Post on 17-Apr-2020
Why Monitor for Mercury?Why Monitor for Mercury?An Overview of Bioaccumulation,An Overview of Bioaccumulation,Concentrations, Fish AdvisoriesConcentrations, Fish Advisories
and Criteria in NJand Criteria in NJ
Gary A. Buchanan, Ph.D.Gary A. Buchanan, Ph.D.NJDEPNJDEP
Division of Science, Research &Division of Science, Research &TechnologyTechnology
Mercury - PBTMercury - PBT
PersistentPersistent
BioaccumulativeBioaccumulative
ToxicToxic
Inorganic Hg Inorganic Hg ⇒⇒ MethylmercuryMethylmercury
Food Chain BiomagnificationFood Chain Biomagnification
BioaccumulationBioaccumulationAccumulation from food, waterAccumulation from food, waterBioaccumulation Factors (Bioaccumulation Factors (BAFsBAFs):):–– Total Hg Total Hg (EPA, 1995)(EPA, 1995)
TL 3 - 27,900 L/KgTL 3 - 27,900 L/KgTL 4 - 140,000TL 4 - 140,000 L/KgL/Kg
–– Methyl Hg Methyl Hg (EPA, 1997)(EPA, 1997)
TL 3 - 1.6 x 10 TL 3 - 1.6 x 10 6 6 L/KgL/KgTL 4 - 6.8 x 10 TL 4 - 6.8 x 10 6 6 L/KgL/Kg
BiomagnificationBiomagnification(Illustrative Example)(Illustrative Example)
Trophic Level Concentration of MercuryWater 1 ng/L = 1 pptBacteria andphytoplankton
10 pg/g of water
Protozoan/zooplankton 100 pg/g
Insect larvae 1 ng/g = 1 ppbFish fry 10 ng/gMinnows 100 ng/gMedium-sized fish 1 µg/g = 1 ppmLarge predators (fish,birds, humans)
10 µg/g
Acute Toxicity Acute Toxicity (EPA)(EPA)
SSppeecciieessTToottaall HHgg
LLCC5500ss ((µµgg//LL))MMeetthhyyll HHgg
LLCC5500ss ((µµgg//LL))FFrreesshhwwaatteerrOOrrggaanniissmmss 22..22 ttoo 22,,000000 11..22 ttoo 335500
RRaaiinnbboowwTTrroouutt 115555 2244
SSaallttwwaatteerrOOrrggaanniissmmss
33..55 ttoo 11,,770000 55 ttoo 22,,449900
SSttrriippeedd BBaassss 9900 --KKiilllliiffiisshh -- 55..33 ((1100 dd))
Chronic Toxicity Chronic Toxicity (EPA)(EPA)
SSppeecciieessTToottaall HHgg
EECC5500ss ((µµgg//LL))MMeetthhyyll HHgg
EECC5500ss ((µµgg//LL))RRaaiinnbbooww TTrroouutt((6644 dd))
-- 00..0044((ggrroowwtthh))
CChhiirroonnoommuuss((4488 hhrr))
2299 --
CCooppeeppoodd -- 00..11 -- 11SSeeaa UUrrcchhiinn((4488 hhrr))
77..88 --
Effects based on Body BurdenEffects based on Body Burden((Jarvinen Jarvinen & & AnkleyAnkley, 1999), 1999)
Brook Trout: 5 - 7 µg/gBrook Trout: 5 - 7 µg/g–– Mortality, Mortality, ⇓⇓ growth growth, deformities, deformities
Walleye: Walleye: 1.7 - 3.1 µg/g1.7 - 3.1 µg/g–– Reduced weight, length and GSIReduced weight, length and GSI
Fathead Minnow:Fathead Minnow:–– 1.3 µg/g = Reduced wt and length1.3 µg/g = Reduced wt and length–– 4.5 µg/g = No spawning4.5 µg/g = No spawning
WildlifeWildlife
Top of the Food Chain - greatestTop of the Food Chain - greatestexposure = Piscivorous avian andexposure = Piscivorous avian andmammalian speciesmammalian speciesNeurotoxicityNeurotoxicityTeratogenTeratogen, , mutagenmutagenEmbryocidalEmbryocidal, , CytochemicalCytochemical & &Histopathological effects Histopathological effects ((EislerEisler, 1987), 1987)
