Algoma slag dump (St. Marys River) nearshore sediment quality and contaminant bioavailability study

90 Pages·2000·4.2 MB·English

by  Kauss, P. B

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Algoma Slag Dump (St. Marys River)
Nearshore Sediment Quality and
Contaminant Bioavailability Study
April 2000
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Algoma Slag Dump (St. Marys River)
Nearshore Sediment Quality and
Contaminant Bioavailability Study
Prepared by:
P. B. Kauss
Water Monitoring Section
Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch
Ontario Ministry of the Environment
125 Resources Road
Etobicoke, Ontario M9P 3V6
April 2000
Cette publication technique
n’est disponible qu’en anglais.
Copyright: Queen’s Printer for Ontario, 2000
This publication may be reproduced for non-commercial
purposes with appropriate attribution.
Printed on 50% recycled paper
including 10% post-consumer fibre
ISBN 0-7794-0221-9
PIBS 4082E
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Algoma Slag Dump is an approximately 400 hectare Algoma Steel disposal site located
above the St. Marys Falls, at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, partially on land reclaimed from the river.
During August 16" - September 8", 1989, the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (OMOE)
conducted a sediment contamination and biological monitoring assessment of the Algoma Slag
Dump nearshore. This study was a follow-up to sediment contamination and landfill leachate
problems identified by previous Ministry studies in 1984 through 1987. Leachate infiltration
from the dump to the river was identified in 1988.
The 1989 study involved the collection of sediment samples at 16 locations along the dump
shoreline to determine sediment quality; an additional upstream station in Point aux Pins Bay
served as upstream control. The samples were analyzed for persistent contaminants, including
arsenic, cyanide, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Also, unionid
mussels (Elliptio complanata) in cages were exposed at these same stations for a period of three
weeks to determine the biological availability of these inorganic and organic contaminants to
aquatic organisms.
Sediments at many of the locations around the dump shoreline contained elevated concentrations
of organic carbon, arsenic, cyanide, several heavy metals and PAHs. Concentrations of most
contaminants were generally higher at stations located along the eastern half of the shoreline of
the dump (i.e., closer to the Algoma Slip). Arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead,
manganese, nickel, zinc and total organic carbon concentrations exceeded the respective
Provincial Sediment Quality Guideline (PSQG) Lowest Effect Levels (LELs) at the majority of
stations sampled. Arsenic, iron, manganese, zinc and total organic carbon also exceeded their
respective PSQG-Severe Effect Levels (SELs) at a some stations. Levels of available cyanide
were above the Provincial guideline for open water disposal of dredged material at most stations.
Concentrations of Total PAHs as well as of 12 individual PAH compounds also exceeded their
respective PSQG-LELs.
Although mean concentrations of arsenic and some metals in the mussels were higher at a few of
the stations, these differences were not statistically significant from each other or from pre-
exposure concentrations. The spatial pattern of PAH bioavailability and hence, accumulation by
the mussels differed from that of metals, with accumulated concentrations being significantly
higher at the most easterly stations (i.e., closer to the Algoma Slip). Mussel tissues tended to
contain higher concentrations of the more water soluble PAHs (e.g., naphthalene), and very little
if any of the lower solubility/higher molecular weight/higher octanol-water partition coefficient
compounds (e.g., benzo(g,h,i)-perylene), which were nevertheless present in the sediments. This
suggests that the more bioavailable PAHs are those which are more water soluble and present at
higher concentrations. Of the 16 PAHs analyzed for, phenanthrene, naphthalene, fluoranthene
and pyrene were on average, present at the highest concentrations.
Based on preliminary data from this and other Ministry studies, the Cleanup and Restoration
Task Team of the St. Marys River Remedial Action Plan identified and prioritized a number of
