Survey of subsistence fish and shellfish for exposure to oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez. First year: 1989. Technical memo
More than 500 fish and shellfish samples collected from native Alaskan fishing grounds were analyzed for aromatic contaminants (ACs) from petroleum (alkylated and unsubstituted aromatic hydrocarbons with 2-7 benzenoid rings and dibenzothiophenes). Intertidal molluscs (mussels, clams, chitons, and snails) from Windy Bay, Kodiak (City), Chenega Bay, and Old Harbor consistently had more than 100 parts-per-billion (ppb) ACs, with levels in mussels from Windy Bay and Kodiak as high as 12,000 to 18,000 ppb. Levels of ACs in molluscs, crabs, and sea urchins from other villages were less than 10 ppb, a level comparable to that measured in shellfish from the designated reference area in Southeast Alaska near Angoon. Nonparametric statistics on 147 samples of molluscs showed that levels of ACs in molluscs from Windy Bay, Kodiak, and Chenega Bay were significantly higher (p = or < 0.05) than those in the Angoon molluscs sampled. In an unofficial advisory opinion, the Food and Drug Administration has indicated that little risk is involved in the consumption of the nonsmoked subsistence foods studied.
- Research Organization:
- National Marine Fisheries Service, Seattle, WA (USA). Northwest and Alaska Fisheries Center
- OSTI ID:
- 5914095
- Report Number(s):
- PB-91-152132/XAB; NOAA-TM-NMFS-F/NWC-191
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Supplemental information concerning a survey of Alaskan subsistence fish, marine mammal, and invertebrate samples collected 1989-91 for exposure to oil spilled from the Exxon Valdez. Technical memo
Subsistence restoration project: Food safety testing. Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Restoration Project. Final report restoration project 94279
Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
ALASKA
OIL SPILLS
FISHES
CONTAMINATION
MOLLUSCS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
AROMATICS
CHEMICAL ANALYSIS
CLAMS
CRABS
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FLUORESCENCE
FOOD CHAINS
MUSSELS
PUBLIC HEALTH
QUALITY ASSURANCE
RISK ASSESSMENT
SAMPLING
SEA URCHINS
SNAILS
TANKER SHIPS
US FDA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
CRUSTACEANS
DECAPODS
ECHINODERMS
FEDERAL REGION X
INVERTEBRATES
LUMINESCENCE
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
SHIPS
US HEW
US ORGANIZATIONS
USA
VERTEBRATES
020900* - Petroleum- Environmental Aspects
540320 - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)