WATER QUALITY OF THE

PRESUMPSCOT RIVER:

CUMMULATIVE EFFECTS

STUDY

By Barry Mower, PhD

Maine Department of Environmental Protection

October 21, 2010

22

HISTORICAL USE OF MAINE RIVERS

NATIVE AMERICANS- FOOD & WATER, TRAVEL, TRADE, CULTURAL CEREMONIES

1500-1600s- EXPLORATION, TRAVEL, TRADE, SETTLEMENT

1700-1800s- MUNICIPAL DRINKING WATER, LOCAL COMMERCE, SHIPPING, WATER POWER, ICE CUTTING

1900s- HYDROELECTRIC POWER, INDUSTRIAL/MUNICIPAL WATER SUPPLY & WASTE DISPOSAL, LOG DRIVES

2000- HYDROPOWER, IRRIGATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT,

RECREATION & AESTHETIC/SPIRITUAL, WATER SUPPLY?

44

US CLEAN WATER ACTUS CLEAN WATER ACT

SENATOR EDMUND S MUSKIESENATOR EDMUND S MUSKIE

FATHER OF THE CWAFATHER OF THE CWA

GOAL: RESTORE & MAINTAIN PHYSICAL, GOAL: RESTORE & MAINTAIN PHYSICAL, CHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITYCHEMICAL, BIOLOGICAL INTEGRITY

OBJECTIVES: OBJECTIVES:

TREATMENT OF ALL DISCHARGESTREATMENT OF ALL DISCHARGES

FISHABLE/SWIMMABLE FISHABLE/SWIMMABLE

ZERO DISCHARGE ZERO DISCHARGE

55

MAINE WATER CLASSIFICATION PROGRAM

GENERAL PROVISIONS –

NO DISCHARGE OF COLOR, TASTE, TURBIDITY, TOXICITY, RADIOACTIVITY, PH, UNTREATED WASTE, DA<10 MI2

CLASSIFICATIONS –RIVERS AA, A, B, C - LAKES GPA CLASSIFICATION STANDARDS-

DESIGNATED USES CRITERIA,

ANTIDEGRADATION

66

FISHABLEFISHABLE

DESIGNATED USES: CLASS C RIVERSDESIGNATED USES: CLASS C RIVERS

HABITAT FOR FISH & OTHER AQUATIC LIFEHABITAT FOR FISH & OTHER AQUATIC LIFE

SUPPORT INDIGENOUS SPECIES OF FISHSUPPORT INDIGENOUS SPECIES OF FISH

MAINTAIN THE STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF MAINTAIN THE STRUCTURE & FUNCTION OF

THE RESIDENT BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITYTHE RESIDENT BIOLOGICAL COMMUNITY

77

SUPPORT SUPPORT

INDIGENOUS SPECIES OF FISHINDIGENOUS SPECIES OF FISH

SURVIVALSURVIVAL

GROWTHGROWTH

REPRODUCTIONREPRODUCTION

FISH HEALTHFISH HEALTH

88

DEP PROGRAMSDEP PROGRAMS

GOAL: FISHABLE/SWIMMABLEGOAL: FISHABLE/SWIMMABLE

CURRENT: AWQC, WET, BIOMONITORING, SWATCURRENT: AWQC, WET, BIOMONITORING, SWAT

LIMITATION: DETECT ONLY GROSS LIMITATION: DETECT ONLY GROSS DISTURBANCESDISTURBANCES

NEW: EFFECTS DRIVEN CUMMULATIVE NEW: EFFECTS DRIVEN CUMMULATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENT OF FISH EFFECTS ASSESSMENT OF FISH POPULATIONSPOPULATIONS-- CEACEA

• EDs Endocrine Disruptors

• EDCs Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals

• ECs Emerging Contaminants

• CECs Contaminant of Emerging Concern

• PBTs Persistent, Bioaccumulative, & Toxic

• POPs Persistent Organic Pollutants

• PPCPs Pharmaceuticals & Personal Care

Products

ACRONYMS

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTION

• NEW NAME FOR SOME WELL KNOWN

CHEMICAL EFFECTS

• DichloroDiphenylTrichloroethane

NEWLY DISCOVERED EDCs

• EE2 ethinylestradiol

• APE’s - alkyl phenyl ethoxylates, NPE

• BFRs - PBDEs

• BPA bisphenol A

• PESTICIDES

• PHTHALATEs

ENDOCRINE DISRUPTORS

• HPG -AXIS

– ESTROGENS AND ANTI-ESTROGENS

– ANDROGENS AND ANTI-ANDROGENS

• HPT AXIS

– THYROID MODULATORS

• OTHERS

– STRESS REACTION, OSMOTIC HOMEOSTASIS

SOURCES

• There are about 90 prescription pills,

creams and injections that contain

estrogen and its sister compounds

according to the University of Maryland

School of Medicine.

EPA’s 9 POTW STUDY

http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/ppcp/studies/9potwstudy.pdf

UMO EFFLUENT STUDIES

• Dr. Greg Mayer, UMO

• Studies of 3 effluents

• In vitro study of MVLN Cell Exposure and Luminescence Assay measuring vitellogenin expression

• In vivo study of transcription of hepatic vitellogenin mRNA in zebrafish

MVLN Luminescence 72hour exposure - Grab Sample Effluent

Media 10nM E2 Fish RoomOrono Old Town

Bangor

RL

U/m

g*m

l-1

pro

tein

0

200

400

600

800

1000

August 2006

October 2006

November 2006

December 2006

January 2007

February 2007

*

*

*

*

*

**

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

*

Adult male zebrafish7 day grab sample effluent exposure

vitellogenin -1

Treatment Plant

Orono WWTP Old Town WWTP Bangor WWTP

Re

lative

Fo

ld C

ha

ng

e in

He

pa

tic T

ran

scrip

t

100

200

10000

12000

October 2006

November 2006

December 2006

January 2007

February 2007

*

**

**

*

*** *

*

*

*

1919

CEA EFFECTSCEA EFFECTS--DRIVENDRIVEN

CUMMULATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENTCUMMULATIVE EFFECTS ASSESSMENT

FIELD STUDIES IN SCANDANAVIA, CANADA, UK, FIELD STUDIES IN SCANDANAVIA, CANADA, UK,

US, NEW ZEALAND, INDIA, S AMERICAUS, NEW ZEALAND, INDIA, S AMERICA

BIOMARKERS AND POPULATION INDICESBIOMARKERS AND POPULATION INDICES

DISCHARGES FROM STPs AND PULP AND PAPER DISCHARGES FROM STPs AND PULP AND PAPER

MILLS DISRUPTED REPRODUCTION IN FISHMILLS DISRUPTED REPRODUCTION IN FISH

LAB STUDIES HAVE SHOWN SIMILAR EFFECTSLAB STUDIES HAVE SHOWN SIMILAR EFFECTS

2020

METABOLIC DISRUPTION PATTERN METABOLIC DISRUPTION PATTERN (CHANGE IN CHEMICAL OR ENERGY RESOURCES)(CHANGE IN CHEMICAL OR ENERGY RESOURCES)

BIOMARKERS: MFO (P450, CYP1A) BIOMARKERS: MFO (P450, CYP1A)

VTG (VITELLOGENIN)VTG (VITELLOGENIN)

POPULATION INDICESPOPULATION INDICES

(ALTERED ENERGY STORAGE & UTILIZATION)(ALTERED ENERGY STORAGE & UTILIZATION)

DECREASED REPRODUCTIONDECREASED REPRODUCTION

GSI (GONAD SIZE) & CSS (SEX STEROIDS)GSI (GONAD SIZE) & CSS (SEX STEROIDS)

DELAYED MATURATION & INCREASED AGEDELAYED MATURATION & INCREASED AGE

INTERSEXINTERSEX

CHANGES IN GROWTH CHANGES IN GROWTH

INCREASED LSI (LIVER SIZE) & K (CONDITION)INCREASED LSI (LIVER SIZE) & K (CONDITION)

Figure 3.3.1a. Mean MFO levels in white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD)

and below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007.

