Marine Environmental Contaminants in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion: Scotian Shelf, Bay of Fundy and Adjacent Coastal and Offshore Waters— 1995-Present
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Marine Environmental Contaminants in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion: Scotian Shelf, Bay of Fundy and Adjacent Coastal and Offshore Waters— 1995-present P.L. Stewart, V.J. Kendall and H.J. Breeze Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquatic Ecosystems Branch, Maritimes Region Bedford Institute of Oceanography 1 Challenger Drive, P.O. Box 1006 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 2019 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3291 Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences Technical reports contain scientific and technical information that contributes to existing knowledge but which is not normally appropriate for primary literature. Technical reports are directed primarily toward a worldwide audience and have an international distribution. No restriction is placed on subject matter and the series reflects the broad interests and policies of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, namely, fisheries and aquatic sciences. Technical reports may be cited as full publications. 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Les demandes de rapports seront satisfaites par l'établissement auteur dont le nom figure sur la couverture et la page du titre. Les numéros 1 à 456 de cette série ont été publiés à titre de Rapports techniques de l'Office des recherches sur les pêcheries du Canada. Les numéros 457 à 714 sont parus à titre de Rapports techniques de la Direction générale de la recherche et du développement, Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère de l'Environnement. Les numéros 715 à 924 ont été publiés à titre de Rapports techniques du Service des pêches et de la mer, ministère des Pêches et de l'Environnement. Le nom actuel de la série a été établi lors de la parution du numéro 925. Canadian Technical Report of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 3291 2019 MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINANTS IN THE SCOTIAN SHELF BIOREGION: SCOTIAN SHELF, BAY OF FUNDY AND ADJACENT COASTAL AND OFFSHORE WATERS—1995-PRESENT by P.L. Stewart1, V.J. Kendall1 and H.J. Breeze Fisheries and Oceans Canada Aquatic Ecosystems Branch, Maritimes Region Bedford Institute of Oceanography 1 Challenger Drive, P.O. Box 1006 Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B2Y 4A2 1 Envirosphere Consultants Limited, Unit 5 – 120 Morison Drive, PO 2906, Windsor, NS B0N 2T0 © Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada 2019 Cat. No.Fs97-6/3291E-PDF ISBN 978-0-660-28909-0 ISSN 1448-5379 Correct citation for this publication: Stewart, P.L., Kendall, V.J. and H.J. Breeze. 2019. Marine Environmental Contaminants in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion: Scotian Shelf, Bay of Fundy and Adjacent Coastal and Offshore Waters—1995-present. Can. Tech. Rep. Fish. Aquat. Sci. 3291: xiv + 152 p + Appendices. TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract .....................................................................................................................ix Résumé .....................................................................................................................ix Executive Summary ........................................................................................................xi 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................ 1 1.1. Background ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2. Environmmental Guidelines ................................................................................ 6 1.3. Contaminant Types ............................................................................................. 7 1.4. Metals ................................................................................................................. 8 1.5. Organic Chemicals ............................................................................................. 9 1.6. Bacteria and Pathogens ................................................................................... 11 1.7. Physical/Structural Contaminants ..................................................................... 12 1.8. Organic Enrichment .......................................................................................... 15 2.0 Information Sources and Report Organization .................................................... 16 3.0 Contaminants in the Scotian Shelf Bioregion ...................................................... 17 3.1. Focus Areas ...................................................................................................... 17 3.1.1. Halifax Harbour .......................................................................................... 18 3.1.2. Sydney Harbour ......................................................................................... 19 3.1.3. Strait of Canso ............................................................................................ 20 3.1.4. Saint John Harbour .................................................................................... 21 3.1.5. The Quoddy Region ................................................................................... 22 4.0 Contaminants in Sediments ................................................................................. 22 4.1. Scotian Shelf and Adjacent Offshore Waters .................................................... 22 4.1.1. Metals in Sediments – Coastal and Nearshore .......................................... 22 4.1.2. Metals in Sediments – Scotian Shelf Offshore ........................................... 36 4.1.3. Organic Contaminants in Sediments – Coastal and Nearshore ................. 41 4.1.4. Organic Contaminants in Sediments – Scotian Shelf Offshore .................. 43 4.2. Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine and Adjacent Offshore waters .............................. 44 4.2.1. Metals in Sediments – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Coastal and Nearshore .................................................................................................. 44 4.2.2. Mercury in Sediments – Bay of Fundy ........................................................ 49 4.2.3. Other Metals in Sediments – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Offshore ........... 51 4.2.4. Organic Contaminants in Sediments – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Coastal and Nearshore .............................................................................. 51 4.2.5. Organic Contaminants in Sediments – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Offshore ..................................................................................................... 55 4.2.6. Radionuclides in Sediments – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Coastal and Nearshore .................................................................................................. 55 5.0 Contaminants in Water ........................................................................................ 57 5.1. Scotian Shelf and Adjacent Offshore Waters .................................................... 57 5.1.1. Metals in Water – Coastal and Nearshore .................................................. 57 5.1.2. Metals in Water – Scotian Shelf Offshore ................................................... 58 5.1.3. Organic Contaminants in Water – Coastal and Nearshore ......................... 60 5.1.4. Organic Contaminants in Water – Scotian Shelf Offshore .......................... 61 5.2. Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine .............................................................................. 62 5.2.1. Metals in Water – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Coastal and Nearshore...... 62 iii 5.2.2. Organic Contaminants in Water – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Coastal and Nearshore ........................................................................................... 63 5.2.3. Radionuclides in Water – Bay of Fundy/Gulf of Maine Coastal and Nearshore .................................................................................................. 63 6.0 Contaminants in Biota ........................................................................................