title: Contaminants in sediment, food-chain biota, and bird eggs from the Newport Bay watershed, Orange County, California.
abstract: Groundwater-related discharges in the San Diego Creek/Newport Bay watershed in Orange County, California have the potential to adversely affect the surface waters within the watershed and would likely not comply with the established total maximum daily loads (TMDLs) for the watershed. In 2004 and 2005, we studied the concentrations of contaminants of TMDL concern (particularly selenium [Se]) in birds that are at risk of exposure to contaminated food items because they feed and nest in the Newport Bay watershed. Most bioaccumulation is from elevated Se in groundwater downstream of a historic terminal swamp. Se bioaccumulation was observed in all biota tested, and DDE was found in fish and bird egg samples. Effects of contaminants on fish and birds are inconclusive due to the management disturbances in the watershed (e.g., flood control) and lack of bird nesting habitat. Although a significant relationship was observed between DDE concentrations and eggshell thinning in American avocet (Recurvirostra americana) eggs, the shell thinning in avocet and other species examined was not enough to result in hatching failure. Further focused monitoring efforts will be needed to characterize the exposure and risk levels.
authors.affiliation: CH2M Hill, Inc., 2485 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 600, Sacramento, CA, 95833, USA. gsantolo@ch2m.com.
authors.forename: Gary M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Santolo
authors.affiliation: CH2M Hill, Inc., 2485 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 600, Sacramento, CA, 95833, USA.
authors.forename: Earl R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Byron
authors.affiliation: CH2M Hill, Inc., 2485 Natomas Park Drive, Suite 600, Sacramento, CA, 95833, USA.
authors.forename: Harry M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ohlendorf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061006:Bays; D058448:Biota; D001717:Birds; D002140:California; D046091:Charadriiformes; D017753:Ecosystem; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005399:Fishes; D020387:Food Chain; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D012643:Selenium / Q000032:analysis; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D012643:Selenium
keywords: Avian toxicity; Bioaccumulation; Eggshell thinning; Organochlorines; Selenium; Total maximum daily loads