Comparative toxicity of inorganic contaminants released by placer mining to early life stages of salmonids

Journal Article · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1990 · Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/0147-6513(90)90010-3· OSTI ID:5542851

Buhl, K J; Hamilton, S J ^[1]

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1. National Fisheries Contaminant Research Center, Yankton, SD (USA)

The acute toxicities of four trace inorganics associated with placer mining were determined, individually and in environmentally relevant mixtures, to early life stages of Arctic grayling (Thymallus arcticus) from Alaska and Montana, coho salmon (Oncorhynchus kisutch) from Alaska and Washington, and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) from Montana. The descending rank order of toxicity to all species and life stages was copper greater than zinc greater than lead greater than arsenic. For each of the three species, sensitivity to the inorganics was greater in juveniles than in alevins or in swim-up fry. Arctic grayling from Alaska were more sensitive than the other species tested, including Arctic grayling from Montana. For Arctic grayling, sensitivity to all four inorganics was significantly greater in swim-up fry from Alaska than in alevins from Montana, and sensitivity to arsenic and copper was significantly greater in juveniles from Alaska than in juveniles from Montana. In tests with environmentally relevant mixtures (based on ratios of concentrations measured in streams with placer mining) of these four inorganics, copper was identified as the major toxic component because it accounted for greater than or equal to 97% of the summed toxic units of the mixture, and an equitoxic mixture of these inorganics showed less-than-additive toxicity. Total and total recoverable copper concentrations reported in five Alaskan streams with active placer mines were higher than the acutely toxic concentrations that the authors found to be acutely toxic to Arctic grayling and coho salmon from Alaska. However, caution should be used when comparing our results obtained in 'clear' water to field situations, because speciation and toxicity of these inorganics may be altered in the presence of sediments suspended by placer mining activities.

• OSTI ID: 5542851
• Journal Information: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA), Journal Name: Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety; (USA) Vol. 20:3; ISSN EESAD; ISSN 0147-6513
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320 -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AGE DEPENDENCE
ANADROMOUS FISHES
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARSENIC
BIOLOGICAL VARIABILITY
COPPER
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FISHES
GENETIC VARIABILITY
LEAD
METALS
MINING
POLLUTION
SALMON
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
TOXICITY
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC