Long-Term Effects of Dredging Operations Program. Accumulation of PCBs, Mercury, and Cadmium by Nereis virens, Mercenaria mercenaria, and Palaemonetes pugio from Contaminated Harbor Sediments
Abstract
Accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), mercury, and cadmium by sandworms (Nereis virens), hard clams (Mercenaria mercenaria), and grass shrimp (Palaemonetes pugio) exposed to contaminated sediments from four sites in New York Harbor was studied for a 100-day period. Of the three contaminants monitored, only PCBs were found to bioaccumulate above background (control) concentrations. Small increases in PCB body burden were detected in M. mercenaria and P. pugio, whereas higher concentrations were measured in N. virens. Uptake was affected by the organic content of the sediment. Bioaccumulation factors (concentration in tissue/concentration in sediment) for N. virens ranged from 1.59 in a low organic sediment to 0.15 in a high organic sediment. Comparison of 10-day and steady-state concentrations of PCBs in N. virens indicates that a 10-day exposure underestimates equilibrium concentration; however, 10 days is sufficient to detect the potential for PCB accumulation. Results from this study support the contention that sediment concentration alone does not reflect bioavailability and that toxicity tests (bioassays) and field monitoring remain the most direct methods for estimating bioaccumulation potential of sediment-bound contaminants.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADA136856
Entities
People
- Emile Lores
- Norman Gregory
- Norman I. Rubinstein