Baltimore Harbor Toxic Impairments, and TMDL Endpoints

1
Baltimore Harbor Toxic Impairments, and TMDL
Endpoint(s)

• Baltimore Harbor SAG
• September 10th 2002

2
Todays Presentation

• Introduction Toxic impairment in Sediment
  Water Quality
• Contaminated Sediment Evaluation Tools
• Baltimore Harbor Data
• Toxic TMDLs Endpoints
• Conclusions/Discussion

3
Statutes Protecting Sediment Quality

• CWA (101) restore and maintain the chemical,
  physical, and biological integrity of the
  Nation's waters
• provides for the protection and propagation of
  fish, shellfish, and wildlife, and provides for
  recreation in and on the water
• COMAR 26.08.02.02 Designated Uses
• Baltimore Harbor Use I Water Contact
  Recreation, and Protection of Aquatic Life. This
  use designation includes waters which are
  suitable for
• (1)(d) The growth and propagation of fish (other
  than trout), other aquatic life, and wildlife
• COMAR 26.08.02.03-1 Toxic Substances Numerical WQ
  Criteria
• (2)(b) The wholesomeness of fish for human
  consumption
• (2)(c) Fresh, estuarine, and salt water aquatic
  life from acute toxicity impacts
• (2)(d) Fresh, estuarine, and salt water aquatic
  life from chronic toxicity impacts

4
Toxic Impairment in Sediment Water Quality

• Functions of Aquatic Sediment
• Habitat for bottom dwelling organisms
• Substrate for aquatic plants
• Hunting grounds for predators, scavengers
• Sink for nutrients, contaminants

5
Contaminated Sediment Evaluation Tools

• Sediment Quality Standards for Metals
• Criteria (WA, FL, CA) Promulgated and
  Enforceable
• Chemistry-based
• Sediment Quality Guidelines (e.g. Effects Range
  Median - ERM) for Metals
• Guidelines (Not Enforceable)
• Chemistry-based
• Sediment Quality Triad
• Weight of Evidence Guidelines
• Chemistry, Toxicity Testing, Benthic Community
  Data
• Requires Interpretation

6
Toxicity Testing

• Standard Methodology
• Uses Amphipod (Leptocheirus plumulosus)
• Acute Test 10 Day Mortality
• Chronic Test 28 Day Growth/Reproduction

7
Regulations and Approaches

• No Federal Criteria
• EPA Guidance Approach EQ Partitioning
• Other Guidelines Empirical Approach
• Effects Range Median/Low (ERM/ERL - NOAA Status
  Trends)
• Probable/Threshold Effects Level (PEL/TEL -
  Ontario Ministry of the Environment)
• Apparent Effects Threshold (AET - Puget Sound
  WA)
• Consensus Based Standards (Probable/Median/Thresho
  ld Effects Concentration) GEOMEAN of 3 or more
  Guidelines
• Sediment Management Standards
• Washington State Stds similar to ERMs PELs

8
Baltimore Harbor Data
9
Data Types

• Bulk Sediment Chemistry (82 Stations)
• Metals
• Organics (PCBs, Pesticides, PAHs)
• Bulk Sediment Toxicity Tests (Amphipod) (15-20
  Stations)
• 10 Day Acute Tests
• 28 Day Chronic Tests
• Benthic Community Analyses (15-20 Stations)
• Fish Tissue Monitoring Data (8 Stations)
• Organics PCBs
• Heavy Metals Cr, Pb, Zn

10
Total PCBs Impairment (ER-M 180 ppb)

• Mean 262 ppb
• Range 8 2150 ppb
• Total 27/73 gt ERM
• (36.9 )
• 10 Sites gt 2 ERM
• 4 Sites gt 3 ERM (Yellow)
• 3 Sites gt 4 ERM (Brown)
• 2 Sites gt 5X ERM (Red)
• 1 Site gt 10X (Black)

11
Chromium Impairments(ER-M 370 ppm)

• Mean 357 ppm
• Range 8 1830 ppm
• Total 18/73 gt ERM
• (24.7)
• 8 Sites gt 2 ERM
• 2 Sites gt 3 ERM (Yellow)
• 2 Sites gt 4 ERM (Brown)

