https://cdn.earthdata.nasa.gov/conduit/upload/5182/KeywordsCommunityGuide_Baseline_v1_SIGNED_FINAL.pdf 23.7 2026-04-15T10:53:30.610Z https://gcmd.earthdata.nasa.gov/KeywordViewer/scheme/projects/302dfafa-8202-4e06-baf1-3a142fbaca5c MESA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:The Marine EcoSystems Analysis (MESA) Puget Sound Project hasundertaken intensive studies of Puget Sound, with particularemphasis on such highly industrialized areas as Elliott andCommencement Boys and Sinclair Inlet. These studies haveinvolved chemical, biological and oceanographic investigationsaimed at determining the concentrations, fates and effects oftoxic chemicals in the Puget Sound ecosystem. An integral partof these studies has been toxicity tests with field-collectedsediments. The present study was initiated to extend sedimenttoxicity testing to two previously untested industrialized PugetSound embayments: Bellingham Bay and Everett Harbor. Relativelyhigh concentrations of toxic chemicals had been reported fromthese two areas (Malins et al., 1982). The contaminant mixturesdiscovered there differed somewhat from those observed in otherparts of Puget Sound. This study was initiated to determine ifsediments from these two areas were toxic or not. Toxicitytesting was also conducted south of Bellingham Bay at SamishBay, chosen as a reference area. A total of 22 stations werechosen for study: 10 in the Everett Harbor area, 10 inBellingham Bay, and 2 in Samish Bay. Composite sediment grabsamples were collected from each station and tested for acutelethal, sublethal, partial life-cycle, cell reproduction andgenotoxic effects. These effects were examined utilizingsensitive test methods applied elsewhere in Puget Sound (Chapmanet al., 1982a; in press a, b). An additional station south ofEverett Harbor was tested (with negative results) for acutelethal and sublethal effects. On the basis of acute lethal,sublethal, partial life-cycle, cell reproduction and genotoxiceffects testing, Everett Harbor, Bellingham and Samish Bays wereless toxic than contaminated areas such as the Duwamish Waterway(Elliott Bay) and the Commencement Bay Waterways. Everett Harborsediments were more toxic overall than those from BellinghamBay. Samish Bay sediments only showed toxicity in cellreproduction and genotoxic tests, suggesting very differentsediment chemistry in this area. Partial life-cycle bioassayswith oyster larvae (Crassostrea gigas) were conducted byexposing fertilized eggs to settled sediment slurries for 48 hthen determining the number of live larvae and anyabnormalities. A total of 19 stations demonstrated significantabnormalities or mortalities; the two reference stations showedno significant effects. Acute lethal bioassays were conductedwith the sensitive amphipod Rhepoxynius abronius. Two stations(one each in Bellingham Bay and Everett-Harbor) demonstratedsignificant acute lethal effects; the two reference stationsshowed no significant effects. Sublethal effects measurementswere conducted with the oligochaete Monopylephorus cuticulatusby exposing the worms to sediment elutriates and measuringrespiration rates. Seven stations demonstrated significantrespiration rate differences compared to controls; the tworeference stations showed no significant effects. Cellreproduction studies were conducted by exposing rainbow troutgonad (RTG-2) and bluegill fry (BF-2) cells to sediment extractsduring logarithmic growth. Eight stations (including onereference station) significantly reduced cell growth in RTG-2cells, and three stations (including both reference stations)significantly reduced cell growth in BF-2 cells. Genotoxictests for chromosomal damage were conducted by exposing RTG-2cells to sediment extracts and determining mitotic (anaphaseaberration) effects. Sediment extracts from eight stations(including one reference station) caused significant chromosomaldamage. Physical and chemical data for tested samples (particlesize, total volatile solids, digestible organic carbon, andextractable organic matter) were within the ranges observed forother areas of Puget Sound with the following exceptions. A highclay content was noted in Bellingham Bay sediments and a highpercentage of total volatile solids was noted in inner EverettHarbor sediments.INTRODUCTION:One of the intents of the MESA Puget Sound Project is to developan understanding of the effects of environmental contaminants uponPuget Sound biota. High environmental levels of particularchemicals have been detected in sediments from industrializedembayments of Puget Sound, and a variety of in situ biologicaleffects (e.g. tissue abnormalities in fish and shellfish, changes inbiological community structure) occur in areas associated with highlevels of various contaminants (Malins et al., 1980, 1982; Dexter etal., 1981; Long, 1982). Direct evidence of toxicity from Puget Soundsediments has recently been provided for three of these industrializedembayments: Elliott Bay, Commencement Bay and Sinclair Inlet(Chapman et al., 1982a, in press a, b).Contaminant mixtures found in sediments from Bellingham Bay andEverett Harbor were known to differ from those of the previouslytested areas. However, the relative toxicity of sediments in thesetwo areas was unknown. Recent indirect evidence of the potentialfor biological effects among biota captured in the two areashas been collected.Field studies have recently recorded fin rot and lesions in bottomfish in Bellingham Bay and Everett Harbor (Campana, 1983;Gronlund et al., 1983). The intent of the present study was todetermine whether marine sediments from these embayments alsoexhibited toxic biological effects in direct exposure tests.Accordingly, composited sediment grab samples were obtained from atotal of 22 stations (including a non-industrialized reference area,Samish Bay). These samples were tested for possible biologicaleffects using a range of species and test methodologies. Sedimentcollected from a station in Possession Sound, south of EverettHarbor, was also tested on an opportunistic basis. The results wereused to determine the relative toxicity of Everett Harbor andBellingham Bay samples compared to those from other tested areasof Puget Sound.