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    • Benthic and tissue toxin data from stations in U.S. coastal waters from 1984-01-01 to 1989-12-31 (NCEI Accession 9300199)

    Metadata Updated: December 1, 2025

    The accession contains Benthic and Tissue toxin data from stations in U.S. coastal waters (Coastal Waters of Western U.S. and North American Coastline-North) collected under the National Status and Trends (NS&T) program from 1984-1989. NS&T program for marine environmental quality was designed to define the geographic distribution of contaminant concentrations in tissues of marine organisms and sediments, and documenting biological responses to contamination.

    Samples have been collected under the original Benthic Surveillance Project (sediment and tissue samples from benthic fish) since 1984. Samples have been collected under the Mussel Watch Project (sediment and bivalves) since 1986. Both programs involved collecting samples from fixed sites on both Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Sites were selected so as not to be in close proximity to a major contamination source, as the programs objective was to quantify contamination over general areas. Chemical data from sediments collected during the benthic surveillance project, 1984-1986, is contained in a single delimited ASCII file (bssed.txt). Additional contaminated sediment data from the mussel watch program, 1986-1989, is contained in a single delimited ASCII file (mwsed.txt). These data do not include tissue analysis for contaminants. Chemicals and related parameters measured in sediments include: DDT.

    Since 1986, NOAA'S NS&T Program has included a component called the mussel watch project that has annually collected and chemically analyzed mussels and oysters from 177 sites at coastal and estuarine sites. Tissue samples from these mollusks have been analyzed to establish temporal trends of contaminant accumulation. Contaminants analyzed during this project include: polyaromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, chlorinated pesticides (such as DDT and its metabolites), aluminum, iron, manganese, silicon, other trace elements, and lipids. Tissue contaminant data from the mussel watch project, years 1986-1989, is contained in a single wordperfect 4.2 file, mollto90.txt. A second file, tbt_90.txt, lists the sum of concentrations of tributyltin and its breakdown products (dibutyltin and monobutyltin) found in bivalve tissue samples. Tributyltin (TBT) was previously used as an antifouling agent in paints, but its use on vessels under 75 feet was banned in 1988. A third file, mwsiteyr.txt, lists collection sites.

    Access & Use Information

    License: No license information was provided. If this work was prepared by an officer or employee of the United States government as part of that person's official duties it is considered a U.S. Government Work.

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    Dates

    Metadata Date 2025-03-19T23:16:26Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date December 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) November 19, 2002 (publication), August 13, 2023 (revision)
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded

    Metadata Source

    Harvested from NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions

    Other Data Resources

    Graphic Preview

    Preview graphic

    Additional Metadata

    Resource Type Dataset
    Metadata Date 2025-03-19T23:16:26Z
    Metadata Created Date December 4, 2020
    Metadata Updated Date December 1, 2025
    Reference Date(s) November 19, 2002 (publication), August 13, 2023 (revision)
    Responsible Party (Point of Contact)
    Contact Email
    Guid gov.noaa.nodc:9300199
    Access Constraints Cite as: Parker, Charles A.; NOAA National Ocean Service (2002). Benthic and tissue toxin data from stations in U.S. coastal waters from 1984-01-01 to 1989-12-31 (NCEI Accession 9300199). [indicate subset used]. NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information. Dataset. https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/archive/accession/9300199. Accessed [date]., Use liability: NOAA and NCEI cannot provide any warranty as to the accuracy, reliability, or completeness of furnished data. Users assume responsibility to determine the usability of these data. The user is responsible for the results of any application of this data for other than its intended purpose.
    Bbox East Long -66.18
    Bbox North Lat 70.5
    Bbox South Lat 17.94
    Bbox West Long -166.5
    Coupled Resource
    Frequency Of Update asNeeded
    Graphic Preview Description Preview graphic
    Graphic Preview File https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/metadata/landing-page/bin/gfx?id=gov.noaa.nodc:9300199
    Graphic Preview Type PNG
    Harvest Object Id 5d9dee93-fd2a-4a59-b7b7-4a225f9d022c
    Harvest Source Id c084a438-6f6b-470d-93e0-16aeddb9f513
    Harvest Source Title NOAA/NESDIS/ncei/accessions
    Licence accessLevel: Public
    Lineage
    Metadata Language eng
    Metadata Type geospatial
    Old Spatial {"type": "Polygon", "coordinates": [[[-166.5, 17.94], [-66.18, 17.94], [-66.18, 70.5], [-166.5, 70.5], [-166.5, 17.94]]]}
    Progress completed
    Spatial Data Service Type
    Spatial Reference System
    Spatial Harvester True
    Temporal Extent Begin 1984-01-01
    Temporal Extent End 1989-12-31

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