Ambient Water Toxicity SurveysAmbient Water Toxicity Surveys

A. Ronald A. Ronald MacGillivrayMacGillivray, Ph.D., Ph.D.Environmental ToxicologistEnvironmental Toxicologist

Ronald.MacGillivray@drbc.state.nj.usRonald.MacGillivray@drbc.state.nj.us

Delaware Estuary Science Conference 2007Delaware Estuary Science Conference 2007

Advantages of Advantages of Ambient Water Toxicity TestingAmbient Water Toxicity Testing

•• Assesses point sources and nonAssesses point sources and non--point point sourcessources

•• Assesses mixtures (cumulative effects)Assesses mixtures (cumulative effects)•• Assesses toxicants with no chemical Assesses toxicants with no chemical

specific water quality standards and/or are specific water quality standards and/or are not being monitored by chemical analysisnot being monitored by chemical analysis

BackgroundBackground

•• DRBC chronic toxicity studies of ambient DRBC chronic toxicity studies of ambient water in 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001water in 1990, 1992, 1999, 2000, 2001

•• Tidal Delaware River (RM 63 to 115)Tidal Delaware River (RM 63 to 115)•• Twelve fixed stationsTwelve fixed stations

Previous DRBC Ambient Water Previous DRBC Ambient Water Toxicity StudiesToxicity Studies

•• Survival of all test organisms not affectedSurvival of all test organisms not affected

•• SubSub--lethal chronic toxicity suggested at different lethal chronic toxicity suggested at different sampling stations and in different species over sampling stations and in different species over the study periodthe study period

•• EPA reviews conclude data inconclusive, EPA reviews conclude data inconclusive, recommend further study (possible confounding recommend further study (possible confounding factors e.g., salinity effect)factors e.g., salinity effect)

Chronic Toxicity WorkgroupChronic Toxicity WorkgroupDeveloping ConsensusDeveloping Consensus

On Test Species and Study DesignOn Test Species and Study Design

•• DNREC DNREC –– Rick GreeneRick Greene•• NJDEP NJDEP –– Betty Jane Betty Jane

BorosBoros--Russo/Michelle Russo/Michelle MooneyMooney

•• DRBC DRBC –– Ron Ron MacGillivrayMacGillivray•• DRBC DRBC –– Tom Tom FikslinFikslin•• EPAEPA––RIII RIII –– Brian Brian TrulearTrulear•• EPAEPA––RII RII –– Jim Jim FerrettiFerretti•• PADEP PADEP –– Mike Boyer

•• EPAEPA--RIII RIII –– Dave RussellDave Russell•• DuPontDuPont, Haskell Lab , Haskell Lab ––

Bob Bob HokeHoke•• Rohm & Haas Co. Rohm & Haas Co. –– Steve Steve

BrownBrown•• PWD PWD –– Linda OLinda O’’DonnellDonnell•• AAT AAT –– Chris Chris NallyNally•• EPA EPA –– ORD consultationORD consultation

Mike Boyer

ObjectivesObjectives

••To assess if chronic toxicity, as To assess if chronic toxicity, as measured in laboratory controlled measured in laboratory controlled experiments, is present in the river experiments, is present in the river water samples collected.water samples collected.

••To develop appropriate toxicity tests To develop appropriate toxicity tests for the estuary.for the estuary.

Freshwater Test Species

Ceriodaphnia dubia

water flea

Pimephales promelasfathead minnow

Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata

green algae

Salinity Tolerant Test Species

Menidia beryllina

inland silverside (5 to 32 ppt)Americamysis bahia

mysid shrimp (10 to 30 ppt)

Hyalella azteca

amphipod (0 to 15 ppt)

2005 Sites2005 Sitesmidmid--channelchannel

•• June June Survey Survey (sites T4 to (sites T4 to T16)T16)

•• September September Survey Survey (sites T1 to (sites T1 to T7)T7)

June Survey ConditionsJune Survey Conditionsgraph by Dr. N. graph by Dr. N. SukSuk

Flows and Turbidity for the Delaware River at Trenton

5000

5500

6000

6500

7000

06/05/05 06/06/05 06/07/05 06/08/05 06/09/05 06/10/05 06/11/05

Flow

, CFS

0

5

10

15

20

Tur

bidi

ty, F

TU

Flow Turbidity

Chronic Toxicity Sampling

September Survey ConditionsSeptember Survey Conditions

•• NiskinNiskin sampler to analytical lab sample bottlesampler to analytical lab sample bottle

