News Release

Contaminants baseline established for streams in the Lower Susquhanna River Basin

Detectable concentrations of pesticides, other organic compounds, and metals were measured in samples of streambed sediment and samples of fish tissue during a survey of streams within the Lower Susquehanna River Basin, according to scientists from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), U.S. Department of the Interior. Although some of these contaminants are known to pose health risks to humans and aquatic life at elevated concentrations, the Pennsylvania Interagency Workgroup on fish-tissue contaminants (composed of representatives of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and Pennsylvania Department of Health) reviewed the data collected by the USGS and concluded that no public health advisories were warranted for the fish species--white sucker or smallmouth bass-- collected at any of the sampling locations.

The survey was conducted in the early fall of 1992 at 18 sites and was repeated at selected sites in the summer of 1993 as part of the USGS-funded National Water-Quality Assessment program (NAWQA). NAWQA is the first ever nationwide assessment of the nation's water resources. The objective of the survey was to determine the occurrence and distribution of certain contaminants at sites on the Susquehanna River and selected tributaries and to see how widespread the detected contaminants were within the Lower Susquehanna River Basin. "Of the 77 contaminants analyzed in bed sediment and fish tissue, 62 were measured at detectable concentrations somewhere within the basin, including 23 of 34 pesticides and 38 of 43 metals. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB's) also were detected,"said Kevin J. Breen, USGS Hydrologist and Chief of the Lower Susquehanna River NAWQA study, Lemoyne, Pa.

The study results confirmed the presence of contaminants detected previously throughout the northeastern United States, including total PCB's; organochlorine pesticides such as chlordane, DDT, dieldrin, and nonachlor; and most of the metals. Many of the organic compounds have been banned for use since the 1970's, but still persist at detectable concentrations. "Collection of another set of fish-tissue samples was completed this year," Breen said. "A third year of data will help to define the contaminant concentrations at certain sites, and the results will help establish basline information that will enable the USGS and other agencies to assess water-quality conditions in the Lower Susquehanna River Basin with improved accuracy."

The following is a listing of the sites sampled, see map for locations.

01. Susquehanna River at Danville, Pa.
02. West Branch Susquehanna River at Lewisburg, Pa.
03. Penns Creek at Spring Mills, Pa.
04. Mahanoy Creek near Gowen City, Pa. (sediment only)
05. West Mahantango Creek near Liverpool, Pa.
06. Kishacoquillas Creek at Lewistown, Pa.
07. Frankstown Branch Juniata River near Hollidaysburg, Pa.
08. Juniata River at Newport, Pa.
09. Quittapahilla Creek near Palmyra, Pa.
10. Swatara Creek at Hershey, Pa.
11. Mill Creek near Lyndon, Pa.
12. Big Beaver Creek at Refton, Pa.
13. East Branch Octoraro Creek near Kirkwood, Pa.
14. Conestoga River near Safe Harbor, Pa.
15. Codorus Creek near Pleasureville, Pa.
16. Deer Creek at Gorsuch Mills, Md.
17. Susquehanna River at Columbia, Pa. (fish tissue only)
18. Susquehanna River at Conowingo Reservoir (sediment only)

Further information on the survey and on the specific data for each sampling site can be obtained from Kevin J. Breen or Michael D. Bilger (New Cumberland, PA) at (717) 730-6900

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