Sediment PAHs and tumors in brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) at Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia
Conference
·
OSTI ID:382722
- Fish and Wildlife Service, Annapolis, MD (United States). Chesapeake Bay Field Office
- Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (United States)
Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge is located in Virginia along the Potomac River, about 35.4 kilometers southwest of Washington, DC. The study objective was to verify past observations of gross lesions in several fish species, previously collected from Potomac River tributaries for contaminant analysis. Thirty brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus) were collected from Neabsco Creek, which borders the refuge, 29 were collected from Farm Creek, which bisects the refuge, and 30 were collected from Marumsco Creek, 1.75 km upstream. Sediment concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHS) were measured because elevated levels have been associated with skin and liver tumors in this species. The average concentration of total carcinogenic PAHs in sediments was: Farm Creek (0.34 ppm) < Marumsco Creek (0.63 ppm) < Neabsco Creek (1.37 ppm). The prevalence of skin neoplasms (squamous carcinomas and papillomas) was 3.4% in Farm Creek, 16.6% in Marumsco Creek, and 33.3% in Neabsco Creek. This ranking and the rankings of the total number of fish with tumors, invasive tumors, or non-parasitic lesions all followed the trend in sediment carcinogenic PAHs (p < 0.003; Jongheere-Terpstra test). The prevalence of liver carcinomas (O% at Farm Creek, 3.3% at Marumsco Creek, and 10% at Neabsco Creek) was of borderline significance (p = 0.06). The highest sediment concentrations of total (25.5 ppm) and carcinogenic (2.70 ppm) PAHs were found in Neabsco Creek near a complex of three marinas. Further sampling should be conducted in Neabsco Creek to determine the sources and extent of PAH contamination. Laboratory exposures are recommended for establishing a cause-effect linkage between sediment and tumor incidence. Additional sediment chemistry is needed to determine if other carcinogens are present.
- OSTI ID:
- 382722
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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