IMW Initial Phase Report 



Field sampling, Host-Country scientist analyses and data interpretation has been 

 coordinated by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution-based Project Secretariat, under the 

 guidance of the IMW Executive Officer. Sampling during the Initial Implementation Phase took 

 place at 76 sites in the IMW Initial Phase region (see map, Figure 2). Sampling locations include 

 sites presumed to be contaminated (industrial, urban or agriculture run-off) and non-contaminated 

 (rural, undeveloped), and encompasses both estuarine and open-ocean coastline. One sampling 

 "station" covers an approximate linear distance of 200 meters and replicate samples of the same 

 species were usually collected at each "station". Large or highly variable (e.g., different sediment 

 substrates) sites may contain more than one "station". 



The identification of sites using these criteria was made by local scientists familiar with the 

 area in concert with the International Mussel Watch Field Scientist. All sampling and sample 

 logistics have been carried out under the direct supervision of the IMW Field Scientific Officer, 

 who was under contract to the IAEA Marine Environmental Laboratory. The Host-Country 

 scientists have directly assisted the Field Scientist with travel logistics and sampling and without 

 their participation this program could not have been implemented. A report of the field sampling is 

 found in Appendix E. 



Shells of collected samples were retained by the Field Scientific Officer at each site. In 

 some cases, species identification was questioned in the field and collected shells were provided to 

 Dr. Ruth Turner and Mr. Zachary Zevitas of the Museum of Comparative Zoology(MCZ) at 

 Harvard University, Cambridge, Masasachusetts. They generously agreed to assist with species 

 identification at no cost to the project. All IMW shell samples collected in Latin America have been 

 donated to the MCZ to supplement their existing mollusk collection. 



Collected samples were distributed for chemical analysis by two contract laboratories. 

 Selection of these analytical facilities for analyses of field-collected samples from the regions was 

 based on the following criteria: 



(i) prior experience in chemical analyses for organochlorine 



compounds using capillary gas chromatography with confirmatory gas 



chromatographic mass spectrometric (GC-MS) techniques. 



(ii) proven capability to produce high quality data for organochlorine 



analyses in marine tissue samples; including glass or fused silica 



capillary GC and access to capillary GC-MS back up. 



(iii) commitment of supervisory scientists in the laboratory for the 



direction of analysts in the project, quality assurance checks, and 



assessment of data. 



(iv) reputation and acceptability to international-regional groups of 



scientists, their governments and international bodies. 



(v) ability to carry out the program within the designated time period. 



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