Willamette River Toxics Study - 1988/1991

A study was conducted to investigate the presence and effects of toxic
pollutants at 26 locations in the Willamette River and selected
tributaries by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (ODEQ)
in cooperation with the U.S. EPA and Oregon State University
(OSU). This study was used as a screening survey to add to the
existing toxic pollutant data base for the Willamette River. The
sampling sites selected were sampled in previous toxic monitoring
programs and were chosen to represent ambient levels, significant
industrial and municipal sources, and typical urban non-point source
impacts.

The study's stated objectives were to determine if bioaccumulative
toxic pollutants were present in sediment and fish tissue and to
determine the possible effects of the pollutants present on the
aquatic resources using bioassays and other aquatic life toxicity
testing methods.

The area of study was the Willamette River and tributaries

There were three to five grabs taken per sampling location. Grabs
were placed in a stainless steel bucket, homogenized, placed in a
sample jar and put on ice for shipping to the laboratory.

Target analytes are dioxins and furans; pesticides; PCBs; PAHs;
Co-planar PCBs; metals

Analytical techniques included Dioxins and furans (EPA Method 1613A);
PAHs (EPA Method 8270); Metals (EPA 600/4-82-020); PCBs and pesticides
(EPA Method 8080). All data entered in the database were reported on
a wet weight basis. Limited data for dioxin and furan monitoring at
wood treatment facilities was reported on a dry weight basis in other
sources. Total dioxin and furan concentrations were determined by the
laboratory as the sum of the individual congeners that were detected.

The information for this metadata was taken from the Columbia River
Basin: Sediment Database Abstracts.