Human EffectsHuman EffectsExposure primarily through fishExposure primarily through fishconsumptionconsumptionUnborn and Young ChildrenUnborn and Young Children–– Central Nervous SystemCentral Nervous System
Learning & Developmental DelaysLearning & Developmental Delays
Older Children and AdultsOlder Children and Adults–– Subtle neurological effectsSubtle neurological effects–– Neurological damageNeurological damage
Mercury in NJ WatersMercury in NJ Waters
Ambient Stream Monitoring Network:Ambient Stream Monitoring Network:–– Mostly Mostly NDs NDs in the 1990’sin the 1990’s–– Detection limits were above Aquatic WQCDetection limits were above Aquatic WQC
Clean TechniquesClean Techniques
Method 1631Method 1631
0.1
1
10
100
1000
10000
Mer
cury
(ng/
L)
CurrentAcute
ProposedAcute
CurrentChronic
ProposedChronic
CurrentHumanHealth
ProposedHumanHealth
WildlifeValue
245.1 DL 245.1 QL 1631 DL 1631 QL
Freshwater WQC and Analytical Limits
Current and ProposedNJ Mercury Surface Water Quality Criteria
MercuryCriterion
FreshWater:Current(µg/L)
FreshWater:
Proposed(µg/L)
Saltwater:Current(µg/L)
Saltwater:Proposed
(µg/L)AcuteAquaticLife
2.1 1.4 1.8 1.8
ChronicAquaticLife
0.012 0.770 0.025 0.940
HumanHealth
0.144 0.050 0.146 0.051
MercuryMercury in Surface Water - NJ Lake in Surface Water - NJ Lake
Date LocationTotal
Diss. Hg(ng/L)
DissolvedMethyl Hg
(ng/L)Impacted 1.59 0.062
Reference 1.32 0.066AprilBrook 56.6 0.104
Impacted 10.3 0.280
Reference 1.3 0.030AugustBrook 103 0.307
0.01
0.10
1.00
10.00
100.00
1000.00
Mer
cury
(ng/
L)
Mercury (Total) Mercury(Dissol.)
Methyl-Hg(Total)
Methyl-Hg(Dissol.)
Average Mercury in NJ's Tidal Waters
POTW (ng/L)CSO (ng/L)SWO (ng/L)Passaic River
Hackensack RiverRaritan River
Surface WaterSurface WaterWildlife CriterionWildlife Criterion
Developed by NJDEP, USFWS, EPADeveloped by NJDEP, USFWS, EPA
Used Great Lakes Water Quality InitiativeUsed Great Lakes Water Quality InitiativeConcern for Piscivorous Wildlife: BaldConcern for Piscivorous Wildlife: BaldEagle, Peregrine Falcon, OspreyEagle, Peregrine Falcon, Osprey
Accounts for PBT characteristicsAccounts for PBT characteristicsTest Dose = 0.078 mg/kg - dayTest Dose = 0.078 mg/kg - day
Wildlife CriterionWildlife Criterion
Total mercury criterion for theTotal mercury criterion for theprotection of wildlife = 0.00053 µg/Lprotection of wildlife = 0.00053 µg/L
0.530.53 ng ng/L/L
530 pg/L530 pg/L
NJ Fish ConsumptionNJ Fish ConsumptionAdvisoriesAdvisories
First NJ Hg Advisories - 1994First NJ Hg Advisories - 1994–– Largemouth Bass and Chain PickerelLargemouth Bass and Chain Pickerel–– Statewide and Pinelands AdvisoriesStatewide and Pinelands Advisories–– 28 Water Body-Specific Advisories28 Water Body-Specific Advisories
Background (Background (contcont.).)
