Science-Pacific Region-Ocean Sciences-Research Activities

Research suggests that Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are contaminating British Columbia's coastal food chains, with killer whales (Orcinus orca) being among the most contaminated marine mammals in the world. Contaminants in the coastal environment originate from a combination of sources, including local (urban development; pulp mills; agriculture), transboundary (Puget Sound Superfund sites and industrial activities in adjacent US areas), and more distant global (atmospheric transport of POPs) origins. Ascertaining the extent to which local vs global sources are responsible for this POP contamination in BC represents an important scientific question which has management implications. Our transboundary harbour seal research is well positioned to provide insight into this issue.

This project aims to describe contaminant pathways in coastal BC by characterizing POPs in air, water and sediments in the Strait of Georgia, so as to establish the input data needed to construct realistic models of contaminant sources, pathways and fate in the B.C. coastal ecosystem. This model will integrate data from our food chain studies and from our previous studies of harbour seals and killer whales; temporal trend data for contaminants in harbour seals from south Puget Sound (1972 to present); and water, air and sediment contaminant data from this study. The resulting complex POP dataset will be used for multivariate statistical evaluation (collaboration with Dr. Mark Yunker) and for the development of a temporal toxicokinetic model (collaboration with Dr. Brendan Hickie, Trent University) for Strait of Georgia harbour seals.

This is a new project, but data and results build on the foundation established under previous ESSRF research (Addison and Ross). A final report on that work has been submitted by Richard Addison, which outlines the scientific publications, technical reports, conference presentations, media interviews and other deliverables achieved. See Dr. Ross's publications page.

Endocrine-disrupting effects of POPs on Pacific killer whales - Project Leader: Peter S. Ross 

Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) are distributed throughout the world as a consequence of atmospheric processes and direct introduction into aquatic systems. Despite the large number of chemical formulations, these contaminants share certain features including being fat-soluble, persistent and toxic. While many have been regulated in North America, concentrations continue to present a health risk to certain human and wildlife groups as a consequence of persistence and continued inputs from contaminated sites and distant sources. Many continue to be used in developing nations. This project aims to assess the impact of POPs on the health of killer whales (are these chemicals affecting the health of killer whales?), and will complement our ongoing research which is tracking the movement and fate of POPs in the BC ecosystem and in marine mammal food chains (where are these chemicals coming from?).

This project will develop, apply and validate the use of micro-sample techniques to killer whales. These techniques require i) the application of sampling biopsy techniques for free-ranging killer whales; ii) knowledge of the individuals from which samples are collected (age, sex, diet, condition); iii) the development of meaningful laboratory techniques using very small samples obtained from healthy killer whales (the harbour seal is serving as a model for methods development). As part of this work, we are using a biomarker-based approach to evaluating the relationship between contaminant exposure and biological (health) endpoints. Results will be interpreted in the context of killer whale age, sex, dietary preference (ie fish vs marine mammals) and condition prior to an evaluation of the effects of POPs. Only by understanding and eliminating such potentially confounding (natural) factors, can we delineate the toxic effects of contaminants in killer whales.

This research will fill a critical information gap, and instruct managers in both Canada and the US on the health risks of high POP levels in killer whales. This is timely since Canada (COSEWIC-SARA) has listed southern resident killer whales as "endangered". This population is small; the southern resident population comprises only 78 individuals. It is also facing threats from boat noise and disturbance, as well as from diminishing prey abundance. Scientific research on POPs in wildlife has served to focus regulatory actions, such as reducing the production of dioxins and furans through changes to the pulp and paper industry, banning DDT, banning of open and closed uses of PCBs in Canada, the incineration and destruction of PCBs at high temperatures, the clean-up of contaminated landfill and sediment sites in Puget Sound, and the signing of a global framework to eliminate the 12 most problematic POPs. Given the global nature of POP contamination, Canadian managers need a solid scientific basis for working with international partners to reduce the risk of contamination in aquatic environments (in the Arctic, Pacific, Atlantic and inland waters).

