Research Document - 2008/066
Measurements of Chemical Contaminants and Toxicological Effects in the Gully
By P. Yeats, J. Hellou, T. King, and B. Law
Abstract
This Research Document reviews knowledge of chemical contaminants and biological effects in the vicinity of the Gully Marine Protected Area (MPA) focusing on data collected since 1998. Spatial distributions of heavy metals in water and sediments of the Eastern Scotian Shelf are described as are distributions of hydrocarbons on Sable Bank. Knowledge of contaminants in biota is limited to some measurements of heavy metals and hydrocarbons in krill and persistent organic contaminants in seals and bottlenose whales. Concentrations of all of these contaminants are at or near background. Decreasing concentrations versus time on the Eastern Scotian Shelf are seen for hydrocarbons, lead, and zinc in water and persistent organic contaminants in seals. Acidity of shelf waters has been increasing. Within the Gully, bottlenose whales have shown increasing concentrations of 4,4’-DDE and trans-nonachlor. Even fewer measurements have been made of biological effects, these being restricted to measurements of sediment toxicity on Sable Bank and CYP 1A1 protein expression in bottlenose whales in the Gully. Some potential foci for additional research and monitoring are suggested.
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