An integrated assessment of sediment remediation in a midwestern U.S. stream using sediment chemistry, water quality, bioassessment, and fish biomarkers

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 653 - 661
• Main Authors: Meier, John R., Snyder, Steve, Sigler, Victoria, Altfater, Dave, Gray, Mike, Batin, Bill, Baumann, Paul, Gordon, Denise, Wernsing, Paul, Lazorchak, Jim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hoboken, USA John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.03.2013; SETAC; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Biological assessment; Biomarkers; Biomarkers - metabolism; Bioremediation; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; Contaminated sediments; Creeks & streams; Creosote - analysis; Creosote - metabolism; Creosote - toxicity; DNA Damage; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental degradation: ecosystems survey and restoration; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Fishes - metabolism; Fresh water ecosystems; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geologic Sediments - chemistry; Metabolites; Ohio; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - chemistry; Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons - metabolism; Rivers - chemistry; Sediment remediation; Synecology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - metabolism; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water Quality; Scioto River; Marion Ohio; Sediment remediation; Water chemistry; Ecotoxicology; Hydrocarbon; Toxicity; Biological marker; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Sediments; Biological monitoring; Freshwater environment; Persistent organic pollutant; Vertebrata; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Pisces; Biological assessment; Water quality; Biomarkers; Stream; Ecological recovery; Rehabilitation; Environmental monitoring; Organic compounds; Environment quality; Environmental protection
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.2093

A comprehensive biological, sediment, and water quality study of the lower Little Scioto River near Marion, Ohio, USA, was undertaken to evaluate the changes or improvements in biotic measurements following the removal of creosote‐contaminated sediment. The study area covered 7.5 river miles (RMs), including a remediated section between RMs 6.0 and 6.8. Fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages, fish biomarkers (i.e., polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon [PAH] metabolite levels in white sucker [Castostomus commersoni] and common carp [Cyprinus carpio] bile and DNA damage), sediment chemistry, and water quality were assessed at five locations relative to the primary source of historical PAH contamination—upstream (RM 9.2), adjacent (RM 6.5), and downstream (RMs 5.7, 4.4, and 2.7). Overall, the biomarker results were consistent with the sediment PAH results, showing a pattern of low levels of PAH bile metabolites and DNA damage at the upstream (reference or background location), as well as the remediated section, high levels at the two immediate downstream sites, and somewhat lower levels at the furthest downstream site. Results show that remediation was effective in reducing sediment contaminant concentrations and exposure of fish to PAHs and in improving fish assemblages (60% increase in index of biotic integrity scores) in remediated river sections. Additional remedial investigation and potentially further remediation is needed to improve the downstream benthic fish community, which is still heavily exposed to PAH contaminants. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:653–661. © 2012 SETAC