Marine Fish Health Assessment - Project Leader: Michael Ikonomou 

A multidisciplinary research team (Catherine Couillard (IML), Principal Investigator along with Collaborating Partners Walter Cretney, Michael Ikonomou and Peter Ross (IOS)) is using multiple bioindicators to assess fish health on both the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada. The Atlantic tomcod is the study organism in the east, whereas the English sole is the study organism in the west. Well-established biochemical and histopathological bioindicators, including ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity, DNA adducts (measured by 32P-postlabeling), and histopathological preneoplastic and neoplastic lesions, are being used to assess fish health. These bioindicators will be compared with novel ones. Multivariate analyses will be used to compare the patterns of biological responses among sites with varying types and degrees of chemical contamination and to correlate individual bioindicators with exposure to specific chemicals or chemical classes. Associations observed in the field will be verified experimentally by measuring biological responses in Atlantic tomcod exposed to environmentally realistic doses of relevant compounds.

The ESSRF Project combined with the TSRI Project will identify the major mechanisms leading to carcinogenesis in fish exposed to complex mixtures of contaminants and assess their cumulative effect on the prevalence of liver tumours. An optimal suite of bioindicators will be determined for detecting early stages in hepatic neoplasia in wild fish sampled along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of Canada. For the current fiscal year, the West Coast ESSRF project will provide analyses of PCDD/Fs in Atlantic tomcod collected from St Lawrence, E., as part of the joint ESSRF with Quebec Region.

Bioindicators of contaminant exposure: Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in English sole livers from the site at the head of Kitimat Arm were similar to those found at the Stewart Channel and Trincomali Channel sites. The PCB concentrations were much lower than those found at the Vancouver Harbour site. The polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran (PCDD/F) concentrations in livers from Kitimat Arm were lower than those found in livers from Trincomali Channel. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) metabolite concentrations in English sole bile fell between those for Stewart and Trincomali Channels. Hexachlorobenzene and the hexachlorocyclohexane pesticide concentrations were about two- to three-fold higher in Kitimat Arm English sole liver compared to Trincomali Channel. In contrast, the DDT group of compounds was almost two-fold higher in livers from Trincomali Channel compared to livers from Kitimat Arm.

Bioindicators of effects: These have reflected those of exposure, for the most part.

Cadmium uptake in bivalve molluscs in the BC coast and relationship to nutrient cycling in Hecate Strait - Project Leader: George Kruzynski 

Coordinating a collaborative effort with Dr. Bill Heath, BC Ministry of Agriculture Food, Fisheries (BC MAFF) and Dr. Leah Bendell-Young, Biological Sciences, Simon Fraser University and ~20  BC shellfish farmers. Since January 2001, cultured oysters have been collected at sites ranging from Sooke to Haida Gwaii on a bimonthly schedule and are being analyzed for total (edible meat) cadmium residues. Some work is also being done on defining what proportion is in the gut vs other tissue. As a comparison, scallops and mussels are also being collected at some locations. We hope to define both seasonal and geographical differences in the uptake of Cadmium and ultimately identify sites where uptake is lowest and/or recommend alternative species that could be cultured at problematic sites. The field component of the study will be ending in August 2004 and analytical results are expected from SFU by November.

In parallel with our study, Dr. Laurie Chan at McGill University CINE (Center for Indigenous Peoples' Nutrition and Environment) is looking at Cadmium residues in oysters, scallops and mussels being cultured by Central and North Coast First Nations as part of the Turning Point Initiative. The possible role of oceanographic factors such as upwelling as a source of Cadmium both in seawater in phytoplankton which are in turn fed on by bivalves, is being addressed. This component is in collaboration with Mr. Frank Whitney's (IOS) Hecate Strait Nutrient study and Ms. Sabrina Crispo, PhD student under direction of Dr. Kristin Orians at the University of British Columbia. This and other cadmium pathways research topics identified at the 2001 Cadmium in oyster workshop have not been addressed due to lack of funding. However, a collaborative proposal (UBC/SFU/UVIC) BC MAFF and DFO has been submitted to NSERC, a decision is expected in November 2004 and if successful will lead to a much-needed concerted 3 year research effort.

The expected results of this project will be the communication of the Science and provision of expert advice to management, in both federal and provincial regulatory agencies, the public and oyster growers on the biogeochemistry and chemical oceanography of Cadmium as it relates to marketability and potential health concerns.