title: Spatial and temporal variability of contaminants within estuarine sediments and native Olympia oysters: A contrast between a developed and an undeveloped estuary.
abstract: Chemical contaminants can be introduced into estuarine and marine ecosystems from a variety of sources including wastewater, agriculture and forestry practices, point and non-point discharges, runoff from industrial, municipal, and urban lands, accidental spills, and atmospheric deposition. The diversity of potential sources contributes to the likelihood of contaminated marine waters and sediments and increases the probability of uptake by marine organisms. Despite widespread recognition of direct and indirect pathways for contaminant deposition and organismal exposure in coastal systems, spatial and temporal variability in contaminant composition, deposition, and uptake patterns are still poorly known. We investigated these patterns for a suite of persistent legacy contaminants including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and chemicals of emerging concern including pharmaceuticals within two Oregon coastal estuaries (Coos and Netarts Bays). In the more urbanized Coos Bay, native Olympia oyster (Ostrea lurida) tissue had approximately twice the number of PCB congeners at over seven times the total concentration, yet fewer PBDEs at one-tenth the concentration as compared to the more rural Netarts Bay. Different pharmaceutical suites were detected during each sampling season. Variability in contaminant types and concentrations across seasons and between species and media (organisms versus sediment) indicates the limitation of using indicator species and/or sampling annually to determine contaminant loads at a site or for specific species. The results indicate the prevalence of legacy contaminants and CECs in relatively undeveloped coastal environments highlighting the need to improve policy and management actions to reduce contaminant releases into estuarine and marine waters and to deal with legacy compounds that remain long after prohibition of use. Our results point to the need for better understanding of the ecological and human health risks of exposure to the diverse cocktail of pollutants and harmful compounds that will continue to leach from estuarine sediments over time.
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science & Management, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, United States. Electronic address: graneke@pdx.edu.
authors.forename: Elise F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Granek
authors.affiliation: Washington Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 934 Broadway, Suite 300, Tacoma, WA 98402, United States. Electronic address: kconn@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Kathleen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Conn
authors.affiliation: Oregon Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, 2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR 97207, United States. Electronic address: enilsen@usgs.gov.
authors.forename: Elena B
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Nilsen
authors.affiliation: Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Laboratory & Environmental Assessment Program, 3150 NW 229th Ave, Suite 150, Hillsboro, OR 97124, United States. Electronic address: Pillsbury.lori@deq.state.or.us.
authors.forename: Lori
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pillsbury
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science & Management, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, United States.
authors.forename: Angela L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Strecker
authors.affiliation: Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, Marine Resources Program Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2040 SE Marine Science Drive, Newport, OR 97365, United States. Electronic address: Steven.S.Rumrill@state.or.us.
authors.forename: Steve S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Rumrill
authors.affiliation: Environmental Science & Management, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207, United States.
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Fish
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D063366:Estuaries; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry; D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009922:Oregon; D010125:Ostreidae / Q000378:metabolism*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D055768:Halogenated Diphenyl Ethers; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls
keywords: Alkylphenols; Bivalves; Metals; PCBs; Pesticides; Pharmaceuticals