3.4 Fish Tissue Contaminants 
Concentrations of a suite of metals, PCBs, and pesticides (Table 2.3.1) were 
measured in whole fish collected from both the EMAP/NCA-West and FRAM 
groundfish surveys. All fish selected for analysis were flatfish (Pleuronectiformes) 
because of their commercial value and because of their potential contact with 
sediment-associated contaminants due to their affinity to bottom habitats. Because 
fish were collected from only about a third of all sites in the probabilistic EMAP/NCA- 
West survey, and because FRAM survey sites were not probability-based, CDFs 
and spatial estimates of condition could not be computed for fish-tissue 
contaminants. Patterns of contaminant concentrations throughout the region and 
the incidence of contaminant levels in excess of human-health guidelines are 
presented however. 
Concentrations of selected contaminants in whole fish were compared with 
risk-based EPA advisory guidelines for recreational fishers, using non-cancer 
(systemic) health endpoints associated with the consumption of four 8-oz meals per 
month (Table 3.4.1), which is the comparison basis used in National Coastal 
Condition Reports (U.S. EPA 2000b, 2001,2004, 2006). It is important to keep in 
mind that the guidelines used are for fish fillets, while the concentrations measured 
in the EMAP/NCA-West and FRAM surveys are for whole fish. Data presented here 
are for the parameters of interest in NCCR, including several metals, total PAH, total 
DDT and several other pesticides, including chlordane, dieldrin, endosulfan, endrin, 
heptachlor, hexachlorobenzene, lindane, mirex, and toxaphene (Table 3.4.1). 
3.4.1 EMAP 
Collection of targeted flatfish, based on hook-and-line methods, was 
successful at only 50 of the 147 EMAP/NCA-West stations sampled. Fish were 
collected from 21 stations in Washington, 20 in Oregon and nine in California. No 
benthic fish were collected from the SCB as part of the EMAP/NCA-West survey. 
Eight of the nine California samples, 13 of the 21 Washington samples, and none of 
the Oregon samples were collected in National Marine Sanctuaries. Species 
selected for analysis included Pacific sanddab (Citharichthys sordid us), speckled 
sanddab ( Citharichthys stigmaeus), butter sole (Isopsetta isolepis), and Dover sole 
(■Microstomus pacificus). No fish that were collected exhibited evidence of obvious 
pathological disorders based on visual inspections in the field. Contaminants were 
measured in 55 composites, including some laboratory duplicates for QA, of flatfish 
tissue from the 50 stations. Results are summarized in Tables 3.4.2 and 3.4.3. 
Cadmium - The lower cadmium non-cancer health-risk guideline value was 
exceeded in at least one composite at nine stations, including six of the 20 stations 
where fish were collected in Oregon (OR03-0006, 0009, 0010, 0017, 0039 and 
0040; Fig. 3.1.3) and three of the nine stations in California (CA03-0052, 0060 and 
0064; Fig. 3.1.4). While the stations from Oregon were not in a NMS, the three 
stations in California were within the Monterey Bay and Gulf of Farallones NMSs. 
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