Chesapeake and Delaware Bays are the largest estuaries on the east coast of the United States. They support extensive fisheries and provide critical habitat for many species of wildlife. These Bays are surrounded by vast agricultural andindustrialized regions, with urbanized areas, all of which are a source of pollution that can affect natural resources. We have long monitored contaminants in this region, and in some instances our research has led to the mitigation of harmful effects.
The Challenge: Agricultural, industrial and urban activities have had major effects on waterbirds in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Some legacy pollutants (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, flame retardants, metals) pose a potential threat to wildlife in some locations. Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disrupting compounds have been detected in water and fish tissue, yet knowledge of effects on wildlife is limited.
The Science: A re-evaluation of contaminant exposure in ospreys nesting in Chesapeake Bay (Regions of Concern: Baltimore Harbor/Patapsco, Anacostia/middle Potomac and Elizabeth Rivers; Susquehanna and James Rivers) and Delaware Bay (Cape Henlopen, DE north to Bristol, PA) was undertaken between 2011- 2015. In Chesapeake Bay, organochlorine pesticides and their metabolites declined over time, but PCBs remained high in some locations like Baltimore Harbor. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants have declined since 2000, but remain elevated in the vicinity of wastewater treatment plants. There was evidence of DNA damage in industrialized and urbanized locations. Overall, osprey productivity in Chesapeake Bay remains adequate to maintain a stable population. A suite of pharmaceuticals and the artificial sweetener sucralose were quantified in water, and fish and osprey plasma. Of the 24 analytes, 18 were detected in water, 8 in fish plasma, but only one diltiazem (pharmaceutical for blood pressure management) in osprey nestling plasma. In fish and osprey plasma, levels of pharmaceuticals were below human therapeutic concentrations. Similar work was conducted in Delaware Bay in 2015, and findings indicate that osprey productivity is adequate and sample analyses are currently underway.
The Future: This research is expanding our knowledge of ecotoxicological hazards to waterbirds in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and may have implications for human health. Data will be used by regulatory and resource management agencies to prioritize contaminants of concern, and develop management actions to mitigate pollution. Even though empirical concentrations of drugs in the present study are below human therapeutic levels, there are limited data for wildlife which makes interpretation challenging. Findings are contributing to the improvement of environmental quality, ecosystem integrity, and sustainability of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
Below are publications associated with this project.
Examination of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware Bay and River in 2015
Pharmaceuticals in water, fish and osprey nestlings in Delaware River and Bay
Chesapeake Bay fish–osprey (Pandion haliaetus) food chain: Evaluation of contaminant exposure and genetic damage
Exposure and food web transfer of pharmaceuticals in ospreys (Pandion haliaetus): Predictive model and empirical data
Decadal re-evaluation of contaminant exposure and productivity of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay Regions of Concern
Contaminant exposure and reproductive success of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay regions of concern
Effects of contaminant exposure on reproductive success of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware River and Bay, USA
Evaluation of osprey habitat suitability and interaction with contaminant exposure
Concentrations of metals in blood and feathers of nestling ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays
Below are partners associated with this project.
- Overview
Chesapeake and Delaware Bays are the largest estuaries on the east coast of the United States. They support extensive fisheries and provide critical habitat for many species of wildlife. These Bays are surrounded by vast agricultural andindustrialized regions, with urbanized areas, all of which are a source of pollution that can affect natural resources. We have long monitored contaminants in this region, and in some instances our research has led to the mitigation of harmful effects.
The Challenge: Agricultural, industrial and urban activities have had major effects on waterbirds in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays. Some legacy pollutants (PCBs, organochlorine pesticides, flame retardants, metals) pose a potential threat to wildlife in some locations. Pharmaceuticals, personal care products, and endocrine disrupting compounds have been detected in water and fish tissue, yet knowledge of effects on wildlife is limited.
The Science: A re-evaluation of contaminant exposure in ospreys nesting in Chesapeake Bay (Regions of Concern: Baltimore Harbor/Patapsco, Anacostia/middle Potomac and Elizabeth Rivers; Susquehanna and James Rivers) and Delaware Bay (Cape Henlopen, DE north to Bristol, PA) was undertaken between 2011- 2015. In Chesapeake Bay, organochlorine pesticides and their metabolites declined over time, but PCBs remained high in some locations like Baltimore Harbor. Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ether flame retardants have declined since 2000, but remain elevated in the vicinity of wastewater treatment plants. There was evidence of DNA damage in industrialized and urbanized locations. Overall, osprey productivity in Chesapeake Bay remains adequate to maintain a stable population. A suite of pharmaceuticals and the artificial sweetener sucralose were quantified in water, and fish and osprey plasma. Of the 24 analytes, 18 were detected in water, 8 in fish plasma, but only one diltiazem (pharmaceutical for blood pressure management) in osprey nestling plasma. In fish and osprey plasma, levels of pharmaceuticals were below human therapeutic concentrations. Similar work was conducted in Delaware Bay in 2015, and findings indicate that osprey productivity is adequate and sample analyses are currently underway.
