tva-kingston fly ash release environmental research symposium march 11 – 12, 2010 rick m....

T VA - K I N G S TO N F LY A S H R E L E A S E E N V I R O N M E N TA L R E S E A R C H S Y M P O S I U M

M A R C H 11 – 1 2 , 2 0 1 0

R I C K M . S H E R R A R D , P h . D .

T E N N E S S E E VA L L E Y A U T H O R I T Y

Ecotoxicology Overview

TOPICS

EcotoxicologyStudies conducted by TVA independent laboratoriesBrief summary results of studies to dateStudies conducted by other laboratoriesOngoing and future studies plannedLaboratory challenges in working with ashGaps in knowledge

What is Ecotoxicology?

“In the broadest sense of the word, an ecotoxicologist is one who carries out toxicity testing on any component of any ecosystem.” Cairns, 1989

Ecotoxicity studies are designed to employ ecological attributes to assess toxicity

Goal of the assessment – to protect entire ecosystems, not isolated components

TVA-Sponsored StudiesConducted by Independent Laboratories

Phase I: April through June 2009 Vibracore® Dredge Plume Plant Stilling Pond Effluent (Outfall 001)

Phase II: August 2009 to present Dredge Plume Plant Stilling Pond Effluent (Outfall 001)

Focus: Assess the potential for short-term effects associated with

removing ash from the Emory River

Phase ISampling and

Analyses

IV. Toxicological Monitoring

A. Whole Sediment Toxicity Evaluation

B. Elutriate Toxicity Evaluation

C. Plume Toxicity Evaluation

D. Polymer Toxicity Evaluation (Stilling Pond Effluent)

Samples

Vibracore® upstream and downstream

Vb.1, Vb.2 – 3/17/09

Vb.3, Vb.4 – 6/11-12/09

Cores composited, homogenized

Stored in 19-L plastic buckets at 4ºC

Holding time = 8 weeks

Re-homogenized prior to use

Lab control CRM 189.0

Unaffected Emory River water controls, overlay, diluent

Hyalella azteca Survival and Growth Test for Sediments

Duration: 10 d

Temperature: 23 ± 1ºC

Photoperiod: 16 / 8

Sed. Volume: 100 mL

Water Volume: 175 mL

Renewal: 2 vol. add./d

Age: 7 – 14-d

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 8

Feeding: YCT 1 mL/d

Endpoints: Survival, Growth

Acceptance: ≥ 80%

Freshwater Juvenile MusselSurvival Test for Sediments

(Lampsilis siliquoidea, L. cardium)

Duration: 5 d & 10 d


Photoperiod: 24 dark

Sed. Volume: 20 mL


Renewal: 5d-0 10d-1

Age: < 8 d

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 5

Feeding: every 3 d

Endpoint: Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Lumbriculus variegatus Survival Test for Sediments

(qualifying test for 28-d bioaccumulation test)

Duration: 4 d


Photoperiod: 16 / 8

Sed. Volume: 100 mL


Renewal: 2 vol. add./d

Age: Adults

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 4

Feeding: None

Endpoint: Burrowing, Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Corbicula fluminea Bioaccumulation Test for Sediments

Duration: 28 d


Photoperiod: 16 / 8

Sed. Volume: > 5 L

Water Volume: 15 L

Renewal: 50% 3/wk

Size: 0.5-1.5 g WTW

No./Chamber: ~ 30

No. Replicates: 5

Feeding: None

Endpoint: Bioaccum.

Acceptance: Mass

Ceriodaphnia dubia Survival Testfor Elutriates

Duration: 96 h


Photoperiod: 16 / 8

Water Vol.: 15 mL min

Renewal: None

Age: < 24 h

No./Chamber: 5

No. Replicates: 5

Feeding: Prior / 48 h

Concentrations: Non-Centrifuged 5 (0-100%); Centrifuged 1 (100%)

Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoint: Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Pimephales promelas Survival Testfor Elutriates

Duration: 96 h


Photoperiod: 16 / 8


Renewal: None

Age: < 24 h

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 5



Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoint: Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Freshwater Juvenile MusselSurvival Test for Elutriates

(Lampsilis siliquoidea, L. cardium)

Duration: 10 d


Photoperiod: 24 dark

Sed. Volume: 20 mL clean


Renewal: 1 (day 6)

Age: < 8 d

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 5

Feeding: every 3 d


Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoint: Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Ceriodaphnia dubiaSurvival and Reproduction Test

for Emory River Plume and Outfall 001

Duration: 3 broods


Photoperiod: 16 / 8


Renewal: Daily

Age: < 24 h

No./Chamber: 1

No. Replicates: 10

Feeding: Once daily

Concentrations: 5 (0-100%)

Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoints: Survival, Reproduction

