Risk management concentrations for metals in the lower Coeur d`Alene river valley
- Dynamac Corp., Devon, PA (United States)
- Bureau of Land Management, Denver, CO (United States)
Mining activities from the Coeur d`Alene mining district have influenced the Coeur d`Alene drainage ways and Coeur d`Alene Lake region since the 1880s. Tailings from ore mills have contributed large amounts of heavy metals into air, water, stream sediments and soils. Uncontrolled migration of metal-laden mine tailings, via dust entrainment and erosion, continue to present potentially adverse risks to human health and wildlife in the Coeur d`Alene district. Recreational demands on these areas are increasing where acute and prolonged exposure to relatively high metal concentrations in soils, sediments, and surface waters exist. The inherently rich ecosystems around the Coeur d`Alene attract wildlife where avian and aquatic kills have already been reported. To address these issues, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) developed acceptable multi-media criteria for the contaminants of concern (heavy metals) as they relate to recreational use and wildlife habitat on BLM lands. The primary objective of this report is to establish action levels for human health and wildlife. Acceptable soil, sediment, fish and water criteria protective of human receptors for the metals of concern were developed using available toxicity data and standard US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) exposure assumptions. Acceptable sediment or soil concentrations protective of wildlife receptors for the metals of concern (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc) were developed using toxicity values and wildlife intake assumptions reported in the current ecotoxicology literature. Ingestion of soil and sediment is assumed to be the predominant source of metal exposure for wildlife receptors.
- OSTI ID:
- 113247
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-940499--; ISBN 1-56590-014-6
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ANTIMONY
ARSENIC
CADMIUM
COPPER
DATA
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
IDAHO
LEAD
MANGANESE
MAXIMUM PERMISSIBLE CONCENTRATION
MERCURY
METALS
NICKEL
REMEDIAL ACTION
RISK ASSESSMENT
SELENIUM
SILVER
SITE CHARACTERIZATION
ZINC