Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Assemble fish health data
DQOs
not met
Evaluate fish health data using
data quality objectives in
quality assurance project plan
Repeat necessary
components of sampling
program
DQOs
met
Not
different
Fish health unlikely to be
adversely affected relative to
reference conditions at the
assessment area
Compare fish health data to
reference data from the
assessment area
Different
Fish health likely to be
adversely affected relative to
reference conditions at the
assessment area
Consider fish health data with
data on other indicators
Fig. 7.6
Recommended procedure for evaluating fi sh health data.
•
a laboratory approach, which involves exposing
organisms
applied in the assessment of contaminated sediments
(USEPA 2000a; ASTM 2008b).
In the fi eld approach, concentrations of COPCs
in tissues are determined by collecting one or more
species exposed to sediments at the study area being
assessed. In addition, organisms representing various
trophic levels may be collected and analyzed to
determine tissue residue levels. These concentrations
are compared with those that have been measured
in the tissues of organisms collected from appro-
priately selected reference area(s). Two methods
have been used to determine bioaccumulation in
the fi eld:
•
organisms resident at the area are collected
in situ
for analysis; or
•
organisms are transplanted from another location
(presumably with a history of little contaminant
exposure) to the area of concern then re-collected,
to
sediment
under
controlled
conditions;
•
a fi eld approach, which involves collecting organ-
isms from a study area;
•
assessment of food-web transfer; and
•
models to predict bioaccumulation processes.
In the laboratory approach, individuals of a single
species are exposed under controlled laboratory con-
ditions to sediments collected from the study area
being assessed (USEPA 2000a; ASTM 2008b). After
an established period of exposure, the tissues of
the organisms are analyzed for the COPCs.
Bioaccumulation has occurred if the fi nal concentra-
tions in tissues exceed concentrations that were
present before the exposure was started. This requires
that individuals representative of initial conditions
also be analyzed. This approach has been routinely
