Baseline ecological risk assessment of the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana: 3. An evaluation of the risks to benthic invertebrates associated with exposure to contaminated sediments
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
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Abstract
The sediments in the Calcasieu Estuary are contaminated with a wide variety of chemicals of potential concern (COPCs), including heavy metals, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, phthalates, chlorinated benzenes, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The sources of these COPCs include both point and non-point source discharges. As part of a baseline ecological risk assessment, the risks to benthic invertebrates posed by exposure to sediment-associated COPCs were assessed using five lines of evidence, including whole-sediment chemistry, pore-water chemistry, whole-sediment toxicity, pore-water toxicity, and benthic invertebrate community structure. The results of this assessment indicated that exposure to whole sediments and/or pore water from the Calcasieu Estuary generally posed low risks to benthic invertebrate communities (i.e., risks were classified as low for 68% of the sampling locations investigated). However, incremental risks to benthic invertebrates (i.e., compared with those associated with exposure to conditions in reference areas) were indicated for 32% of the sampling locations within the estuary. Of the three areas of concern (AOCs) investigated, the risks to benthic invertebrates were highest in the Bayou d'Inde AOC; risks were generally lower in the Upper Calcasieu River AOC and Middle Calcasieu River AOC. The areas showing the highest risks to sediment-dwelling organisms were generally located in the vicinity of point source discharges of COPCs. These results provided risk managers with the information required to make decisions regarding the need for remedial actions at the site.
Suggested Citation
MacDonald, D., Ingersoll, C.G., Kemble, N.E., Smorong, D.E., Sinclair, J., Lindskoog, R., Gaston, G., Sanger, D., Carr, R.S., Biedenbach, J., Gouguet, R., Kern, J., Shortelle, A., Field, L.J., and Meyer, J., 2011, Baseline ecological risk assessment of the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana: 3. An evaluation of the risks to benthic invertebrates associated with exposure to contaminated sediments: Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, v. 61, no. 1, p. 29-58, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00244-010-9638-7.
Study Area
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Baseline ecological risk assessment of the Calcasieu Estuary, Louisiana: 3. An evaluation of the risks to benthic invertebrates associated with exposure to contaminated sediments |
| Series title | Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology |
| DOI | 10.1007/s00244-010-9638-7 |
| Volume | 61 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Publication Date | March 26, 2011 |
| Year Published | 2011 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Springer |
| Contributing office(s) | Columbia Environmental Research Center, Contaminant Biology Program |
| Description | 29 p. |
| First page | 29 |
| Last page | 58 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Louisiana |
| Other Geospatial | Calcasieu Estuary |