Fish tissue from 159 samples collected at four locations in the Buffalo River Area of Concern in 2017 were analyzed for a wide range of analytes including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, organochlorine and other persistent organic compounds, metals, lipid and moisture. Over 230 analytes were analyzed in the tissue samples, including 160 PCB congeners. The data set includes a variety of laboratory quality assurance data including sample replicates, laboratory blank data, laboratory spike data, matrix spike recoveries, and replicate matrix spike recoveries.

Fish tissue from 203 samples collected at five locations in the Niagara River Area of Concern in 2018 were analyzed for a wide range of analytes including Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), pesticides (E1 and E2), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), organochlorine and other persistent organic compounds, metals, lipid and moisture. Over 230 analytes were analyzed in the tissue samples, including 160 PCB congeners. Fish tissues from a subset of the sites (n=40) were also analyzed for Dioxins and Furans. The data set includes a variety of laboratory quality assurance data including sample replicates, laboratory blank data, laboratory spike data, matrix spike recoveries, and replicate matrix spike recoveries.

This data release includes organic and mercury data for biologic samples collected from two studies conducted in the Niagara River Area of Concern (AOC) and the Buffalo River AOC during 2020. The first, Niagara River Forage Fish study assessed contaminant data from 26 fish-tissue samples collected at four locations in or near the Niagara River AOC during 2020, and from two reference material samples. More than 160 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) congeners were analyzed in 21 fish-tissue samples and in one reference material sample. Dioxins and furans were analyzed in five fish-tissue samples and in a second reference material sample. Percent lipid and percent moisture were analyzed in all 26 fish-tissue samples. The second, Buffalo River Lumbriculus study analyzed concentrations of over 160 PCB congeners and total mercury in batches of Lumbriculus variegatus (Oligochaete) which had been exposed for 28 days (in a laboratory) to sediments collected from 15 sites in the Buffalo River AOC during 2020. This data release also compiles laboratory quality assurance information, including sample replicates, laboratory blank data, laboratory spike data, matrix spike recoveries, and replicate matrix spike recoveries that were associated with these samples.

The National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program (NCBP), which was developed and maintained by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), monitored concentrations of environmental contaminants in freshwater fish over a period of about 20 years. Beginning in the 1960s as a component of the multi-agency National Pesticide Monitoring Program (NPMP) and continuing through the mid-1980s, freshwater fish were periodically collected from a national network of stations for analysis of pesticides, PCBs, and other contaminants. The NPMP/NCBP database of contaminant concentrations is the most extensive of its kind, unique in its breadth and depth with respect to environmental contaminant concentrations in fish. The data and information from the NCBP are sought often by a national and international clientele; especially frequent users are biologists in FWS field offices and USGS Water Science Centers. The fish network was suspended by FWS in 1986 pending development of the Biomonitoring of Environmental Status and Trends (BEST) program. The BEST program and the NPMP/NCBP database were transferred to the National Biological Survey/Service (NBS) in 1993. At that time ongoing studies by NBS Inventory and Monitoring (I and M) and the USGS National Water Quality Assessment Program (NAWQA) generated new data at NCBP sites. The database was subsequently (1996) transferred to USGS. The database derived from the NCBP is unique in its ability to characterize the exposure of free-ranging organisms, including threatened and endangered species, to toxic contaminants.

This data release contains concentration and hazard score data for 16 contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) collected from surface waters throughout the Great Lakes basin. Concentration data were compiled from various online, published, or internal sources. Original data represent work conducted by federal, state, and local entities over a span of 30 years (1991 - 2021). Hazard scores for specific CECs were determined by comparing measured environmental concentrations against effect category-specific screening values. These data are supplemental information for the associated journal paper.

