Document zom4059RMr81vp3VNZEXvpd50

3*4*''.' No. 302 "'The Quality of Fishing RtfIn'ls the Quality of Living" RESEARCH ON PCB's IN AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are complex mixtures of chlorine-substituted biphenyl compounds (highly heatresistant) which have been used extensively since l`>.m lor a wide variety of industrial purpose*. piimatil> in electrical capacitors and transformers in recent years- Mixtures of PCBa may contain over 200 distinct compounds containing' various amounts of chlorine. Compounds containing the higher percentages of chlorine are generally the more stable and persistent or exhibit lower toxicity in the environment than compounds with lower chlorine content. Due to their highly stable chemical nature and the apparent ease with which they may possibly be assimilated by Osh and other organisms, PCBs have been popularly described as highly persistent and hazardous environmental coniamb nams. According to some estimates, approximately ten tons may be stored in freshwater fish, alone. Since the initiation by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service of a nationwide PCB monitoring program in I9W, W percent of all freshwater fish sampled have been found to contain PCBs in excess of 0.5 parts per million. The heaviest concentrations of PCBs in freshwater fishes have been found in the fatty tissues of fish such as lake trout, coho salmon, chinook salmon, chubs, etc., especially in the Great Lakes, in streams in the eustern U.S. (Hudson River in New York and Housatonic River in Connecticut) at well as in the Mississippi River Basin. In August. 1977. the Sport Fishery Research Foundation recommended to the Environmental Quality Committee of the American Fishing Tackle Manufacturers Association that it gram funds through the Foundation to enable qualified stalT at Tutane University to conduct research on Polychlo rinated Biphenyls Translocation and Environmental Control. The initial gram ($23,000) was for a two-year study. Based on encouraging fundings at the end of the first year, the project was expanded in scope during the second year and extended in time to include a third year. As a result, funds committed to the project by AFTMA's EQ Committee now total $01.300over the three-year period, ending mid-Septem ber. I9M. This project was undertaken. (I) to determine the transport mechanisms of PCBs in n freshwater stream and reservoir, (2) to determine possible translocation mechanisms and sea sonal fluctuation of bhraccumuiailon of PCBs in fish, and (3) to developfeasible methods ofdecontamination or control of PCBs under field conditions. The field investigation is being conducted at nine field sta tions established at Logan Martin Reservoir (Alabama) and mqjor tributaries, both above (control stations) and below the site of a recently inactivated chemical plant of the Mon santo Corporation which had released large quantities of PCBs into the receiving waters over u ten-year period. Preliminary examination of the first year's field data sug gests live followii>e pertinent observation*: (Mlhere is no observable bioacvumulution lue to soluble IVB* ibiouccomulation appears to result from the intake of sedimented particles and organic detritus); (2) an observed drop in con centrations of PCBs over the ten-year period appears to have occurred at a substantially faster rate than the 50 to KMkyear half-life that has been estimated by others based on limited laboratory studies; (3) PCBs do exert a major influence on both microccosystems and on macroecosystems, but aqueous translocation does not appear to be due to soluble PCBs: 14) the controlling "sinks'' for the PCBs cycle appear* to be the colloidal portion* of the sediment and the bottom organisms (benthos): and (5) some of the benthos organisms appear to exhibit a detoxification mechanism for PCBs. Fish samples collected from the area of river immediately below the chemical plant showed the highest average level (65.3 ppm) of PCBs residues. In general, residues of PCBa in fish samples obtained from the river graduaNy decreased with increasing distance downstream from the plant. Fish collected from the lowermost sampling stations located within Logan Martin Reservoir exhibited the least amount of PCBs. They averaged 4.7 ppm PCBs. somewhat less than the 5 ppm "action level'' set by the Federal Food and Drag Administration. Different species offish expressed different trends ofPCBa accumulation over their life cycles. For example, small "shiner" minnows \Notropts sp.) collected from Station 2, located immediately below the ptiint. accumulated PCBa throughout their lifetime. Older fish exhibited higher concern trations of PCBs than did the younger fish, indicating a direct correlation between PCBs concentration and age. However, sunfish and stone rollers (a targe minnow species) showed higher concentrations in younger fish than in older ones. Also, different species of similar body weight from the same station appeared to accumulate PCBs at varying rate*, la hereni differences (n metabolic rates, fat content, extent of exposure to PCBs. or possibly other unknown fectors. were assumed to be responsible for the differences in buMCCtmiw latkm rates observed among the various species and tins of fish tested. However, additional fish sampling and refinement of statistical treatment techniques (now under way) wM bn necessary to accurately assess the precise relationships re sponsible for the observed differences in btoaccumulation rales of PCBs. Analysts of PCBs in bottom organisms (benthos) and of the in-situ half-life of PCBs in sediments and in fish will be completed by mid (979. Negotiations are under way with the MQNS 002652 L SFIBulletin No. 392. Monk 1979 Monsanto Corporation seeking permission to use their his torical analytical data for PCBs collected earlier (1965-1970) below the plant outfall by their consulting investigator at the lima. Comparison of such data with data acquired under the present investigation will be instrumental in confirming re vised half-life estimates for PCBs developed in this investi gation. Further laboratory studies are continuing with respect to biodegradation, sediment sorption, and biouccumutation pathways. The increased funding granted for use during the second year of the project and the approved third-vear extension of the project will facilitate expansion of project objectives along promising lines which have developed thus far in the cur rently-approved project. Project augmentation provides for in-Held investigations of PCBs decontamination to be conducted concurrently with" expanded and more detailed laboratory procedures. The de contamination investigations will include. (I) experimental application under Acid conditions of promising sonicution techniques (expected to effect a breakdown of highly chlo rinated stable PCBs compounds to less chlorinated and more dtgradabic forms), coupled with (2) experimental seeding of PCBs-laden sediments with especially acclimated bacteria capable of digesting the PCBs. Attempts to culture such bactcriu are currently under way using techniques successfully employed by Canadian inves tigators. Also. 13) the investigators will determine the possi ble efficiencies ofvarious types ofaquatic plants for removing PCBs from soil and sediment sinks. Subsequent harvest of these PCBs-laden plants would constitute yet another effec tive method of PCBs removal. This technique has excellent potential for effecting accelerated removal of PCBs through out a wide range of ecosystems. The project was conceived in collaboration with qualified representatives of the Sport Fishery Research Foundation, end is heeded up at Tuiane University by Or. Robert Reimers, Assistant Professor. Department of Environmental Health Sciences. Assisting Dr. Reimers. as Advisory and Participating Investigators, are Dr. Gerald E. Gunning. Pro fessor. Department of Biology (Ecological Group): Dr. Ann C. Anderson. Associate Professor. Department of Environ mental Health Sciences (Microbial Degradation Group) and Dr. A. Aldtighnni, Assistant Professor. Department of Fnvironmentnl Health Sciences (I atvmiory Group). Included in the research team as Student Investigators arc Mis. Mary WUke Vitter. Ph.l). candidate: Mr. Henry S. Gardner. Jr.. M.S. candidate: R. Brown, M.S. cundidutc: C. Paul Lo. Doctoral candidate, and other students. FURTHER SANOY HOOK DIVIDEND New dividends (torn the federal marine game fish research program are in the form of addition compilations of BIO LOGICAL A FISHERIES DATA (on various species of Anflshes), in the Technical Series Repons coming irregularly from the Sandy Hook Laboratory. Northeast Fisheries Cen ter. National Marine Fisheries Service, viz: No. 6(March. I97S): BUTTERFISH./Vpri/M.t frituuniltns, by Steven A. Murawtki. Donald G. Frank, and Sukwoo Chang. No. 13(June, 1978): NORTHERN SEAROBIN./Vim,*f,f cnroiirws, by Susan C. Roberts. No. 17 (August. 1978): AMERICAN EEL. rat- iratu, by Michael P. Fahey. The materials presented reflect reviews of the penmens published scientific literature on the biology of and fisheries for the particular species addressed in etch report, rather than original research by the authors thereof. Report format follows that of the FAO fisheries synopsis series. Results of ongoing research, not yet completed, end findings not as yet published in scientific journals, may not be reflected. Despite this particular possible shortcoming, doubtless inevitable in any effort of this sort, the series arc immensely valuable. Copies of the individual reports may be secured by writing to the Sandy Hook Laboratory. Northeast Fisheries Center. National Marine Fisheries Service. NOAA, U S. Department ol'Commcrcc. Highlands. New Jersey. Request the Technical Series Report No."of your interest, and note the species of fish it reviews. AUSTRALIAN ANGLING According to an item in the Novembcr-December. 1971, issue (Vol. 40. No. 8:10) of THE INTERNATIONAL MA RINE ANGLER (International Came Fish Association, Fort Lauderdale. Florida), at least 30 percent of the population of New South Wales. Australia, fish for recreation. As re ported by the IGFA. a May. 1977. survey of amateur fisher men. commissioned by the New South Wales State Fisheries, brought forward that finding. A report in the government publication. AUSTRALIAN FISHERIES, states: "The sur vey indicated that recreational Ashing is a big industry, pro^ ably as important to the economy as the professional Ashing industry." the survey covered a stratified random sample of 2.092 people, aged (3 and over, in alt States of Australia. It waa primarily aimed at finding out how many people Ashed in New South Wales annually, how long, and thetr origins. Data showed that 1.165.000 NSW residents (30ft) Ashed in t he State during the 12 months preceding the survey. About 88 percent of these, or one million people. Ashed in salt water at some time during the year. Ofthe entire Australian population (excluding the Northern Territory), about 1.581.000 people 115ft) Ashed in NSW dur ing the sumo period. About 75 percent of these Ashed exclu sively in suit water and about 12 percent Ashed exclusively in fresh water. OKLAHOMA BASS LENGTHS According to a recent announcement by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, through its Witdftfc News Service, black bass anglers will have 14-inch mhumem length catch requirements at four additional reservoirs hi Oklahoma under a regulation passed earlier (December 4) by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission. New lakes with the restrictions are Waurika. Sooner. TtnhlHer. and Arbuckle. This brings to six the number of lakes in the stmt having the I4inch legal catch minimum since the limit is already in effect at Steed and Birch reservoirs. Fisheries Division personnel at the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation indicated informational signs will be in place preceding the spring angling season. The regulation was recommended to the Commission fol lowing a round of 26 public hearings conducted b c'r ' 2 HONS 002653