from the lower Hackensack River and one sample from upper New York Harbor were not significantly 

 toxic in this test. 



During Phase 1 the entire survey area covered approximately 350 km 2 . By attributing the toxicity data 

 to the spatial scales of each sampling stratum, the spatial extent of toxicity (kilometers 2 ) was estimated 

 for each test. The amphipod survival test indicated that approximately 133 km 2 (38.1% of the total 

 area) was toxic. The amphipod survival and microbial bioluminescence tests, together, indicated that 

 approximately 34.2 km 2 (9.8% of the total area) was toxic. All four test end-points, together, indicated 

 approximately 19.9 km 2 (5.7% of the total area) was toxic. During Phase 2, approximately 10.8 km 2 

 (85.0% of the total survey area of 12.7 km 2 in Newark Bay and vicinity) was toxic relative to the 

 controls. 



The causes of the toxicity were not determined. However, in the Phase 1 samples, amphipod survival 

 and microbial bioluminescence diminished and were significantly correlated with increasing concen- 

 trations of numerous PAHs. Also, the average concentrations of the PAHs in the toxic samples greatly 

 exceeded the average concentrations in the nontoxic samples and applicable toxicity thresholds. These 

 strong relationships between the two measures of toxicity and the concentrations of the PAHs were 

 driven, in large part, by the samples from the upper East River that were highly toxic and highly 

 contaminated with the PAHs. To a lesser degree the concentrations of some trace elements and chlori- 

 nated pesticides were correlated with the inhibition of microbial bioluminescence. The results of the 

 bivalve embryo tests were rarely correlated with the concentrations of any of the potentially toxic 

 substances that were measured. 



In contrast to the results from Phase 1 , amphipod survival in the Phase 2 samples diminished with and 

 was highly correlated with increasing concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons, especially the PCBs, 

 pesticides, and dioxins. The concentrations of the sum of PCB congeners were very high in many of 

 the samples in which amphipod survival was low or zero. Also, amphipod survival decreased with 

 increasing concentrations of lead, mercury, and zinc in the samples. In contrast to the observations in 

 Phase 1 , amphipod survival was not correlated with the concentrations of the PAHs in Phase 2. 



INTRODUCTION 



The Hudson-Raritan Estuary is a very large, highly urbanized estuarine system. It is bounded to the 

 east by the New York Bight and Long Island Sound, and bounded to the west, south and north by highly 

 urbanized and industrialized areas of New York and New Jersey. It is a mixing zone for four major 

 rivers and many wastewater treatment, point-source discharges. As defined in this report, it includes 

 the waters of the extreme western Long Island Sound, the East River, the lower Hudson River, upper 

 and lower New York Harbors, Kill van Kull, Arthur Kill, the lower Passaic River, the lower Hackensack 

 River, Newark Bay, the lower Raritan River, Raritan Bay, Sandy Hook Bay and the waters of the outer 

 harbor east to the Rockaway-Sandy Hook transect (Figure 1). 



This estuary has been highly impacted by many human-induced factors (NOAA, 1988a). Many of the 

 historical wetlands have been filled, many water bodies have been channelized for navigation, and 

 huge industrial and residential complexes have been built along the shores. Contaminants have been 

 discharged from wastewater treatment plants, combined sewer overflows, urban runoff, stormwater, 

 petrochemical factories, illegal dumping, atmospheric deposition, and accidental spills. 



