Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment

ironment

The Gulf of'meCouncil on the Marine Environment

Marine Environmental QualiCvI/ in the Gulf of Maine The Gulf of Maine is among the world's mosl pro- ton Harbour that have been heavily polluted in the ductive water bodies. It has enjoyed a reputation for past. pristine waters, unspoiled beaches, and high quality All densely populated and industrialized R- seafood. It also has been considered the standard by gions of the Gulf have been affected, to greater and which other coastal environments should be lesser degrees, by local sources of pollution. Per- judged. Recent studies, however, have shown that haps the best example of the widespread nature of certain nearshore regions of the Gulf, thought to be Althalrglr the GraH the problem is the closure of shei1fish harvesting relatively clean, are as polluted as other heavily of Maine as a areas all along the Gulf coast, largely due to patho- populated and industrialized East Coast sites wRlale remains gens from human waste. The economic loss of tbis (Gottholm and Turgeon 1992; Larsen 1991). For- clasn, some fishery and accompanying threat to human health tunately, widespread degradation of the rich Gulf nearshare areas are unequivocal signs of degradation of marine en- ecosystem has not yet occurred. At the same time, are as polfutcd as vironmental quality. On rare occassions, health of- contaminants are declining in some areas like Bos- most other east ficials also have issued advisories due to unaccept-

Fact Sheet No. 94 - 1 in fish, sheIlfish, mnment and overfishing bas bad long term effects on offshore fishing stocks, such as herring on Georges Bank. This State of the Environment (SOE)Fact Sheet focuses on the threat to the marine environment from pollution. It examines the con- A#ar.ine prsii~rionIs such as tidal power in the the Introdrrclian by taminants in water, sediments, and tissues of the humans, directly ar region's marine organisms, especially in the indlrsrtly, of substances or energy Flgure 1 to the rnirrins . Indlcatlng niajor drelnage basins and underwater banks. environment result- ing 111 such rldalerl- orrs effects as harm to living resources; hazards to human tleaith; hlndrclrlee of marine activitjes; lmpslirrnaaf of f he quality far use of seawnter; and redudion of ameni- ties, including aesthetic waiua {Clark 1986).

Gulf of kin- on the Marine Environment, 1991 nearshore environment, within 10 km uZ the coast. coal-fired generating plants (Gottholm and Possible biological effects and implications for hu- Turgeon 1992). These so-called point suurces dis- man health are discussed, as well as remedial action charge contaminants directly to the environment now being undertaken. through an effluent pipe or smoke stack. ~owever, indirect, nun-point sources in the Gulf of Maine Vie rzetwark of f he watershed are large and ubiquitous (Figure 21, region's rivers from urban and agricultural run-off to septic sys- carries a steady tems (Van Dusen and Hayden 1989). The Gulf of Maine is a "sea within a sea." The stream af corrhrni- coastlines of three New England States-Massa- Tbree-quarters of marine pollution comes nunls-pathogens, chusetts, New Hampshire, and Maine--and two from human activities on the land. The network of heavy nle2al%, Canadian Provinces-New Brunswick and Nova the Gulf's rivels carry a steady stream of contami- sediments! rrutrl- Scotia+nclose it on three sides. On its seaward nants-pathogens, heavy metals, sediments, nutrients, and synthetic edge, underwater banks isolate the Gulf from the ents, and synthetic compounds-and deposits campounds+ind full influence of the open Atlantic Ocean (Figurel). them in the nearshore environment. Activities on deposits them In Tagether the Gulf of Maine and Bay of Fundy form the coast also contribute to this loading. As well, tila r=arshsn a single oceanoghpbic system that, twice daily, re- prevailing winds transport significant amounts of envimnrncnt. ceives an ebb and flow 2000 times the volume of the airborne contaminants from populated and indus- St. Lawrence River. The Gulf also includes offshore trialized regions to the west, and dump them into areas such as Georges Bank which has been called the Gulf. Due to their low flushing capacity, New "an oceanic miracle," for its fish-producing capac- England estuaries tend to retain contaminants. ity. However, tides, currents, wind action, and storm The geography and oceanography of the Gulf surges eventually distribute them along the coast of Maine make it particularly vulnerable to human and out to sea. activities on its shores (Cdgan 1989). The total drainage area of the Gulf of Maine, 179 000 km2,is vast and, within the US.,the Gulf is the third most densely populated coastal region (pop 4 593 000). Contaminants that cause harm to organisms or bio- Compared to other U.S. coastal regions, there are logical comlnunities are called pollutants. Glo- relatively few large industrial sources of pollution, bally, the contaminants that pose the greatest such as wastewater treatment, pulp and paper, and threat to the marine environment are: sewage (bac- teria and viruses), excessive nutrients (e.g., phos- .- .- and nitrogen), synthetic organic corn- tion is as valid now as it was then. litter and plastics, metals, The presence of contaminants in the envimn- including oil and ment, for example, in wakr and sediments, does not necessarily imply any hadleffects. Their presence in living tissues, however, indicates potential not easily broken down and for ham. It confirms that the contaminants are the environment. These sub- biologically available and may spread throughout the food web. Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Unnatural levels of Drug Administration have set standards for fish contaminants In consumption for a limited number of potentially water, redlmerrts, toxic substances. In rare instances when these lev- or llvlng tlssuss els have been exceeded, authorities have issued should act as a'n health advisories. early warning that Some su bsrances can cause harm at extremely an ecosystem or nsidous process is known as low dosages. For example, dioxin is toxic in parts organism is under Concentrations of contaminan& per trillion. At the very least, unnatural levels of stress. progressively through the food web in contaminants-whether in water, sediments, or living tissues-should act as an early warning that an ecosystem or organism is under stress. Ultimately, ecosystem health and human welfare may be affected.

