Assessment of aquatic animal communities in the vicinity of the Palmerton, Pennsylvania, zinc smelters

Journal Article · Wed Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1993 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620120915· OSTI ID:5596784

Carline, R F; Jobsis, G J ^[1]

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1. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, University Park, PA (United States). Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit

Emissions from zinc smelters in Palmerton, Pennsylvania, deposited large quantities of heavy metals, predominantly Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cd, on the surrounding landscape from 1898 to 1980. From 1986 to 1987 the authors studied four small headwater streams that were about 8 to 25 km downwind of the smelters to determine if long-term deposition of heavy metals had any pronounced effects on aquatic communities. Although metal concentrations in soils tended to decrease with increasing distance from the smelters, this trend was not particularly evident in stream sediments, insects, or fish. Diversities of macroinvertebrates and fish were similar among sites. Densities and growth of trout varied among streams, but no in relation to distance from the smelters. They concluded that long-term deposition of heavy metals has not had pronounced effects on aquatic animal communities six to seven years after cessation of primary smelting.

• OSTI ID: 5596784
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 12:9; ISSN ETOCDK; ISSN 0730-7268
• 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.
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ARTHROPODS
CADMIUM
COPPER
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FISHES
INSECTS
INVERTEBRATES
LEAD
METALS
NORTH AMERICA
PENNSYLVANIA
POLLUTION
SENSITIVITY
SMELTERS
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC