Improved body burdens and health measures in Brown Bullhead from the Bay of Quinte: 2004 to 2014

Session: 06. - Ecosystem Health and Recovery of the Bay of Quinte, Lake Ontario

Jim Sherry, Environment Canada, [email protected]
Satyendra Bhavsar, Ontario Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, [email protected]
Gerald Tetreault, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
Matthew Windle, St. Lawrence River Inst., [email protected]
Mark McMaster, Environment and Climate Change Canada, [email protected]
Jeff Ridal, St. Lawrence River Institute, of Environmental Sciences, [email protected]

Abstract

Although nutrient enrichment is the primary environmental concern for the Bay of Quinte, there are fish consumption advisories in effect for parts of the upper bay due to elevated body burdens of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and dioxin-like contaminants.  Those advisories originated, in part, as a result of bioaccumulation from “hot spots” of legacy contaminants in surface sediments adjacent to Trenton and Belleville.  Because of remediation actions at both locations, we elected in 2014 to reassess the status of contaminants in brown bullhead at Trenton and Belleville and at a reference site adjacent to Deseronto.  We also reassessed various morphometric measures of fish health and several measures of endocrine status.  Compared to fish caught in 2004, there were substantial and significant (multi-factor ANOVA) reductions in burdens of dioxin like PCBs (DL-PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/furans (PCDD/Fs) in fish taken from the Belleville site. Burdens of total PCBs and DL-PCBs remained elevated in Trenton brown bullhead in 2014, although there were reductions in female fish. The calculated toxic equivalents (TEQs) due to DL-PCBs and PCDD/Fs were reduced at all sites: the largest reductions occurred in the Belleville fish. There were modest and subtle effects on some measures of fish health particularly at Trenton.

1. Keyword
Bay of Quinte

2. Keyword
fish

3. Keyword
PCBs

4. Additional Keyword
Health

5. Additional Keyword
Mercury