f the food web. Heavy metals Heavy metals have been with us as major contami- I.. I.. as nants since tbe beginning of the Industrial Revolu- -'act. . an early warning tion. Many New England rivers were contaminated :are poisons, for there is nothing without heavily with metals during the 19th century from aqualities. It is only the dose which makes industries which exploited local sources of ore and a thing a1 poison," wrote Paracelsus, the 16th-cen- tbe abundant hydropower of the region. High levels tury Swi s physician and philosoplier. His observa- i of chromium are still found in estuaries, such as the 3 Figure.. ,...-...... Saco River, Maine, and Great Bay, New Hampshire, --'end blomagnlflcatlon In due to the past activities of tanneries (Armstrong et marlnel- nl. 1976; Mayer and Fink 1980). Surveys of Casco and Penobscot Bays in Maine revealed that chromium, capper, and lead concentrations were comparable to levels from sediments at New England sites which are currently far more industrialized (Larsen et al. 1983a,1984a) Highest concentrations of most metals were found at the head of bays, suggesting that river flow is a major pathway for contaminants into the marine environment.

Heavy metals in marine organisms A survey revealed high concentrations of metals in fish from the area of the Kennebec River plume- the wedge-like area at the mouth of the estuary, directly influenced by the warmer, fresher river flow The state f-, daneda's Environment, 1991 (NOAA 1987b). Surprisingly,livers of fish from tbe

:t Ill Kennebec plunie were more contaminated than birds (Carson 1962) and killed fish as it made its those from beavily industrialized Boston and Salem way into rivers--and ultimately to the sea. It en- Harbors for every metal except chromium. The tered the inarinc food web where it was shown to drainage of a very large, industrial watershed could cause eggshell thinning, leading to reproductive Livers of fish frrrrn account for the high degree of contamination. Con- failure and population declines in Northern Gan- taminants have been linked to pulp and paper, tan- nets and other seabirds. Though it has been re- the Kennebsc River ning, and textile industries in the 'Kenncbec River placed by other pesticides, twenly years later, DDT plume were Inore basin, as well as non-point sources such as fanns, and its highly toxic breakdown product, DDE, per- carztaminated than tiacsa from treauiiy forestry, and urban developn~ent(Maine State Plan- sist in the environment. fndustrlaIlzed ning Office 1993). During the 1950s and 1960s large tracts of Boston and Salem More difficult to explainare the high levels of forest in New Brunswick were sprayed with DDT to harbours for every lead in rock crabs from West Boothbay Harbour, combat sprucc budworm infeslalions. An estimated metal except cchra- Maine. Lead levels in their gills were equal to or 5.7 million kilogralns were used annually (Mjniswr miurn. higher than background levels from New York and of Supply and Services 1991a). DDT entered the Philadelphia ofkbore solid waste dumpsites. Bay of Fundy as run-off from Ibe Sainl John River area. This large watershed drains not only forest Contamination with heavy metals is not lim- land but also agricultural areas where thc use of ited to coastal Maine. In the Bay of Fundy, striped pesticides conlinues to be relatively high. bss from the Saint John River, New Brunswick, exhibited mercury levels ncarly fivc times the Every rour years between 1972 and 1988 Ca- Health Canada guidelines for fish consumption. nadian Wildlife Service biologists sampled eggs of Though mercury occurs naturally in soils, the very four sea bid species from Bay 01 Fund y breeding high levels found in the Saint John River fish sug- islands for organochlorine wnta mination. Seabirds gest a human-source (Eaton et al. 1986). are exce llenl monitors of long term lrcnds in marine pollution because they are long-lived, wide-rang- Recent evidence of elevated levels of metals ing, and, as top predators in the marine fond web, in marine organisms from several areas of the Gulf they tend to accumulate such ''[-dl-loving" conta~ni- suggcsts that pollutants are coming from contern- mnts as organochlorine compounds. porary sources as well as being remobilized from older sediments. It also emphasizcs the need to In all four species ~nonitored(Double-crested learn more about the distribution and movements of Connorants, Lcach's Storm Petrel, Atlantic Puf- metals and other pollutants in the Gull of Maine. fins, and Herring Gulls) residues of DDE declined significantly, as did dieldrin in the eggs of puffins Pesticides and cormorants (Noble and Burns 1990). With the decline of DDE, reproduction in Historically, the best known pesticide is DWT.Used Lcach's Storm Petrel nesting on Kent Islancl, New for controlling insects, DDT also "silenced" song-

