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

2. 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

3. 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

4. Flounder Sampling Locations

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

6. Flounder Tumors vs time
Neoplasia (% prevalence)
Year

7. Flounder Fillet tPCB vs time
Total PCB in Flounder Fillets
Year

8. Flounder Liver tPCB vs time
Year

9. Flounder Fillet Hg vs time
Year

10. Flounder Liver Hg vs time
Year

11. Flounder Liver Ag vs time
Year

12. Flounder Liver Pb vs time
Year

13. Flounder Fillet Chlordane vs CHV
Centrotubular HV (%)

14. Flounder Liver Chlordane vs CHV
Centrotubular HV (%)

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

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

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

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

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

20. Flounder Summary
Steady level of organic contaminant burdens and histopathological effects since 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.

21. 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.