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Title: Biomarker and histopathologic responses in flatfish following initial site remediation in Eagle Harbor, WA

Conference ·
OSTI ID:211993

Eagle Harbor is designated as an EPA Superfund site due to high sediment concentrations of creosote-derived polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) released chronically from a nearby creosoting facility. Previous (1984--86) field and laboratory studies with adult English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) from this site demonstrated high prevalences of toxicopathic liver lesions including neoplasms in resident sole, and inducibility of several neoplasia-related lesion types by injections of a PAH-rich fraction extracted from Eagle Harbor sediment. Further studies (1986--88) expanded the target species to also include starry flounder (Platichthys stellatus) and rock sole (Lepidopsetta bilineata), and incorporated biomarkers of PAH exposure and effect, including hepatic CYP1A expression and biliary fluorescent aromatic compounds to estimate PAH exposure and metabolism, and bulky hydrophobic DNA adducts to estimate PAHs bound to hepatic DNA. Hepatic lesion prevalences and biomarker values in these three species from Eagle Harbor were among the highest found at Puget Sound sites. In the initial phase of site remediation, a cap of uncontaminated sediment was placed over the most contaminated portions of Eagle Harbor from September `93 to March `94, to provide improved benthic habitat and sequester PAH-contaminated sediments. Lesion prevalences and biomarker values in these three flatfish species just before capping began were generally reduced compared to historical data, possibly as a result of creosoting facility closure and site-based source controls. Similar data from fish collected immediately after and at 3, 6, and 12 months after cap completion are presented to determine the efficacy of the capping in ameliorating PAH exposure and associated effects in resident flatfish species.

OSTI ID:
211993
Report Number(s):
CONF-9511137-; ISBN 1-880611-03-1; TRN: IM9617%%309
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