Cl@br*~aiim:tlmnrinr...... iuumm~ls in the Baf of Bundl -1 .hmnny$u* ~0y,~.55r spqPgbald Tu'r kbe barbour pqmiv pphhairc Uw mhdrh&..Tb~ 'm ib ab~d~.b&h~h I~.-CLCU kg gC .PXICM~~Y105 oLmrId p.ytund~ to dtl-r~~b..~d~WChmkh 199 irr him a rL 19Yj); adhl~h k Jrkr nC cn~mhtnnp,Ehy al fidyhpqmkmmii~~,a~~~ and PCB grnki thrt 3he 31. I;rmtlxm. wbIChh wkd.he mst rmlmrl on ah.(?tf- d dl. I%> Mcm y kvek Inpmp~Lwlfvdl md .in hin,- IR mai& 10 tligit rtirricd slwd pi-iw -1 ~h ii 61m]. h r0dldoq Iha po- racaritwiirurtd wilb krioclr &j eklut~~lltrd~iiftdeb: -hidq.kudd&ls~ne, dd~m'h.be,a* diekliin- T&?e h, unInnumlely, iillk kmanbwr ik md&d tfftmall hi^ Incw..ofmnhmimnb m~m.mnj.rnk.What is incmph@y appm;b htI& c?laplMk ~cls'dmnWd~np. rbg wbh pbyrhl dgmagc to Lbirrt~,affect mrir# li~.(k~ l!R@'Aa@jm IO Wn{lW)p in'- mhrs &y of Fdywhere PI pqwbtioa~:ria1 .*'€p@-i,rm~qh,.$~~~~ anpumuaci #gc& ud indw.trk6 mu! lx i-fCed to traum rha+yt.lk urty'karl ro Ldkr ktc~irrrrirZanuhr place- has returned to normal. In fact, found in striped bass in the Annapolis and Saint are increasing. These changes are John rivers. This may be due to older fish having if not solely, due to reductions slowly bioaccumulated PCBs (Eaton et al. 1986). ' concentrations (Wells and Fish from Boston Harbor registered very high levels of PCBs in liver tissue, and forestry are important in the Gulf of Maine drainage Hydrocarbons ential for continuing Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are no systematic sam- among the oldest carcinogens known to humans. They were identified as the active ingredients in soot which caused scrota1 tumours in chimney Winter flounder sweeps in the 18th century. They are again under It~ers Boston scrutiny around the world because of their carcino- from ount of these toxic compounds may and Salem Harbors genic and mutagenic properties. PAHs generally the Gulf of Maine through the canta !sf the highest enter the environment through the incomplete com- ~ncentratknsot bustion of fossil fuels. Principal sources are thermal ODT found on the power plants and vehicle exhaust orsen 1991; logical effects. Winter flounder east coast ot th~ Eaton er al. 1986). PAHs are found in sedimem Boston and Salem Harbors, however, U.S. tbroughout the Gulf of Maine. Major hotspots are ns of DDT found the Boston Harbor area and industrialized soutbern New England.- Some coastal Maine sites have PAH wncentrations cornpara ble to those from the most biphenyls (PCBs) industrialized regions of the world. PortIand Harbor has the highest concentrations, suggesting local y of chemicals with over 200 vari- sources associated with automobile and aircraft vidence that long tenn exposure to traffic, petroleum bandling facilities, and munici- pal sewer systems, among others in the urban area. h defects in mammals. They were In Penobsmt Bay concentrations are highest in the estuary indicating that river run-off is a very important soum of PAH pollution in the GuIf (Figure 4). use was banned in North Other sources may be the petroleum handling facil- s are extremely persistent ity at Searsport and airbme pollution from U.S. Highway 1. a lack of obvious sources fostered PrevaiIing westerly winds also transport the Bs were not a problem in coastal compounds and deposit them directly oftkhore (Fig- Only 60% of the and fish liver data show that they ure 5). In fact, sediment PAH concentration in- known to ys in 1982 and 1983 found trace PCBs creases with depth in the basins of the Gulf where have baen lmpcsrttd s throughout Fenobscot Bay and they appear to be accumulating (Windsor and Hites ento Atllantic Eshore basins of the Gulf (Larsen 1979; Larsen et aal. 1986). hiladla haw k~cn levels in sediments vary greatly accaunterf for. The Harbor are similar to industrial are Risks associated with oil spills heiancr lo tllasrght r their PCB wntamination, includ- to have been re- and Salem Harbors (Lamen 1991). In the Gulf of Maine thick fogs, strong tidal cur- Esascd into the rents, and the complex coastline increase the risks tnvlronrnen.t. 4 in marine otganim associated with shipping. Some of the largest tankers in the world tali at Saint John, New ~hnswick. wn to have been im- In 1986,13 billion L entered the port of Saint Jobn; have been accounted in addition, 7.5 billion L of oil were landed at Port- to have been released land, Maine. Projections are that the development nicipal sewage treat- of the Hibemia oil field off Newfoundland would sites, incinerators; and fish increase traffic in PortIand by 19 tankers a month. vels of PCBs were Flgure 4 Even small spills can cause large losses in The diatrlbutlon of total PAH concentration In the ourlace sediments of Penobscot Bay. circumstances where birds are concentrated. Many small spills continue to occur near refineries. (No fewer than 36 oil spills were recorded for the Irving Prevailing winds Campod, near Saint John, N.B., during the 1970s.) transport PAHs and Moreover, shipping chronically disposes of oily deposit them bilge water into Atlantic waters, in some instances, sfbhom where they with high losses to seabirds encountering slicks appear to be aecu- (Wells and Rolston 1991). rrrulating in the deep basins d the Oil also poses e threat to the Gulf's rich fish- Gulf. eries. In 1976 oil spilled from tbe Argo Merchant when it foundered on the Nantucket Shoals, south- east of Cape Cod. Moltality in cdeggs of 20 to 98 per cent occurred near the spill. Samples of surviv- ing pollack eggs displayed genetic damage and evidence of developmental abnormalities (Van Dusen and Hayden 1989). A major spiIl also could have long tern implications for the productivity of Georges Bank. In 1989 the fishing industry's fears forced the Nova Scotian and Canadian governments to ban of& hore oil exploration on Georges Bank until the year Van Dusen, K. andA.C. Johnson Hayden. 1989 2000. It was intended that the moratorium would allow time for scientists to study the issue (Harding In the past, several spills, ranging from 750 000 to 1992). Finally, an oil spill also jeopardizes the 2 250 000 L, occurred in Gulf ports. The potential multi-million dollar salmon aquaculture industry for a catastrophic oil spill, on the scale of the Enon centred in the Passamaquoddy Bay region of New VaUez, exists now and is likely to increase with Brunswick and Maine. greater tanker traffic. Oiling spells doom for seabirds, causing their Flgun? 5 feathers and barbules to lose their waterproofing PAH concentratlons (ppb dry welght) In the and insulation value. A major oil spill threatens Gulf of Malne. seabirds and shorebirds that congregate in the Bay of Fundy during their migrations. Seabirds in the lower Bay of Fundy are especially wlneiable be- it has been eat!- cause of their tendency to concentrate in areas mated where tidal upwellings bring food to the surface. It that an ail has been estimated that a major oil spill in the spill In the Passe uoddy Passamaquoddy Bay area would put at risk a mini- maq mum of 80 000 birds, including gulls, alcids, ducks, Bay ares wouid put and phalaropes (Brown 1982). at risk a minimum erf 80 000 birds, Oil also endangers great flocks of diving IrtcIuding gulls, ducks, such as eiders, buffleheads, and sbters, that, nlcFds, diving in winter, feed inshallow subtidal areas off the New ducks, and Englind coast. Currently, a large oil spill consti- phalaropes. tutes the major threat to the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserves at the head of the Bay of Fundy, which annually host 1.4 million shorebirds. Oil - ,.. . could be carried by the tides and cause mass mortal- - J Lanen; F?, 1992 ity of their food organisms on the mudflats. Flgure 7 eflects of pollution stress. Some Internal effects of polluffon stress.

In grossIy pblluted areas, crabs, mussels, flounders, and other bottom- dwellers exhibit visible diseases . and abrrbrrntali-tles.

Liver, kidney, spleen and other lesions

Sinderrnann, J., 1980

Diseases in shefrfish and finfish amounw of some persistent pollutants Brown spot disease in rock crabs, named for the iochemical and physiological functions ulcerated areas on the crustaceans' shells, has been animals. Ultimately, chronic, low observed in the New York Bight where it is associ- may have cumulative effects on or- ated with dumpsites. In Maine waters, this disease ts, and whole ecosystems. It is very was first reported in 1989 in rock crabs from the onstrate a direct cause and effect re- Kennebec River plume. Fishers in the same area n contaminants and biological ef- have reported fin rot in winter flounders and win- .with the hard question, "Can you dow pane flounders, and fin mt as well as external t the disease condition seen in turnours in codfish (Larsen 1991). is caused by specific environ- Many studies show that commercially valu- ?", the answer at present has able shellfish, crustaceans, and fish in Atlantic to Sindennann (1479) Cir- Canada can contain a wide variety of contaminants, and experimental evidence, however, such as DDT residues, PCBs, and other ;adequate to associate certain disease organochlorines. Although there is limited field rine finfish and shel'Eish' evidence to indicate that these contaminants are ,and ulcers, with pollutants in gen- causing or contributing to direct or indirect biological effects, some examples of sick, heavily contarni- nated fish have kendocumented in the region's coastal waters, including the Bay of Fundy (Wells with contaminated sediments and RoIston 1991). and abnormalities (Figures 6 and 7). Implications for human health of unfavourable environmental condi- 1987). The appearance of these The biomagnification of contaminants through the If region indicates that the sys- food web can make fish unsuitable for human consumption. Consequently, both Health Canada and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have estab- lished fish consumption criteria based on a "safe" ably high levels of dioxin in lobsier tomalley. level of exposure to a contaminant from all sources At best, fish consumplion advisories arc stop (Government of Canada 1991b). gap measures, designed to mitigate but not remove Studies done in the last dccade indicate the the risk to hulrlan health. As well, criteria have ycl potential for contamination of fish species in the to be set for many contaminants. In the long term, Gut[ of Maine. To date, contanlinanrs rarely have what is required is a greater commit~ncntto rc- rcacbed levels requiring health advisories. How- search, especially on the effects of long term, low ever, in 1988, on the basis of an EPA study, the level exposure, and to the reduction of exposures Massachusetts Department of Public Health issued through conlrol 01 contaminanrs at the source. a health advisory for contaminants in fish and shellfish from Boston Harbor, including Quincy Bay. All persons were advised to stop eating lobstcr tomalley due to abnormally high chemical contaminant levels, especially PCBs (Unitcd States Environmental Protection Agency 1988; Massachusetts Depart- Recent sludies indicate that, in somc instances, ment of Public Health 1988). In 1'394, a similar ad- there have bccn actual dcclincs in contaminant lev- E-liamiagnificstion of visory was issued for Maine waters duc to unaccept- els in nearshorc areas or thr Gulf (Larsen and cofltarrrinar~ta Gaudetle hpress; Albcret a/. 1993). These. sludies th-srougls the Inad GY~Bcan make fish naincivsuw adrist:~ryfc: ubstu eaters unsuitable for d - ' r human cansump- I February, 1994, Maine stamtehealth officials warned nursing mothers, pregnant women, and women tinn. :Mld bearing age lo avoid eating lobster tomalley, the soft grcen substance in the body cavity of the wked lobster. The advisory followed a 1993 Maine Department of Environmental Protection PEP) tudy showing that lobster tomalleydonsidered a delicacy by soli~e-qoniainedunacceplably high :vels aE dioxin. ~b'esame advisory did not apply to lobsler meal, howcver (Porter 1994). There are,75 varieties of diqxins (polychlorinated dibenzo dioxins). All are by-products and 'co~i- ~minantsof cblodnated.ofganic compound?. Dioxim are cansidered toxic at uaimaginabjy small dos- ges-20 parts per trillion. (One part,pe,l !rillibn is equivalent to a grain 01salt inAanOlympic size wimming pool.) Sam$ s&en'tists believe_ tbat 2?3,7,8-tetrachloro-p:dibenzodioxin'(TCDD) is the most I bxic synthetic substance knM. Dioxins cause cancer and birth defects in lahkitory animals, and arc ought to damage the human nervpus and immune_systems. Dioxin levels in tbe meat ok~ainelobsters+ne part per trillion+re considered safe. The higher :vels found in the tomalley. (13-30 ppt) relate to ik filtering function. The tomalley functions as the epatopan'cre'ilsdin~eIive a~mal.It metabolizes and detoxifies all substances consumed by the lobster. :hemica15 that cannot be eliminated concentrate thcre, in the fatty tissue. 'T . , F 1 - 1. Persons- in the gekral population could safely consume 150 lobster meals per year without signifi- mtly increasing

