Freshwater Bivalves as Localized Indicators of Anthropogenic Pollution Throughout the Appalachian Basin

Restricted (Penn State Only)
- Author:
- Pankratz, Katharina
- Graduate Program:
- Environmental Engineering
- Degree:
- Doctor of Philosophy
- Document Type:
- Dissertation
- Date of Defense:
- May 14, 2024
- Committee Members:
- Farshad Rajabipour, Program Head/Chair
William Burgos, Co-Chair of Committee
C. Guilherme Becker, Outside Unit & Field Member
Jay Regan, Major Field Member
Nathaniel Warner, Co-Chair & Dissertation Advisor - Keywords:
- Biomonitor
NORM
Oil and Gas Produced Water
Coal Mining Discharges
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances
Microplastics
Invasive Clam
Freshwater Mussel - Abstract:
- Freshwater mussels and invasive clams, bivalve mollusks found in freshwater bodies across the Appalachian basin, play crucial roles as filter-feeders in streambeds. Despite their efficiency in filtering large volumes of water and acquiring nutrients, their sedentary nature renders them vulnerable to local pollution and accumulation of contaminants. Anthropogenic disturbances have compromised the abundance and distribution of these species, prompting increased research into their conservation, ecology, and toxicology. This dissertation explores wastewater impacts on freshwater streams investigating bivalve contaminant accumulation, biomonitoring capabilities, and juvenile recruitment in areas experiencing population declines. Chapter 2 explores freshwater mussels in habitats with legacy oil and gas produced water (OGPW) exposures. This study assessed the impact of these disposals on adult, Eurynia dilatata, mussels near a centralized waste treatment facility along the Allegheny River with known radium contamination in the streambed sediment. Radium isotopes (226Ra and 228Ra) were measured in streambed sediment, mussel soft tissue, and mussel hard shell collected upstream, at the outfall, 0.5 km downstream, and 5 km downstream of the CWT. Total radium activity was significantly higher (p<0.05) in downstream mussel tissue (mean = 3.44 ± 0.95 pCi/g), sediment (mean = 1.45 ± 0.19 pCi/g), and hard shell (mean = 0.34 ± 0.11 pCi/g) samples than background samples collected upstream (mean = 1.27 ± 0.24; 0.91 ± 0.09; 0.10 ± 0.02 pCi/g respectively). Mussel shells displayed increased 226Ra activities up to 5km downstream of the original discharge. Downstream soft tissue and hard shell 87Sr/86Sr ratios, as well as hard shell metal/calcium (e.g., Na/Ca; K/Ca; Mg/Ca) and 228Ra/226Ra ratios demonstrated trends towards values characteristic of Marcellus OGPW. With a combined effort of multiple fingerprinting tools, this study demonstrates multiple lines of evidence for radium retention and bioaccumulation in freshwater mussels resulting from exposure to Marcellus OGPWs. Chapter 3 examines the impact of multiple pollution sources, specifically OGPW and coal mine discharges (CMDs), on juvenile freshwater mussel growth in the Dunkard Creek watershed. In 2009, a significant increase in salinity, caused by an accidental release of mine treatment water, led to widespread mortality among aquatic species. Despite improved water quality and survival of adult mussels, native recruitment of juveniles remains absent a decade later. Juvenile and adult, Lampsilis cardium, mussels were deployed downstream of the spill site to assess survivability, revealing low mortality rates but reduced growth at downstream locations. Water chemistry analyses identified elevated sulfate and conductivity downstream of Miracle Run tributary, with increased metals such as calcium, magnesium, strontium, and barium downstream during low flow. Metal to calcium ratios in mussel tissue suggest local OGPW influence at one site while strontium isotopic analysis suggest a separate waste source at another. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) highlighted mixed sources of OGPWs and CMDs throughout the watershed, emphasizing the complex relationship between anthropogenic activities and juvenile mussel populations, which may explain the lack of natural recruitment. Overall, this study demonstrates the complex interplay between anthropogenic activities and juvenile mussels in receiving streams, giving insight as to why we aren’t noticing natural recruitment. Chapter 4 explores the ability to utilize invasive freshwater clam species as biological indicators of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) contamination. PFAS groundwater contamination was discovered in the Little Neshaminy Creek watershed, Pennsylvania, adjacent to two former military bases with historical aqueous film-forming firefighting foam use leading to subsequent PFAS contamination. PFAS concentrations were analyzed in surface water, sediment, and invasive Asian clam tissue. Results indicated elevated PFAS levels, with present ΣPFAS19 ranging from 40 to 248 ng/L in surface water, ΣPFAS8 from 491 to 1081 ng/kg in sediment, and ΣPFAS5 from 428 to 2796 ng/kg in clam tissue. Perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) predominated in all matrices. Partition coefficients revealed significant bioaccumulation potential, especially for PFOS. Linear regressions between tissue and environmental sediment (R2 = 0.56; p < 0.02) and water (R2 = 0.86; p < 0.0003) PFOS concentrations suggest clam tissue as a biological indicator of PFOS contamination. The correlation between organic matter, carbonate content, and sediment PFOS concentrations was investigated; however, no apparent correlation was discovered, contrary to previous studies in lake and ocean environments. This study demonstrates the environmental impact of PFAS, particularly near military installations, and highlights the potential of freshwater bivalves as biomonitors for PFAS contamination in aquatic ecosystems. Lastly, chapter 5 investigates the presence and distribution of MPs in the Allegheny River watershed, focusing on bivalve tissues, sediment, and water samples collected from various locations. Through meticulous sampling and analysis, this study demonstrates the widespread occurrence of MPs, with fibers being the predominant morphology observed. A positive relationship was observed between microplastic concentrations (particles/ g ww) in Corbicula fluminea, invasive Asian clam, tissues and those in water (particles/L) and sediment (particles / g dw) samples (R2 = 0.67;0.70, p < 0.0001), indicating the potential of invasive clam species as effective biomonitoring tools for assessing microplastic pollution. A generalized linear regression model explored the relationships between microplastic concentrations in bivalve tissues and environmental parameters within the watershed, revealing catchment area, percentage of urban development, and proximity to sewage treatment discharges as significant predictors of microplastic accumulation. These findings provide valuable insights into the sources and distribution of microplastics in freshwater environments, facilitating targeted mitigation efforts and further research to understand the ecological implications of microplastic contamination. The combined results of these studies provide a detailed understanding of the complex interplay between human actions, water quality, and the well-being of freshwater mussel and clam communities across different watersheds. Across multiple chapters, evidence consistently highlights the efficacy of bivalves as indicators of pollution from various sources, even with limited and sustainable sampling methods. Adult bivalve shells and tissues effectively mirror water and sediment quality by accumulating organic and inorganic contaminants, predominantly of anthropogenic origin. However, concerns persist regarding the vulnerability of younger individuals to these exposures' adverse effects. Despite water quality improvements in some watersheds, the absence of native recruitment of juvenile mussels indicates ongoing stress and reproductive constraints. Moving forward, future research should prioritize understanding the long-term ecological consequences of contaminant exposure on freshwater mussel populations, emphasizing small sample sizes and the use of invasive species for large-scale biomonitoring purposes understanding their role as ecosystem engineers.