National Status and Trends: Bioeffects Assessment Program, Delaware Bay Summary Database (1997)

This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized to characterize the Delaware Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity (Microtox, amphipod bioassay; sea urchin gamete bioassay; and P450 biomarker) and benthic infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated with contaminants in the Delaware estuary system from the fall line to the mouth of the Bay. This file contains data measured in the Delaware Bay Estuary and adjacent waters during 1997. Samples were collected for water and sediment analyses.

Specific objectives of the study were to: (1) Describe the levels and spatial distribution of contaminants in the Delaware Bay and adjacent waters; (2) Describe the incidence, severity and spatial extent of contamination, toxicity, and characteristics of the benthic infaunal community; (3) Describe the study results in relation to known or suspected sources of contamination; (4) Describe statistical relationships between levels of contaminants and adverse biological effects, and identify chemicals of concern in terms of regional environmental quality and adverse biological effects; (5) Compare environmental conditions within sub-areas of Delaware Bay and compare estimates of toxicity in Delaware Bay with those in other estuaries based on comparable data.The dataset objective is to report information about chemical residues in sediment, sediment toxicity, and benthic infauna characteristics of the system.

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PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Jawed Hameedi, NOAA Ocean Service, National Status and Trends Program S. Ian Hartwell, NOAA Ocean Service, National Status and Trends Program Michelle Harmon, NOAA Ocean Service, National Status and Trends Program SAMPLE COLLECTION INVESTIGATORS Michelle Harmon, NOAA Ocean Service, National Status and Trends Program B.William Gottholm, NOAA Ocean Service, National Status and Trends SAMPLE PROCESSING INVESTIGATORS Contaminant analyses:1) Organic and inorganic chemicals in sediment: Geochemical and Environmental Research Group, Texas AandM Univ. College Station, TX Link to QAPP - Contact NSandT Program Manager Benthos:1) Barry A. Vittor and Associates, Inc. Mobile, AL Link to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager Toxicity and Bioassays: 1. MicroTox Assay: Thomas Johnson, Biological Resources Div, USGS; Link to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager 2. Sea Urchin Assay: Scott Carr, Marine Ecotoxicology Research Station, USGSLink to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager 3. Amphipod Assay: Cornelia A. Mueller, SAIC Inc.;Link to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager 4. P450 Human Reporter Gene System: Jack Anderson, Columbia Analytical Services, Inc.Link to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager

The dataset is composed of eight relational files each listed below. The "SITES" data file reports information regarding the planned sampling locations and the actual locations. The geographical information provided for a sampling site (the estuary stratum and site) is useful when interpreting the results of other data files. Link for the SITES data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "STATION" data file reports the actual location and date of each sampling event. One record is presented per station per sampling event. Each record reports the latitude and longitude recorded for each event along with the date of collection and the collecting organization and personnel. Link for the STATION data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "FIELD" data file reports measurements made in the field while on station. This includes water column data such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and specific conductance. Link for the FIELD data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "LAB" data file reports information collected in the laboratory about the sample prior to its analysis. Examples include characteristics such as sample weight, sample volume, extraction date, analysis date, and sample identification number. Link for the LAB data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "ANALYTE" data file reports the results of analyses for chemical/microbial analytes. Link for the ANALYTE data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "ASSAY" data file reports results of sediment toxicity bioassays and biomarkers. Link for the ASSAY data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "BENTHIC" data file reports information on benthic infauna. Link for the BENTHIC data dictionary http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx

NOAA, National Status and Trends Program

These data were prepared by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, make any warranty, expressed or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed in this report, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference therein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof. Any views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. Although all data have been used by NOAA, no warranty, expressed or implied, is made by NOAA as to the accuracy of the data and/or related materials. The act of distribution shall not constitute any such warranty, and no responsibility is assumed by NOAA in the use of these data or related materials.

None

NOAA requests that all individuals who download NOAA data acknowledge the source of these data in any reports, papers, or presentations. If you publish these data, please include a statement similar to: "Some or all of the data described in this article were produced by the NOAA's Ocean Service through its National Status and Trends Program (NSandT)".

MEASUREMENT QUALITY OBJECTIVESSite location - Sampling sites were located by GPS with a manufacturer reported position accuracy of better than 3 meters in DGPS mode. Coordinates are expressed in units to the nearest 0.0001 decimal degrees. An acceptable tolerance goal for siting was that the sampling location be established within 0.2nm (+/- 120ft) of the given coordinates. In the event the vessel could not navigate to the site (i.e., too shallow) or the bottom type was not appropriate (i.e., rock or shellfish bed) then the first alternate site was substituted. In the event the first alternate could not be sampled then the second alternate site was sampled. Organic and Inorganic Contaminants - The measurement quality objectives of the Delaware Bay Project specify accuracy and precisionrequirements of 30% for organic analytes and 15% for inorganic analytes in sediment samples. Link to Quality Assurance Project Plan (Link to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager)Water column measurements - Water column monitoring instrumentation was calibrated based on manufacturers recommendations (YSI Corporation). Depth was recorded from the vessel fathometer.Benthic taxonomy-The minimum acceptable sorting efficiency was 95%. The minimum acceptable taxonomic efficiency was 95%. All chemical contaminant values have been rounded to three significant digits. To accommodate the wide range of values, all concentration values have been formatted to the thousandth unit (0.001). The actual precision is as listed below.Metals, variable ug/g Butlytins 0.01 ng Sn/gPAHs 0.1 ng/gPCBs 0.01 ng/gPesticides 0.01 ng/g

Data are believed to be complete.

DATA QUALITY ASSURANCE PROCEDURES Site location - Handheld GPS units were compared daily with vessel GPS units. Organic and Inorganic Contaminants - QA procedures include blanks, spiked samples, and standard reference materials with each batch of samples. Any batch failing to meet the specifications described above would be reanalyzed or rejected. Link to Quality Assurance Project Plan (Link to report - Contact NSandT Program Manager)Water column measurements - Fields are arranged as followsIndicator; QA sample type or measurement; Data generated for measurement qualityDO; Water-saturated air calibration; Difference between probe value and saturation levelSalinity; Seawater standard; Difference between probe measurement and standard value Specific Conductance; Seawater standard; Difference between probe measurement and standard value Temperature; Thermometer; +/- 1CBenthic taxonomy-At a minimum, 10 percent of all samples were resorted and recounted on a regular basis. Ten percent of samples were randomly selected and re-identified. A voucher collection composed of representative individuals of each species encountered in the project was accumulated and retained. ACTUAL MEASUREMENT QUALITY Water column measurements - fields are arranged as follows: Measurement; Units; Expressed to NearestDO; mg/L; 0.1 Salinity; ppt; 0.01 Specific Conductance; mS/cm; 1Depth; Meters; 0.5 Temperature; C; 0.1