•• Composite sample Composite sample

•• Transfer to Transfer to cubitainercubitainer for transport to for transport to toxtox lablab

Ambient Water Toxicity TestsAmbient Water Toxicity Tests

•• Expose test species to Expose test species to –– 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 12.5% ambient 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 12.5% ambient

waterwater

•• Test Duration Test Duration -- 4 to 10 days (species 4 to 10 days (species specific)specific)

•• Test for survival and growth or Test for survival and growth or reproduction reproduction

•• Compare to controlsCompare to controls

JuneJuneFreshwaterFreshwater

SitesSites

P. P. promelaspromelasfishfish

NOECNOEC

C. C. dubiadubiainvertebrateinvertebrate

NOECNOEC

P. P. subcapitatasubcapitataalgaealgae

NOECNOEC

T4 S of T4 S of Del Del MemMem BrBr

100%100% 75% 75% reproductionreproduction

(salinity effect?)(salinity effect?)

100%100%

T5 N of T5 N of Del Del MemMem BrBr

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T6 T6 OldmanOldman’’ss PtPt

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T7 Marcus Hook T7 Marcus Hook CreekCreek

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

JuneJuneSitesSites

P. P. promelaspromelasfishfish

NOECNOEC

C. C. dubiadubiainvertebrateinvertebrate

NOECNOEC

P. P. subcapitatasubcapitataalgaealgaeNOECNOEC

T8 T8 EddystoneEddystone 100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T9 S of T9 S of SchuykillSchuykill RR

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T10 at Big T10 at Big Timber CreekTimber Creek

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T11 PennT11 Penn’’s s LandingLanding

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

JuneJuneSitesSites

P. P. promelaspromelasfishfish

NOECNOEC

C. C. dubiadubiainvertebrateinvertebrate

NOECNOEC

P. P. subcapitatasubcapitataalgaealgaeNOECNOEC

T12 at T12 at Pennsauken CreekPennsauken Creek

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T13 atT13 atRancocasRancocas CreekCreek

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T14 BeverlyT14 Beverly 100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

JuneJuneSitesSites

P. P. promelaspromelasfishfish

NOECNOEC

C. C. dubiadubiainvertebrateinvertebrate

NOECNOEC

P. P. subcapitatasubcapitataalgaealgaeNOECNOEC

T15 FlorenceT15 Florence 100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T16 T16 BilesBilesChannelChannel

100%100% 100%100% Single Single Concentration Concentration NOEC <100%NOEC <100%

ResampledResampled three three weeks later with weeks later with Dilution Series Dilution Series NOEC = 100%NOEC = 100%

SeptemberSeptemberSites and Sites and Salinity (Salinity (pptppt))

A. A. bahiabahiamysidmysidNOECNOEC

M. M. beryllinaberyllinafishfish

NOECNOEC

H. H. AztecaAztecaamphipodamphipod

NOECNOEC

T1 T1 ListonListon PtPt11.4 11.4 -- 15.515.5

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T2T2Reedy IsReedy Is8.2 8.2 -- 10.410.4

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T3T3N of Pea Patch N of Pea Patch IsIs5.8 5.8 -- 6.46.4

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T4 S of Del T4 S of Del MemMemBrBr4.3 4.3 -- 4.94.9

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

SeptemberSeptemberSites and Sites and Salinity (Salinity (pptppt))

A. A. bahiabahiamysidmysidNOECNOEC

M. M. beryllinaberyllinafishfish

NOECNOEC

H. H. AztecaAztecaamphipodamphipod

NOECNOEC

T5 N of Del T5 N of Del MemMem BrBr3.4 3.4 –– 3.93.9

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T6 T6 OldmanOldman’’ss PtPt2.2 2.2 –– 3.13.1

100%100% 100%100% 100%100%

T7 Marcus Hook T7 Marcus Hook CreekCreek0.9 0.9 –– 1.61.6

75% growth75% growthICIC2525 98.8 growth98.8 growth

100%100% 100%100%

ConclusionsConclusions

•• Identified a set of test species and modified toxicity Identified a set of test species and modified toxicity testing methods appropriate for routine monitoring of testing methods appropriate for routine monitoring of the estuary.the estuary.

