Data Report for Screening for Organochlorine and Metal Contaminant Levels in Hudson River, New York Bullfrogs (Rana Catesbeiana) and Snapping Turtles (Chelydra Serpentina Serpentina). Hudson River Natural Resource Damage Assessment. Final.

摘要

Natural resources of the Hudson River have been contaminated through past and ongoing discharges of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). As a means of evaluating regional contamination of amphibians and reptiles, a screening level survey of PCB and other contamination of select amphibian and reptile species was conducted. Bullfrogs (Rana catesbeiana) and snapping turtles (Chelydra serpentina serpentina) were collected from three geographically distinct areas of the Hudson River (Coveville, Stockport Station, and Vanderburgh Cove) during September 1998. Tissues (muscle, liver, kidney, adipose) from 13 snapping turtles and tissues (muscle) from 20 bullfrogs were analyzed for PCBs (reported as Aroclor 1260), organochlorine pesticides, and metals (mercury, lead and cadmium). All concentrations reported are on a wet weight basis. Only one bullfrog specimen had a detectable concentration of PCBs in the muscle tissue: 23 parts per billion (ppb). The range of detections of metals in bullfrog muscle tissues was as follows: cadmium, 0.005 parts per million (ppm) to 0.021 ppm; lead, 0.024 ppm to 2.15 ppm; and, mercury, 0.014 ppm to 0.138 ppm. Pesticides were not detected in bullfrog muscle tissue samples.