12
Lead Impairments (ER-M 218 ppm)

• Mean 150 ppm
• Range 1 1000 ppm
• Total 15/73 gt ERM
• (20.5)
• 1 Site gt 4 ERM (Blue)

13
Zinc Impairments (ER-M 410 ppm)

• Mean 640 ppm
• Range 40 2600 ppm
• Total 50/73 gt ERM
• (68.5)
• 3 Site gt 2 ERM (Brown)
• 2 Site gt 3 ERM (Red)
• 3 Site gt 4 ERM (Blue)
• 3 Site gt 5 ERM (Green)
• 1 Site gt 6 ERM (Black)

14
Middle Harbor

• Impairing Substance(s) Zinc
• Mean Zn 421 ppm ? 181 (N 16) Range
  40-715 ppm
• ERM 410 ppm
• 11/16 (69 ) of stations exceed ERM
• Toxicity 1/6 (16.7) demonstrated acute toxicity
  
• Station had Cd _at_ 2x ERM and Cu gt ERM

15
Bear Creek

• Impairments Cr, Zn, PCBs
• Cr
• Mean Cr 975 ppm ? 441 (N 12) Range 51.9
  1831 ppm
• ERM 370 ppm
• 11/12 (92 ) gt ERM 7/12 (58 ) gt 3X ERM
• Zn
• Mean Zn 1749 ppm ? 601 (N 12) Range
  69.8 2574 ppm
• ERM 410 ppm
• 11/12 (92 ) gt ERM 10/12 (58 ) gt 4X ERM
• PCBs
• Mean PCBs 309 ppb ? 299 (N 11) Range
  8.2 1163 ppb
• ERM 180 ppb
• 9/11 (82 ) gt ERM 1/11 (9 ) gt 6X ERM

16
Bear Creek Contd

• Toxicity 4/5 (80) of stations tested
  demonstrated acute toxic effects in 10 d L.
  plumulosus assays
• 2/4 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Cd
  levels gt ERM
• 1/4 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Pb
  levels gt ERM
• 2/4 tests demonstrating toxicity also had
  Chlordane levels gt ERM
• 3/4 tests demonstrating toxicity also had T PCB
  levels gt ERM

17
Curtis Creek/Bay

• Impairments Zn, PCBs
• Zn
• Mean Zn 645 ppm ? 133 (N 13) Range 455
  911 ppm
• ERM 410 ppm
• 13/13 (100 ) gt ERM 1/13 (7.8 ) gt 2X ERM
• PCBs
• Mean PCBs 449 ppb ? 276 (N 13) Range
  104 1088 ppb
• ERM 180 ppb
• 11/13 (85 ) gt ERM 3/13 (23 ) gt 3X ERM

18
Curtis Creek/Bay Contd

• Toxicity 5/7 (80) of stations tested
  demonstrated acute toxic effects in 10 d L.
  plumulosus assays
• 4/5 tests demonstrating toxicity also had
  Chlordane levels gt ERM
• 4/5 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Cu
  levels gt ERM
• 4/5 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Pb
  levels gt ERM
• 5/5 tests demonstrating toxicity also had T PCB
  levels gt ERM
• 4/5 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Hg
  levels gt ERM

19
Northwest Branch

• Impairments Cr, Pb, Zn, PCBs
• Cr
• Mean Cr 572 ppm ? 332 (N 7) Range 247
  1119 ppm
• ERM 370 ppm
• 5/7 (71 ) gt ERM 2/7 (29 ) gt 3X ERM
• Pb
• Mean Pb 366 ppm ? 297 (N 7) Range 154
  1014 ppm
• ERM 218 ppm
• 5/7 (71 ) gt ERM 1/7 (14 ) gt 4X ERM

20
Northwest Branch Contd

• Zn
• Mean Zn 610 ppm ? 243 (N 7) Range 330
  994 ppm
• ERM 410 ppm
• 5/7 (71 ) gt ERM 1/7 (14 ) gt 2X ERM
• PCBs
• Mean PCBs 744 ppb ? 685 (N 7) Range 172
  2148 ppb
• ERM 180 ppb
• 6/7 (86 ) gt ERM 3/7 (43 ) gt 4X ERM
• 2/7 (29 ) gt 5 ERM 1/7 (14) gt 11X ERM

