Sediment-Contaminant Database

Sampling Purpose: In 1989, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service collected sediment samples near selected industrial sites, within and adjacent to the Mark Twain National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), the Clarence Cannon (NWR), and at other areas important to migratory waterfowl on the Upper Mississippi River. Sediment grab samples were collected at a total of 67 sampling locations and were analyzed for water content, metals, organochlorines, fungicides, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated biphenyls. Bioassays (96-h) were conducted with fathead minnows. Sample coordinate information was not provided with this study, however, coordinates were approximated in ArcView using detailed descriptions of sampling sites. Note: The authors acknowledged some limitations to their data regarding sample handling and storage. Most of the composite sediment samples were held frozen for approximately 6 months prior to anlaysis, which may alter the form of some of the polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons and organochlorine compounds.