Ambient Water Toxicity Surveys

Ambient Water Toxicity Surveys

A. Ronald MacGillivray, Ph.D. Environmental Toxicologist [email protected]

Delaware Estuary Science Conference 2007

Advantages of Ambient Water Toxicity Testing • Assesses point sources and non-point

sources • Assesses mixtures (cumulative effects) • Assesses toxicants with no chemical specific water quality standards and/or are not being monitored by chemical analysis

Background

• DRBC chronic toxicity studies of ambient water in 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001 • Tidal Delaware River (RM 63 to 115) • Twelve fixed stations

Previous DRBC Ambient Water Toxicity Studies • Survival of all test organisms not affected • Sub-lethal chronic toxicity suggested at different sampling stations and in different species over the study period

• EPA reviews conclude data inconclusive,

recommend further study (possible confounding factors e.g., salinity effect)

Chronic Toxicity Workgroup

Developing Consensus On Test Species and Study Design • DNREC – Rick Greene • NJDEP – Betty Jane • • • • •

Boros-Russo/Michelle Mooney DRBC – Ron MacGillivray DRBC – Tom Fikslin EPA–RIII – Brian Trulear EPA–RII – Jim Ferretti PADEP – Mike Boyer

• EPA-RIII – Dave Russell • DuPont, Haskell Lab – • • • •

Bob Hoke Rohm & Haas Co. – Steve Brown PWD – Linda O’Donnell AAT – Chris Nally EPA – ORD consultation

Objectives • To assess if chronic toxicity, as

measured in laboratory controlled experiments, is present in the river water samples collected.

• To develop appropriate toxicity tests for the estuary.

Freshwater Test Species

Pimephales promelas

Ceriodaphnia dubia

fathead minnow

water flea

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata green algae

Salinity Tolerant Test Species

Menidia beryllina

Americamysis bahia

inland silverside (5 to 32 ppt)

mysid shrimp (10 to 30 ppt)

Hyalella azteca amphipod (0 to 15 ppt)

2005 Sites mid-channel

• June

Survey (sites T4 to T16)

• September

Survey (sites T1 to T7)

June Survey Conditions graph by Dr. N. Suk

Flows and Turbidity for the Delaware River at Trenton 7000

20

6500

15

6000

10

5500

5

5000 06/05/05

06/06/05

06/07/05

06/08/05

Flow

06/09/05

Turbidity

06/10/05

0 06/11/05

Turbidity, FTU

Flow, CFS

Chronic Toxicity Sampling

September Survey Conditions

• Niskin sampler to analytical lab sample bottle

• Composite sample

• Transfer to cubitainer for transport to tox lab

Ambient Water Toxicity Tests • Expose test species to – 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 12.5% ambient water

• Test Duration - 4 to 10 days (species specific) • Test for survival and growth or reproduction • Compare to controls

P. promelas fish

C. dubia invertebrate

P. subcapitata algae

NOEC

NOEC

NOEC

T4 S of Del Mem Br

100%

75% reproduction (salinity effect?)

100%

T5 N of Del Mem Br

100%

100%

100%

T6 Oldman’s Pt

100%

100%

100%

T7 Marcus Hook Creek

100%

100%

100%

June Freshwater Sites

P. promelas fish

C. dubia invertebrate

NOEC

NOEC

NOEC

T8 Eddystone

100%

100%

100%

T9 S of Schuykill R

100%

100%

100%

T10 at Big Timber Creek

100%

100%

100%

T11 Penn’s Landing

100%

100%

100%

June Sites

P. subcapitata algae

P. promelas fish

C. dubia invertebrate

NOEC

NOEC

NOEC

T12 at Pennsauken Creek

100%

100%

100%

T13 at Rancocas Creek

100%

100%

100%

T14 Beverly

100%

100%

100%

June Sites

P. subcapitata algae

P. promelas fish

C. dubia invertebrate

P. subcapitata algae

NOEC

NOEC

NOEC

T15 Florence

100%

100%

100%

T16 Biles Channel

100%

100%

Single Concentration NOEC