Dataset Identification:
Resource Abstract:
- description: Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in Virginia along the Potomac River, about 35.4 kilometers
(22 miles) southwest of Washington, D.C. The 66.3 hectare (164 acre) refuge was acquired in 1979 as a portion of the Mason
Neck NWR complex. The overall objective of this investigation was to gather baseline information on the contaminant status
of the area. These data are needed to identify possible sources of contaminants; assess risks to aquatic life and piscivorous
wildlife; and, if necessary, develop source control strategies. Neabsco Creek, which borders the refuge, and Farm Creek, which
bisects it, were the primary study sites. In 1991, sediments, channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus
salmoides) were sampled for organic and inorganic contaminants. Polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) levels in channel catfish muscle
tissues averaged 1.74 ppm in Farm Creek and 2.45 ppm in Neabsco Creek. Four of the six samples from Neabsco Creek and 2/6
samples from Farm Creek had PCB concentrations exceeding the 2 ppm FDA tolerance. Mean PCB concentrations in largemouth bass
from Farm and Neabsco Creeks were 0.28 ppm and 0.12 ppm, respectively. Sediments did not contain detectable concentrations
of PCBs. In view of these data and the propensity of these species to move in and out of the creeks, the concentrations are
viewed as representative of regional rather than highly localized inputs. During the study, there were observations of external
lesions in channel catfish and brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), which merited a follow-up study. In 1992, the prevalence
of lesions in 2930 brown bullhead collected from each of these creeks and from Marumsco Creek (1.75 km upstream) was determined.
Coincident with the fish sampling, concentrations of polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were measured since
PAH-contaminated sediments have been associated with an increased prevalence of cancerous lesions in this species. The average
concentration of total carcinogenic PAHs in sediments was: Farm Creek (0.34 ppm) < Marumsco Creek (0.63 ppm) < Neabsco
Creek (1.37 ppm). The prevalence of lesions between the three creeks was compared with the ranking of average carcinogenic
PAHs in sediments, using the Jongheere-Terpstra test. A significant test (p<0.05) indicated that the prevalence of a lesion
increased in the same order as the mean levels of carcinogenic PAHs. The prevalence of skin neoplasms (squamous carcinomas
and papillomas) was 3.4` in Farm Creek, 16.6% in Marumsco Creek, and 33.3% in Neabsco Creek. This ranking and the rankings
of the total number of fish with tumors, invasive tumors, or non-parasitic lesions followed the trend in sediment carcinogenic
PAHs according to the Jongheere-Terpstra test. The prevalence of liver carcinomas (0% at Farm Creek, 3.3% at Marumsco Creek,
and 10% at Neabsco Creek) was of borderline significance (p=0.06). A possible source of PAHs in Neabsco Creek is a complex
of three adjacent marinas, containing a fueling station and about 400 slips. The highest sediment concentrations of total
PAHs (25.5 ppm) and total carcinogenic PAHs (2.70 ppm) were found in the station closest to the complex. The tumor prevalence
and sediment concentration data were compared with data from studies in the Great Lakes region. It is recommended that further
sampling take place in Neabsco creek to determine the extent of PAH contamination. Source controls should have the objective
of reducing any continuing inputs.; abstract: Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) is located in Virginia along the
Potomac River, about 35.4 kilometers (22 miles) southwest of Washington, D.C. The 66.3 hectare (164 acre) refuge was acquired
in 1979 as a portion of the Mason Neck NWR complex. The overall objective of this investigation was to gather baseline information
on the contaminant status of the area. These data are needed to identify possible sources of contaminants; assess risks to
aquatic life and piscivorous wildlife; and, if necessary, develop source control strategies. Neabsco Creek, which borders
the refuge, and Farm Creek, which bisects it, were the primary study sites. In 1991, sediments, channel catfish (Ictalurus
punctatus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) were sampled for organic and inorganic contaminants. Polychlorinated
biphenyl (PCB) levels in channel catfish muscle tissues averaged 1.74 ppm in Farm Creek and 2.45 ppm in Neabsco Creek. Four
of the six samples from Neabsco Creek and 2/6 samples from Farm Creek had PCB concentrations exceeding the 2 ppm FDA tolerance.
Mean PCB concentrations in largemouth bass from Farm and Neabsco Creeks were 0.28 ppm and 0.12 ppm, respectively. Sediments
did not contain detectable concentrations of PCBs. In view of these data and the propensity of these species to move in and
out of the creeks, the concentrations are viewed as representative of regional rather than highly localized inputs. During
the study, there were observations of external lesions in channel catfish and brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), which merited
a follow-up study. In 1992, the prevalence of lesions in 2930 brown bullhead collected from each of these creeks and from
Marumsco Creek (1.75 km upstream) was determined. Coincident with the fish sampling, concentrations of polynuclear aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments were measured since PAH-contaminated sediments have been associated with an increased prevalence
of cancerous lesions in this species. The average concentration of total carcinogenic PAHs in sediments was: Farm Creek (0.34
ppm) < Marumsco Creek (0.63 ppm) < Neabsco Creek (1.37 ppm). The prevalence of lesions between the three creeks was
compared with the ranking of average carcinogenic PAHs in sediments, using the Jongheere-Terpstra test. A significant test
(p<0.05) indicated that the prevalence of a lesion increased in the same order as the mean levels of carcinogenic PAHs.
The prevalence of skin neoplasms (squamous carcinomas and papillomas) was 3.4` in Farm Creek, 16.6% in Marumsco Creek, and
33.3% in Neabsco Creek. This ranking and the rankings of the total number of fish with tumors, invasive tumors, or non-parasitic
lesions followed the trend in sediment carcinogenic PAHs according to the Jongheere-Terpstra test. The prevalence of liver
carcinomas (0% at Farm Creek, 3.3% at Marumsco Creek, and 10% at Neabsco Creek) was of borderline significance (p=0.06). A
possible source of PAHs in Neabsco Creek is a complex of three adjacent marinas, containing a fueling station and about 400
slips. The highest sediment concentrations of total PAHs (25.5 ppm) and total carcinogenic PAHs (2.70 ppm) were found in the
station closest to the complex. The tumor prevalence and sediment concentration data were compared with data from studies
in the Great Lakes region. It is recommended that further sampling take place in Neabsco creek to determine the extent of
PAH contamination. Source controls should have the objective of reducing any continuing inputs.
Citation
- Title Investigation of sediment contamination and fish pathology at Featherstone National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia.
-
- creation Date
2018-05-21T02:22:07.840070
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Metadata data stamp:
2018-08-06T23:51:32Z
Resource Maintenance Information
- maintenance or update frequency:
- notes: This metadata record was generated by an xslt transformation from a dc metadata record; Transform by Stephen M. Richard, based
on a transform by Damian Ulbricht. Run on 2018-08-06T23:51:32Z
Metadata contact
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pointOfContact
- organisation Name
CINERGI Metadata catalog
-
- Contact information
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- Address
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- electronic Mail Address cinergi@sdsc.edu
Metadata language
eng
Metadata character set encoding:
utf8
Metadata standard for this record:
ISO 19139 Geographic Information - Metadata - Implementation Specification
standard version:
2007
Metadata record identifier:
urn:dciso:metadataabout:6ca36979-9a04-4e46-a202-abfa0d741f41
Metadata record format is ISO19139 XML (MD_Metadata)