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An Integrated Assessment of Sediment Remediation in a Midwestern U.S. Stream Using Sediment Chemistry, Water Quality, Bioassessment and Fish Biomarkers
Citation:
Meier, J., S. Snyder, V. Sigler, D. Altfater, M. Gray, B. Batin, P. Baumann, D. Gordon, P. Wernsing, AND Jim Lazorchak. An Integrated Assessment of Sediment Remediation in a Midwestern U.S. Stream Using Sediment Chemistry, Water Quality, Bioassessment and Fish Biomarkers. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, 32(3):653-661, (2013).
Impact/Purpose:
Impact/Purpose Statement: This paper describes a site assessment that was conducted by Ohio EPA in collaboration with the National Exposure Research Lab of U.S. EPA. The specific objectives of the study were: (1) document ongoing exposure of select fish species to sediment contaminants; (2) establish biological conditions by evaluating fish and macroinvertebrate communities; (3) evaluate surficial sediment and surface water chemical quality at stations in the Little Scioto River and at several tributary locations; and (4) determine the aquatic life use attainment status of the Little Scioto River with regard to the Modified Warmwater Habitat (MWH) or Warmwater Habitat (WWH) aquatic life use designations codified in the Ohio Water Quality Standards. The results of the site assessment supported the recommendation by Governor Ted Strickland of Ohio to U.S. EPA Region 5 to include the Little Scioto River study site on the NPL (Superfund listing) for further clean-up action. NPL listing subsequently occurred in September 2009.
Description:
A comprehensive biological, sediment and water quality study of the lower Little Scioto River near Marion, Ohio, USA was undertaken in July 2007 to evaluate the effectiveness of removal of creosote-contaminated sediment. The study area covered 7.5 river miles (RMs) of the river, including a remediated section between RMs 6.0 and 6.8. Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish biomarkers (i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon [PAH] metabolite levels in white sucker [Castostomus commersoni] and common carp [Cyprinus carpio] bile and deoxyribonucleic acid [DNA] damage), sediment chemistry, and water quality were assessed at five locations relative to the primary source of historical PAH contamination upstream (RM 9.2), adjacent (RM 6.5), and downstream (RMs 5.7, 4.4, and 2.1). Overall, the biomarker results were consistent with the sediment PAH results, showing a pattern of low levels of PAH bile metabolites and DNA damage at the upstream (reference/background location), as well as the remediated section; high levels at the two immediate downstream sites; and somewhat lower levels at the furthest downstream site sampled. Results show that remediation was effective in reducing sediment contaminant concentrations and exposure of fish to PAHs and in improving fish assemblages (60% increase in IBI scores) in remediated river sections, but additional remediation is needed to improve the downstream benthic fish community which is still heavily exposed to PAH contaminants.
