Assessment of aquatic animal communities in the vicinity of the Palmerton, Pennsylvania, zinc smelters
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Park, PA (United States). Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
Emissions from zinc smelters in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, deposited large quantities of heavy metals, predominantly Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd, on the surrounding landscape from 1898 to 1980. From 1986 to 1987 the authors studied four small headwater streams that were about 8 to 25 km downwind of the smelters to determine if long-term deposition of heavy metals had any pronounced effects on aquatic communities. Although metal concentrations in soils tended to decrease with increasing distance from the smelters, this trend was not particularly evident in stream sediments, insects, or fish. Diversities of macroinvertebrates and fish were similar among sites. Densities and growth of trout varied among streams, but no in relation to distance from the smelters. They concluded that long-term deposition of heavy metals has not had pronounced effects on aquatic animal communities six to seven years after cessation of primary smelting.
- OSTI ID:
- 5596784
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 12:9; ISSN 0730-7268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Superfund Record of Decision (EPA Region 3): Palmerton Zinc Pile, Pennsylvania (second remedial action), September 1988
Health assessment for Palmerton Zinc, Palmerton, Pennsylvania, Region 3. CERCLIS No. PAD002395887. Final report
Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
CADMIUM
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
COPPER
FISHES
SENSITIVITY
INSECTS
LEAD
PENNSYLVANIA
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
SMELTERS
STREAMS
ANIMALS
ARTHROPODS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology