Fraser River Action Plan resident fish condition and contaminants assessment

Conference · Sun Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1995

OSTI ID:212065

Raymond, B ^[1]; Nener, J ^[2]; Healey, M ^[3]; Roome, R

---

1. Environment Canada, North Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
2. Department of Fisheries and Oceans, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)
3. Westwater Research Centre, Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada)

As part of the Fraser River Action Plan`s (FRAP) Environmental Quality Assessment, Environment Canada and the Department of Fisheries and Oceans are assessing the condition of resident fish in the Fraser River Basin. Condition is based on health characteristics and contaminant levels of Rocky Mountain whitefish, peamouth chub and starry flounder collected between July and November, 1994. All fish were examined in the field for external and internal abnormalities (HAI). Samples of liver, kidney, spleen, gill, hind gut, and pyloric caecae (when present) were collected for histological assessment. Analyses for contaminant exposure included MFO activity in liver; trace metals, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, chlorophenolics, dioxins and furans in muscle and liver; and PAH metabolites, chlorophenolics, and resin acids in bile. Preliminary results for the Fraser Estuary sites (sampled in July and August, 1994) indicate that a high incidence of HAI and histopathological abnormalities occurred in the starry flounder and peamouth chub. Most contaminant residues in these species are near background levels reported in studies from other areas, and, with the exception of mercury, residue levels have declined from historical levels reported for the Fraser Estuary. Occurrence of HAI and histological abnormalities will be compared to levels of contaminants and MFOS, and to results for upstream sites when they are available.

• OSTI ID: 212065
• Report Number(s): CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL INDICATORS
CANADA
CHLORINATED AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
DIOXIN
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENZYME ACTIVITY
FISHES
FURANS
MERCURY
MIXED-FUNCTION OXIDASES
POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
REMEDIAL ACTION
RIVERS
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
WATER POLLUTION