  |
|
|
|
|
| Title | PBT Trend Monitoring: Lead in Suspended Particulate Matter, 2008 | |||
| Month-Year Published | May 2009 | |||
| Online Availability |
562 kilobytes, requires version 4.0 or later of Adobe Acrobat Reader Software get Acrobat Reader
| |||
| Short Description |
Lead in suspended particulate matter was analyzed from 15 sites throughout Washington State in the spring and fall of 2008 as part of the first year of a long-term monitoring program. A total of 46 samples were collected. Lead was detected in 93% of the samples. The highest lead concentration was 3,121 mg/kg, from the Spokane River at the Idaho border. Elevated lead concentrations were also found at Nine Mile Dam on the Spokane River and the upper Columbia River near the international boundary with Canada. Lead levels at the other 12 sites were relatively low, ranging from non-detect - 65 mg/kg. (Also see abstract below) | |||
| Publication Number | 09-03-020 | |||
| Author(s) | Meredith, C. and C. Furl | |||
| Print Availability | ||||
| Number of pages | 24 + app (36 total) | |||
| Keywords | Canada, Columbia River, dam, Ecology, freshwater sediment, lake, lead, monitoring, particulate matter, river, sediment, Spokane River, toxic, trend | |||
| Subject Waterbodies |
| |||
| Related Publications | Title | Relationship | ||
| Quality Assurance Project Plan: A Trend Monitoring Component for Organic PBTs in the Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program | supporting publication | |||
| Addendum #1 to Quality Assurance Project Plan: A Trend Monitoring Component for Organic PBTs in the Washington State Toxics Monitoring Program | supporting publication | |||
| Abstract | Long Description |
This report summarizes results from the first year of lead monitoring as part of the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemical (PBT) trend monitoring program. Lead in suspended particulate matter (SPM) was added to the PBT trend monitoring program in 2008 to (1) establish a baseline of lead concentrations in Washington State rivers and lakes, and (2) evaluate spatial and temporal trends over time. SPM was collected from 15 monitoring sites across Washington State and analyzed for total lead during the spring and fall of 2008. A total of 46 samples were collected. Lead was detected in 93% of the samples. The highest lead concentration was 3,121 mg/kg, detected in the Spokane River at the Idaho border during the spring. Elevated lead concentrations were also found in the Spokane River at Nine Mile Dam and in the upper Columbia River near the Canadian border. Lead levels at the other 12 sites were relatively low, ranging from non-detect - 65 mg/kg. Most lead concentrations in SPM were within the range of values measured in background freshwater sediment reference areas and in statewide lake sediment studies conducted by Ecology in 1989 and 1992. Exceptions to this were found in the two Spokane River sites and the upper Columbia River site, which had elevated lead concentrations. The two Spokane River sites had higher SPM-associated lead levels in 2008 compared to historical Ecology sediment data (from early 1990s - 2001) near these sites. In contrast, lead concentrations in SPM at the upper Columbia River were lower than those measured by Ecology in the early 1990s. Five SPM-associated lead samples were above Ecology′s proposed Freshwater Sediment Quality Value guideline lowest apparent effects threshold of 335 mg/kg. All five exceedances occurred at the two Spokane River monitoring sites. No guidelines are currently available for lead concentrations in SPM. |
||
This page last updated May 19, 2009
Copyright © Washington State Department of Ecology. See http://www.ecy.wa.gov/copyright.html.
