Publication Summary

This is the quality assurance project plan for PCBs and Other Contaminants in Spokane River Fish, 2005.

The Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) plans to assess contaminants in Spokane River fish during the summer and fall of 2005. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), and metals (arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc) will be analyzed in two or more species from six locations stretching from the Idaho border to Long Lake (Spokane River). A subset of samples will also be analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs).

This survey is to be performed to compare current conditions to that of fish tissue studies sponsored by Ecology in 1999 and 2001. The 1999 results prompted the Washington State Department of Health (WDOH) to issue a consumption advisory which is still in place for parts of the Spokane River. The present survey will provide WDOH data to update their health assessment and review the fish consumption advisory for the Spokane River. Ecology will also apply the results to examine conditions and trends within the river system.

Link to EIM data for User Study ID DSER0016