Toxicity of metal-contaminated sediments from the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to aquatic invertebrates and fish in laboratory exposures
- National Biological Survey, Columbia, MO (United States). Midwest Science Center
- Pyramid Lake Fisheries, Sutcliffe, NV (United States)
- National Biological Survey, Jackson, WY (United States). Midwest Science Center
Sediments of the upper Clark Fork River, from the Butte and Anaconda area to Milltown Reservoir (230 km downstream), are contaminated with As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Zn primarily from mining activities. The toxicity of pore water from these sediments was determined using Daphnia magna, rainbow trout, and Microtox[reg sign]. However, pore-water data from these exposures were questionable because of changes in the toxicity of pore-water samples after 5 to 7 d of storage. Whole-sediment tests were conducted with Hyalella azteca, Chironomus riparius, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 21- to 28-d exposure and Daphnia magna. Sediment samples from Milltown Reservoir and the Clark Fork River were not generally lethal to test organisms. However, both reduced growth and delayed sexual maturation of amphipods were associated with exposure to elevated concentrations of metals in sediments from the reservoir and river. Relative sensitivity (most sensitive to least sensitive) of organisms in whole-sediment toxicity tests was: Hyalella azteca > Chironomus riparius > rainbow trout > Daphnia magna. Relative sensitivity (most sensitive to least sensitive) of the three end points evaluated with Hyalella azteca was: length > sexual maturation > survival. The lack of lethal effects on organisms may be related to temporal differences in sediment, acid-volatile sulfide, or organic carbon.
- OSTI ID:
- 6619342
- Journal Information:
- Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Vol. 13:12; Other Information: Presented at the Symposium on Integrated Ecological Assessment of a Superfund Site: Milltown Reservoir, Clark Fork River, Montana, 13th Annual Meeting, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 8--12, 1992; ISSN 0730-7268
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
ARSENIC
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
CADMIUM
COPPER
CRUSTACEANS
SENSITIVITY
LEAD
MANGANESE
MONTANA
RIVERS
WATER POLLUTION
SEDIMENTS
CONTAMINATION
TROUT
ZINC
DAPHNIA
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
BRANCHIOPODS
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ELEMENTS
FISHES
INVERTEBRATES
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SEMIMETALS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
540320* - Environment
Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology