Comparing Polychlorinated Biphenyl Concentrations and Patterns in the Saginaw River Using Sediment, Caged Fish, and Semipermeable Membrane Devices

Abstract

Three techniques of assessing bioavailable polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the Saginaw River, MI, were compared: sediments, caged fish, and semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs). SPMDs and caged fish were placed in the river for 28 days at five sites where sediments were also sampled. The samples were analyzed for PCB congeners to determine concentrations and patterns. Total PCB concentrations ranged from 33 to 280 ng/g (dry weight) in sediments, 46 to 290 ng/g (wet weight) in caged fish, and 77 to 790 ng/g in SPMDs. Previously reported rates of PCB accumulation by SPMDs were used to estimate aqueous concentrations from the PCB concentrations detected in the SPMDs. Sediment-water partition coefficients were used to estimate aqueous PCB concentrations from sediment. Steady-state bioconcentration factors and depuration rate constants were used to estimate dissolved PCB concentrations from caged channel catfish. Relative PCB patterns from the SPMDs, caged fish, and sediment were compared using principal components analysis. SPMD and sediment samples provide complementary information. Sediments reflect long-term accumulation and weathering, while SPMDs integrate water concentrations only during the sampling period. Because of higher water solubilities of lower-chlorinated PCBs these predominate in the SPMDs as compared to in the fish and sediments. Contaminant profile differences between caged fish and SPMDs are likely due to metabolism and depuration of certain PCB congeners by fish.

Environmental PCBs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico: implications for community health

“…Eucinostomus gula (one of the two fish samples analyzed) showed PCBs at levels about two times higher than the FDA restricted value. These elevated PCB levels in fish (though only in two wild-caught fish) from Guánica bay are similar to the PCB levels found in several seafood/fish species from the Hudson River (Steinbacher and Baker 2002), Great Lakes (Straub and Sprafka 1983), St. Lawrence River (Straub and Sprafka 1983), Saginaw River/Bay (Echols et al 1999; MDNR 1988), and higher than the concentrations found in Delaware Bay and Chesapeake Bay (Levinton and Waldman 2006). All of these sites have posted fish advisories.…”

“…First, in the eastern Georgia estuary, the average PCB concentration in sediment was 7.8 ng/g as compared to 0.48 ng/g (±0.24 ng/g 95% confidence interval CI) in spotted sea trout and 0.78 ng/g (±0.21ng/g 95% CI) in striped mullet (Maruya and Lee 1998). Second, in the Saginaw River, Lake Huron, the total PCB concentrations ranged from 33 to 280 ng/g, dry weight, in sediments as compared to 46 to 290 ng/g, wet weight, in caged fish (Echols et al 2000). At a minimum, these finding indicate that where there are some PCBs in sediment, there is likely to be some level of PCBs in fish.…”

Distribution of PCBs, Their Hydroxylated Metabolites, and Other Phenolic Contaminants in Human Serum from Two European Countries

“…Profiles of PCBs and HO-PCBs were investigated using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on normalized concentrations to remove concentration as a variable. Individual congeners were normalized by subtracting the mean and dividing by the standard deviation (22). Factor loadings (plotted as lines) and factor scores (plotted as points) were determined and used in interpreting principal component patterns.…”

Characterization And Monitoring Of Natural Attenuation Of Chlorinated Solvents In Ground Water: A Systems Approach

“…In general, passive partitioning processes provide a time-weighted average of contaminant discharge, can sequester a broad spectrum of chemical classes, concentrate pollutants often metabolized by organisms, and can be used in surface water, sediment and groundwater environments. Media used as passive accumulators include carbon, selected plastics (Lefkovitz et al 1996) and semipermeable-membrane devices (SPMD) (Echols et al 2000;Wang et al 2002). Depending on the absorbent material and media, the samplers can be used to relate contaminant discharge to environmental risk by quantifying accumulation in the environment.…”