PARENT SESSION
PW11 - Site-Specific Risk Assessments
Wednesday, 20 November 2002
8:00 AM to 6:30 PM
Exhibit Hall

(P858) Ecological risk assessment for Dick's Creek, Ohio.

Fuchsman, Phyllis¹, Barber, Timothy¹, Wiesner, Rebecca^*,1, ¹ ARCADIS, Cleveland, Ohio

ABSTRACT- An ecological risk assessment was conducted for Dick's Creek to identify potential risks associated with exposure of aquatic biota and representative wildlife receptors to chemicals in water, sediment, and biota adjacent to an industrial facility. Chemicals of interest included PCBs, PAHs, and metals. Data collection in support of the ecological risk assessment included analyses of chemical concentrations in whole-body fish, macroinvertebrates, and aquatic plants. Multiple size classes of fish were analyzed based on wildlife prey preferences, because PCB levels in fish are size-dependent. Sediment analyses were also selected using risk-based data use objectives. By collecting appropriate data, it was possible to avoid the use of conservative assumptions typically required for screening-level risk assessments. As a result, risks to aquatic-feeding wildlife were determined to be negligible. Additionally, extensive biological community data were available for the site and were used to demonstrate a lack of significant impacts on fish and invertebrates. Toxicity to benthic invertebrates may occur at limited hot spots but is unlikely throughout most of the area of interest. Results of the risk assessment for benthic invertebrates show agreement between equilibrium partitioning guidelines and biological community quality.

Key words: ecological risk assessment, pcbs, sediment toxicity, equilibrium partitioning