Lingering Exxon Valdez Oil Remains the Dominant Cause of CYP1A Induction in Prince William Sound, Alaska J W Short, S D Rice 1 K R Springman 2 C A Sloan 3 C W Khan, P V Hodson 4 1 Alaska Fisheries Science Center, NOAA 2 U California Davis 3 Northwest Fisheries Science Center, NOAA 4 Queen’s University, Canada
How do we measure oil exposure? Cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A) biomarker One of a family of enzymes involved in metabolism and detoxification Induced by recent exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and PCBs
Cyp 1A Induction and Long-Term Effects in EVOS Spillpath Otters and Ducks: Geographically Associated with Lingering Oil Temporal Declines Since Early 1990s
Remnant Fuel Tanks at Thumb Bay
Other Potential Sources of CYP1A Inducers in Western PWS Atmospherically Transported PAH, POP Regional Geologic Background PAH Returning Adult Salmon Salmon Hatcheries Abandoned Industrial Sites Marinas & Boat Traffic
Cordova Harbor – Positive Control
Study Objective: Identify Sources of CYP1A Inducers in Western Prince William Sound
Site Selection: Site Types Above: Salmon Stream Top: Hatchery Bottom: Human Use
SPMD Application: Deployment One deployment device = 5 SPMDs One deployment device = 5 SPMDs 28 d in situ (SOP) 28 d in situ (SOP) Placed in the mid- intertidal zone Placed in the mid- intertidal zone
SPMD Modification SPMD Dialysis Concentration Split sample Analysis Analysis Removal of hexane Removal of hexane Resuspension in solvent Resuspension in solvent Injection in trout fry Injection in trout fry
Chemical Analyses: 44 PAH, including alkyl-PAH 62 Chlorinated POPs
Sampling Design Regional Background PAH, POP - 30 Randomly-Placed SPMDs Exxon Valdez Sites – 9 SPMDS on 5 Beaches Salmon Streams – 10 SPMDs, Spring and Fall Salmon Hatcheries – 5 SPMDs Abandoned Industrial Sites – 5 SPMDs Two Marinas – 1 SPMD Each (Positive Controls)
POP Results Highest ΣPCB < 200 ng/SPMD (Median = 12 ng/SPMD; N = 76) Other POPs Near MDLs POPs, EROD Uncorrelated
PWS 2004: Sampling Sites Cordova Valdez Whittier EVO control (5) EVO hot (5) Background (30) Salmon stream (5) Human Activity (5) Positive control (2) Hatchery (5) Diesel spill (1)
PWS 2004: Random Sites Cordova Valdez Whittier Background (30) Positive control (2)
PWS 2004: Salmon Stream Sites Cordova Valdez Whittier Salmon stream (5) Positive control (2) Diesel spill (1)
PWS 2004: Hatchery Sites Cordova Valdez Whittier Positive control (2) Hatchery (5) Diesel spill (1)
PWS 2004: Abandoned Human Activity Sites Cordova Valdez Whittier Human Activity (5) Positive control (2) Diesel spill (1)
McClure Bay Oiled Pit Monterey Oil
Oil on PWS Beaches: 1992 – 2001 ~25% per Year Loss Rate
Conclusions Exxon Valdez Oil Remains a Potent CYP1A Inducer Most Human Activity Sites Are Not Areawide Sources Are Clearly Not Remaining EVO May Persist for Decades