Quality Assurance Project Plan: Long-Term Monitoring of Persistent, Bioaccumulative, and Toxic Chemicals using Age-Dated Lake Sediment Cores is now at https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1603118.html
In 2000, the Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) developed a strategy to reduce persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances (PBTs) in Washington State. The PBT Reduction Strategy recommended development of a long-term monitoring program for PBTs in Washington’s freshwater systems. In 2006, Ecology began long-term monitoring of sediment cores throughout the state for analysis of mercury. Other PBTs were added to the monitoring program in 2008. Between 2008 and 2015, sediment cores were analyzed for mercury as well as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, perfluoroalkyl substances, hexabromocyclododecane, chlorinated paraffins, and brominated flame retardants on a rotating schedule.
Ecology’s PBT Monitoring Program will continue to collect one sediment core from three lakes per year to characterize the occurrence and temporal trends of PBTs in Washington State. Sediment core samples will be analyzed for a rotating PBT contaminant to reconstruct historical deposition profiles. The rotating PBT analyte will be selected annually to fill data gaps in Washington State. Sediment cores will be age-dated using 210Pb techniques. Total lead, TOC, and grain size will also be analyzed to support interpretation of results.
Sediment core samples will be analyzed for PCB congeners in 2016. Ecology will collect cores from Deep Lake, Spanaway Lake, and lower Lake Spokane. The sampling locations were selected to evaluate sediment PCB deposition at an urban waterbody (Spanaway Lake), a primarily undeveloped, forested waterbody (Deep Lake), and a waterbody with known PCB contamination issues (Lake Spokane). No PCB data is available for Spanaway or Deep Lakes, while PCB contamination of Lake Spokane and the upstream Spokane River has been well-characterized. Additional metals (copper, titanium, and zinc) will be analyzed in the Deep Lake core at the request of Ecology’s Eastern Regional Office.
If you have questions, please contact Callie Mathieu at 360-407-6965 or at came461@ecy.wa.gov.
Jean Maust
Environmental Assessment Program
Department of Ecology