Contaminants in Seaward Migrating Juvenile Salmon from the Puyallup River: Potential Impacts on Their Early Marine Survival

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Contaminants in Seaward Migrating Juvenile Salmon from the Puyallup River: Potential Impacts on Their Early Marine Survival Contaminants in seaward migrating juvenile salmon from the Puyallup River: potential impacts on their early marine survival Sandra O’Neill, Andrea Carey Louisa Harding, James West, Robert Fisk, Mariko Langness, Danielle Nordstrom Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife 2019 Puyallup Watershed Symposium Toxics-focused Biological Observation System (TBiOS) We evaluate the effects of toxic contaminants on marine and anadromous species to: ➢ guide efforts to protect fish and shellfish health, ➢ ensure seafood safety, and ➢ promote ecosystem recovery. juvenile Chinook salmon transplanted mussels Chinook and coho salmon Pacific herring TBiOS Indicator Species Spot prawn English sole Dungeness crab Research Question: Juvenile Chinook Salmon Are seaward migrating juvenile Chinook salmon in Puget Sound exposed to contaminants at levels high enough to affect their health and productivity? salmon won’t survive. If contaminant levels are too high, …. Talk Outline • Summarize contaminant concerns for juvenile Chinook salmon from Puyallup/Commencement Bay vs. other Puget Sound river systems. • Results based on two major studies: • 2013 study of 5 major river estuaries and associated marine nearshore • 2016 study of all major Puget Sound river estuaries • High PCB results, briefly mention other contaminants of concern • Next Steps • Planned in-depth 2020 study of contaminant exposure in Puyallup/ Commencement Bay juvenile Chinook 2013 Sampling Design Skagit 5 major rivers systems Snohomish 2013 Duwamish Hylebos / Puyallup Nisqually 2013 Sampling Design Skagit 5 major rivers systems • (May) Snohomish 2013 Duwamish Fall Chinook Hylebos / Puyallup Nisqually 2013 Sampling Design Skagit 5 major rivers systems • (May) (June) Snohomish 2013 Duwamish Fall Chinook Hylebos / Puyallup Nisqually Methods: contaminants measured 480 fish combined into 67 composite samples Whole body - PCBs PBDEs Persistent Organic Pollutants DDTs, HCB Chlordanes HCHs Gills - Metals Gut Contents - PAHs Zinc ∑37 PAHs Cadmium Copper Lead Nickel Results: Persistent Organic Pollutants • toxic man-made chemicals; global distribution • dissolve easily in animal fat – PCBs (lipophilic) – PBDE – Chlordanes • not easily metabolized – DDTs – HCB • bio-accumulate in biota – HCH Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) less Whole body - POPs Skagit (4) development System Snohomish (4) System Green/Duwamish (4) System Estuary: Highest Hylebos/Puyallup (1) PCBs measured in System Chinook from the Nisqually (4) Hylebos, but limited less System sample size. development 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 eTPCBs (ng/g ww) Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) less (4) Skagit (5) development System (5) Snohomish (4) (5) System (5) Green/Duwamish (4) (5) System (5) Nearshore: Second Hylebos/Puyallup (1) (5) highest PCB System (5) concentration (4) measured in Chinook Nisqually (5) less System (5) salmon caught in development Commencement Bay 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 eTPCBs (ng/g ww) Total Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs) Whole body - POPs (4) y Skagit (5) A System (5) % with multiple (4) z 75% adverse affects Snohomish (5) System (5) B 10% 75% (4) z Green/Duwamish (5) 9D0% System (5) (1) na 100% All of juvenile Chinook salmon Hylebos/Puyallup (5) System (5) C40% caught in Hylebos Waterway and many from Commencement Bay (4) y Nisqually (5) have PCB levels high enough to System B (5) affect their health and survival 0 20 40 60 80 100 eTPCBs (ng/g ww) Estimated adverse affects based on Meador et al. 2002. 2016 Study Contaminant Study • Sampled juvenile Chinook in habitats of all major rivers with ESA – listed Chinook salmon • 6 – 8 whole body composite samples per river 1- 8 fish per composite sample Lake Delta PCBs in Juvenile Chinook Salmon (2016) Nooksack Skagit Stillaguamish Salmon health effects Elwha threshold/ Dungeness recovery goal Duckabush Skokomish Snohomish Lk Washington Duwamish Puyallup Nisqually 2000 4000 6000 8000 TPCBs (ng/g lipid ± 95%CI) Second highest PCB levels measured in Chinook salmon caught in Commencement Bay % Chinook Samples Above PCB Critical Body Residues % with multiple adverse affects Predicted adverse effects of PCBs (Meador et al. 2002) • Mortality • Impaired growth & reproduction • Immune dysfunction • Hormonal alterations 23% • Enzyme inductions • Neurotoxicity 63% • Behavioral responses • Disease susceptibility 100% • Mutagenicity Lake Delta 55% 17% % Chinook Samples Above PCB Critical Body Residues 2016 Estuary/Nearshore Study 2016 Estuary Study 60% 100% 100% 100% 20% 100% 33% 100% What about other Contaminants? PBDE flame retardants above levels of concern • 100% Hylelos, • 20% marine nearshore • 0% estuary samples. Highest DDT level in Commencement Bay but below levels of concern. Trace metals, PAHs also elevated level in Puyallup/Commencement Bay. What about other Contaminants? Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) Pharmaceuticals Antibiotics, Antihistamine, Antidepressants, Antifungals Sedatives, Stimulants Corticosteroids, Heart Medications, Metabolic regulators Personal care products Surfactants (soaps & detergents) Antibacterials Insect repellent (DEET) Industrial Compounds Plastics (bisphenol a) Alkylphenol Ethoxylates Perfluorinated Compounds Other Caffeine Subset of 2013 samples analyzed for 194 CECs 19 Number CECs Detected by River System (mean + 95% CI) 48 CECs detected: 30 More at Urban than Non-urban habitats 25 20 15 10 5 Concentrations of pharmaceuticals (heart medications & antidepressants) 0 are higher in Puyallup River Chinook. Skagit Puyallup Nisqually SnohomishDuwamish 20 5 Anti-depressants detected Doses of Zoloft and Prozac are high enough to % samples > 1 anti-depressant cause potential adverse effects in Puyallup 100 juvenile Chinook. 80 Non-urban Urban 60 40 20 ND 0 3.5 Mean number detected 3.0 (+ 95% CI) 2.5 2.0 1.5 % Samples Containing Anti-depressants 1.0 • Citalopram (Celexa) – 40% • Sertraline (Zoloft) – 27% 0.5 ND • Fluoxetine (Prozac) – 20% 0.0 • Norfluoxetine (Prozac metabolite) – 7% • Amitriptyline – 7% Skagit Puyallup Nisqually 21 SnohomishDuwamish Factors Contributing to Declines in Salmon Marine Survival • climate change • food web dynamics • disease • habitat loss/alteration • toxics Hatchery Chinook salmon migrating out through Puget Sound contaminated rivers had a 45% lower marine survival than those from uncontaminated habitats. Puyallup River hatchery Chinook had a 78% lower marine survival. Hatchery Coho salmon Can. J. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 71: 162–180 migrating do not show this pattern. Conclusions: • Seaward migrating juvenile Chinook salmon from the estuarine and marine nearshore habitats of developed watershed have elevated levels of man-made chemicals (PCBs, PBDE, DDTs, PAHs), some metals (lead) and CECs. • PCBs, PBDEs, CECs in juvenile Chinook salmon migrating through the Puyallup River and Commencement Bay are high enough to cause adverse effects, likely affecting marine survival. Wild fish more exposed. Effects may be worse with climate change. • Juvenile coho salmon and steelhead trout are exposed to lower levels of contaminants. • Contaminants in adult Chinook salmon below levels know to affect human health, except for PCBs in resident fish (i.e., blackmouth). Next Steps: 2020 In-depth Study Which habitats are most contaminated? • Hatchery (5 composite samples) • River (18 composite samples) • Estuary (25 composite samples) • Marine Nearshore (15 composite samples) Acknowledgments Lummi Nation NOAA NWFSC WDFW Sean Sol Stefanie Karney Skagit River System Dan Lomax Karen Peabody-Eastridge Cooperative Julann Spromberg Lance Campbell Maryjean Willis Stillaguamish Tribe Anna Hildebrandt Cathy Laetz Andrew Claiborne Tulalip Tribe Penny Swanson Jeff Grimm Casey Rice Snohomish County Josh Chamberlin John Sneva Puyallup Tribe David Baldwin Tracey Scalici Jason Hall Kelly Kiyohara Nisqually Tribe Mark Meyers Joe Anderson Skokomish Tribe David Baldwin Pete Topping Lyndal Johnson Josh Weinheimer Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe Gina Ylitalo Clayton Kinsel Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe Environmental Chemistry staff WA Dept of Ecology Val Tribble Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe Canada DFO Tom Gries Dale Norton Crew of the Ricker Squaxin Tribe Manchester Lab Staff Long Live the Kings Muckleshoot Tribe Other Iris Kemp Coastal Watershed Institute Jason Toft Michael Schmidt Madilyn Gamble NWIFC Steve Damm Questions? 2015 English sole PCB Levels Two DOH human ∞ Str. Georgia health Vendovi Is. screening ∞ levels/ recovery 4 Everett goals ∞ Hood Canal 2 Seattle Waterfront 0 Duwamish R. 4 Eagle Harbor 1 Bremerton 2 Tacoma City WWay ∞ Anderson Is. Most current (2006) DOH- 0 100 200 300 recommended max meals/mo. Total PCBs (ng/g wet wt) Confidential Attorney-Client Communication and Work Product – Do Not Disclose WDFW/TBiOS, 24 January, 2018 a) Seattle Waterfront b) Duwamish River 100 100 10 10 PCBs 1 1 0.1 0.1 c) Tacoma City Waterway d) Bremerton Through 100 100 10 10 Time in 1 1 0.1 0.1 e) Eagle Harbor f) Everett English 100 100 10 10 Sole 1 1 0.1 0.1 g) Anderson Island h) Hood Canal No wt) (ng/g wet TPCB 100 100 10 10 declining 1 1 0.1 0.1 trends i) Vendovi Island j) Strait of Georgia 100 100 10 10 1 1 0.1 0.1 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 Confidential Attorney-Client Communication and Work Product – Do Not Disclose WDFW/TBiOS, 24 January, 2018 Total PCBs – CRAB Muscle Two DOH ∞ Recommended human maximum health ∞ meals/mo. (more restrictive for Dungeness Crab screening ∞ hepato-pancreas) levels/ Station Locations ∞ and WDFW Marine recovery Areas goals ∞ 2 EB 110 ppb ww 8 SI 2 ∞ CB 4 ∞ Confidential Attorney-Client Communication ∞ and
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