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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » National Sedimentation Laboratory » Water Quality and Ecology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #148891
Title: DISTRIBUTION AND CONCENTRATIONS OF METALS AND PCBS IN FISH TISSUE FROM A LARGE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD CONTROL RESERVOIR AND ITS WATERSHED STREAMS

Author
item Cooper, Charles
item Knight, Scott
item Testa Iii, Sam
item Welch, Terry

Submitted to: North American Benthological Society Bulletin
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/1/2003
Publication Date: 5/30/2003
Citation: COOPER, C.M., KNIGHT, S.S., TESTA III, S., WELCH, T.D. DISTRIBUTION AND CONCENTRATIONS OF METALS AND PCBS IN FISH TISSUE FROM A LARGE MISSISSIPPI FLOOD CONTROL RESERVOIR AND ITS WATERSHED STREAMS. NORTH AMERICAN BENTHOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN. 2003. v. 20(1). p. 346.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: While nation-wide concentrations of persistent pesticides decline, fish consumption advisories due to metals and PCBs are increasing. The Yalobusha River watershed is currently receiving modifications designed to remedy widespread channel instability and flooding caused by a large debris jam that has occluded the river channel. One concern is the potential for fisheries contamination, as the river and its downstream recipient, Grenada Reservoir, are frequently used by subsistence fishermen. We analyzed available data on metals and PCB concentrations from over 400 fish from the area. PCBs were never detected from Grenada Reservoir or tributary fish, and were only rarely detected from the Yalobusha River. Highest average (treating non-detections as zeros) arsenic (11.8 ppm) and lead (0.318 ppm) tissue concentrations (viscera, flesh, and whole fish) were observed in the Yalobusha River downstream of the debris jam, while highest average concentrations of chromium (0.308 ppm) and cadmium (0.163 ppm) occurred in Grenada Reservoir. Mercury was observed in similar concentration in fish from most watershed divisions (average 0.269 ppm), but was considerably lower in fish from a new bypass channel (0.122 ppm) and in the Yalobusha River downstream of the debris jam (0.065 ppm). Concentrations in flesh were well below established FDA action levels.