National Status and Trends: Bioeffects Assessment Program, St Lucie Estuary Summary Database (2001-2004)

The foundation of this study was based on a sediment quality triad (SQT) approach with a probabilistic sampling design, which characterized the estuary in terms of chemical contamination in sediment, sediment toxicity (MicroTox, amphipod assays; sea urchin assay; and P450 HRGS) and benthic infauna community structure. Where possible, published guidelines were used to compare observed values with sediment quality guidelines for chemical contaminants for example Threshold Effects Level (TEL) and Probable Effects Level (PEL) values of MacDonald (1994, MacDonald et al. 1996). Concurrent and subsequent investigations were conducted to further elucidation of cause-effect relationships and are reported as ancillary studies in this report or sited elsewhere. These additional investigations included 1) assessment of chemical contaminant burdens in fish tissue; Comet assay; acetyl cholinesterase activity in fish and shrimp; endocrine disruption in fish; characterization of contaminants in the nepheloid layer and sediment traps; survey for emerging contaminants of concern (alkyl phenols, polybrominated diphenylethers, perfluoro compounds and pesticides) in sediment and water; assessment of oyster biomarkers to describe the nature and severity of the copper problem. Finally, a thematic website and data portal was developed to manage and disseminate nation-wide data on contamination, toxicity, benthic faunal distribution, and fish histopathology (St. Lucie Estuary data were used as a prototype). This is an ongoing effort to provide ready access to data. The web site address is: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/

The purpose of this study is to define the existence of toxicity and other biological effects associated with effluents from freshwater drainage canals in the St. Lucie Estuary. Specific objectives of the study are to: (1) Describe the levels and spatial distribution of contaminants in the St. Lucie Estuary and adjacent waters; (2) Describe the incidence, severity and spatial extent of toxicity, including possible genotoxic effects and changes in benthic faunal 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 St. Lucie Estuary and compare estimates of toxicity in St. Lucie Estuary with those in other estuaries based on comparable data.The dataset objective is to report information about chemical residues in sediment and tissue and the toxicity of sediment and benthic infauna characteristics of the estuary.

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PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATORS Jawed Hameedi, NOAA Ocean Service, National Status and Trends Program Joan A. Browder, NOAA Fisheries, Southeast Fisheries Science Center/National Marine Fisheries Service(NMFS)/NOAA SAMPLE COLLECTION INVESTIGATORS 2001 team: W. Edward Johnson, B.William Gottholm, Michelle Harmon(NOAA/NCCOS/CCMA); Michael Fulton, Cynthia Cooksey, Peter B. Key, James Daugomah (NOAA/NCCOS/Center for Coastal Environmental Health and Biomolecular Research (CCEHBR)); Scott Steinert (Computer Sciences Corp.); Michael Kandrashoff, (Contractor for NOAA Fisheries); Kevin J. Kroll, (University of Florida); Mark Perry (Florida Oceanographic Society)2003 team: W. Edward Johnson, B.William Gottholm, (NOAA/NCCOS/CCMA); Pete Key, Russell Day, (NOAA/NCCOS/CCEHBR); Michael T. Montgomery, Richard B. Coffin, (Naval Research Laboratory) 2004 team: W. Edward Johnson, B.William Gottholm, Kimani Kimbrough (NOAA/NCCOS/CCMA); Michael Kandrashoff, (Contractor for NOAA Fisheries)SAMPLE PROCESSING INVESTIGATORS - Contaminant analyses: Organics and inorganics in sediment and tissue: TDI-Brooks International, Inc., BandB Laboratories, Inc. College Station, TX - Link to QAPP http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/RQAPv4.pdf Pesticides and Alkyl Phenols in Surface Water and Sediment: USDA Agricultural Research Service, Beltsville, MD - Link to QAPP http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/RQAPv4.pdf SAMPLE PROCESSING INVESTIGATORS - Benthos:Barry A. Vittor and Associates, Inc. Mobile, AL - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_Benthic2001.pdf SAMPLE PROCESSING INVESTIGATORS - Toxicity and Bioassays: MicroTox Assay: Mike Fulton, NOAA Ocean Service, CCEHBR - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_draft_Micro_Clam_AChE.pdf Comet Assay: Scott A. Steinert, Computer Sciences Corporation - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_COMET.pdf Amphipod Assay: David Lewis, ToxScan, Inc. - http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_Ampelisca.pdf Amphipod Assay: Michele Redmond, Northwestern Aquatic Sciences - http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_Ampelisca_Eohaustorius.pdf P450 Human Reporter Gene System: Jack Anderson, Columbia Analytical Services, Inc. - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_P450RGS.pdf Sea Urchin Assay: Scott Carr, Marine Ecotoxicology Research Station - http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_SeaUrchPorewater.pdf Juvenile Clam Assay: Pete Key, NOAA/NCCOS/CCEHBR - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_draft_Micro_Clam_AChE.pdf Oyster Biomarker Assays: Amy H. Ringwood, University of North Carolina - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_OysterBioassays.pdf Endocrine Disruption Assay: Kevin J. Kroll, University of Florida - Link to report http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/SLE_EndocrineDisruption.pdf

