A survey of the toxicity of sediments was performed by NOAA's National Status and Trends (NSandT) Program throughout the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. The objectives of the survey were to determine the spatial patterns of toxicity, the spatial scales (magnitude) of toxicity, the severity (frequency) of toxicity, and the relationships among measures of toxicity and chemical substances in the sediments. This survey was conducted as a part of a nationwide program supported by NOAA's Coastal Ocean Program and the NSandT Program, in which the biological effects of toxicants are determined in selected estuaries and bays. The survey was conducted in two phases: 117 samples were collected throughout the entire estuary during 1991 (Phase 1) and an additional 57 samples were collected in Newark Bay and vicinity during 1993 (Phase 2). Relatively sensitive toxicity tests were performed under controlled laboratory conditions with portions of each sample. During Phase 1, three independent tests were performed: (1) a 10-day, acute survival test of solid-phase sediments with the amphipod Ampelisca abdita; (2) a 48-hour liquid phase test of elutriates with the embryos of the bivalve Mulinia lateralis in which both percent survival and normal embryological development were recorded; and (3) a 15-minute microbial bioluminescence test (Microtoxtm) of organic solvent extracts. Only the amphipod tests were performed on the samples collected during Phase 2. Chemical analyses of selected samples were performed and the concentrations of trace elements, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides and other hydrocarbons were reported. Also, during Phase 2 the concentrations of numerous chlorinated dioxins and furans were determined.

A survey of sediment toxicity was carried out by NOAA's National Status and Trends Program in the coastal bays that surround Long Island Sound in New York and Connecticut. The survey objectives were to determine the spatial distribution and severity of toxicity, and to analyze the relationships between toxicity and chemical contamination in the sediments. Sediment samples from three stations in each of 20 coastal bays and one Long Island Sound site were tested for toxicity with three independent protocols: (1) a 10-day amphipod survival test of the whole, solid-phase sediments with Ampelisca abdita, (2) a 48-hour exposure of clam larvae, Mulinia lateralis, to sediment elutriates, with normal development and survival as the endpoints, and (3) a microbial bioluminescence test (MicrotoxR) using solvent extracts of the sediments. Separate samples from these same stations were analyzed chemically for a broad suite of potentially toxic contaminants, including heavy metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls. Additional sediment samples were obtained from up to six additional stations in a few of the coastal bays; these samples were examined only for heavy metals contamination and the data are included in an appendix to this report.The survey results indicate that sediment toxicity is widespread in the coastal bays of Long Island Sound. Significant toxicity was indicated for the sediments from at least one of the stations in each of the 20 coastal bays sampled in this survey. Manhassett Bay, Oyster Bay, and Little Neck Bay, New York were the three most toxic bays, respectively, as indicated by the incidence of significant toxicity from the three tests on samples from three stations. Only 11 of the 60 stations showed no significant toxicity in any of the three tests. Branford Harbor and the Connecticut River were indicated as the least toxic bays by this approach. About one-fifth of the total area (79.1 km2) sampled within the 20 embayments was indicated as significantly toxic by all three tests (survival of amphipods and larval bivalves, and MicrotoxTM).

The foundation of this study was based on a sediment quality triad (SQT) approach with a probabilistic sampling design, which characterized the estuary in terms of chemical contamination in sediment, sediment toxicity (MicroTox, amphipod assays; sea urchin assay; and P450 HRGS) and benthic infauna community structure. Where possible, published guidelines were used to compare observed values with sediment quality guidelines for chemical contaminants for example Threshold Effects Level (TEL) and Probable Effects Level (PEL) values of MacDonald (1994, MacDonald et al. 1996). Concurrent and subsequent investigations were conducted to further elucidation of cause-effect relationships and are reported as ancillary studies in this report or sited elsewhere. These additional investigations included 1) assessment of chemical contaminant burdens in fish tissue; Comet assay; acetyl cholinesterase activity in fish and shrimp; endocrine disruption in fish; characterization of contaminants in the nepheloid layer and sediment traps; survey for emerging contaminants of concern (alkyl phenols, polybrominated diphenylethers, perfluoro compounds and pesticides) in sediment and water; assessment of oyster biomarkers to describe the nature and severity of the copper problem. Finally, a thematic website and data portal was developed to manage and disseminate nation-wide data on contamination, toxicity, benthic faunal distribution, and fish histopathology (St. Lucie Estuary data were used as a prototype). This is an ongoing effort to provide ready access to data. The web site address is: http://ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/

