PREP Reports & Publications

Abstract

Conducted by a committee of Canadian and US government and university scientists, Gulfwatch examines the effects of decades of development and industrialization on the water quality of the Gulf as it relates to human health primarily through assessing contaminant exposure of marine organisms. Gulfwatch scientists collect blue mussels at over 60 US and Canadian sites Gulf- wide, and analyze the organisms’ tissue for potentially harmful levels and concentrations of toxins including heavy metals, chlorinated pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

New Hampshire increased the number of Gulfwatch sampling locations from two sites per year in 1997 to an average of five sites per year from 1998-2007. The increased spatial coverage provides comprehensive information for contaminant concentrations throughout the New Hampshire estuarine waters.

All samples collected for the Gulfwatch monitoring program, from the Canadian provinces as well as the New England states involved, have been sent to the same laboratories for analysis. All of the samples have been analyzed at the same time in the same laboratories in an effort to reduce error and variability. This practice has ensured the consistency that was necessary to allow a region-wide assessment of the health of the Gulf.

During the 2007 sampling season, mussels were collected at seven sampling locations in New Hampshire (MECC, NHDP, NHHS, NHPI, NHLH, NHRH, NHBC). Clam and oyster samples were collected from four and one station, respectively (NHMG, NHYC, NHBC, NHLB for clams, NHNI for oysters). The Gulf of Maine Council covered the costs for analyzing mussel tissue samples from five stations. The NHEP covered the costs for analyzing the mussel samples at the remaining two stations. The DES Shellfish Program paid for the analysis of all the clam and oyster samples.

Department

Piscataqua Region Estuaries Partnership

Publication Date

9-30-2008

Publisher

New Hampshire Estuaries Project

Document Type

Report

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