Recent Advisory News

• Utah Issues Fish Advisory for Arsenic - Utah has issued an arsenic advisory for brown and cutthroat trout from the North Fork of American Fork Creek in Utah County. The advisory recommends that adults limit their consumption of trout taken from American Fork Creek to no more than one meal per month. Pregnant women, nursing mothers and children under age 12 should avoid eating any trout from the creek. This advisory is based on the state's review of fish contamination information provided by the USDA Forest Service. Rainbow trout, which are stocked from hatcheries, are not specifically included in this advisory. There are no data available concerning arsenic levels in rainbow trout; however, it is believed that the stocked fish do not live in the environment long enough to accumulate significant levels of arsenic. The arsenic in American Fork Creek is believed to be from both natural and mining-related sources associated with mineral deposits in the canyon. The USDA Forest Service is moving forward with a project to isolate, contain or otherwise dispose of mining wastes in the North Fork of American Fork Canyon.

  Source: Judy Fahys. Arsenic Levels Worrisome in Trout From Utah County Creek. Wednesday, May 22, 2002. The Salt Lake Tribune, Salt Lake City, Utah.

  Utah Department of Environmental Quality Press Release, May 21, 2002.

Current Events, News and Journal Articles

• PAH Metabolite Levels in Fish Bile - The authors examined concentrations of six metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the bile of common eels, flounder, and conger eels (Anguilla anguilla, Pleuronectes flesus, and Conger conger) collected from the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel during 1997. The major PAH metabolite in all fish was 1-hydroxy pyrene (75-94% of all metabolites detected). Metabolite concentrations were significantly higher in common eels than in the other two species, and concentrations were generally higher in all species at the beginning of the year than at the end. The results of this study confirm the importance of 1-hydroxy pyrene as the key PAH metabolite in fish bile, and also suggest that the common eel is an ideal species for monitoring PAHs in estuarine environments.

  Source: Ruddock, P J, Bird, D J, McCalley, D V. 2002. Bile metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in three species of fish from the Severn Estuary. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf 2002 Feb;51(2):97-105.

• Michigan Anglers and the Effect of PCB and DDE Concentrations on Sex Ratio of Offspring - The authors report the results of a survey of Michigan anglers who had been assessed for PCB serum concentration in 3 studies from 1973 to 1991. In 2000, telephone interviews were conducted with parents on their children's birth characteristics. The authors identified 208 offspring, within 101 families, born after 1963, with paternal measurements of both PCB and dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE). When controlling for maternal exposure and parental DDE, the sex odds ratio was increased if paternal PCB concentrations exceeded 8.1 micrograms/L, linking paternal exposure to a higher proportion of male offspring. The results of this analysis are opposite those reported for the Seveso study, but agree with those for the study on dioxin exposure in American veterans.

  Source: Karmaus W, Huang S, Cameron L. 2002. Parental concentration of dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene and polychlorinated biphenyls in Michigan fish eaters and sex ratio in offspring. J Occup Environ Med 2002 Jan; 44(1):8-13.

• Mercury Concentrations in Fish from Western Maryland - This study measured total mercury concentrations in three species of fish in three lakes of western Maryland: Piney Creek Reservoir, Deep Creek Lake, and Lake Habeeb. The authors measured total mercury concentrations in water from each lake and muscle tissue from 119 fish collected in fall 2000. There were relatively strong log-log relationships between the size of the fish and total mercury concentrations in muscle tissue (with the exception of largemouth bass from Lake Habeeb and yellow perch from Deep Creek Lake). The largest largemouth bass (> 800 g and > 38 cm) from both Deep Creek Lake and the Piney Creek Reservoir had total mercury concentrations above 0.5 ppm (with an average of 0.3 ppm or higher for largemouth bass at these sites). The authors suggest that these results indicate fish consumption advisories are needed for largemouth bass in the Piney Creek reservoir and Deep Creek Lake.

  Source: Castro, M S, McLaughlin, E N, Davis, S L, Morgan, R P 2nd. 2002. Total mercury concentrations in lakes and fish of western Maryland, USA. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 2002 May; 42(4):454-62.

• Seasonal Variation of Organochlorine Contamination in Birds from Lake Baikal - Resident and migratory birds were collected from Lake Baikal and analyzed for concentrations of a number of persistent organochlorines (OCs), including PCBs, DDT and its metabolites, hexachlorocyclohexane isomers (HCHs), and chlordane compounds (CHLs). Results showed that in both resident and migratory birds the order of contaminant concentrations was as follows: PCBs > DDTs > HCHs > CHLs. Concentrations of these contaminants in migratory birds varied, with the highest levels found in piscivores, followed by insectivores, omnivores, and herbivores. The authors found that contaminant residue levels in Lake Baikal birds were lower than those reported from the Great Lakes region and lakes in Europe and Japan. In the migratory birds, concentrations of HCHs and DDTs were lower in the autumn than in the spring, which might indicate accumulation of contaminants in wintering grounds (primarily the tropical and subtropical regions of south Asian countries). This indication was reinforced by an analysis of available contaminant data on fish and birds from south Asia. TEQ concentrations of toxic non- and mono-ortho coplanar PCBs in common terns from Lake Baikal were comparable to those reported in some species from Japan, the United States, and Europe.

  Source: Kunisue T, Minh TB, Fukuda K, Watanabe M, Tanabe S, Titenko AM. 2002. Seasonal variation of persistent organochlorine accumulation in birds from Lake Baikal, Russia, and the role of the south Asian region as a source of pollution for wintering migrants. Environ Sci Technol 2002 Apr 1;36(7):1396-404.

