Project ID: 2006ME83B
Title: A sequential time-weighted average approach for monitoring pesticide levels in Maine surface waters
Project Type: Research
Start Date: 09/01/2006
End Date: 08/31/2008
Congressional District: 2
Focus Categories: Non Point Pollution, Toxic Substances, Surface Water
Keywords: Pesticides, fish ecology, water quality, agriculture, POCIS
Principal Investigators: Patterson, Howard; Charlestra, Lucner
Federal Funds: $22,200
Non-Federal Matching Funds: $51,186
Abstract: Many environmental stakeholders believe that the pesticides used in the cultivation of wild and low bush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), may negatively impact Atlantic Salmon ( Salmo solar) habitats. Accordingly, specialists at the University of Maine and the Board of Pesticide Control (BPC) have used grab sampling and ISCO auto samplers to survey surface waters in Washington and Hancock Counties. The surveys reveal the presence of hexazinone, phosmet, terbacil, chlorothalonil and propiconazole in salmon-supported rivers (Yarborough, 2004; Jackson, 2003). The traditional monitoring methods mentioned above provide concentration estimates only for the moment of sampling and do not allow for an exposure assessment of aquatic organisms to the contaminants. Therefore, there are unanswered questions about the term of exposure of Atlantic Salmons or other aquatic organisms to episodic events in the streams. This project proposes to use a passive sampler (Polar Organic Chemical Integrative Sampler [POCIS]) to come up with a sequential time-weighted average monitoring approach to detect pesticides in some Washington and Hancock Counties watersheds. The data generated from this research project will be useful in the prediction of pesticide behavior under a set of environmental conditions. Also, they will provide environmental stakeholders with important tools for assessing the potential exposure of aquatic organisms to pesticides in the affected watersheds.
Progress/Completion Report, PDF
Progress/Completion Report, 2008 update, PDF