Results from water, fish, and sediment sampling conducted during August 2002

Data from 10-day sediment toxicity tests of bed sediments from the Buffalo River Area of Concern (AOC) and reference reaches on the Buffalo River upstream of the AOC, Erie County, New York, respectively. Specifically, the data was used to compare the survival and growth of two macroinvertebrate species in sediments from study sites and laboratory controls. Results are from 10-day sediment exposures of two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca. Sediment samples were collected from 8 sites within the AOC and from 6 reference sites upstream of the AOC. Bed-sediments were collected from depositional areas using a petite Ponar (0.03 square meter) dredge. At each site, approximately five grabs were composited into a bucket, mixed, and a 4-liter (L) subsample was stored in a polyethylene container. Sediment toxicity testing were then conducted by a contract laboratory to quantify toxicity with the dipteran, Chironomus dilutus, and the amphipod, Hyalella azteca, during 10-day survival and growth bioassays following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. (U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, 2000, Methods for measuring the toxicity and bioaccumulation of sediment associated contaminants with freshwater invertebrates. Second edition: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development EPA 600/R-99/064.) This spreadsheet contains 16 columns. The first 8 columns describe the sample collection information, the remaining 8 columns provide the survival and growth results of two test species used in sediment toxicity tests. The data include the stream name, site ID, National Water Information System (NWIS) ID, latitude and longitude, replicate number, and site type. The following eight columns present results from 10-day sediment exposures of two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca. The following endpoints were measured for each species following the 10-day exposure: number of surviving organisms, percentage of organisms surviving (hereafter survival), average ash-free dry weight of the surviving organisms (hereafter growth), and ash-free dry weight of the surviving organisms divided by the initial number of organisms (hereafter biomass).

Long-running science support for the agency (Office of Protected Resources, others) related to the use of modern pesticides throughout the United States as a limiting factor for endangered species conservation and recovery. This work is currently supporting several national ESA Biological Opinions, and is under review by the National Academy of Sciences. The NAS panel recommendations are expected in the summer of 2013, and these will guide additional research in FY14 and beyond. Analyses of water and tissue samples for pesticides.

A data release containing information on macroinvertebrate communities and sediment toxicity in the Buffalo River Area of Concern (AOC) and reference areas immediately upstream of the AOC collected during 2017 and 2020. Macroinvertebrate community samples were collected using bottom-deployed multiplate artificial substrate samplers and organisms were identified to the lowest practical taxonomic resolution and used to calculate metrics of biological integrity following standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation procedures. Bed sediments were collected using a petite Ponar dredge and used for toxicity tests with two test species, Chironomus dilutus and Hyalella azteca, following USEPA test methods 100.2 and 100.1, respectively. In situ habitat measurements and sediment samples for determination of grain size distribution and total organic carbon concentration were also taken at the time of sample collection at all sites. The data release has four separate tables: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of 10-day sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications. First posted – May 10, 2019 (version 1.0, available from author) Revised – September 17, 2021 (version 2.0) Version 1.0: This version of the dataset contains one table that contains the results of sediment toxicity tests from 2017. All data in Version 1.0 are contained in Version 2.0. Version 2.0: This version of the dataset has four separate tables with data from 2017 and 2020 sampling events: one containing site locations and habitat information, one containing the results of 10-day sediment toxicity tests, one containing macroinvertebrate identifications, and one containing standard New York State Department of Environmental Conservation metrics of macroinvertebrate community integrity calculated from the macroinvertebrate identifications. Additionally, the title of the data release has been changed from "Data for Assessing the Status of Macroinvertebrate Communities and Sediment Toxicity in the Buffalo River Area of Concern, New York" to "Macroinvertebrate community and sediment toxicity data from the Buffalo River Area of Concern, New York (ver. 2.0)". All data in Version 1.0 have been retained in Version 2.0 and are unchanged.

In 2008-2009, fish are were collected from approximately 560 national streams, which included a representative subset of 154 urban river sites, which were in close proximity to urban areas. Site selection included a mix of statistically-selected and targeted sites. ORD/NERL analyzed fish fillets from the 560 stream sampling sites for 22 pesticides, 21 congeners of PCBs, and 8 congeners of PBDEs. Surface water was collected at the 154 urban river sites, and was analyzed for concentrations of almost 50 human prescription pharmaceuticals. Two data files are included, and report the full findings of the chemical analysis in each individual fish or water sample site for each chemical. This dataset is associated with the following publications: Batt , A., T. Kincaid , M. Kostich , J. Lazorchak , and T. Olsen. Evaluating the extent of pharmaceuticals in surface waters of the United States using a national scale rivers and streams assessment survey. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY. Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Pensacola, FL, USA, 35(4): 874-881, (2016). Batt, A., J. Wathen, J. Lazorchak, T. Olsen, and T. Kincaid. Statistical Survey of Persistent Organic Pollutants: Risk Estimations to Humans and Wildlife through Consumption of Fish from U.S. Rivers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC, USA, 51(5): 3021-3031, (2017).