The Niagara River mussel biomonitoring program ( Elliptio complanata): 1983–2009

Abstract

The Ontario Ministry of the Environment has monitored the concentrations of contaminants in mussel ( Elliptio complanata) tissue and bottom sediments at sites in the Niagara River since 1983 to describe the general contamination of the river and identify contaminant sources. More recently, the data have been used to document the effectiveness of remedial actions implemented at identified sources along the river. Results from Canadian sites and five U.S. sites at which remedial actions have been implemented [Bloody Run Creek (Hyde Park Hazardous Waste Site); Gill Creek; Occidental Chemical Company (Buffalo Avenue Plant); 102nd Street Hazardous Waste Site; and Pettit Flume Cove] are discussed. p,p′-DDE, PCBs and dioxins were the only contaminants detected at Canadian sites at concentrations probably representative of background. Results from the five sites showed the effectiveness of implemented remedial actions in reducing the flow of contaminants to the river ranged between very effective (Gill Creek: PCBs; and 102nd Street, CBs) to no effect (Bloody Run Creek: PCBs, CBs, and dioxins). Remedial actions at the Pettit Flume Cove (for dioxins/furans) initially appeared to be effective, but were subsequently shown to have missed a source to the cove. The effectiveness of the actions taken at these sites in improving contaminant conditions in the Niagara River since the 1980s as demonstrated by our mussel and sediment results is corroborated by the data from other fish and water quality monitoring programs. Additional remedial efforts are still required at these sites and other known sources of contaminants to the river.