areas of contaminated sediments and benthic invertebrate community impairment to be
considered for remediation and monitoring. As a result of this process, the Algoma Slag Dump
was ranked the third-highest in priority, just below the Algoma Slip and Bellevue Marine Park.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The author is grateful to the following Ministry personnel for their assistance in carrying out this
the study: Rick Savage, captain of the survey vessel Monark; crew chief Wendy Page and
students Mike Tourney, Lisa Morgan and Shannon Clarke for field measurements and the
processing of samples; staff of the Ministry’s Laboratory Services Branch Inorganic Trace
Contaminants and Trace Organics Sections for chemical analysis of the sediment and mussel
tissue samples; Doug Kennedy and Praful Desai for downloading and editing of effluent, river
water and sediment quality data; and Elizabeth Timmer for typing of the initial draft manuscript..
This study was partially funded by Environment Canada under the terms of the Canada-Ontario
Agreement respecting Great Lakes Water Quality.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
BABE CUTIVE ISU MNAR Nien. te. Anos. Bien Corte lag Le ns i
iE) TENG NA blH DG a gi UTS) A de as Sc Re lee A iii
BIST OR PABIER Sosa: Sed ic cee ere ses:S tern eee COURS Es v
LIS TCO SU GLUEB ESTA peels, CS 5 RU Se lie Mega ee AA DE name sf tn eee à vi
ÉD NTRODUCTION Ce Jie See Te te entre be 2e CREER 1
20 OBIECTIVES hicedbonmentiranmte siott be perdi). VAR I O Ne EI UT? +
20° METHODS: 25 soxengetheacys hice heen 08 SGeNe ERE ee RY, AAUTRELS 4
SIM PNA ENICASUECTNEN(S) Eeean e dut Petite OU ed 4
3.2 ‘Sediment Sampling, dine sat20e iSCTNIERToIRNONR nQUIL T... 5
S23, Mussel Dio mMONIGUINS eep och: yoy imanctricied “To oetaery ICE) eis ph doses ae 5
3.4. Analytical Methods, test share creuse Geer Bus SPOL to aeersque. .... 7
3.9 Statistical Analysis et let 7 Sr. ose TAOS else bee Lei ei... à. 7
4.0 RESULTS, AND/DIS CUSSION Essshereri LnORE) ... . 8
41 Lamnolopical:Characteristics of Water... Hunt eet PANIER.. .; 8
PE Se OUIMmem CIALLY EE Pk Bere hoya ios a cute ve hee od eee ed ee à 9
42-17 Physical Characteristics pq. 25. Las der oo Pubs SEIS... . 9
422} Contaminants Spatial PATES Lit clays ah ols Se ae a 2)
4.2.3. Relationships Between Contaminants. ..2.coac.he6s n2h.n 4 à. 18
4.2 4° Contaminants lemporalirends 3.020006 2. 2 sous bs ee se ture iat 24
4.2.5 Comparison of Concentrations With Other Areas ................... 24
4.3: Mussel Contaminant Accummlavion meer ue ha vid EN.» : 32
F5) Contauai nants SpatialtPattem eet ac 2 cs acts en cu «wei 32
43.2 Contaminants Temporal Tremaine a cease PEt Aes Saisie A. « - 34
4.4 Mussel-Sediment Contaminant Relationships ............................. 34
50° ‘CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 4... 00... 37
EUR ARE RERENE S ee lt hee i eue eee rr ee die des ne sou ou ee 40
APPENDIX A - 1987 Algoma Slag Dump Sediment Quality Data ...................... 43
APPENDIX B= 1987 Bennett Creek Sediment Core Data 025 52 ue ee ee ne eee ee 49
APPENDIX C - 1989 Station Descriptions, Replicate Data and Statistical Analysis ........ 55
LIST OF TABLES
Number Title
1 Sample analytical tésts 1. «Wes oes Parsee see oe oe ee oe es
2 Water quality characteristics during 1989 study... ...-22¢ "COR un
3 Sediment physical characteristics, organic carbon and solvent extractable
CONCÉNTAUONS. 2200 saat sis Re LAS MONT CÉRUNS ARES RE
4 Provincial Sediment Quality Guidelines and their significance ... teense
5 Arsenic, cyanide and heavy metals concentrations in sediments ................
6 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in sediments ................
7 Comparison of 1987 and 1989 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations
in surficial sediments from the Algoma Slag Dump and Point aux Pins Bay ......
8 Comparison of contaminants concentrations in sediments from other priority
areas anithe St; Marys Rivera re LU ct.
9 Arsenic and heavy metals concentrations in mussel tissues ................... ees
10 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations in mussel tissues ............. ss
11 Comparison of 1985, 1987 and 1989 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
concentrations in caged mussels exposed along the Algoma Slag Dump shoreline .. . 22
5 22)
12 Mussel-sediment PAH accumulationifactorsie.. oan cot a ee ees cEe ee 130