Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

By Robert F. Breault, Mary S. Ashman, and Douglas Heath

In cooperation with the MASSACHUSETTS DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5110

U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior Gale A. Norton, Secretary

U.S. Geological Survey Charles G. Groat, Director

U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia: 2004 For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services Box 25286, Denver Federal Center Denver, CO 80225

For more information about the USGS and its products: Telephone: 1-888-ASK-USGS World Wide Web: http://www.usgs.gov/ Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report.

Suggested citation: Breault, R.F., Ashman, M.S., and Heath, Douglas, 2004, Sediment quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific Investigations Report 2004-5110, 25 p. iii

Contents

Abstract...... 1 Introduction ...... 2 Purpose and Scope ...... 2 Previous Investigations...... 4 Study Methods...... 4 Sample Collection ...... 4 Chemical Analysis ...... 4 Data Analysis...... 8 Bias and Variability...... 8 Sediment Quality ...... 9 Sediment Quality at Sediment-Grab Sampling Locations ...... 9 Effects of Human Activities on Sediment Quality...... 12 Comparison of North Coastal Basin Sediment Quality to that of Other Urban Rivers...... 13 Toxicity of Bottom Sediments ...... 14 Benthic Organisms...... 14 Humans ...... 15 Summary ...... 16 Acknowledgments ...... 17 References Cited...... 17

Figures

1. Map showing the North Coastal Basin sediment-grab sampling locations, Massachusetts...... 3 2, 3. Graphs showing: 2. Concentrations of selected contaminants in bottom sediment collected from the North Coastal Basin and from other urban rivers...... 10 3. Sediment toxicity to Hyalella azteca and Chironomus spp. in the North Coastal Basin, estimating using consensus-based freshwater sediment- quality guidelines...... 15

Tables

1. Inorganic element concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts ...... 5 2. Grain-size distribution measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin ...... 8 3. Organic compound concentrations measured in sediment grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin...... 21 iv

Conversion Factors, Datums, Sediment-Quality Units, and Abbreviations

Multiply By To obtain

foot (ft.) 0.3048 meter (m) inch (in.) 2.54 centimeter (cm) inch (in.) 25,400 micrometer (µm) square mile (mi2) 2.590 square kilometer (km2)

Concentrations of sediment-quality constituents are give in percent (%), parts per million (ppm), and parts per billion (ppb). Horizontal coordinate information is referenced to the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD 83).

ACEC Area of Critical Environmental mg/L milligram per liter Concern MRL minimum reporting level DDD dichlorodiphenyldichloroethane NAQWA National Water-Quality DDE dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene Assessment Program DDT dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane NETLAB New England Testing Laboratory EOEA Executive Office of Environmental NGS National Geochemical Survey Affairs NURE National Uranium Resource EPH extractable petroleum Evaluation hydrocarbons PAH polyaromatic hydrocarbon HSSR Hydrogeochemical and Stream PEC probable effects concentration Sediment Reconnaissance PES performance evaluation sample HCl hydrochloric acid PCB polychlorinated biphenyl ICP inductively coupled plasma USEPA U.S. Environmental Protection MDEP Massachusetts Department of Agency Environmental Protection USGS U.S. Geological Survey MDL method detection limit Σ sum mL milliliter Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

By Robert F. Breault1, Mary S. Ashman1, and Douglas Heath2

Abstract rivers throughout New England. Contaminants in North Coastal Basin sediment with elevated concentrations (above back- ground levels) included arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the nickel, and zinc, some of the PAHs, dichlorodiphenyltrichloro- Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, ethane (DDT) and its metabolites, and dieldrin. No PCBs were completed a reconnaissance-level study of bottom-sediment measured above the detection limits. Measured concentrations quality in selected lakes, rivers, and estuaries in the North of arsenic, chromium, and lead were also generally greater than Coastal Basin of Massachusetts. Bottom-sediment grab samples those measured in other urban rivers throughout the conter- were collected from 20 sites in the North River, Lake minous United States. With one exception (arsenic), local con- Quannapowitt, Saugus River, Mill River, Shute Brook, Sea centrations measured in sediment samples collected from the Plane Basin, Pines River, and Bear Creek. The samples were North Coastal Basin were lower than concentrations measured tested for various types of potentially harmful contaminants— in sediment collected from two of three urban rivers draining to including 33 elements, 17 polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), Boston Harbor. 22 organochlorine pesticides, and 7 polychlorinated biphenyl The probable toxicity to benthic organisms ranged from (PCB) mixtures (Aroclors)—to benthic organisms (bottom- about 33 to 91 percent across the study area. Of the elements dwelling) and humans. The results were compared among analyzed, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, and lead exceeded the sampling sites, to background concentrations, and to concen- soil standards for risk to human health. Of the PAHs analyzed, trations measured in other urban rivers, and sediment-quality four also exceeded soil standards. Organochlorine pesticide guidelines were used to predict toxicity at the sampling sites to concentrations, however, were not high enough relative to the benthic organisms and humans. Because there are no standards soil standards to pose a risk to human health. Some trace for human toxicity for aquatic sediment, standards for element and some organic compound concentrations in bottom contaminated upland soil were used. sediment may be toxic to aquatic organisms and may pose a risk Contaminant concentrations measured in sediment to human health. collected from the North Coastal Basin generally were equal to or greater than concentrations in sediment from uncontaminated

1U.S. Geological Survey. 2U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 2 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

Introduction and Wildlife considers the marsh to be “one of the most biologically significant estuaries in Massachusetts north of Boston” (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Coastal Massachusetts watersheds are known for their Management, 2000). Although the many rivers, estuaries, rocky coastlines, small tidal rivers and estuaries, and pictur- marshes, and lakes in the area do not constitute a single esque coastal communities. These coastal communities are also continuous drainage basin, for the purposes of this report, known for their long industrial histories. Contaminants from the area is referred to as the North Coastal Basin. past and present activities that have washed downstream from The North Coastal Basin is typical of watersheds in coastal cities and towns often end up in rivers and estuaries Coastal Massachusetts. For example, the Saugus Iron Works, (Breault and Granato, 2000; Breault and others, 2002; Lopes which operated on the Saugus River from 1646 through 1668 and Dionne, 1998). River and estuarine water continuously (National Park Service, 2003), is one of the oldest industrial interact with the bottom sediment. After contaminants are sites in the Nation. Environmental managers are concerned that discharged into the water column, most adhere to fine particles this industrial past and more recent urban sprawl may have of suspended sediment, are carried downstream or swept inland degraded environmental quality in the North Coastal by tides, and eventually are deposited with the bottom sediment. watersheds. Physical or chemical processes—for example, In the North Coastal Basin, efforts are currently (2004) entrainment, resuspension, or chemical and biological underway to assess bottom-sediment quality in the area’s rivers, transformation—can cause these contaminants to reenter the lakes, and estuaries, which support wetlands, swimming water column (Baudo and Muntau, 1990; Sly, 1994). Therefore, beaches, public-water supply, shellfish beds, and lobster the chemistry of the river water and that of the sediments are fisheries (DeCesare and others, 2000). As part of these efforts, linked. Sediment contamination, a type of non-point-source the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) completed this study of contamination, can affect a large area over a long period. In bottom-sediment quality in the North Coastal Basin in 2003 in historically industrial and urbanized areas, these contaminants cooperation with the Massachusetts Department of typically include elements and various types of anthropogenic Environmental Protection (MDEP). (human related) organic compounds. Contaminated sediment may also directly cause adverse biological effects to benthic (bottom-dwelling) organisms and Purpose and Scope indirectly affect swimming organisms. Consumption of these contaminated organisms can pose a health risk to organisms This report discusses detections and concentrations of higher on the food web, such as predatory fish, terrestrial wild- elements and three types of organic compounds in the bottom life, and humans. Direct contact with or accidental ingestion of sediments of selected rivers, lakes, and estuaries of the North contaminated sediments may also pose a health risk to humans. Coastal Basin’s drainage basins. Samples of sediment were One watershed containing contaminated sediment, the collected at 20 stations in the North Coastal Basin by sediment North Coastal Basin (fig. 1) north of metropolitan Boston, has grab samplers. These concentrations are evaluated through an area of about 168 mi2 and is home to more than 500,000 comparison to background concentrations and to contaminant people (Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, 2003). The concentrations in other urban rivers. The report also discusses area includes parts of the towns of Revere, Lynn, Lynnfield, the potential adverse effects posed by contaminants to benthic Peabody, Saugus, Salem, and Wakefield, and the drainage organisms and humans by comparing the contaminant basins of various small tidal rivers and estuaries, including the concentrations with sediment-quality guidelines and exposure- Saugus, Mill, North, and Pines Rivers, Shute Brook, and Bear based soil standards. The results presented in this report Creek. Also within the area is the Rumney Marsh Reservation, represent a reconnaissance-level investigation of sediment- a State-designated Area of Critical Environmental Concern quality data of the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts. It is (ACEC). The marsh consists of over 1,000 acres of saltmarsh, not a comprehensive study of sediment quality that definitively tidal mud flats, and tidal creeks. The U.S. Department of Fish would measure the quality of North Coastal Basin sediment. Introduction 3

