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| Title | Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Contaminants in Fish Tissue from Freshwater Environments in 2004 and 2005 | |
| Month-Year Published | June 2007 | |
| Online Availability |
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| Short Description |
In 2004 and 2005, the Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program analyzed 104 fish tissue samples representing 18 species from 49 freshwater sites and Chinook salmon from three coastal rivers. Contaminants frequently detected were mercury, PCBs, dioxins and furans, chlorinated pesticides, and PBDE flame retardants. Contaminant levels in 93 samples from 45 sites did not meet Washington′s water quality standards. Contaminants exceeding standards were PCBs, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, mercury, 4,4′-DDE, 4,4′-DDD, dieldrin, chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, and toxaphene. Recommendations include (1) evaluation of results to assess risks to human health from the consumption of contaminated fish, and (2) federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d) See the link below to the focus sheet. (Also see abstract below) | |
| Publication Number | 07-03-024 | |
| Author(s) | Seiders, K., C. Deligeannis, P. Sandvik | |
| Print Availability | ||
| Number of pages | 35 pp. | |
| Keywords | Columbia River, contaminant, fish, furan, monitoring, Puget Sound, river, toxics monitoring, tribe, Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program, water | |
| Related Publications | Title | Relationship |
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program, Exploratory Monitoring of Toxic Contaminants in Edible Fish Tissue and Freshwater Environments of Washington State. | similar topic | |
| Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Toxic Contaminants in Fish Tissue and Surface Water in Freshwater Environments, 2001 | similar topic | |
| Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Toxic Contaminants in Fish Tissue and Surface Water in Freshwater Environments, 2002 | similar topic | |
| Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Toxic Contaminants in Fish Tissue and Surface Water in Freshwater Environments, 2003 | similar topic | |
| Focus On - Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Contaminants in Fish Tissue from Freshwater Environments 2004-2005 | similar topic | |
| Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program: Contaminants in Fish Tissue from Freshwater Environments in 2006 | part of a series | |
| Abstract | Long Description |
The exploratory monitoring component of the Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program (WSTMP) has characterized toxic contaminants in freshwater fish since 2001, primarily from sites never before sampled. Contaminants assessed include persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals such as mercury, PCBs, dioxins and furans, chlorinated pesticides, and PBDE flame retardants. During the 2004-2005 study, a total of 52 sites across the state were sampled which yielded 104 fish tissue samples representing 19 species. Detection frequencies ranged from 59% to 100% for mercury, PCBs, dioxins and furans, DDT pesticides, and PBDEs. Older and larger fish showed higher concentrations of organic contaminants. Contaminants were detected in Chinook salmon from three coastal rivers with most results being near reporting limits. Levels of PCBs and DDTs in coastal fish were lower than levels found in fish from Puget Sound and the Columbia River. Total PCBs, 2,3,7,8-TCDD TEQ, and toxaphene were detected at levels higher than (exceeding) EPA′s Screening Values for Subsistence Fishers. A total of 45 sites had 93 fish tissue results that exceeded the National Toxics Rule (NTR) criteria for contaminants in fish tissue. Four contaminants accounted for 85% of the exceedances: PCBs, 2,3,7,8-TCDD, 4,4′-DDE, and dieldrin. Other NTR exceedances were due to mercury and four pesticides: 4,4′-DDD, total chlordane, hexachlorobenzene, and toxaphene. This study recommends that these 45 sites be added to the federal Clean Water Act Section 303(d) List for Washington State. This study also recommends that the Washington State Department of Health, local health jurisdictions, and affected Tribes should (1) evaluate the results from this study, and (2) assess the risks to human health from the consumption of contaminated fish. |
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