Acceptance: ≥ 80% survival, ≥15 neos/survivor

Pimephales promelas Survival and Growth Test for Emory River Plume

and Outfall 001

Duration: 7 d


Photoperiod: 16 / 8


Renewal: Daily

Age: < 24 h

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 4

Feeding: Twice daily


Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoints: Survival, Growth

Acceptance: ≥ 80% survival, 0.25 mg growth

Phase IISampling and

Analyses

Weekly (Aug – Sept)

Biweekly (Oct – present)

Plume: grab samples

Outfall 001: 24-h composites

Unaffected Emory River water controls, diluent

Ceriodaphnia dubia Survival Testfor Emory River Plume and Outfall 001

Duration: 96 h


Photoperiod: 16 / 8


Renewal: At 48 h

Age: < 24 h

No./Chamber: 5

No. Replicates: 5


Concentrations: 5 (0-100%Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoint: Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Pimephales promelas Survival Testfor Emory River Plume and Outfall 001

Duration: 96 h


Photoperiod: 16 / 8


Renewal: At 48 h

Age: < 24 h

No./Chamber: 10

No. Replicates: 5



Controls: ERW, MHSW

Endpoint: Survival

Acceptance: ≥ 90%

Vb.1, Vb.2 Ash Composites Vb.3, Vb.4 Ash Composites

Whole ash H. azteca: adverse effects L. variegatus: can’t burrow L. siliquoidea: effects

limited to 1 of 4 tests C. fluminea: no

bioaccumulation

Elutriates: no effects

Whole ash H. azteca: adverse effects L. variegatus: can’t burrow L. cardium: effects in one

5-d test and one 10-d test C. fluminea: no

bioaccumulation

Elutriates: mixed bag

TVA Phase I Summary Results: Ash Samples

TVA Phase I & II Summary Results:Plume and Outfall 001 Samples

No adverse effects in tests with exposures to plume samples

Only one Outfall 001 sample to date resulted in decreased survival to C. dubia (but not P. promelas)

Pathogen interference is being dealt with appropriately through parallel testing of UV-treated and untreated test solutions

Other Ecotoxicological Studies

USACE – ERDC 10-d larval fish elutriate bioassay 10-d juvenile fish elutriate bioassay Bioaccumulation & health indicators

USGS, USFWS Whole sediment and elutriate studies with benthic

invertebrates H. azteca, Villosa iris, Lampsilis fasciola, Chironomus dilutus 10-d, 28-d

Studies Planned by TVA

Independent laboratory bioavai labi l i ty study wi th H. azteca and C. dubia

Whole ash, porewater only With and without resin treatment

ORNL ear ly l i fe stages effects study wi th f ish Task 1: Fish embryo-larval toxicity tests of fly ash Task 2: Longer-term exposures to fly ash in the laboratory Task 3: Evaluating early life stage success in fly ash exposed

fish populations

Challenges: Ecotoxicological Studies of Kingston Fly Ash Site

Site locat ionWater characterist ics of converging r iversNative sediment characterist ics Behavior of ash in storage and test chambersPathogen interference in Emory River water

Reference Control Sediment

Currently using clean sediment from Clinch River Mile 189.0 for comparisons

To date, TVA has: Attempted to formulate sediment Considered ash washing Incorporated ion-exchange resin treatment

Homogenizing Whole Ash Samples

In storage, ash settles and compacts, porewater surfaces

Water poured off

Stainless steel beater with teeth on bottom chips away at ash

Water content decreases toward bottom of container

Entire contents blended into pourable slurry

Pathogen Interference in P. promelas Exposures with Emory River Water

Well-documented in Kingston Fossil Plant NPDES WET monitoring history

Interrupted concentration-response

High variability in mortality between replicates

Greater effect on Emory River controls and lower concentrations

Ultraviolet Treatment of Test Solutions Prepared with Emory River Water

All P. promelas tests with Emory River water

Parallel exposures (with and without UV treatment)

Dilutions prepared first, split, then treated individually

Treatment durations are 2, 3.5, or 5 min based on turbidity

Interrupted concentration-response and high variation between replicates - invalidated

Pathogen Interference in L. cardium Exposures with Vb.3 and Vb. 4

Laboratory Reported:

Organism stress as early as 48 h, including MHSW controls

At 96 h, large masses of “debris” (fungal filaments with colonies of protozoa)

Test organisms entangled in debris

Sporadic mortality among replicates in most test treatments

Source could be test organism supplier or Emory River water

Suggestions

Avoid “ tunnel v is ion” – o ther const i tuents can cause effec ts

Bet ter unders tanding o f fa te character is t ics o f ash const i tuents

Ash is not a natura l sed iment but models that we use to pred ic t tox ic i ty and assess r isks are based on s tud ies wi th natura l sed iments

Remember to use a weight o f ev idence approach Conduct s tud ies in a sc ient i f i ca l ly -defens ib le manner

tva-kingston fly ash release environmental research symposium march 11 – 12, 2010 rick m....

Documents

mlwater volume

toxicity goal

toxicity testing

growth test

sedimentsqualifying

cardium duration

pond effluent outfall

sediments duration