The dataset is composed of seven 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 names of the estuary, sub-region, and state containing the site) are useful when interpreting the results of other data files. Link for the SITES data dictionary (http://www.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://www.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, specific conductance, and turbidity. Link for the FIELD data dictionary http://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "LAB" data file reports information collected in the laboratory about the sample and prior to its analysis. Examples include characteristics about the sample such as sample weight, sample volume, extraction date, analysis date, and sample identification number. Link for the LAB data dictionary http://www.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://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "ASSAY" data file reports results of sediment toxicity, biomarkers and bioassays. A unique record is defined by the site, year, matrix, and parameter. Link for the ASSAY data dictionary http://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/download.aspx The "BENTHIC" data file reports information on benthic infauna. A unique record is defined by the site, year, matrix, and parameter. Link for the BENTHIC data dictionary http://www.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)".

MEASURE QUALITY OBJECTIVESite location - Sampling sites are 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 0.00001 decimal degree. After anchoring, the acceptable tolerance goal for siting is that the sampling location be established within 0.02nm (+/- 120ft) of the given coordinates. In the event the vessel cannot navigate to the site (i.e., too shallow) or the bottom type is not appropriate (i.e., rock or shellfish bed) then the first alternate site will be substituted. In the event the first alternate can not be sampled, then the second alternate site will be sampled. The method used is similar to EPA's National Coastal Assessment: Field Operations Manual (U.S. EPA 2001a). Organic and Inorganic Contaminants - The measurement quality objectives of the St. Lucie Project specify accuracy and precision requirements of 30% for organic analytes and 15% for inorganic analytes in sediment and tissue samples. Link to Quality Assurance Project Plan (http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/RQAPv4.pdf) Water column measurements - Water column monitoring instrumentation was calibrated daily based on manufacturers recommendations (Hydrolab Corporation, 2002). Fields are arranged as follows: Indicator; Maximum allowable accuracy (Bias) goal; Maximum allowable precision goal; Completeness goal DO; +/- 0.5 mg/L; 10%; 100%Salinity; +/- 1.0 PSS; 10%; 100%Specific Conductance; +/- 1 mS/cm; 10%; 100% Depth; +/- 0.5 m; 10%; 100%Temperature; +/- 1.0 C; 10%; 100% Secchi depth; +/- NA; 10%; 100% Turbidity; +/- NTU; 10%; 100% 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 PROCEDURESSite location - Handheld GPS units were compared daily with vessel GPS units. The quality assurance procedures follow EPAs National Coastal Assessment, Quality Assurance Project Plan 2001-2004 (U.S. EPA, 2001b). 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 presented in the Measure Quality Objective section would be reanalyzed or rejected. Link to Quality Assurance Project Plan (http://www8.nos.noaa.gov/cit/nsandt/download/documents/sle/RQAPv4.pdf) Water column measurements - Fields are arranged as follows: Indicator; QA sample type or measurement; Frequency of Use; Data generated for measurement quality DO; Water-saturated air calibration; Daily; Difference between probe value and saturation level Salinity; Seawater standard; Daily; Difference between probe measurement and standard value Specific Conductance; Standard; Daily; Difference between probe measurement and standard value Depth; Sea level; Daily; Difference between probe measurement and standard value Temperature; Thermometer; Daily; +/- 1C Turbidity; Standard; Daily; Difference between probe measurement and standard value ACTUAL MEASUREMENT QUALITY Water column measurements - Fields are arranged as follows: Measurement; Units; Expressed to Nearest DO; Mg/L; 0.1Salinity; PSS; 0.01 Specific Conductance; mS/cm; 1Depth; Meters; 0.5 Secchi Depth; Meters; 0.5 Temperature; C;0.1 Turbidity; NTU; 0.1