Citizen responsibi@ Impmvernhxrts to Citizens of the Gulf have a part to play in monitor- Boston's sewer the most grossly polluted harbour ing and safeguarding the marine environmental system to haue led f the United States (Kotelly 1988), quality in the Gulf, botb as individuals and as mem- a doctino In mast bers of organizations. A survey of marine-related organic eom- organizations identified the protection of wildlife :with a federal court order to pounds )ti the habitat as a top priority. Clean water was considered harbour.

cia1 fish stocks (Gulf of Maine Council on the Ma-

Industry and municipalities have been, and the Harbor; sludge added continue to be, major polluters. Regulated and vol- ich adhered to the solids), untary reductions from these sources will be critical to ensuring the hture health of the Gulf. Individual actions also can play a significant role in control- of mussels near the Deer Island ling marine pollution. Poorly maintained septic s indicated a decline of most or- tanks and the careless dumping of crankcase oil, It is too early to tell whether de- solvents, and pesticides into sewers and backyards, in a of a11 contribute to wstaI contamination (Holt 1989). Lifestyle choices, such as high consumption of marine-transported products like oil, also cause degradation of the marine environment. Driving all-ter- rain vehicles through stream beds, or through wetlands and coastal dune systems, can cause direct rovincialand state jurisdictions, two damage to wildlife habitat. Individuals also can make a significant con- f, and responsibility for, the tribution to improving marine environmental qual- ecosystem, including offshore areas ity. Beach clean-ups have become a common activ- ank. They also bold in common cul- ity along the Gulf coastline. The Coastal Partners :that have been built upon the ocean Project, based in New Brunswick, collected and catalogued over 8400 pieces of marine debris from