(letters = significant difference from upstream station, p<0.05)

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

MF

O (

pm

ol/m

g/m

in)

a

b

Figure 3.3.1b. Mean levels of MFO in white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD,

PGO) and below (PWB) Westbrook, 2008.

(letters = siginificant differences from upstream station, p<0.05)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

MF

O (

pm

ol/m

g/m

in)

a

b

a

Figure 3.3.2. Mean levels of circulating sex steroids (testosterone-T and estradiol-E2) in

female white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and below (PWB)

Westbrook, 2007 & 2008). (different letters = significant differences at p<0.05)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

T E2 T E2

2007 2007 2008 2008

YEAR/STEROID

VA

LU

E (

pg

/ml)

PWD PGO PWB aba

b

c c

d

Figure 3.3.3. Mean levels of circulating sex steroids (testosterone-T and 11-ketotestosterone-

KT) in male white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and below (PWD)

Westbrook, 2007 & 2008 (letters = significant differences by steroid p<0.05)

0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

3000

T KT T KT

2007 2007 2008 2008

YEAR, STEROID

VA

LU

E (

pg

/ml)

PWD PGO PWB

a

b

cd

d

e

e

f

Figure 3.3.4. Mean age of white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and

below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009

(letters show significant differences within sex & year, p<0.05)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

AG

E (

yrs

)

2007 2008 2009a

b

ac

dd

e

ff

g

h

h

Figure 3.3.5. Mean length of white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and

below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009

(letters show significant differences within sex & year, p<0.05)

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

LE

NG

TH

(m

m)

2007 2008 2009

a

b

c

d

e e

f

g

h

j

k

l

Figure 3.3.6. Mean condition factor (K) of white sucker from the Presumpscot River above

(PWD, PGO) and below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009

(letters show significant differences within sex & year, p<0.05)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

K

2007 2008 2009

a

b

cd

de

k

f

gh

i

jl

kl

m

Figure 3.3.7. Mean GSI in white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and

below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009

(letters show significant differences within sex & year, p<0.05)

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

GS

I (%

)

2007 2008 2009

a

b

c

d

ee

f

g

h

i

jk

l

Figure 3.3.8. Mean LSI in white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and

below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009.

(letters show significant differences within sex and year, p<0.05)

0.00

0.20

0.40

0.60

0.80

1.00

1.20

1.40

1.60

F F F M M M

PWD PGO PWB PWD PGO PWB

STATION/SEX

LS

I (%

)

2007 2008 2009

a

b

a

c

dd

Figure 3.3.9. Mean percentage of previtellogenic (P), endovitellogenic (E), & vitellogenic (V)

oocytes from female white sucker from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and below

(PWB) Westbrook, 2007 & 2008

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

PWD PWB PWD PGO PWB

2007 2007 2008 2008 2008

YEAR/STATION

%

V

E

P

Figure 3.3.10. Mean size (μm2) of vitellogenic oocytes in female white sucker from the

Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) & below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007 & 2008

(different letters show significant differences within years)

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

2007 2008

YEAR

siz

e (

μm

2)

PWD PGO PWBa

b

c

Figure 3.3.11. Mean percentage of spermatocytes, spermatids, spermatozoa in male white

sucker testes from the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) & below (PWB) Westbrook,

2007 & 2008

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

PWD PWB PWD PGO PWB

2007 2007 2008 2008 2008

YEAR/STATION

%

SPERMATOZOA

SPERMATID

SPERMATOCYTE

Vitellogenin (VTG) in female white sucker plasma from the Presumpscot River, 2007-2008

