Caged Mussel Bioaccumulation Monitoring in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays

OMSAP Public MeetingSeptember 1999

Caged Mussel Bioaccumulation Monitoring in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays

Lisa Lefkovitz Battelle

Carlton D. HuntBattelle

Maury HallMWRA

September 23, 1999


Mussels Introduction

• Caged Mussels were deployed as part of the NPDES permit requirements to address bioaccumulatable contaminants and human health exposure associated with the Massachusetts Bay Outfall.


Mussels Monitoring Objectives

• Deploy and collect mussels from multiple locations in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay

• Measure biological condition and concentrations of selected organic contaminants and trace metals

• Establish baselines in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays

• Detect change in system after discharge

• Evaluate conditions against monitoring thresholds (post-discharge period)

InflowOutflow

Light

ConcernsEcologicalEcological Nutrients ContaminantsContaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living Resources

Human HealthHuman Health ContaminantsContaminants Bacteria Viruses BioaccumulationBioaccumulation

SEDIMENT

Mammals

Infauna

Piscivorous Fish

Zooplankton

Phytoplankton

Planktivorous Fish

EpibenthosEpibenthosCaged musselsCaged mussels

Demersal Fish

Flounder

Regeneration

DetritusParticulate

Microbes

Dissolved

WATER COLUMN

Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint EffluentsEffluents

Gas ExchangeExchangeN2, | O2, CO2

ATMOSPHERE

N, P, Si, ON, P, Si, O22, CO, CO22 Microbes


Mussels Collection/Deployment Locations

Cape Cod Bay

Mass Bay outfall

Dear Island Light

Sandwich

Gloucester

Boston Inner Harbor

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'

Collection Locations

0 5 10 15 Kilometers

Outfall Diffuser

Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary

LEGEND

N

Deployment Locations


Mussels Deployment


Mussels Biological and Chemical Parameters

MUSSEL GROWTH AND CONDITION

Parameter

Shell LengthShell VolumeShell Weight

Total Organism WeightTotal Soft Tissue Weight

Gonad-Mantle WeightNon-Gonadal Tissue Weight

CHEMICAL PARAMETERS

Sample Type Hg Pb PCBs PAHs Pests Lipids

Gloucester

Sandwich


Mussels Total PCBs

Boston Inner Harbor

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

ng

/g

Deer Island

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

ng/g

Predeployment Concentration

Outfall Site

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

ng

/g


Mussels Total DDT

Boston Inner Harbor

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

ng/g

dry

Deer Island

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

Outfall Site

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140



Mussels PAH

Low and High Molecular Weight

Predeployment LMW Concentration Predeployment HMW Concentration

Boston Inner Harbor

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

1991

1992

1993

1994

1995

1996

1997

1998

ng

/g d

ry w

t

HMW

LMW

Deer Island

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

HMW

LMW

Outfall Site

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

3500

HMW

LMW


Mussels Mercury

Mercury (Hg) Deer Island

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Mercury (Hg)Outfall Site

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

Mercury (Hg)Boston Inner Harbor

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

ug/g

dry

* indicates Predeployment Mussels from Gloucester; All other years Sandwich



Mussels Lead

Lead (Pb) Boston Inner Harbor

0

2

4

6

8

10

ug/g

dry

Lead (Pb)Deer Island

0

2

4

6

8

10

Lead (Pb)Outfall

0

2

4

6

8

10

* indicates Predeployment Mussels from Gloucester; All other years Sandwich



Mussels PCB Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

PC

B T

iss

ue

Co

nc

en

tra

tio

n (

pp

b w

et

wt)

Caution Threshold = 26.9 ppb

Warning Threshold = 1600 ppb*

n = 8

n = 8

n = 8n = 5

n = 5

n = 8

* The warning threshold is 80% of the FDA level


Mussels DDT Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

DD

T T

issu

e C

on

cen

trati

on

(p

pb

wet

wt)




n = 8

n = 8

n = 8

n = 5

n = 5n = 8


Mussels Hg Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall

-0.005

0

0.005

0.01

0.015

0.02

0.025

0.03

0.035

0.04

0.045

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Merc

ury

Tis

su

e C

on

cen

trati

on

(p

pm

wet

wt)

Caution Threshold = 0.043 ppm

Warning Threshold = 0.8 ppm*


n = 8

n = 8

n = 5

n = 5

n = 8


Mussels PAH Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall

0

20

40

60

80

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

PA

H T

issu

e C

on

cen

tratio

n (

pp

b w

et w

t)


n = 8

n = 7

n = 8

n = 5 n = 5

n = 8


Mussels Chlordane Comparison to ThresholdsMassachusetts Bay Outfall

0.0

0.5

1.0

1.5

2.0

2.5

3.0

3.5

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Ch

lord

an

e T

issu

e C

on

cen

trati

on

(p

pb

wet

wt)

Caution Theshold = 2.6 ppb



n = 8

n = 8

n = 8

n = 5

n = 5

n = 8


Mussels Dieldrin Comparison to ThresholdsMassachusetts Bay Outfall

-0.3

-0.2

-0.1

0.0

0.1

0.2

0.3

0.4

0.5

0.6

0.7

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998

Die

ldri

n T

issu

e C

on

cen

trati

on

s (

pp

b w

et

wt)




n = 8

n = 8

n = 8

n = 5

n = 5 n = 8


Mussels Conclusion

Chemical concentrations are highest in caged mussels deployed at Boston Inner Harbor (BIH) and lowest at the Outfall site.

A new reference location in Cape Cod Bay, shows even lower concentrations.

Concentrations measured in1998 were among the lowest observed since 1991.

Concentrations at the Mass Bay Outfall were well below the MWRA Threshold levels, indicating no health risk.

Caged Mussel Bioaccumulation Monitoring in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays

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