Selenium sediment toxicity thresholds and derivation of water quality criteria for freshwater biota of western streams
- Colorado Springs Utilities, CO (United States). Water Resources Dept.
- Chadwick Ecological Consultants, Inc., Littleton, CO (United States)
Waterborne and sediment selenium (Se) data, in conjunction with selected physicochemical parameters, were collected from streams of the middle Arkansas River basin, Colorado, USA, to examine the factors affecting sediment Se accumulation in a lotic environment. An empirical model of dissolved-to-sediment Se transfer in western streams, as an interactive function of sediment organic carbon content, was developed and validated. Sediment Se and associated biological effects data were compiled from the literature, to provide an estimate of sediment Se concentration thresholds that have biological effects. Based on this preliminary analysis, sediment Se concentrations of 2.5 {micro}g/g would be a threshold based on predicted effects and concentrations of 4.0 {micro}g/g would be the observed threshold for dish and wildlife toxicity. The dissolved-to-sediment Se transfer model can be used to translate this type of sediment Se toxicity threshold to a site-specific chronic water-quality standard for western streams based on empirically derived sediment total organic carbon values.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 514606
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Vol. 16, Issue 6; Other Information: PBD: Jun 1997
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Selenium toxicity to aquatic life: An argument for sediment-based water quality criteria
Silver toxicity to Chironomus tentans in two freshwater sediments