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Public Health Assessment
Fish and Shellfish Evaluation,
Isla de Vieques Bombing Range,
Vieques, Puerto Rico
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June 27, 2003
Prepared by:
Federal Facilities Assessment Branch
Division of Health Assessment and Consultation
Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry
Tables
Parameter | Number of Residents | Percent of Total Residents |
---|---|---|
Total residents | 9,106 | 100% |
Men | 4,512 | 50% |
Women | 4,594 | 50% |
Women of childbearing age (15-44) | 1,701 | 19% |
Children (age 6 and under) | 1,001 | 11% |
Elderly (age 65 and over) | 1,263 | 14% |
Source: US Bureau of the Census 2000
Notes: According to the 2000 census data, 2,366 families lived on Vieques.
The 2000 census data include residents living on Navy lands and in the residential areas.
Metal | Average Concentration in Crab Extremities (ppm) | Average Concentration in Crab Bodies (ppm) | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Puerto Mosquito | Icaco Lagoon | Puerto Mosquito | Icaco Lagoon | |
Cadmium | 1.74 | 4.77 | 2.24 | 8.05 |
Chromium | 25.48 | 23.07 | 40.27 | 40.70 |
Cobalt | 12.17 | 9.82 | 10.32 | 35.69 |
Copper | 49.94 | 51.18 | 381.75 | 499.91 |
Lead | ND | ND | ND | ND |
Manganese | 86.56 | 37.17 | 199.96 | 97.75 |
Nickel | 17.15 | 7.02 | 21.81 | 18.95 |
Zinc | 62.99 | 61.91 | 120.80 | 75.59 |
Source: Massol Deyá and Díaz 2000a
Notes: Averages are reported in dry weight concentrations.
ND = not detected
Metal | Northern Vieques | Esperanza | Parquera (mainland Puerto Rico) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range (ppm) | Average | Frequency of Detections | Range | Average | Frequency of Detections | Range | Average | Frequency of Detections | |
Arsenic | 0.02-7.2 | 0.81 | 35/35 | 0.15-1.41 | 0.52 | 17/17 | 0.14-4.2 | 1.2 | 22/26 |
Cadmium | ND | ND | 0/35 | ND | ND | 0/17 | 0.028 | 0.028 | 1/26 |
Lead | ND | ND | 0/35 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 1/17 | ND | ND | 0/26 |
Mercury | 0.004-0.1 | 0.024 | 28/35 | 0.008-0.38 | 0.02 | 16/17 | 0.002-0.052 | 0.011 | 17/26 |
Selenium | 0.12-1.3 | 0.6 | 35/35 | 0.17-0.83 | 0.49 | 17/17 | 0.1-0.5 | 0.24 | 25/26 |
Zinc | 1.2-9.1 | 3.8 | 35/35 | 3.3-8.2 | 5.4 | 17/17 | 0.7-6.2 | 3.0 | 26/26 |
Source: Caro et al. 2000
Note: It was not noted in the study if the concentrations were reported as wet weight concentrations or dry weight concentrations.
ND = not detected
Northern Vieques | Esperanza | Parquera (mainland Puerto Rico) | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | |
Arsenic | 0.07-4.46 | 0.58 | 32/35 | 0.19-1.7 | 0.73 | 17/17 | 0.07-10 | 1.4 | 24/26 |
Cadmium | ND | ND | 0/35 | ND | ND | 0/17 | ND | ND | 0/26 |
Lead | 0.024-3.23 | 0.44 | 8/35 | 0.046-0.865 | 0.36 | 3/17 | 0.04-0.88 | 0.27 | 6/26 |
Mercury | 0.002-0.12 | 0.026 | 22/35 | 0.004-0.063 | 0.02 | 10/17 | 0.003-0.06 | 0.017 | 14/26 |
Selenium | 0.076-1.35 | 0.67 | 34/35 | 0.127-0.93 | 0.44 | 9/17 | 0.14-1.34 | 0.39 | 22/26 |
Zinc | 0.5-28.7 | 11.4 | 34/35 | 7.2-23.3 | 13.1 | 17/17 | 4.4-59.2 | 13.2 | 26/26 |
Source: Caro et al. 2000
Note: It was not noted in the study if the concentrations were reported as wet weight concentrations or dry weight concentrations.
ND = not detected
Chemical | Live Impact Area | West Vieques | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | |
Metals | ||||||
Aluminum | 65-240 | 146 | 4/4 | 736-1,250 | 993 | 2/2 |
Antimony | ND | ND | 0/4 | NS | NS | NS |
Arsenic | 6.6-8.8 | 7.8 | 4/4 | 12.0-12.2 | 12.1 | 2/2 |
Barium | 11-43 | 25.0 | 4/4 | 55.8-63.5 | 59.7 | 2/2 |
Beryllium | ND | ND | 0/4 | ND | ND | 0/2 |
Boron | NS | NS | NS | 21.4-23.2 | 22.3 | 2/2 |
Cadmium | 0.13-1.0 | 0.56 | 4/4 | 0.115-1.0 | 0.56 | 2/2 |
Calcium | 110,000 - 160,000 | 132,500 | 4/4 | 159,000 - 175,000 | 167,000 | 2/2 |
Chromium | 0.49-3.8 | 1.59 | 4/4 | 1.11-1.56 | 1.34 | 2/2 |
Cobalt | 0.27-0.34 | 0.29 | 4/4 | 0.549 | 0.549 | 1/2 |
Copper | 78-180 | 131 | 4/4 | 127-203 | 165 | 2/2 |
Iron | 33-550 | 328 | 4/4 | 384-1,240 | 812 | 2/2 |
Lead | ND | ND | 0/4 | 0.667-11.7 | 6.18 | 2/2 |
Magnesium | 9,300 - 13,000 | 11,325 | 4/4 | 13,700 - 14,800 | 14,250 | 2/2 |
Manganese | 4.3-16 | 10.9 | 4/4 | 49.6-63.1 | 56.4 | 2/2 |
Mercury | ND | ND | 0/4 | 0.0678-0.0725 | 0.0702 | 2/2 |
Molybdenum | NS | NS | NS | 1.04-1.56 | 1.3 | 2/2 |
Nickel | 0.98-1.0 | 0.99 | 2/4 | ND | ND | 0/2 |
Phosphorous | NS | NS | NS | 6,750-7,900 | 7,325 | 2/2 |
Potassium | 6,800-7,500 | 7,200 | 4/4 | 4,900-5,410 | 5,155 | 2/2 |
Selenium | 1.2-2.4 | 1.9 | 4/4 | 1.27-1.35 | 1.31 | 2/2 |
Silver | 0.21-0.37 | 0.32 | 4/4 | NS | NS | NS |
Sodium | 12,000 - 14,000 | 13,250 | 4/4 | 154,000 - 177,000 | 165,500 | 2/2 |
Strontium | NS | NS | NS | 2,480-2,550 | 2,515 | 2/2 |
Sulfur | NS | NS | NS | 5,080-6,080 | 5,580 | 2/2 |
Thallium | ND | ND | 0/4 | NS | NS | NS |
Vanadium | 0.34-1.1 | 0.65 | 4/4 | 1.55-2.63 | 2.09 | 2/2 |
Zinc | 86-97 | 91 | 4/4 | 78.6-95.0 | 86.8 | 2/2 |
Pesticides | ||||||
p,p'-DDE | NS | NS | NS | 0.178 | 0.178 | 1/2 |
Explosives compounds | ||||||
HMX | 0.81-0.97 | 0.90 | 4/4 | NS | NS | NS |
Sources: LIA: ATSDR and EPA/ERT's 2001 sampling; West Vieques: FWS 2001a, 2001b
Notes: Values are reported in dry weight concentrations.
Rinsing fiddler crabs of sand and dirt was inadvertently omitted prior to placing them into sample containers.
ATSDR also analyzed fiddler crabs in the Live Impact Area for RDX, 1,3-dinitrobenzene, 2,4-dinitrotoluene, 2,6-dinitrotoluene, 2-amino-4,6-dinitrotoluene, 4-amino-2,6-dinitrotoluene, nitrobenzene, nitroglycerin, 2-nitrotoluene, 3-nitrotoluene, 4-nitrotoluene, tetryl, 1,3,5-trinitrobenzene, and 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene. For all samples, chemicals were found below detection limits.
The US Fish and Wildlife Service also analyzed fiddler crabs in West Vieques for HCB, PCB-1242, PCB-1248, PCB-1254, PCB-1260, PCB-total, alpha BHC, alpha chlordane, beta BHC, cis-nonachlor, delta BHC, dieldrin, endrin, gamma BHC, gamma chlordane, heptachlor epoxide, mirex, o,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, oxychlordane, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, toxaphene and trans-nonachlor. For all samples, chemicals were found below detection limits.
ND = not detected
NS = not sampled
Chemical | West Vieques | St. Croix (control) | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | |
Metals | ||||||
Aluminum | 213-399 | 303 | 4/4 | 128-192 | 160 | 3/3 |
Arsenic | 1.06-1.89 | 1.58 | 4/4 | 1.53-2.8 | 2.17 | 3/3 |
Barium | 15-143 | 68.5 | 4/4 | 6.66-10.3 | 8.78 | 3/3 |
Beryllium | ND | ND | 0/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
Boron | 3.75-6.89 | 5.03 | 4/4 | 4.38-9.55 | 6.46 | 3/3 |
Cadmium | 0.0337-0.656 | 0.196 | 4/4 | 0.0228-0.0402 | 0.0315 | 2/3 |
Calcium | 43,080-65,600 | 51,820 | 4/4 | 43,750-51,520 | 48,227 | 3/3 |
Chromium | 0.365-0.699 | 0.556 | 4/4 | 0.284-0.342 | 0.321 | 3/3 |
Cobalt | 0.21-0.31 | 0.28 | 3/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
Copper | 28.2-44.4 | 37.2 | 4/4 | 23.5-39.7 | 30.6 | 3/3 |
Iron | 116-306 | 185 | 4/4 | 17.8-23.7 | 21 | 3/3 |
Lead | 0.291-2.05 | 0.799 | 4/4 | 0.287-0.366 | 0.333 | 3/3 |
Magnesium | 3,770-5,617 | 4,651 | 4/4 | 3,815-4,563 | 4,147 | 3/3 |
Manganese | 9.15-24.1 | 17.5 | 4/4 | 3.81-4.52 | 4.16 | 3/3 |
Mercury | 0.0081-0.0216 | 0.0125 | 4/4 | 0.0091-0.0145 | 0.0124 | 3/3 |
Molybdenum | ND | ND | 0/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
Nickel | 0.172-0.418 | 0.297 | 4/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
Phosphorous | 2,686-3,145 | 2,815 | 4/4 | 2,838-3,316 | 3,147 | 3/3 |
Potassium | 1,920-2,175 | 2,023 | 4/4 | 1,903-2,240 | 2,092 | 3/3 |
Selenium | 0.0697-0.165 | 0.124 | 4/4 | 0.0732-0.143 | 0.105 | 3/3 |
Sodium | 5,019-6,027 | 5,336 | 4/4 | 5,040-5,710 | 5,301 | 3/3 |
Strontium | 475-959 | 659 | 4/4 | 556-747 | 671 | 3/3 |
Sulfur | 1,410-1,926 | 1,669 | 4/4 | 1,575-1,965 | 1,759 | 3/3 |
Vanadium | 0.445-0.64 | 0.518 | 4/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
Zinc | 35.5-87.5 | 52.3 | 4/4 | 33.6-47.6 | 38.7 | 3/3 |
Pesticides | ||||||
p,p'-DDE | 0.13 | 0.13 | 1/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
p,p'-DDT | 0.028 | 0.028 | 1/4 | ND | ND | 0/3 |
Sources: FWS 2001a, 2001b
Notes: Values are reported in wet weight concentrations.
HCB, PCB-1242, PCB-1248, PCB-1254, PCB-1260, PCB-total, alpha BHC, alpha chlordane, beta BHC, cis-nonachlor, delta BHC, dieldrin, endrin, gamma BHC, gamma chlordane, heptachlor epoxide, mirex, o,p'-DDD, o,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDT, oxychlordane, p,p'-DDD, toxaphene and trans-nonachlor were also analyzed. For all samples, chemicals were found below detection limits.
