Magnitude and Extent of Sediment Toxicity in 

 the Hudson-Raritan Estuary 



Edward R. Long (NOAA), Douglas A. Wolfe (NOAA), K. John Scott (SAIC), Glen B. Thursby 

 (SAIC), Eric A. Stern (U.S. EPA), Carol Peven (Battelle), and Ted Schwartz (NBS) 



ABSTRACT 



A survey of the toxicity of sediments was performed by NOAA's National Status and Trends (NS&T) 

 Program throughout the Hudson-Raritan Estuary. The objectives of the survey were to determine the 

 spatial patterns of toxicity, the spatial scales (magnitude) of toxicity, the severity (frequency) of toxic- 

 ity, and the relationships among measures of toxicity and chemical substances in the sediments. This 

 survey was conducted as a part of a nationwide program supported by NOAA's Coastal Ocean Program 

 and the NS&T Program, in which the biological effects of toxicants are determined in selected estuar- 

 ies and bays. 



The survey was conducted in two phases: 117 samples were collected throughout the entire estuary 

 during 1991 (Phase 1) and an additional 57 samples were collected in Newark Bay and vicinity during 

 1993 (Phase 2). Relatively sensitive toxicity tests were performed under controlled laboratory condi- 

 tions with portions of each sample. During Phase 1, three independent tests were performed: (1) a 10- 

 day, acute survival test of solid-phase sediments with the amphipod Ampelisca abdita; (2) a 48-hour 

 liquid phase test of elutriates with the embryos of the bivalve Mulinia lateralis in which both percent 

 survival and normal embryological development were recorded; and (3) a 15-minute microbial biolu- 

 minescence test (Microtox tm ) of organic solvent extracts. Only the amphipod tests were performed on 

 the samples collected during Phase 2. Chemical analyses of selected samples were performed and the 

 concentrations of trace elements, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), chlorinated pesticides 

 and other hydrocarbons were reported. Also, during Phase 2 the concentrations of numerous chlori- 

 nated dioxins and furans were determined. 



Toxicity test results were compared with responses in controls to determine statistical significance. 

 During Phase 1, 46.2% of the samples were significantly toxic (i. e., different from controls) in the 

 amphipod tests, 26.6% were significantly toxic in either of the bivalve embryo tests, and 40.5% were 

 significantly toxic in the microbial bioluminescence tests. Overall, 69.2% of the samples were toxic in 

 at least one of the four test end-points. 



Each toxicity test indicated somewhat different patterns in toxicity, possibly reflecting their different 

 sensitivities to the substances in the samples. Overall, toxicity was most severe in the East River and 

 diminished eastward into Long Island Sound and southward into upper New York Harbor. Also, toxic- 

 ity was relatively high in Newark Bay, Arthur Kill, and western Raritan Bay and diminished southward 

 and eastward toward the mouth of the estuary. Toxicity was relatively low in the lower Hudson River, 

 upper New York Harbor, and portions of lower New York Harbor and northern Raritan Bay, especially 

 in samples that were relatively high in sand content. 



During Phase 2, 48 of 57 samples (84.2%) from Newark Bay and vicinity were significantly toxic in 

 the amphipod survival tests. Amphipod survival was very low in most samples from the lower Passaic 

 River, much of Newark Bay, and most samples from the northern reaches of Arthur Kill. A few samples 



