Organisms were identified to species in most cases. 
Individuals from all fractions were combined during counting. All 
individuals were stored in 70% alcohol. A reference collection was 
made of all specimens found in the 1985 and 1986 samples and is 
maintained at the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of 
Oceanography under the direction of Mr. Sheldon Pratt. Sieve 
residues were described in laboratory notes and discarded. 
2.6 Body Burden Analysis 
Test organisms for body burden analysis were collected 
during the 1986 survey at the Reference station and at the NL-II 
disposal mound using the Smith-McIntyre grab. Sediment was sieved 
through a 2mm mesh and the suspension-feeding organisms (the 
bivalve Pitar) were isolated and placed in seawater. Enough 
biomass (approximately 25 grams, wet weight) was collected for 
triplicate analyses. Sufficient biomass of the original target 
species, the amphipod Ampelisca sp., was not present at the time 
of sampling. The bivalves were maintained for 24 hours at ambient 
temperature to allow any gut contents to be expelled before they 
were frozen for transport to the laboratory for analysis. They 
were analyzed for eight trace metals and PCBs at the SAIC 
laboratory in La Jolla, California. 
In the laboratory, all specimens were thawed before 
dissection. The bivalve tissue was removed from the shell using 
teflon forceps, rinsed with deionized water, and placed on acid- 
cleaned watch glasses. The samples were blotted with a Shur-wipe 
to remove excess water and homogenized in their original container 
using teflon forceps and knives. For Hg analysis, approximately 
25% of each sample was transferred to a labeled 30 ml polyethylene 
bottle and frozen to await additional preparation. Another 25% of 
each sample was transferred to a labeled, preweighed 60 ml 
polypropylene jar for trace metal analyses. The wet weights of 
these samples were recorded. The remaining 50% of each sample was 
transferred to a kilned glass jar and frozen for PCB analysis. 
The samples for trace metal analyses were frozen and then 
taken to a constant weight using a Virtis Unitrap II freeze dryer. 
Subsequently, the sample dry weights were recorded and dry/wet 
weight ratios were calculated. These ratios were later used to 
convert the wet weights of the Hg samples to dry weights because 
wet samples were used for Hg analysis. Following the drying 
process, the samples were ground to a powder (in their original 
containers) using a Spex mixer-mill. 
Approximately 1 g aliquots of powdered tissue were 
weighed into quartz boats. They were ashed overnight in a 
Branson/International Plasma Corporation #1005-488 ANQ low- 
temperature asher using CF,/0O, plasma. The ashed samples were then 
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