256,449 56,060 943,386

903,134 323,246

0 25 50 MILES 822,629

02550 KILOMETERS

235,689 240,689 245,689 250,689250,689

North River

LYNNFIELD 921,122

PEABODY PCY-001 SAY-002

L6Y-001 PCY-002 WAY-002 95 SAY-001 WAY-001 WAY-003 Lake Quannapowitt WAY-004 1 SALEM WAY-005 Mill River 916,122

WAKEFIELD 107 SEY-001 SAUGUS S LYNN 1A aug u

s R SEY-002 iv er L5Y-001 SEY-003 L5Y-002 Shute Brook

SEY-004 911,122 L5Y-003 SEY-005 EXPLANATION SEY-006 Bear erer Sea iv RDY-001 Plane Creek R MARSH AND WETLAND es Basin in PinesP Riv WATER Rumney Marsh DRAINAGE-BASIN Reservation BOUNDARY

REVERE ROAD

SEY-006 SEDIMENT GRAB- SAMPLING LOCATION 906,122 AND IDENTIFIER

Base map coverages from MassGIS, NAD 83 2.5 Lambert Conformal Polyconic projection, 0 5 MILES Massachusetts coordinate system mainland zone in meters 0 2.5 5 KILOMETERS

Figure 1. North Coastal Basin sediment-grab sampling locations, Massachusetts. 4 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

Previous Investigations more recently deposited sediment (the top 2–4 in. of sediment), referred to as grab samples, were collected from the North In the past 5 years, various investigations have focused River, Lake Quannapowitt (the headwaters of the Saugus extensively on sediment quality of Lake Quannapowitt in River), Saugus River, Mill River, Shute Brook, and the tidal Wakefield. As much as 11 ft of organic and clastic deposits lie creeks of the Rumney Marshes—Sea Plane Basin, Pines River, in the center of the lake (Heath, 2001a). On March 11, 1985, and Bear Creek (fig. 1). The samples were analyzed for grain- Camp, Dresser, & McKee, Inc., collected a mid-lake, composite size distribution, elements, and three types of organic sample of Lake Quannapowitt sediment as part of a diagnostic compounds. and feasibility study on the lake’s eutrophic condition. Analyses were completed for elements such as cadmium, chromium, Sample Collection copper, iron, lead, manganese, and zinc; and for total nitrogen, total phosphorus and total carbon. Arsenic was not tested A stainless-steel Ekman dredge was used to collect (Camp, Dresser, & McKee, Inc., 1986). On September 9, 1999, sediment grab samples in water deeper than about 5 ft. In water Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., on behalf of the Town of Wakefield, less than about 5 ft deep, a stainless-steel scoop was used to collected three shallow-sediment samples in the southwestern collect sediment grab samples. Any water trapped in either the cove of the lake in an investigation of coal-tar waste contam- dredge or the scoop was decanted after most of the fine particles ination from a coal-gasification plant, which operated from settled. The top 2–4 in. of the sample not in contact with the 1859 to 1926. Analyses were completed for 13 priority- dredge or scoop was removed with a pre-cleaned Teflon spoon. pollutant metals, oil, grease, polyaromatic hydrocarbons Exposed mud flats (samples collected at low tide) were sampled (PAHs), extractable petroleum hydrocarbons (EPH), and total by using a pre-cleaned Teflon spoon to scrape off the top 2–4 phosphorus (Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 1999). In September 2000, in. of sediment from the surface. At least three samples were the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs collected at each sampling location to characterize conditions at (EOEA) and The Friends of Lake Quannapowitt, a local lake- the site (Baudo and Mantau, 1990). Samples were placed on ice monitoring group, collected 10 sediment samples by Ekman in pre-cleaned disposable Teflon bags and transported to the dredge throughout the lake. Analyses were completed for USGS office in Northborough, MA. In the USGS laboratory, arsenic, lead, PAHs and semivolatile organic compounds. the sediment was homogenized with a Teflon spoon. Sub- Arsenic concentrations ranged from 95 to 225 parts per million samples were placed in pre-cleaned containers for delivery to (ppm) and lead concentrations from 164 to 800 ppm (Lawrence the appropriate laboratory for analysis. Gill, Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, Teflon bags were pre-cleaned by rinsing with methanol, written commun., 2000). In January 2001, the Friends of Lake 5-percent hydrochloric acid (HCl), and copious amounts Quannapowitt collected a 2.6-ft-long core of sediment through of deionized water, in that order. At the sampling sites, all the ice at mid-lake. Analyses were completed in discrete core sediment-sampling equipment was cleaned between samplings sections for total phosphorus, lead, copper, and arsenic, and by scrubbing with a nylon brush and phosphate-free detergent, provided a historical profile of contaminant variability over rinsing with methanol, copious amounts of deionized water, and time. A small leaf found at the core bottom was carbon-14 dated finally, native water from the sampling sites. After the methanol at about 2,500 years ago; its age indicates an average sediment- rinse, the Teflon spoon was rinsed additionally with 5-percent accretion rate of about 1 ft per 1,000 years (Heath, 2001b). In hydrochloric acid (HCl). April 2000, the MDEP ordered the Town of Wakefield to study contaminated sediment, soil, and ground water in the vicinity of the former coal-gasification plant (Weston & Sampson Chemical Analysis Engineers, Inc., written commun., 2002). The studies currently (2004) continue. In 2002, Lattanzi (2003) measured arsenic Sediment samples were analyzed for a suite of elements concentrations in water and sediment in nine ponds in eastern and organic compounds commonly found in rivers that drain Massachusetts, including Lake Quannapowitt and Pillings Pond historically industrial and urban coastal watersheds. The XRAL in Lynnfield, both upstream of Reedy Meadows. Lattanzi Laboratory of Ontario, Canada, analyzed the sediment samples (2003) reports an average sediment arsenic concentration in for the elements. Inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission these water bodies of 151 and 75 ppm, respectively, as a result spectroscopy was the analysis method used for elements of arsenical herbicides applied in the early 1960s. (table 1). The New England Testing Laboratory (NETLAB) of North Providence, Rhode Island, analyzed sediment samples for the organic compounds. These compounds included poly- Study Methods chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides, which were analyzed by gas chromatography with electron- Twenty sample locations were determined in consultation capture detection, and PAHs, which were analyzed by gas with the MDEP, Salem Sound Coastwatch, and the Saugus chromatography with mass spectrometry (table 3, at back of River Watershed Council on the basis of each locations report). Grain-size distributions were measured by the USGS estimated potential for contamination. In June 2003, samples of sediment laboratory in Louisville, Kentucky (table 2). Study Methods 5 (ppm) Bismuth <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 .6 .6 .8 .7 .8 .8 .7 .9 .8 .8 .8 0.5 1 1.3 1.3 (ppm) <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 Beryllium 85 68 50 95 89 89 43 86 42 37 46 76 88 86 62 91 25 33 52 95 51 39 114 161 (ppm) Barium 9 7 6 8 4 6 38 26 51 25 33 11 16 12 16 10 16 16 41 154 (ppm) Arsenic <3 <3 <3 <3 10 11 (ppm) Antimony <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 <5 .49 .72 .58 .82 .68 .71 .86 .7 .87 (%) 0.99 1.09 1.45 1.39 1.35 1.23 1.35 1.13 1.95 1.53 1.6 1.6 2.58 2.67 1.52 Aluminum .06 .07 .12 .12 .2 .09 .09 .06 .09 .03 .04 .04 .11 .09 .08 .09 .12 .03 .05 .05 .12 .07 .04 (%) 0.06 Phosphorus .14 .2 .29 .15 .14 .12 .05 .07 .13 .09 .14 .12 .51 .41 .46 .48 .76 .16 .23 .12 .79 .21 .15 (%) 0.14 Potassium .07 .29 .89 .17 .07 .1 .1 .04 .07 .05 .06 .04 .87 .83 .88 .28 .53 .05 .3 .07 (%) 0.06 1.32 1.49 1.51 Sodium .5 .71 .72 .34 .36 .94 .36 .51 .46 .24 .44 .24 .79 .67 .71 .75 .29 .41 .25 .72 .45 0.44 1.03 1.06 (%) Magnesium percent;shown] <, less than value .56 .59 .58 .59 .64 .8 .32 .56 .24 .36 .24 .42 .53 .42 .51 .36 .36 .25 .54 .62 .39 (%) 0.47 1.31 1.51 Calcium Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D SAY-001-LD SEY-002-LD plicate; ppm, parts per million; %, Howley Street Station name Station Inorganic element concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Street at Commercial North River Saugus River at Iron Works Table 1. duplicate; LD, laboratory du [D, field 6 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003 4 4 3 5 4 4 4 3 2 7 3 3 3 4 4 3 5 4 3 3 2 4 2 3 (ppm) denum Molyb- 1 2 1 1 (ppm) Mercury <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 776 533 340 289 519 557 700 271 509 290 322 307 303 238 266 240 317 167 145 368 329 349 331 (ppm) 1,050 nued Manganese 5 9 9 14 15 27 27 19 18 26 12 18 13 34 29 29 30 49 12 18 10 51 28 13 (ppm) Lithium 78 80 28 38 97 91 19 74 39 174 240 107 339 459 688 101 413 142 208 114 117 115 121 109 Lead (ppm) 6.3 9.1 14.3 15.8 18.5 18.7 19.1 18.6 11.8 10.5 16.5 13.3 11.4 21.4 20 20.9 18.7 25.5 11.7 13.4 12.4 26.1 19.4 14.5 (ppm) Lanthanum .92 (%) Iron 2.21 2.46 2.65 2.69 2.46 2.91 2.55 1.5 1.53 2.89 1.43 1.46 2.83 2.44 2.5 2.23 3.39 1.1 1.26 1.54 3.5 2.69 1.48 43.9 34.7 63.2 75.5 43.1 29.9 14.4 12 21.6 20.9 88.7 57.1 53 74.1 11.8 22.7 24.1 69.1 69.9 21 136 502 148 121 (ppm) Copper 7 9 8 9 7 4 7 4 9 8 8 3 4 5 8 7 11 10 14 17 16 11 10 10 (ppm) Cobalt 95 935 310 351 966 162 172 309 182 275 305 252 266 268 255 268 199 241 227 153 208 219 361 256 (ppm) Chromium percent;shown] <, less than value 1 2 2 4 3 1 2 (ppm) <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 Cadmium Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D SAY-001-LD SEY-002-LD plicate; ppm, parts per million; %, Howley Street Station name Inorganic element concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.—Conti

