1
|
Amos HM, Miniat CF, Lynch J, Compton J, Templer PH, Sprague LA, Shaw D, Burns D, Rea A, Whitall D, Myles L, Gay D, Nilles M, Walker J, Rose AK, Bales J, Deacon J, Pouyat R. What Goes Up Must Come Down: Integrating Air and Water Quality Monitoring for Nutrients. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:11441-11448. [PMID: 30230820 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b03504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Excess nitrogen and phosphorus ("nutrients") loadings continue to affect ecosystem function and human health across the U.S. Our ability to connect atmospheric inputs of nutrients to aquatic end points remains limited due to uncoupled air and water quality monitoring. Where connections exist, the information provides insights about source apportionment, trends, risk to sensitive ecosystems, and efficacy of pollution reduction efforts. We examine several issues driving the need for better integrated monitoring, including: coastal eutrophication, urban hotspots of deposition, a shift from oxidized to reduced nitrogen deposition, and the disappearance of pristine lakes. Successful coordination requires consistent data reporting; collocating deposition and water quality monitoring; improving phosphorus deposition measurements; and filling coverage gaps in urban corridors, agricultural areas, undeveloped watersheds, and coastal zones.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen M Amos
- AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellow hosted by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Washington , DC 20004 , United States
| | - Chelcy F Miniat
- U.S. Department of Agriculture , Office of the Chief Scientist , Washington , DC 20250 , United States
| | - Jason Lynch
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Office of Air and Radiation , Washington , DC 20004 , United States
| | - Jana Compton
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Western Ecology Division , Corvallis , Oregon 97333 , United States
| | - Pamela H Templer
- Boston University , Department of Biology , Boston , Massachusetts 02215 , United States
| | - Lori A Sprague
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Program , Denver , Colorado 80225 , United States
| | - Denice Shaw
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Office of Research and Development , Washington , DC 20004 , United States
| | - Doug Burns
- U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center , Troy , New York 12309 , United States
| | - Anne Rea
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Office of Research and Development , Research Triangle Park , North Carolina 27711 , United States
| | - David Whitall
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, National Ocean Service , Silver Spring , Maryland 20910 , United States
| | - LaToya Myles
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Air Resources Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37830 , United States
| | - David Gay
- National Atmospheric Deposition Program, Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene , University of Wisconsin-Madison , Madison , Wisconsin 53706 , United States
| | - Mark Nilles
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Program , Lakewood , Colorado 80225 , United States
| | - John Walker
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency , Office of Research and Development , Research Triangle Park , North Carolina 27711 , United States
| | - Anita K Rose
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service , Air Resource Management , Washington , DC 20250 , United States
| | - Jerad Bales
- Consortium of Universities for the Advancement Hydrologic Science, Inc. , Cambridge , Massachusetts 02140 , United States
| | - Jeffrey Deacon
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Program , Pembroke , New Hampshire 03275 , United States
| | - Richard Pouyat
- U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service , Research and Development , Washington , DC 20250 , United States
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Kumar N, Ramirez-Ortiz D, Solo-Gabriele HM, Treaster JB, Carrasquillo O, Toborek M, Deo S, Klaus J, Bachas LG, Whitall D, Daunert S, Szapocznik J. Environmental PCBs in Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico: implications for community health. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int 2016; 23:2003-2013. [PMID: 26122576 PMCID: PMC4698114 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4913-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2015] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Guánica Bay, located in southwestern Puerto Rico, has suffered oil spills and other pollution discharges since the 1960s. Previous research showed elevated concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in coral reef and sediment. This research examined PCB concentrations in sediment and fish. Sediment and fish sampling in the bay was facilitated by community members. This study identified the second highest reported PCB level (129,300 ng/g) in sediment in the USA. Fish samples also showed elevated concentrations (1623 to 3768 ng/g), which were higher than the thresholds of safe levels of PCBs in fish for human consumption. The alarmingly high concentration of PCBs calls for proactive community engagement to bring awareness about contamination of the bay and more extensive sampling to test for the concentration of PCBs in seafood and the people of Guánica. This study also underscores the value of the involvement of local communities during sampling design aimed at identifying hot spots of contaminants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Naresh Kumar
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA.
| | - Daisy Ramirez-Ortiz
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Helena M Solo-Gabriele
- Department of Civil, Architectural, and Environmental Engineering, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Joseph B Treaster
- School of Communication, University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Olveen Carrasquillo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
- General Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Michal Toborek
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Sapna Deo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jim Klaus
- Department of Chemistry, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33146, USA
| | | | - David Whitall
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD, 20910, USA
| | - Sylvia Daunert
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Miami, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| | - Jose Szapocznik
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Miami, 1120 NW 14th St Suite 1063, Miami, FL, 33136, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Whitall D, Pait A, Hartwell SI. Chemical contaminants in surficial sediment in Coral and Fish Bays, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands. Mar Environ Res 2015; 112:1-8. [PMID: 26427342 DOI: 10.1016/j.marenvres.2015.08.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2015] [Accepted: 08/03/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Land based sources of pollution have the potential to negatively impact coral reef ecosystems. Many coral systems, including environmentally sensitive marine protected areas, do not have assessments of their chemical contaminant status (magnitude and extent). Without a status assessment, it is impossible to measure change in a system. This study presents surficial sediment data from Coral and Fish Bays (St. John, US Virgin Islands (USVI)). Portions of these bays are included in Virgin Islands National Park, and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. A suite of analytes (PCBs, PAHs, pesticides, heavy metals, butyltins) was quantified and compared against other regional data and against previously published sediment quality guidelines (SQG). Contamination from toxic contaminants in the system was generally low when compared to other similar studies and potential toxicity thresholds (SQG). Exceptions to this were copper and total chlordane which exceeded the Effects Range Low (ERL) sediment quality guideline, indicating possible sediment toxicity. This assessment will be useful to coastal managers for tracking environmental change, and ensuring that this marine protected area remains relatively free from toxic contamination.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Whitall
- Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, United States.
| | - Anthony Pait
- Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, United States
| | - S Ian Hartwell
- Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, NOAA, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Whitall D, Mason A, Pait A, Brune L, Fulton M, Wirth E, Vandiver L. Organic and metal contamination in marine surface sediments of Guánica Bay, Puerto Rico. Mar Pollut Bull 2014; 80:293-301. [PMID: 24447634 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.12.053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Revised: 12/20/2013] [Accepted: 12/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Land based sources of pollution have the potential to adversely impact valuable coral reef ecosystems. In Guánica Bay (Puerto Rico) sediment samples collected and analyzed in 2009 demonstrate unusually high concentrations of total chlordane, total PCBs, nickel and chromium. A variety of other contaminants (total DDT, total PAHs, As, Cu, Hg, and Zn) were also at levels which may indicate sediment toxicity. With the exception of chromium, all of these contaminants were detected in coral tissues (Porites astreoides), although it is unclear at what level these contaminants affect coral health. PCBs and chlordane are environmentally persistent and likely represent legacy pollution from historical uses in close geographic proximity to the Bay. We hypothesize that the high nickel and chromium levels are due to a combination of naturally high Ni and Cr in rock and soils in the watershed, and enhanced (human driven) erosional rates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Whitall
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States.
