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| Title | Post Point (Bellingham Bay) Sediment Sulfide and Toxicity Assessment | |||
| Month-Year Published | January 2006 | |||
| Online Availability |
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| Short Description |
Sediments near Post Point, in Bellingham Bay, were collected in October 2004 and evaluated for sulfide and ammonia concentrations. Three bioassay tests - amphipod, larval bivalve, and Microtox® - were used to evaluate the samples for toxicity. Results show a large area of sediments with elevated sulfide levels. Sulfide concentrations ranged from 862-2,620 mg/kg dry weight, and ammonia ranged from 15.8-33.0 mg ammonia as nitrogen dry weight. Of the sediment bioassays included in this study, only Microtox showed some evidence for sulfide toxicity. The bioassay results are in general agreement with those from previous testing of sediment samples collected near the Post Point sampling locations. (Also see abstract below) | |||
| Publication Number | 06-03-002 | |||
| Author(s) | Blakley, N. | |||
| Print Availability | ||||
| Number of pages | 20 + appendices (55 total) | |||
| Keywords | assessment, results, sediment, shipyard, standards, sulfide, toxic, wastewater treatment plant | |||
| Subject Waterbodies |
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| Related Publications | Title | Relationship | ||
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: Post Point, Bellingham Bay Sediment Sulfide and Toxicity Assessment | similar topic | |||
| Abstract | Long Description |
During October 2004, sediments from 11 sampling stations near Post Point, in Bellingham Bay, were collected and evaluated for sulfide and ammonia concentrations. Sediments from ten of these stations were also evaluated for compliance with Washington State Sediment Management Standards biological criteria. Elevated sulfide levels have previously been found at Post Point near the Post Point Wastewater Treatment Plant outfalls and near the Harris Avenue Shipyard. Samples were evaluated for toxicity and chemistry. Three bioassay tests - amphipod, larval bivalve, and Microtox® - were conducted on each sample. Results show a large area of sediments with elevated sulfide levels at Post Point between the previously sampled locations near the treatment plant outfalls and the shipyard. Of the ten locations tested with bioassays, four exceeded (did not meet) Microtox Sediment Quality Standards. There were no exceedances of regulatory criteria with the amphipod bioassay, and only one station had an exceedance with the bivalve bioassay. The bioassay results are in general agreement with those from previous testing of sediment samples collected near the treatment plant outfalls. Of the sediment bioassays included in this study, only Microtox showed some evidence of sulfide toxicity. Exceedances of regulatory criteria for this bioassay were more frequent with increasing sulfide concentration. |
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