The Future: This research is expanding our knowledge of ecotoxicological hazards to waterbirds in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays, and may have implications for human health. Data will be used by regulatory and resource management agencies to prioritize contaminants of concern, and develop management actions to mitigate pollution. Even though empirical concentrations of drugs in the present study are below human therapeutic levels, there are limited data for wildlife which makes interpretation challenging. Findings are contributing to the improvement of environmental quality, ecosystem integrity, and sustainability of Chesapeake and Delaware Bays.
- Publications
Below are publications associated with this project.
Examination of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware Bay and River in 2015
A study of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in the coastal Inland Bays of Delaware, and the Delaware Bay and Delaware River in 2015 examined spatial and temporal trends in contaminant exposure, food web transfer and reproduction. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides and metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), coplanar PCB toxic equivalents, polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) aPharmaceuticals in water, fish and osprey nestlings in Delaware River and Bay
Exposure of wildlife to Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs) is likely to occur but studies of risk are limited. One exposure pathway that has received attention is trophic transfer of APIs in a water-fish-osprey food chain. Samples of water, fish plasma and osprey plasma were collected from Delaware River and Bay, and analyzed for 21 APIs. Only 2 of 21 analytes exceeded method detection limitChesapeake Bay fish–osprey (Pandion haliaetus) food chain: Evaluation of contaminant exposure and genetic damage
From 2011 to 2013, a large-scale ecotoxicological study was conducted in several Chesapeake Bay (USA) tributaries (Susquehanna River and flats, the Back, Baltimore Harbor/Patapsco Rivers, Anacostia/ middle Potomac, Elizabeth and James Rivers) and Poplar Island as a mid-Bay reference site. Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) diet and the transfer of contaminants from fish to osprey eggs were evaluated. TheExposure and food web transfer of pharmaceuticals in ospreys (Pandion haliaetus): Predictive model and empirical data
The osprey (Pandion haliaetus) is a well-known sentinel of environmental contamination, yet no studies have traced pharmaceuticals through the water–fish–osprey food web. A screening-level exposure assessment was used to evaluate the bioaccumulation potential of 113 pharmaceuticals and metabolites, and an artificial sweetener in this food web. Hypothetical concentrations in water reflecting “wasteDecadal re-evaluation of contaminant exposure and productivity of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay Regions of Concern
The last large-scale ecotoxicological study of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Chesapeake Bay was conducted in 2000-2001 and focused on U.S. EPA-designated Regions of Concern (ROCs; Baltimore Harbor/Patapsco, Anacostia/middle Potomac, and Elizabeth Rivers). In 2011-2012, ROCs were re-evaluated to determine spatial and temporal trends in productivity and contaminants. Concentrations of p,p'-DDE wereContaminant exposure and reproductive success of Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Chesapeake Bay regions of concern
The Chesapeake Bay osprey population has more than doubled in size since restrictions were placed on the production and use of DDT and other toxic organochlorine contaminants in the 1970s. Ospreys are now nesting in the most highly polluted portions of the Bay. In 2000 and 2001, contaminant exposure and reproduction were monitored in ospreys nesting in regions of concern, including Baltimore HarboEffects of contaminant exposure on reproductive success of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) nesting in Delaware River and Bay, USA
Despite serious water-quality problems and pollutant loading and retention, Delaware River and Bay(USA) provide important wildlife habitat. In 2002, we conducted a comprehensive evaluation of contaminant exposure and reproduction of ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) breeding in Delaware River and Bay. Sample eggs were collected from 39 nests and analyzed for organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biEvaluation of osprey habitat suitability and interaction with contaminant exposure
Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) have been the focus of conservation efforts since their dramatic population decline attributed to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and related chemicals in the 1960s. Several recent studies of ospreys nesting in the United States have indicated improved reproduction. However, the density of breeding ospreys varies greatly among locations, with some areas seemingly habiConcentrations of metals in blood and feathers of nestling ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) in Chesapeake and Delaware Bays
In 2000, 2001, and 2002, blood and feather samples were collected from 40–45-day-old nestling ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) from Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay and River. Concentrations of 18 metals, metalloids, and other elements were determined in these samples by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, and Hg concentrations were measured by cold vapor atomic absorption spectroscopy. When c - Partners
Below are partners associated with this project.