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Evaluation of dredged sediment for aquatic placement: interpreting contaminant bioaccumulation

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Abstract

The potential bioaccumulation of sediment-associated contaminants is one of the primary concerns associated with the aquatic placement of dredged sediment. Laboratory bioaccumulation tests with representative infaunal organisms exposed to dredged sediment and reference sediment are used to assess the potential for contaminant-related bioaccumulation impacts. Dredged sediment testing and evaluation guidance provides statistical inferences and numerous assessment factors (e.g., the magnitude of difference (MOD)) to interpret results; however, detailed information for applying these factors is lacking. Therefore, the focus of this work was to provide context for the application of the MOD as a line of evidence for evaluating bioaccumulation risk associated with dredged material placement in aquatic environments by considering variance (as coefficient of variation (CV)), MOD, and statistical differences associated with bioaccumulation bioassay tissue concentrations in three case studies. Based on peer-reviewed data and dredged material monitoring data, relatively low within-sample variability (CVs < 50%) of tissue concentrations can be achieved for commonly assessed constituents (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), metals, and butyl tins). Thus, statistical comparisons were generally able to detect significant differences (p < 0.05; α = 0.05) across tissue concentrations with relatively low MODs (< 2-fold difference). Based on the observed variance, MOD, and statistical differences associated with bioaccumulation bioassay tissue concentrations, a 2-fold MOD can provide an additional line of evidence to evaluate bioaccumulative risk when statistical significance is observed. These results indicated that a judicious consideration of the sample variance and MOD is a useful factor when discerning meaningful differences among contaminant tissue concentrations.

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Funding

This study was funded by the US Army Corps of Engineers Buffalo District.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, 3909 Halls Ferry Rd., Vicksburg, MS, 39180, USA

    Andrew D. McQueen, Guilherme R. Lotufo, David W. Moore & Burton C. Suedel

  2. US Army Corps of Engineers, Buffalo District, 1776 Niagara Street, Buffalo, NY, 14207, USA

    Scott W. Pickard & Andrew M. Lenox

  3. NEK Associates, Allston, MA, USA

    Katherine von Stackelberg

Authors
  1. Andrew D. McQueen
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  2. Guilherme R. Lotufo
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  3. Scott W. Pickard
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  4. Andrew M. Lenox
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  5. David W. Moore
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  6. Katherine von Stackelberg
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  7. Burton C. Suedel
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Correspondence to Andrew D. McQueen.

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McQueen, A.D., Lotufo, G.R., Pickard, S.W. et al. Evaluation of dredged sediment for aquatic placement: interpreting contaminant bioaccumulation. Environ Monit Assess 192, 277 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-020-8236-z

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