• Geographical and Temporal Variation in Levels of Organochlorine Contaminants in Marine Mammals - This paper reviews the geographical extent of organochlorine contamination in marine mammals. The authors discuss that one of the difficulties of this analysis is that most research is concentrated in western Europe, northern America and certain areas of Asia, while data are extremely limited or non-existent for Africa and most regions of the southern hemisphere. Based on available data, this analysis finds that marine mammals from the temperate fringe of the northern hemisphere have the highest levels of contaminants, while concentrations in the tropical and equatorial fringe of the northern hemisphere and throughout the southern hemisphere are low. The Arctic and Antarctic regions showed the lowest concentrations of DDTs and PCBs, although levels of HCHs, chlordanes and HCB were moderate to high in the cold waters of the North Pacific. An analysis of temporal trends is also reported, showing that over time the contaminant concentrations have decreased in the regions where pollution was initially high but they have increased in regions located far from the pollution source as a consequence of atmospheric transport and redistribution. The authors discuss the possibility that the Arctic and the Antarctic, regions will become major sinks for organochlorines in the future.

  Source: A. Aguilar, A. Borrella, and P. J. H. Reijndersb. 2002. Geographical and temporal variation in levels of organochlorine contaminants in marine mammals. Marine Environmental Research, June 2002, 53(5): 425-452

• Organotin Pollution in Mussels and Fish from the Baltic Sea - This study monitored levels of tributyltin (TBT) and its degradation products at 10 stations along the Polish coast (Baltic Sea) using mussels (Mytilus edulis)-and fish (Platichthys flesu) as biomarkers. The bioaccumulation patterns of TBT degradation compounds varied substantially. Butyltins were detected in mussel tissue from all the sampled stations, while TPT was always present in fish but never found in mussels. The highest organotin concentration was observed in the liver of fish caught near Gdansk port (369 ng/g w.w. as Sn). Relatively high concentrations were observed in the digestive tube of the fish, which indicates ingestion of organotin contaminated food as an important source of the contamination.

  Source: Albalat A, Potrykus J, Pempkowiak J, Porte C . 2002. Assessment of organotin pollution along the Polish coast (Baltic Sea) by using mussels and fish as sentinel organisms. Chemosphere 2002 Apr; 47(2):165-71.

• Monitoring PAH Levels in Lake Timash, Egypt - This study investigated the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in commercial fish and shellfish species caught from Lake Timsah. Species sampled included locally consumed species such as tilapia (Oreochromis aureus), crabs (Portuns pelagicus), bivalves (Venerupis decussata), clams (Strombus tricornis) and gastropods (Munes sp.). Results showed that crabs contained significantly higher concentrations of both total and carcinogenic PAHs than other species, while clams contained significantly lower levels of PAHs. The most frequently detected PAH was indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, followed by benzo(a)pyrene, dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, and benzo(b)fluoranthene.

  Source: Mostafa GA. 2002. Monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in seafoods from Lake Timsah. Int J Environ Health Res 2002 Mar; 12(1):83-91.

• Occurrence and Health Concerns Regarding Organochlorines in Seafood - The authors review the history of the manufacture and disposal of organochlorine compounds, and discuss the potential health concerns arising from the contamination of fish with organichlorines. This review states that generally organochlorine levels in fish intended for human consumption are low and not likely to adversely affect human health, but certain populations are at higher risk, including subsistence fishers. Potential health effects are also discussed, including behavioral and neurological effects in children and the potential ability of some organochlorine chemicals at low doses to act as "endocrine disruptors."

  Source: Smith, A G, Gangolli, S D. 2002. Organochlorine chemicals in seafood: occurrence and health concerns. Food Chem Toxicol 2002 Jun;40(6):767-79.

• DDT Levels in Soil, Sediments, and Fish from the Brazilian Amazon - Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), its main metabolites, and other organochlorines were analyzed in soils, fluvial sediments, and fish collected from several areas of the Amazon region in Brazil. The results showed that DDT residues were present in most of the collected sediments in concentrations of approximately 10 to 100 ppb (dry weight), although concentrations higher than 1 ppm were found in some urban topsoils. Concentrations up to 0.5 ppm total DDT (wet weight) were found in edible fish tissues. The authors note the historical use of p,p'-DDT in this area as an insecticide between 1946 and 1993, which has led to widespread presence of this contaminant in the Brazilian Amazon.

  Source: Torres JP, Pfeiffer WC, Markowitz S, Pause R, Malm O, Japenga J. 2002. Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane in soil, river sediment, and fish in the Amazon in Brazil. Environ Res 2002 Feb;88(2):134-9.

• Metal Contaminants from Discarded Cell Phones - A new study says that Americans will discard about 130 million cellular telephones a year, which means 65,000 tons of trash contaminated with arsenic, antimony, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc. The study by Inform said that on average a cellular telephone is kept only 18 months and in many cases is finally discarded with the household garbage. Cell phones, pagers, pocket PCs and music players pose special problems at landfills or when they're burned in municipal waste incinerators because they have toxic chemicals in batteries and other components. The report said a number of states including California, Massachusetts and Minnesota are considering legislation that would make manufacturers pay the cost of managing the waste from electronic products.

  Source: H. JOSEF HEBERT. Discarded Cell Phones Harmful. Associated Press Online, 05/09/2002

Meetings and Conferences

For More Information

For more information on EPA's Fish and Wildlife Contamination Program, contact: Jeffrey Bigler at US EPA, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave., NW (4305), Washington, DC 20460; email: bigler.jeff@epa.gov.

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Revised June, 2002