| | - Andrew Mason
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States
| | - Anthony Pait
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States
| | - Lia Brune
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States
| | - Michael Fulton
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States
| | - Ed Wirth
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, United States
| | - Lisa Vandiver
- Earth Resources Technology Incorporated, Contractor to NOAA, National Marine Fisheries Service, Restoration Center, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Whitall D, Hively WD, Leight AK, Hapeman CJ, McConnell LL, Fisher T, Rice CP, Codling E, McCarty GW, Sadeghi AM, Gustafson A, Bialek K. Pollutant fate and spatio-temporal variability in the choptank river estuary: factors influencing water quality. Sci Total Environ 2010; 408:2096-2108. [PMID: 20171715 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2009] [Revised: 12/22/2009] [Accepted: 01/06/2010] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
Restoration of the Chesapeake Bay, the largest estuary in the United States, is a national priority. Documentation of progress of this restoration effort is needed. A study was conducted to examine water quality in the Choptank River estuary, a tributary of the Chesapeake Bay that since 1998 has been classified as impaired waters under the Federal Clean Water Act. Multiple water quality parameters (salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, chlorophyll a) and analyte concentrations (nutrients, herbicide and herbicide degradation products, arsenic, and copper) were measured at seven sampling stations in the Choptank River estuary. Samples were collected under base flow conditions in the basin on thirteen dates between March 2005 and April 2008. As commonly observed, results indicate that agriculture is a primary source of nitrate in the estuary and that both agriculture and wastewater treatment plants are important sources of phosphorus. Concentrations of copper in the lower estuary consistently exceeded both chronic and acute water quality criteria, possibly due to use of copper in antifouling boat paint. Concentrations of copper in the upstream watersheds were low, indicating that agriculture is not a significant source of copper loading to the estuary. Concentrations of herbicides (atrazine, simazine, and metolachlor) peaked during early-summer, indicating a rapid surface-transport delivery pathway from agricultural areas, while their degradation products (CIAT, CEAT, MESA, and MOA) appeared to be delivered via groundwater transport. Some in-river processing of CEAT occurred, whereas MESA was conservative. Observed concentrations of herbicide residues did not approach established levels of concern for aquatic organisms. Results of this study highlight the importance of continued implementation of best management practices to improve water quality in the estuary. This work provides a baseline against which to compare future changes in water quality and may be used to design future monitoring programs needed to assess restoration strategy efficacy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Whitall
- NOAA, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, Center for Coastal Monitoring and Assessment, N/SCI 1, SSMC4, 9110, 1305 East West Hwy, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
6
|
Whitall D, Bricker S, Ferreira J, Nobre AM, Simas T, Silva M. Assessment of eutrophication in estuaries: pressure-state-response and nitrogen source apportionment. Environ Manage 2007; 40:678-90. [PMID: 17661131 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-005-0344-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2005] [Accepted: 11/19/2006] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
A eutrophication assessment method was developed as part of the National Estuarine Eutrophication Assessment (NEEA) Program. The program is designed to improve monitoring and assessment of eutrophication in the estuaries and coastal bays of the United States with the intent to guide management plans and develop analytical and research models and tools for managers. These tools will help guide and improve management success for estuaries and coastal resources. The assessment method, a Pressure-State-Response approach, uses a simple model to determine Pressure and statistical criteria for indicator variables (where applicable) to determine State. The Response determination is mostly heuristic, although research models are being developed to improve that component. The three components are determined individually and then combined into a single rating. Application to several systems in the European Union (E.U.), specifically in Portugal, shows that the method is transferable, and thus is useful for development of management measures in both the Unites States and E.U. This approach identifies and quantifies the key anthropogenic nutrient input sources to estuaries so that management measures can target inputs for maximum effect. Because nitrogen is often the limiting nutrient in estuarine systems, examples of source identification and quantification for nitrogen have been developed for 11 coastal watersheds on the U.S. east coast using the WATERSN model. In general, estuaries in the Northeastern United States receive most of their nitrogen from human sewage, followed by atmospheric deposition. This is in contrast to some watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic (Chesapeake Bay) and South Atlantic (Pamlico Sound), which receive most of their nitrogen from agricultural runoff. Source identification is important for implementing effective management measures that should be monitored for success using assessment methods, as described herein. For instance, these results suggest that Northeastern estuaries would likely benefit most from improved sewage treatment, where as the Mid and South Atlantic systems would benefit most from agricultural runoff reductions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Whitall
- NOAA, National Ocean Service, National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, 1305 East West Highway, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
O'Connor T, Whitall D. Linking hypoxia to shrimp catch in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Mar Pollut Bull 2007; 54:460-3. [PMID: 17360006 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2007.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2006] [Revised: 01/18/2007] [Accepted: 01/26/2007] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Wide spread and reoccurring hypoxia has been observed in the northern Gulf of Mexico since routine monitoring began in the 1980s. Although the potential ecological effects of hypoxia (habitat loss, mortalities) are well known, there is relatively little information linking hypoxia in the northern Gulf of Mexico to fisheries decline. Previous analyses have shown a negative relationship between hypoxic area and brown shrimp (Farfantepenaeus aztecus) catch for the Texas and Louisiana coasts combined from 1985 to 1997. Extending these analyses with data through 2004, we found that the correlation between hypoxic area and landings holds (r=-0.52), plus there was a significant negative relationship (r=-0.59) between hypoxia and shrimp landings for the Texas coast alone. We hypothesize that this pattern is not seen in the Louisiana fishery alone because of differences in fisheries practices (inshore vs. offshore) between Louisiana and Texas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas O'Connor
- National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science, National Ocean Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA
| | | |
Collapse
|
8
|
Whitall D, Castro M, Driscoll C. Evaluation of management strategies for reducing nitrogen loadings to four US estuaries. Sci Total Environ 2004; 333:25-36. [PMID: 15364517 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2004.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2003] [Revised: 12/02/2003] [Accepted: 05/01/2004] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In this study we used the Watershed Assessment Tool for Evaluating Reduction Strategies for Nitrogen (WATERSN) model to evaluate a variety of management strategies for reducing nitrogen (N) loads to four US east coast estuaries: Casco Bay, Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay and Pamlico Sound. These management strategies encompass reductions in atmospheric emissions and deposition of N from sources including, fossil fuel burning utility emissions and mobile NO(x) emissions, N treatment in wastewater and controls on agricultural N inputs. We find that in primarily urban watersheds biological removal of N in wastewater treatment produces the greatest reduction in N loading (32-57% reductions), while in less urban watersheds, reductions in agricultural loading are more effective (5-56% reductions) in decreasing N loads to coastal ecosystems. Because anthropogenic N inputs are derived from a variety of sources, we also examined an integrated scenario targeting all major N sources; this resulted in 35-58% reductions in N loading. Nitrogen pollution originates from multiple sources and is transported through several media (air, soil, water); a major challenge of the development of N management strategies will be the control of multiple sources to effectively reduce N loads to estuaries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- D Whitall
- Hubbard Brook Research Foundation and Syracuse University, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
9
|
Whitall D, Hendrickson B, Paerl H. Importance of atmospherically deposited nitrogen to the annual nitrogen budget of the Neuse River estuary, North Carolina. Environ Int 2003; 29:393-399. [PMID: 12676232 DOI: 10.1016/s0160-4120(02)00175-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Wet deposition of nitrogen, as NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), and organic N, contributes up to 50% of the total externally supplied or 'new' N flux to the Neuse River Estuary (North Carolina). Excessive nitrogen (N) loading to N-sensitive waters such as the Neuse River Estuary has been linked to changes in microbial and algal community composition and function (harmful algal blooms), hypoxia/anoxia, and fish kills. In a 4-year study from July 1996 to July 2000, the weekly wet deposition of NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), and dissolved organic N was calculated, based on concentration and precipitation measurements, at 11 sites on a northwest-southeast transect in the watershed. Data from this period indicate that the annual mean total wet atmospherically deposited (AD)-N flux was 11 kg ha(-1) year(-1). Deposition was fairly evenly distributed between nitrate, ammonium, and organics (32%, 32%, and 36%, respectively). Seasonally, the summer (June-August) months contained the highest weekly wet total N deposition; this trend was not driven by precipitation amount. Estimates of watershed N retention and in-stream riverine processing revealed that the AD-N flux contributed an estimated 20% (range of 15-51%) of the total 'new' N flux to the estuary, with direct deposition of N to the estuary surface accounting for 6% of the total 'new' N flux. This study did not measure the dry depositional flux, which may double the contribution of AD-N to the estuary. The AD-N is an important source of 'new' N to the Neuse River Estuary as well as other estuarine and coastal ecosystems downwind of major emission sources. As such, AD-N should be included in effective nutrient mitigation and management efforts for these N-sensitive waters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David Whitall
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Syracuse University, 220 Hinds Hall, 13244, Syracuse, NY, USA.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|