U.S. Dept Commerce/NOAA/NMFS/NWFSC/Publications NOAA-NWFSC Tech Memo-1: Bioindicators of Contaminant Exposure in Winter Flounder Table A-1. Mean fish length (mm), age, and condition (± SD) in female winter flounder from Boston Harbor, Raritan Bay, and adjacent embayments. Numbers of animals sampled per site are in parentheses. Values in bold type are significantly different (p < 0.05, ANOVA and Fisher's LSD multiple range test) from the Niantic Bay reference site (in italics).Site Length (mm) Condition factor AgeDecember 1988Deer Island345 ± 58 (26)0.0150 ± 0.0013 (26)5.3 ± 1.8 (26)Mystic River343 ± 38 (30)0.0149 ± 0.0013 (30)5.2 ± 1.3 (30)Massachusetts Bay318 ± 31 (39)0.0144 ± 0.0001 (39)4.4 ± 1.0 (39)Duxbury Bay325 ± 28 (22)0.0140 ± 0.0010 (22)4.4 ± 0.9 (22)Narragansett Bay302 ± 48 (36)0.0124 ± 0.0018 (36)4.0 ± 1.1 (36)Niantic Bay (ref)312 ± 35 (43)0.0123 ± 0.0018 (43)4.6 ± 0.9 (43)p=0.0001p=0.0001p=0.0001October 1989Deer Island347 ± 38 (31)0.0132 ± 0.0023 (31)5.4 ± 1.2 (31)Quincy Bay363 ± 42 (29)0.0125 ± 0.0012 (29)5.9 ± 1.4 (29)Mystic River326 ± 39 (21)0.0121 ± 0.0012 (21)4.6 ± 1.3 (21)Duxbury Bay318 ± 33 (30)0.0113 ± 0.0018 (30)4.3 ± 0.9 (30)Narragansett Bay313 ± 35 (28)0.0101 ± 0.0007 (18)4.2 ± 0.8 (18)Shrewsbury317 ± 35 (32)0.0107 ± 0.0008 (30)4.3 ± 0.5 (30)Sandy Hook313 ± 37 (24)0.0110 ± 0.0005 (24)4.3 ± 0.4 (24)Old Orchard Shoals321 ± 46 (15)0.0103 ± 0.0009 (15)4.3 ± 0.5 (15)Niantic Bay (ref)305 ± 27 (28)0.0104 ± 0.0008 (28)4.4 ± 0.7 (28)p=0.0001p=0.0001p=0.0001December 1989Deer Island331 ± 60 (7)0.0124 ± 0.0011 (7)4.6 ± 1.9 (7)Mystic River342 ± 46 (36)0.0115 ± 0.0021 (36)5.2 ± 1.5 (36)Narragansett Bay298 ± 41 (34)0.0106 ± 0.0020 (34)3.9 ± 0.9 (24)Shrewsbury313 ± 38 (31)0.0098 ± 0.0023 (31)4.2 ± 0.5 (31)Gravesend275 ± 21 (30)0.010 5± 0.0011 (30)3.6 ± 0.5 (30)Old Orchard Shoals326 ± 37 (2)0.0107 (2)4.5 ± 0.7 (2)Niantic Bay (ref)297 ± 47 (26)0.0114 ± 0.0067 (26)4.4 ± 1.2 (26)p=0.0001p=0.2699p=0.0001Table A-2. Indicators of contaminant exposure (± standard deviation) in female winter flounder from Boston Harbor, Raritan Bay, and adjacent embayments. Mean values in bold type are significantly different (p < 0.05, ANOVA and Fisher's LSD multiple range test) from Niantic reference site (in italics). AHH = aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase, FACs = fluorescent aromatic compounds; PCBs = polychlorinated biphenyls, nd = not determined.Site HepaticAHH activity(pmol/mg/min) DNAadducts(pmol/g) BiliaryFACs(ng/g) BrainPCBs(ng/g wet wt) OvarianPCBs(ng/g wet wt) LiverPCBs(ng/g wet wt)December 1988Deer Island 210 ± 70(n=26) 49 ± 15(n=3) 2080 ± 580(n=8) 680 ± 150(n=6) 520 ± 80(n=11) 356 ± 94(n=3) Mystic River 60 ± 20(n=29) 51 ± 7(n=10) 14200 ± 2000(n=24) 1480 ± 650(n=6) 490 ± 60(n=8) 770 ± 256(n=5) Massachusetts Bay 210 ± 40 (n=39) 21 ± 5(n=6) 2900 ± 540(n=30) 1030 ± =240(n=6) 310 ± 30(n=9) 773 ± 376(n=3) Duxbury Bay 330 ± 70(n=22) 16 ± 3(n=10) 480 ± 180(n=13) 670 ± 200(n=3) 160 ± 30(n=6) 465 ± 42(n=3) Narragansett Bay 140 ± 40(n=36) 11 ± 1(n=3) 1580 ± 480(n=22) 500 ± 100(n=3) 360 ± 40(n=10) 412 ± 80(n=3) Niantic Bay (ref) 460 ± 70(n=42) 22 ± 3(n=7) 680 ± 200(n=28) 530 ± 100(n=3) 220 ± 20(n=7) 313 ± 39(n=2) p=0.0001 p=0.0001 p=0.0001 p=0.3372 p=0.0004 p=0.5711 October 1989Deer Island 730 ± 190(n=13)nd 1100 ± 150(n=10) 480 ± 50(n=13) 180 ± 20(n=7) 1149 ± 138(n=9)Quincy Bay 960 ± 340(n=9)nd 1400 ± 270(n=11) 630 ± = 70(n=11) 290 ± 30(n=6) 1018 ± 143(n=6)Mystic River 590 ± 180(n=9) nd 5000 ± 780(n=10)1500 ± 570(n=10) 350 ± 40(n=6) 1456 ± 339(n=6)Duxbury Bay 290 ± 90(n=6 nd 560 ± 130(n=16) 730 ± 80(n=17) 100 ± 10(n=6) 639 ± 83(n=13)Narragansett Bay 740 ± 180(n=7)nd 1700± 450(n=7)820 ± 110(n=7) 140± 20(n=6) 956± 95(n=7)Shrewsbury 750 ± 170(n=6) 29 + 3(n=3) 2300 + 340(n=6)750 ± 90(n=6) 350 ± 50(n=6) 2336 +       435(n=6)Sandy HookChannel 466 ± 159(n=6) 38 + 3(n=6) 1600 + 370(n=4) 720 ± 80(n=6) 440 ± 70(n=6) 2080 + 344(n=6)Old OrchardShoals320 ± 118 (n=6) 30 + 1(n=4) 4100 + 900 (n=5) 790 ± 120(n=6) 310 ± 30(n=6) 1337 + 226(n=6)Niantic Bay (ref) 1100 ± 280(n=8) nd 660 ± 180(n=6) 510 ± 90(n=6) 110 ± 10(n=5) 1228 ± 185(n=7)p=0.2726 p=0.1084 p=0.0001 p=0.0918 p=0.0001 p=0.0001December 1989Deer Island 520 ± 180 (n=6)nd 1070 + 310(n=4) 480 ± 40(n=4) ndndMystic River 780 ± 170 (n=21) nd 4600 + 660 (n=21) 590 ± 40(n=9) ndndNarragansett Bay 470 ± 170 (n=13)nd 1800 + 880(n=8) 490 ± 90(n=10) ndndShrewsbury 100 ± 50 (n=6) nd 630 + 120(n=9) 1100 ± 90(n=10)ndndGravesend 230 ± 60(n=11)nd 1900 + 360(n=10) 1000 + 110(n=10) ndndNiantic Bay (ref) 910 ± 230(n=15)nd 230 + 30(n=14) 930 ± 90 (n=10) ndndp=0.017 p=0.0001 p=0.0001 Table A-3. Liver pathology in female winter flounder from Boston Harbor, Raritan Bay, and adjacent embayments. Values in bold type are significantly different (p < 0.05, G-statistic) from Niantic reference site (in italics). Site n Neoplasms Foci of cellularalteration HydropicvacuolationProliferativelesionsDecember 1988Deer Island 2600 12 8 Mystic River 39 3 3 20 13Massachusetts Bay 3000 30Duxbury Bay 2200 00Narragansett Bay 3600 110 Niantic Bay (ref)430000October 1989Deer Island3100296Quincy Bay2804257Mystic River21005210Duxbury Bay    29     0     7    7     0   Narragansett Bay1806176Shrewsbury30004320Sandy Hook 