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Bradley PM, Hicks EC, Levitt JP, Lloyd DC, McDonald MM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Ayotte JD. A brief note on substantial sub-daily arsenic variability in pumping drinking-water wells in New Hampshire. Sci Total Environ 2024; 919:170838. [PMID: 38340869 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2023] [Revised: 01/24/2024] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
Large variations in redox-related water parameters, like pH and dissolved oxygen (DO), have been documented in New Hampshire (United States) drinking-water wells over the course of a few hours under pumping conditions. These findings suggest that comparable sub-daily variability in dissolved concentrations of redox-reactive and toxic arsenic (As) also may occur, representing a potentially critical public-health data gap and a fundamental challenge for long-term As-trends monitoring. To test this hypothesis, discrete groundwater As samples were collected approximately hourly during one day in May and again in August 2019 from three New Hampshire drinking-water wells (2 public-supply, 1 private) under active pumping conditions. Collected samples were assessed by laboratory analysis (total As [AsTot], As(III), As(V)) and by field analysis (AsTot) using a novel integrated biosensor system. Laboratory analysis revealed sub-daily variability (range) in AsTot concentrations equivalent to 16 % - 36 % of that observed in the antecedent 3-year bimonthly trend monitoring. Thus, the results indicated that, along with previously demonstrated seasonality effects, the timing and duration of pumping are important considerations when assessing trends in drinking-water As exposures and concomitant risks. Results also illustrated the utility of the field sensor for monitoring and management of AsTot exposures in near-real-time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC, USA.
| | | | - Joseph P Levitt
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, Pembroke, NH, USA
| | | | | | - Kristin M Romanok
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Joseph D Ayotte
- U.S. Geological Survey, New England Water Science Center, Pembroke, NH, USA
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2
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Tornabene BJ, Hossack BR, Halstead BJ, Eagles-Smith CA, Adams MJ, Backlin AR, Brand AB, Emery CS, Fisher RN, Fleming J, Glorioso BM, Grear DA, Grant EHC, Kleeman PM, Miller DAW, Muths E, Pearl CA, Rowe JC, Rumrill CT, Waddle JH, Winzeler ME, Smalling KL. Broad-Scale Assessment of Methylmercury in Adult Amphibians. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:17511-17521. [PMID: 37902062 PMCID: PMC10653216 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic contaminant that has been mobilized and distributed worldwide and is a threat to many wildlife species. Amphibians are facing unprecedented global declines due to many threats including contaminants. While the biphasic life history of many amphibians creates a potential nexus for methylmercury (MeHg) exposure in aquatic habitats and subsequent health effects, the broad-scale distribution of MeHg exposure in amphibians remains unknown. We used nonlethal sampling to assess MeHg bioaccumulation in 3,241 juvenile and adult amphibians during 2017-2021. We sampled 26 populations (14 species) across 11 states in the United States, including several imperiled species that could not have been sampled by traditional lethal methods. We examined whether life history traits of species and whether the concentration of total mercury in sediment or dragonflies could be used as indicators of MeHg bioaccumulation in amphibians. Methylmercury contamination was widespread, with a 33-fold difference in concentrations across sites. Variation among years and clustered subsites was less than variation across sites. Life history characteristics such as size, sex, and whether the amphibian was a frog, toad, newt, or other salamander were the factors most strongly associated with bioaccumulation. Total Hg in dragonflies was a reliable indicator of bioaccumulation of MeHg in amphibians (R2 ≥ 0.67), whereas total Hg in sediment was not (R2 ≤ 0.04). Our study, the largest broad-scale assessment of MeHg bioaccumulation in amphibians, highlights methodological advances that allow for nonlethal sampling of rare species and reveals immense variation among species, life histories, and sites. Our findings can help identify sensitive populations and provide environmentally relevant concentrations for future studies to better quantify the potential threats of MeHg to amphibians.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J. Tornabene
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain
Science Center, Missoula, Montana 59801, United States
| | - Blake R. Hossack
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain
Science Center, Missoula, Montana 59801, United States
- Wildlife
Biology Program, W. A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, Montana 59812, United States
| | - Brian J. Halstead
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research
Center, Dixon, California 95620, United States
| | - Collin A. Eagles-Smith
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland
Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Michael J. Adams
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland
Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Adam R. Backlin
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research
Center, San Diego, California 92101, United States
| | - Adrianne B. Brand
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center
(Patuxent Wildlife Research Center), Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376, United States
| | - Colleen S. Emery
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland
Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Robert N. Fisher
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research
Center, San Diego, California 92101, United States
| | - Jill Fleming
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center
(Patuxent Wildlife Research Center), Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376, United States
| | - Brad M. Glorioso
- U.S.
Geological
Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506, United States
| | - Daniel A. Grear
- U.S.
Geological
Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Evan H. Campbell Grant
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center
(Patuxent Wildlife Research Center), Turners Falls, Massachusetts 01376, United States
| | - Patrick M. Kleeman
- U.S.
Geological
Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Point Reyes Station, California 94956, United States
| | - David A. W. Miller
- Department
of Ecosystem Science and Management, Pennsylvania
State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, United States
| | - Erin Muths
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, United States
| | - Christopher A. Pearl
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland
Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Jennifer C. Rowe
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland
Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - Caitlin T. Rumrill
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland
Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, Oregon 97331 United States
| | - J. Hardin Waddle
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Wetland and Aquatic Research Center, Gainesville, Florida 32653, United States
| | - Megan E. Winzeler
- U.S.
Geological
Survey, National Wildlife Health Center, Madison, Wisconsin 53711, United States
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- U.S. Geological
Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
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3
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Kraus JM, Smalling KL, Vandever MW, Givens CE, Smith CD, Kolpin DW, Hladik ML. Conserved grasslands support similar pollinator diversity as pollinator-specific practice regardless of proximal cropland and pesticide exposure. R Soc Open Sci 2023; 10:231093. [PMID: 38026041 PMCID: PMC10663794 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.231093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
Pollinator diversity and abundance are declining globally. Cropland agriculture and the corresponding use of agricultural pesticides may contribute to these declines, while increased pollinator habitat (flowering plants) can help mitigate them. Here we tested whether the relative effect of wildflower plantings on pollinator diversity and counts were modified by proportion of nearby agricultural land cover and pesticide exposure in 24 conserved grasslands in Iowa, USA. Compared with general grassland conservation practices, wildflower plantings led to only a 5% increase in pollinator diversity and no change in counts regardless of the proportion of cropland agriculture within a 1 km radius. Pollinator diversity increased earlier in the growing season and with per cent flower cover. Unexpectedly, neither insecticide nor total pesticide concentrations on above-ground passive samplers were related to pollinator diversity. However, pollinator community composition was most strongly related to date of sampling, total pesticide concentration, and forb or flower cover. Our results indicate very little difference in pollinator diversity between grassland conservation practices with and without wildflower plantings. Given the relatively high economic costs of wildflower plantings, our research provides initial evidence that investment in general grassland conservation may efficiently conserve pollinator diversity in temperate regions of intensive cropland agriculture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna M. Kraus
- Columbia Environmental Research Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia, MO 65201, USA
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- New Jersey Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Mark W. Vandever
- Fort Collins Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Carrie E. Givens
- Upper Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Lansing, MI 48911, USA
| | - Cassandra D. Smith
- Oregon Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Bend, OR 97701, USA
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- Central Midwest Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA
| | - Michelle L. Hladik
- California Water Science Center, U.S. Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
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4
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Smalling KL, Romanok KM, Bradley PM, Morriss MC, Gray JL, Kanagy LK, Gordon SE, Williams BM, Breitmeyer SE, Jones DK, DeCicco LA, Eagles-Smith CA, Wagner T. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in United States tapwater: Comparison of underserved private-well and public-supply exposures and associated health implications. Environ Int 2023; 178:108033. [PMID: 37356308 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.108033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [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: 03/17/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 06/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Drinking-water quality is a rising concern in the United States (US), emphasizing the need to broadly assess exposures and potential health effects at the point-of-use. Drinking-water exposures to per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a national concern, however, there is limited information on PFAS in residential tapwater at the point-of-use, especially from private-wells. We conducted a national reconnaissance to compare human PFAS exposures in unregulated private-well and regulated public-supply tapwater. Tapwater from 716 locations (269 private-wells; 447 public supply) across the US was collected during 2016-2021 including three locations where temporal sampling was conducted. Concentrations of PFAS were assessed by three laboratories and compared with land-use and potential-source metrics to explore drivers of contamination. The number of individual PFAS observed ranged from 1 to 9 (median: 2) with corresponding cumulative concentrations (sum of detected PFAS) ranging from 0.348 to 346 ng/L. Seventeen PFAS were observed at least once with PFBS, PFHxS and PFOA observed most frequently in approximately 15% of the samples. Across the US, PFAS profiles and estimated median cumulative concentrations were similar among private wells and public-supply tapwater. We estimate that at least one PFAS could be detected in about 45% of US drinking-water samples. These detection probabilities varied spatially with limited temporal variation in concentrations/numbers of PFAS detected. Benchmark screening approaches indicated potential human exposure risk was dominated by PFOA and PFOS, when detected. Potential source and land-use information was related to cumulative PFAS concentrations, and the number of PFAS detected; however, corresponding relations with specific PFAS were limited likely due to low detection frequencies and higher detection limits. Information generated supports the need for further assessments of cumulative health risks of PFAS as a class and in combination with other co-occurring contaminants, particularly in unmonitored private-wells where information is limited or not available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
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5
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Tornabene BJ, Smalling KL, Givens CE, Oja EB, Hossack BR. Energy-related wastewater contamination alters microbial communities of sediment, water, and amphibian skin. Sci Total Environ 2023; 880:163160. [PMID: 37003337 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.163160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
To inform responsible energy development, it is important to understand the ecological effects of contamination events. Wastewaters, a common byproduct of oil and gas extraction, often contain high concentrations of sodium chloride (NaCl) and heavy metals (e.g., strontium and vanadium). These constituents can negatively affect aquatic organisms, but there is scarce information for how wastewaters influence potentially distinct microbiomes in wetland ecosystems. Additionally, few studies have concomitantly investigated effects of wastewaters on the habitat (water and sediment) and skin microbiomes of amphibians or relationships among these microbial communities. We sampled microbiomes of water, sediment, and skin of four larval amphibian species across a gradient of chloride contamination (0.04-17,500 mg/L Cl) in the Prairie Pothole Region of North America. We detected 3129 genetic phylotypes and 68 % of those phylotypes were shared among the three sample types. The most common shared phylotypes were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Bacteroidetes. Salinity of wastewaters increased dissimilarity within all three microbial communities, but not the diversity or richness of water and skin microbial communities. Strontium was associated with lower diversity and richness of sediment microbial communities, but not those of water or amphibian skin, likely because metal deposition occurs in sediment when wetlands dry. Based on Bray Curtis distance matrices, sediment microbiomes were similar to those of water, but neither had substantial overlap with amphibian microbiomes. Species identity was the strongest predictor of amphibian microbiomes; frog microbiomes were similar but differed from that of the salamander, whose microbiome had the lowest richness and diversity. Understanding how effects of wastewaters on the dissimilarity, richness, and diversity of microbial communities also influence the ecosystem function of communities will be an important next step. However, our study provides novel insight into the characteristics of, and associations among, different wetland microbial communities and effects of wastewaters from energy production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian J Tornabene
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT 59812, USA.
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Carrie E Givens
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 5840 Enterprise Drive, Lansing, MI 48911, USA
| | - Emily B Oja
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
| | - Blake R Hossack
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Wildlife Biology Program, W. A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA
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6
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Bradley PM, Kolpin DW, Thompson DA, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Cwiertny DM, Evans N, Field RW, Focazio MJ, Beane Freeman LE, Givens CE, Gray JL, Hager GL, Hladik ML, Hofmann JN, Jones RR, Kanagy LK, Lane RF, McCleskey RB, Medgyesi D, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Meppelink SM, Meyer MT, Stavreva DA, Ward MH. Juxtaposition of intensive agriculture, vulnerable aquifers, and mixed chemical/microbial exposures in private-well tapwater in northeast Iowa. Sci Total Environ 2023; 868:161672. [PMID: 36657670 PMCID: PMC9976626 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.161672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
In the United States and globally, contaminant exposure in unregulated private-well point-of-use tapwater (TW) is a recognized public-health data gap and an obstacle to both risk-management and homeowner decision making. To help address the lack of data on broad contaminant exposures in private-well TW from hydrologically-vulnerable (alluvial, karst) aquifers in agriculturally-intensive landscapes, samples were collected in 2018-2019 from 47 northeast Iowa farms and analyzed for 35 inorganics, 437 unique organics, 5 in vitro bioassays, and 11 microbial assays. Twenty-six inorganics and 51 organics, dominated by pesticides and related transformation products (35 herbicide-, 5 insecticide-, and 2 fungicide-related), were observed in TW. Heterotrophic bacteria detections were near ubiquitous (94 % of the samples), with detection of total coliform bacteria in 28 % of the samples and growth on at least one putative-pathogen selective media across all TW samples. Health-based hazard index screening levels were exceeded frequently in private-well TW and attributed primarily to inorganics (nitrate, uranium). Results support incorporation of residential treatment systems to protect against contaminant exposure and the need for increased monitoring of rural private-well homes. Continued assessment of unmonitored and unregulated private-supply TW is needed to model contaminant exposures and human-health risks.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary C Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Rena R Jones
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary H Ward
- National Cancer Institute/NIH, Rockville, MD, USA
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7
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Hladik ML, Kraus JM, Smith CD, Vandever M, Kolpin DW, Givens CE, Smalling KL. Wild Bee Exposure to Pesticides in Conservation Grasslands Increases along an Agricultural Gradient: A Tale of Two Sample Types. Environ Sci Technol 2023; 57:321-330. [PMID: 36573799 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Conservation efforts have been implemented in agroecosystems to enhance pollinator diversity by creating grassland habitat, but little is known about the exposure of bees to pesticides while foraging in these grassland fields. Pesticide exposure was assessed in 24 conservation grassland fields along an agricultural gradient at two time points (July and August) using silicone band passive samplers (nonlethal) and bee tissues (lethal). Overall, 46 pesticides were detected including 9 herbicides, 19 insecticides, 17 fungicides, and a plant growth regulator. For the bands, there were more frequent/higher concentrations of herbicides in July (maximum: 1600 ng/band in July; 570 ng/band in August), while insecticides and fungicides had more frequent/higher concentrations in August (maximum: 110 and 65 ng/band in July; 1500 and 1700 ng/band in August). Pesticide concentrations in bands increased 16% with every 10% increase in cultivated crops. The bee tissues showed no difference in detection frequency, and concentrations were similar among months; maximum concentrations of herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides in July and August were 17, 27, and 180 and 19, 120, and 170 ng/g, respectively. Pesticide residues in bands and bee tissues did not always show the same patterns; of the 20 compounds observed in both media, six (primarily fungicides) showed a detection-concentration relationship between the two media. Together, the band and bee residue data can provide a more complete understanding of pesticide exposure and accumulation in conserved grasslands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, California 95819, United States
| | - Johanna M Kraus
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, Missouri 65201, United States
| | - Cassandra D Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Bend, Oregon 97701, United States
| | - Mark Vandever
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, Colorado 80526, United States
| | - Dana W Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, United States
| | - Carrie E Givens
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Lansing, Michigan 48911, United States
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
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8
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Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Evans N, Fitzpatrick SC, Givens CE, Gordon SE, Gray JL, Green EM, Griffin DW, Hladik ML, Kanagy LK, Lisle JT, Loftin KA, Blaine McCleskey R, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Navas-Acien A, Roth DA, South P, Weis CP. Bottled water contaminant exposures and potential human effects. Environ Int 2023; 171:107701. [PMID: 36542998 PMCID: PMC10123854 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2022.107701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 09/22/2022] [Revised: 12/03/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bottled water (BW) consumption in the United States and globally has increased amidst heightened concern about environmental contaminant exposures and health risks in drinking water supplies, despite a paucity of directly comparable, environmentally-relevant contaminant exposure data for BW. This study provides insight into exposures and cumulative risks to human health from inorganic/organic/microbial contaminants in BW. METHODS BW from 30 total domestic US (23) and imported (7) sources, including purified tapwater (7) and spring water (23), were analyzed for 3 field parameters, 53 inorganics, 465 organics, 14 microbial metrics, and in vitro estrogen receptor (ER) bioactivity. Health-benchmark-weighted cumulative hazard indices and ratios of organic-contaminant in vitro exposure-activity cutoffs were assessed for detected regulated and unregulated inorganic and organic contaminants. RESULTS 48 inorganics and 45 organics were detected in sampled BW. No enforceable chemical quality standards were exceeded, but several inorganic and organic contaminants with maximum contaminant level goal(s) (MCLG) of zero (no known safe level of exposure to vulnerable sub-populations) were detected. Among these, arsenic, lead, and uranium were detected in 67 %, 17 %, and 57 % of BW, respectively, almost exclusively in spring-sourced samples not treated by advanced filtration. Organic MCLG exceedances included frequent detections of disinfection byproducts (DBP) in tapwater-sourced BW and sporadic detections of DBP and volatile organic chemicals in BW sourced from tapwater and springs. Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently and attributed primarily to DBP in tapwater-sourced BW and co-occurring inorganic and organic contaminants in spring-sourced BW. CONCLUSION The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to multiple drinking-water contaminants of potential human-health concern are common in BW. Improved understandings of human exposures based on more environmentally realistic and directly comparable point-of-use exposure characterizations, like this BW study, are essential to public health because drinking water is a biological necessity and, consequently, a high-vulnerability vector for human contaminant exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | - Emily M Green
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | - John T Lisle
- U.S. Geological Survey, Saint Petersburg, Florida, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Paul South
- U.S. Food and Drug Administration, College Park, Maryland, USA
| | - Christopher P Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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9
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Breitmeyer SE, Walsh HL, Blazer VS, Bunnell JF, Burritt PM, Dragon J, Hladik ML, Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL. Potential health effects of contaminant mixtures from point and nonpoint sources on fish and frogs in the New Jersey Pinelands. Sci Total Environ 2022; 851:158205. [PMID: 36028019 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic ecosystems convey complex contaminant mixtures from anthropogenic pollution on a global scale. Point (e.g., municipal wastewater) and nonpoint sources (e.g., stormwater runoff) are both drivers of contaminant mixtures in aquatic habitats. The objectives of this study were to identify the contaminant mixtures present in surface waters impacted by both point and nonpoint sources, to determine if aquatic biota (amphibian and fish) health effects (testicular oocytes and parasites) occurred at these sites, and to understand if differences in biological and chemical measures existed between point (on-stream) and nonpoint sources (off-stream). To accomplish this, water chemistry, fishes, and frogs were collected from 21 sites in the New Jersey Pinelands, United States. Off-stream sites consisted of 3 reference and 10 degraded wetlands. On-stream sites consisted of two reference lakes and six degraded streams/lakes (four sites above and two sites below wastewater outfalls). Surface water was collected four times at each site and analyzed for 133 organic and inorganic contaminants. One native and five non-native fish species were collected from streams/lakes and native green frogs from wetlands (ponds and stormwater basins). Limited differences in contaminant concentrations were observed in reference and degraded wetlands but for streams/lakes, results indicated that landscape alteration, (upland agricultural and developed land) was the primary driver of contaminant concentrations rather than municipal wastewater. Incidence of estrogenic endocrine disruption (intersex) was species dependent with the highest prevalence observed in largemouth bass and black crappie and the lowest prevalence observed in green frogs and tessellated darters. Parasite prevalence was site and species dependent. Prevalence of eye parasites increased with increasing concentrations of industrial, mycotoxin, and cumulative inorganic contaminants. These findings are critical to support the conservation, protection, and management of a wide range of aquatic species in the Pinelands and elsewhere as habitat loss, alteration, and fragmentation increase with increasing development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara E Breitmeyer
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
| | - Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
| | - John F Bunnell
- New Jersey Pinelands Commission, PO Box 359, 15 Springfield Road, New Lisbon, NJ 08064, USA
| | - Patrick M Burritt
- New Jersey Pinelands Commission, PO Box 359, 15 Springfield Road, New Lisbon, NJ 08064, USA
| | - Jeff Dragon
- New Jersey Pinelands Commission, PO Box 359, 15 Springfield Road, New Lisbon, NJ 08064, USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J St, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Paul M Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, 720 Gracern Rd, Suite 129, Columbia, SC 29210, USA
| | - Kristin M Romanok
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
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10
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Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Charboneau R, George CM, Navas-Acien A, O’Leary M, Red Cloud R, Zacher T, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Cuny CK, Ducheneaux G, Enright K, Evans N, Gray JL, Harvey DE, Hladik ML, Kanagy LK, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Meppelink SM, Valder JF, Weis CP. Tapwater Exposures, Effects Potential, and Residential Risk Management in Northern Plains Nations. ACS ES T Water 2022; 2:1772-1788. [PMID: 36277121 PMCID: PMC9578051 DOI: 10.1021/acsestwater.2c00293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
In the United States (US), private-supply tapwater (TW) is rarely monitored. This data gap undermines individual/community risk-management decision-making, leading to an increased probability of unrecognized contaminant exposures in rural and remote locations that rely on private wells. We assessed point-of-use (POU) TW in three northern plains Tribal Nations, where ongoing TW arsenic (As) interventions include expansion of small community water systems and POU adsorptive-media treatment for Strong Heart Water Study participants. Samples from 34 private-well and 22 public-supply sites were analyzed for 476 organics, 34 inorganics, and 3 in vitro bioactivities. 63 organics and 30 inorganics were detected. Arsenic, uranium (U), and lead (Pb) were detected in 54%, 43%, and 20% of samples, respectively. Concentrations equivalent to public-supply maximum contaminant level(s) (MCL) were exceeded only in untreated private-well samples (As 47%, U 3%). Precautionary health-based screening levels were exceeded frequently, due to inorganics in private supplies and chlorine-based disinfection byproducts in public supplies. The results indicate that simultaneous exposures to co-occurring TW contaminants are common, warranting consideration of expanded source, point-of-entry, or POU treatment(s). This study illustrates the importance of increased monitoring of private-well TW, employing a broad, environmentally informative analytical scope, to reduce the risks of unrecognized contaminant exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bradley
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, United States
| | | | - Kelly L. Smalling
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
| | | | - Robert Charboneau
- Spirit
Lake Tribe Office of Environmental Health, Fort Totten, North Dakota 58335, United States
| | - Christine Marie George
- Johns
Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Ana Navas-Acien
- Columbia
University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York 10032, United States
| | - Marcia O’Leary
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Reno Red Cloud
- Oglala
Sioux Tribe Natural Resources Regulatory Agency, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770, United States
| | - Tracy Zacher
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | | | - Mary C. Cardon
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Christa K. Cuny
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Guthrie Ducheneaux
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Kendra Enright
- Missouri
Breaks Industries Research Inc., Eagle Butte, South Dakota 57625, United States
| | - Nicola Evans
- U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - James L. Gray
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-3742, United States
| | - David E. Harvey
- Indian Health Service/HHS, Rockville, Maryland 20857, United States
| | | | - Leslie K. Kanagy
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80228-3742, United States
| | - Keith A. Loftin
- U.S.
Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas 66049, United States
| | | | | | | | - Joshua F. Valder
- U.S. Geological
Survey, Rapid City, South Dakota 57702, United States
| | - Christopher P. Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health
Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, United
States
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11
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Smalling KL, Mosher BA, Iwanowicz LR, Loftin KA, Boehlke A, Hladik ML, Muletz-Wolz CR, Córtes-Rodríguez N, Femmer R, Campbell Grant EH. Site- and Individual-Level Contaminations Affect Infection Prevalence of an Emerging Infectious Disease of Amphibians. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022; 41:781-791. [PMID: 35040181 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 07/30/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 01/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Emerging infectious disease outbreaks are one of multiple stressors responsible for amphibian declines globally. In the northeastern United States, ranaviral diseases are prevalent in amphibians and other ectothermic species, but there is still uncertainty as to whether their presence is leading to population-level effects. Further, there is also uncertainty surrounding the potential interactions among disease infection prevalence in free-ranging animals and habitat degradation (co-occurrence of chemical stressors). The present study was designed to provide field-based estimates of the relationship between amphibian disease and chemical stressors. We visited 40 wetlands across three protected areas, estimated the prevalence of ranavirus among populations of larval wood frogs and spotted salamanders, and assessed chemical and biological stressors in wetland habitats and larval amphibians using a suite of selected bioassays, screening tools, and chemical analyses. Ranavirus was detected on larval amphibians from each protected area with an estimated occupancy ranging from 0.27 to 0.55. Considerable variation in ranavirus occupancy was also observed within and among each protected area. Of the stressors evaluated, ranavirus prevalence was strongly and positively related to concentrations of metalloestrogens (metals with the potential to bind to estrogen receptors) and total metals in wetland sediments and weakly and negatively related to total pesticide concentrations in larval amphibians. These results can be used by land managers to refine habitat assessments to include such environmental factors with the potential to influence disease susceptibility. Environ Toxicol Chem 2022;41:781-791. © 2022 SETAC. This article has been contributed to by US Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- New Jersey Water Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA
| | - Brittany A Mosher
- Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont, USA
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- Eastern Ecological Science Center at Leetown, US Geological Survey, Kearneysville, West Virginia, USA
| | - Keith A Loftin
- Kansas Water Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Adam Boehlke
- Geology, Geochemistry and Geophysics Science Center, US Geological Survey, Denver, Colorado, USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- California Water Science Center, US Geological Survey, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Carly R Muletz-Wolz
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Nandadevi Córtes-Rodríguez
- Center for Conservation Genomics, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Washington, DC, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Robin Femmer
- Kansas Water Science Center, US Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas, USA
| | - Evan H Campbell Grant
- Eastern Ecological Science Center, S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, US Geological Survey, Turner Falls, Massachusetts, USA
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12
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Hubbard LE, Kolpin DW, Givens CE, Blackwell BR, Bradley PM, Gray JL, Lane RF, Masoner JR, McCleskey RB, Romanok KM, Sandstrom MW, Smalling KL, Villeneuve DL. Food, Beverage, and Feedstock Processing Facility Wastewater: a Unique and Underappreciated Source of Contaminants to U.S. Streams. Environ Sci Technol 2022; 56:1028-1040. [PMID: 34967600 PMCID: PMC9219000 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c06821] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Process wastewaters from food, beverage, and feedstock facilities, although regulated, are an under-investigated environmental contaminant source. Food process wastewaters (FPWWs) from 23 facilities in 17 U.S. states were sampled and documented for a plethora of chemical and microbial contaminants. Of the 576 analyzed organics, 184 (32%) were detected at least once, with concentrations as large as 143 μg L-1 (6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonic acid), and as many as 47 were detected in a single FPWW sample. Cumulative per/polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations up to 185 μg L-1 and large pesticide transformation product concentrations (e.g., methomyl oxime, 40 μg L-1; clothianidin TMG, 2.02 μg L-1) were observed. Despite 48% of FPWW undergoing disinfection treatment prior to discharge, bacteria resistant to third-generation antibiotics were found in each facility type, and multiple bacterial groups were detected in all samples, including total coliforms. The exposure-activity ratios and toxicity quotients exceeded 1.0 in 13 and 22% of samples, respectively, indicating potential biological effects and toxicity to vertebrates and invertebrates associated with the discharge of FPWW. Organic contaminant profiles of FPWW differed from previously reported contaminant profiles of municipal effluents and urban storm water, indicating that FPWW is another important source of chemical and microbial contaminant mixtures discharged into receiving surface waters.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, United States
| | | | - Brett R. Blackwell
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Duluth, Minnesota 55084, United States
| | - Paul M. Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, United States
| | - James L. Gray
- U.S. Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, United States
| | - Rachael F. Lane
- U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas 66049, United States
| | - Jason R. Masoner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73116, United States
| | | | | | | | - Kelly L. Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
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13
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Smalling KL, Oja EB, Cleveland DM, Davenport JM, Eagles-Smith C, Campbell Grant EH, Kleeman PM, Halstead BJ, Stemp KM, Tornabene BJ, Bunnell ZJ, Hossack BR. Metal accumulation varies with life history, size, and development of larval amphibians. Environ Pollut 2021; 287:117638. [PMID: 34426379 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [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: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Amphibian larvae are commonly used as indicators of aquatic ecosystem health because they are susceptible to contaminants. However, there is limited information on how species characteristics and trophic position influence contaminant loads in larval amphibians. Importantly, there remains a need to understand whether grazers (frogs and toads [anurans]) and predators (salamanders) provide comparable information on contaminant accumulation or if they are each indicative of unique environmental processes and risks. To better understand the role of trophic position in contaminant accumulation, we analyzed composite tissues for 10 metals from larvae of multiple co-occurring anuran and salamander species from 20 wetlands across the United States. We examined how metal concentrations varied with body size (anurans and salamanders) and developmental stage (anurans) and how the digestive tract (gut) influenced observed metal concentrations. Across all wetlands, metal concentrations were greater in anurans than salamanders for all metals tested except mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), and zinc (Zn). Concentrations of individual metals in anurans decreased with increasing weight and developmental stage. In salamanders, metal concentrations were less correlated with weight, indicating diet played a role in contaminant accumulation. Based on batches of similarly sized whole-body larvae compared to larvae with their digestive tracts removed, our results indicated that tissue type strongly affected perceived concentrations, especially for anurans (gut represented an estimated 46-97% of all metals except Se and Zn). This suggests the reliability of results based on whole-body sampling could be biased by metal, larval size, and development. Overall, our data shows that metal concentrations differs between anurans and salamanders, which suggests that metal accumulation is unique to feeding behavior and potentially trophic position. To truly characterize exposure risk in wetlands, species of different life histories, sizes and developmental stages should be included in biomonitoring efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA.
| | - Emily B Oja
- US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Danielle M Cleveland
- US Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - Jon M Davenport
- Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608, USA
| | - Collin Eagles-Smith
- US Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Evan H Campbell Grant
- U.S. Geological Survey, Eastern Ecological Science Center, S.O. Conte Anadromous Fish Research Laboratory, Turner Falls, MA, 01376, USA
| | - Patrick M Kleeman
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Point Reyes Field Station, Point Reyes Station, CA, 94956, USA
| | - Brian J Halstead
- US Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, Dixon, CA, 95620, USA
| | - Kenzi M Stemp
- Department of Biology, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC, 28608, USA
| | - Brian J Tornabene
- Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
| | - Zachary J Bunnell
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA
| | - Blake R Hossack
- US Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA; Wildlife Biology Program, W.A. Franke College of Forestry & Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, 59812, USA
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14
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Smalling KL, Breitmeyer SE, Bunnell JF, Laidig KJ, Burritt PM, Sobel MC, Cohl JA, Hladik ML, Romanok KM, Bradley PM. Assessing the ecological functionality and integrity of natural ponds, excavated ponds and stormwater basins for conserving amphibian diversity. Glob Ecol Conserv 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.gecco.2021.e01765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
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15
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Bradley PM, Padilla IY, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Breitmeyer SE, Cardon MC, Conley JM, Evans N, Givens CE, Gray JL, Gray LE, Hartig PC, Higgins CP, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Lane RF, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, McDonough CA, Medlock-Kakaley E, Meppelink S, Weis CP, Wilson VS. Pilot-scale expanded assessment of inorganic and organic tapwater exposures and predicted effects in Puerto Rico, USA. Sci Total Environ 2021; 788:147721. [PMID: 34134358 PMCID: PMC8504685 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 04/05/2021] [Revised: 05/07/2021] [Accepted: 05/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
A pilot-scale expanded target assessment of mixtures of inorganic and organic contaminants in point-of-consumption drinking water (tapwater, TW) was conducted in Puerto Rico (PR) to continue to inform TW exposures and corresponding estimations of cumulative human-health risks across the US. In August 2018, a spatial synoptic pilot assessment of than 524 organic and 37 inorganic chemicals was conducted in 14 locations (7 home; 7 commercial) across PR. A follow-up 3-day temporal assessment of TW variability was conducted in December 2018 at two of the synoptic locations (1 home, 1 commercial) and included daily pre- and post-flush samples. Concentrations of regulated and unregulated TW contaminants were used to calculate cumulative in vitro bioactivity ratios and Hazard Indices (HI) based on existing human-health benchmarks. Synoptic results confirmed that human exposures to inorganic and organic contaminant mixtures, which are rarely monitored together in drinking water at the point of consumption, occurred across PR and consisted of elevated concentrations of inorganic contaminants (e.g., lead, copper), disinfection byproducts (DBP), and to a lesser extent per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and phthalates. Exceedances of human-health benchmarks in every synoptic TW sample support further investigation of the potential cumulative risk to vulnerable populations in PR and emphasize the importance of continued broad characterization of drinking-water exposures at the tap with analytical capabilities that better represent the complexity of both inorganic and organic contaminant mixtures known to occur in ambient source waters. Such health-based monitoring data are essential to support public engagement in source water sustainability and treatment and to inform consumer point-of-use treatment decision making in PR and throughout the US.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Mary C Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - L Earl Gray
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christopher P Weis
- National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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16
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Bradley PM, Kulp MA, Huffman BJ, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Breitmeyer SE, Clark JM, Journey CA. Reconnaissance of cumulative risk of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in Great Smoky Mountains National Park streams. Sci Total Environ 2021; 781:146711. [PMID: 33798883 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146711] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [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: 02/07/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Accepted: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The United States (US) National Park Service (NPS) manages protected public lands to preserve biodiversity. Exposure to and effects of bioactive organic contaminants in NPS streams are challenges for resource managers. Recent assessment of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in protected-streams within the urbanized NPS Southeast Region (SER) indicated the importance of fluvial inflows from external sources as drivers of aquatic contaminant-mixture exposures. Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM), lies within SER, has the highest biodiversity and annual visitation of NPS parks, but, in contrast to the previously studied systems, straddles a high-elevation hydrologic divide; this setting limits fluvial-inflows of contaminants but potentially increases visitation-driven contaminant deliveries. We leveraged the unique characteristics of GRSM to test further the importance of fluvial contaminant inflows as drivers of protected-stream exposures and to inform the relative importance of potential additional contaminant transport mechanisms, by comparing the estimated risks of 328 pesticides and pharmaceuticals in water at 16 GRSM stream locations to those estimated previously in SER streams. Extensive mixtures (31 compounds) were only observed in an atypical reach on the boundary of GRSM downstream of a wastewater discharge, while limited mixtures (2-5 compounds) were observed in one stream with elevated visitation pressure (recreational "tube floating"). The insecticide, imidacloprid, used to eradicate hemlock woolly adelgid, was detected in 8 (50%) streams. Infrequent exceedances of a cumulative ToxCast-based, exposure-activity ratio (ΣEAR) 0.001 screening-level of concern suggested limited risk to non-target, aquatic vertebrates, whereas exceedances of a cumulative benchmark-based, invertebrate toxicity quotient (ΣTQ) 0.1 screening level at 8 locations indicated generally high risk to invertebrates. The results are consistent with the importance of fluvial transport from extra-park sources as a driver of bioactive-contaminant mixture exposures in protected streams and illustrate the potential additional risks from visitation-driven and tactical-use-pesticides.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC, USA.
| | - Matt A Kulp
- Great Smoky Mountains National Park, National Park Service, Gatlinburg, TN, USA
| | - Bradley J Huffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Kristin M Romanok
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Sara E Breitmeyer
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Jimmy M Clark
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC, USA
| | - Celeste A Journey
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC, USA
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17
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Bradley PM, LeBlanc DR, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Cardon MC, Clark JM, Conley JM, Evans N, Givens CE, Gray JL, Earl Gray L, Hartig PC, Higgins CP, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Loftin KA, Blaine McCleskey R, McDonough CA, Medlock-Kakaley EK, Weis CP, Wilson VS. Public and private tapwater: Comparative analysis of contaminant exposure and potential risk, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA. Environ Int 2021; 152:106487. [PMID: 33752165 PMCID: PMC8268049 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Humans are primary drivers of environmental contamination worldwide, including in drinking-water resources. In the United States (US), federal and state agencies regulate and monitor public-supply drinking water while private-supply monitoring is rare; the current lack of directly comparable information on contaminant-mixture exposures and risks between private- and public-supplies undermines tapwater (TW) consumer decision-making. METHODS We compared private- and public-supply residential point-of-use TW at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, where both supplies share the same groundwater source. TW from 10 private- and 10 public-supply homes was analyzed for 487 organic, 38 inorganic, 8 microbial indicators, and 3 in vitro bioactivities. Concentrations were compared to existing protective health-based benchmarks, and aggregated Hazard Indices (HI) of regulated and unregulated TW contaminants were calculated along with ratios of in vitro exposure-activity cutoffs. RESULTS Seventy organic and 28 inorganic constituents were detected in TW. Median detections were comparable, but median cumulative concentrations were substantially higher in public supply due to 6 chlorine-disinfected samples characterized by disinfection byproducts and corresponding lower heterotrophic plate counts. Public-supply applicable maximum contaminant (nitrate) and treatment action (lead and copper) levels were exceeded in private-supply TW samples only. Exceedances of health-based HI screening levels of concern were common to both TW supplies. DISCUSSION These Cape Cod results indicate comparable cumulative human-health concerns from contaminant exposures in private- and public-supply TW in a shared source-water setting. Importantly, although this study's analytical coverage exceeds that currently feasible for water purveyors or homeowners, it nevertheless is a substantial underestimation of the full breadth of contaminant mixtures documented in the environment and potentially present in drinking water. CONCLUSION Regardless of the supply, increased public engagement in source-water protection and drinking-water treatment, including consumer point-of-use treatment, is warranted to reduce risks associated with long-term TW contaminant exposures, especially in vulnerable populations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Mary C Cardon
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - L Earl Gray
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Christopher P Weis
- U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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18
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Smalling KL, Devereux OH, Gordon SE, Phillips PJ, Blazer VS, Hladik ML, Kolpin DW, Meyer MT, Sperry AJ, Wagner T. Environmental and anthropogenic drivers of contaminants in agricultural watersheds with implications for land management. Sci Total Environ 2021; 774:145687. [PMID: 33609846 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
If not managed properly, modern agricultural practices can alter surface and groundwater quality and drinking water resources resulting in potential negative effects on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Exposure to agriculturally derived contaminant mixtures has the potential to alter habitat quality and negatively affect fish and other aquatic organisms. Implementation of conservation practices focused on improving water quality continues to increase particularly in agricultural landscapes throughout the United States. The goal of this study was to determine the consequences of land management actions on the primary drivers of contaminant mixtures in five agricultural watersheds in the Chesapeake Bay, the largest watershed of the Atlantic Seaboard in North America where fish health issues have been documented for two decades. Surface water was collected and analyzed for 301 organic contaminants to determine the benefits of implemented best management practices (BMPs) designed to reduce nutrients and sediment to streams in also reducing contaminants in surface waters. Of the contaminants measured, herbicides (atrazine, metolachlor), phytoestrogens (formononetin, genistein, equol), cholesterol and total estrogenicity (indicator of estrogenic response) were detected frequently enough to statistically compare to seasonal flow effects, landscape variables and BMP intensity. Contaminant concentrations were often positively correlated with seasonal stream flow, although the magnitude of this effect varied by contaminant across seasons and sites. Land-use and other less utilized landscape variables including biosolids, manure and pesticide application and percent phytoestrogen producing crops were inversely related with site-average contaminant concentrations. Increased BMP intensity was negatively related to contaminant concentrations indicating potential co-benefits of BMPs for contaminant reduction in the studied watersheds. The information gained from this study will help prioritize ecologically relevant contaminant mixtures for monitoring and contributes to understanding the benefits of BMPs on improving surface water quality to better manage living resources in agricultural landscapes inside and outside the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
| | | | - Stephanie E Gordon
- U.S. Geological Survey Leetown Science Center, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA.
