Bioaccumulation Of Metals And Organic Contaminants At The Times Beach Confined Disposal Site Buffalo Ny PDF Download

This document reports the results of preliminary investigations of contaminant mobility at the Times Beach confined disposal site in Buffalo, New York. A terrestrial earthworm (Eisenia foetida) bioassay procedure was applied in the field and in a laboratory controlled-environment chamber 7 years after terminating the diposal of dredged material. Native earthworms were collected from Times Beach and a nearby reference area, and native fishes were collected from the lake within Times Beach and from the mouth of the Buffalo River. Worm and fish tissues and the dredged material used in laboratory bioassays and in the field studies were analyzed for heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), hexachlorobenzene (HCB), and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Although fishes and soil invertebrates at Times Beach are contaminated, it is unlikely that there would be any substantial adverse impact upon migratory species temporarily feeding in the area, as the overall size of Times Beach is very small. Frequent consumption of fishes caught within the site is not recommended, however. Keywords: Fishes; Food chain; Habitats; HCB; Mercury; PCBs; Arsenic; Cadmium; Copper; Bioassay.