trout species remain well over the 5.0 ppm FDA guideI i ne. a. FDA has recently taken seizure action against a few shipments of Lake Michigan fish. b. A new Lake Michigan Toxic Substances Committee was famed to assess the PCD situation and to make recommendations to EPA. c. Adverse PC3 effects, primarily reproductive failure, have boon documented In northern pike, fish-eating birds, and In mink fed Lke Michigan salmon. d. PC3 monitoring shows FCB contamination to be ubiquitous at low levels difficult to trace back to sources of Input. e. PC3 disposal methods are Inadequate and Improper disposal practices are common. f. FC3's are present at significant concentrations even In snowfall. g. Lake Michigan Toxic Substances Committee recommendations to EPA stressed the need to search for safe alternatives for PC3 uses and the implementation of a nationwide ban on PCS sale, distribution and use. h. Other recommendations were for States to implement extensive educa tional programs for safe use and handling of PCS*s during the Interim ' period leading to a ban. Trend analysis of contamination levels should be continued. CD V) 5 O Ob vJ VJl (v o CONTAMINANTS IN GREAT- LAKES FISH '. STAFF report DDT AND MERCURY JUNE, 1975 In April, 1974 Michigan DNR officials reported (CNR Conr.isslon Meeting, April 11, 1974) the very pleasant news that DDT and mercury contaminant levels In Great Lakes* fish, were rapidly declining. These downward trends are continuing (Figures I and 2) end can bo attributed to control measures Implemented by our State agencies. In 1969 the Michigan Department of Agriculture Issued a total ban on sale of COT products In Michigan and following the discovery of high mercury levels In the Lake St. Clair area fish, CNR Identified and halted the major mercury discharges. DDT Is now above the 5 ppm guideline only In large lake trout of Lake Michigan and some areas of Lake Superior. Mercury, while having declined , sharply in most species In the Lake St. Clair area, remains above 0.5 ppm In walloyes from Lake St. Clair, southern Lake Huron and Lake Erie. Recent surveys also show somewhat elevated mercury- levels In lake trout of Isle Royala area of Lake Superior. DIELDRIN ' ' Two contaminants continue to plague certain Great Lakes fish species without showing evidence of declines. These are dfeJdrln and polychlorinated biphenyls (PC3'$). Although nover receiving as much publicity or concern as COT, dleldrln has been a nagging problem In Great Lakes fishes (particularly In Lake Michigan) for as long as DOT. The U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ann Arbor Laboratory data (Figure 3) Indicate that residues of this Insecticide have routinely avoreged Just below the FDA guideline of 0.3 ppm In Lake Michigan chubs and 2- - ' os- DSW 0 3 7 5 4 3 lake 'rout. Michigan Department of Agriculture and Great Lakes Environmental Contaminant Survey (GLECS) data verity that Lake Michigan chubs nave had dieldrin concentrations approaching. Put not averaging, more than tha 0.3 ppm Unit. In ApriI IS75 tne food and Drug Administration collectad "market check" samples of chubs fren nine Lake Michigan commercial fishermen at various ports. Five (ranging from 0.3! to 0.39 ppm) of these nine composite samples measured over the allowable guideline. The average for the nine samples was C.3I ppm. Since the date those tests were conducted, FDA has seized 6 Interstate ship ments of chubs leaving Michigan, Five of these have tested over the limit and have been ordered destroyed. This marks the first tire In Michigan waters that legal action has been taken because of this contaminant in fish. The insecticide aidrin Is chemicalty related to dieldrin In that It break* down in the environment to form dieldrin. it Is important to note that on August 4, 1974, EPA suspended any further production of these two chemicals except for three minor uses (termite control, root dip for non-edible crops, and noth proofing). Existing stocks will be allowed to be used according to current label restrictions until supplies ere depleted. In the past 2-3 years use has already declined In the Lake Michigan basin since these chemicals were placed into restricted use categories by Wisconsin and Michigan and extension agents have'been recommending aitomatlves for many uses. .' POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS . Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) represent a serious problem In the Great Lakes which needs to be discussed at considerable length. The remainder of this report deals with the PC8 situation. . ?C3's are a group of compounds used in the past In a diverse numbor of industrial compounds and processes. Some of th larger usos have been as ' -3- - . fire-resistant hydraul !c fluids and heat transfer fluids, insulation in electrical transformers and capacitors, as plasticizers, and specialty Inks In certain paper products. Active monitoring by DNS's Bureau of Water Management staff of Michigan's tributary streams to the Great Lakes Identified dozens of Industries discharging elevated PC3 concentrations to surface waters. Major point sources of loss were halted through voluntary actions of industries Involved switching to replacement compounds. Monsanto Chemical Company, the sole U. S. producer of PCB's, also voluntarily claimed discontinuance of PCS sales for uses in open industrial systems where losses were believed most likely to occur. This Included jises as hydraulic fluids and heat transfer systems which ONR surveys identified as being the two largest sources of losses. Because of these actions and observed declines of OPT.and mercury following control programs, CNR staff were encouraged until recently that PCS fish contamination ievels^would also soon begin to decline. Lake Michigan Fish Contamination Levels - PC3's .. Trend analysis data for PCB's In Lake Michigan chubs and lake trout through 1974 is now available from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ann Arbor Laboratory (Figure 4). Data from chubs, which are considered to be the most reliable Index fish because of better sampling design, shows no significant change over the period of 1972 to 1974. The concentrations in lake trout are alarming because of what now appears to be an Increase In concentrations over the three year period. The Great Lakes Environmental Contaminant Survey (GLECS) data for Lake Michigan lake trout do not Indicate any Increase in concentrations over the same period but neither is there any evidence of a decline. It should be noted that the GLECS program, designed for screening for hotspots In relation to currant FDA contaminant guidelines, uses fish fillets for analysis rather than whole fish utilized by the USF i K trend analysis program. ' ' -4-- o STLCOPCB4021368 Rede*- rood l pruz Ad-ir. IsTation Actions The U. S. Food end Drug Administration has recently taken seizure action on soverel Lake Michigan fish shipments on the basis of PCS concentrations ' exceeding the current FOA guideline of 5 parts per r.ill ion (ppm). These seizures came In the wake of several press releases quoting Don Heaiton, Great Lakes Regional Director of FDA, as reporting that Lake Michigan chubs, coho salmon, and lake trout contain "dangerously high" levels of PCS's and that Interstate shipments will be halted It significantly hign lovots are found In 1975. At a presentation to the Governor's Great Lakes Regional Pesticide Council In January, Kealton advised that a recent legal decision now gives FGA the authority to act on the excessive PC3 levels. The legal decision he referred to was a reversal by the Circuit Court of Appeals over a previous District Court decision In the case of U. S. vs. Vita Food Products of Illinois. This case involved chubs which had been seized because of excessive DOT levels. The Appeals Court supported FDA that DOT in fish can be considered as a food additive, that the 5 ppm'limit was reasonable, and that the standard AOAC analytical methodology used In this case was adequate. FOA believes that the courts will follow this precedent In future cases involving PC3*s, so they moved ahead. Fonrotlen of a New Lake Michtcan Toxic Substances Committee Following publicity created by Food l Drug Administration statements and actions, EPA Region V officials reviewed the current PC3 situation with State and Federal representatives on March 24, and concluded that control over tho PCS contamination problem (n the Lake Michigan basin was inadequate. A new Lake Michigan Toxic Substancos Committee was formed with representation from tho States of Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Great Lakes Laboratory, EPA Regional officials, and was to be chaired O U) . *0 . Ul 4> by Cr. Donald Mount, Director of the Duluth National Water Duality Laboratory. The charge of the Committee was to assess the current status of PCS information, the seriousness of the problem in Lake Michigan, and to make recommendations To Francis Mayo, EPA Regional Director. . ` Summary of May 21-22 Lake Michigan Toxic Substances ______________ Committee Meeting t. New Toxicological Data on Primates Dr. J. R. Allen, University of Wisconsin Medical School, presented results of PCS feeding studies using Rhesus monkeys fed diets containing 2.5 to 300 ppm of PCB Aroclor 1243*. These studies document adverse effects on primates at exposure levels much lower than has been documented for other - mammalian test species. _ 2. PCB Effects on Great Lakes Siota .