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Street at Commercial North River Saugus River at Iron Works Table 1. duplicate; LD, laboratory du [D, field Study Methods 7 8.9 8.5 5.8 5.1 6.1 2.3 3.8 5.9 3.7 6.9 5.7 9.6 9.5 9.9 7.3 6.1 5.7 7.7 10.8 11.9 10.9 13.1 13.6 11.1 (ppm) Zirconium 77 68.9 35.7 71.1 Zinc (ppm) 228 129 253 347 352 380 148 182 554 138 121 235 286 162 140 190 131 194 253 139 8.5 8.7 9.5 5.3 7.1 9.7 5 8.8 6.1 6.6 7.5 6.4 9.5 11 11.1 10.9 11.4 13.1 11.3 11.7 10.9 14.7 14.9 11.4 (ppm) Yttrium nued 35 47 50 57 73 86 51 29 27 46 14 25 22 56 51 51 54 68 20 28 23 71 51 26 (ppm) Vanadium (ppm) Tungsten <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 .08 .08 .06 .06 .04 .09 .02 .05 .07 .05 .08 .05 .09 .08 .08 .09 .12 .06 .06 .05 .12 .09 .08 (%) 0.07 Titanium Tin 13 19 (ppm) <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 <10 40.5 49.1 56.4 69.7 31.8 36.5 38.4 70 17 34.4 15.8 23 19 93.3 46.5 44 41.2 56.8 27.2 28.8 19.4 60.5 58.8 25.3 (ppm) Strontium .3 .5 .7 .4 .4 .3 .3 .2 .5 .9 .3 .2 .3 .6 .2 0.4 1.3 3 1.1 1.2 1.2 1.1 1.1 (ppm) Silver <.2 2.8 3.2 4.1 3.6 3.3 2.9 4.6 1.3 2.1 2.7 1.4 2.4 1.6 4.8 4 4 4 6.3 1.8 2.2 1.6 6.5 4.3 2.6 (ppm) Scandium percent;shown] <, less than value 28 27 19 33 33 28 68 49 42 23 27 18 32 32 30 25 30 12 15 17 30 19 27 (ppm) 155 Nickel Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D SAY-001-LD SEY-002-LD plicate; ppm, parts per million; %, Howley Street Station name Inorganic element concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.—Conti

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Street at Commercial North River Saugus River at Iron Works Table 1. duplicate; LD, laboratory du [D, field 8 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

Table 2. Grain-size distribution measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.

[Grain-size distribution given as percent retained. Granule: Greater than 2 millimeters. Medium sand: Less than 2 millimeters, greater than 0.25 millimeter. Fine sand: Less than 0.25 millimeter, greater than 0.15 millimeter. Very fine sand: Less than 0.15 millimeter, greater than 0.062 millimeter. Silt and clay: Less than 0.062 millimeter] Station Sand Station name Granule Silt and clay number Medium Fine Very fine

North River at Caller Street PCY-001 17.05 72.35 4.24 3.20 3.20 North River at Howley Street PCY-002 13.05 74.56 7.49 2.59 2.30 North River at Commercial Street SAY-001 69.11 14.19 4.34 3.88 8.50 North River at Conduit SAY-002 2.34 25.60 19.63 14.58 37.80 Lake Quannapowitt WAY-001 .00 .00 .10 55.14 44.80 Saugus River at Vernon Street WAY-002 2.11 9.57 14.86 19.85 53.60 Central Reedy Meadow L6Y-001 7.00 27.18 7.51 7.67 50.60 Reedy Meadow Pond WAY-003 27.08 33.11 2.45 .34 37.00 Saugus River at Sunset Drive WAY-004 2.56 13.37 25.44 39.04 19.60 Mill River at Farm Street WAY-005 9.08 31.60 9.99 8.88 40.50 Saugus River at Route 1 SEY-001 .83 55.59 21.24 12.84 9.50 Saugus River at Iron Works SEY-002 13.96 24.34 32.84 15.29 13.60 Shute Brook at Cemetery SEY-003 1.37 63.21 22.93 7.57 4.90 Saugus River at Boston Street L5Y-001 .29 4.96 4.20 10.74 79.80 Saugus River at Strawberry Brook L5Y-002 1.09 12.64 21.30 11.81 53.20 Saugus River at Route 107 SEY-004 7.25 18.83 8.02 13.19 52.70 Bear Creek SEY-005 5.90 3.30 2.52 9.95 78.30 Sea Plane Basin SEY-006 2.09 .63 .16 3.79 93.30 Pine River at Gibson Field RDY-001 13.63 3.54 31.83 41.56 9.40 Saugus River at Route 1A L5Y-003 .25 7.08 17.16 45.68 29.80

Data Analysis Bias and Variability

A variety of statistical methods was used to analyze Sediment-quality data are subject to bias (systematic sediment-quality data. Particular attention was given to error) and variability (random error) during sample collection, censored data, concentrations less than a detection limit. In processing, and analysis. The nature and magnitude of bias and instances where constituent concentrations were summed, variability can be determined by analysis of different types of censored data were set to zero, with two exceptions: (1) all quality-control samples, which include laboratory blanks, field values to be summed were censored, and (2) censored data were duplicates, laboratory duplicates, matrix spikes, matrix-spike used to calculate the probable effect concentration (PEC) duplicates, and performance-evaluation samples (PES; tables 1, quotient. In these cases, (1) censored data were substituted with and 3). With a few exceptions, bias and variability of sediment- the reported detection limit, and (2) censored data were set to quality data collected during this study were within acceptable one-half the reported detection limit. Finally, censored data limits (Arthur Screpetis, Massachusetts Department of (including summed censored data) can not be compared to Environmental Protection, written commun., 2003). guidelines, standards, or other measures of sediment quality, if they are less than the detection limit or the sum of detection limits for the data. In these cases, data from that sample or station were omitted from the data analysis. Sediment Quality 9

Sediment Quality has classified some of these trace elements as priority pollutants (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002). These trace elements include antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, Local environmental managers in coastal communities chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, assess the quality of their coastal waters. These assessments are thallium, and zinc. In this study, chromium, copper, lead, used to determine whether specific current and possible future nickel, and zinc were detected in every sample. Concentrations uses of these waters are feasible, as indicated by environmental greater than the detection limit of silver, arsenic, beryllium, data; to identify desirable uses of the coastal areas; and to cadmium, mercury, and antimony were measured in 95, 80, 65, translate these uses into scientifically measurable goals that can 35, 20, and 10 percent of the samples tested, respectively. serve as the basis for water-resource management (Howarth and Selenium and thallium were not tested in this study. others, 2003). Determining the bottom-sediment quality is an The greatest concentrations of both antimony (11 ppm) important first step in the assessment of coastal waters. and chromium (966 ppm) were measured in sediment collected Researchers determine sediment quality by comparing the from the North River at the North River Conduit (SAY-002). In sediment-quality data to a prescribed sediment-management fact, antimony was detected at only one other site (10 ppm), objective. These objectives can be based on goals for water use which was also on the North River (North River at Caller Street, and on the relation of contaminant concentrations to their PCY-001). Arsenic (154 ppm), copper (502 ppm), and mercury potential for adverse biological effect. For example, the (2.0 ppm) concentrations were greatest in sediment collected objective might be to maintain the present quality of the sedi- from Lake Quannapowitt (WAY-001, fig. 2). Because of the ment or to restore contaminant concentrations to the level of history of herbicide usage in the lake, and because arsenic and background concentrations (those concentrations not affected copper are commonly major ingredients of herbicides, these by anthropogenic activities), to the levels of other urban rivers, concentrations are not unexpected. Silver (3.0 ppm) and zinc or to a level safe enough for specific designated uses (for (554 ppm) concentrations measured in sediment collected from example, swimming or boating). Comparisons of the contam- site WAY-005 (Mill River at Farm Street, fig. 2) were greater inant concentrations in North Coastal Basin sediments among than concentrations measured in sediment collected from the sediment-sampling locations to background concentrations, to other sites; nickel (155 ppm) concentration was greatest in concentrations from other urban rivers, and to sediment-quality sediment collected from Central Reedy Meadow (L6Y-001); guidelines will help local water-resource managers determine lead (688 ppm) and cadmium (4.0 ppm) concentrations were how to evaluate their coastal-river sediments. greatest in sediment collected from the Saugus River at Vernon Street (WAY-002); and beryllium (1.3 ppm) concentration was Sediment Quality at Sediment-Grab greatest in sediment collected from Sea Plane Basin (SEY-006). Sampling Locations The trace element detections in many of the sediment samples were not unexpected because (1) trace elements in Concentrations of the 33 elements are shown in table 1 bottom sediment may be derived naturally from the weathering by sampling location. The elements most often present in of rocks, or (2) human activities can introduce them into the concentrations greater than 1,000 ppm are considered major environment. For example, after railroad construction in elements: these include calcium, iron, manganese, phosphorus, Wakefield in 1845, numerous manufacturers flourished in the aluminum, potassium, sodium, titanium, and carbon. Concen- Saugus River watershed, and they discharged industrial waste trations of all of these elements vary greatly in the sediment in nearby streams over many decades (Massachusetts State samples collected, but this variation is not unexpected because Board of Health, 1909; Peterson, 1948; Heath, 2003). To samples were collected at freshwater, estuarine, and saltwater determine whether or not the detected elements can be attrib- environments. uted to human activities, however, measured bottom-sediment Conversely, trace elements are those elements that trace element concentrations must be compared to concentra- typically occur in concentrations less than 1,000 ppm in tions that approximate those that could be expected in the uncontaminated sediment. Because of the toxicity of the absence of humans, otherwise known as background elements, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) concentrations. 10 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

ARSENIC BERYLLIUM 50 2.0 154 51 (3)

40 1.6

(145)

30 1.2 (38)

(31) (20) 20 0.8

(43)

10 (145) 0.4 (20) ARSENIC, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS ARSENIC, BERYLLIUM, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS BERYLLIUM,

<3 <3 <3 <3 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 <.5 0 0 NAWQA L5Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L6Y-001 SAY-001 SAY-002 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 NAWQA L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 SAY-001 SAY-002 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 Mystic River Mystic River Charles River Charles River Neponset River

CADMIUM Neponset River CHROMIUM 15 1,000 (145)

12 800

9 600

(38) 6 400 (43) No data (43) 3 200

CADMIUM, IN PARTS PER MILLION CADMIUM, IN PARTS (20) CHROMIUM, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS CHROMIUM, <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 0 0 L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-003 L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-003 SAY-001 SAY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 NAWQA SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 PCY-001 PCY-002 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 NAWQA WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 Mystic River Mystic River Charles River Charles River Neponset River

COPPER Neponset River DDT 600 250 346 PPB (35)

480 200

(145)

360 150

(38) 240 100 (43)

120 (20) PER BILLION (DDT), IN PARTS 50 (42)

COPPER, IN PARTS PER MILLION COPPER, IN PARTS (38) (20) DICHLORODIPHENYLTRICHLOROETHANE DICHLORODIPHENYLTRICHLOROETHANE 0 0 * * NAWQA L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 NAWQA L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 SAY-001 SAY-002 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 SAY-001 SAY-002 PCY-001 PCY-002 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 Mystic River Mystic River Charles River Charles River Neponset River STATION NUMBERNeponset River STATION NUMBER

EXPLANATION (35) NUMBER OF SAMPLES NORTH RIVER BACKGROUND 90th SAUGUS RIVER < LESS THAN DETECTION 75th LIMIT 50th OTHER RIVERS 25th ALL VALUES ARE 10th * LESS THAN DETECTION LIMIT

Figure 2. Concentrations of selected contaminants in bottom sediment collected from the North Coastal Basin and from other urban rivers, Massachusetts. (NAWQA, National Water Quality Assessment Program.) Sediment Quality 11

LEAD MERCURY 1,000 2 (145)

800 1.6

600 1.2

(31)

400 0.8

(20) (43) 200 0.4 LEAD, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS LEAD, MERCURY, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS MERCURY, <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 <1 No data 0 0 L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-003 NAWQA SAY-001 SAY-002 L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-003 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 NAWQA SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 Mystic River Mystic River Charles River Charles River Neponset River NICKEL PAH Neponset River 60 1,000,000 (145) (43) 155 PPM 68 PPM (31) (35) 48 (38) 100,000 (20) (20) (42) 36

10,000 24

IN PARTS PER BILLION IN PARTS 1,000 12 NICKEL, IN PARTS PER MILLION NICKEL, IN PARTS POLYAROMATIC HYDROCARBONS, HYDROCARBONS, POLYAROMATIC

0 100 NAWQA L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 SAY-001 SAY-002 NAWQA L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 Mystic River Mystic River Charles River Charles River Neponset River SILVER ZINC Neponset River 10 1,000 (145) (31)

(145) 8 800

6 600 (20)

4 (41) 400 (43) (31) 2

ZINC, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS ZINC, 200

SILVER, IN PARTS PER MILLION IN PARTS SILVER, (20)

0 0 NAWQA NAWQA L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 L6Y-001 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 L5Y-001 L6Y-001 SAY-001 SAY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 RDY-001 PCY-001 PCY-002 PCY-001 PCY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 WAY-001 WAY-002 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 Mystic River Mystic River Charles River Charles River Neponset River

STATION NUMBER Neponset River STATION NUMBER EXPLANATION (35) NUMBER OF SAMPLES NORTH RIVER BACKGROUND 90th SAUGUS RIVER < LESS THAN DETECTION 75th LIMIT 50th OTHER RIVERS 25th ALL VALUES ARE 10th * LESS THAN DETECTION LIMIT

Figure 2—Continued. Concentrations of selected contaminants in bottom sediment collected from the North Coastal Basin and from other urban rivers, Massachusetts. (NAWQA, National Water Quality Assessment Program.) 12 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

Concentrations of the 46 organic compounds are shown by Effects of Human Activities on site in table 3. These organic compounds comprise three major Sediment Quality groups: PAHs, organochlorine pesticides, and PCBs. These groups contain constituents on the USEPA’s priority pollutant Selected trace element concentrations (the priority list (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002). Group pollutants) measured in sediment samples from the 20 sites concentrations are expressed as the sum (Σ) of concentrations of were compared to median concentrations measured in sediment various related compounds; ΣPAH, for example, is the sum of samples collected from uncontaminated rivers in Connecticut, all detectable PAHs (with the exception of calculating the PEC Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Rhode quotient); ΣDDT is the sum of detectable concentrations of Island. These sediment samples were collected between 1977 DDT, DDD, and DDE; and ΣPCBs is the sum of the nine and 1980 as part of the National Uranium Resource Evaluation Aroclors or mixtures of commercially produced PCBs. (NURE) program, specifically the Hydrogeochemical and Sixteen of the PAHs were detected at the sampling sites. Stream Sediment Reconnaissance (HSSR) Program (Smith, Of the samples from locations where organic compounds were 1998), and reanalyzed with modern (2000) methods by the detected, the Saugus River at Strawberry Brook (L5Y-002) had National Geochemical Survey (NGS; Grossman, 1998; U.S. the highest ΣPAH concentration (about 31,000 ppb). Many Geological Survey, 2003). The USGS MDL computer program PAHs were also detected in samples from locations in the North was used to calculate summary statistics for NURE HSSR data River (fig. 2; table 3). Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane when concentrations were below the detection limit (Helsel and (commonly referred to as DDT), an insecticide banned in the Cohn, 1998). United States in 1973, or one of its metabolites (DDD and DDE) The NURE HSSR program’s standard operating procedure was detected in many of the samples. ΣDDT concentration instructed researchers to collect bottom-sediment samples from was greatest (about 210 ppb) in the samples collected at site small uncontaminated streams (Ferguson and others 1977). WAY-002 (Saugus River at Vernon Street, fig. 1); however, In other words, samples were purposely collected in areas the sediment sample collected from Lake Quannapowitt assumed to be unaffected by humans; therefore, element (WAY-001) may have a ΣDDT concentration of equal or concentrations measured from these sediment samples may greater magnitude (estimated ΣDDT concentration equal to less approximate non-urban background concentrations of New than 537 ppb). With the exception of DDT, DDD, DDE, and England streams. two detections of dieldrin (an insecticide banned in 1985), no The samples collected during the NURE HSSR Program other organochlorine pesticides were detected. Of the Aroclors and the samples collected in this study were processed with tested, none were detected in any of the samples collected. different methods (Ferguson and others 1977). The NURE Detections of PAHs and DDT and its metabolites in the HSSR samples were sieved with a 150-micrometer sieve; North Coastal Basin are not unexpected. Because of vehicular however, samples collected in this study were not sieved. This use, PAHs are ubiquitous in urban environments (Van Metre difference in methods could artificially bias concentrations high and others, 2000). Organochlorine insecticides like DDT, because fine-grained sediments have much larger surface area despite being banned for over 30 years, persist and are still per unit weight than coarser sediments; contaminants typically commonly detected in urban environments. adhere to sediment in proportion with surface area (Horowitz, It is important to note that a detection indicates only that 1991). The samples collected during the NURE HSSR Program the constituent concentration is greater than the minimum and the samples collected in this study were also analyzed with reporting level (MRL) for a given analytical technique. A non- different methods (Ferguson and others 1977). The methods detection, however, can indicate two possibilities: (1) the used by the NURE HSSR Program included a more robust constituent is not in the sample, or (2) the constituent is in the digestion than that used in this study. A more robust digestion sample at a concentration less than the MRL. Nondetection of a probably also gives the NURE HSSR Program trace element constituent, therefore, does not unequivocally indicate the data a high bias. absence of that constituent. This result can profoundly affect Selected trace element concentrations in North Coastal data analysis. For example, sediment samples collected from Basin samples (excluding antimony, cadmium, and mercury, Lake Quannapowitt (WAY-001), Central Reedy Meadow for which NURE provided no chemical background data) were (L6Y-001), and Reedy Meadow Pond (WAY-003), were such generally greater than background concentrations (fig. 2). that organic analysis of these samples resulted in relatively high Concentrations of arsenic, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, or MRLs when compared to the other samples; organic compound zinc were greater than background at 70 percent or more of the data from these sampling stations, therefore, are of limited use. sites. In fact, concentrations of all of these constituents were Finally, relatively high PCB MRLs compared to the method greater than background concentrations at 14 sampling sites. detection limit (MDL) at all sampling stations also limits There were no measured concentrations of beryllium or silver interpretation of PCB data. that were greater than background concentrations. Comparisons Sediment Quality 13 to background concentrations indicate that human activities those elements measured in sediment collected by the USGS may have caused high concentrations of arsenic, chromium, NAWQA Program at about one-half of the sample locations copper, lead, nickel, and zinc at nearly every sampling location (fig. 2). Specifically, arsenic, chromium, or lead concentrations in the North Coastal Basin. were greater than the NAWQA median concentrations for these Many natural processes can cause bottom sediments to be elements at 80 percent of the sites. Concentrations of the other enriched with trace elements. Some of these processes include selected trace elements were also greater than the NAWQA differential weathering (related to solubilities of individual median concentrations at some of the sites (about 40 percent elements), physical fractionation (for example, the removal each), with one exception. Beryllium concentrations from the of fine particles by wind and water), chemical fractionation, North Coastal Basin were less than the median NAWQA deposition of enriched atmospheric dust, and biogenic dust beryllium concentration at all of the sites. (Reimann and De Caritat, 2000). Researchers may erroneously Concentrations of organic compounds measured at many conclude that enrichment is caused by human activity, when it of the sites were less than the median concentrations of those may actually be caused by these natural processes. Nonetheless, compounds measured in sediment collected by the USGS enrichment factors might serve as a good first approximation to NAWQA Program, with a few exceptions. Concentrations of determine how human activities affect sediment quality. ΣDDT in samples collected from 13 of the sampling sites were In contrast to the natural occurrence of trace elements in greater than the NAWQA median ΣDDT concentration. Seven bottom sediments, many organic compounds are in sediment sites, however, had samples with ΣDDT detection limits that only as a result of human activities. PAHs can occur naturally, were greater than the NAWQA median concentration. The but usually not in high concentrations in bottom sediment concentration of ΣDDT measured in sediment collected from (Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, the Saugus River at Vernon Street (WAY-002) was more than 2002). Accordingly, the contamination of sediment by PAHs twice the maximum concentration of ΣDDT measured in and many other organic compounds can be attributed to human sediment collected from other urban rivers, or about 50 times activities. the median concentration for the other urban rivers (fig. 2). Again, sediment collected from Lake Quannapowitt (WAY- 001) may have a ΣDDT concentration of equal or greater Comparison of North Coastal Basin magnitude (estimated ΣDDT concentration equal to less than Sediment Quality to that of Other Urban Rivers 537 ppb). Concentrations of some of the individual PAHs were It is unlikely that sediment from urban environments will greater than their corresponding median NAWQA concentra- be free of trace elements or organic compounds produced by tions at a few sites. At seven of the sites from the North Coastal human activities, and it may be unrealistic to expect the sedi- Basin, ΣPAH concentrations were greater than the median ment quality from urban areas to be similar to background NAWQA ΣPAH concentration. Three other sediment samples sediment quality. A more achievable sediment-management from the North Coastal Basin had ΣPAH MRLs greater than the objective might be restoring sediment trace element and organic NAWQA ΣPAH median. The maximum ΣPAH concentration compound concentrations to levels equal to or below levels (Saugus River at Strawberry Brook) was about six times the measured in other urban rivers. NAWQA median (fig. 2). In accordance with the objective described above, A comparison of measured contaminant concentrations in measured concentrations of the selected trace elements (with the North Coastal Basin with those of other urban rivers from the exception of mercury) and organic compounds were com- across the United States is useful for assessing sediment quality pared with concentrations of these constituents collected from in the North Coastal Basin, but a better comparison might be other urban rivers throughout the conterminous United States as between concentrations in the North Coastal Basin and other part of the National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) urban rivers in Massachusetts. Better yet, a comparison of Program of the USGS (Rice, 1999). Like the NURE HSSR concentrations in the basin with those of other coastal sediment samples, samples collected by the NAWQA Program Massachusetts rivers would be the most valuable. Summary for analysis of trace metals and organic compounds were sieved statistics of selected element and organic compound concentra- through a 63-micrometer sieve and a 2-mm sieve, respectively. tions in bottom sediment collected from the Upper Mystic, The procedure used by the NAWQA Program, however, Lower Charles, and Neponset Rivers, three urban tributaries to includes a more robust digestion than that used in this study. Boston Harbor just south of the North Coastal Basins (Breault A more robust digestion probably also gives the NAWQA trace and Harris 1997, Breault and others 2000, 2004, and R.F. element data a high bias. Breault, U.S. Geological Survey, unpublished data, 2004), Some concentrations for the selected trace elements demonstrate the quality of North Coastal sediments in relation (arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, nickel, to those of these other coastal rivers (fig. 2). silver, or zinc) were greater than the median concentrations for 14 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

