Morris H. Roberts

Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment

Overview of Ecological Risk Assessment in Coastal and Estuarine Environments, M.H. Roberts, Jr., M.C. Newman, and R.C. Hale Introduction Application of Risk Assessment in Estuaries Forum Organization European Approaches to Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment, M. Crane, N. Sorokin, J. Wheeler, A. Grosso, P. Whitehouse, and D. Morrit Introduction Legislative Procedure in the European Union Principles of Chemical Risk Assessment in the EU Retrospective Risk Assessments Conclusions Acknowledgments Emerging Contaminants of Concern in Coastal and Estuarine Environments, R.C. Hale and M.J. La Guardia Introduction Brominated Fire Retardants Polychlorinated Biphenyls Natural and Synthetic Estrogens Alkylphenol Polyethoxylates and Related Degradation Products Other Pharmaceuticals Non-Pharmaceutical Anti-Microbial Agents Personal Care Products Interactions of Multiple Stressors Conclusions Acknowledgements Enhancing Belief during Causality Assessments: Cognitive Idols or Bayess Theorem? M.C. Newman and D.A. Evans Difficulty in Identifying Causality Bacon=s Idols of the Tribe Idols of the Theater and Certainty Assessing Causality in the Presence of Cognitive and Social Biases Bayesian Methods Can Enhance Belief or Disbelief A More Detailed Exploration of Bayes=s Approach Two Applications of the Bayesian Method Conclusion Acknowledgments Bioavailability, Biotransformation and Fate of Organic Contaminants in Estuarine Animals, R.F. Lee Introduction Bioavailability Uptake Fate of Xenobiotics after Uptake by Estuarine Animals Elimination Summary The Bioaccumulation of Mercury, Methylmercury and Other Toxic Elements into Pelagic and Benthic Organisms, R.P. Mason Introduction Bioaccumulation in Pelagic Food Webs Bioaccumulation in Benthis Organisms Membrane Transport Processes Summary Acknowledgments Dietary Metals Exposure and Toxicity to Aquatic Organisms: Implications for Ecological Risk Assessment, C.E. Schlekat, B.-G. Lee, and S.N. Luoma Introduction Current Status of Regulatory Approaches for Metals in Aquatic Systems Processes Affecting Dietary Metal Exposure The Relative Importance of Dietary vs. Dissolved Metal Uptake for Bioaccumulation and Toxicity Toxicological Significace of Dietary Metals Exposure Conclusions/Recommendations Endocrine Disruption in Fishes and Invertebrates: Issues for Saltwater Ecological Risk Assessment, K. Leung, J. Wheeler, D. Morritt, and M. Crane Introduction Effects of Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals on Saltwater Fishes and Invertebrates Developing a Coherent and Cost-Effective Risk Assessment Strategy for Saltwater Endocrine Disrupters Conclusions The Use of Toxicity Reference Values (TRVs) to Assess the Risks Persistent Organochlorines Pose to Marine Mammals, P.D. Jones, K. Kannan, A.L. Blankenship, and J.P. Giesy Overview Introduction Problem Formulation Exposure Assessment Effects Assessment Risk Characterization Conclusions Acknowledgments Effects of Chronic Stress on Wildlife Populations: A Population Modeling Approach and Case Study, D.E. Nacci, T.R. Gleason, R. Gutjahr-Gobell, M. Huber, and W.R. Munns, Jr Introduction Population Matrix Modeling Approach A Stressor of Ecotoxicological Concern A Case Study A Population Modeling Approach and Case Study: Conclusions Acknowledgments References Structuring Population-Based Ecological Risk Assessments in a Dynamic Landscape, C.E. Mackay, J.A. Colton, and G. Bigham Introduction Ecological Risk Assessment Model Population-Based Risk Characterization Discussion Incremental Chemical Risks and Damages in Urban Estuaries: Spatial and Historical Ecosystem Analysis, D.F. Ludwig and T.J. Iannuzzi Introduction Risk and Damage Assessment: Foundations for Urban Ecosystems Conclusions Epilogue - Ecological Risk Assessment in Coastal and Estuarine Environments, M.C. Newman, R.C. Hale, and M.H. Roberts, Jr. Introduction Chapter Contributions to Coastal and Estuarine Risk Assessment Conclusion