Nationwide (EPA, 2004):Nationwide (EPA, 2004):–– 45 States have Hg Advisories (2,436)45 States have Hg Advisories (2,436)–– 39 have PCB Advisories (873)39 have PCB Advisories (873)–– 21 States have Statewide Hg Advisories for21 States have Statewide Hg Advisories for
freshwatersfreshwaters–– 12 with Coastal Hg Advisories12 with Coastal Hg Advisories
Average Hg Concentrations inAverage Hg Concentrations inFreshwater Fish in NJFreshwater Fish in NJ
Statewide:Statewide:–– 0.36 µg/g (26 Species; range ND - 8.9)0.36 µg/g (26 Species; range ND - 8.9)–– 0.35 µg/g (14 freshwater species; n>20)0.35 µg/g (14 freshwater species; n>20)
Pinelands: 0.80 µg/g (5 species)Pinelands: 0.80 µg/g (5 species)–– Range 0.05-Range 0.05-8.98.9 µg/g µg/g
Non-Pinelands: 0.23 µg/g (5 species)Non-Pinelands: 0.23 µg/g (5 species)–– Range 0.01-Range 0.01-3.93.9 µg/g µg/g
Nationwide: All Fish: 0.26 µg/gNationwide: All Fish: 0.26 µg/g
Average Mercury in Fish from Pinelands and Non-Pinelands Waters
0.00.5
1.01.5
2.0
LargemouthBass
Chain Pickerel YellowBullhead
BrownBullhead
"Sunfish"
Mer
cury
(ug/
g)
Pinelands Water Bodies Non-Pinelands Water Bodies National Average
Statewide Average Mercury Concentrations in NJ Fish
0.00
0.10
0.20
0.30
0.40
0.50
0.60
0.70
0.80
0.90
Chain pick
erel
Largemouth bassYellow Perch
Yellow bullhead
BluefishStrip
ed BassWhite
Perch
Smallmouth
bass"Sunfish
"Americ
an eelCha
nnel catfis
hWhite
Catfish
Black Crappie
Brown bullhead
BluegillCarp
Species
Hg
(ug/
g)
Geometric Mean (ppm)
Mean (ppm)95% UCL (ppm)
One Meal Per Week
Do Not Eat (High-Risk Ind.)
Statewide Mercury Advisory forStatewide Mercury Advisory forFreshwater Recreational FishFreshwater Recreational Fish
General PopulationGeneral Population–– Eat No More Than One Meal Per WeekEat No More Than One Meal Per Week
High-risk IndividualHigh-risk Individual–– Eat No More Than One Meal Per MonthEat No More Than One Meal Per Month
Conclusions:Conclusions:Mercury Monitoring is Needed!Mercury Monitoring is Needed!
BioaccumulatesBioaccumulatesFood Chain BiomagnificationFood Chain BiomagnificationConcerns with Impacts on Fish andConcerns with Impacts on Fish andWildlifeWildlifeConcerns with Human HealthConcerns with Human HealthFish AdvisoriesFish AdvisoriesControl Efforts Reducing Hg?Control Efforts Reducing Hg?
Additional InformationAdditional Information
New Jersey Fish Consumption Advisories:New Jersey Fish Consumption Advisories:–– www.FishSmartEatSmartNJ.orgwww.FishSmartEatSmartNJ.org
NJ Mercury Task Force Report:NJ Mercury Task Force Report:–– www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/mercury_task_force.www.state.nj.us/dep/dsr/mercury_task_force.htmhtm
AcknowledgementsAcknowledgementsNJDEP/DSRTNJDEP/DSRT–– B. Ruppel, A. Stern, J. B. Ruppel, A. Stern, J. PecchioliPecchioli, T., T. Belton Belton
Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia -Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia -–– R.R. Horwitz Horwitz, J. Ashley, D., J. Ashley, D. Velinsky Velinsky, P., P. Overbeck Overbeck and and
P.P. Kiry Kiry
NJDEP Division of Fish & WildlifeNJDEP Division of Fish & WildlifeNJ Toxics in Biota CommitteeNJ Toxics in Biota Committee–– NJDEPNJDEP–– NJ Department of Health & Senior ServicesNJ Department of Health & Senior Services–– NJ Department of AgricultureNJ Department of Agriculture