Evaluation of the Extent and Magnitude of Biological Effects Associated withChemical Contaminants in San Francisco Bay, California

摘要

The objective of the report was to assess the spatial extent and magnitude(severity) of measures of adverse biological effects associated with chemical contaminants in San Francisco Bay. Chemical contaminants potentially toxic to marine and estuarine organisms have been detected and quantified in the sediments and biota of San Francisco Bay. These chemicals have the potential to be harmful to valued marine resources of San Francisco Bay if they occur in sufficiently high concentrations and are bioavailable. The data from these different studies, collectively, provide substantial evidence that toxicant-related effects occur among at least some of the resident biota of the estuary. However, the available data preclude an identification of the spatial patterns in toxicant-associated effects with a high degree of spatial resolution. The data are from analyses of either highly mobile fish, transient water masses, or small numbers of samples. Substantially more data available from numerous sediment toxicity tests, if merged, could provide needed information on the spatial extent of toxicant-associated effects. The approach taken in the report was to assemble as much data as possible from different investigations to piece together an estimate of the extent and severity of effects.