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A Review of Factors Influencing Measurements of Decadal Variations in Metal Contamination in San Francisco Bay, California

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Abstract

This review summarizes some of the principal results of systematic measurements of trace metal concentrations throughout San Francisco Bay that began in 1989, and that have yielded insights on the factors controlling temporal and spatial variations of those concentrations on seasonal to decadal time scales. Pronounced seasonal variation in some metal concentrations is associated with gradients in the system’s hydrology and the diagenetic remobilization of metals from benthic sediments. Additional temporal variation is associated with interannual differences in hydrologic flushing (e.g., ENSO cycles) and episodic storm events. While intra- and inter-annual variabilities complicate assessments of long-term variations in metal concentrations, recent analyses using stable lead isotopic composition distributions and time-series models have deconvoluted decadal changes in lead and silver concentrations in the estuary. Decadal variations in concentrations of other contaminant metals (e.g., mercury) are now being characterized, as well as projections of future concentrations of other metals of concern (e.g., copper). These historic assessments and projections of trace metal variations attest to the importance of long-term, systematic monitoring programs to quantify past and future impacts on water quality in San Francisco Bay and other complex estuarine systems.

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Acknowledgments

We acknowledge the numerous people who have worked in the WIGS laboratory over the past 15 years on various aspects of our San Francisco Bay projects, as well as colleagues elsewhere that have also contributed to the collection and interpretation of this vast amount of data. These include Khalil Abu-Saba, Nicolle Beck, Frank Black, Robin Bouse, Kim Bracchi, Ken Bruland, Mike Carlin, Carol Creasey, Jay Davis, John Donat, Charlie Dunlap, Andy Fisher, J.R. Flanders, Rob Franks, Priya Ganguli, Mari Gilmore, Gary Gill, Ana Gonzalez, Eric Grabowski, Andy Gunther, Rainer Hoenecke, Brian Johnson, Liz Kerin, Peter Kozelka, Bob Kurkjian, Sarah Lowe, Allison Luengen, Sam Luoma, Rachel Mills, Tom Mumley, Kuria Ndung’u, Jennifer Ostrowski, Ben Owen, Jonathan Phinney, Elena Ramirez, Mara Ranville, Justin Revenaugh, Peter Ritson, Ignacio Rivera-Duarte, John Roitz, David Sedlak, David Shoellhamer, Geoff Smith, Glenn Spinelli, Sharon Squire, Doug Steding, Martha Thomas, Bruce Thompson, Lindsay Whalin, Don Yee, and many others. The studies have been supported by the California State Water Resources Control Board, San Francisco Estuary Institute, University of California Toxic Substances Research & Teaching Program, California Alliance for Minority Participation in Science, Engineering and Mathematics, W.J.M. Keck Foundation, and National Science Foundation.

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  1. WIGS Laboratory Department of Environmental Toxicology, University of California at Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA

    A. RUSSELL FLEGAL, CHRISTOPHER H. CONAWAY, GENINE M. SCELFO & SHARON A. HIBDON

  2. Marine Sciences Research Center, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, 11794-5000, USA

    SERGIO A. SAÑUDO-WILHELMY

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  1. A. RUSSELL FLEGAL
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  2. CHRISTOPHER H. CONAWAY
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Correspondence to A. RUSSELL FLEGAL.

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FLEGAL, A.R., CONAWAY, C.H., SCELFO, G.M. et al. A Review of Factors Influencing Measurements of Decadal Variations in Metal Contamination in San Francisco Bay, California. Ecotoxicology 14, 645–660 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-005-0016-6

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