Mining-related metals in terrestrial food webs of the upper Clark Fork River basin

Conference · Sat Dec 31 04:00:00 EST 1994

OSTI ID:33568

Pastorok, R A; LaTier, A J; Butcher, M K; Ginn, T C ^[1]

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1. PTI Environmental Services, Bellevue, WA (United States)

Fluvial deposits of tailings and other mining-related waste in selected riparian habitats of the Upper Clark Fork River basin (Montana) have resulted in metals enriched soils. The significance of metals exposure to selected wildlife species was evaluated by measuring tissue residues of metals (arsenic, cadmium, copper, lead, zinc) in key dietary species, including dominant grasses (tufted hair grass and redtop), willows, alfalfa, barley, invertebrates (grasshoppers, spiders, and beetles), and deer mice. Average metals concentrations in grasses, invertebrates, and deer mice collected from tailings-affected sites were elevated relative to reference to reference levels. Soil-tissue bioconcentration factors for grasses and invertebrates were generally lower than expected based on the range of values in the literature, indicating the reduced bioavailability of metals from mining waste. In general, metals concentrations in willows, alfalfa, and barley were not elevated above reference levels. Using these data and plausible assumptions for other exposure parameters for white-tailed deer, red fox, and American kestrel, metals intake was estimated for soil and diet ingestion pathways. Comparisons of exposure estimates with toxicity reference values indicated that the elevated concentrations of metals in key food web species do not pose a significant risk to wildlife.

• OSTI ID: 33568
• Report Number(s): CONF-9410273--
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
56 BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE
APPLIED STUDIES
ARSENIC
CADMIUM
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FOOD CHAINS
LAND POLLUTION
LEAD
MINERAL WASTES
MONTANA
SOILS
TERRESTRIAL ECOSYSTEMS
ZINC