•• The June and September 2005 toxicity surveys The June and September 2005 toxicity surveys indicated overall, based on the measured toxicity indicated overall, based on the measured toxicity endpoints, that the ambient water samples collected endpoints, that the ambient water samples collected were not chronically toxic.were not chronically toxic.

Future DirectionFuture Direction

•• Shift from a developmental phase of Shift from a developmental phase of identifying appropriate test species and identifying appropriate test species and methods to a monitoring phase with a methods to a monitoring phase with a continued focus on ambient toxicity testing continued focus on ambient toxicity testing of water.of water.

•• Increase spatial and temporal coverage of Increase spatial and temporal coverage of the estuary (new focus on tributaries as well the estuary (new focus on tributaries as well as mainas main--stem)stem)

CriteriaCriteria forfor Prioritization of 2007 Prioritization of 2007 Tributary SamplingTributary Sampling

•• Direct tributary to the Delaware Estuary in Direct tributary to the Delaware Estuary in Zones 2 through 5Zones 2 through 5

•• Segment of the tributary is listed for toxics Segment of the tributary is listed for toxics in a state Integrated Assessmentin a state Integrated Assessment

•• History of sampling as part of a tributary History of sampling as part of a tributary monitoring programmonitoring program

2007

Ambient

Toxicity

Survey

Water Quality Water Quality

•• Dissolved cadmium, chromium Dissolved cadmium, chromium ((hexavalenthexavalent and total), lead, nickel, silver and total), lead, nickel, silver and zinc did not exceed DRBC Water and zinc did not exceed DRBC Water Quality Objectives for the limited number Quality Objectives for the limited number of sites and dates tested. of sites and dates tested.

Ambient Copper Concentrations at Selected Sites Ambient Copper Concentrations at Selected Sites June 2005 surveyJune 2005 survey

DateDate SiteSite Current Current USEPA USEPA CriteriaCriteriaµµg/Lg/L

Proposed Proposed USEPA USEPA CriteriaCriteriaµµg/Lg/L

Measured Measured Dissolved Dissolved

CuCuµµg/Lg/L

Applicable Applicable DRBCDRBC

Regulatory Regulatory CriteriaCriteriaµµg/L g/L

BLM BLM SiteSite--

specific specific Chronic Chronic WQC WQC µµg/Lg/L

6/6/056/6/05 T4T4 1313

4.84.8

4.84.8

1313

4.84.8

1313

4.84.8

2.12.1 2.82.8 7.87.8

6/6/056/6/05 T5T5

3.13.1

4.24.2

4.24.2

3.13.1

4.24.2

3.13.1

22 8.38.3 7.67.6

6/6/056/6/05 T16T16 <1.4<1.4 8.38.3 16.816.8

6/8/056/8/05 T4T4 2.12.1 2.82.8 11.111.1

6/8/056/8/05 T5T5 22 8.38.3 12.912.9

6/10/056/10/05 T4T4 2.12.1 2.82.8 12.412.4

6/10/056/10/05 T5T5 4.24.2 22 8.38.3 27.027.0

Water Quality Water Quality

•• Dissolved copper did not exceed the Dissolved copper did not exceed the applicable regulatory criteria or the siteapplicable regulatory criteria or the site--specific water quality criteria predicted by specific water quality criteria predicted by the BLM for the sites and dates evaluated.the BLM for the sites and dates evaluated.

ReferencesReferences

•• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2000. Section 11. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2000. Section 11. Test Method 100.1. Test Method 100.1. HyalellaHyalella aztecaazteca 1010--d Survival and d Survival and Growth Test for Sediments. EPA 600/RGrowth Test for Sediments. EPA 600/R--99/064.99/064.

•• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, October 2002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, October 2002. ShortShort--Term Methods For Estimating The Chronic Toxicity Term Methods For Estimating The Chronic Toxicity Of Effluents And Receiving Waters To Freshwater Of Effluents And Receiving Waters To Freshwater Organisms, Fourth Edition EPAOrganisms, Fourth Edition EPA--821821--RR--0202--013.013.

•• U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, October 2002. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, October 2002. ShortShort--Term Methods For Estimating The Chronic Toxicity Term Methods For Estimating The Chronic Toxicity Of Effluents And Receiving Waters To Marine & Estuarine Of Effluents And Receiving Waters To Marine & Estuarine Organisms, Third Edition EPAOrganisms, Third Edition EPA--821821--RR--0202--014.014.