Organochlorine and Metal Contaminants in the Blood Plasma of Green Sturgeon Caught in Washington Coastal Estuaries
2022
Layshock, Julie A. | Webb, Molly A. H. | Langness, Olaf P. | Garza, John Carlos | Heironimus, Laura B. | Gundersen, Deke
Non-invasive monitoring was used to evaluate the concentrations of 40 contaminants in the blood plasma of the North American Green Sturgeon Acipenser medirostris caught and released from three estuaries in Washington State. The highest contaminant concentrations were found in fish caught in the most urbanized sites. Few statistical differences were found when evaluating contaminant levels according to sex, maturation stage, or distinct population segments of Green Sturgeon. The results indicate that recent exposure to legacy contaminants was reflected in Green Sturgeon plasma. Aldrin, 4,4-DDE, α-HCH, copper, and selenium were the most frequently detected contaminants. This study also explored the challenges of assessing toxicity in threatened species using non-lethal approaches. There is currently a lack of environmental contaminant monitoring data in estuaries frequented by Green Sturgeon and limited plasma to tissue toxicity correlations.
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