240134617Old Orchard Shoals1507677Niantic Bay (ref)2807180December 1989Deer Island7004314Mystic River36086411Narragansett Bay3303210Shrewsbury    30     0     0    20     0   Old Orchard Shoals20000Gravesend Bay2900143Niantic Bay (ref)260040Table A-4. Indicators of reproductive activity (± standard deviation) in female winter flounder from Boston Harbor, Raritan Bay, and adjacent embayments. Values in bold type are significantly different (p <0 .05) from those at the Niantic Bay reference site (in italics). Intersite differences in GSI, estradiol, fecundity, and egg weight were evaluated using ANOVA and Fisher's LSD multiple range test. Intersite differences in % vitellognenic females and % vitellogenic females with atresia were evaluated using the G-statistic. Numbers of animals sampled per site are in parentheses. nd = not determined SiteGonadosomaticindex%Vitellogenicfemales% Females withatresiaEstradiol(pg/ml)Fecundity(egg number)Egg weight(μg/egg)December 1988Deer Island13.8 ± 2.4 (26)75 (26)12 (17)10700 ± 9200 (26)ndndMystic River15.1 ± 1.2 (30)100 (30)23 (26)19000 ± 18000 (30)ndndMassachusetts Bay9.4 ± 0 .9 (39)79 (39)33 (30)7600 ± 6500 (39)ndndDuxbury Bay8.3 ± 1.1 (22)71 (22)13 (15)10500 ± 16900(22)ndndNarragansett Bay14.4 ± 1.1 (36)91 (36)26 (31)21000 ± 21000 (36)ndndNiantic Bay (ref)10.7 ± 1.4 (43)56 (43)13 (24)13300 ± 16800 (43)ndndp=0.0046p=0.0006p=0.1148p=0.0044October 1989 Deer Island4.3 ± 2.2 (31)87 (31)15 (27)10000 ± 6800 (31)ndndQuincy Bay5.2 ± 2.8 (29)82 (28)17 (23)9300 ± 5100 (28)ndndMystic River4.3 ± 2.6 (21)76 (21)57 (16)12100 ± 8500 (21)ndndDuxbury Bay2.8 ± 2.0 (29)57 (28)38 (16)4500 ± 4400 (30)ndndNarragansett Bay3.4 ± 1.1 (18)81 (17)8 (13)4700 ± 2700 (18)ndndShrewsbury7.0 ± 2.4 (30)100 (30)13 (30)20500 ± 6800 (28)ndndSandy Hook 6.6 ± 2.0 (24)100 (24)38 (24)8500 ± 4100 (24)ndndOld Orchard Shoals6.6 ± 2.8 (15)100 (15)20 (15)20300 ± 9700(15)ndndNiantic Bay (ref)4.2 ± 1.2 (28)89 (27)38 (24)9400 ± 6000 (27)ndndp=0.0001p=0.0001p=0.0301p=0.0001December 1989 Deer Island8.9 ± 8.2 (7)57 (7)25 (4)15900 ± 20400 (7)464000 ± 10000016.8 ± 3.6Mystic River9.7 ± 8.1 (36)71 (34)50 (24)14700 ± 8500 (34)545000 ± 8750016.8 ± 1.1Narragansett Bay14.2 ± 6.4 (33)86 (29)16 (25)18800 ± 12300 (30)422000 ± 9100019.6 ± 1.3Shrewsbury19.7 ± 7.9 (30)100 (29)10 (29)22100 ± 15800 (30)438000 ± 7000019.8 ± 1.3Gravesend15.8 ± 4.7 (30)97 (29)38 (29)11400± 8000 (29)303000 ± 3200018.9 ± 1.4Old Orchard Shoals18.0 ± 5.5 (2)100 (2)0 (2)27000 ± 18400 (2)ndndNiantic Bay (ref)11.5 ± 6.9 (26)77 (26)10 (20)11300 ± 10400 (26)359000 ± 5600020.2 ± 1.6p=0.0001p=0.0038p=0.0167p=0.05p=0.2476p=0.5373