DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY 1993-94 INVESTIGATION OF PCBs IN THE SPOKANE RIVER February 1995 Water Body Nos. WA-54-1010, WA-54-1020, WA-57-1010 Publication No. 95-310 printed on recycled paper The Department of Ecology is an equal opportunity agency and does not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, disability, age, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, disabled veteran's status, Vietnam Era veteran's status or sexual orientation. If you have special accommodation needs or require this document in alternative format, please contact the Environmental Investigations and Laboratory Services Program, Toxics Investigation Section, Joan LeTourneau at (360) 407-6764 (voice). Ecology's telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD) number at Ecology Headquarters is (360) 407-6006. For additional copies of this publication, please contact: Department of Ecology Publications Distributions Office P.O. Box 47600 Olympia, Washington 98504-7600 (360) 407-7472 Refer to Publication Number 95-310 DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY 1993-94 INVESTIGATION OF PCBs IN THE SPOKANE RIVER Toxics Investigations Section Environmental Investigations and Laboratory Services Program Olympia, Washington 98504-7710 February 1995 Water Body Nos. WA-54-1010, WA-54-1020, WA-57-1010 Publication No. 95-310 printed on recycled paper Table of Contents List of Tables .................................................................................................................... iii List of Figures................................................................................................................... iv Abstract............................................................................................................................... v Summary........................................................................................................................... vi Introduction........................................................................................................... vi Objectives ............................................................................................................. vi PCB Terminology ............................................................................................... vii PCB Concentrations in Spokane River Fish........................................................ vii Ecological Implications ....................................................................................... viii Conclusions About PCB Sources ........................................................................ viii Recommendations............................................................................................................... x Acknowledgements........................................................................................................... xi Introduction......................................................................................................................... 1 Reason for PCB Study ............................................................................................ 1 Metals Data ............................................................................................................ 1 Human Health Evaluation ...................................................................................... 2 Background on PCBs.......................................................................................................... 4 Chemical Structure and Use ................................................................................... 4 Environmental Occurrence and Toxicity................................................................ 5 Analytical Considerations....................................................................................... 6 Spokane River PCB Sampling During 1993-94 ................................................................. 8 Objectives and Overview of Ecology's Surveys..................................................... 8 Results and Discussion ......................................................................................................17 PCB Concentrations in 1993-94 Fish Samples .................................................... 17 1993 vs. 1994 Fish Samples.................................................................................. 22 PCB Concentrations in Sediment Samples........................................................... 26 Ecological Assessment ......................................................................................... 31 Implications for Fish and Wildlife............................................................ 31 Potential for Sediment Toxicity................................................................ 33 Page i Table of Contents (cont.) PCBs Detected at Industrial/Municipal Facilities................................................. 34 Kaiser Trentwood ..................................................................................... 34 Spokane Industrial Park (SIP) .................................................................. 37 Sewage Treatment Plants.......................................................................... 39 Old Inland Metals Site .............................................................................. 39 Washington Water Power Co. (WWP) Yard ............................................ 40 PCB Concentrations in River Water..................................................................... 40 Particulate PCBs ....................................................................................... 40 Soluble PCBs ........................................................................................... 42 Conclusions About PCB Sources ......................................................................... 44 PCB-1248 and -1260................................................................................. 44 PCB-1254 ................................................................................................. 46 Kaiser PCB Discharge ......................................................................................... 47 Proposed Further Cleanup at Kaiser ..................................................................... 48 References......................................................................................................................... 49 Appendices Appendix A. Field and Laboratory Methods Appendix B. Lengths and Weights of Spokane River Fish and Crayfish Analyzed for PCBs in 1994 Appendix C. Lengths and Weights of Spokane River Fish and Crayfish Analyzed for PCBs in 1993 Appendix D. Locations of Ecology 1993-94 Sediment Sampling Sites in the Spokane River Appendix E. PCBs in STP Sludges; Statewide Data from Ecology Class II Inspections Page ii List of Tables Page Table 1. Dept. of Ecology Spokane River Sampling During 1993 & 1994 ...................8 Table 2. PCBs in Edible Tissues of Spokane River Fish Collected in 1993 & 1994...................................................................................................18 Table 3. PCBs in Spokane River Whole Fish Samples Collected in 1993 & 1994...................................................................................................20 Table 4. Comparison of Total PCBs in Spokane River Fish Species Sampled in 1993 & 1994................................................................................24 Table 5. PCBs in Spokane River Sediments Collected in 1993 & 1994......................27 Table 6. Environmental Criteria and Guidelines for PCBs in Fish Tissue...................32 Table 7. Ontario Sediment Quality Guidelines for PCBs.............................................33 Table 8. Summary of Toxicity and Chemical Data on Spokane River Sediments, August 1994.................................................................................35 Table 9. PCBs in Solids Collected from Industrial / Municipal Facilities on the Spokane River in 1994 ........................................................................36 Table 10. PCB Analysis of Effluents from Kaiser Trentwood and Spokane Industrial Park, 1994 ......................................................................................38 Table 11. Ecology Data on PCB-1248 in Kaiser Lagoon and Final Effluent ................38 Table 12. PCB Analysis of Spokane River Suspended Particulate Samples, 1994 .......40 Table 13. PCB Analysis of SPMDs Deployed in Upper Spokane River, 1994 .............43 Table 14. Estimates of Dissolved PCB-1248 Concentrations and Loads for Upper Spokane River, 1994 ...........................................................................43 Page iii List of Figures Page Figure 1. Spokane River Basin ........................................................................................3 Figure 2. Structure of Polychlorinated Biphenyls ...........................................................4 Figure 3. Chromatograms of Aroclor (PCB) mixtures ....................................................7 Figure 4. Location of 1993-94 Spokane River Fish and Crayfish Samples ..................11 Figure 5. Location of 1993-94 Spokane River Sediment Sampling Sites .....................12 Figure 6. Detail of 1994 Sediment Sampling Sites in vicinity of Myrtle Pt..................13 Figure 7. Detail of 1993-94 Sediment Sampling Sites in vicinity of Upriver Dam ......14 Figure 8. Detail of 1994 Sediment Sampling Sites between Mission Ave. and Division St......................................................................................................15 Figure 9. Industrial, Municipal