21
Northwest Branch Contd

• Toxicity 2./2 (100) of tests demonstrated
  acute toxicity in L. plumulosus 10 d tests
• 1/2 tests demonstrating toxicity also had PCB
  levels gt 11X ERM
• 2/2 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Cr
  levels gt ERM
• 2/2 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Cu
  levels gt ERM
• 2/2 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Pb
  levels gt ERM
• 2/2 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Zn
  levels gt ERM
• 1/2 tests demonstrating toxicity also had Hg
  levels gt ERM

22
What Does the Data Tell Us?

• Certain heavy metals in sediment may cause
  toxicity to benthic organisms in some Harbor
  locations
• Certain organic compounds (including PCBs) may
  cause toxicity to benthic organisms in some
  Harbor locations
• PCBs in sediment accumulate in benthos levels
  increase through trophic transfer, resulting in
  fish consumption advisories. PCBs may also
  contribute to toxicity at high levels

23
TMDL Endpoints

• Metals
• Zinc
• Lead
• Chromium
• PCBs

24
Metals Endpoint

• For Protection of Aquatic (Benthic ) Life
• Proposed Threshold ER40 ERM 10 MOS
• ERM Effects Range Median
• NOAA Status Trends Program
• Marine Estuarine Sediments
• ERM Effects are Probable (the concentration
  at which adverse effects occur in 50 of studies)
• Does not account for mitigation of toxic effects
  due to
• Sulfide
• Organic carbon
• These compounds sequester contaminants,
  decreasing bioavailability making the
  contaminated sediments present less toxic

25
Metals Endpoint contd

• Contaminant reductions to the ER40 level should
  result in occasional impacts to aquatic life
  based on observations of sediment metals
  chemistry and toxicity in Harbor samples
• Reductions to the ER40 threshold should be
  protective against impacts where mitigating
  conditions (presence of sulfide or organic
  carbon) are lower or do not exist.
• While the ERM may be protective against toxic
  impacts from metals, an implicit margin of safety
  is required in the TMDL
• A 10 MOS was determined by best scientific
  judgement, and incorporated to provide a safety
  margin against the impact of metals on aquatic
  life.

26
PCB Endpoint

• Human Health Based
• Fishable/Swimmable
• Fishable Wholesomeness for Human Consumption
• Clean Water Act
• COMAR
• Departmental Interpretation 4 meals/month

27
PCB Endpoint Contd

• HHSQT Human Health Sediment Quality Threshold
• Use Field Collected Fish Tissue Data
• Use Field Collected Sediment Data
• Calculate Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor
  (BSAF)
• Combined with Risk Assessment Exposure Parameters
• Calculate Acceptable Sediment Threshold
• Acceptable Sediment PCB Concentration that is
  expected to result in tissue concentrations that
  are lower than the upper level of the 4
  meal/month advisory recommendation (77 ppb).

28
HHSQT Calculation

• HHSQT R BW LT 1000
• CSF ED IR BSAF FL
• R Risk Level 1 in a 100,000 (10 5)
• BW 70 kg (General Population)
• LT Lifetime 70 years
• CSF Cancer Slope Factor (PCBs 2)
• ED Exposure Duration 30 years
• IR Ingestion Rate 29.8 g/d (4 meals/month)
• BSAF Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor
• FL Fish Lipid ()

29
What Is A BSAF?

• Biota Sediment Accumulation Factor
• Relationship between PCBs in sediment and PCBs in
  biota (worms, clams, fish)
• Constraints
• Both Organism and its food are exposed
• Sediment is representative of average surface
  sediment of organisms habitat
• Ratio
• Lipid Normalized PCBs in Fish
• Organic Carbon Normalized PCBs in Sediment

30
HHSQT Data Requirements

• Sediment
• PCB concentration
• Organic Carbon
• Fish Tissue
• Species white perch, bullhead, catfish
• Fillet PCB Concentration
• Lipid

31
Process Summary

• Data Assessment Assess Pathways of Concern
• ?
• Impairments Based on Human Health (Cancer Risk)
  and/or Aquatic Life (Benthic Toxicity)
• ?
• Development of TMDL Endpoints
• ?
• MODEL
• ?
• Loads
• ?
• Allocation (TMDL)

32
Questions

• ? ?