Citizens at the Gutt have a part to play In rnonltorlng and Citizens, through their monitoring and lob- safeguarding the bying activities, can bring problems to the attention marine environ- of legislators and govenunent off~cialsand apply pressure to affect change in public policy. mental quality In of the Gulf of Maine, thus cre- the Gcrlf, batti as ne Council on the Marine En- lndlvldrralrr and as Research needs mernbers af organ!- rations. uncil is implementing a 10-year Ac- A great deal remains to be done to undestand and ity in the Gulf of Maine and to allow toring programs must be expanded to include new 'resource use by existing and future areas and new classes of contaminants toxic to marine life. Seasonal and lung-tern studies are re- taminant levels that often exceed levels reported quired to determine the effects of the massive sum- from areas notorious for their pollution, like New mer influx of tourists to the coast. Perhaps most York's Long Island Sound. We must conclude that important, research must be expanded, beyond some nearshore areas in the Gulf of Maine are as monitoring of contaminants, to improve the under- contaminated as other east coast sites. While it Is clear that standing of the natural processes in the ecosystem These findings, however, do not suggest a same piarts of the and what constitutes "ecosystem health." system-wide degradation of marine environmental Gulf d Mains litrve More research effort must be directed at an quality in the Gulf of Maine. The Gulf as a whole not escaped the understanding of Lhe combined and cumulative ef- remains relatively clean, although the deep central envlmnrnsntal fects of contamina nt mixtures on wi ldlife, as well as basins appear to be accumulating several pollut- cantsminatkn that the long-term effects of exposure to low concentra - ants, including PAHs and PCBs. has hcorne corn- tions of contaminants. manplace in U.S. The appearance of conditions, such as tin rot and Canadian Special attention should be given to the major and brown spot disease, points to the potential seri- caasW1 waters, river and coastal current systems which deliver ousness of contaminant levels in some areas of the tlroro has not hena large and diverse quantities of contaminants to the Gulf. At the same time, here are indications that system-wlds degra- Gulf of Maine and distribute hem along the coast the levels of some contaminants are declining, in datlon of marine (Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environ- part due to improved wastewater treatment and the environmental ment 1992). ban on leaded gasoline. quality duo to Research and monitoring of contaminants in pollution In the Gulf the Gulf needs to be expanded. Although our under- ot Mains. Howevesl, standing of the Gulf has improved in the last dec- research and monl- It is clear that some parts of the Gulf of Maine have ade, it is not adequate to address immediate prob- toring oi contarni- not escaped the environmental contamination that lems, let alone provide for long-term environmen- nisnts needs to be has become commonplace in U.S. and Canadian tal planning. expanded. coastal waters. The most contaminated sites are in Public participation through individual ac- the vicinity of highly urbanized areas, such as Bos- tion and organized lobby groups is key to better ton, Salem, Portland, and Saint John. The moulhs coastal management and a cleaner, healthier Gulf of heavily industrialized rivers, such as the of Maine. Ke~ebec,Memmack, and Saint John, have con- Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. 1991. The Gulf of Maine action plan 1991- 2000. of Boston Harbor 1992. Boston, MA: Water Resources Authority, Gulf of Maine Council onthe Marine Environment. 1992. J. Wiggin and C. Mooe~s(eds.). Pro- ceedings of the Gulf of Maine scientific work- B., C.M.Hanson and H.E. Gaudette. shop. Boston: University of Massachusetts. inor elements in sediments of Great ary, New Hampshire. Envimnmental Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. 1992. Evaluation of Gulfiatch, 1991 Pilot project of the Gulf of Maine marine environ- randum. Maine Lobster Pro- mental monitoring plan. October, 1992. ncil. February 2, 1994. Gulf of Maine Council on the Marine Environment. Bro 82. Birds, oil and the Canadian 1993. "Turning the Tide" Council and foun- in J.H. Vandenneulen (ed.) Oil dations stress habitat, water quality. rsants in Canadian seas-research and recommendations. Environ- Harding, G. C. 1992. A review of the majw marine ada, Economic and Technical Re- environmental concerns off the Canadian pott EPS 3-EC-82-2. east coast in the 1980s. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences R.L. 1962. Silent spring. Boston: 1885. gMoa.MiWin Co. Hicks, L. 1994. Preliminary results in the dioxin in Jkonomic growth trends on the the lobster meat and tomalley study. Maine in D.W. Townsend and Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural The Gulf of Maine. Wash- Resources memorandum. January, 1994. K NOAA Coastal Ocean Program. Holt, D. 1989. The contaminated coast. Atlantic L.P. Hildebrand, and A.A. Insighr. October 1989. 1986. Environmental quality ntic region 1985. Dartmouth: En- Johnson, A.C., P.F. Larsen, D.F.Gadbois,andA.W. Canada, Environmental Protec- Humanson. 1985. The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the surficial sediments of Penobscot Bay (Maine, Canada et al. 1991. Toxic chemicals U.S.A.) in relation to possible sources and Lakes and associated effects, syn- other sites worldwide. Marine Environmen- Ottawa: Minister of Supply and Serv- tal Research. Vol. 15. Kekacs, A. Dioxins enters rivers as mill waste. Ban- The Ecology of Whales and gor Daily News. February 3,1994. London: Heinemam. Kotelly, R. 1988. in Wells, P.G. and J. Gmtwick and D.D. Turgeon. 