Fish in aquatic systems can be exposed to and accumulate toxic chemical pollutants, causing disease, and posing a threat to humans who consume them. The indicators for this Vital Sign track a few important pollutants in Puget Sound and are considered signs and symptoms of fish health related to exposure to these pollutants. The toxic chemicals pollutants tracked in Puget Sound fish include those that last for a long time in the ecosystem and which increase in predators as the chemicals move through food webs. Measuring these pollutants in fish tissues tells us whether current levels are harmful to the fish or the predators that consume them and whether they are safe for humans to eat.
The Toxics in Fish Vital Sign focuses on four classes of pollutants in several fish species and includes:
- PCBs (Polychlorinated biphenyls) - PCBs are man-made organic chemicals that were produced domestically from 1929 until manufacturing was banned in 1979. PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications, and are found in trace amounts today.
- PBDEs (Polybrominated diphenyl ethers) – PBDEs are used as flame retardants in a wide array of products such as electronics, motor vehicles parts, plastics, foams, and textiles. The production of some types of PBDEs is banned and their use in consumer products is restricted.
- PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) – PAHs are found in petroleum products and also produced through burning fossil fuels.
- EDCs (Endocrine Disrupting Compounds) – EDCs are a wide class of compounds that impact reproduction and development.
| VITAL SIGN INDICATOR | PROGRESS | STATUS |
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| VITAL SIGN INDICATOR | PROGRESS | STATUS |
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Key Messages
Contaminants are monitored in a variety of species and areas of Puget Sound. Results are not the same for all species and areas. Some show declines, while others are either not changing or increasing.
PBDEs are found in many fish, however, levels in monitored species and locations are generally decreasing.
- PBDEs declined in bottomfish from two high and one low development sites and remained unchanged at the remaining seven sites.
- Declining PBDE trends were observed in all four herring populations sampled.
- Despite these declines, approximately 15 percent of juvenile Chinook salmon sampled from throughout the Puget Sound were exposed to PBDEs at levels of concern.
While fish continue to come into contact with PAHs, fish health in some areas of the Sound has improved somewhat based on reduced exposure to PAHs.
- PAH-related liver disease has declined in bottomfish throughout the Sound.
- Midwater fish (herring) continue to be exposed to high levels of PAHs, particularly in central and southern Puget Sound.
- Less than 5 percent of juvenile chinook salmon were exposed to PAHs at levels that may affect their health.
PCBs are still high in many fish, though results are mixed depending on location and species.
- Bottom fish in 70 percent of sampled locations were exposed to PCBs at levels of concern and trends in most of those areas are getting worse. The remaining 30 percent of locations have shown no PCB decline.
- Half of the monitored herring populations (those in central and southern Puget Sound) were exposed to PCBs at levels of concern, with no signs of improvement. PCBs in the remaining half (those from northern Puget Sound) were below levels of concern and are showing improving trends.
- Approximately one-third of juvenile Chinook salmon sampled from throughout the Puget Sound were exposed to PCBs at levels of concern
Fish are exposed to EDCs, particularly in urban bays. The indicator for this group of chemicals is currently under development.
- Predicted health impacts for some toxic chemical pollutants are based on thresholds developed in lab studies designed to identify how much chemical exposure fish can tolerate before they exhibit disease. It is important to note that the science related to establishing thresholds is evolving.
Additional Puget Sound monitoring indicates (from the Toxics Monitoring Synthesis report):
- Contaminants of emerging concern such as EDCs and microplastics are widespread and frequently detected.
- Contaminant source control and cleanup have been effective in reducing sediment contamination in many areas.
- On-the-ground remediation of contaminated sites is ongoing throughout the region.
- Stormwater impacts and responses are being addressed through coordinated regional efforts.
Strategies, Actions, and Effectiveness
- Accelerating progress toward recovery of the Toxics in Fish Vital Sign is a priority focus area for the Partnership's 2018 Action Agenda (scroll to the bottom of the page to view and download activities in the 2018 Action Agenda).
- Toxics in Fish Implementation Strategy
- Restoration and protection projects funded by the National Estuary Program (eventually, we would like to point to projects in the National Estuary Atlas in Puget Sound Info)
- What's working to restore Puget Sound? Answers from effectiveness evaluations
Background Documents
Other Resources
- Articles related to toxic contaminants in the Encyclopedia Of Puget Sound
- PSEMP Toxics Monitoring Synthesis (produced every two years)
Contributing Partners
Toxics-focused Biological Observing System (T-BiOS), Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife