title: An integrated assessment of sediment remediation in a midwestern U.S. stream using sediment chemistry, water quality, bioassessment, and fish biomarkers.
abstract: A comprehensive biological, sediment, and water quality study of the lower Little Scioto River near Marion, Ohio, USA, was undertaken to evaluate the changes or improvements in biotic measurements following the removal of creosote-contaminated sediment. The study area covered 7.5 river miles (RMs), including a remediated section between RMs 6.0 and 6.8. Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish biomarkers (i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon [PAH] metabolite levels in white sucker [Castostomus commersoni] and common carp [Cyprinus carpio] bile and DNA damage), sediment chemistry, and water quality were assessed at five locations relative to the primary source of historical PAH contamination-upstream (RM 9.2), adjacent (RM 6.5), and downstream (RMs 5.7, 4.4, and 2.7). Overall, the biomarker results were consistent with the sediment PAH results, showing a pattern of low levels of PAH bile metabolites and DNA damage at the upstream (reference or background location), as well as the remediated section, high levels at the two immediate downstream sites, and somewhat lower levels at the furthest downstream site. Results show that remediation was effective in reducing sediment contaminant concentrations and exposure of fish to PAHs and in improving fish assemblages (60% increase in index of biotic integrity scores) in remediated river sections. Additional remedial investigation and potentially further remediation is needed to improve the downstream benthic fish community, which is still heavily exposed to PAH contaminants.
authors.affiliation: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: John R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: Victoria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sigler
authors.forename: Dave
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Altfater
authors.forename: Mike
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gray
authors.forename: Bill
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Batin
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Baumann
authors.forename: Denise
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Wernsing
authors.forename: Jim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lazorchak
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D003407:Creosote / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D004249:DNA Damage; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D052918:Environmental Restoration and Remediation / Q000379:methods*; D005399:Fishes / Q000378:metabolism*; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D009820:Ohio; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D045483:Rivers / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000633:toxicity; D060753:Water Quality
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D003407:Creosote