Effects of contaminated sediments and sediment-exposed effluent water on an estuarine fish: Acute toxicity

Abstract The Elizabeth River is Virginias most heavily populated, industrialized and contaminated subestuary. Its sediments contain the residues of wastes discharged for several hundred years. To examine some of the effects of sediment from a particularly noxious location, we chose the spot (Leiostomus xanthurus), a bottom-feeding sciaenid and naturally occurring spring-summer migrant of the river whose juveniles adapt readily to laboratory conditions. Spot from the Ware River, a nearby uncontaminated reference subestuary, were placed in two 380 liter (100 USgal), flow-through tanks (70 each). One tank contained Elizabeth River sediments contaminated with PAHs. The second tank contained uncontaminated sediment from the York River as a control. 13 spot each were placed in two aquaria that received the overflow from the sediment-containing tanks. Animals from the reference estuary were examined and processed to provide baseline information. Results obtained to date show the following: (1) spot experimentally exposed to contaminated sediment developed penetrating integumental lesions within 8 days after exposure began and later severe fin and gill erosion; (2) their hematocrits were significantly reduced and no weight gain occurred; (3) pancreatic and liver alterations were observed in some of the chemically stressed fish; (4) control fish exhibited no fin erosion or integumental lesions; (5) control fish showed no hematocrit or growth reduction; and (6) dead fish were first observed in the contaminated-sediment tank after 8 days while no control fish died. Clearly, one or more factors associated with Elizabeth River sediments and/or water closely associated with those sediments (probably the heavy concentrations of PAHs) are capable of causing serious injury, disease and death in experimental spot populations.

Temporal changes in AHH and SOD activities in feral spot from the Elizabeth River, a polluted sub-estuary

Abstract Aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were measured in young-of-the-year feral fish collected between June and October 1985 from three stations in the highly polluted Elizabeth River and from one reference station in the relatively unpolluted Ware River. AHH activity increased to a peak in July and September, and then declined in October whereas SOD activity increased throughout the study period. Both AHH and SOD activities were higher in fish from the Elizabeth River stations than those from the Ware River. Fish condition factor was measured for all fishes. These values were lower than the values found in the literature for a site located in South Carolina, but did not differ among the four stations sampled in the present study.

The effect of salinity on cadmium toxicity to the estuarine mysid mysidopsis bahia role of chemical speciation

Abstract The effect of salinity on the toxicity of cadmium to the bay mysid, Mysidopsis bahia Molenock, was studied. When toxicity was expressed in terms of free cadmium ion (Cd2+) rather than total cadmium (CdT), CdCl+ or CdCl2 only a slight salinity effect was apparent, suggesting that Cd2+ is the primary toxic species. Mysids were more tolerant of Cd2+ at an intermediate salinity of 22‰ and less tolerant at low and high salinity extremes (6 and 38‰). Alteration of cadmium speciation by use of an artificial ligand, nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA), over a range of salinities (14–34‰) produced conflicting results. Toxicity of Cd2+ was independent of CdT concentration at a given salinity but increased with increasing salinity and/or NTA concentration and was determined to be the result of salinity—Cd2+ and NTA-Cd2+ interactions. Possible mechanisms of the salinity effect and NTA interaction with cadmium toxicity are discussed.

Functional morphology of mouth parts of the hermit crabs,Pagurus longicarpus andPagurus pollicaris

The detailed external morphology of the mouth parts ofPagurus longicarpus Say andP. pollicaris Say is described and correlated with the function of these structures in feeding and cleaning activities. It is suggested that the number of setae in a given location is important to feeding while setal structure is significant for cleaning. Two methods of feeding are described: 1) feeding on fine material in the substrate, and 2) feeding on large morsels of dead organism.

Toxicity of sediments contaminated with fractions of creosote

Creosote, a mixture of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), typically becomes depleted of low molecular weight compounds once in the environment. Previous studies indicated that PAH toxicity increased with increasing molecular weight up to phenanthrene; heavier compounds were less toxic than phenanthrene, possibly due to their limited solubility. A high molecular weight fraction (HMWF) of creosote, with a composition similar to environmentally weathered creosote, and a low molecular weight fraction (LMWF) were obtained by distillation. Fish were exposed to suspended sediments contaminated with each fraction for 10 days. Samples of fish were removed on days 2, 4, 7 and 10, observed for gross pathological abnormalities, weighed, measured, and the livers analyzed for ethoxyresorufin O-de-ethylase (EROD) activity. Mortality, epidermal lesions, fin erosion, and temporary induction of EROD activity occurred in fish exposed to the HMWF. No mortality, fin erosion, or induction of EROD activity occurred in fish exposed to the LMWF or uncontaminated sediment. Fish exposed to the LMWF did develop lesions, but only in the area surrounding the mouth, nares, and opercula. These results suggest that the environmental toxicity of creosote is due to the high molecular weight compounds.

The effect of salinity on cadmium toxicity in the estuarine mysid Mysidopsis bahia: roles of osmoregulation and calcium☆

Abstract Calcium exerted a sparing effect on Cd2+ toxicity in the bay mysid, Mysidopsis bahia, although the effect was not as pronounced as effects that were due to Cd2+-salinity interactions. Molt rate, expressed as number of exuviae recovered per mysid day, was significantly increased by Cd2+-salinity interaction. Partial correlations of the number of dead mysids with the number of molt casts recovered, when adjusted for the independent effect of salinity on molt rate, were significant for most periods, suggesting that the observed increase in apparent molt rate may actually reflect enhanced sensitivity of post-molt animals to Cd2+. A slight, but statistically insignificant change in serum osmolality was observed after 24 h exposure to 3·62 μg/liter Cd2+ at the low test salinity of 12‰ in the first osmoregulation experiment. No effects on hemolymph osmoregulation were observed in the second experiment following exposure up to 48 h to similar Cd2+ levels at 12–30‰ salinity.

Osmoregulation in the estuarine mysid, Mysidopsis bahia Molenock: comparison with other mysid species

1. 1. The estuarine mysid, Mysidopsis bahia Molenock hypo- and hyper-osmoregulates at salinities from 5 to 37%. and exhibits an isosmotic point of 24%. 2. 2. Hemolymph osmolality attained steady-state condition by 95 min post-transfer to high (32%.) and low (6%.) salinity water. Transfer from 25%. to the high salinity medium resulted in an initial overshoot in hemolymph concentration followed by rapid recovery. Transfer from 25%. to the lower salinity did not result in an undershoot. 3. 3. The osmoregulatory capacity of M. bahia is similar to that reported for other estuarine mysids, all of which differ from both freshwater and polystenohaline species.

The effect of acclimation on salinity tolerance of the mysid, Mysidopsis bahia Molenock☆

1. 1. Upper and lower tolerance limits increased from 32.1 to 43.7%o and 4.9 to 9. l%o, respectively, as a function of increasing acclimation salinity. 2. 2. Mysids acclimated to high salinities tolerated a wider range of salinities than did those acclimated to low salinities. 3. 3. The tolerance range of this species in the laboratory is greater than suggested from field collection data. 4. 4. M. bahia is a euryhaline species and its use as a standard estuarine bioassay organism is therefore justified.

Hepatic EROD activity in spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, exposed to creosote-contaminated sediments☆

Abstract Hepatic microsomal ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase (EROD) activity was measured in spot, Leiostomus xanthurus, exposed in a laboratory flowthrough system to sediments contaminated with coal-tar creosote for 14 days. Mean total resolvable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations tested were 16, 35, 76, 150, and 320 μg/liter. Fish at all test concentrations refused food; control fish fed normally. Severe fin erosion, epidermal lesions, and mortality were observed in fish exposed to 76, 150, and 320 μg/liter. EROD activity was dependent on creosote concentration and time of exposure. Median EROD activity in control fish was 62 pmol/min/mg protein (N = 28). EROD activity in fish exposed to 35, 76, 150, and 320 μg/liter increased during the first 2 days of exposure and then declined. Maximal induction was almost 30-fold at 150 μg/liter. By day 7, EROD activity was not significantly different than that on day 0.