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Caddisfly larvae as biological indicators of Pb pollution in an Austrian river

Conference ·
OSTI ID:225206
; ;  [1]
  1. Univ. of Innsbruck (Austria). Inst. of Zoology and Limnology
Caddisfly larvae (Trichoptera, Limnephilidae) were used as biomonitors of Pb pollution in an Austrian river. Pb-contaminated industrial effluents from a glass-manufacturing firm led to very high Pb concentrations in the sediment (up to 1,400 {micro}g.g{sup {minus}1} Pb, dry weight, in the clay fraction). Pb concentration in pooled samples of insect larvae from different sites were investigated during three consecutive years (1990--1992) to study time trends of Pb contamination after installation of a water purification plant (end of 1990). In 1990 Pb concentration of larvae from a sampling site downstream close to the pollution source were magnitudes higher (276 {micro}g.g{sup {minus}1} Pb, dry weight) than at an upstream reference site (6 {micro}g g{sup {minus}1} Pb, dry weight). However, after installation of the water purification plant, Pb concentration in caddisfly larvae decreased continuously by a constant rate of 64% per year. In 1992 Pb burden of the larvae amounted to only 13% of the Pb concentration in 1990. Pb burden of caddisfly larvae reflected the Pb contamination of the river even in 60 km distance from the pollution source. The study indicates caddisfly larvae to be valuable biomonitoring organisms of metal contamination in freshwater ecosystems.
OSTI ID:
225206
Report Number(s):
CONF-9511137--; ISBN 1-880611-03-1
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English