ND = not detected
Taxonomic Group | Latin Name | Loc. #1 | Loc. #2 | Loc. #3 | Loc. #4 | Loc. #5 | Loc. #6 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Hind | Epinephelus guttatus | 5 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 3 |
Rock Hind | Epinephelus adscensionis | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Graysby | Epinephelus cruentatus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Coney | Epinephelus fulvus | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Total # Serranidae family | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | |
Schoolmaster Snapper | Lutjanus apodus | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Grey Snapper | Lutjanus griseus | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Yellowtail Snapper | Ocyurus chrysurus | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 3 |
Total # Lutjanidae family | Total = 0 | Total = 5 | Total = 4 | Total = 2 | Total = 5 | Total = 3 | |
Stoplight Parrotfish | Sparisoma viride | 4 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 0 | 5 |
Redband Parrotfish | Sparisoma aurofrenatum | 1 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Redfin Parrotfish | Sparisoma rubripinne | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total # Scaridae family | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 0 | Total = 5 | |
White Grunt | Haemulon plumieri | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Spanish Grunt | Haemulon macrostomum | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Bluestriped Grunt | Haemulon sciurus | 5 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
French Grunt | Haemulon flavolineatum | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
Total # Haemulidae family | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 5 | Total = 0 | Total = 5 | Total = 4 | |
Yellow Goatfish | Mulloidichthys martinicus | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Spotted Goatfish | Pseudupeneus maculatus | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Total # Mullidae family | Total = 1 | Total = 0 | Total = 3 | Total = 0 | Total = 0 | Total = 1 | |
Honeycomb Cowfish | Lactophrys polygonia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Queen Conch | Strombus gigas | 5 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 5 |
Spiny Lobster | Panulirus argus | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Blue Land Crab | Cardisoma guanhumi | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Fiddler Crab | Uca sp. | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: Blue land crabs and fiddler crabs are listed by the number of tissue samples analyzed, not by the number of individuals captured. The meat from several land crabs was composited until a sufficient quantity of meat was obtained. Fiddler crabs were analyzed en masse to ensure a sufficient sample was collected for analysis.
Chemical | Range (ppm) | Average (ppm) | Frequency of Detections |
---|---|---|---|
Metals | |||
Aluminum | 2.59-14 | 7.66 | 75/104 |
Antimony | ND | ND | 0/104 |
Arsenic | 0.5-29.3 | 3.95 | 76/104 |
Barium | 0.06-6.59 | 0.24 | 80/104 |
Beryllium | 0.01-0.02 | 0.016 | 20/104 |
Cadmium | 0.08 | 0.08 | 1/104 |
Calcium | 71.3-5,330 | 777 | 104/104 |
Chromium | 0.05-1.99 | 0.16 | 98/104 |
Cobalt | 0.06-0.11 | 0.08 | 7/104 |
Copper | 0.11-8.21 | 0.56 | 97/104 |
Iron | 1.9-57.8 | 6.81 | 62/104 |
Lead | 0.16-1.94 | 0.27 | 36/104 |
Magnesium | 257-648 | 330 | 104/104 |
Manganese | 0.11-3.09 | 0.33 | 68/104 |
Mercury | 0.02-0.33 | 0.12 | 81/104 |
Methylmercury | 0.02-0.08 | 0.05 | 3/3 |
Nickel | 0.35-1.28 | 0.81 | 2/104 |
Potassium | 3,230-7,340 | 3,870 | 104/104 |
Selenium | 0.63-2.48 | 0.98 | 104/104 |
Silver | 0.07-0.11 | 0.08 | 4/104 |
Sodium | 214-2,590 | 468 | 104/104 |
Thallium | ND | ND | 0/104 |
Vanadium | 0.09 | 0.09 | 1/104 |
Zinc | 0.54-24.7 | 3.13 | 99/104 |
Explosives compounds | |||
1,3-Dinitrobenzene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
2,4-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
2,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
2-amino-4,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
4-amino-2,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
HMX | ND | ND | 0/104 |
Nitrobenzene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
Nitroglycerin | ND | ND | 0/104 |
2-Nitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
3-Nitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
4-Nitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
RDX | ND | ND | 0/104 |
Tetryl | ND | ND | 0/104 |
1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/104 |
Notes: Averages were calculated using detected values only.
