Publication Summary

Sinclair Inlet and Dyes Inlets are located adjacent to Bremerton, an intermediate-sized city with a sizable shipyard. Earlier studies have shown elevated concentrations of contaminants in sediments of these inlets. To evaluate accumulation of these contaminants in marine organisms, bottom fish and clams from several sites in these two inlets were collected and analyzed in 1989, 1990, and 1991. Compounds of interest included metals (arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, silver, and cadmium) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), butyltins, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. All data were eventually of acceptable quality, though some metals data were qualified.

Sinclair Inlet and Dyes Inlets are located adjacent to Bremerton, an intermediate-sized city with a sizable shipyard. Earlier studies have shown elevated concentrations of contaminants in sediments of these inlets. To evaluate accumulation of these contaminants in marine organisms, bottom fish and clams from several sites in these two inlets were collected and analyzed in 1989, 1990, and 1991. Compounds of interest included metals (arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, zinc, mercury, silver, and cadmium) polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), butyltins, and chlorinated hydrocarbons. All data were eventually of acceptable quality, though some metals data were qualified.

Little geographic pattern was apparent for metals concentrations in fish or clams. Fish had higher concentrations of arsenic (21.1 mg/kg); lead (4.5 mg/kg); and mercury (0.39 mg/kg) (all wet weight basis). The highest metals concentrations in clams were cadmium (25 mg/kg); silver (0.64 mg/kg); copper (19.8 mg/kg); and zinc (25.1 mg/kg) (all wet weight basis). With the exception of DDE reported in fish from Site 7 at 1.8 mg/kg (wet weight), no pesticide/PCBs were found in fish or clams in this study. Quantitation limits for PCBs were high. No PAHs were found in fish above the quantitation limits. PAHs were found in clams at moderate concentrations. The highest concentrations found in clams were 46 mg/kg total PAH wet weight. The three and four ring PAH predominated in all samples where PAHs were found. Low concentrations of butyltins were found in fish and clams. The highest concentration of butyltins was 18.2 mg/kg wet weight.

Chromium, copper, lead, and mercury in fish were higher in this study than in comparable studies in Puget Sound urban bays. In other studies of urban bays, PCBs were reported for all samples except the flathead sole collected in the reference area in Discovery Bay. One possible explanation for the inability to detect PCBs is the low lipid weight reported in the samples. In clams, mean concentrations of the arsenic, cadmium, lead, and zinc were comparable to concentrations from reference areas. Mercury, chromium, and copper concentrations are equivalent to concentrations found in non-reference areas. LPAH concentrations in clams are below those found in smoked foods, but HPAH concentrations found in clams in the present study are equivalent to those found in smoked fish. The total PAH concentration in clams from this study is comparatively low and equivalent to reference areas.

Tentative and rudimentary risk assessments showed a small carcinogenic risk (10-5) from habitual and ample consumption of seafood from the area. The non-carcinogenic risk of regular consumption of fish was low, but could be moderate in worst case situations. These cumulative risk estimates cannot reconcile potential synergistic or antagonistic effects among non-carcinogens.