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

7000

8000

2007 2008

YEAR

VT

G (

mg

/ml)

PWD

PGO

PWB

c

a

b

cd

d

Figure 3.3.13. Mean vitellogenin (VTG) concentrations in male white sucker from the

Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO) and below (PWD) Westbrook, 2007 & 2008

(different letters show significant differences within years)

0

0.05

0.1

0.15

0.2

0.25

0.3

0.35

0.4

2007 2008

YEAR

VT

G (

ug

/ml)

PWD PGO PWB

a

bab

Table 3.3.2. Catch rates (CPUE) of white sucker from the Presumpscot River

above (PWD, PGO) and below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009

STATION SEX 2007 2008 2009

CPUE CPUE CPUE

#/d/1000ft #/d/1000ft #/d/1000ft

PWD F 28 15 9

PGO F 28 14

PWB F 6 17 3

PWD M 19 16 6

PGO M 14 10

PWB M 1 14 1

Table 3.3.3. Responses of white sucker in the Presumpscot River above (PWD, PGO)

and below (PWB) Westbrook, 2007-2009.

STATION SPECIES sex AGE LENGTH GSI K LSI KSI SSI

Ha: + + - + + + +

2007

PWD WHS F

PWB WHS F 0 0 + + 0 0 0

PWD WHS M

PWB WHS M 0 0 + 0 0 0 0

2008

PWD WHS F

PGO WHS F - - 0 + 0 + 0

PWB WHS F 0 - - 0 0 0 -

PWD/PWB WHS F 0 - - + 0 0 0

PWD WHS M

PGO WHS M - - - + - 0 0

PWB WHS M 0 0 - 0 + 0 0

PWD/PWB WHS M - - - + 0 0 0

2009

PWD WHS F

PGO WHS F - - 0 + 0 0 -

PWB WHS F 0 - 0 - 0 + 0

PWD/PWB WHS F - - 0 + 0 + -

PWD WHS M

PGO WHS M - - - 0 - 0 -

PWB WHS M 0 - + + 0 0 -

PWD/PWB WHS M - - + + - 0 -

+ - 0 = significantly greater, lesser or no different from station above

Table 3.3.1. WATER QUALITY OF THE PENOBSCOT RIVER 2008

STATION FLOW1

BOD1

NITROGEN2

NITROGEN3

PHOSPHORUS2

PHOSPHORUS3

BOD

1000 m3/d kg/d ug/l kg/d ug/l kg/d mg/l

PWD 230 5

PGO

PR1 250 9

WESTBROOK STP 13.0 117 16967 220 3700 48

PR2 355 39

SAPPI 19.2 124 2503 48 437 8.4

PWB PR3 447 53

PWB PR4 350 43

Mill Stream 17.1 650 82 1.2

PWB PR5 350 48

PWB PR6 390 53

Piscataqua R 66 940 26 1.5

PR8 437 61

discharges or tributaries to the river1 mean monthly for 2007-2008

2 mean August 2,4,5, 2008

3 mean monthly flow 2007-2008 X August 2008 nitrogen/phosphorus concentrations X conversion factor.

CONCLUSIONS

• SOME INDIVIDUAL RESPONSES OF ED

• NO ED RESPONSES FOR ALL YEARS

• NO OVERALL PATTERN OF ED

• GROWTH (LENGTH) LOWER BELOW

• CATCH RATES LOWER BELOW

• WQ DATA SHOW EUTROPHICATION

• REDUCED FISH SPECIES RICHNESS, ABUNDANCE, BIOMASS BELOW

• IBI SHOWS REDUCED FITNESS FISH POPULATION

• POSSIBLY DUE TO DISCHARGES, URBAN RUNOFF, HYDROLOGIC CHANNALIZATION

4646

AS RIVERS FLOW FROM SOURCE TO SEA

THEY CHRONICLE THEIR HISTORY

GIVEN THEIR PAST USE & ABUSE

PERHAPS IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE

Questions?

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