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Contaminated Sediment Studies — Twin Cities and Statewide Sediment Investigations
- Assessment of Nonpoint Pollution through the Analysis of Sediment Cores from 55 Minnesota Lakes (multi-agency project).
- Project Description: This project documented geographic and historic trends in lake eutrophication, as well as nonpoint inputs of toxic metals and organic pollutants to 55 Minnesota lakes. Land-use impacts were separated from atmospheric sources in this study. Sediment cores were collected from each lake, with subsequent time period dating with lead-210. GIS analysis of each lake's watershed was done to determine local land use. The sediment samples were used to assess the history of lake eutrophication (through diatom analysis) and to quantify inputs of toxic chemicals (mercury, dioxins, furans, PCBs, chlorinated pesticides and heavy metals).
- The following papers from this project have been completed:
- Engstrom, D.R., S.J. Balogh, and E.B. Swain. 2007. History of mercury inputs to Minnesota lakes: Influences of watershed disturbance and localized atmospheric deposition. Limnology and Oceanography 52:2467-2483.
- Heiskary, S.A., E.B. Swain, and M.B. Edlund. 2004. Reconstructing historical water quality in Minnesota lakes from fossil diatoms. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN. Environmental Bulletin Number 4.
- Ramstack, J.M., S.C. Fritz, and D.R. Engstrom. 2004. Twentieth-century water-quality trends in Minnesota lakes compared with pre-settlement variability. Canadian Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 61:561-576.
- Ramstack, J.M., S.C. Fritz, D.R. Engstrom, and S.A. Heiskary. 2003. The application of a diatom-based transfer function to evaluate regional water-quality trends in Minnesota since 1970. Journal of Paleolimnology 29:79-94.
- For more information, contact Ed Swain at 651-757-2772
- Alkylphenols, Other Endocrine-Active Chemicals, and Fish Responses in Three Streams in Minnesota — Study Design and Data, February-September 2007 (prepared by the U.S. Geological Survey in cooperation with the MPCA and St. Cloud State University).
- Project Description: The MPCA, U.S. Geological Survey, and St. Cloud State University collaborated on this Phase 3 project to examine nonpoint sources, fate, and persistence of alkylphenols in smaller streams in Minnesota. Effluent, water, and sediment samples were collected upstream and at two points downstream of three wastewater treatment plants (Hinckley, Hutchinson, and Marshall) from February to September 2007. Other organic wastewater compounds were analyzed in two rounds of water and effluent samples. A biological assessment was conducted at each site, as well.
- For further information about the study results, see the U.S. Geological Survey web page at: http://pubs.usgs.gov/ds/405 or contact Angela Preimesberger at 651-757-2656.
- Assessment of Chemicals of Potential Concern in Minnesota Lake Sediments and Fish Tissues (in progress).
- Project Description: Fifty Minnesota lakes were sampled during the summer of 2007 to collect one surface sediment from each lake as part of a stratified random sampling plan. In addition, surface sediments from 4 potential reference lakes were collected, as well. The lakes represent 5 ecoregions and 5 size classes of lakes throughout Minnesota. National Lake Assessment program field crews from the MPCA, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe collected the samples. The sediments have been analyzed for a suite of 19 metals, including: aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium, and zinc. The results of other chemical analyses for 34 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), congener-specific polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides, dioxins and furans, total organic carbon (TOC), and particle size have been completed based on collaborative work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Three trophic classes of fish from 5 of the lakes were collected by Minnesota Department of Natural Resources staff and were analyzed for PBDEs. The sediment chemistry data will be used to determine anthropogenic background concentrations of chemicals, evaluate sediment quality in each lake, evaluate PAH source inputs using forensic analysis and a contaminant mass balance model, and evaluate whether contaminant concentrations vary significantly between lakes of different ecoregions and hydrological regimes.
- For further information, contact Judy Crane at 651-757-2293.
- Statewide Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals Study
- Project Description: This study was funded by the Minnesota Legislature in 2007 to advance work already accomplished in this area by the MPCA, the U.S. Geological Survey, and St. Cloud State University. This collaborative team also worked on this study. Field work began in April 2008 and included a total of 20 lake, stream, and river locations. Surface water samples were analyzed for alkylphenols, alkylphenol ethoxylates, hormones, and pesticides. Sediments were analyzed for antibiotics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, musks, alkylphenols, hormones, organic wastewater compounds, and pesticides. Fish tissues were analyzed for evidence of endocrine disruption at each site.
- The following papers were produced from this study:
- Writer, J.H., L.B. Barber, G.K. Brown, H.E. Taylor, R.L. Kiesling, M.L. Ferry, N.D. Jahns, S.E. Bartell, and H.L. Schoenfuss. 2010. Anthropogenic tracers, endocrine disrupting chemicals, and endocrine disruption in Minnesota lakes. Science of the Total Environment 1:100-111.
- Ferrey, M., H. Schoenfuss, R. Kiesling, L. Barber, J. Writer, and A. Preimesberger. 2010.
Statewide Endocrine Disrupting Compound Monitoring Study, 2007 - 2008 (tdr-g1-08) . Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, St. Paul, MN.
- For further information, contact Mark Ferrey at 651-757-2355.
- North Central Lakes Sediment Core Project.
- Project Description: The St. Croix Watershed Research Station, a division of the Science Museum of Minnesota, conducted this project for the MPCA. The study focused on eight lakes in northwest Minnesota that are impaired for excess nutrients. Sediment cores were analyzed for parameters to track lake conditions back to the pre-settlement period. The information obtained from this study will be used to conduct TMDL studies.
- Edlund, M. and J. Ramstack. 2009. Historical Water Quality and Biological Change in Northcentral Minnesota Lakes. Final report submitted to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency from the St. Croix Watershed Research Station, Science Museum of Minnesota, Marine on St. Croix, Minn.
- For further information, contact Tim James at 218-846-8103.
- Influence of Sources and Land Uses on the Distribution of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Other Contaminants in Urban Stormwater Pond Sediments (in progress).
- Project Description: The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) collected surficial sediment samples from fifteen stormwater ponds in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area during October 2009 in support of coal tar legislation enacted into law in Minnesota during May 2009. Five ponds from each of the following major landscape categories were sampled: residential, commercial, and industrial land uses. Sediment samples were collected from the upper 15 cm of the sediment profile using a drop corer from three sites within each pond. A subsample from each site was composited together for a separate composite sample. Thus four sediment samples were obtained from each pond. All samples were analyzed for a suite of 18 metals, mercury, carcinogenic PAHs, total organic carbon, black carbon, and particle size. In addition, laser induced fluorescence was used as a screening tool for PAHs on all samples. The composite samples were analyzed for chloride, semivolatile organic compounds, 34 parent and alkylated PAHs, and several emerging contaminants, including: perfluorochemicals, polybromated diphenyl ethers, pyrethroids, nonylphenols, nonylphenol ethoxylates, and octylphenols. The data are being analyzed to assess sources of PAHs, to evaluate screening methods for PAHs, and to determine the influence of urban watershed land uses on contaminant concentrations.
- For further information, contact Judy Crane at 651-757-2293.
