Toxic Contaminants Workgroup Projects and Resources
2023 TCW PFAS Quarterly Meetings and Resources
The TCW holds quarterly meetings dedicated to the subject of Per- and Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS). A consolidation of materials and resources will be posted here concerning each of the meeting topics:
- February 8, 2023 - Working towards common analytical and field methods and approaches.
- May 10, 2023 - Development of fish consumption advisories and aquatic species criteria.
- August 9, 2023 - Improving our Understanding of Land-Applied Biosolids
- December 13, 2023 - TBD
Materials coming soon.
- FINAL STAC PFAS Report (pdf - 2.022 MB)
Toxic Contaminant Targeting Tools
A collection of geospatial layers associated with Chesapeake Bay toxic contaminant issues.
Layers include:
- Fish Consumption Impairments
- PCB Impairments
- Mercury Impairments
- Toxic Release Inventory (EPA)
Go to Mercury in Freshwater Fish of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Story Map
Go to Endocrine Disrupting Compounds in the Chesapeake Story Map
Go to Toxic Impairments in the Tidal Chesapeake Bay Indicator (ChesapeakeProgress)
Enhanced Monitoring of Toxic Contaminants: Responding to the PSC Request
- TCW PCB Monitoring Discussion Paper (final dec 2021) (pdf - 421.948 KB)
- TCW PCB Monitoring Paper: Executive Summary (final dec 2021) (pdf - 259.755 KB)
STAC Workshop on Contaminants in Urban and Agricultural Settings
A wide range of contaminants of agricultural, human, and industrial origin have degraded water quality, and pose a threat to the health of fish and wildlife populations in the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. A STAC workshop brought together researchers and water quality managers working in urban and agricultural settings to synthesize the current knowledge on contaminants of concern, and discuss opportunities for their reduction.
- Cbp response to stac recommendations for cec workshop approved wqgit jul27 mb oct15 (pdf - 681.394 KB)
- Final STAC Contaminants of Concern (pdf - 1.367 MB)
- Cbp article a cocktail of contaminants in chesapeake waters (pdf - 1.183 MB)
Fish Consumption Advisory Project
Joint project with the Chesapeake Bay Program Diversity Workgroup to develop effective communication tools for populations at high risk for PCB exposure through fish consumption in waters impaired by polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). These populations include children and those who are pregnant or may become pregnant in communities with high rates of subsistence fishing, and especially linguistically isolated populations or populations who do not have regular access to the publication avenues commonly used by state governments and municipalities.
Spanish video available here.
Project Infographics
The Chesapeake Bay Program developed the Fish Consumption Advisory (FCA) infographic and an accompanying user guide (below) in order to better communicate the dangers of toxic contaminants in locally caught fish and the subsequent risks to human health. The FCA infographic is intended to raise awareness about the risks of consuming contaminated fish by highlighting safe angling and cooking practices in a simple, easy-to-understand and relevant fashion. The infographic features four panels that collectively promote the safe catching, sharing, preparing and consumption of fish.
- Literature review summary final 11 22 16 (pdf - 955.925 KB)
- Fca user guide december 2020 (pdf - 1.203 MB)
- Fish adv infographic english header (pdf - 225.242 KB)
- Fish adv infographic english panel 4 (pdf - 789.223 KB)
- Fish adv infographic english panel 3 (pdf - 2.098 MB)
- Fish adv infographic english panel 2 (pdf - 8.082 MB)
- Fish adv infographic english panel 1 (pdf - 1.305 MB)
- Fish adv infographic english print v2 (pdf - 11.759 MB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal footer (pdf - 537.627 KB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel4 (pdf - 799.857 KB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel3 (pdf - 2.167 MB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel2 (pdf - 8.085 MB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal panel1 (pdf - 1.306 MB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal web (pdf - 10.568 MB)
- Fca public comment (pdf - 375.635 KB)
- Developing a social marketing plan (pdf - 163.42 KB)
- Spicy fish recipe english 2 (pdf - 1.903 MB)
- Spicy fish recipe spanish (pdf - 1.961 MB)
- Fish adv infographic spn informal header (pdf - 348.294 KB)
- Fish adv infographic english footer (pdf - 473.903 KB)
Toxic Contaminants Workgroup Management Strategies and Work Plans
Since the signing of the Watershed Agreement in June 2014, our Goal Implementation Teams have been crafting "management strategies" that describe the steps necessary to achieve the Agreement's Vision.
These management strategies offer insight into the Bay Program partners' proposals for reaching each outcome by 2025, as well as how we monitor, assess and report progress towards abundant life, clean waters, engaged communities, conserved lands and climate change resilience. The strategies provide broad, overarching direction and are further supported by two-year work plans summarizing the specific commitments, short-term actions and resources required for success.
The Toxic Contaminants Workgroup oversees progress towards acheiving the Toxic Contaminants Research Outcome, and the Toxic Contaminants Policy and Prevention Outcome.
- 2021 22 toxic research logic and action plan 2 (pdf - 252.053 KB)
- III.a. Toxic Contaminants Policy and Prevention Management Strategy (pdf - 585.981 KB)
- VII.c Toxic Contaminants Policy and Prevention Logic and Action Plan (pdf - 237.339 KB)
- Toxics research ms 2020 (pdf - 1 MB)