Values are reported in wet weight concentrations.
ND = not detected
Chemical | Range(ppm) | Average(ppm) | Frequency of Detections |
---|---|---|---|
Metals | |||
Aluminum | 3.2-43.9 | 15.5 | 26/38 |
Antimony | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Arsenic | 1.15-48.3 | 11.1 | 28/38 |
Barium | 0.09-7.25 | 2.21 | 26/38 |
Beryllium | 0.014-0.018 | 0.016 | 5/38 |
Cadmium | 0.2-0.69 | 0.36 | 21/38 |
Calcium | 146-7,020 | 2,090 | 38/38 |
Chromium | 0.076-1.29 | 0.19 | 36/38 |
Cobalt | 0.063-0.088 | 0.079 | 7/38 |
Copper | 1.35-17.6 | 7.83 | 38/38 |
Iron | 1.62-162 | 36.3 | 14/22 |
Lead | 0.17-0.57 | 0.25 | 9/38 |
Magnesium | 251-4,350 | 1,820 | 38/38 |
Manganese | 0.16-5.06 | 2.49 | 34/38 |
Mercury | 0.018-0.049 | 0.031 | 16/38 |
Methylmercury | 0.019 | 0.019 | 1/1 |
Nickel | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Potassium | 2,510-4,540 | 3,440 | 38/38 |
Selenium | 0.43-1.16 | 0.8 | 38/38 |
Silver | 0.07-0.19 | 0.1 | 13/38 |
Sodium | 1,140-4,100 | 2,330 | 38/38 |
Thallium | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Vanadium | 0.051-0.27 | 0.11 | 16/38 |
Zinc | 5.41-96.6 | 30.1 | 38/38 |
Explosives compounds | |||
1,3-Dinitrobenzene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
2,4-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
2,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
2-amino-4,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
4-amino-2,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
HMX | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Nitrobenzene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Nitroglycerin | ND | ND | 0/38 |
2-Nitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
3-Nitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
4-Nitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
RDX | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Tetryl | ND | ND | 0/38 |
1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene | ND | ND | 0/38 |
Notes: This table only includes the results for edible species of shellfish. Please see Table 5 for a summary of the fiddler crab data.
Averages were calculated using detected values only.
Values are reported in wet weight concentrations.
The non-detected results for sixteen iron samples were regarded as unusable during the validation process because iron displayed a strong interference in the analysis of the samples (probably due to the high concentration of calcium).
ND = not detected
Chemical | Concentration (ppm) | Frequency of Detections | Chemical | Concentration (ppm) | Frequency of Detections |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Metals | Explosives compounds | ||||
Aluminum | 4.3 | 1/1 | 1,3-Dinitrobenzene | ND | 0/1 |
Antimony | ND | 0/1 | 2,4-Dinitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Arsenic | 29.3 | 1/1 | 2,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Barium | 0.15 | 1/1 | 2-amino-4,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Beryllium | ND | 0/1 | 4-amino-2,6-Dinitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Cadmium | ND | 0/1 | HMX | ND | 0/1 |
Calcium | 360 | 1/1 | Nitrobenzene | ND | 0/1 |
Chromium | 0.08 | 1/1 | Nitroglycerin | ND | 0/1 |
Cobalt | ND | 0/1 | 2-Nitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Copper | 0.36 | 1/1 | 3-Nitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Iron | ND | 0/1 | 4-Nitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Lead | ND | 0/1 | RDX | ND | 0/1 |
Magnesium | 338 | 1/1 | Tetryl | ND | 0/1 |
Manganese | ND | 0/1 | 1,3,5-Trinitrobenzene | ND | 0/1 |
Mercury | ND | 0/1 | 2,4,6-Trinitrotoluene | ND | 0/1 |
Nickel | ND | 0/1 | Notes: Values are reported in wet weight concentrations. ND = not detected |
||
Potassium | 3,825 | 1/1 | |||
Selenium | 2.5 | 1/1 | |||
Silver | ND | 0/1 | |||
Sodium | 743 | 1/1 | |||
Thallium | ND | 0/1 | |||
Vanadium | ND | 0/1 | |||
Zinc | 3.2 | 1/1 |