* A serious situation exists with respect to populations of fish-eating birds In the Great Lakes area. Severe reproductive failure has been Identified in herring gull colonies around Lake Ontario (!JC Water Quality Objectives Report, May 1975). There Is a positive correlation between early embryonic mortality and PCS contamination (Gilbertson and Fox, 1975). The major of feet on young birds is to produce symptoms of chick edema disease. The symptoms are subcutaneous pericardial and abdominal edema, p phyria, liver necrosis and hign mortality (Gilbertson, 1974; Gilbertson and Hale, 1974; Gilbertson and Fox, 1975). Michigan officials have observed unnaturalty high mortalities of gulls In recent years from Saginaw Bay and Grand Traverse Bay. Analysis of the liver and brain of a dead Herring Gull from Grand Traverse Bay In 1973 showed the presence of 2600 ppm of Arocior 1254. * Monsanto Chemical Company Trade name -6- o DSW 0 3 7 5 4 5 Researchers at H:chigan State University have documented reproductive failure of commercially raises mink fad Lake Michigan salmon containing conce.ntratTons of FCS's as low as 2 ppm (Ringer, et a!., 19725. In another study reproduction was eliminated in mink fed a beef diet containing 0.64 ppm Aroclor 1254 (Platoncw and Karstad, 1973). PC3 contamination has very recently been associated with repnpdvctlve failures In fish. Michigan 3ureau of Water Management staff documented PCS contamination In eggs of spawning adult northern pike as the probable cause of high fry mortality In the early stages of development (Waybrant, 1974). Hatching and survival studies currently underway at the Wolf Lake Fish Hatchery and tissue analysis of adults and egg samples from corresponding lots will hopefully better define this problem. 3. Watershed and Point Source Monitoring Efforts A review was made of the PCS monitoring efforts conducted by each of the Lake Michigan states. Michigan and Wisconsin agencies, having the majority of the Lake Michigan watershed within their boundaries, had conducted by far the most extensive PC3 sampling programs. Michigan Bureau of Water Management has analyzed approximately 90Q Indus trial and 350 municipal discharge samples. While several dozen industrial affluents have been Identified at levels tn excess of I ug/l and corrective action has been taken on many, the majority of Industrial discharges contain PCS's at lowor levels difficult to trace back to a particular use or procoss. Surveys of approximately 60 municipal wastowater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent* have shown WWTP's to be major point sources of PCS discharge to surface waters. WWTP effluents have averaged approximately 0.5 wg^l. Soma success ha* been -7- achlevec at finding Industrial contributors within municipal WWTP's collection systems where WWTP effluents measure I bg/l or higher. Most largo discharges Identified, both Industrial and municipal, have not been in the Lake Michigan basin but rather In watersheds draining to Lake Huron, Lake St. Clair and Lake Erie. Surveys in Wisconsin, Indiana and Illinois have identified only a few major PCS sources. Wisconsin has taken action against approximately 12 Industrie:-. The consensus of The State representatives is that PCS discharges in the Lake Michigan basin are small but diffuse and difficult to trace by current monitoring techniques. A telephone survey of 39 Michigan Industries reporting FC8 usage on Critical Materials reports In 1974 confirmed that usage is diverse with the continued presence of PCS's'In'a wide variety of products and processes. A total of 20 different products being usod by those 39 plants were identified as containing PCB's. This cloarly points out that the restrictions against PCS sales Initiated by Monsanto Chemical Company for any uses other than transformer and capacitor dielectric fluids have been Ineffective. It Is probable that many other Industries are also using PCS-containing products but are totally unaware of the presence of PCS's. AnoTher aspect of the problem Is that PCS residues have been detected In fish and wildlife from rwnote undeveloped localities suggesting that aerial transport may play a significant role In PCB distribution. Wisconsin MR analyzed snowfoJJ samples In five municipal aroas and found PCS concentrat ions nvoruging approximately 0.2 pq/1. Considering total dry fallout, rainfall.and snowfall. It appears that atmosphorlc contributions of PC8's to Lake Michigan could be very significant. . ._ -8- o STLCOPCB4021370 