PSAMP Contents Introduction Study Design Species Monitored Sampling Locations Contaminants Monitored Key Findings Reports Staff Links

Contaminants Monitored Fish and Wildlife monitors the levels of poly-chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), [1] some chlorinated pesticides, mercury, and lead in the edible muscle tissue, liver, or whole bodies of fish and crabs. For fish, we assess exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [2] by monitoring the levels of PAH metabolites [3] in the fishes' bile. Insufficient funding is available to monitor dioxins, alkyl phenols and organotins.  The following table lists the  chemicals currently monitored and the detection methods used.  Historically, we monitored for the presence of over 100 compounds but have discontinued monitoring for compounds not usually detected in the biota or detectable compounds that may not reflect environmental conditions (e.g., arsenic and copper).  Contaminants Currently Monitored Assay Group Assay Lab Method1 Comments Bile FACs   (PAH metabolites) benzo(a)pyrene FAC HPLC/UVF   Naphthalene FAC   Phenanthrene FAC   Chlorinated Aromatic Hydrocarbons hexachlorobenzene HPLC/PDA   Conventionals Lipids Grav-Hex   Protein Plate Spec   Solids Dry Wt   Metals Mercury CVAA total mercury Lead GFAA   PCB Congeners [4] PCB101 HPLC/PDA   PCB105 PCB110 PCB118 PCB126 PCB128 PCB138 PCB153 PCB156 PCB157 PCB169 PCB170 PCB180 PCB189 PCB77 Total PCB Pesticides opDDD HPLC/PDA   opDDT ppDDD ppDDE ppDDT Total DDT 1 HPLC/UVF - high performance liquid chromatography, ultraviolet fluorescence HPLC/PDA - high performance liquid chromatography, photodiode array Grav-Hex - gravimetric analysis of extracted lipids using hexane solvent Plate Spec -  plate spectrophotometry (microtiter) CVAA -  cold vapor atomic absorption GFAA -   graphite furnace atomic absorption [1] A group of organic compounds. PCB's are highly toxic to aquatic life. They persist in the environment for long periods of time, and they are bioaccumulants. [2] A class of chemicals typically formed by burning and common in the environment. PAHs are also common to petroleum products and oil. Although most of these compounds are harmless or mildly toxic, some are carcinogenic. [3] any intermediate or product resulting from metabolism. [4] 1. A member of the same kind, class, or group.  2. A substance literally con- (with) generated or synthesized by essentially the same synthetic chemical reactions and the same procedures.