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Evaluation of a Florida coastal golf complex as a local and watershed source of bioavailable contaminants
Citation:
Lewis, M A., R L. Quarles, D D. Dantin, AND J C. Moore. Evaluation of a Florida coastal golf complex as a local and watershed source of bioavailable contaminants. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 48(3-4):254-262, (2004).
Impact/Purpose:
As part of this study, contaminant residues were determined for several biota inhabiting adjacent areas which received golf course runoff. This report summarizes these results and provides some insight on the relative environmental magnitude of the data.
Description:
Lewis, Michael A., Robert L. Quarles, Darrin D. Dantin and James C. Moore. 2004. Evaluation of a Coastal Golf Complex as a Local and Watershed Source of Bioavailable Contaminants. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 48(3-4):254-262. (ERL,GB 1183).
Contaminant fate in coastal areas impacted by golf course runoff is not well understood. This report summarizes trace metal, pesticide and PCB residues for periphyton, Ruppia maritima (widgeongrass), Callinectes sapidus Rathbun (blue crabs) and Crassostrea virginica Gemlin (Eastern oyster) collected from areas adjacent to a Florida golf course complex which receive runoff containing reclaimed municipal wastewater. Concentrations of 19 chlorinated pesticides and 18 PCB congeners were usually below detection in the biota. In contrast, trace metals were commonly detected although concentrations were not usually significantly different for biota collected from reference and non-reference coastal areas. Residue concentrations in decreasing order were typically: zinc, arsenic, copper, chromium, lead, nickel, cadmium and mercury. Mean BCF values for the eight trace metals ranged between 160-57000 (periphyton), 79-11033 (R. maritima), 87-162625 (C. virginica) and 12-9800 (C. sapidus). Most trace metal residues in periphyton colonized adjacent to the golf complex, were either similar to or significantly less than those reported for periphyton colonized in nearby coastal areas impacted by urban stormwater runoff and treated municipal and industrial wastewater discharges. Consequently, the recreational complex does not appear to be a major source of bioavailable contaminants locally nor in the immediate watershed based on results for the selected biota.