MESA
type: Concept
definition: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The Marine EcoSystems Analysis (MESA) Puget Sound Project has undertaken intensive studies of Puget Sound, with particular emphasis on such highly industrialized areas as Elliott and Commencement Boys and Sinclair Inlet. These studies have involved chemical, biological and oceanographic investigations aimed at determining the concentrations, fates and effects of toxic chemicals in the Puget Sound ecosystem. An integral part of these studies has been toxicity tests with field-collected sediments. The present study was initiated to extend sediment toxicity testing to two previously untested industrialized Puget Sound embayments: Bellingham Bay and Everett Harbor. Relatively high concentrations of toxic chemicals had been reported from these two areas (Malins et al., 1982). The contaminant mixtures discovered there differed somewhat from those observed in other parts of Puget Sound. This study was initiated to determine if sediments from these two areas were toxic or not. Toxicity testing was also conducted south of Bellingham Bay at Samish Bay, chosen as a reference area. A total of 22 stations were chosen for study: 10 in the Everett Harbor area, 10 in Bellingham Bay, and 2 in Samish Bay. Composite sediment grab samples were collected from each station and tested for acute lethal, sublethal, partial life-cycle, cell reproduction and genotoxic effects. These effects were examined utilizing sensitive test methods applied elsewhere in Puget Sound (Chapman et al., 1982a; in press a, b). An additional station south of Everett Harbor was tested (with negative results) for acute lethal and sublethal effects. On the basis of acute lethal, sublethal, partial life-cycle, cell reproduction and genotoxic effects testing, Everett Harbor, Bellingham and Samish Bays were less toxic than contaminated areas such as the Duwamish Waterway (Elliott Bay) and the Commencement Bay Waterways. Everett Harbor sediments were more toxic overall than those from Bellingham Bay.…
in scheme: projects

M - O
type: Concept