USGS scientists partnered with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) to assess toxic contaminant levels at 10 sites within the Lower Columbia River. Our strategy is to compare current toxic contaminant levels to the results collected previously at these sites to identify temporal changes.
Background:
This project was developed to track the status and trends of toxic contaminants in the Lower Columbia River by sampling 10 sites previously sampled through two separate toxic contaminant monitoring projects: 1) LCEPs Ecosystems Monitoring Program (EMP; more details), and 2) USGS Columbia River Contaminants and Habitat Characterization (ConHab; more details).
In LCEPs EMP, samples were collected in 2004-2005 by USGS and NOAA. Researchers determined that contaminants were widespread throughout the Lower Columbia River. Results showed that contaminants, e.g., Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ((PAH)s), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), were found accumulating in juvenile salmon at levels of concern.
Starting in 2008 through 2010, USGS collected sediment, water, macroinvertebrates, resident fish, and osprey samples for their ConHab study. Similar to the results of the EMP study, this study also identified PBDEs and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the food web at levels of concern.
To update the status of contaminants in the Lower Columbia River, this study will sample 10 sites that were sampled previously during EMP and ConHab. This project will identify the presence of a suite of contaminants that include previously analyzed compounds in both EMP and ConHab (PAHs, PBDEs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and wastewater indicators), however, new to this project, we will analyze samples for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cyanotoxins. To determine the presence of contaminants and cyanotoxins, USGS will use three different types of integrative, passive samplers to assess contaminant concentrations in the water, an important exposure pathway for fish, wildlife, and humans in the ecosystem.
Objectives:
• Collect new samples with three different types of integrative, passive samplers to assess the presence of contaminants in the water: 1) Semi-Permeable Membrane Device (SPMD), 2) Polar Organic Compound Integrating Sampler (POCIS), and 3) Solid-Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracker (SPATT).
• Samplers will be deployed during three times of the year to capture a range of environmental conditions: 1) Spring High Flow (June), 2) Summer Low Flow (Aug-Sept), and 3) Fall High Flow (Oct-Dec).
• Quantify current contaminant concentrations at 10 sampling locations within the Lower Columbia River.
• Compare results of current samples to historic results from two separate projects that sampled same locations (EMP, ConHab), and same suite of contaminants.
• Determine if there are changes in contaminant concentrations by analyzing results and evaluating contaminant trends.
• Results will provide a better understanding of the current contaminant concentrations throughout the Lower Columbia River and provide us with more insight as to where to focus future monitoring efforts. The results of our data analysis will help identify potential opportunities for a more guided contaminant source tracking.
Passive samplers used:
USGS scientists partnered with the Lower Columbia Estuary Partnership (LCEP) to assess toxic contaminant levels at 10 sites within the Lower Columbia River. Our strategy is to compare current toxic contaminant levels to the results collected previously at these sites to identify temporal changes.
Background:
This project was developed to track the status and trends of toxic contaminants in the Lower Columbia River by sampling 10 sites previously sampled through two separate toxic contaminant monitoring projects: 1) LCEPs Ecosystems Monitoring Program (EMP; more details), and 2) USGS Columbia River Contaminants and Habitat Characterization (ConHab; more details).
In LCEPs EMP, samples were collected in 2004-2005 by USGS and NOAA. Researchers determined that contaminants were widespread throughout the Lower Columbia River. Results showed that contaminants, e.g., Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ((PAH)s), Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), were found accumulating in juvenile salmon at levels of concern.
Starting in 2008 through 2010, USGS collected sediment, water, macroinvertebrates, resident fish, and osprey samples for their ConHab study. Similar to the results of the EMP study, this study also identified PBDEs and endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in the food web at levels of concern.
To update the status of contaminants in the Lower Columbia River, this study will sample 10 sites that were sampled previously during EMP and ConHab. This project will identify the presence of a suite of contaminants that include previously analyzed compounds in both EMP and ConHab (PAHs, PBDEs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, and wastewater indicators), however, new to this project, we will analyze samples for Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and cyanotoxins. To determine the presence of contaminants and cyanotoxins, USGS will use three different types of integrative, passive samplers to assess contaminant concentrations in the water, an important exposure pathway for fish, wildlife, and humans in the ecosystem.
Objectives:
• Collect new samples with three different types of integrative, passive samplers to assess the presence of contaminants in the water: 1) Semi-Permeable Membrane Device (SPMD), 2) Polar Organic Compound Integrating Sampler (POCIS), and 3) Solid-Phase Adsorption Toxin Tracker (SPATT).
• Samplers will be deployed during three times of the year to capture a range of environmental conditions: 1) Spring High Flow (June), 2) Summer Low Flow (Aug-Sept), and 3) Fall High Flow (Oct-Dec).
• Quantify current contaminant concentrations at 10 sampling locations within the Lower Columbia River.
• Compare results of current samples to historic results from two separate projects that sampled same locations (EMP, ConHab), and same suite of contaminants.
• Determine if there are changes in contaminant concentrations by analyzing results and evaluating contaminant trends.
• Results will provide a better understanding of the current contaminant concentrations throughout the Lower Columbia River and provide us with more insight as to where to focus future monitoring efforts. The results of our data analysis will help identify potential opportunities for a more guided contaminant source tracking.
Passive samplers used: