Sediment contaminant concentrations from disposal at sea sites at Point Grey and Sand Heads and inside and outside resident killer whale critical habitat, British Columbia in 2021 / by Tanya M. Brown,...: Fs97-13/1410E-PDF

"This study characterizes priority contaminants in the habitat of the Endangered Southern Resident killer whales (SRKW), Threatened Northern Resident killer whales (NRKW) and their primary prey Chinook salmon. Surficial sediment samples (n = 17) were collected from two Disposal at Sea sites (Point Grey and Sand Heads) and inside and outside SRKW Critical Habitat (CH). Samples were analyzed for 13 contaminant classes: polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs), alkylphenols, hexabromocyclododecane (HBCDD), legacy and current-use pesticides, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs), chlorinated paraffins (CPs), and metals. Results reveal higher (p<0.05) average concentrations of PAHs inside CH and Point Grey compared to Sand Heads. Average alkylphenol concentrations were higher inside and outside CH compared to Sand Heads. Average ∑PCB concentrations in the four groups exceeded the ∑PCB interim sediment quality guideline. Average ∑PBDE, ∑PCDD, ∑PCDF, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) copper (Cu), and mercury (Hg) concentrations at the four groups were below the sediment quality guidelines for these compounds and classes. Average arsenic concentrations outside CH and at Point Grey exceeded the CCME sediment quality guideline. These high-resolution contaminant data are relevant to the protection and recovery of SARA-listed SRKW and NRKW"--Abstract, page viii.

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