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National Sediment Bioaccumulation Conference Proceedings

Summary

February 1998

The assessment of bioaccumulative sediment contaminants has become an important issue for the U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other federal, state, tribal, and local agencies. Data compiled to date for EPA's National Sediment Quality Survey and the National Listing of Fish and Wildlife Consumption Advisories indicate that the presence of bioaccumulative substances in sediments is a potentially serious national problem.

EPA uses bioaccumulation data to make regulatory decisions in a number of its programs. The Superfund program uses bioaccumulation data to assess contaminated sites for cleanup. Results of bioaccumulation tests are used in the assessment of new and existing industrial chemicals under the Toxic Substances Control Act and in the review process for National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits and dredged material discharge permits. Bioaccumulation studies are also required to support registration of pesticides under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act. Advances in the science of bioaccumulation assessment and interpretation of assessment results will benefit all of these programs.

EPA sponsored the National Sediment Bioaccumulation Conference during September 11-13, 1996 in Bethesda, Maryland. The purpose of this conference was to present the current state of our knowledge of assessment of bioaccumulative contaminants, to demonstrate how bioaccumulation data can be applied in risk assessments, and to discuss how bioaccumulation data are integrated into the Agency's decision-making processes. The conference was organized into the following seven sessions:

1. Field and Laboratory Methods for Measuring Bioaccumulation
2. Interpretation and Applications of Bioaccumulation Results
3. Modeling Bioavailability of Sediment Contaminants
4. Food Chain Models and Bioenergetics
5. Human Health-based Risk Assessment
6. Ecological-based Risk Assessment
7. Integrating Bioaccumulation Results into EPA's Decision-making Process

Proceedings

Each session consisted of speaker presentations and a discussion period where the audience could interact with the panel of speakers. The Proceedings provide complete documentation of the conference presentations, panel discussions, and other key conference materials such as the final agenda and attendee list.

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See EPA's PDF page to learn more.

• Proceedings Cover Page (PDF) (1 pp, 51K)
• Proceedings Title Page (PDF) (1 pp, 9K)
• Proceedings Contents Page (PDF) (4 pp, 217K)
• Acknowledgments (PDF) (1 pp, 34K)

Day One: Wednesday, September 11

• Welcome and Introduction (PDF): Dr. Elizabeth Southerland and Dr. Thomas Armitage

Bioaccumulation Overview and Approaches

• Bioaccumulation Overview and Approaches (PDF)
  • Contaminated Sediments: State of the Science and Future Research Directions (PDF): Dr. Gilman D. Veith
• Field and Laboratory Methods for Measuring Bioaccumulation (PDF): Dr. Peter Chapman, Moderator
  • Methods for Assessing Sediment Bioaccumulation in Marine/Estuarine Benthic Organisms (PDF): Dr. Henry Lee II
  • Methods for Assessing Bioaccumulation of Sediment-Associated Contaminants with Freshwater Invertebrates (PDF): Dr. Christopher G. Ingersoll
  • Kinetic Models for Assessing Bioaccumulation: Dr. Peter Landrum
  • Session One: Questions and Answers
• Interpretation and Applications of Bioaccumulation Results: Dr. Richard Pruell, Moderator
  • Reference Sediment Approach for Determining Sediment Contamination: Mr. Norman I. Rubinstein
  • Development of Tissue Residue Threshold Values: Dr. David R. Mount
  • Use of Tissue Residue Data in Exposure and Effects Assessments for Aquatic Organisms: Mr. L. Jay Field
  • Comments on the Significance and Use of Tissue Residues in Sediment Toxicology and Risk Assessment: Dr. Lynn S. McCarty
  • Quantification of Ecological Risks to Aquatic Biota from Bioaccumulated Chemicals: Mr. Burt K. Shephard
  • Session Two: Questions and Answers
• Modeling Bioavailability of Sediment Contaminants: Mr. Nelson Thomas, Moderator
  • Equilibrium Partitioning and Organic Carbon Normalization: Dr. Dominic M. Di Toro
  • Estimating Bioaccumulation Potential in Dredged Sediment Regulation: Dr. Victor A. McFarland
  • Development of Bioaccumulation Factors for Protection of Fish and Wildlife in the Great Lakes: Dr. Philip M. Cook
  • From Modeling to Criteria: Integrated Approach to Criteria Development: Ms. Mary C. Reiley
  • Session Three: Questions and Answers

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Day Two: Thursday, September 12

• Food Chain Models and Bioenergetics: Dr. Lawerence Burkhard, Moderator
  • Food Chain Models for Predicting Bioaccumulation: Dr. Frank Gobas
  • Use of Food Web Models to Evaluate Bioaccumulation Data: Dr. John P. Connolly
  • Bioaccumulation Modeling of PCBs in the Hudson Estuary: A Review and Update: Dr. Robert V. Thomann
  • Session Four: Questions and Answers

Bioaccumulation and Risk Assessment

• Risk Assessment Overview: Dr. Dorothy Patton
• Human Health-Based Risk Assessment: Dr. Marc Tuchman, Moderator
  • Methodology for Assessing Human Health-Based Risks: Dr. Judy L. Crane
  • Bioaccumulation Models and Applications: Setting Sediment Cleanup Goals in the Great Lakes: Ms. Amy Pelka
  • Use of Human Health- and Ecological-Based Goals in Developing a Whole River Sediment Strategy: Fox River, Wisconsin: Mr. Robert L. Paulson
  • Development of Health-Based Sediment Criteria for Puget Sound: Ms. Laura B. Weiss
  • Development of Bioaccumulation Guidance for Dredged Material Evaluations in EPA Region 2: Mr. Alex Lechich
  • Session Five: Questions and Answers
• Ecological-Based Risk Assessment: Dr. James Andreasen, Moderator
  • Use of Bioaccumulation Data in Aquatic Life Risk Assessment: Dr. Wayne R. Munns, Jr.
  • Wildlife Risk Assessment: Dr. David Charters
  • Session Six: Questions and Answers

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Day 3: Friday, September 13

Bioaccumulation Results and Decision-making

• Integrating Bioaccumulation Results into EPA's Decision-Making Process: Dr. Elizabeth Southerland, Moderator
  • Opening Remarks: Dr. Elizabeth Southerland
  • Bioaccumulation Testing and Interpretation for the Purpose of Sediment Quality Assessment: Status and Needs: Mr. Michael Kravitz
• Panel Presentations
  • Bioaccumulation Results and Decision-Making: the Superfund Program: Dr. Lawrence Zaragoza
  • Sediment Bioaccumulation - A National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Program Perspective: Mr. James Pendergast
  • Integrating Bioaccumulation Results into EPA's Decision-Making Process: Mr. Thomas Murray
  • U.S. EPA/OPPT and Sediments: Screening New and Existing Chemicals for Potential Environmental Effects: Dr. Maurice Zeeman
  • Dredged Material Management Program: Mr. Craig Vogt
  • Dredged Material Management: a Regional Perspective: Mr. Mario Del Vicario
  • Session Seven: Questions and Answers

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Attachments

• Speakers' Biographies
• Agenda
• List of Attendees