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Title: Regional environmental fate, transport and risk of PCBs in lotic ecosystems

Abstract

Investigations were conducted on the regional transport, fate and distribution of PCBs in three Kentucky stream systems. The streams (Town Branch/Mud River, Drakes Creek, Little Bayou Creek) varied in size from second to fifth order. Point source discharges of PCBs to each system has resulted in issuance of fish consumption advisories by state agencies. Water, sediments, floodplain soils and fish-tissues were analyzed for PCB residues. Fish species representing different trophic levels and feeding habits were also analyzed including longear sunfish, green sunfish, stonerollers and banded sculpins. Relatively rapid disappearance of PCBs was noted in green sunfish and may provide a better indication of the current bioavailability of PCBs in these systems. In one stream system, PCBs were detected in the water column, sediments and floodplain soils sixty-five miles from the known source. Mean concentrations of Aroclor 1248 in sediment samples decreased from 280 mg/kg near the source to 0.09--0.12mg/kg about 100 mi. downstream. Sequential resuspension of PCB-contaminated sediment is considered to be the main long-range transport mechanism. Contaminated groundwater can contribute substantial PCB loading to streams and flood events may have distributed PCBS over 20,000 acres of floodplain soil, possibly affecting background concentrations in these areas. Digital elevation models weremore » coupled with point location contaminant data and used to evaluate potential distribution in the floodplains. About 50 percent of the fish collected from the Mud River contained residues greater than the 2.0 ppm FDA action level in edible portions. Fish collected within 4 mi. of the source contained PCB concentration ranging from 9.4 to 33.3 mg/kg. Estimated PCB bioconcentration factors were up to 300.000 based on water and fish-tissue concentrations.« less

Authors:
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Fish and Wildlife Service, Cookeville, TN (United States)
  2. Univ. of Kentucky, Lexington, KY (United States)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
197542
Report Number(s):
CONF-9511137-
ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9612%%316
Resource Type:
Conference
Resource Relation:
Conference: 2. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC) world conference, Vancouver (Canada), 5-9 Nov 1995; Other Information: PBD: 1995; Related Information: Is Part Of Second SETAC world congress (16. annual meeting): Abstract book. Global environmental protection: Science, politics, and common sense; PB: 378 p.
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE, APPLIED STUDIES; KENTUCKY; WATER POLLUTION; STREAMS; POLYCHLORINATED BIPHENYLS; ENVIRONMENTAL TRANSPORT; BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION; SEDIMENTS; FOOD CHAINS; SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION; BIOLOGICAL AVAILABILITY; FISHES

Citation Formats

Robison, W, Birge, W, and Price, D. Regional environmental fate, transport and risk of PCBs in lotic ecosystems. United States: N. p., 1995. Web.
Robison, W, Birge, W, & Price, D. Regional environmental fate, transport and risk of PCBs in lotic ecosystems. United States.
Robison, W, Birge, W, and Price, D. 1995. "Regional environmental fate, transport and risk of PCBs in lotic ecosystems". United States.
@article{osti_197542,
title = {Regional environmental fate, transport and risk of PCBs in lotic ecosystems},
author = {Robison, W and Birge, W and Price, D},
abstractNote = {Investigations were conducted on the regional transport, fate and distribution of PCBs in three Kentucky stream systems. The streams (Town Branch/Mud River, Drakes Creek, Little Bayou Creek) varied in size from second to fifth order. Point source discharges of PCBs to each system has resulted in issuance of fish consumption advisories by state agencies. Water, sediments, floodplain soils and fish-tissues were analyzed for PCB residues. Fish species representing different trophic levels and feeding habits were also analyzed including longear sunfish, green sunfish, stonerollers and banded sculpins. Relatively rapid disappearance of PCBs was noted in green sunfish and may provide a better indication of the current bioavailability of PCBs in these systems. In one stream system, PCBs were detected in the water column, sediments and floodplain soils sixty-five miles from the known source. Mean concentrations of Aroclor 1248 in sediment samples decreased from 280 mg/kg near the source to 0.09--0.12mg/kg about 100 mi. downstream. Sequential resuspension of PCB-contaminated sediment is considered to be the main long-range transport mechanism. Contaminated groundwater can contribute substantial PCB loading to streams and flood events may have distributed PCBS over 20,000 acres of floodplain soil, possibly affecting background concentrations in these areas. Digital elevation models were coupled with point location contaminant data and used to evaluate potential distribution in the floodplains. About 50 percent of the fish collected from the Mud River contained residues greater than the 2.0 ppm FDA action level in edible portions. Fish collected within 4 mi. of the source contained PCB concentration ranging from 9.4 to 33.3 mg/kg. Estimated PCB bioconcentration factors were up to 300.000 based on water and fish-tissue concentrations.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/197542}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995},
month = {Sun Dec 31 00:00:00 EST 1995}
}

Conference:
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