The toxicity of sediments in Sabine Lake, Texas, and adjoining Intracoastal Waterway canals was determined as part of bioeffects assessment studies managed by NOAA's National Status and Trends Program. The study area encompassed all of Sabine Lake, portions of the Sabine River, portions of the Neches River, portions of the Neches-Sabine Canal at the confluence of the two rivers, portions of Sabine Pass channel entrance, and an area in the Gulf of Mexico near the entrance channel. A stratified-random sampling design similar to those used in previous surveys conducted nationwide by NOAA was applied in Sabine Lake. The study area was subdivided into 22 irregular-shaped strata. Strata established within channels were further subdivided into three substrata to improve spatial coverage. Only one location each was sampled within each substratum, whereas three locations were sampled in each of the larger undivided strata.Surficial sediment samples were collected during August, 1995 from 66 randomly-chosen locations. Laboratory toxicity tests were performed as indicators of potential ecotoxicological effects in sediments. A battery of tests was performed to generate information from different phases (components) of the sediments. Tests were selected to represent a range in toxicological endpoints from acute to chronic sublethal responses. Toxicological tests were conducted to measure: reduced survival of adult amphipods exposed to solid-phase sediments; impaired fertilization success and abnormal morphological development in gametes and embryos, respectively, of sea urchins exposed to pore waters; reduced metabolic activity of a marine bioluminescent bacteria exposed to organic solvent extracts; and induction of a cytochrome P-450 reporter gene system in exposures to solvent extracts of the sediments.Chemical analyses were performed on portions of each sample to quantify the concentrations of trace metals, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and chlorinated organic compounds. Correlation analyses were conducted to determine the relationships between measures of toxicity and concentrations of potentially toxic substances in the samples.The full report is available online at http://www.ccma.nos.noaa.gov/about/coast/nsandt/musselmethods.aspx

The toxicity of sediments in Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew and Apalachicola Bays was determined as part of bioeffects assessments performed by NOAA's National Status and Trends Program. The objectives of the survey were to determine: (1) the spatial patterns in toxicity throughout each bay, (2) the spatial extent of toxicity throughout and among the bays, (3) the severity or degree of toxicity, and (4) the relationships between chemical contamination and toxicity. The survey was conducted over two years: Pensacola Bay and St. Andrew Bay were sampled in 1993; and Choctawhatchee Bay, Apalachicola Bay and Bayou Chico (a sub-basin of Pensacola Bay) were sampled during 1994. Surficial sediment samples were collected from 123 randomly-chosen locations throughout the five areas. Multiple toxicity tests were conducted on all samples, and chemical analyses were performed on 102 of the 123 samples. Toxicological tests were conducted to determine survival, reproductive success, morphological development, metabolic activity, and genotoxicity; all bays showed toxicity in at least some of the samples. Toxicity was most severe in Bayou Chico, an industrialized basin adjoining Pensacola Bay. Other developed bayous adjoining Pensacola Bay and the other bays also showed relatively severe toxicity. The main basins of the bays generally showed lower toxicity than the adjoining bayous. The different toxicity tests, however, indicated differences in severity, incidence, spatial patterns, and spatial extent in toxicity. The most sensitive test, a bioassay of metabolic activity of bioluminescent bacteria, indicated toxicity was pervasive throughout the entire study area. The least sensitive test, an acute bioassay performed with a benthic amphipod, indicated toxicity was restricted to a very small portion of the area. Causes of toxicity were not determined in the survey. However, mixtures of potentially toxic substances, including pesticides, petroleum constituents, trace metals, and ammonia, were associated statistically with the measures of toxicity. The concentrations of many substances were highest in Bayou Chico, where the most severe toxicity was observed. At these toxic sites, some of the substances had considerably elevated concentrations, often exceeding numerical guidelines or known toxicity thresholds. The relationships between toxicity and chemical concentrations differed among the bays and toxicity tests.

This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized to characterize the Chesapeake Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity (Microtox, amphipod bioassay; sea urchin gamete bioassay; and P450 biomarker) and benthic infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated with contaminants in the mainstem Chesapeake estuary and major western subestuaries. This file contains data measured in the Chesapeake Bay estuary system sampled in 1998, 1999, and 2001. Samples were collected for sediment analyses.

This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized to characterize the Delaware Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity (Microtox, amphipod bioassay; sea urchin gamete bioassay; and P450 biomarker) and benthic infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated with contaminants in the Delaware estuary system from the fall line to the mouth of the Bay. This file contains data measured in the Delaware Bay Estuary and adjacent waters during 1997. Samples were collected for water and sediment analyses.

This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized to characterize the San Francisco Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity (Microtox, amphipod bioassays; sea urchin gamete bioassay; and P450 biomarker) and benthic infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated with contaminants in the San Francisco estuary system from the delta to the south Bay and out to the Golden Gate. This file contains data measured in the San Francisco Bay Estuary in 2000 and 2001. Samples were collected for water and sediment analyses.

This study was based on the sediment quality triad (SQT) approach. A stratified probabilistic sampling design was utilized to characterize the Kachemak Bay system in terms of chemical contamination, sediment toxicity and benthic infaunal community structure. The purpose was to define the extent and magnitude of toxicity and other biological effects associated with contaminants in the Kachemak Bay system. Five strata (Homer harbor, Western intertidal, Western subtidal, Eastern intertidal, and Eastern subtidal) were established in the shallow (less than 10 fathoms) northern area of the bay. Sediment samples were collected at multiple stations in each strata. A broad suite of sediment contaminants were analyzed at each station, including polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides including DDT and its metabolites, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), trace elements, and butyl-tins Other parameters included grain size analysis, total organic/inorganic carbon (TOC/TIC), and percent solids. Characterization of infaunal assemblages and the abundance of organisms present in sediments provide additional information to help determine areas of degraded sediments. Whole sediment toxicity bioassays with two species of amphipod were conducted to test for overt contaminant toxicity. This project provides invaluable baseline data on sediment infauna species richness, chemical contamination and toxicity that is georeferenced and posted on the internet through the NOAA's National Status and Trends data portal.