4, Disposal of PCS Wastes PCo's require special inclnorahion conditions to achieve destruction. Monsanto Cncr>ic3l Company advises that temperatures must be at least 2000 *F with a retention time of 4 seconds. Scrubbers must Be used to remove fCI which Is a combustion product. Before any Incinerator Is cleared for rC3 destruction, tests should Be conducted on emissions to determine if destruction Is complete. No Incinerators In Michigan have been clearod for routine PCS disposal. The serve situation exists In other bake Michigan states. The reccrmendatIon has Been and continues to be for Industries to rotum waste PCS liquids to Monsanto Chemical Company for destruction. Monsanto operates a high temperature tnclneraror at its W. G. Krumrleh Plant at Sauget, Illinois. The cost to Industry for PCS disposal includes S.Q5 per pound and S8.00 per drum service charge plus shipping expenses. It appears that because of the high cost of sending PCB's Back to Monsanto, very few industries are using this approach. Surveys Ir.dica+a thaT many Industries add PCB's to other waste oils and dispose of then through waste haulers. Other practices apparently being usod Include use of PCS fluids for dust control on roadways and parking lots, long term storage In drims on plant property, and burning in unapproved incinerators and boilers. All of those can lead to further environmental contamination. landfills are generally not considered as o safe method of disposal of PCB's Because of their long porsistance and potential for loachlng Into surface ' wafers. Disposal of liquids is forbidden In Michigan landfills. 5. fiecomuandat 1 ons to EPA Regional Administrator . In light of considerable envl ronmor.tal damage and economic impact of PC3 contamination, an absence of any apparent decline In envIronmentaI concentrations vith current control methods, the ubiquitous nalure of usage, the goneral lack O ` .e-- in o U' o Ul op O' of adequate disposal facilities, and the Indication that atmospheric transport and deposition Is alsc significant, the lake Michigan Toxic Substances Committee has submitted the following reccmmondat Ions to Francis Mayo, EPA Region V Regional Administrator: a. Environmentally safe alternatives for all PC3 uses should be explored Immediately. B. EPA should push for a r.atlon-wlde ban on the sale, distribution and use of PCB's. c. During the Interim period leading to a ban. Individual states should Implement extensive educational programs to minimize environ mental hazards of PCS usage and disposal methods. States should also continue efforts to identify sources of PC8 losses to The onvl ronoent and take corrective actions. . d. Trend analysis programs for Great lakes fish contamination I'evels should be continued for evaluation purposes. e. EPA should urge financial support of additional studies on PC3 effocts on primates with an emphasis on relating the significance of results to potential hazards to humans concerning PCB's through the food chain. . 10- I .cRATURE CITES Gl Ibertson, M., 1974. Pol lutants In breeding herring'guI Is In The lower Great Lakes. The Can. Field Naturalist, 88: 273-280. Gilbertson, V. and R. Hale, 1974. early embryonic mortality In a horrlng gull colony In Lake Ontario. The Can. Field .Natural 1st, 83:334-353. Gilbertson, M. and 3. A. Fox, 1975. Pollutant associated pathogenosls of embryos of Great Lakes herring gulls. Science, (In press). Platonow, N. S. ar.d l. K. Karstad, 1973. Dietary effocts of ?o! yen I or I naTod biphenyls on nir.k. Can. J. Conp. Med. 37: 391-400. Ringer, R. K., S. J. Aulorlch, and M. Zabik, 1972. Effect of dietary polychlor inated biphenyls on growth and reproduction of mink. Amor. Choc. Soc. National Meeting Preprints of Papers, 12; 149-154. Waybrant, Ronald C. 1974. Northern Pike Fry Mortalities Attributed to Poly chlorinated Si phenyls. Michigan Bureau of Water Management Staff . Report, ' FSCURE I TRENDS IN DDT LEVELS LAKE .MICHIGAN FISH O IS o u> si U1 4h C/> O Oo "oO CD o |N> II- YEAR tpt*xTrA* SSOWUURNCWEt ;. W4fAlEYANTE LWAAKLeFsORfS,SHRy MORAT_O_RY U.S. FISH a wilOLiFE SERVICE ANN AHSOR, MICHIGAN ' -12- i v_ o ) V9 V ) STLCOPCB4021372 FIGURE A TRENDS IN PCB LEVELS LAKE MICHIGAN FISH /. 20 vr{:- 20 15 2 Cl CL CD O CL 10 COHO SALMON 15 10 CHUBS _ __X 19 72 X 1973 YEAR E METHODS UTILIZED DIPPER FROM STANDARD CONSUMER PROTECTION PROGRAM TECHNIQUES AND GENERALLY RESULT IN SOMEWHAT HIGHER MEASURED VALUES. THIS DATA SHOULD ONLY BE USED FOR TREND ANALYSIS PURPOSES. .' 19 74 DSW 037549 OATA SOURCE '. WAYNE WI LL FOR D * GREAT LAKES FISHERY LABORATORY U.S FISH & WILDLIPE SERVICC ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN T" STLCOPCB4021373