Everett Harbor Action Program: Analysis of Toxic Problem Areas. Puget Sound Estuary Program: Final Report and Appendices. Two Volumes

摘要

The report presents the results of a field investigation of the nearshore region of the Everett Harbor/Port Gardner/Snohomish River system. Under the Everett Harbor Action Program, federal, state, and local agencies cooperate to respond to toxic contamination problems. Response actions may include regulatory control of point and non-point contamination sources, source treatment, capping or removal of highly contaminative sediments. The study objectives were to: (1) define spatial patterns and quantitative relationships between sediment contamination, toxicity and biological effects; (2) identify problem areas of sediment contamination; (3) rank problem areas for possible remediation; (4) identify potential problem chemicals that display high concentrations in association with biological effects. A standardized assessment technique used in several other Puget Sound Estuary Program urban bay projects was used to identify problem sediments. The primary information used in the problem area ranking process included: (1) sediment characteristics (i.e., contaminant concentrations, conventional physical/chemical characteristics); and (2) biological effects (i.e., benthic invertebrate community structure, sediment toxicity bioassays using amphipods, concentrations of PCB's, chlorinated pesticides and mercury in muscle tissue of English sole, prevalence of liver lesions in English sole).