Concentrations of the selected trace elements (chromium because of their effect on the survival or growth of laboratory and mercury were not included in the comparison to other test organisms, such as the amphipod Hyalella azteca and the coastal rivers because data for these elements from the other insect larva Chironomus spp. (Ingersoll and others, 2000). The rivers were not available) and organic compounds in sediment predicted potential for toxicity depends on the organism and the from the North Coastal Basin sites were less than or equal to test conditions. First, a measured contaminant concentration is concentrations measured in sediment collected from the Lower divided by its corresponding PEC to yield a PEC quotient: Charles River and the Upper Mystic River, and were greater Cxy, ∑------than concentrations from the Neponset River (fig. 2). There are, PECy however, some exceptions: (1) arsenic concentrations from 16 Qx = ------,(1) nx of the 20 sites in the North Coastal Basin were greater than the median arsenic concentration measured in the Lower Charles where Q is equal to the average PEC quotient for sample x; River; (2) silver concentrations at 12 sites were less than the x Cx, y is equal to the concentration of contaminant type y in median value from samples collected from the Neponset River; sample x; (3) ΣDDT concentrations at 11 of the sites were greater than the PECy is equal to the PEC for contaminant y (Ingersoll and median ΣDDT concentration measured in samples from the others, 2000); and Upper Mystic River—the total of ΣDDT detection limits was nx is equal to the number of contaminant types available greater than the median ΣDDT concentration at 6 other sites; for sample x (n equals 1-9). and (4) ΣPAH concentrations were lower at all but 1 of the sites In this study, the PEC quotients for nine types of in the North Coastal Basin (Saugus River at Strawberry Brook) contaminants were computed and then averaged for each when compared to the median PAH concentrations in sedi- Σ sample (equation 1). Contaminant types are the ΣPAHs: ment from the Neponset River (excluding Lake Quannapowitt, 2-methylnaphthalene, acenaphthylene, acenaphthene, where ΣPAH was equal to less than 27,200 ppb). dibenzo(a,h)anthracene, anthracene, benzo(a)anthracene, benzo(a)pyrene, chrysene, fluoranthene, fluorene, naphthalene, Toxicity of Bottom Sediments phenanthrene, and pyrene; DDE; and arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and For a lake, river, or estuary to be fishable and swimmable, zinc (Zn). its sediment must pose little health risk to organisms that live in Finally, the average PEC quotients are compared to it or contact it. In this study, contaminant concentrations were PEC-quotient ranges associated with different toxicity compared to sediment-quality guidelines and to exposure-based potentials (Ingersoll and others, 2000). Potential toxicity of soil standards to assess the potential health risks posed by the ΣPCBs could not be assessed because summed MRLs were North Coastal Basin sediments to bottom-dwelling organisms greater than the PEC for ΣPCBs. and to humans. The potential for toxicity was determined for the top 2–4 in. of bottom sediment, which can be considered the biologically active sediment layer (Baudo and Muntau, 1990). Benthic Organisms The potentials for toxicity by test organism (Hyalella azteca and Chironomus spp.) and test condition (10- to 14-day test and One way to assess whether a lake, river, or estuary can support a healthy and diverse population of fish is to test the 28- to 42-day test) are shown in figure 3 for each site. The health of their food source, particularly benthic organisms. potential for toxicity in figure 3 refers to the potential for Benthic organisms (for example, amphipods, mussels, and toxicity compared to a control or reference sediment (Ingersoll worms), upon which some fish feed, are those organisms that and others, 2000). For example, a sediment sample with an live and feed on the river bottom. These organisms can come in estimated potential toxicity of 20 percent means that 20 out of direct contact with contaminated sediment. Contaminants can 100 toxicity tests are likely to show some level of toxicity for accumulate in the tissues of these organisms as they ingest the concentration of contaminants measured in that sediment contaminated sediment or they can sorb the contaminants sample for a particular organism and a particular set of test directly from sediment and water (Forstner and Whittmann, conditions. 1979). Eventually, the accumulation of these contaminants in The predicted potential for toxicity of North Coastal Basin the tissues of benthic organisms can cause toxicity and death to sediment, regardless of test or organism, ranged from about the organisms. Subsequent ingestion of contaminated benthic 33 percent to over 91 percent among the sampling locations organisms by fish and other organisms that are higher on the (fig. 3). The largest average PEC quotients for all contaminants food web can cause adverse health effects. and contaminant groups were calculated for samples taken from Lake Quannapowitt (WAY-001) and the North River at the The potential toxicity of North Coastal Basin sediment to North River Conduit (SAY-002). Arsenic and chromium benthic organisms can be estimated by comparing measured accounted for about 31 and 52 percent of the average PEC contaminant concentrations to a set of sediment-quality quotient at these sites (with one-half the detection limit used for guidelines known as probable-effect concentrations (PECs). censored data), respectively. Concentrations above the PECs are known to cause toxicity Sediment Quality 15

100

Hyalella azteca 90 28- to 42-day test

Hyalella azteca Chironomus 10- to 14-day test 10- to 14-day test 80

70

60

50

40 TOXICITY, IN PERCENT

30

20

10

0 PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY WAY SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003

-004 -005

STATION NUMBER

Figure 3. Sediment toxicity to Hyallela azteca and Chironomus spp. in the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts, estimated by using consensus-based freshwater sediment-quality guidelines.

The trace elements arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, biological effects. It is important to note that both MRLs and the lead, nickel, and zinc accounted for about 87 percent of the method by which toxicity is calculated greatly affects which predicted toxicity, on average. Chromium concentrations constituent is considered “most accountable” for predicted measured in samples from 19 of the 20 sites were greater than toxicity as well as the potential for toxicity. This method is the PEC for chromium, with the greatest exceedence (about intended to supplement, not replace, direct measures of nine times the PEC) calculated for sediment collected from sediment toxicity. Finally, although these sediment-quality the North River at the North River Conduit (SAY-002). The guidelines were initially written for freshwater, it has been greatest average value of the trace element PEC quotients was shown that these guidelines work equally well in estuarine calculated for samples collected from the North River at the environments (MacDonald and Others, 2002). North River Conduit (SAY-002) and Lake Quannapowitt (WAY-001). Statistical methods described previously for estimating ΣPAHs and DDE from censored data indicated that Humans PAHs and DDE, on average, accounted for about 3 and 10 As more people interact with lakes, rivers, and estuaries, percent, respectively, of the predicted toxicity for the entire they will likely come in contact with sediment. Information study area. about the human-health risks associated with direct contact or This method of evaluating potential toxicity is only an incidental ingestion of contaminated sediment may help informal screening to distinguish groups of chemicals and communities like those in the North Coastal Basin. These sampling locations that are likely to be associated with adverse risks can be assessed by comparing sediment-contaminant 16 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003

concentrations with exposure-based guidelines for those Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Massachusetts contaminants. The guidelines can be applied only indirectly to Department of Environmental Protection, tested sediment aquatic sediment, however, because they are formulated for quality at selected sites in the North Coastal Basin, which contaminated upland soil. In the absence of aquatic-sediment includes the Rumney Marshes, a Massachusetts Area of Critical guidelines, comparison with direct-contact, exposure-based soil Environmental Concern. standards for many trace elements and organic compounds In June 2003, grab samples of the top 2–4 in. of sediment, may suffice (Massachusetts Department of Environmental which represent more recent deposition, were collected from Protection, 1996, method 2, soil category S-1). the North River, Lake Quannapowitt, Saugus River, Mill River, Only a few of the constituents were detected at concentra- Shute Brook, and the tidal creeks of the Rumney Marshes—Sea tions near or above their respective human-health standards. Of Plane Basin, Pines River, and Bear Creek. Collection devices the trace elements, antimony, arsenic, beryllium, and lead included an Eckman dredge, a stainless-steel scoop, and a concentrations were the highest and were closest to their Teflon spoon. respective standards. Beryllium exceeded its soil standard at Chemical analyses were done for 33 elements, such as many sites, but only slightly, on average. Of particular interest antimony, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, copper, is the arsenic concentration measured at Lake Quannapowitt lead, mercury, nickel, silver, and zinc; and for three types of (WAY-001), which was more than five times the standard. This organic compounds, including polyaromatic hydrocarbons concentration may result from the more than 15,000 kg of (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides, and polychlorinated sodium arsenite that was applied in the 1960s to control weed biphenyls (PCBs). In addition, the grain-size distribution in growth in the lake (Heath, 2001b). each sample was determined through standard laboratory Of the organic compounds tested, four PAHs—benzo(a)- sieving procedures. anthracene, benzo(b)fluoranthene, benzo(a)pyrene, and Constituent concentrations from the North Coastal Basin indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene—were closest to human-health were then compared with background concentrations standards. When analyzed by using methods described from areas assumed to be unaffected by humans, and previously for censored data, all of the organochlorine pesti- with concentrations from other urban rivers and other cides and PCBs tested showed no potential for adverse human- coastal rivers in Massachusetts. Contaminant concentrations health risk. Sediment collected from Lake Quannapowitt measured in sediment collected from the North Coastal Basin (WAY-001), Central Reedy Meadow (L6Y-001), and Reedy generally were greater than background concentrations. Meadow Pond (WAY-003), however, could not be assessed for Contaminants with high concentrations included arsenic, potential risk to humans who come in contact with sediment chromium, copper, nickel, zinc, some of the PAHs, contaminated with some of the PAHs, organochlorine pesti- dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites, cides, and PCBs because of relatively high MRLs compared to and dieldrin. Measured contaminant concentra-tions were human-health standards. generally equal to or greater than those measured in other urban Comparing sediment concentrations to soil-based, human- rivers throughout the conterminous United States. Locally, health standards likely overestimates the potential human- however, concentrations measured in samples collected from health risk. As people wade or swim near contaminated the North Coastal Basin were generally less than concentrations sediment, the sediment is washed quickly from their skin. On measured in sediment collected from two of three urban rivers the other hand, people exposed to contaminated soils have draining to Boston Harbor, just south of the North Coastal extended contact with the soil; therefore, the contaminant is Basin. more likely to enter the body. Nonetheless, the comparison can Some constituent concentrations may pose a risk to provide a sense of the risk associated with contacting the benthic organisms, with potential toxicity ranging from about sediment. These comparisons, however, are not intended to 33 percent to nearly 91 percent among the sites. Moreover, replace direct measures of the health risk (Breault and others, when considered in relation to the direct-contact, exposure- 2004). based soil standards, exposure to some constituents in bottom sediment from the North Coastal Basin also may cause human- health risks if humans come in contact with the sediment. This Summary work is not a comprehensive study of sediment quality that would definitively would measure the quality of North Coastal Basin sediment. Potential contamination of lakes, rivers, and estuaries in the North Coastal Basin, north of Boston Harbor in Massachusetts, has raised concerns about bottom-sediment quality in these areas. In response to these concerns, the U.S. Acknowledgments 17

