flounder histopathology and chemistry

OMSAP Public MeetingSeptember 1999

Flounder Histopathology and Chemistry

Michael Moore Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution

Lisa LefkovitzBattelle

September 22, 1999


Flounder Objectives

To define health of winter flounder

• determine condition of liver- chemical burdens- liver histopathology

• determine inorganic and organic contaminants in edible tissue

• define baseline conditions To determine response to effluent transfer

InflowOutflow

Light

ConcernsEcologicalEcological Nutrients ContaminantsContaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living ResourcesLiving Resources

Human HealthHuman Health ContaminantsContaminants Bacteria Viruses BioaccumulationBioaccumulation

SEDIMENT

Mammals

Infauna

Piscivorous Fish

Zooplankton

Phytoplankton

Planktivorous Fish

Epibenthos Lobster

Demersal Demersal FishFish

FlounderFlounder

Regeneration

DetritusParticulate

Microbes

Dissolved

WATER COLUMN

Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint EffluentsEffluents

Gas ExchangeExchangeN2, | O2, CO2

ATMOSPHERE

N, P, Si, ON, P, Si, O2,2,,CO,CO22 Microbes


Flounder Sampling Locations

Broad Sound

Mass Bay Outfall

Eastern Cape Cod

Deer Island Flats

Off Nantasket Beach

Flounder Stations

41°4

5'41°45'

42°0

0'42°00'

42°1

5'42°15'

42°3

0'42°30'

71°00'

71°00'

70°45'

70°45'

70°30'

70°30'

70°15'

70°15'

0 5 10 15 Kilometers

Outfall Diffuser

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

LEGEND

N


Flounder CHV vs time

0

20

40

60

80

100

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Year

Deer Island FlatsEastern Cape Cod Bay

Future Outfall Site

Nantasket Beach

Broad Sound

Deer Island Flats

Year

Cen

trot

ubul

ar H

ydro

pic

Vacu

olat

ion

(% p

reve

lenc

e)


Flounder Tumors vs time

0

5

10

15

1986 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Year

summ gph 87-n ALL dta

Eastern Cape Cod Bay

Future Outfall Site

Nantasket Beach

Broad Sound

Deer Island FlatsNote most stations have zero points, especially in later years

Neo

plas

ia (%

pre

vale

nce)

Year


Flounder Fillet tPCB vs timeTotal PCB in Flounder Fillets 1992-1999

Year


Flounder Liver tPCB vs time

Year


Flounder Fillet Hg vs time

Year


Flounder Liver Hg vs time

Year


Flounder Liver Ag vs time

Year


Flounder Liver Pb vs time

Year


Flounder Fillet Chlordane vs CHV

19981996

19971999

19941992

19951993

1996

1995

1992

19981999

1994

19931999

1996

1992

1998

1995

1993 1994

0

20

40

60

80

0 5 10 15 20

Fillet Chlordane ng/g

Eastern Cape Cod BayOutfall SiteDeer Island Flats

Cen

trot

ubul

ar H

V (%

)


Flounder Liver Chlordane vs CHV

19981992

1999

19941996

1993

1997

1995

19991998

1992

1996

1993

1995

1994

1993

1996

1998

1992

1994

1999

1997

1995

0

20

40

60

80

0 50 100 150 200 250 300Liver Chlordane ng/g

Eastern Cape CodBay

Outfall SiteDeer Island FlatsC

entr

otub

ular

HV

(%)


-20

-10

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999PCB

Tis

sue

Con

cent

ratio

n (p

pb w

et w

t) Caution Threshold = 76.2 ppb

Warning Threshold = 1600 ppb*

* The warning threshold is 80% of the FDA level

n = 4

n = 9 n = 2 n = 3

n = 3 n = 3 n = 3

n = 3

Annual Means ( ±95% CI) at Mass Bay Outfall

Flounder PCB Threshold Comparisons


Flounder DDT Threshold Comparisons

-4

-2

0

2

4

6

8

10

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

DDT

Tiss

ue C

once

ntra

tion

(ppb

wet

wt)

Caution Threshold = 7.99 ppb



n = 4

n = 9

n = 2

n = 3n = 3

n = 3n = 3

n = 3



Flounder Chlordane Threshold Comparisons

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Chlo

rdan

e Ti

ssue

Con

cent

ratio

ns (p

pb w

et w

t)



* The warning threshold is 80% the FDA level

n = 4

n = 9

n = 2 n = 3

n = 3

n = 3

n = 3 n = 3



Flounder Dieldrin Threshold Comparisons

-1.0

-0.5

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Die

ldrin

Tis

sue

Con

cent

ratio

n (p

pb w

et w

t)




n = 4

n = 9n = 2

n = 3

n = 3 n = 3

n = 3

n = 3



Flounder Hg Threshold Comparisons

-0.15

-0.10

-0.05

0.00

0.05

0.10

0.15

0.20

0.25

0.30

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999

Mer

cury

Tis

sue

Conc

entr

atio

n (p

pm w

et w

t)

Caution Threshold = 0.17 ppm

Warning Threshold = 0.8 ppm*


n = 4

n = 9

n = 2

n = 3

n = 3n = 3

n = 3 n = 3



Flounder Summary

Steady level of organic contaminant burdens and histopathological effects since 1991 - lowest in Eastern Cape Cod Bay, moderate at Future Outfall Site,and highest at Deer Island Flats.

Significant reduction in tumor prevalence at Deer Island in ‘90’s compared to ‘80’s.

Inorganic contaminant burdens do not show the same regiospecificity.


Flounder Expected Response

Expected response once system outfall complete: • Little change, given the projected low level contaminant

burdens in the secondarily treated effluent. • The major challenge in terms of toxics and their effects:• Has been and is still to promote source reduction • Ongoing effort should see a gradual reduction in the

chemical burden and resultant effects to the extent that the MWRA effluent is responsible for the current observed effects.

flounder histopathology and chemistry

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