1992. (eds.) Halifax: Canadian conference on ma- ,Maryland: National Oceanic and rine environmental quality: proceedings. Administration. Larsen, P.F., D.F. Gadbois, and A.C. Johnson. .of Canada. 1991a. The State of Cana- 1985. Observations on the distribution of Ottawa: Canada Commu- PCBs in the deep water sediments of the Gulf ai-hn Group. of Maine. Marine Pollution Bulletin. Vol. 16. f Canada. 1991b. Toxic chemicals in Larsen, P.F., D.F. Gadbois, and A.C. Johnson. es and associated effects. 2 vol- 1986. Pol ycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in opsis. Toronto: Environment Gulf of Maine sediments: distributions and Ington, Ontario: Department of mode of transport. Marine Pollution Bulletin. and Oceans; and Ottawa: Health Vol. 18. Larsen, P.F., V. Zdanowicz, A.C. Johnson, and L.F. management. National Oceanic and Atmm- Doggett. 1983. Tmce metals in New England pheric Administration. NOAA Estuary-of- marine sediments: Casco Bay, Maine in rela- the-Month, Seminar series no. 4. tion to other sites. Chem. Ecol. 1, 191. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Adminis tra - Larsen, P.F., V. Zdanowicz, kc. Johnson. 1984. tion. 1987a. Rockville, Maryland: National Trace metal distributions in the surficial status and trends program for marine envi- sediments of Penobscot Bay, Maine. Bull. ronmental quality: progress report and pre- Environ. Contam. Toxicol. 31, 566. liminary assessment of findings of the benthic surveillance project 1984, Office of Larsen, P. 1992. Marine environmental quality in Oceanography and Marine Assessment. the Gulf of Maine. Reviews in Aquatic Sci- ences 6 (1): 67-87. Nationa 1 Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra - Larsen, P. and H.E. Gaudette. in press. Spatial and tion. 1987b. Rockville, Maryland: National status and trends program for marine envi- temporal aspects of sedimentary trace metal ronmental quality: progress report-+ sum- concentrations in mid-coast Maine. Marine mary of selected data on the chemical con- Pollution Bulletin. taminants in sediments collected during Maine Department of Agriculture Food and Rural 1984, 1985, 1986, and 1987. NOAA Tech Resources. Preliminary results in the dioxin Mem NOS OMA. in lobster meat and tomalley study. Noble, D.G. and S.P. Burns. 1990. Contaminants in Maine Department of Environment Protection, Canadian seabirds. Ottawa: Environment State of Maine. 1993. Report to the Standing Canada, Conservation and Protection. State Committee of the Legislature on Energy and of the Environment Fact Sheet No. 90- 1. Natural Resources on implementation of a Pearce, J.B. 1991. Collective effects of development comprehensive surface water ambient toxic on the marine environment. Oceanologica monitoring program. Acta. P~oceedingsof the international Maine Lobster Promotion Council. 1994. Press re- colloquium on the environment of lease. February 2, 1994. epicontinental seas, Lillie, 20-22 March, 1991. Maine State Planning Office. 1993 Ke~ebecRiver Resource Management Plan: balancing Porter, N. 1994. State issues advisory for lobster hydropower generation and other uses. Natu- eaters. Bangor Daily News. February 3,1994. ral Resources Policy Division. Sindermann, C.J. 1979. Pollution-associated dis- Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 1988. eases and abnormalities of fish and shellfish: Health advisory for contaminants in fish and a review. Fishery Bulletin 76, 4. shellfish from Quincy Bay. The Common- Sindermann, C. J. 1980. A critical examination of wealth of Massachusetts, June 20, 1988. the relationships between pollution and dis- Masse, R., D. Martineau, L. Tremblay and P. ease. International Council for the Explora- Beland. 1986. Concentrations and chromato- tion of the Sea: Special meeting on diseases of graphic profile of DDT residues in stranded commercially important marine fish and Beluga whales (Delphhpterus leucas) from shellfish, October 1-3, 1980. the St. Lawrence estuary. Can. Arch. Thurston, H. 1990. Tidal life, a natural history of Environ. Contam. Toximl. 15:567-79. the Bay of Fundy. Camden East, Ontario: Mayer, L.M. and L.K. Fink, Jr. 1980. Camden House Publishing. Granulometric dependence of chromium ac- Wells, PJ. and S.J. Rolston (eds.). 1991. Health of cumulation in estuarine sediments in Maine. our oceans: a status report on Canadian ma- Estuarine Coastal Marine Science 11, 491. rine environmental quality. Dartmouth and Mumhelano, R. 1987.in Boston Harbor and Massa- Ottawa: Environment Canada, Conservation chusetts Bay: Issues, resources, status and and Protection. Fir further wading : Island Journal. 1993. Volume ten. Rockland Maine: Island Institute. ~llonio,S. 1979. The Gulf of Maine. Rockland, Maine: Courier-Gazette, Inc. Kelley, J.T., A.R. Kelley, and O.H. Filkey, Sr. 1989. Living with the coast of Maine. Durham, Backus, R.P. (ed.). 1987. &orges Bank. Cam- North Carolina: Duke University Press. bridge, Massachusetts: MIT Press. MacLeish, W.H. 1985. Oil and water, the stniggle Bemll, M. and D. Berrill. 1981. The North Atlantic for Georges Bank. Boston: The Atlantic Coast: Cape Cod to Newfoundland. San Fran- Monthly Press. cisco: Si,erra Club Books. Simon, A.W. 1986. ~e~tune'srevenge: the ocean of Clark, R.B. 1986. Marine pollution. New York: tomorrow. Toronto: Bantam Books. Oxford University Press. Thurston, H. 199Q.Tidal life, a nanrml history of GESAMP. 1991 Tbe state of the marine environ- the Bay of Fundy. Camden East, Ontario: ment. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific Publics- Camden House PubliShing. - tions. For fiirther infi~rrnaltitm about the Gulf of Maine Program or about the Gulf of Maine Stak of the Environment [series may be obtained by contacting:

