Bruce Ruppel

Levels and patterns of PCDD and PCDF contamination in fish, crabs, and lobsters from Newark Bay and the New York Bight

Abstract Samples of striped bass, crabs and lobsters were collected in Newark Bay and the New York Bight. The fish muscle and the hepatopancreas and meat from the crabs were subjected to congener specific analysis. All samples were found to be contaminated by 2,3,7,8-tetraCDD and a series of other highly hazardous 2,3,7,8-substituted congeners as well as less hazardous PCDDs and PCDFs. A value exceeding 6000 ppt wet tissue weight of 2,3,7,8-tetraCDD was found in a sample of crab hepatopancreas, which seems to be the highest value so far reported in a food product. The crab meat, on the other hand, contained only 100 ppt. In general the crustaceans contained many congeners, while the fish samples contained only 2,3,7,8-substituted compounds. An unknown compound, possibly a tetrachlorodibenzothiophene, was the dominating peak in most of the crustacean samples.

A comparison of congeneric PCB patterns in American eels and striped bass from the Hudson and Delaware River estuaries

The Hudson River estuary has enormous spatial variation in polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) contamination due in large part to historical point source discharges above Troy Dam. The Delaware River estuary has accumulated significant levels of PCBs through decades of industrial, municipal, and non-point source inputs. The overall goal of this research was to use existing data sets to compare and contrast the patterns of accumulated PCB congeners in sub-populations of American eels and striped bass inhabiting these two estuaries and surrounding coastal waters. Using principal component analysis and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA), inter- and intra-estuarine differences in accumulated congeneric patterns were denoted for both species. Results from our study support the idea that migratory behaviors of striped bass hamper the use of accumulated congener-specific PCB patterns in providing information on localized contamination, although major regional differences were seen between upriver Hudson River fish, downriver Hudson River fish and fish from other areas within this study. This study provides additional evidence for the use of the American eel as a biomonitoring tool, since its limited home range provides finer resolution of regional contamination.

Organochlorine Contamination in Selected Estuarine and Coastal Marine Finfish and Shellfish of New Jersey

Analysis of PCB, DDT, and chlordane contamination in selected finfish and shellfish species from estuarine and coastal marine waters of New Jersey (U.S.A.) indicates consistently highest organochlorine contaminant levels in samples from the north and northeast regions of the state in proximity to industrialized sites. Gas chromatographic analysis of tissue samples from three finfish species (bluefish, Pomatomus saltatrix; striped bass, Morone saxatilis; weakfish, Cynoscion regalis) and one shellfish species (blue crab, Callinectes sapidus) collected throughout the state during the 1986–1987 and 1988–1991 sampling periods revealed mean PCB, DDT, and chlordane concentrations ranging from 200–5, 380 µg g-1 wet weight, 25.14–492.52 µg kg-1 wet weight, and 5–106.44 µg kg-1 wet weight, respectively. A major conclusion of this study is that some commercially and recreationally important finfish and shellfish species in New Jersey waters, especially those which are lipid-rich, have continued to accumulate PCBs, DDTs and chlordane from the environment long after restrictive regulations were first placed on their use in the United States during the 1970s. The greatest impact of organochlorine contamination is nearby urban centers, most notably Newark and New York City.

Consumption patterns and risk assessment of crab consumers from the Newark Bay Complex, New Jersey, USA

The Newark Bay Complex (NBC) is a significant historical repository of polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and dioxin-like compounds. Detection of high levels of 2,3,7,8 tetrachloro-dibenzodioxins (TCDD) and its toxicological equivalents in blue crabs in the early 1990s led to a ban on the taking and distribution of crabs from the NBC. Despite this ban and ongoing communication outreach, surveys of crabbers in 1995, 2002 and 2005 by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) showed that crabbing for recreational purposes and for significant dietary supplementation was continuing. At the time they were surveyed, the crabbers had been consuming these crabs for an average of 37% of their lives. Thus, exposure can be considered chronic. The surveys provided data on the duration, frequency and amount of NBC crab consumption. In 2004, the NJDEP sampled blue crabs in the NBC and analyzed the edible portions for 2,3,7,8 TCDD toxicity equivalent (TEQ) concentration. We have combined the survey-based exposure data and the 2,3,7,8 TCDD TEQ concentration data to produce an estimate of the lifetime cancer risk to NBC crabbers from dioxin-like compounds. We employed a point-estimate approach using discrete lower, central tendency and reasonable maximum exposure (RME) estimates of exposure factors and a probabilistic approach to exposure factors. Both approaches show central tendency lifetime cancer risk of greater than one-in-a-thousand (10(-3)) and an upper percentile/RME risk of approximately one-in-a-hundred (10(-2)). Little extrapolation is involved in applying the 2,3,7,8-TCDD TEQ concentration data in crabs to risk estimates in the population consuming those crabs. The ongoing and frequent nature of the crab collection minimizes the uncertainty often inherent in food recall surveys. These estimates point to the continued risk posed to NBC crab consumers and to the continuing importance of this resource which, with proper remediation, could provide ongoing benefit to the surrounding community.

