Flounder Histopathology and Chemistry Michael Moore Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Lisa Lefkovitz Battelle September 22, 1999

Flounder Objectives To define health of winter flounder determine condition of liver chemical burdens liver histopathology determine inorganic and organic contaminants in edible tissue define baseline conditions To determine response to effluent transfer

Concerns ATMOSPHERE WATER COLUMN SEDIMENT Ecological Human Health Nutrients Contaminants Organic Material Food Chain Community Structure Living Resources Human Health Contaminants Bacteria Viruses Bioaccumulation ATMOSPHERE Light Gas Exchange Inflow Outflow WATER COLUMN N2, | O2, CO2 Mammals Planktivorous Fish Sources Rivers Boundary Nonpoint Effluents Piscivorous Fish Phytoplankton Dissolved Moore Zooplankton Demersal Fish Flounder Microbes Particulate Detritus Regeneration Epibenthos Lobster N, P, Si, O2,,CO2 Microbes SEDIMENT Infauna

Flounder Sampling Locations

Flounder CHV vs time Year Centrotubular Hydropic Vacuolation (% prevelence) Year

Flounder Tumors vs time Neoplasia (% prevalence) Year

Flounder Fillet tPCB vs time Total PCB in Flounder Fillets 1992-1999 Year

Flounder Liver tPCB vs time Year

Flounder Fillet Hg vs time Year

Flounder Liver Hg vs time Year

Flounder Liver Ag vs time Year

Flounder Liver Pb vs time Year

Flounder Fillet Chlordane vs CHV Centrotubular HV (%)

Flounder Liver Chlordane vs CHV Centrotubular HV (%)

Flounder PCB Threshold Comparisons Annual Means ( ±95% CI) at Mass Bay Outfall

Flounder DDT Threshold Comparisons Annual Means ( ±95% CI) at Mass Bay Outfall

Flounder Chlordane Threshold Comparisons Annual Means ( ±95% CI) at Mass Bay Outfall

Flounder Dieldrin Threshold Comparisons Annual Means ( ±95% CI) at Mass Bay Outfall

Flounder Hg Threshold Comparisons Annual Means ( ±95% CI) at Mass Bay Outfall

Flounder Summary Steady level of organic contaminant burdens and histopathological effects since 1991 - lowest in Eastern Cape Cod Bay, moderate at Future Outfall Site,and highest at Deer Island Flats. Significant reduction in tumor prevalence at Deer Island in ‘90’s compared to ‘80’s. Inorganic contaminant burdens do not show the same regiospecificity.

Flounder Expected Response Expected response once system outfall complete: Little change, given the projected low level contaminant burdens in the secondarily treated effluent. The major challenge in terms of toxics and their effects: Has been and is still to promote source reduction Ongoing effort should see a gradual reduction in the chemical burden and resultant effects to the extent that the MWRA effluent is responsible for the current observed effects.