The& a. State Planning Office The New Hampshire Coastal Program 184 L Street, State House Stn 38 2 1/2 Beacon Street miw Maine Concord, NH U.S.A mt.' U.S.A., 03301 Phone Q 287-3261; Fax (207) 287-5756 Phone (603) 272-2155; Fax (603) 271-1728 Tfie~k &&m CZM Program The Nova Scotia Department of the Environment 100 c st, Rm 2006 P.O. &BOX2107

~osto; €4." Halihx, NS U.S.A *. Canada, B3J 3B7 Phone ,7)727-9530; Fax (617) 727-2754 Phone (902) 424-5300; Fax (902) 424-0501 The N Brunswick Department of the Environ- ment P.O,.B 6000,364 Argyle Street A4NB -Canad W'5H1 Phone EiJ 453-3703; Fax (506) 453-3843

Authors: Harry Thurston and Peter Larsen Design: Jay Rutherford, typographic communications Produced by: Peter W. Mushkat Kt. . . was reviewed by members of the Regional Association for Research on the Gulf of Maine, however, the opinions contained within remain those of the authors. Publication of this Fact Sheet has been made possible through the assistance of State of the Environment Reporting, Environment Canada, the United States Environmental Protection Agency. financial support was provided by Maine Yankee, a private corporation in Maine,