Routine monitoring of toxics in fish-year 4 - Atlantic Coastal Inland Region: Office of Science research project summary

The Routine Monitoring for Toxics in Fish Program is a 5-year, geographically based rotating program to generate data on chemical contaminants in fish for the issuance, update and revision of fish consumption advisories. The monitoring program design is built upon fish contaminant research conducted by NJDEP since the early 1980’s. In order to investigate regional patterns in fish contamination the program includes rotating sample collections among geographic regions within the state. In addition to analyze fish contaminant temporal trends and to identify unknown hotspots, re-sampling selected waterbodies and sampling “new” (not previously sampled) locations was part of the sampling regime. This Year 4 study provides the results for the Atlantic Coastal Inland Region. The study design incorporated a variety of considerations, including sampling species that are important to recreational fishing, targeting fish species of specific trophic position that are known to bioaccumulate mercury and/or organic chemical contaminants, consider the target species body lipid content (important in organic contaminants), as well as species longevity and/or lifestyle proximity to bottom sediments. The data generated through this study are useful in developing credible consumption risk assessments, since they include the size ranges and species that are generally targeted by recreational anglers and can be used in an evaluation of contaminant trends in this region and comparable throughout the state. The results show that mercury in fish concentrations varied among species, but typically increased with fish size and are usually higher in predatory fish, such as chain pickerel and largemouth bass. Mercury levels in chain pickerel were highest in waters with pH less than 7, and for largemouth bass in lakes with pH between 5 and 6. The highest mercury concentrations were observed at drainage sites within and marginal to the Pine Barrens. As observed in this and previous studies lower pH waterbodies typically reflect conditions promoting high mercury bioavailability through methylation, and sources of mercury in the environment are both natural and anthropogenic. PCB levels in the fish sampled, however, showed a different contamination pattern with only relatively low to moderate PCB concentrations identified from these same locations. In general, PCBs and OCPs were typically higher in samples of American eel than other fish species examined. DDXs showed high variability within all sites of the study area, with some of the lowest and highest average concentrations observed when compared to previously studied regions. The variations in these xenobiotics (PCBs, OCPs, DDX) may highlight the differing contaminant sources and geo-chemistry of these contaminants, and may also reflect legacy industrial practices of production, disposal and/or use. Although these xenobiotic concentrations were variable among sites, the highest average concentrations were seen in fish from Deal Lake (PCBs and chlordanes), North Branch Metedeconk River (DDXs and chlordanes), Maurice River (PCBs), and several other smaller lakes (DDXs). Although there are large differences in contaminant concentrations in samples within regions, a comparison of fish tissue chemical data among sites from the previous studies on the Passaic and Raritan Regions, and this study show some regional contaminant differences. In general concentrations of mercury were higher in the Atlantic Coastal Region while PCBs were higher in the Raritan Region. Where comparisons between 1992 and 2007datasets for this study were possible, there was no clear trend in contaminant concentrations at previously sampled locations. When comparing these data to available health criteria, with the exception of mercury, few of the samples analyzed exceeded the USFDA action levels for advisories on commercial fish. However, the NJDEP/DHSS use USEPA supported risk-based health criteria, in establishing consumption advisories for recreationally caught fish. These criteria are typically lower than FDA thresholds for mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and OCPs. The majority of the fish samples tested in this study exceeded the various individual NJDEP/DHSS/USEPA contaminant risk-based thresholds and several samples examined exceeded thresholds for multiple contaminants. The data from this study were used by NJDEP/DHSS to develop the most recent fish consumption advisories for a variety of recreationally caught fish in New Jersey.