Speaker

Alex Gipe

Streaming Media

Presentation Abstract

A 2016 study by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) found wild juvenile Chinook salmon in the Snohomish River had tissue concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants high enough to produce sublethal effects. Juvenile Chinook salmon accumulate toxicants from streams in urban and developing environments that receive stormwater and wastewater discharges. In 2019, the Washington Department of Ecology, in partnership with WDFW, conducted a source assessment to determine sources of PBDEs in the Snohomish River watershed. Passive water samplers (semi-permeable membrane devices) were deployed throughout the Snohomish, Skykomish, and Snoqualmie Rivers during high and low flow events. Additionally, invertebrate tissue samples were collected in the Snohomish estuary to determine potential uptake of PBDEs by juvenile Chinook prey. The study identified several localized areas of increased PBDE concentrations in the Snohomish estuary and Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers. The study is awaiting results from the invertebrate tissue PBDE analysis, which we anticipate will be ready in December of 2021. The findings of this study will inform Snohomish watershed stakeholders of the sources of PBDEs affecting out-migrating juvenile Chinook salmon.

Session Title

Salmon and Contaminants

Conference Track

SSE10: Contaminants

Conference Name

Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)

Document Type

Event

SSEC Identifier

SSE-traditionals-102

Start Date

26-4-2022 11:30 AM

End Date

26-4-2022 1:00 PM

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)

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers--Washington (State)--Snohomish River Watershed; Water--Pollution--Research--Washington (State)--Snohomish River Watershed; Chinook salmon--Washington (State)--Snohomish River Watershed

Geographic Coverage

Salish Sea (B.C. and Wash.); Snohomish River Watershed (Wash.)

Rights

Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.

Type

Text

Language

English

Format

application/pdf

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Apr 26th, 11:30 AM Apr 26th, 1:00 PM

Assessing Sources of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE) Flame Retardants Impacting Juvenile Chinook Salmon in the Snohomish River Watershed

A 2016 study by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) found wild juvenile Chinook salmon in the Snohomish River had tissue concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) flame retardants high enough to produce sublethal effects. Juvenile Chinook salmon accumulate toxicants from streams in urban and developing environments that receive stormwater and wastewater discharges. In 2019, the Washington Department of Ecology, in partnership with WDFW, conducted a source assessment to determine sources of PBDEs in the Snohomish River watershed. Passive water samplers (semi-permeable membrane devices) were deployed throughout the Snohomish, Skykomish, and Snoqualmie Rivers during high and low flow events. Additionally, invertebrate tissue samples were collected in the Snohomish estuary to determine potential uptake of PBDEs by juvenile Chinook prey. The study identified several localized areas of increased PBDE concentrations in the Snohomish estuary and Skykomish and Snoqualmie Rivers. The study is awaiting results from the invertebrate tissue PBDE analysis, which we anticipate will be ready in December of 2021. The findings of this study will inform Snohomish watershed stakeholders of the sources of PBDEs affecting out-migrating juvenile Chinook salmon.