NorCal SETAC 2001

Seafood Contamination and Consumption

CA overviewCA overview

Mercury and gold miningMercury and gold mining

AgricultureAgriculture

Persistent Contaminants of Human Health Concern in Sport Fish from the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay

COLLABORATORS

J.A. Davis and B.K. GreenfieldSan Francisco Estuary Institute

C. Roberts, R. Fairey, G. Ichikawa, and M. StephensonMoss Landing Marine Laboratory

D. CraneDFG Water Pollution Control Laboratory

Consumption Advisories

Interim Sport Fish Advisory for the Bay and Delta

» Issued by OEHHA in 1994 and still in effect. Concern over human exposure to residues of methylmercury, PCBs, dioxins, and organochlorine pesticides. Developmental toxicants and carcinogens.

» At most 2 meals per month of Bay sport fish, and sturgeon and striped bass caught in the Delta.

» More restrictive for pregnant women and children under 6: at most one meal per month.

» A regulatory trigger Advisories also exist or are in

development for several Coast Range and Sierra foothill water bodies

Advisory for the Sacramento River watershed is under consideration

Regional Monitoring Program

Seven popular Bay species: striped bass, halibut, leopard shark, white croaker, shiner surfperch, jacksmelt, white sturgeon

Seven popular fishing locations throughout the Bay

Mercury, PCBs, dioxins, and organochlorine pesticides

Most recent results from 1997, also data from1994

Most recent sampling in 2000 Report on 1997 sampling available:

www.sfei.org

Delta Fish Study

Funded by Deltakeeper and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

One time study in 1998 Two popular species: largemouth bass

and white catfish 18 fishing locations, including locations

on the San Joaquin River Mercury, selenium, arsenic, PCBs, and

organochlorine pesticides Report available: www.sfei.org

CALFED Mercury Project

Sport fish sampling funded by CALFED and the Central Valley Regional Water Quality Control Board

Two year study in 1999 and 2000 Primary focus on largemouth bass,

white catfish, and striped bass, also looking at other species

32 locations, including locations on the San Joaquin River

Mercury only Data not yet available

Sacramento River Watershed Program

Sampling began in 1997 and is continuing

Main focus on largemouth bass and white catfish

13 fishing locations from Redding to northern Delta

Mercury, PCBs, and organochlorine pesticides

1997 and 1998 data available SRWP 1998-1999 Annual

Monitoring Report available at www.sacriver.org

Objectives of these studies

To determine whether persistent toxic chemicals occur in fish that are being used as human food at concentrations of potential human health concern

To track long-term trends and evaluate the effectiveness of management efforts

Screening values

Calculated following USEPA guidance

Concentrations above screening values are considered to be a “potential human health concern” and indicate the need for more detailed study

MERCURYConsistent size classesEach point is a composite or average of mulitiple individuals(except for striped bass)

Mercury (ug/g wet)

0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1.0 1.2 1.4

Halibut 97Jacksmelt 97

Leop Shark 94Leop Shark 97

Sh Surfperch 94Sh Surfperch 97

Striper 94 CStriper 97 CStriper 97 I

Sturgeon 94Sturgeon 97

Wh Croaker 94Wh Croaker 97

Wh Catfish 98Wh Catfish 99Wh Catfish 00

Lm Bass 98Lm Bass 99Lm Bass 00

Striper 99

Lm Bass 98Lm Bass 99Lm Bass 00

Wh Catfish 97Wh Catfish 99Wh Catfish 00

R Trout 97R Trout 00

Lm Bass 98Lm Bass 99Lm Bass 00Pikeminn 98Pikeminn 99Pikeminn 00

Striper 99Striper 00

Sac Riv Watershed

SJ Riv Watershed

Delta

San Francisco Bay

PCBs (ng/g wet)

1 10 100 1000

Halibut 97# Halibut 00

Jacksmelt 97# Jacksmelt 00Leop Shark 94Leop Shark 97

# Leop Shark 00Shiner 94Shiner 97

# Shiner 00Striper 94Striper 97

# Striper 00Sturgeon 97

# Sturgeon 00Croaker 94Croaker 97

# Croaker 00

Wh Catfish 98Lm Bass 98

Lm Bass 98

Wh Catfish 97# Wh Catfish 99

R Trout 97Lm Bass 98

# Lm Bass 99Pikeminn 98

Sac River Watershed

SJ River Watershed

Delta

San Francisco Bay

PCBS

DDTs (ng/g wet)

0 100 200 300 400 500 600 700

Halibut 97# Halibut 00

Jacksmelt 97# Jacksmelt 00Leop Shark 94Leop Shark 97

# Leop Shark 00Shiner 94Shiner 97

# Shiner 00Striper 94Striper 97

# Striper 00Sturgeon 97

# Sturgeon 00Croaker 94Croaker 97

# Croaker 00

Wh Catfish 98Lm Bass 98

Lm Bass 98

Wh Catfish 97# Wh Catfish 99

R Trout 97Lm Bass 98

# Lm Bass 99Pikeminn 98

Carp 98

Sac River Watershed

SJ River Watershed

Delta

San Francisco Bay

DDTs