Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluating toxicity risk in sediments after remediation at a Superfund megasite using a Triad approach

  • Published:
Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Pine River downstream of the Velsicol Superfund site has been contaminated with various hydrophobic organic pollutants for more than 50 years. Remediation and sediment dredging near the site began in spring of 1999, and was completed in 2006. In 2011, the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality completed a baseline assessment report long-term monitoring plan for the Pine River. However, there has been limited assessment of the benthic community since this evaluation. The objective of this research was to evaluate the risk of Pine River sediment to aquatic macroinvertebrates downstream from the Superfund site after decades of degradation and dredging using the Triad approach. Three sites were selected downstream from the Superfund site, and an upstream reference site was used. At each site, macroinvertebrates surveys were conducted and sediments were collected for chemical analysis of DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis (4-chlorophenyl) ethane) and its degradation products and for laboratory toxicity testing for mortality and sublethal effects using Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus. Sediment concentrations of DDT, DDD, and DDE were below levels expected to cause toxicity, and there was no observed toxicity in laboratory tests. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in richness, richness of Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera, and Trichoptera (EPT) species, total EPT abundance, percent EPT, or percent dominant taxa between the reference site and the downstream sites. There was an observed decrease in abundance of macroinvertebrate taxa at all downstream sites and a shift in macroinvertebrate structure when comparing the reference with most impaired sites. Although the sites downstream of the Superfund site remain different than the upstream control, there are improvements in species composition and abundance. However, more research is needed to evaluate the potential effects on ecosystem function.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig 1
Fig 2
Fig 3

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Bouchard, RW (2004). Guide to aquatic invertebrates of the Upper Midwest: identification manual for students, citizen monitors, and aquatic resource professionals. University of Minnesota, Water Resources Center.

  • Chapman, P. M., & Anderson, J. (2005). A decision-making framework for sediment contamination. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 1(3), 163–173. https://doi.org/10.1897/2005-013R.1.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chapman, P. M., Wang, F., & Caeiro, S. S. (2013). Assessing and managing sediment contamination in transitional waters. Environment International, 55, 71–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2013.02.009.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ding Y, Harwood AD, Foslund HM, Lydy MJ, (2010) Distribution and toxicity of sediment-associated pesticides in urban and agricultural waterways from Illinois, USA. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 29 (1):149-157

  • Ding, Y., Landrum, P. F., You, J., & Lydy, M. J. (2013). Assessing bioavailability and toxicity of permethrin and DDT in sediment using matrix solid phase microextraction. Ecotoxicology, 22(1), 109–117. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-012-1007-z.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khan, F. I., Husain, T., & Hejazi, R. (2004). An overview and analysis of site remediation technologies. Journal of Environmental Management, 71(2), 95–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2004.02.003.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • MacDonald, D. D., Ingersoll, C. G., & Berger, T. A. (2000). Development and evaluation of consensus-based sediment quality guidelines for freshwater ecosystems. Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 39(1), 20–31. https://doi.org/10.1007/s002440010075.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marziali, L., Rosignoli, F., Drago, A., Pascariello, S., Valsecchi, L., Rossaro, B., & Guzzella, L. (2017). Toxicity risk assessment of mercury, DDT and arsenic legacy pollution in sediments: a triad approach under low concentration conditions. Science of The Total Environment, 593–594, 809–821. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.219.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Maul, J. D., Brennan, A. A., Harwood, A. D., & Lydy, M. J. (2008). Effect of sediment-associated pyrethroids, fipronil, and metabolites on Chironomus tentans growth rate, body mass, condition index, immobilization, and survival. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 27(12), 2582–2590. https://doi.org/10.1897/08-185.1.

  • McKnight, U. S., Rasmussen, J. J., Kronvang, B., Binning, P. J., & Bjerg, P. L. (2015). Sources, occurrence and predicted aquatic impact of legacy and contemporary pesticides in streams. Environmental Pollution, 200, 64–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2015.02.015.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Surface Water Quality Division. (2000). GLEAS procedure #51 survey protocols for wadable rivers. Chapter 25A in Schneider, JC (ed). Manual of fisheries survey methods II: with periodic updates. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report 25, Ann Arbor.

  • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. (2008). Michigan fish contaminant monitoring program 2008 annual report. Report # MI/DEQ/WB-09/044, 2008.

  • Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. (2011). Baseline assessment report Pine River long-term monitoring plan operable unit two (OU-2) Velsicol Chemical Corporation Superfund site, St. Louis, Gratiot County, Michigan. Report prepared by Weston Solutions, Inc. to Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, Work Order #20083.500.004, March, 2011.

  • Nebeker, A. V., Schuytema, G. S., Griffis, W. L., Barbitta, J. A., & Carey, L. A. (1989). Effect of sediment organic carbon on survival of Hyalella azteca exposed to DDT and endrin. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 8(8), 705–718. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620080808.

  • Oksanen, J., F. G. Blanchet, M. Friendly, R. Kindt, P. Legendre, D. McGlinn, F.R. Minchin, R.B. O’Hara, G. L. Simpson, P. Solymos, M. Henry, H. Stevens, E. Szoecs & Wagner, H. (2018). Vegan: community ecology package. R package version 2.5-2. https://CRAN.R-project.org/package=vegan.

  • Pejchar, L., & Mooney, H. A. (2009). Invasive species, ecosystem services and human well-being. Trends in Ecology & Evolution, 24(9), 497–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tree.2009.03.016.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rasmussen, J. J., Wiberg-Larsen, P., Baattrup-Pedersen, A., Cedergreen, N., McKnight, U. S., Kreuger, J., et al. (2015). The legacy of pesticide pollution: an overlooked factor in current risk assessments of freshwater systems. Water Research, 84, 25–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.07.021.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • R Core Team (2017). R: A language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria. https://www.R-project.org/.

  • Robinson, J. 1970. Biological survey of the Pine River, vicinity of Alma and St. Louis, Michigan. Special report to Michigan Department of Natural Resources.

  • Schrouder, K.S., R.N. Lockwood, & Baker, J.P. (2009). Tittabawassee River assessment. Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Fisheries Special Report 52, Ann Arbor.

  • Schuytema, G. S., Nebeker, A. V., Griffis, W. L., & Miller, C. E. (1989). Effects of freezing on toxicity of sediments contaminated with DDT and endrin. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 8(10), 883–891. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620081007.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soucek, D. J., Dickinson, A., & Major, K. M. (2016). Selection of food combinations to optimize survival, growth, and reproduction of the amphipod Hyalella azteca in static-renewal, water-only laboratory exposures. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 35(10), 2407–2415. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.3387.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Stone, M. K., & Wallace, J. B. (1998). Long-term recovery of a mountain stream from clear-cut logging: the effects of forest succession on benthic invertebrate community structure. Freshwater Biology, 39(1), 151–169. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1365-2427.1998.00272.x.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (1999). Record of decision for operable unit two (OU-2) – Pine River, Velsicol Chemical Superfund Site, St. Louis, MI. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region 5 Office. Document ID 83639, February 12, 1999.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2000). Methods for measuring the toxicity and bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants with freshwater invertebrates, 2nd ed. EPA 600/R-99/064. Guidance Document. Washington, DC.

  • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2019). Superfund: national priorities list. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Superfund Division. https://www.epa.gov/superfund/superfund-national-priorities-list-npl Accessed 6 April 2019

  • Wernersson, A.-S., Carere, M., Maggi, C., Tusil, P., Soldan, P., James, A., et al. (2015). The European technical report on aquatic effect-based monitoring tools under the water framework directive. Environmental Sciences Europe, 27(1), 7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-015-0039-4.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weston, D. P., You, J., & Lydy, M. J. (2004). Distribution and toxicity of sediment-associated pesticides in agriculture-dominated water bodies of California’s Central Valley. Environmental Science & Technology, 38(10), 2752–2759. https://doi.org/10.1021/es0352193.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You, J., & Lydy, M. J. (2007). A solution for isomerization of pyrethroid insecticides in gas chromatography. Journal of Chromatography A, 1166(1), 181–190. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chroma.2007.08.014.

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • You, J., Weston, D. P., & Lydy, M. J. (2008). Quantification of pyrethroid insecticides at sub ppb levels in sediment using matrix-dispersive accelerated solvent extraction with tandem SPE cleanup. In J. Gan, F. Spurlock, P. Hendley, & D. P. Weston (Eds.), Synthetic pyrethroids: occurrence and behavior in aquatic environment (pp. 87–113). New York: Oxford University Press.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Yount, J. D., & Niemi, G. J. (1990). Recovery of lotic communities and ecosystems from disturbance—a narrative review of case studies. Environmental Management, 14(5), 547–569. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02394709.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Bonnie Hamilton for her assistance in collections and the community members that allowed us access to the river from their property.

Funding

Funding for this research was provided in part by an Alma College Currie Scholarship.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Environmental Studies and Biology, Alma College, Alma, MI, 48801, USA

    Amanda D. Harwood, Grace E. Sutherland & Murray C. Borrello

  2. Department of Biology, Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI, 49401, USA

    M. Megan Woller-Skar

  3. Center for Fisheries, Aquaculture, and Aquatic Sciences, Department of Zoology, Southern Illinois University, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA

    Michael J. Lydy

Authors
  1. Amanda D. Harwood
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Grace E. Sutherland
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. Megan Woller-Skar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Michael J. Lydy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Murray C. Borrello
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amanda D. Harwood.

Ethics declarations

Ethical approval

All procedures performed in studies involving animals were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institution at which the studies were conducted (Alma College Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee).

Additional information

Publisher’s note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Harwood, A.D., Sutherland, G.E., Woller-Skar, M.M. et al. Evaluating toxicity risk in sediments after remediation at a Superfund megasite using a Triad approach. Environ Monit Assess 191, 665 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7870-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-019-7870-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation