Mercury in fish from the Pinchi Lake Region, British Columbia, Canada

Water, surface sediments, and <40 cm rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and northern pikeminnow (Ptychocheilus oregonensis) were collected from Pinchi Lake, British Columbia, and from several nearby reference lakes. Hg concentrations in sediment samples from Pinchi L. were highly elevated compared to sediments from reference lakes, especially in sites adjacent to and downstream of a former Hg mine. In both fish species examined, Hg concentration was positively related to age and/or fork length. In northern pikeminnow, Hg concentrations were also positively related to trophic level (deltaN). Hg concentrations in both fish species were highest in Pinchi L., and were higher in pikeminnow than in rainbow trout of similar size. Average Hg concentrations in small rainbow trout from all lakes, including Pinchi L., were lower than dietary levels reported to cause reproductive impairment in common loons (Gavia immer); however, Hg levels in small pikeminnow from Pinchi L. were sufficiently high to be of concern. The risk for Hg toxicity in the study area is greatest for animals that consume larger piscivorous fish such as larger northern pikeminnow or lake trout, which are known from previous studies to contain higher Hg concentrations.     

Sensitivity of carbon sequestration costs to soil carbon rates

Modifying current agricultural management practices as a means of sequestering carbon has been shown to be a relatively low cost way to offset greenhouse gas emissions. In this paper we examine the sensitivity of the estimates of the amount of soil carbon sequestered and the implied costs of sequestering a tonne of carbon to changes in the rates of soil carbon sequestered for alternative production practices. An application is made to the dryland grain production systems of the US Northern Plains where the marginal costs of soil C range from $20 to $100 per MT. We show that the resulting changes in the marginal costs quantities of C sequestered are not a monotonic transformation of the changes in the soil carbon rates. These results underscore the importance of using a linked economic and biophysical simulation model to assess the economic potential for sequestering carbon in agricultural soils.     

Organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in eggs of red-legged frogs (Rana aurora) and northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile) in an agricultural landscape

Organochlorine pesticides were widely used in the past in Sumas Prairie, British Columbia, Canada. In the 1990s, the hatching success of amphibians from agricultural sites was significantly depressed in the Sumas Prairie compared to reference sites. Therefore, in this study, organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were measured in eggs of red-legged frogs (Rana aurora) and northwestern salamanders (Ambystoma gracile) from the Sumas Prairie. Egg masses were sampled from three agricultural sites that were exposed to agricultural runoff, and three reference sites that had lower agricultural runoff exposures. Not only was there little difference in contamination between agricultural and reference sites, but the levels of pesticides and PCBs found were lower than the concentrations reported to cause developmental or behavioural problems in amphibians.     

Environmental contaminants and reproductive success of great blue herons Ardea herodias in British Columbia, 1986-1987

In 1986, eggs were collected and productivity estimated at four great blue heron (Ardea herodias) colonies on the coast of British Columbia. Polychlorinated dibenzodioxins (PCDDs) and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) were present in all eggs in a qualitatively similar pattern among colonies. PCDD levels were significantly elevated at a colony near a kraft pulp mill at Crofton on Vancouver Island, although there was no correlation between the number of young raised in a nest and levels of either PCDDs, PCDFs, PCBs, organochlorine pesticides or mercury. In 1987, heron productivity was normal at three colonies, while the colony at Crofton failed to raise any young. A normal complement of eggs were apparently laid in about 57 nests, but during incubation they were destroyed and the broken eggshells were found in and beneath the nests. Analysis of eggs salvaged from nests showed that 2378-TCDD levels were about three times higher in 1987 than in 1986. At a colony in Vancouver, 2378-TCDF levels were significantly higher in 1987 than 1986 eggs. Levels of organochlorine pesticides and total mercury in eggs were generally low; highest residue levels were found in two mainland colonies, particularly at one adjacent to an agricultural area. Total PCB levels were low and did not differ significantly among locations. Analysis of PCB congener ratios indicated different sources of PCBs. Regurgitated prey samples collected in 1986 from four locations had generally low levels of PCDD, PCDF, mercury, lead and cadmium contamination.     

The effect of ambient ozone pollution and acidic rain on the growth and chlorophyll content of green and white ash

Two- and three-year old green ash (Fraxinus americana L.) and white ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) seedlings were exposed to combinations of ambient ozone and acidic ambient rainfall in New Brunswick, New Jersey. During the 3-year study the potted seedlings did not develop typical foliar ozone toxicity symptoms, despite the occurrence of as many as 78 h in exceedance of the National Ambient Air Quality Standard of 0.12 ppm. Although the pH of the rainfall was as low as 3.6 and averaged 4.1, no symptoms were observed resulting from the ambient precipitation. The rate of shoot growth in terms of height and diameter was generally not affected by either of the pollutants during the growing season. Although the chlorophyll content of white ash foliage was low following frequent rainfall in the early summer of 1984, there was no statistically significant evidence that acid raid or ambient ozone decreased chlorophyll in ash seedlings during the 3-year study.     

Reduction of hexachloroethane to tetrachloroethylene in groundwater

At the Canadian Forces Base, Borden, hexachloroethane (HCE) that was introduced into an unconfined sand aquifer disappeared rapidly, with a half-life of about 40 days. Laboratory-scale studies, initiated to help assess the fate of HCE, indicated that it is reductively biotransformed to tetrachloroethylene (PCE) both by aerobic cultures of wastewater microflora and by microcosms containing unhomogenized Borden aquifer material. The results also indicate that the agents involved in the aquifer transformation of HCE to PCE are not homogeneously distributed in the aquifer material.     

Reproductive success and chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) nesting along rivers receiving pulp and paper mill effluent discharges

The insectivorous tree swallow was chosen as an indicator species to investigate the uptake of pulp mill-related chlorinated hydrocarbons from emergent aquatic insects. Nest box populations were monitored for reproductive success at locations upstream and downstream of pulp mills on two river systems in British Columbia, Canada. Also, 16-day-old nestlings were collected and analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) and dibenzofurans (PCDFs), pesticides, chlorophenols and chloroguaiacols. Most reproductive parameters were not different between populations at upstream and downstream locations, and were equivalent to or greater than those recorded for other tree swallow populations. Chlorinated hydrocarbon contamination of nestlings was low at all sites. The highest tissue concentrations were detected downstream of pulp mills on the Fraser River, where PCDD and PCDF patterns along with the presence of pentachlorophenol (PCP) suggested that the primary source of contaminants was past use of PCP for timber preservation. Although the absolute tissue concentration of contaminants was less, the toxic concentration (as estimated with I-TEQs) was greatest in nestlings downstream of a pulp mill on the Thompson River. The proportionately larger contributions from 2,3,7,8-TCDF and PCB-77 elevated these TEQs in comparison to other populations. Nest success was the one reproductive measure that showed substantial reductions in downstream populations on both rivers; however, there was little indication that nest failures were the direct result of contamination. Failures were largely due to parental abandonment, and, while poor parental attentiveness and nest abandonment have been associated with chlorinated hydrocarbon tissue concentrations in other studies, our 1-year assessment was insufficient to establish any link with pulp mill effluent exposure. Nestling growth models showed some subtle differences in growth patterns between nest box populations on the two rivers, but an association with pulp mill effects on aquatic insect prey availability was not established.     

1983～1998年间加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚海岸大蓝鹭（Ardea herodias）卵内多氯二苯并-p-二恶英(PCDDs)和二苯并呋喃(PCDFs)的时空趋势监测

从1983~1998年，沿加拿大不列颠哥伦比亚海岸，我们监测了21处大蓝鹭(Ardea herodias)结巢处卵内多氯二苯并-p-二恶英 (PCDDs)、二苯并呋喃(PCDFs) 和多氯联苯 (PCBs)的污染情况。20世纪90年代早期，主要的同类物如1,2,3,7,8-PnCDD、 1,2,3,6,7,8-HxCDD、2,3,7,8-TCDD、2,3,7,8-TCDF、1,2,3,7,8,9-HxCDD 和2,3,4,7,8-PnCDF在纸浆厂分子氯漂白技术被新的漂白技术替代以及氯基酚类木材保存剂和抗木材变色剂的使用被严格地限制之后有显著下降。被捕食的鱼与大蓝鹭卵内污染物水平之间的强正线性回归说明，每天在本地摄食的食物是大蓝鹭暴露于污染物的一个重要路径。从1985年到1991年，在某些栖居地的大蓝鹭卵内所测到的毒当量浓度(TEQs)足以在小鹭体内产生胚胎毒性。尽管PCDD/Fs有所减少，但估计整个80年代有些城市中苍鹭栖居地的毒当量浓度由于多氯联苯的作用而居高不下。