Caged Mussel Bioaccumulation Monitoring in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays Lisa Lefkovitz Battelle Carlton D. Hunt Maury Hall MWRA September 23, 1999
Mussels Introduction Caged Mussels were deployed as part of the NPDES permit requirements to address bioaccumulatable contaminants and human health exposure associated with the Massachusetts Bay Outfall.
Mussels Monitoring Objectives Deploy and collect mussels from multiple locations in Boston Harbor and Massachusetts Bay Measure biological condition and concentrations of selected organic contaminants and trace metals Establish baselines in Massachusetts and Cape Cod Bays Detect change in system after discharge Evaluate conditions against monitoring thresholds (post-discharge period)
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 Lefkovitz Zooplankton Demersal Fish Flounder Microbes Particulate Detritus Regeneration Epibenthos Caged mussels N, P, Si, O2, CO2 Microbes SEDIMENT Infauna
Mussels Collection/Deployment Locations
Mussels Deployment
Mussels Biological and Chemical Parameters
Mussels Total PCBs Predeployment Concentration
Mussels Total DDT Predeployment Concentration
Mussels PAH Low and High Molecular Weight Predeployment LMW Concentration Predeployment HMW Concentration
Mussels Mercury Predeployment Concentration
Mussels Lead Predeployment Concentration
Mussels PCB Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall
Mussels DDT Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall
Mussels Hg Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall
Mussels PAH Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall
Mussels Chlordane Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall
Mussels Dieldrin Comparison to Thresholds Massachusetts Bay Outfall
Mussels Conclusion Chemical concentrations are highest in caged mussels deployed at Boston Inner Harbor (BIH) and lowest at the Outfall site. A new reference location in Cape Cod Bay, shows even lower concentrations. Concentrations measured in1998 were among the lowest observed since 1991. Concentrations at the Mass Bay Outfall were well below the MWRA Threshold levels, indicating no health risk.