Acknowledgments DeCesare, G.J., Kennedy, L.E., and Weinstein, M.J., 2000, North Coastal Watershed 1997/1998 water quality assessment report: Massachusetts Department of The authors express their gratitude to the following Environmental Protection Division of Watershed people: USGS colleagues Vicky-Rose Siegel, and Marcus Management 93-AC-1, variously paged. Waldron for their assistance with sampling and collection; Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, 2003, North USGS colleagues John Colman, Leslie DeSimone, Andrew Coastal Basin, accessed September 18, 2003, at URL Massey, and John Mullaney for technical and editorial http://www.state.ma.us/envir/water/northCoastal/ assistance; Joseph Foley (New England Testing Laboratory) for northCoastal.htm laboratory analytical and operational assistance; and Joan Ferguson, R.B., Price, Van, and Baucom, E.I., 1977, Field LeBlanc (Saugus River Watershed Council), Britta Magnuson manual for stream water and sediment reconnaissance: Grand (Salem Sound Coastwatch), Arthur Screpetis (MADEP), and Junction, CO, E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Savannah Libby Shrieve (USGS Sediment Laboratory). River Laboratory, Aiken, S.C., SRL Internal Doc. DPST-76- 363, U.S. Department of Energy, GJBX-80(77), 78 p. 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Lopes, T.J., and Dionne, S.G., 1998, A review of semivolatile National Park Service, 2003, Saugus Iron Works National and volatile organic compounds in highway runoff and urban Historic Site, accessed September 26, 2003, at URL storm water: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 98- http://www.nps.gov/sair/index.htm 409, 67 p. Peterson, B., 1948, New inventions abound in Wakefield MacDonald, D.D, Ingersoll, C.G, Moore, D.R.J, Bonnell, M., Industries in Industry (February 1948): Associated Industries Brenton, R.L., Lindskoog, R.A., MacDonald, D.B., of Massachusetts, variously paged. Muirhead, Y.K., Pawlitz, A.V., Sims, D.E., Smorong, D.E., Reimann, C., and DeCaritat, P., 2000, Intrinsic flaws of Teed, R.S., Thompson, R.P., Wang, N., 2002, Calcasieu elemental enrichment factors in environmental estuary remedial investigation/feasibility study geochemistry: Environmental Science and Technology, (RI/FS)—Baseline ecological risk assessment (BERA): v. 34, no. 24, p. 5084–5091. Prepared for U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region Rice, K.C., 1999, Inorganic-element concentrations in 6, Dallas, Texas, by MacDonald Environmental Sciences, streambed sediment across the conterminous United States: Ltd. #24 -4800 Island Highway North, Nanaimo, British Environmental Science & Technology, v. 33, no. 15, Columbia, V9T 1W6, September 2002, Document control p. 2499–2504. number 3282-941-RTZ-RISKZ-14858, variously paged. Sly, P.G., 1994, The impact of physical processes at the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Management, sediment/water interface in large lakes, in DePinto, J.V., 2000, Area of Critical Environmental Concern Lick, W., and Paul, J.P., eds., Transport and transformation (ACEC)—Rumney Marshes, accessed March 8, 2004, at of contaminants near the sediment-water interface: Ann URL http://www.state.ma.us/dem/programs/acec/acecs/ Arbor, MI, CRC Press, Inc., 351 p. l-rummar.htm Smith, S.M., 1998, History of the National Uranium Resource Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 1996, Evaluation hydrogeochemical and stream sediment Reuse and disposal of contaminated soil at Massachusetts reconnaissance program: U.S. Geological Survey National landfills—Department of Environmental Protection Policy # Geochemical Database, Open-File Report 97-492, accessed COMM-97-001: Boston, MA, Massachusetts Department of March 12,2003, at URL http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/1997/ Environmental Protection, 15 p. ofr-97-0492/nurehist.htm Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, 2002, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2002, National Background levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and recommended water-quality criteria: U.S. Environmental metals in soil, accessed February 11, 2004, at URL Protection Agency EPA-822-R-02-047, 36 p. http://www.state.ma.us/dep/ors/files/backtu.pdf U.S. Geological Survey, 2003, Arsenic in New England— Massachusetts State Board of Health, 1909, Report of the State geology, geochemistry, database and statistics, accessed Board of Health upon the flooding of lands bordering Lake February 2, 2004, at URL http://minerals.usgs.gov/east/ Quannapowitt and its tributaries, and high-water elevation of environment/indexAsNEng.htm#overview the lake: Boston, MA, Massachusetts State Senate, No. 208, Van Metre, P., Mahler, B.J., and Furlong, E.T., 2000, Urban January 1909, Massachusetts State House Library, 3d floor, sprawl leaves its PAH signature: Environmental Science and p. 2–10. Technology, v. 34, no. 19, p. 4064–4070. Metcalf & Eddy, Inc.,1999, Lake Quannapowitt sediment analysis results: Wakefield, MA, Metcalf & Eddy, Inc., 13 p. Table 3

Table 3 21 84 84 86 880 280 280 710 330 230 620 790 390 <98 <50 <50 <50 <800 <940 <110 (ppb) 2,300 2,900 2,200 1,700 1,500 6,800 2,000 1,900 thene <1,600 Fluoran- 84 78 94 160 200 150 170 560 300 <98 <50 <50 <50 (ppb) <120 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <230 <200 <220 <240 <110 <240 <1,600 anthracene Dibenzo(a,h)- 80 72 78 860 340 850 350 750 740 950 320 410 820 <98 <50 <50 <50 <260 <800 <940 <160 <170 <150 <110 <240 (ppb) 1,100 2,500 <1,600 Chrysene (ppb) thene fluoran- Benzo(k)- 847890 80 78 90 430470180410 460 390 130 310 270 <220 450 320 560300 310 <240 650 370 <98 <98 <50<50<50 <50 <50 <50 1500 850 <260<800<940 <260 <160 <800 <940 <170 <160 <150 <170 <230 <150 320 <220<110 <220 <110 <240 <240 (ppb) <1,600 <1,600 perylene Benzo(g,h,i)- 76 76 78 480 190 560 460 550 300 <98 <50 <50 <50 <260 <800 <940 <170 <150 <110 1,300 1,500 1,200 1,000 1,100 3,700 1,300 1,100 (ppb) thene <1,600 fluoran- Benzo(b)- Polyaromatic hydrocarbons 78 74 84 910 340 760 360 730 780 670 320 360 790 <98 <50 <50 <50 <260 <800 <940 <160 <170 <150 <110 <240 (ppb) 1,100 2,500 pyrene <1,600 Benzo(a)- 80 74 80 390 910 390 780 750 330 340 820 <98 <50 <50 <50 cene (ppb) <260 <800 <940 <160 <170 <150 <110 <240 1,100 1,400 2,700 1,000 anthra- <1,600 Benzo(a)- 76 70 72 250 460 140 220 150 660 370 210 <98 <50 <50 <50 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <230 <220 <240 <110 <240 cene (ppb) Anthra- <1,600 95 96 82 86 110 <98 <86 <50 <50 <50 <120 <140 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <130 <230 <200 <200 <220 <240 <110 <240 (ppb) thylene <1,600 Acenaph- 78 74 74 150 <90 <98 <86 <50 <50 <50 <120 <140 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <130 <230 <200 <200 <220 <240 <110 <240 (ppb) thene <1,600 Acenaph- <, less than value shown; %, percent; --, not done] not --, percent; %, shown; <, less than value Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D ------Howley Street Station Name Organic compound concentrations measured in sediment grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Blank Blank Blank (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix Table 3. [D, duplicate; ppb, Rec, partsrecovery; per billion; 22 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003 -- -- 99 74 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 BHC <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) alpha- pesticides -- -- 84 77 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <5 <5 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 Organochlorine Organochlorine (ppb) <90 <17.5 <48 <68 <15 <10 <11 <14 <14 Aldrin ued d14 58 67 70 69 80 71 76 59 81 80 68 79 63 77 68 82 70 54 47 76 49 39 77 66 68 77 57 64 (% Rec) Terphenyl- 54 62 64 63 78 76 77 62 75 78 62 72 73 79 74 81 32 26 43 61 56 27 64 60 64 62 58 64 (% Rec) biphenyl 2-Fluoro- Surrogates 55 65 63 66 74 68 72 54 67 70 58 68 69 72 67 74 36 31 40 60 53 33 66 55 57 71 64 61 Nitro- (% Rec) (% benzene-d5 ------<90 <84 <98 <86 <50 <50 <50 <120 <140 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <130 <230 <200 <200 <220 <240 <110 <240 lene (ppb) <1,600 naphtha- 2-Methyl- 86 74 72 700 200 650 250 190 550 610 310 <98 <50 <50 <50 <260 <800 <940 <230 <110 1,700 2,200 1,600 1,100 4,300 1,800 1,200 (ppb) <1,600 Pyrene 80 76 80 540 700 640 260 280 980 <98 <50 <50 <50 Polyaromatic hydrocarbons <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <110 <240 1,100 1,800 1,100 3,300 1,400 (ppb) threne <1,600 Phenan- 82 74 74 350 <90 <84 <98 <86 <50 <50 <50 lene <120 <140 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <130 <230 <200 <220 <240 <110 <240 (ppb) Naptha- <1,600 82 78 96 500 550 200 450 280 510 610 580 240 310 690 <98 <50 <50 <50 <260 <800 <940 <160 <170 <150 <110 <240 (ppb) 1,700 pyrene Indeno- <1,600 (1,2,3-cd)- 99 82 76 82 150 110 <98 <50 <50 <50 <120 <140 <260 <800 <940 <160 <220 <170 <150 <130 <230 <200 <200 <220 <240 <110 <240 (ppb) <1,600 Fluorene <, less than value shown; %, percent; --, not done] not --, percent; %, shown; <, less than value Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D ------Howley Street Station Name Station Organic compound concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.—Contin