| | - Patrick J Phillips
- U.S. Geological Survey New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey Leetown Science Center, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey California Water Science Center Sacramento, CA 95819, USA.
| | - Dana W Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey Central Midwest Water Science Center Iowa City, IA 52240, USA.
| | - Michael T Meyer
- U.S. Geological Survey Kansas Water Science Center, Lawrence, KS 66046, USA.
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey Leetown Science Center, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA
| | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University, 402 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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19
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Bradley PM, Journey CA, Romanok KM, Breitmeyer SE, Button DT, Carlisle DM, Huffman BJ, Mahler BJ, Nowell LH, Qi SL, Smalling KL, Waite IR, Van Metre PC. Multi-region assessment of chemical mixture exposures and predicted cumulative effects in USA wadeable urban/agriculture-gradient streams. Sci Total Environ 2021; 773:145062. [PMID: 33940714 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Chemical-contaminant mixtures are widely reported in large stream reaches in urban/agriculture-developed watersheds, but mixture compositions and aggregate biological effects are less well understood in corresponding smaller headwaters, which comprise most of stream length, riparian connectivity, and spatial biodiversity. During 2014-2017, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) measured 389 unique organic analytes (pharmaceutical, pesticide, organic wastewater indicators) in 305 headwater streams within four contiguous United States (US) regions. Potential aquatic biological effects were evaluated for estimated maximum and median exposure conditions using multiple lines of evidence, including occurrence/concentrations of designed-bioactive pesticides and pharmaceuticals and cumulative risk screening based on vertebrate-centric ToxCast™ exposure-response data and on invertebrate and nonvascular plant aquatic life benchmarks. Mixed-contaminant exposures were ubiquitous and varied, with 78% (304) of analytes detected at least once and cumulative maximum concentrations up to more than 156,000 ng/L. Designed bioactives represented 83% of detected analytes. Contaminant summary metrics correlated strong-positive (rho (ρ): 0.569-0.719) to multiple watershed-development metrics, only weak-positive to point-source discharges (ρ: 0.225-353), and moderate- to strong-negative with multiple instream invertebrate metrics (ρ: -0.373 to -0.652). Risk screening indicated common exposures with high probability of vertebrate-centric molecular effects and of acute toxicity to invertebrates, respectively. The results confirm exposures to broad and diverse contaminant mixtures and provide convincing multiple lines of evidence that chemical contaminants contribute substantially to adverse multi-stressor effects in headwater-stream communities.
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20
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Blazer VS, Gordon S, Jones DK, Iwanowicz LR, Walsh HL, Sperry AJ, Smalling KL. Retrospective analysis of estrogenic endocrine disruption and land-use influences in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Chemosphere 2021; 266:129009. [PMID: 33276999 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.129009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 10/15/2020] [Accepted: 11/15/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The Chesapeake Bay is the largest estuary in the United States and its watershed includes river drainages in six states and the District of Columbia. Sportfishing is of major economic interest, however, the rivers within the watershed provide numerous other ecological, recreational, cultural and economic benefits, as well as serving as a drinking water source for millions of people. Consequently, major fish kills and the subsequent finding of estrogenic endocrine disruption (intersex or testicular oocytes and plasma vitellogenin in male fishes) raised public and management concerns. Studies have occurred at various sites within the Bay watershed to document the extent and severity of endocrine disruption, identify risk factors and document temporal and spatial variability. Data from these focal studies, which began in 2004, were used in CART (classification and regression trees) analyses to better identify land use associations and potential management practices that influence estrogenic endocrine disruption. These analyses emphasized the importance of scale (immediate versus upstream catchment) and the complex mixtures of stressors which can contribute to surface water estrogenicity and the associated adverse effects of exposure. Both agricultural (percent cultivated, pesticide application, phytoestrogen cover crops) and developed (population density, road density, impervious surface) land cover showed positive relationships to estrogenic indicators, while percent forest and shrubs generally had a negative association. The findings can serve as a baseline for assessing ongoing restoration and management practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Stephanie Gordon
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Daniel K Jones
- U.S. Geological Survey, Utah Water Science Center, West Valley City, UT, 84119, USA.
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Heather L Walsh
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA.
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA.
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21
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Thompson TJ, Briggs MA, Phillips PJ, Blazer VS, Smalling KL, Kolpin DW, Wagner T. Groundwater discharges as a source of phytoestrogens and other agriculturally derived contaminants to streams. Sci Total Environ 2021; 755:142873. [PMID: 33348482 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.142873] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [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: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 10/04/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Groundwater discharge zones in streams are important habitats for aquatic organisms. The use of discharge zones for thermal refuge and spawning by fish and other biota renders them susceptible to potential focused discharge of groundwater contamination. Currently, there is a paucity of information about discharge zones as a potential exposure pathway of chemicals to stream ecosystems. Using thermal mapping technologies to locate groundwater discharges, shallow groundwater and surface water from three rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, USA were analyzed for phytoestrogens, pesticides and their degradates, steroid hormones, sterols and bisphenol A. A Bayesian censored regression model was used to compare groundwater and surface water chemical concentrations. The most frequently detected chemicals in both ground and surface water were the phytoestrogens genistein (79%) and formononetin (55%), the herbicides metolachlor (50%) and atrazine (74%), and the sterol cholesterol (88%). There was evidence suggesting groundwater discharge zones could be a unique exposure pathway of chemicals to surface water systems, in our case, metolachlor sulfonic acid (posterior mean concentration = 150 ng/L in groundwater and 4.6 ng/L in surface water). Our study also demonstrated heterogeneity of chemical concentration in groundwater discharge zones within a stream for the phytoestrogen formononetin, the herbicides metolachlor and atrazine, and cholesterol. Results support the hypothesis that discharge zones are an important source of exposure of phytoestrogens and herbicides to aquatic organisms. To manage critical resources within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, more work is needed to characterize exposure in discharge zones more broadly across time and space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Thompson
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish & Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, United States
| | - Martin A Briggs
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth System Processes Division, University of Connecticut Storrs Mansfield, CT 06269, United States
| | - Patrick J Phillips
- US Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, Troy, NY 12180, United States
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fish Health Branch, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, United States
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States
| | - Dana W Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center, Iowa City, IA 52240, United States
| | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, United States.
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22
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Smalling KL, Rowe JC, Pearl CA, Iwanowicz LR, Givens CE, Anderson CW, McCreary B, Adams MJ. Monitoring wetland water quality related to livestock grazing in amphibian habitats. Environ Monit Assess 2021; 193:58. [PMID: 33439357 PMCID: PMC7806560 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-020-08838-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Land use alteration such as livestock grazing can affect water quality in habitats of at-risk wildlife species. Data from managed wetlands are needed to understand levels of exposure for aquatic life stages and monitor grazing-related changes afield. We quantified spatial and temporal variation in water quality in wetlands occupied by threatened Oregon spotted frog (Rana pretiosa) at Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge in Oregon, United States (US). We used analyses for censored data to evaluate the importance of habitat type and grazing history in predicting concentrations of nutrients, turbidity, fecal indicator bacteria (FIB; total coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), and enterococci), and estrogenicity, an indicator of estrogenic activity. Nutrients (orthophosphate and ammonia) and enterococci varied over time and space, while E. coli, total coliforms, turbidity, and estrogenicity were more strongly associated with local livestock grazing metrics. Turbidity was correlated with several grazing-related constituents and may be particularly useful for monitoring water quality in landscapes with livestock use. Concentrations of orthophosphate and estrogenicity were elevated at several sites relative to published health benchmarks, and their potential effects on Rana pretiosa warrant further investigation. Our data provided an initial assessment of potential exposure of amphibians to grazing-related constituents in western US wetlands. Increased monitoring of surface water quality and amphibian population status in combination with controlled laboratory toxicity studies could help inform future research and targeted management strategies for wetlands with both grazing and amphibians of conservation concern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA.
| | - Jennifer C Rowe
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Christopher A Pearl
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, 25430, USA
| | - Carrie E Givens
- U.S. Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Lansing, MI, 48911, USA
| | - Chauncey W Anderson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, OR, 97201, USA
| | - Brome McCreary
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Michael J Adams
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
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23
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McClure CM, Smalling KL, Blazer VS, Sperry AJ, Schall MK, Kolpin DW, Phillips PJ, Hladik ML, Wagner T. Spatiotemporal variation in occurrence and co-occurrence of pesticides, hormones, and other organic contaminants in rivers in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, United States. Sci Total Environ 2020; 728:138765. [PMID: 32344224 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/14/2020] [Accepted: 04/15/2020] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Investigating the spatiotemporal dynamics of contaminants in surface water is crucial to better understand how introduced chemicals are interacting with and potentially influencing aquatic organisms and environments. Within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, United States, there are concerns about the potential role of contaminant exposure on fish health. Evidence suggests that exposure to contaminants in surface water is causing immunosuppression and intersex in freshwater fish species. Despite these concerns, there is a paucity of information regarding the complex dynamics of contaminant occurrence and co-occurrence in surface water across both space and time. To address these concerns, we applied a Bayesian hierarchical joint-contaminant model to describe the occurrence and co-occurrence patterns of 28 contaminants and total estrogenicity across six river sites and over three years. We found that seasonal occurrence patterns varied by contaminant, with the highest occurrence probabilities during the spring and summer months. Additionally, we found that the proportion of agricultural landcover in the immediate catchment, as well as stream discharge, did not have a significant effect on the occurrence probabilities of most compounds. Four pesticides (atrazine, metolachlor, fipronil and simazine) co-occurred across sites after accounting for environmental covariates. These results provide baseline information on the contaminant occurrence patterns of several classes of compounds within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Understanding the spatiotemporal dynamics of contaminants in surface water is the first step in investigating the effects of contaminant exposure on fisheries and aquatic environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine M McClure
- Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, 413 Forest Resource Building, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fish Health Branch, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA.
| | - Adam J Sperry
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fish Health Branch, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA.
| | - Megan K Schall
- The Pennsylvania State University, Biological Services, 76 University Drive, Hazleton, PA 18202, USA.
| | - Dana W Kolpin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Central Midwest Water Science Center, 400 S Clinton St Room 269, Iowa City, IA 52240, USA.
| | - Patrick J Phillips
- U.S. Geological Survey, New York Water Science Center, 425 Jordan Road, Troy, NY 12180, USA.
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA.
| | - Tyler Wagner
- U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Pennsylvania State University, 402 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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24
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Bradley PM, Argos M, Kolpin DW, Meppelink SM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Allen JM, Dietze JE, Devito MJ, Donovan AR, Evans N, Givens CE, Gray JL, Higgins CP, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Journey CA, Lane RF, Laughrey ZR, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, McDonough CA, Medlock-Kakaley E, Meyer MT, Putz AR, Richardson SD, Stark AE, Weis CP, Wilson VS, Zehraoui A. Mixed organic and inorganic tapwater exposures and potential effects in greater Chicago area, USA. Sci Total Environ 2020. [PMID: 32126404 DOI: 10.5066/p9voobwt] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Safe drinking water at the point of use (tapwater, TW) is a public-health priority. TW exposures and potential human-health concerns of 540 organics and 35 inorganics were assessed in 45 Chicago-area United States (US) homes in 2017. No US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level(s) (MCL) were exceeded in any residential or water treatment plant (WTP) pre-distribution TW sample. Ninety percent (90%) of organic analytes were not detected in treated TW, emphasizing the high quality of the Lake Michigan drinking-water source and the efficacy of the drinking-water treatment and monitoring. Sixteen (16) organics were detected in >25% of TW samples, with about 50 detected at least once. Low-level TW exposures to unregulated disinfection byproducts (DBP) of emerging concern, per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and three pesticides were ubiquitous. Common exceedances of non-enforceable EPA MCL Goal(s) (MCLG) of zero for arsenic [As], lead [Pb], uranium [U], bromodichloromethane, and tribromomethane suggest potential human-health concerns and emphasize the continuing need for improved understanding of cumulative effects of low-concentration mixtures on vulnerable sub-populations. Because DBP dominated TW organics, residential-TW concentrations are potentially predictable with expanded pre-distribution DBP monitoring. However, several TW chemicals, notably Pb and several infrequently detected organic compounds, were not readily explained by pre-distribution samples, illustrating the need for continued broad inorganic/organic TW characterization to support consumer assessment of acceptable risk and point-of-use treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Argos
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael J Devito
- U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrea R Putz
- City of Chicago, Department of Water Management, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Alan E Stark
- City of Chicago, Department of Water Management, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christopher P Weis
- U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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25
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Bradley PM, Argos M, Kolpin DW, Meppelink SM, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Allen JM, Dietze JE, Devito MJ, Donovan AR, Evans N, Givens CE, Gray JL, Higgins CP, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Journey CA, Lane RF, Laughrey ZR, Loftin KA, McCleskey RB, McDonough CA, Medlock-Kakaley E, Meyer MT, Putz AR, Richardson SD, Stark AE, Weis CP, Wilson VS, Zehraoui A. Mixed organic and inorganic tapwater exposures and potential effects in greater Chicago area, USA. Sci Total Environ 2020; 719:137236. [PMID: 32126404 PMCID: PMC9140060 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [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: 12/26/2019] [Revised: 02/07/2020] [Accepted: 02/08/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Safe drinking water at the point of use (tapwater, TW) is a public-health priority. TW exposures and potential human-health concerns of 540 organics and 35 inorganics were assessed in 45 Chicago-area United States (US) homes in 2017. No US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) enforceable Maximum Contaminant Level(s) (MCL) were exceeded in any residential or water treatment plant (WTP) pre-distribution TW sample. Ninety percent (90%) of organic analytes were not detected in treated TW, emphasizing the high quality of the Lake Michigan drinking-water source and the efficacy of the drinking-water treatment and monitoring. Sixteen (16) organics were detected in >25% of TW samples, with about 50 detected at least once. Low-level TW exposures to unregulated disinfection byproducts (DBP) of emerging concern, per/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and three pesticides were ubiquitous. Common exceedances of non-enforceable EPA MCL Goal(s) (MCLG) of zero for arsenic [As], lead [Pb], uranium [U], bromodichloromethane, and tribromomethane suggest potential human-health concerns and emphasize the continuing need for improved understanding of cumulative effects of low-concentration mixtures on vulnerable sub-populations. Because DBP dominated TW organics, residential-TW concentrations are potentially predictable with expanded pre-distribution DBP monitoring. However, several TW chemicals, notably Pb and several infrequently detected organic compounds, were not readily explained by pre-distribution samples, illustrating the need for continued broad inorganic/organic TW characterization to support consumer assessment of acceptable risk and point-of-use treatment options.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Maria Argos
- University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Michael J Devito
- U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Nicola Evans
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Andrea R Putz
- City of Chicago, Department of Water Management, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | - Alan E Stark
- City of Chicago, Department of Water Management, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christopher P Weis
- U.S. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
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26
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Iwanowicz LR, Smalling KL, Blazer VS, Braham RP, Sanders LR, Boetsma A, Procopio NA, Goodrow S, Buchanan GA, Millemann DR, Ruppel B, Vile J, Henning B, Abatemarco J. Reconnaissance of Surface Water Estrogenicity and the Prevalence of Intersex in Smallmouth Bass ( Micropterus Dolomieu) Inhabiting New Jersey. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2020; 17:ijerph17062024. [PMID: 32204384 PMCID: PMC7142597 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17062024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/16/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
The observation of testicular oocytes in male fishes has been utilized as a biomarker of estrogenic endocrine disruption. A reconnaissance project led in the Northeastern United States (US) during the period of 2008–2010 identified a high prevalence of intersex smallmouth bass on or near US Fish & Wildlife Service National Wildlife Refuges that included the observation of 100% prevalence in smallmouth bass males collected from the Wallkill River, NJ, USA. To better assess the prevalence of intersex smallmouth bass across the state of New Jersey, a tiered reconnaissance approach was initiated during the fall of 2016. Surface water samples were collected from 101 (85 river, 16 lake/reservoir) sites across the state at base-flow conditions for estrogenicity bioassay screening. Detectable estrogenicity was observed at 90% of the sites and 64% were above the US Environmental Protection Agency trigger level of 1 ng/L. Median surface water estrogenicity was 1.8 ng/L and a maximum of 6.9 ng/L E2EqBLYES was observed. Adult smallmouth bass were collected from nine sites, pre-spawn during the spring of 2017. Intersex was identified in fish at all sites, and the composite intersex prevalence was 93.8%. Prevalence across sites ranged from 70.6% to 100%. In addition to intersex, there was detectable plasma vitellogenin in males at all sites. Total estrogenicity in surface water was determined at these fish collection sites, and notable change over time was observed. Correlation analysis indicated significant positive correlations between land use (altered land; urban + agriculture) and surface water estrogenicity. There were no clear associations between land use and organismal metrics of estrogenic endocrine disruption (intersex or vitellogenin). This work establishes a baseline prevalence of intersex in male smallmouth bass in the state of New Jersey at a limited number of locations and identifies a number of waterbodies with estrogenic activity above an effects-based threshold.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke R. Iwanowicz
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: 304-724-4550
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrence, NJ 08648, USA; (K.L.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Vicki S. Blazer
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Ryan P. Braham
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Lakyn R. Sanders
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV 25430, USA; (V.S.B.); (R.P.B.); (L.R.S.)
| | - Anna Boetsma
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrence, NJ 08648, USA; (K.L.S.); (A.B.)
| | - Nicholas A. Procopio
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Sandra Goodrow
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Gary A. Buchanan
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Daniel R. Millemann
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - Bruce Ruppel
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Science and Research, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (N.A.P.); (S.G.); (G.A.B.); (D.R.M.); (B.R.)
| | - John Vile
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (J.V.); (B.H.); (J.A.)
| | - Brian Henning
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (J.V.); (B.H.); (J.A.)
| | - John Abatemarco
- New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Water Monitoring and Standards, Trenton, NJ 08625, USA; (J.V.); (B.H.); (J.A.)
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27
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Bradley PM, Romanok KM, Duncan JR, Battaglin WA, Clark JM, Hladik ML, Huffman BJ, Iwanowicz LR, Journey CA, Smalling KL. Exposure and potential effects of pesticides and pharmaceuticals in protected streams of the US National park Service southeast region. Sci Total Environ 2020; 704:135431. [PMID: 31896231 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 09/12/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 11/06/2019] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Globally, protected areas offer refugia for a broad range of taxa including threatened and endangered species. In the United States (US), the National Park Service (NPS) manages public lands to preserve biodiversity, but increasing park visitation and development of surrounding landscapes increase exposure to and effects from bioactive contaminants. The risk (exposure and hazard) to NPS protected-stream ecosystems within the highly urbanized southeast region (SER) from bioactive contaminants was assessed in five systems based on 334 pesticide and pharmaceutical analytes in water and 119 pesticides in sediment. Contaminant mixtures were common across all sampled systems, with approximately 24% of the unique analytes (80/334) detected at least once and 15% (49/334) detected in half of the surface-water samples. Pharmaceuticals were observed more frequently than pesticides, consistent with riparian buffers and concomitant spatial separation from non-point pesticide sources in four of the systems. To extrapolate exposure data to biological effects space, site-specific cumulative exposure-activity ratios (ΣEAR) were calculated for detected surface-water contaminants with available ToxCast data; common exceedances of a 0.001 ΣEAR effects-screening threshold raise concerns for molecular toxicity and possible, sub-lethal effects to non-target, aquatic vertebrates. The results illustrate the need for continued management of protected resources to reduce contaminant exposure and preserve habitat quality, including prioritization of conservation practices (riparian buffers) near stream corridors and increased engagement with upstream/up-gradient property owners and municipal wastewater facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC USA.
| | - Kristin M Romanok
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ USA
| | | | | | - Jimmy M Clark
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA USA
| | - Bradley J Huffman
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC USA
| | - Luke R Iwanowicz
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center , Kearneysville, WV USA
| | - Celeste A Journey
- U.S. Geological Survey, South Atlantic Water Science Center, Columbia, SC USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ USA
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Smalling KL, Anderson CW, Honeycutt RK, Cozzarelli IM, Preston T, Hossack BR. Associations between environmental pollutants and larval amphibians in wetlands contaminated by energy-related brines are potentially mediated by feeding traits. Environ Pollut 2019; 248:260-268. [PMID: 30798027 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [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: 06/22/2018] [Revised: 01/28/2019] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Energy production in the Williston Basin, located in the Prairie Pothole Region of central North America, has increased rapidly over the last several decades. Advances in recycling and disposal practices of saline wastewaters (brines) co-produced during energy production have reduced ecological risks, but spills still occur often and legacy practices of releasing brines into the environment caused persistent salinization in many areas. Aside from sodium and chloride, these brines contain elevated concentrations of metals and metalloids (lead, selenium, strontium, antimony and vanadium), ammonium, volatile organic compounds, hydrocarbons, and radionuclides. Amphibians are especially sensitive to chloride and some metals, increasing potential effects in wetlands contaminated by brines. We collected bed sediment and larval amphibians (Ambystoma mavortium, Lithobates pipiens and Pseudacris maculata) from wetlands in Montana and North Dakota representing a range of brine contamination history and severity to determine if contamination was associated with metal concentrations in sediments and if metal accumulation in tissues varied by species. In wetland sediments, brine contamination was positively associated with the concentrations of sodium and strontium, both known to occur in oil and gas wastewater, but negatively correlated with mercury. In amphibian tissues, selenium and vanadium were associated with brine contamination. Metal tissue concentrations were higher in tadpoles that graze compared to predatory salamanders; this suggests frequent contact with the sediments could lead to greater ingestion of metal-laden materials. Although many of these metals may not be directly linked with energy development, the potential additive or synergistic effects of exposure along with elevated chloride from brines could have important consequences for aquatic organisms. To effectively manage amphibian populations in wetlands contaminated by saline wastewaters we need a better understanding of how life history traits, species-specific susceptibilities and the physical-chemical properties of metals co-occurring in wetland sediments interact with other stressors like chloride and wetland drying.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA.
