Trace metal transfer to passerines inhabiting wastewater treatment wetlands

Werner, Courtney S.; Chapman, Mary; Skaggs, Jonathon; Rhodes, Jr., Olin E.; DeVault, Travis L.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172373

Trace metal transfer to passerines inhabiting wastewater treatment wetlands

Journal Article · Tue Apr 09 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Science of the Total Environment

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172373· OSTI ID:2386952

Werner, Courtney S. ^[1]; Chapman, Mary ^[2]; Skaggs, Jonathon ^[2]; Rhodes, Jr., Olin E. ^[3]; DeVault, Travis L. ^[3]

University of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); University of Georgia, Athens, SC (United States); Savannah River Ecology Laboratory - University of Georgia
University of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States)
University of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); University of Georgia, Athens, SC (United States)

Wastewater treatment wetlands are cost-effective strategies for remediating trace metals in industrial effluent. However, biogeochemical exchange between wastewater treatment wetlands and adjacent environments provides opportunities for trace metals to cycle in surrounding ecosystems. The transfer of trace metals to wildlife inhabiting treatment wetlands must be considered when evaluating wetland success. Using passerine birds as bioindicators, we conducted a multi-tissue analysis to investigate the mobilization of zinc, copper, and lead derived from wastewater to terrestrial wildlife in treatment wetlands and surrounding habitat. In addition, we evaluate the strength of relationships between metal concentrations in non-lethal (blood and feathers) and lethal (muscle and liver) sample types for estimation of toxicity risk. From July 2020 to August 2021, 177 passerines of seven species were captured at two wetlands constructed to treat industrial wastewater and two reference wetlands in the coastal plain of South Carolina. Feather, blood, liver, and muscle samples from each bird were analyzed for fourteen metals using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and direct mercury analysis. Passerines inhabiting wastewater treatment wetlands accumulated higher concentrations of zinc in liver, copper in blood, and lead in feathers than passerines in reference wetlands, but neither blood nor feather concentrations were correlated with internal tissue concentrations. Of all the detected metals, only mercury in the blood showed a strong predictive relationship with mercury in internal tissues. This study indicates that trace metals derived from wastewater are bioavailable and exported to terrestrial wildlife and that passerine biomonitoring is a valuable tool for assessing metal transfer from treatment wetlands. Furthermore, regular blood sampling can reveal proximate trace metal exposure but cannot predict internal body burdens for most metals.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Savannah River Site (SRS), Aiken, SC (United States). Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA); USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Grant/Contract Number:: EM0005228

OSTI ID:: 2386952

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2336861

Journal Information:: Science of the Total Environment, Journal Name: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 927; ISSN 0048-9697

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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