You are here:
One Health Assessment of Persistent Organic Compounds and PFAS for Consumption of Restored Anadromous Fish
Citation:
Kusnierz, D., Jim Lazorchak, L. Melnyk, J. Lin, M. Stover, G. Perlman, AND K. Pugh. One Health Assessment of Persistent Organic Compounds and PFAS for Consumption of Restored Anadromous Fish. 2020 SETAC North America Annual Meeting, Virtual, November 15 - 19, 2020.
Impact/Purpose:
Presentation will cover the results of a 2017/2018 RARE project assessing the change in migratory fish populations in the Penobscot river and what the tissue concentrations were from a human and wildlife consumption level for Mercury, Dioxin/Furans, PCBs and PFAS
Description:
USEPA, in collaboration with the Penobscot Indian Nation’s Department of Natural Resources (PINDNR) and the Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), assessed the safety of human and wildlife consumption of six species of anadromous fish: Alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus), American Shad (Alosa sapidissima fillet & roe), Blueback Herring (Alosa aestivalis), Rainbow Smelt (Osmerus mordax), Striped Bass (Morone saxatilis), and Sea Lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). In 2017 and 2018 PINDNR collected, filleted, froze, and shipped fish to ORD analytical lab in Fillets and roe were analyzed for PCBs, PBDEs, dioxins/furans, and 13 PFAS compounds . An assessment of the organic contaminant levels in these fish was compared to reference doses (where possible) as established in the US Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS) and wildlife values . The concentrations (all based on wet weight) for both years combined for PCBs ranged between 6.38 µg/kg in Shad roe – 100 µg/kg (Striped Bass). PBDEs ranged between 0.855 µg/kg (Shad Roe) – 5.54 µg/kg (Rainbow Smelt). Dioxins/furans ranged between 0.044 µg/kg (Shad Roe) – 0.22 µg/kg (Striped Bass) for all species. PFAS concentrations varied by the specific compound for each species. The range of concentrations fell between 1.18 µg/kg (PFOSA in Striped Bass) to 8.59 µg/kg (PFOS in Sea Lamprey). The wildlife value for mink for total PCBs of 72 µg/kg was exceeded in 2017 and 2018 Striped Bass; for PBDEs Kestrel wildlife value of 8.7 µg/kg, no exceedances. Maine CDC fish tissue action levels for sensitive populations for PFOS in fillets of 39.1 µg/kg was not exceeded in 2017 or 2018. , Samples of Blueback Herring and Sea Lamprey fillets in 2017 were above the NJ PFOS Human consumption value of 3.9 µg/kg . In 2018, American Shad Roe and Sea Lamprey fillets exceeded the NJ human consumption value. Fillet concentrations were converted to whole fish using an average application factor of 2.13. Using wildlife values for PFOS from Environment Canada (4.6 µg/kg for mammalian), wildlife consuming Blueback Herring, Striped Bass and Sea Lamprey from 2017 and Striped Bass and Sea Lamprey from 2018 indicated potential risks. This collaborative effort, including the exchange of sound, scientific and technical expertise, has resulted in a partnership that has enhanced our government-to government relationship with the Penobscot Nation and improved public health policies for the community directly impacted.