| | - Chauncey W Anderson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, 2130 SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR, 97215, USA
| | - R Ken Honeycutt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 800 E. Beckwith Ave., Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Isabelle M Cozzarelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Earth System Processes Division of Water Mission Area, 12201 Sunrise Valley Dr., Reston, VA, 20192, USA
| | - Todd Preston
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 2327 University Way, Suite 2, Bozeman, MT, 59715, USA
| | - Blake R Hossack
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 800 E. Beckwith Ave., Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
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Swanson JE, Pierce CL, Dinsmore SJ, Smalling KL, Vandever MW, Stewart TW, Muths E. Factors Influencing Anuran Wetland Occupancy in an Agricultural Landscape. HERPETOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1655/d-18-00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Swanson
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Clay L. Pierce
- US Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Stephen J. Dinsmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Mark W. Vandever
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Timothy W. Stewart
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Erin Muths
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
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Swanson JE, Pierce CL, Dinsmore SJ, Smalling KL, Vandever MW, Stewart TW, Muths E. Factors Influencing Anuran Wetland Occupancy in an Agricultural Landscape. HERPETOLOGICA 2019. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-18-00013.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E. Swanson
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Clay L. Pierce
- US Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Stephen J. Dinsmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA
| | - Mark W. Vandever
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
| | - Timothy W. Stewart
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50014, USA
| | - Erin Muths
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA
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Nilsen E, Smalling KL, Ahrens L, Gros M, Miglioranza KSB, Picó Y, Schoenfuss HL. Critical review: Grand challenges in assessing the adverse effects of contaminants of emerging concern on aquatic food webs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019; 38:46-60. [PMID: 30294805 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [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: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/24/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Much progress has been made in the past few decades in understanding the sources, transport, fate, and biological effects of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) in aquatic ecosystems. Despite these advancements, significant obstacles still prevent comprehensive assessments of the environmental risks associated with the presence of CECs. Many of these obstacles center around the extrapolation of effects of single chemicals observed in the laboratory or effects found in individual organisms or species in the field to impacts of multiple stressors on aquatic food webs. In the present review, we identify 5 challenges that must be addressed to promote studies of CECs from singular exposure events to multispecies aquatic food web interactions. There needs to be: 1) more detailed information on the complexity of mixtures of CECs in the aquatic environment, 2) a greater understanding of the sublethal effects of CECs on a wide range of aquatic organisms, 3) an ascertaining of the biological consequences of variable duration CEC exposures within and across generations in aquatic species, 4) a linkage of multiple stressors with CEC exposure in aquatic systems, and 5) a documenting of the trophic consequences of CEC exposure across aquatic food webs. We examine the current literature to show how these challenges can be addressed to fill knowledge gaps. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:46-60. © 2018 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Nilsen
- US Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lutz Ahrens
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Meritxell Gros
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
- Catalan Institute for Water Research, Girona, Spain
| | - Karina S B Miglioranza
- Laboratory of Ecotoxicology and Environmental Pollution, Mar del Plata University, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Yolanda Picó
- Environmental and Food Safety Research Group, Center of Research on Desertification (CIDe), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Valencia, Valencia, Spain
| | - Heiko L Schoenfuss
- Aquatic Toxicology Laboratory, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA
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Bradley PM, Kolpin DW, Romanok KM, Smalling KL, Focazio MJ, Brown JB, Cardon MC, Carpenter KD, Corsi SR, DeCicco LA, Dietze JE, Evans N, Furlong ET, Givens CE, Gray JL, Griffin DW, Higgins CP, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Journey CA, Kuivila KM, Masoner JR, McDonough CA, Meyer MT, Orlando JL, Strynar MJ, Weis CP, Wilson VS. Reconnaissance of Mixed Organic and Inorganic Chemicals in Private and Public Supply Tapwaters at Selected Residential and Workplace Sites in the United States. Environ Sci Technol 2018; 52:13972-13985. [PMID: 30460851 PMCID: PMC6742431 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Safe drinking water at the point-of-use (tapwater, TW) is a United States public health priority. Multiple lines of evidence were used to evaluate potential human health concerns of 482 organics and 19 inorganics in TW from 13 (7 public supply, 6 private well self-supply) home and 12 (public supply) workplace locations in 11 states. Only uranium (61.9 μg L-1, private well) exceeded a National Primary Drinking Water Regulation maximum contaminant level (MCL: 30 μg L-1). Lead was detected in 23 samples (MCL goal: zero). Seventy-five organics were detected at least once, with median detections of 5 and 17 compounds in self-supply and public supply samples, respectively (corresponding maxima: 12 and 29). Disinfection byproducts predominated in public supply samples, comprising 21% of all detected and 6 of the 10 most frequently detected. Chemicals designed to be bioactive (26 pesticides, 10 pharmaceuticals) comprised 48% of detected organics. Site-specific cumulative exposure-activity ratios (∑EAR) were calculated for the 36 detected organics with ToxCast data. Because these detections are fractional indicators of a largely uncharacterized contaminant space, ∑EAR in excess of 0.001 and 0.01 in 74 and 26% of public supply samples, respectively, provide an argument for prioritized assessment of cumulative effects to vulnerable populations from trace-level TW exposures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bradley
- United States Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, United States
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- United States Geological Survey, Iowa City, Iowa 52240, United States
| | - Kristin M. Romanok
- United States Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
| | - Kelly L. Smalling
- United States Geological Survey, Lawrenceville, New Jersey 08648, United States
| | | | | | - Mary C. Cardon
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Kurt D. Carpenter
- United States Geological Survey, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Steven R. Corsi
- United States Geological Survey, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, United States
| | - Laura A. DeCicco
- United States Geological Survey, Middleton, Wisconsin 53562, United States
| | - Julie E. Dietze
- United States Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas 66049, United States
| | - Nicola Evans
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Edward T. Furlong
- United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, United States
| | - Carrie E. Givens
- United States Geological Survey, Lansing, Michigan 48911, United States
| | - James L. Gray
- United States Geological Survey, Lakewood, Colorado 80225, United States
| | - Dale W. Griffin
- United States Geological Survey, St. Petersburg, Florida 33701, United States
| | | | - Michelle L. Hladik
- United States Geological Survey, Sacramento, California 95819, United States
| | - Luke R. Iwanowicz
- United States Geological Survey, Kearneysville, West Virginia 25430, United States
| | - Celeste A. Journey
- United States Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina 29210, United States
| | | | - Jason R. Masoner
- United States Geological Survey, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73159, United States
| | | | - Michael T. Meyer
- United States Geological Survey, Lawrence, Kansas 66049, United States
| | - James L. Orlando
- United States Geological Survey, Sacramento, California 95819, United States
| | - Mark J. Strynar
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
| | - Christopher P. Weis
- United States National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences/NIH, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Vickie S. Wilson
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Durham, North Carolina 27709, United States
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Swanson JE, Muths E, Pierce CL, Dinsmore SJ, Vandever MW, Hladik ML, Smalling KL. Exploring the amphibian exposome in an agricultural landscape using telemetry and passive sampling. Sci Rep 2018; 8:10045. [PMID: 29968741 PMCID: PMC6030078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28132-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This is the first field study of its kind to combine radio telemetry, passive samplers, and pesticide accumulation in tissues to characterize the amphibian exposome as it relates to pesticides. Understanding how habitat drives exposure in individuals (i.e., their exposome), and how that relates to individual health is critical to managing species in an agricultural landscape where pesticide exposure is likely. We followed 72 northern leopard frogs (Lithobates pipiens) in two agricultural wetlands for insight into where and when individuals are at high risk of pesticide exposure. Novel passive sampling devices (PSDs) were deployed at sites where telemetered frogs were located, then moved to subsequent locations as frogs were radio-tracked. Pesticide concentration in PSDs varied by habitat and was greatest in agricultural fields where frogs were rarely found. Pesticide concentrations in frogs were greatest in spring when frogs were occupying wetlands compared to late summer when frogs occupied terrestrial habitats. Our results indicate that habitat and time of year influence exposure and accumulation of pesticides in amphibians. Our study illustrates the feasibility of quantifying the amphibian exposome to interpret the role of habitat use in pesticide accumulation in frogs to better manage amphibians in agricultural landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer E Swanson
- Iowa State University, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ames, IA, 50011, USA.
| | - Erin Muths
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Clay L Pierce
- US Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Stephen J Dinsmore
- Iowa State University, Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Ames, IA, 50011, USA
| | - Mark W Vandever
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, 80526, USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- US Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA, 95819, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA
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Smalling KL, Hladik ML, Sanders CJ, Kuivila KM. Leaching and sorption of neonicotinoid insecticides and fungicides from seed coatings. J Environ Sci Health B 2018; 53:176-183. [PMID: 29286873 DOI: 10.1080/03601234.2017.1405619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Seed coatings are a treatment used on a variety of crops to improve production and offer protection against pests and fungal outbreaks. The leaching of the active ingredients associated with the seed coatings and the sorption to soil was evaluated under laboratory conditions using commercially available corn and soybean seeds to study the fate and transport of these pesticides under controlled conditions. The active ingredients (AI) included one neonicotinoid insecticide (thiamethoxam) and five fungicides (azoxystrobin, fludioxonil, metalaxyl, sedaxane thiabendazole). An aqueous leaching experiment was conducted with treated corn and soybean seeds. Leaching potential was a function of solubility and seed type. The leaching of fludioxonil, was dependent on seed type with a shorter time to equilibrium on the corn compared to the soybean seeds. Sorption experiments with the treated seeds and a solution of the AIs were conducted using three different soil types. Sorption behavior was a function of soil organic matter as well as seed type. For most AIs, a negative relationship was observed between the aqueous concentration and the log Koc. Sorption to all soils tested was limited for the hydrophilic pesticides thiamethoxam and metalaxyl. However, partitioning for the more hydrophobic fungicides was dependent on both seed type and soil properties. The mobility of fludioxonil in the sorption experiment varied by seed type indicating that the adjuvants associated with the seed coating could potentially play a role in the environmental fate of fludioxonil. This is the first study to assess, under laboratory conditions, the fate of pesticides associated with seed coatings using commercially available treated seeds. This information can be used to understand how alterations in agricultural practices (e.g., increasing use of seed treatments) can impact the exposure (concentration and duration) and potential effects of these chemicals to aquatic and terrestrial organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- a U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center , Lawrenceville , New Jersey , USA
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- b U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center , Sacramento , California , USA
| | - Corey J Sanders
- b U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center , Sacramento , California , USA
| | - Kathryn M Kuivila
- c U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center , Portland , Oregon , USA
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Walsh HL, Blazer VS, Smith GD, Lookenbill M, Alvarez DA, Smalling KL. Risk Factors Associated with Mortality of Age-0 Smallmouth Bass in the Susquehanna River Basin, Pennsylvania. J Aquat Anim Health 2018; 30:65-80. [PMID: 29595890 DOI: 10.1002/aah.10009] [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] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Evidence of disease and mortalities of young of the year (age-0) Smallmouth Bass Micropterus dolomieu has occurred during the late spring and summer in many parts of the Susquehanna River watershed since 2005. To better understand contributing factors, fish collected from multiple areas throughout the watershed as well as out-of-basin reference populations (Allegheny and Delaware River basins; experimental ponds, Kearneysville, West Virginia) were examined grossly and histologically for abnormalities. Tissue contaminant concentrations were determined from whole-body homogenates, and water contaminant concentrations were estimated using time-integrated passive samplers at selected sites. Observed or isolated pathogens included bacteria, predominantly motile Aeromonas spp. and Flavobacterium columnare; largemouth bass virus, and parasites, including trematode metacercariae, cestodes, and the myxozoan Myxobolus inornatus. Although these pathogens were found in age-0 Smallmouth Bass from multiple sites, no one pathogen was consistently associated with mortality. Chemicals detected in tissue included polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners, organochlorine, and current-use pesticides. Pyraclostrobin, PCB congeners 170 and 187, cis-chlordane and trans-nonachlor were detected in all Susquehanna watershed samples but rarely in samples from the reference site. The findings support the idea that there is no single cause for disease of age-0 Smallmouth Bass; rather the cumulative effects of co-infections and potential immunomodulation by environmental stressors during a sensitive developmental life stage may lead to mortality. Identifying the most important risk factors will be necessary for more in-depth analyses of individual stressors and better management of the habitat and fish populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather L Walsh
- West Virginia University Research Corporation, 886 Chestnut Ridge Road, Morgantown, West Virginia, 26505, USA
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia, 25430, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Fish Health Research Laboratory, Leetown Science Center, 11649 Leetown Road, Kearneysville, West Virginia, 25430, USA
| | - Geoffrey D Smith
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, Division of Fisheries Management, 1601 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17110, USA
| | - Michael Lookenbill
- Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Rachel Carson State Office Building, 400 Market Street, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 17101, USA
| | - David A Alvarez
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, Missouri, 65201, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, New Jersey, 08648, USA
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Yaw TJ, Swanson JE, Pierce CL, Muths E, Smalling KL, Vandever MW, Zaffarano BA. Placement of Intracoelomic Radiotransmitters and Silicone Passive Sampling Devices in Northern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.5818/16-10-090.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Taylor J. Yaw
- 1. Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Swanson
- 2. Department of Natural Resources Ecology Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Clay L. Pierce
- 2. Department of Natural Resources Ecology Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Erin Muths
- 4. U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | | | - Bianca A. Zaffarano
- 1. Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
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Hossack BR, Puglis HJ, Battaglin WA, Anderson CW, Honeycutt RK, Smalling KL. Widespread legacy brine contamination from oil production reduces survival of chorus frog larvae. Environ Pollut 2017; 231:742-751. [PMID: 28863397 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.08.070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 05/12/2017] [Revised: 08/18/2017] [Accepted: 08/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Advances in drilling techniques have facilitated a rapid increase in hydrocarbon extraction from energy shales, including the Williston Basin in central North America. This area overlaps with the Prairie Pothole Region, a region densely populated with wetlands that provide numerous ecosystem services. Historical (legacy) disposal practices often released saline co-produced waters (brines) with high chloride concentrations, affecting wetland water quality directly or persisting in sediments. Despite the potential threat of brine contamination to aquatic habitats, there has been little research into its ecological effects. We capitalized on a gradient of legacy brine-contaminated wetlands in northeast Montana to conduct laboratory experiments to assess variation in survival of larval Boreal Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris maculata) reared on sediments from 3 local wetlands and a control source. To help provide environmental context for the experiment, we also measured chloride concentrations in 6 brine-contaminated wetlands in our study area, including the 2 contaminated sites used for sediment exposures. Survival of frog larvae during 46- and 55-day experiments differed by up to 88% among sediment sources (Site Model) and was negatively correlated with potential chloride exposure (Chloride Model). Five of the 6 contaminated wetlands exceeded the U.S. EPA acute benchmark for chloride in freshwater (860 mg/L) and all exceeded the chronic benchmark (230 mg/L). However, the Wetland Site model explained more variation in survival than the Chloride Model, suggesting that chloride concentration alone does not fully reflect the threat of contamination to aquatic species. Because the profiles of brine-contaminated sediments are complex, further surveys and experiments are needed across a broad range of conditions, especially where restoration or remediation actions have reduced brine-contamination. Information provided by this study can help quantify potential ecological threats and help land managers prioritize conservation strategies as part of responsible and sustainable energy development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Blake R Hossack
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 790 E. Beckwith Ave., Missoula, MT, 59801, USA.
| | - Holly J Puglis
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia Environmental Research Center, 4200 New Haven Rd., Columbia, MO, 65201, USA
| | - William A Battaglin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Water Science Center, 1 DFC MS 415, Denver, CO, 80225, USA
| | - Chauncey W Anderson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, 2130, SW 5th Ave, Portland, OR, 97215, USA
| | - R Ken Honeycutt
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center, 790 E. Beckwith Ave., Missoula, MT, 59801, USA
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450, Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ, 08648, USA
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Kunz JL, Ingersoll CG, Smalling KL, Elskus AA, Kuivila KM. Chronic toxicity of azoxystrobin to freshwater amphipods, midges, cladocerans, and mussels in water-only exposures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017; 36:2308-2315. [PMID: 28181697 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [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: 12/28/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the effects of fungicides on nontarget organisms at realistic concentrations and exposure durations is vital for determining potential impacts on aquatic ecosystems. Environmental concentrations of the fungicide azoxystrobin have been reported up to 4.6 μg/L in the United States and 30 μg/L in Europe. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the chronic toxicity of azoxystrobin in water-only exposures with an amphipod (Hyalella azteca; 42-d exposure), a midge (Chironomus dilutus; 50-d exposure), a cladoceran (Ceriodaphnia dubia; 7-d exposure), and a unionid mussel (Lampsilis siliquoidea; 28-d exposure) at environmentally relevant concentrations. The potential photo-enhanced toxicity of azoxystrobin accumulated by C. dubia and L. siliquoidea following chronic exposures to azoxystrobin was also evaluated. The 20% effect concentrations (EC20s) based on the most sensitive endpoint were 4.2 μg/L for H. azteca reproduction, 12 μg/L for C. dubia reproduction and C. dilutus emergence, and >28 μg/L for L. siliquoidea. Hyalella azteca was more sensitive to azoxystrobin compared with the other 3 species in the chronic exposures. No photo-enhanced toxicity was observed for either C. dubia or L. siliquoidea exposed to ultraviolet light in control water following azoxystrobin tests. The results of the present study indicate chronic effects of azoxystrobin on 3 of 4 invertebrates tested at environmentally relevant concentrations. The changes noted in biomass and reproduction have the potential to alter the rate of ecological processes driven by aquatic invertebrates. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2308-2315. Published 2017 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
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Bradley PM, Journey CA, Romanok KM, Barber LB, Buxton HT, Foreman WT, Furlong ET, Glassmeyer ST, Hladik ML, Iwanowicz LR, Jones DK, Kolpin DW, Kuivila KM, Loftin KA, Mills MA, Meyer MT, Orlando JL, Reilly TJ, Smalling KL, Villeneuve DL. Expanded Target-Chemical Analysis Reveals Extensive Mixed-Organic-Contaminant Exposure in U.S. Streams. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:4792-4802. [PMID: 28401767 PMCID: PMC5695041 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b00012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 187] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.7] [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] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Surface water from 38 streams nationwide was assessed using 14 target-organic methods (719 compounds). Designed-bioactive anthropogenic contaminants (biocides, pharmaceuticals) comprised 57% of 406 organics detected at least once. The 10 most-frequently detected anthropogenic-organics included eight pesticides (desulfinylfipronil, AMPA, chlorpyrifos, dieldrin, metolachlor, atrazine, CIAT, glyphosate) and two pharmaceuticals (caffeine, metformin) with detection frequencies ranging 66-84% of all sites. Detected contaminant concentrations varied from less than 1 ng L-1 to greater than 10 μg L-1, with 77 and 278 having median detected concentrations greater than 100 ng L-1 and 10 ng L-1, respectively. Cumulative detections and concentrations ranged 4-161 compounds (median 70) and 8.5-102 847 ng L-1, respectively, and correlated significantly with wastewater discharge, watershed development, and toxic release inventory metrics. Log10 concentrations of widely monitored HHCB, triclosan, and carbamazepine explained 71-82% of the variability in the total number of compounds detected (linear regression; p-values: < 0.001-0.012), providing a statistical inference tool for unmonitored contaminants. Due to multiple modes of action, high bioactivity, biorecalcitrance, and direct environment application (pesticides), designed-bioactive organics (median 41 per site at μg L-1 cumulative concentrations) in developed watersheds present aquatic health concerns, given their acknowledged potential for sublethal effects to sensitive species and lifecycle stages at low ng L-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul M. Bradley
- U.S. Geological Survey, Columbia, South Carolina, 29210, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Marc A. Mills
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45220, USA
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Elskus AA, Smalling KL, Hladik ML, Kuivila KM. Effects of two fungicide formulations on microbial and macroinvertebrate leaf decomposition under laboratory conditions. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016; 35:2834-2844. [PMID: 27110671 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3465] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [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: 10/14/2015] [Revised: 11/21/2015] [Accepted: 04/21/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Aquatic fungi contribute significantly to the decomposition of leaves in streams, a key ecosystem service. Little is known, however, about the effects of fungicides on aquatic fungi and macroinvertebrates involved with leaf decomposition. Red maple (Acer rubrum) leaves were conditioned in a stream to acquire microbes (bacteria and fungi) or leached in tap water (unconditioned) to simulate potential reduction of microbial biomass by fungicides. Conditioned leaves were exposed to fungicide formulations QUILT (azoxystrobin + propiconazole) or PRISTINE (boscalid + pyraclostrobin) in the presence and absence of the leaf shredder, Hyalella azteca (amphipods; 7-d old at start of exposures) for 14 d at 23 °C. The QUILT formulations (∼0.3 μg/L, 1.8 μg/L, and 8 μg/L) tended to increase leaf decomposition by amphipods (not significant) without a concomitant increase in amphipod biomass, indicating potential increased consumption of leaves with reduced nutritional value. The PRISTINE formulation (∼33 μg/L) significantly reduced amphipod growth and biomass (p < 0.05), effects similar to those observed with unconditioned controls. The significant suppressive effects of PRISTINE on amphipod growth and the trend toward increased leaf decomposition with increasing QUILT concentration indicate the potential for altered leaf decay in streams exposed to fungicides. Further work is needed to evaluate fungicide effects on leaf decomposition under conditions relevant to stream ecosystems, including temperature shifts and pulsed exposures to pesticide mixtures. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:2834-2844. Published 2016 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US Government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adria A Elskus
- US Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Maine Field Office, University of Maine, Orono, Maine.
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- US Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, New Jersey
| | - Michelle L Hladik
- US Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, California
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Battaglin WA, Smalling KL, Anderson C, Calhoun D, Chestnut T, Muths E. Potential interactions among disease, pesticides, water quality and adjacent land cover in amphibian habitats in the United States. Sci Total Environ 2016; 566-567:320-332. [PMID: 27232962 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 03/10/2016] [Revised: 05/06/2016] [Accepted: 05/06/2016] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
To investigate interactions among disease, pesticides, water quality, and adjacent land cover, we collected samples of water, sediment, and frog tissue from 21 sites in 7 States in the United States (US) representing a variety of amphibian habitats. All samples were analyzed for >90 pesticides and pesticide degradates, and water and frogs were screened for the amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd) using molecular methods. Pesticides and pesticide degradates were detected frequently in frog breeding habitats (water and sediment) as well as in frog tissue. Fungicides occurred more frequently in water, sediment, and tissue than was expected based upon their limited use relative to herbicides or insecticides. Pesticide occurrence in water or sediment was not a strong predictor of occurrence in tissue, but pesticide concentrations in tissue were correlated positively to agricultural and urban land, and negatively to forested land in 2-km buffers around the sites. Bd was detected in water at 45% of sites, and on 34% of swabbed frogs. Bd detections in water were not associated with differences in land use around sites, but sites with detections had colder water. Frogs that tested positive for Bd were associated with sites that had higher total fungicide concentrations in water and sediment, but lower insecticide concentrations in sediments relative to frogs that were Bd negative. Bd concentrations on frog swabs were positively correlated to dissolved organic carbon, and total nitrogen and phosphorus, and negatively correlated to pH and water temperature. Data were collected from a range of locations and amphibian habitats and represent some of the first field-collected information aimed at understanding the interactions between pesticides, land use, and amphibian disease. These interactions are of particular interest to conservation efforts as many amphibians live in altered habitats and may depend on wetlands embedded in these landscapes to survive.
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Affiliation(s)
- W A Battaglin
- U.S. Geological Survey, Colorado Water Science Center, Lakewood, CO, United States
| | - K L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
| | - C Anderson
- U.S. Geological Survey, Oregon Water Science Center, Portland, OR, United States
| | - D Calhoun
- U.S. Geological Survey South Atlantic Water Science Center, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - T Chestnut
- National Park Service, Mount Rainer National Park, Ashford, WA, United States
| | - E Muths
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, United States
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Phillips PJ, Gibson CA, Fisher SC, Fisher IJ, Reilly TJ, Smalling KL, Romanok KM, Foreman WT, ReVello RC, Focazio MJ, Jones DK. Regional variability in bed-sediment concentrations of wastewater compounds, hormones and PAHs for portions of coastal New York and New Jersey impacted by hurricane Sandy. Mar Pollut Bull 2016; 107:489-498. [PMID: 27177500 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.04.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [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: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 04/09/2016] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Bed sediment samples from 79 coastal New York and New Jersey, USA sites were analyzed for 75 compounds including wastewater associated contaminants, PAHs, and other organic compounds to assess the post-Hurricane Sandy distribution of organic contaminants among six regions. These results provide the first assessment of wastewater compounds, hormones, and PAHs in bed sediment for this region. Concentrations of most wastewater contaminants and PAHs were highest in the most developed region (Upper Harbor/Newark Bay, UHNB) and reflected the wastewater inputs to this area. Although the lack of pre-Hurricane Sandy data for most of these compounds make it impossible to assess the effect of the storm on wastewater contaminant concentrations, PAH concentrations in the UHNB region reflect pre-Hurricane Sandy conditions in this region. Lower hormone concentrations than predicted by the total organic carbon relation occurred in UHNB samples, suggesting that hormones are being degraded in the UHNB region.
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Smalling KL, Deshpande AD, Blazer VS, Dockum BW, Timmons D, Sharack BL, Baker RJ, Samson J, Reilly TJ. Young of the year bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix) as a bioindicator of estuarine health: Establishing a new baseline for persistent organic pollutants after Hurricane Sandy for selected estuaries in New Jersey and New York. Mar Pollut Bull 2016; 107:422-431. [PMID: 27039958 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.03.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [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: 09/28/2015] [Revised: 02/17/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Atlantic coastal bays of the US are essential habitat for young of year bluefish (Pomatomus saltatrix). Their residence in these estuaries during critical life stages, high lipid content, and piscivory make bluefish an ideal bioindicator species for evaluating estuarine health. Individual whole fish from four estuaries impacted by Hurricane Sandy were collected in August 2013, analyzed for a suite of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers and organochlorine pesticides and evaluated using health metrics. Concentrations in whole bluefish differed by estuary; however, concentrations for many POPs decreased or were similar to those observed prior to the hurricane. Prevalence of the ectoparasitic gill isopod (Lironeca ovalis) varied by estuary and no relationships between contaminants and lesions were observed. Bluefish should be considered for monitoring programs and, if sampled frequently, could be an effective bioindicator of incremental and episodic changes in contaminants within aquatic food webs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA.
| | - Ashok D Deshpande
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, USA
| | - Vicki S Blazer
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Kearneysville, WV, USA
| | - Bruce W Dockum
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, USA
| | - DeMond Timmons
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, USA
| | - Beth L Sharack
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, USA
| | - Ronald J Baker
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
| | - Jennifer Samson
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, USA
| | - Timothy J Reilly
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA
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Smalling KL, Deshpande AD, Galbraith HS, Sharack BL, Timmons D, Baker RJ. Regional assessment of persistent organic pollutants in resident mussels from New Jersey and New York estuaries following Hurricane Sandy. Mar Pollut Bull 2016; 107:432-441. [PMID: 26965090 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.02.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 09/25/2015] [Revised: 01/15/2016] [Accepted: 02/26/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Resident mussels are effective indicators of ecosystem health and have been utilized in national assessment and monitoring studies for over two decades. Mussels were chosen because contaminant concentrations in their tissues respond to changes in ambient environmental levels, accumulation occurs with little metabolic transformation and a substantial amount of historic data were available. Mussels were collected from 10 previously studied locations approximately a year after Hurricane Sandy. Regionally, concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) decreased significantly, while concentrations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) remained unchanged, and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) increased compared to historic concentrations. Although concentrations of PCBs, OCPs and PAHs were at or near record low concentrations, long-term trends did not change after Hurricane Sandy. To effectively measure storm-induced impacts it is necessary to understand the factors influencing changes in mussel body burdens and have a long-term monitoring network and an ability to mobilize post event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States.
| | - Ashok D Deshpande
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, United States
| | - Heather S Galbraith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Leetown Science Center, Northern Appalachian Research Laboratory, Wellsboro, PA, United States
| | - Beth L Sharack
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, United States
| | - DeMond Timmons
- NOAA Fisheries, NEFSC, James J. Howard Marine Sciences Laboratory at Sandy Hook, NJ, United States
| | - Ronald J Baker
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, United States
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Ng K, Szabo Z, Reilly PA, Barringer JL, Smalling KL. An assessment of mercury in estuarine sediment and tissue in Southern New Jersey using public domain data. Mar Pollut Bull 2016; 107:22-35. [PMID: 27158049 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.04.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [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: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 03/14/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is considered a contaminant of global concern for coastal environments due to its toxicity, widespread occurrence in sediment, and bioaccumulation in tissue. Coastal New Jersey, USA, is characterized by shallow bays and wetlands that provide critical habitat for wildlife but share space with expanding urban landscapes. This study was designed as an assessment of the magnitude and distribution of Hg in coastal New Jersey sediments and critical species using publicly available data to highlight potential data gaps. Mercury concentrations in estuary sediments can exceed 2μg/g and correlate with concentrations of other metals. Based on existing data, the concentrations of Hg in mussels in southern New Jersey are comparable to those observed in other urbanized Atlantic Coast estuaries. Lack of methylmercury data for sediments, other media, and tissues are data gaps needing to be filled for a clearer understanding of the impacts of Hg inputs to the ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara Ng
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States; The City College of New York, The Graduate Center, Ph.D. Program in Chemistry, New York, NY 10016, United States; The City College of New York, Division of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, New York, NY 10031, United States
| | - Zoltan Szabo
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States.
| | - Pamela A Reilly
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States
| | - Julia L Barringer
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, United States
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Hladik ML, Vandever M, Smalling KL. Exposure of native bees foraging in an agricultural landscape to current-use pesticides. Sci Total Environ 2016; 542:469-77. [PMID: 26520270 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.10.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [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: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 10/15/2015] [Accepted: 10/15/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The awareness of insects as pollinators and indicators of environmental quality has grown in recent years, partially in response to declines in honey bee (Apis mellifera) populations. While most pesticide research has focused on honey bees, there has been less work on native bee populations. To determine the exposure of native bees to pesticides, bees were collected from an existing research area in northeastern Colorado in both grasslands (2013-2014) and wheat fields (2014). Traps were deployed bi-monthly during the summer at each land cover type and all bees, regardless of species, were composited as whole samples and analyzed for 136 current-use pesticides and degradates. This reconnaissance approach provides a sampling of all species and represents overall pesticide exposure (internal and external). Nineteen pesticides and degradates were detected in 54 composite samples collected. Compounds detected in >2% of the samples included: insecticides thiamethoxam (46%), bifenthrin (28%), clothianidin (24%), chlorpyrifos (17%), imidacloprid (13%), fipronil desulfinyl (7%; degradate); fungicides azoxystrobin (17%), pyraclostrobin (11%), fluxapyroxad (9%), and propiconazole (9%); herbicides atrazine (19%) and metolachlor (9%). Concentrations ranged from 1 to 310 ng/g for individual pesticides. Pesticides were detected in samples collected from both grasslands and wheat fields; the location of the sample and the surrounding land cover at the 1000 m radius influenced the pesticides detected but because of a small number of temporally comparable samples, correlations between pesticide concentration and land cover were not significant. The results show native bees collected in an agricultural landscape are exposed to multiple pesticides, these results can direct future research on routes/timing of pesticide exposure and the design of future conservation efforts for pollinators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Hladik
- U.S. Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA.
| | - Mark Vandever
- U.S. Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, 2150 Centre Ave Bldg C, Fort Collins, CO 80526, USA,.
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, New Jersey Water Science Center, 3450 Princeton Pike, Suite 110, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648, USA.
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Smalling KL, Reeves R, Muths E, Vandever M, Battaglin WA, Hladik ML, Pierce CL. Pesticide concentrations in frog tissue and wetland habitats in a landscape dominated by agriculture. Sci Total Environ 2015; 502:80-90. [PMID: 25244036 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.08.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [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: 08/04/2014] [Revised: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 08/28/2014] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Habitat loss and exposure to pesticides are likely primary factors contributing to amphibian decline in agricultural landscapes. Conservation efforts have attempted to restore wetlands lost through landscape modifications to reduce contaminant loads in surface waters and providing quality habitat to wildlife. The benefits of this increased wetland area, perhaps especially for amphibians, may be negated if habitat quality is insufficient to support persistent populations. We examined the presence of pesticides and nutrients in water and sediment as indicators of habitat quality and assessed the bioaccumulation of pesticides in the tissue of two native amphibian species Pseudacris maculata (chorus frogs) and Lithobates pipiens (leopard frogs) at six wetlands (3 restored and 3 reference) in Iowa, USA. Restored wetlands are positioned on the landscape to receive subsurface tile drainage water while reference wetlands receive water from overland run-off and shallow groundwater sources. Concentrations of the pesticides frequently detected in water and sediment samples were not different between wetland types. The median concentration of atrazine in surface water was 0.2 μg/L. Reproductive abnormalities in leopard frogs have been observed in other studies at these concentrations. Nutrient concentrations were higher in the restored wetlands but lower than concentrations thought lethal to frogs. Complex mixtures of pesticides including up to 8 fungicides, some previously unreported in tissue, were detected with concentrations ranging from 0.08 to 1,500 μg/kg wet weight. No significant differences in pesticide concentrations were observed between species, although concentrations tended to be higher in leopard frogs compared to chorus frogs, possibly because of differences in life histories. Our results provide information on habitat quality in restored wetlands that will assist state and federal agencies, landowners, and resource managers in identifying and implementing conservation and management actions for these and similar wetlands in agriculturally dominated landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- US Geological Survey New Jersey Water Science Center, Lawrenceville, NJ, USA.
| | - Rebecca Reeves
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Iowa State University, Ames, IA, USA
| | - Erin Muths
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Mark Vandever
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | | | - Michelle L Hladik
- US Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Clay L Pierce
- US Geological Survey, Iowa Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Ames, IA, USA
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Alvarez DA, Maruya KA, Dodder NG, Lao W, Furlong ET, Smalling KL. Occurrence of contaminants of emerging concern along the California coast (2009-10) using passive sampling devices. Mar Pollut Bull 2014; 81:347-354. [PMID: 23683585 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.04.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [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: 11/08/2012] [Revised: 01/23/2013] [Accepted: 04/23/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Three passive sampling devices (PSDs), polar organic chemical integrative samplers (POCIS), polyethylene devices (PEDs), and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) samplers were used to sample a diverse set of chemicals in the coastal waters of San Francisco Bay and the Southern California Bight. Seventy one chemicals (including fragrances, phosphate flame retardants, pharmaceuticals, PAHs, PCBs, PBDEs, and pesticides) were measured in at least 50% of the sites. The chemical profile from the San Francisco Bay sites was distinct from profiles from the sites in the Southern California Bight. This distinction was not due to a single compound or class, but by the relative abundances/concentrations of the chemicals. Comparing the PSDs to mussel (Mytilus spp.) tissues, a positive correlation exists for the 25 and 26 chemicals in common for the PEDs and SPME, respectively. Diphenhydramine was the only common chemical out of 40 analyzed in both POCIS and tissues detected at a common site.
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Affiliation(s)
- David A Alvarez
- U.S. Geological Survey, 4200 New Haven Road, Columbia, MO 65201, United States.
| | - Keith A Maruya
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Nathan G Dodder
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Wenjian Lao
- Southern California Coastal Water Research Project, 3535 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 110, Costa Mesa, CA 92626, United States
| | - Edward T Furlong
- U.S. Geological Survey, National Water Quality Laboratory, Denver Federal Center, Denver, CO 80225, United States
| | - Kelly L Smalling
- U.S. Geological Survey, 6000 J Street, Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, United States
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Wilson ER, Smalling KL, Reilly TJ, Gray E, Bond L, Steele L, Kandel P, Chamberlin A, Gause J, Reynolds N, Robertson I, Novak S, Feris K, White MM. ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL EFFECTS OF FUNGICIDES ON NONTARGET GUT FUNGI (TRICHOMYCETES) AND THEIR ASSOCIATED LARVAL BLACK FLY HOSTS. J Am Water Resour Assoc 2014; 50:420-433. [PMID: 26380545 PMCID: PMC4570023 DOI: 10.1111/jawr.12166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Fungicides are moderately hydrophobic and have been detected in water and sediment, particularly in agricultural watersheds, but typically are not included in routine water quality monitoring efforts. This is despite their widespread use and frequent application to combat fungal pathogens. Whereas the efficacy of these compounds on fungal pathogens is well documented, little is known about their effects on nontarget fungi. This pilot study, a field survey in southwestern Idaho from April to December 2010 on four streams with varying pesticide inputs (two agricultural and two reference sites), was conducted to assess nontarget impact of fungicides on gut fungi, or trichomycetes. Tissues of larval black flies (Diptera: Simuliidae), hosts of gut fungi, were analyzed for pesticide accumulation. Fungicides were detected in hosts from streams within agricultural watersheds but were not detected in hosts from reference streams. Gut fungi from agricultural sites exhibited decreased percent infestation, density within the gut, and sporulation, and black fly tissues had elevated pesticide concentrations. Differences observed between the sites demonstrate a potential effect on this symbiotic system. Future research is needed to parse out the details of the complex biotic and abiotic relationships; however, these preliminary results indicate that impacts to nontarget organisms could have far-reaching consequences within aquatic ecosystems.
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Smalling KL, Fellers GM, Kleeman PM, Kuivila KM. Accumulation of pesticides in Pacific chorus frogs (Pseudacris regilla) from California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, USA. Environ Toxicol Chem 2013; 32:2026-34. [PMID: 23893497 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [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: 01/30/2013] [Revised: 03/28/2013] [Accepted: 04/30/2013] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Pesticides are receiving increasing attention as potential causes of amphibian declines, acting singly or in combination with other stressors, but limited information is available on the accumulation of current-use pesticides in tissue. The authors examined potential exposure and accumulation of currently used pesticides in pond-breeding frogs (Pseudacris regilla) collected from 7 high elevations sites in northern California. All sites sampled are located downwind of California's highly agricultural Central Valley and receive inputs of pesticides through precipitation and/or dry deposition. Whole frog tissue, water, and sediment were analyzed for more than 90 current-use pesticides and pesticide degradates using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Two fungicides, pyraclostrobin and tebuconazole, and one herbicide, simazine, were the most frequently detected pesticides in tissue samples. Median pesticide concentration ranged from 13 µg/kg to 235 µg/kg wet weight. Tebuconazole and pyraclostrobin were the only 2 compounds observed frequently in frog tissue and sediment. Significant spatial differences in tissue concentration were observed, which corresponded to pesticide use in the upwind counties. Data generated indicated that amphibians residing in remote locations are exposed to and capable of accumulating current-use pesticides. A comparison of P. regilla tissue concentrations with water and sediment data indicated that the frogs are accumulating pesticides and are potentially a more reliable indicator of exposure to this group of pesticides than either water or sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly L Smalling
- California Water Science Center, US Geological Survey, Sacramento, CA, USA.
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