Publications

Acute toxicity tests were conducted with Hyalella azteca Saussure (an amphipod) exposed in soft and hard waters to three fire retardants (Fire-Trol GTS-R, Fire-Trol LCG-R, and Phos-Chek D75-F) and two foam suppressants (Phos-Chek WD-881 and Silv-Ex). The chemicals were slightly to moderately toxic to amphipods. The most toxic chemical to amphipods in soft and hard water was Phos-Chek WD...

The South Fork basin of the Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho has been an area of heavy mining activity since the 1880s. The mining operations have resulted in elevated concentrations of metals in surface water, most notably cadmium, lead, zinc, and, to a lesser extent, copper. The metals affected surface water quality downstream in the Coeur d'Alene basin and are suspected to be one of the...

We tracked 335 northern squawfish implanted with radio transmitters in the Columbia River in May–December 1993 and May–September 1994. Most fish were released near The Dalles and John Day dams, with the remaining fish released into reservoir areas away from dams. We used boats with mounted Yagi antennas, fixed site receiver stations near the dams and aerial surveys to track movements of...

Variation in concentrations of acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) in sediments from the upper Clark Fork River of Montana, USA, was associated with differences in bioaccumulation of Cu and Zn and growth of larvae of the midge, Chironomus tentans. Growth of midge larvae was significantly greater and bioaccumulation of Cu was significantly less in surface sections (0–3 cm depth) of sediment cores...

No abstract available.

Bioaccumulation of selenium (Se) in the fish community of Pigeon River/Pigeon Lake, which receives inputs of Se from a coal fly ash disposal facility, was studied to assess potential hazards of Se to fish, wildlife, and humans. Se concentrations in fish from sites receiving seepage and effluents from fly ash disposal ponds were significantly greater than those in fish from upstream...

The determination of acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEMs) in sediment by treatment with dilute HCl shows promise as a tool for predicting the potential for metal toxicity to sediment-dwelling organisms. Effective quality control measures must be developed if this method is to become a reliable procedure and to ensure comparability of data. However...

The rat hepatoma cell line, H4IIE, serves as a useful tool to assess potential biological effects such as induction of cytochrome P4501A1 expression. The objectives of this study were twofold: to investigate the kinetic time course and dosimetry of PCB77 in rat hepatoma cells dosed with PCB77 and in liver of rats given ip doses of PCB77, and to comparein vitroandin vivoP4501A1 enzyme...

The weight-of-evidence approach to the development of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) was modified to support the derivation of biological effects-based SQGs for Florida coastal waters. Numerical SQGs were derived for 34 substances, including nine trace metals, 13 individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), three groups of PAHs, total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), seven...

A survey of the toxicity of sediments throughout the Tampa Bay estuary was performed as part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Status and Trends Program. The objectives of the survey were to determine the spatial extent and severity of toxicity and to identify relationships between chemical contamination and toxicity. Three independent toxicity tests were...

Collection of sediment cores in depths of 1-5 m is difficult with traditional sampling gear. Here we describe three suction coring devices constructed with readily available plumbing supplies and parts easily made from acrylic plastic and silicone sealant. The samplers have been used successfully in sediments ranging from coarse sands and shell hash to muds, highly organic deposits, and...

Vertebrate embryos are extremely sensitive to environmental contaminants known as planar halogenated hydrocarbons (PHHs). The physiological targets that mediate PHH-induced embryotoxicity are not known. We have characterized embryotoxicity in medaka (Orizias latipes) caused by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the prototypic PHH. DNA degradation in cells of the embryonic...