Workgroup Updates

Focus for 2007 Defining the important questions Outlining a five-year strategy (and budget)

Outline for today Update on 2007 activities Present specific questions Proposed 2008 activities

Workgroup UpdatesExposure and Effects

RMP Objective #4 Measure pollution exposure and effects on

selected parts of the Estuary ecosystem (including humans)

Measuring potential impact to: Humans Birds Benthos Fish Food webs

Exposure and EffectsRisks to Birds - Hg

USGS Avian Studies 2007Hg in eggs

Extra High

Egg

[T

Hg]

(µ

g/g

dw

)

5

6

7

8

9

10

Random Failed to Hatch

Abandoned

Moderate

High

Risk Factor

Egg Fate

Forster’s Terns (P<0.05)

USGS Avian Studies 2007Chick Survival

0.1

1.0

10.0

100.0

Avocet Stilt

Chi

ck d

own

feat

her

[TH

g] (

µg

g-1 fw

)

Live chicksDead chicks

Newly Hatched

1. Egg drilling 2. Albuminmicrosampling

3. Egg sealing 4. Egg replacementand monitoring

USGS Avian Studies 2007Measuring egg albumin

Exposure and Effects Birds

Exposure and EffectsBirds

Specific questions for next five years:1. Is there clear evidence of pollutant effects

on survival, reproduction, or growth of individual birds?

2. Are pollutants in the Bay adversely affecting bird populations?

3. Do spatial patterns in accumulation indicate particular regions of concern?

Exposure and EffectsBirds

Five-year plan:Q1 & Q2 (contaminant effects) addressed

through USGS studies2008: Funding a study of Hg/Se effects on

reproductive success, egg hatchability, and chick survival

Q3 (Spatial patterns) Are pollutants in the Bay adversely affecting bird populations?

2008: S&T triennial bird egg monitoring

Exposure and EffectsBenthos

• Observe sediment toxicity • Cause is not well understood

• 2007 Causes of toxicity study:

• 4 sites (Pt Pinole, Mission Creek, San Leandro Bay, and Oakland Inner Harbor)• Sediment tox. tests – TIEs on toxic sites (survival < 50%)• Will continue in 2008 (carryover)

Exposure and EffectsBenthos

Specific questions next five years:1. What are the spatial and temporal impacts of

sediment contamination on benthic biota

2. Which pollutants are responsible for observed impacts on benthic biota?

3. Are the toxicity tests, benthic community assessment approaches and the overall SQO framework we are using reliable indicators of impacts on benthic biota?

Exposure and EffectsBenthos

Plan for next five years:• Q1 (spatial/temporal trends) addressed

thru by incorporating benthos into S&T• Begin 2008

• Q2 (pollutants causing impacts) addressed thru causes of sed. tox.• Biennial – 2009, 2011,

• Q3 (understanding sed. assessments) addressed thru data integration.• Coordinate workshops in 2008

Exposure and EffectsFish

2007: Update on CSU-LB studies• Looking at endocrine disruption:

• Thyroid hormones• Stress hormones• Impairment of growth & increase in

parasites

• Correlating to contaminants (PCBs, PAHs, pesticides)

0

20

40

60

80

100

San PabloBay

Berkeley Waterfront

RedwoodCity

Oakland Inner Harbor

Tomales Bay

(8) (13) (17) (12) (5)

Pla

sma T

hyro

xin

e

Pla

sma T

hyro

xin

e

(T4

) (T

4)

Conce

ntr

ati

on,

Conce

ntr

ati

on,

ng/m

lng/m

l

Pacific Pacific StaghoStaghorn rn SculpiSculpinn

Thryoxine (T4) Levels in Pacific Thryoxine (T4) Levels in Pacific Staghorn SculpinStaghorn Sculpin

0

400

800

1200

Redwood City

Oakland Inner

Harbor

Berkeley Waterfro

nt

San Pablo Bay

17 16 13 19

Pacific Staghorn SculpinPacific Staghorn Sculpin

Pla

sma C

ort

isol

Conce

ntr

ati

on (

ng/m

l) aa aa

bb

cc

Stress ResponseStress Response

Exposure and EffectsFish

Specific questions next five years:1. Are pollutants, individually or in combination,

reducing the reproductive ability, growth and health of sensitive fish populations?

2. What are appropriate thresholds of concern for contaminant concentrations for Bay species?

3. What are cost-effective indicators for monitoring effects of contaminants on fish populations?

Exposure and EffectsFish

Five-year plan:• Q1(effect of pollutants) & Q2 (appropriate

thresholds) addressed thru• 2008/2009 NOAA study of PAH effects on

early life stages

• Q1 & Q3 (indicators) addressed thru• S&T triennial sportfish monitoring

• PS/SS EDC study

Workgroup UpdatesEmerging Contaminants

RMP Objective #1Describe spatial patterns and long-term

trends of pollutant concentrations in the Estuary

Focus to date has been identifying a strategy for ECs

Workgroup UpdatesEmerging Contaminants

Strategy Target chemicals: widely used,

bioaccumulative, persistent, toxic, methods available, concern for Bay, and panel recommendation

High priority:Alternatives to PBDEsPerfluorinated

Pilot Study of Apex Predators

• Collaborating with Marine Mammal Center – Chemical analysis of 21 harbor seals– Part of larger study

PFOS in SF Bay Sealsand Elsewhere

0

50

100

150

200

250

300

350

Baltic Sea(n=18)

Baltic Sea(n=26)

Can. Artic(n=12)

NorwegianArtic (n=18)

SF Bay(n=14)

SF Ref.(n=7)

Location

PF

OS

co

nc

in p

las

ma

(n

g/L

)

Workgroup UpdatesEmerging Contaminants

2008Study examining alternatives to PBDEsContinuation of PFOS in harbor sealsBudget $75,000/yr