and assaying for P4, one could assess the avail-
Hunter, L.E., D.E. Lawson, and S.R. Bigl (1997)
Recession of tidal creeks at Eagle River Flats, Fort
ability of P4 in the area. However, before the
Richardson, Alaska. In Proceedings, Cook Inlet
implementation of this monitoring system, the
Symposium, Anchorage, Alaska, p. 14.
transfer and distribution of P4 in eggs needs to be
Tidal creeks were monitored as part of the site
explored. We dosed egg laying hens (Gallus
characterization of Eagle River Flats (ERF), a sub-
domesticus) with 1 mg/kg or 3 mg/kg of P4 and
arctic salt marsh in Upper Cook Inlet. Physical
their eggs were collected and analyzed for P4. The
system studies have characterized surface water
yolk and the white were separated and P4 was
quality, tidal dynamics, sedimentation, sediment
extracted into isooctane and quantified by gas
transport, and tidal creek erosion to assess white
chromatography. For both doses, P4 was detected
phosphorus fate and transport, and to evaluate
predominately in the yolk 2 days after dosing. P4
natural remediation. Aerial photographic analy-
was detected until 6 days after dosing at 1 mg/kg
ses and recent monitoring indicate that tidal
and until 8 days for the higher dose. On the aver-
creek evolution is dynamic and important in con-
age, the total P4 recovered in eggs was less than
trolling changes in the salt marsh ecosystem and
0.01%.
surface hydrology. Rates of headward recession
ranged from nearly negligible inland to >30 m/yr
Nam, S.I., B.D. Roebuck, and M.E. Walsh (1993)
near the coast. Headward recession is often
The role of phosphine in white phosphorus toxic-
ity. In Proceedings, SETAC 14th Annual Meeting,
orders of magnitude larger than lateral recession,
1418 November, Houston, Texas, p. 252.
while the spatial relationship between recession
White phosphorus, P4, has been implicated in
types is similar on both sides of the Eagle River.
Apparent controls on recession rates are the
thousands of waterfowl deaths in Eagle River
height of the flooding tidal prism, timing of
Flats, Anchorage, Alaska. Lethality, however,
spring flooding following thaw, surface vegeta-
tion, topography, buried peat horizons, and
in the gizzard, nor in the fatty tissues of these
headwall distance from the Knik Arm or Eagle
ducks. It has been hypothesized that the toxicity
River. Headward recession of tidal creeks appears
of P4 may be attributable to its metabolites rather
cyclic and linked to recurrent earthquake events.
than the parent compound. In vitro studies were
Recession rates increased following the 1964
undertaken to determine if phosphine (PH3), a
earthquake, resulting in deeply incised tidal
toxic gas, was generated from P4 by various rat
creeks that are the main water pathways during
tissues. Liver and small intestine tissues and
tidal flood and ebb. Tidal creek dynamics are cap-
cecum contents of the gastrointestinal tract of the
able of causing rapid changes in surface hydrolo-
F344 rat were used. Tissue homogenates were
gy that can affect contaminant transport and
made with 0.3 M Tris (pH 7.4) and placed in 40-
mL vials. One set of samples was boiled for 10
decomposition.
minutes to denature enzymes and microbes.
Samples were incubated in a 37oC water bath pri-
Nam, S.I., D.L. MacMillan, and B.D. Roebuck
or to and subsequent to the addition of P4 (1 mg).
(1994) Deposition and distribution of white phos-
Phosphine was determined and quantified by GC
phorus into chicken eggs. In Proceedings, SETAC
15th Annual Meeting, 30 October3 November, Den-
at times up to 2 hours after P4 exposure. By 2
ver, Colorado, p. 3.
hours, all samples produced phosphine close to
The thousands of waterfowl deaths occurring
toxic concentrations (365 ppm). PH3 concentra-
at Eagle River Flats, Anchorage, Alaska, have
tions in boiled and non-boiled samples were sim-
been attributed to the ingestion of unoxidized
ilar, thus indicating that the formation of PH3
white phosphorus (P4) particles. With the recog-
from P4 may be a nonenzymatic reaction. Fur-
nition of P4 as the toxicant, numerous plans are
thermore, the toxicity of P4-exposed waterfowl
being implemented to mitigate the contaminated
may be ascribable to PH3 rather than P4.
areas. Methods are also in development to moni-
tor the effectiveness of the cleanup process. One
Nam, S.I., B.D. Roebuck, M.E. Walsh, and C.H.
proposed method is to monitor herring gull eggs.
Racine (1992) Biotransfer and accumulation of
It has been documented that the herring gulls in
white phosphorus. In Proceedings, SETAC 13th
Eagle River Flats are consuming ducks from the
Annual Meeting, 812 November, Cincinnati, Ohio.
contaminated areas and are directly exposed to
Eagle River Flats, a marsh located near Anchor-
P4. So by collecting the eggs of the herring gulls,
age, Alaska, has been the site of thousands of
27
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