PARENT SESSION
TP2 - Bioaccumulation & Foodchain Contamination in Terrestrial Systems
Chair: Schull, Lee1, 1 , USA
2:10 PM to 5:30 PM - Tuesday, 19 November 2002
Room Ballroom J
(424) Bioaccumulation of Metals and PCBs in Plants and Soil Invertebrates at Vandenberg AFB: Case Study.
Shibata, Mark*,1, Torres, Kevin1, Clark, Donald1, Rigby, Mark1, Kephart, Beatrice2, McElligott, Michael2, 1 Tetra Tech, Inc., Lafayette, CA, USA2 Vandenberg AFB, Lompoc, CA, USA
ABSTRACT- A field study was conducted to verify exposure models used in ecological risk assessments for sites at Vandenberg Air Force Base (AFB), CA. Metal and PCB concentrations in co-located soil, plant, and soil invertebrate samples were measured at both reference and contaminated sites. Regression analyses were performed to detect and characterize the relationship between soil concentrations and tissue burdens of terrestrial plants and soil invertebrates. Significant, positive relationships were found between concentrations in soil and plant tissues for total PCBs and 4 of 18 metals. In addition, significant, positive relationships were found between concentrations in soil and soil invertebrate tissues for total PCBs and 7 of 18 metals. Concentrations of PCBs in plant and soil invertebrate tissues showed a strong relationship with concentrations in soils (r2 = 0.84 and r2 = 0.90, respectively). Regression models for both significant and non-significant relationships and their effect on the risk assessment will be described. A comparison of regression models developed for Vandenberg AFB and selected bioaccumulation models found in the literature will also be shown. The benefits of a focused field study in validating exposure assessments, providing information to further support science-based decision-making, and meeting programmatic goals will be presented.
Key words: bioaccumulation, metals, PCBs