Event Title
Puget Sound Regional Toxics Model: Evaluation of PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs, Copper, Lead, and Zinc
Presentation Abstract
The PSRTM is a model of contaminant fate, transport, and bioaccumulation in Puget Sound. We found that sediments are a major sink for toxic contaminants in Puget Sound. In this study, Ecology (1) incorporated recent data and loading estimates and (2) expanded the model to simulate PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs, copper, lead, and zinc. Fate and transport modeling results suggested that current estimates of contaminant loading from the watershed, the ocean, or both, may be too low. Such uncertainties limited the utility of the model for evaluating contaminant source-control strategies. The updated bioaccumulation model had good skill for predicting PCB and PBDE concentrations in Puget Sound biota. The model identified areas where organisms would be expected to bioaccumulate contaminants to harmful levels, and then estimated how low sediment and water concentrations would need to be at these locations to ensure that contaminants in biota do not exceed harmful-effects thresholds.
Session Title
General Pollution Topics
Conference Track
Fate and Effects of Pollutants
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2016 : Vancouver, B.C.)
Document Type
Event
Start Date
2016 12:00 AM
End Date
2016 12:00 AM
Location
2016SSEC
Type of Presentation
Oral
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events)
Contributing Repository
Digital content made available by University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Pollution--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Simulation methods; Hazardous substances--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Simulation methods
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.); Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.)
Rights
This resource is displayed for educational purposes only and may be subject to U.S. and international copyright laws. For more information about rights or obtaining copies of this resource, please contact University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA 98225-9103, USA (360-650-7534; heritage.resources@wwu.edu) and refer to the collection name and identifier. Any materials cited must be attributed to the Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference Records, University Archives, Heritage Resources, Western Libraries, Western Washington University.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Puget Sound Regional Toxics Model: Evaluation of PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs, Copper, Lead, and Zinc
2016SSEC
The PSRTM is a model of contaminant fate, transport, and bioaccumulation in Puget Sound. We found that sediments are a major sink for toxic contaminants in Puget Sound. In this study, Ecology (1) incorporated recent data and loading estimates and (2) expanded the model to simulate PCBs, PBDEs, PAHs, copper, lead, and zinc. Fate and transport modeling results suggested that current estimates of contaminant loading from the watershed, the ocean, or both, may be too low. Such uncertainties limited the utility of the model for evaluating contaminant source-control strategies. The updated bioaccumulation model had good skill for predicting PCB and PBDE concentrations in Puget Sound biota. The model identified areas where organisms would be expected to bioaccumulate contaminants to harmful levels, and then estimated how low sediment and water concentrations would need to be at these locations to ensure that contaminants in biota do not exceed harmful-effects thresholds.
Comments
The following link is the final report on the Puget Sound Regional Toxics Model (PSRTM) project conducted by the Department of Ecology:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1503025.html