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Roue 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Blank Blank Blank (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix Table 3. [D, duplicate; ppb, Rec, partsrecovery; per billion; Table 3 23 -- -- 97 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 116 <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) Endo- sulfan I -- -- 18 24 21 88 79 <10 <10 <10 <10 <35 <96 <17 <29 <17 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) <179 <135 Dieldrin -- -- 29 36 25 45 37 20 82 ued 100 <96 <17 <29 <16 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) <179 <135 4,4’-DDT -- -- 13 48 75 96 36 23 21 93 89 156 <10 <10 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <12 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) <179 4,4’-DDE -- -- 62 22 12 34 18 48 24 22 44 34 89 81 102 <96 <16 <26 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) <179 <135 4,4’-DDD ------<9 <15 <100 <100 <100 <100 <350 <960 <157 <170 <130 <260 <200 <210 <270 <292 <130 <157 <120 <288 <100 <100 (ppb) <1,790 <1,350 Chlordane Organochlorine pesticides Organochlorine -- -- 90 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 108 <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) gamma- Chlordane -- -- 84 78 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) alpha- Chlordane -- -- 88 90 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 BHC <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) gamma- -- -- 84 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 109 BHC <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) delta- -- -- 98 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 103 <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) beta-BHC <, less than value shown; %, percent; --, not done] not --, percent; %, shown; <, less than value Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D ------Howley Street Station Name Station Organic compound concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.—Contin

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Blank Blank Blank (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix Table 3. [D, duplicate; ppb, Rec, partsrecovery; per billion; 24 Sediment Quality in the North Coastal Basin of Massachusetts, 2003 -- -- 84 86 95 98 85 85 84 92 111 136 122 119 138 121 110 110 103 129 115 110 113 110 104 103 101 102 DCBP (% Rec) -- -- Surrogates 90 94 95 91 87 97 94 99 89 97 87 96 94 82 80 86 82 99 91 110 111 115 106 104 100 100 TCMX (% Rec) ------ued (ppb) Toxa- phene <5,000 <5,000 <5,000 <5,000 <8,500 <8,000 <8,500 <6,500 <6,700 <7,900 <6,000 <5,000 <5,000 <89,500 <17,500 <48,000 <67,500 <14,500 <13,000 <10,000 <10,500 <13,500 <14,600 <14,400 -- -- 76 104 <50 <50 <50 <50 <85 <80 <85 <65 <67 <79 <60 <50 <50 (ppb) chlor <895 <175 <480 <675 <145 <130 <100 <105 <135 <146 <144 Methoxy- -- -- 88 73 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 (ppb) <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 epoxide Heptachlor -- -- 95 88 <5 <5 <5 <5 <9 <8 <9 <7 <7 <8 <6 <5 <5 <90 <18 <48 <68 <15 <13 <10 <11 <14 <15 <14 (ppb) chlor Hepta- Organochlorine pesticides -- -- 83 73 <10 <10 <10 <10 <35 <96 <17 <29 <16 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <12 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) Endrin <179 <135 ketone -- -- 95 82 <10 <10 <10 <10 <35 <96 <17 <29 <16 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <12 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) Endrin Endrin <179 <135 aldehyde -- -- 86 125 <10 <10 <10 <10 <35 <96 <17 <29 <16 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <12 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) Endrin <179 <135 -- -- 98 74 <10 <10 <10 <10 <35 <96 <17 <29 <16 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <12 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) sulfate <179 <135 Endosulfan Endosulfan -- -- 85 76 <10 <10 <10 <10 <35 <96 <17 <29 <16 <17 <13 <26 <20 <21 <27 <29 <13 <16 <12 <29 <10 <10 (ppb) <179 <135 Endo- sulfan II sulfan <, less than value shown; %, percent; --, not done] not --, percent; %, shown; <, less than value Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D ------Howley Street Station Name Station Organic compound concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.—Contin

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Blank Blank Blank (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix Table 3. [D, duplicate; ppb, Rec, partsrecovery; per billion; Table 3 25 DCBP (% Rec) Surrogates TCMX (% Rec) ued 1260 (ppb) 1254 (ppb) 1248 (ppb) 1242 (ppb) Polychlorinated biphenyl aroclors biphenyl Polychlorinated 1232 (ppb) 1221 (ppb) ------67 ------57 ------88 73 -- -- 88 63 -- 1016 <100<100<100 <200<100 <200 <200<349 <100 <200<957 <100 <100 <697 <100<173 <100 <1,915 <100<288 <100<157 <349 <100 <345 <100 <957<171 <100 <575<128 <100 <314 <349<261 <100 <173 <100 <957 <342<200 <100 <288 <256 <100<211 <157 <349 <521 <100 <173 <100 <957<275 <171 <400 <100 <288<292 <128 <100 <422 <157<134 <349 <261 <173 <100 <957 <549 <171<157 65 <200 <288 <583 <128 78<127 <211 <157 <269 <349 <261 70 <173 <957<288 <275 <171 <314 <200 70 <288 103 <292 <128<100 <255 105 <211 <157 <134 <261<100 <173 108 <577 <275 <171 <157 90 <200 <288 93 100 <292 <128 <200 <127 <211 <157 <134 <261 <200 <288 <275 <171 <157 118 93 <200 <292 <128 <100 98 88 <127 <211 <134 <261 <100 <288 95 <275 <157 <200 98 <292 98 <100 <127 113 <211 88 <134 <100 108 <288 <275 <157 95 <292 93 <100 105 <127 <134 <100 103 85 <288 <157 108 98 <100 100 <127 90 <100 <288 83 85 100 110 <100 <100 85 85 80 83 100 73 108 95 78 83 88 (ppb) <1790 <3582 <1,790 <1790 <1,790 <1,790 <1,790 90 93 <1,300 <2,600 <1,300 <1,300 <1,300 <1,300 <1,300 110 110 <, less than value shown; %, percent; --, not done] not --, percent; %, shown; <, less than value Station number PCY-001 PCY-002 SAY-001 SAY-002 WAY-001 WAY-002 L6Y-001 WAY-003 WAY-004 WAY-005 SEY-001 SEY-002 SEY-003 L5Y-001 L5Y-002 SEY-004 SEY-005 SEY-006 RDY-001 L5Y-003 SEY-003-D SEY-006-D ------Howley Street Station Name Station Organic compound concentrations measured in sediment-grab samples collected from the North Coastal Basin, Massachusetts.—Contin

North River at North River Caller Street at North River Street at Commercial North River at North River Conduit Lake Quannapowitt Saugus River at Vernon Street Meadow Reedy Central Reedy Meadow Pond Saugus River Drive at Sunset Street at Farm Mill River Saugus River at Route 1 Saugus River at Iron Works Cemetery at Shute Brook Saugus River at Boston Street Saugus River at Strawberry Brook Saugus River at Route 107 Bear Creek SeaBasin Plane Field at Gibson Pine River Saugus River at Route 1A Cemetery at Shute Brook SeaBasin Plane Blank Blank Blank (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix (% Rec) Spike Matrix Table 3. [D, duplicate; ppb, Rec, partsrecovery; per billion;