Contaminants in Long Island Sound: Data Synthesis and Analysis

Abstract

We synthesized existing data on chemical contaminants in Long Island Sound (LIS) from published reports and unpublished databases. We found several cases of systematic differences between data sources, which complicated the tasks of understanding the health of LIS and of identifying trends over time. Of the three media examined-water, sediment, and biota-sediment (especially in western LIS) most often exhibited pollutant concentrations that were high relative to guidelines and to other estuaries. These high sediment concentrations did not appear to be efficiently transmitted to biota. With the exception of Cd, median pollutant levels in embayment sediments were not higher than in open-water sediments, but the highest levels found in embayments were much higher than at open-water sites, especially for Ag and Hg. Trends over time in contaminant levels were mixed. We identify the most problematic contaminants in LIS and recommend adding Ag to the LIS Study's List of Contaminants of Concern.

Complex etiologies of emerging diseases in lobsters (Homarus americanus) from Long Island Sound

“…4). The benthos of Narragansett Bay, Block Island Sound, and Buzzards Bay contains contaminants such as PCBs, pesticides, metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and is rated as moderately contaminated (Hartmann et al 2005;Calabretta and Oviatt 2008;Mitch and Anisfeld 2010). One suite of contaminants in particular, alkylphenols, have been found at high levels in lobsters from the region (Biggers and Laufer 2004).…”

“…By measuring a suite of biochemical constituents in the hemolymph, a significant disruption of acid-base homeostasis in lobsters was shown to occur experimentally at 23°C compared with animals held at 16°C (Dove et al 2005a), but histological investigations of the experimental animals were not undertaken to confirm calcinosis. Heavy metals can also interfere with calcium regulation, particularly cadmium (Verbost et al 1989;Schoenmakers et al 1992), and parts of LIS have moderate to high levels of various metal contaminants (Hartmann et al 2005;Mitch and Anisfeld 2010) that could potentially contribute to this syndrome.…”

Long Island Sound

“…A limited number of peer-reviewed papers have been published on contaminants in LIS, the most recent by Mitch and Anisfeld (2010). Contaminants data are available in many governmental and technical reports (e.g., EPA, NOAA, and Brownawell et al 1991).…”

“…Contaminants data are available in many governmental and technical reports (e.g., EPA, NOAA, and Brownawell et al 1991). Mitch and Anisfeld (2010) reviewed the literature and available databases on metal and organic contaminant levels in sediment and biota in LIS. They discussed discrepancies among the data sources, examined trends over the last few decades, compared sediment contaminant levels with benchmark levels for toxicity, and provided an overview of contaminant issues within the region.…”

“…Environmental problems of other US urban estuaries were reviewed in detail, e.g., for the Chesapeake Bay (e.g., Smith 2003;Boesch et al 2001;Cooper and Brush 1993;Kemp et al 2005;Jackson et al 2002); Puget Sound (e.g., Puget Sound Partnership 2011, http://www.psp.wa.gov/scienceupdate.php); San Francisco Bay (e.g., Kuivila and Foe 1995;Flegal et al 1996); as well as from LIS (Mitch and Anisfeld 2010).…”