Use of the pocketbook mussel, Lampsilis ventricosa, for monitoring heavy metal pollution in an Ozark stream

Journal Article · Wed Apr 01 00:00:00 EST 1987 · Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01608597· OSTI ID:5878073

Czarnezki, J M

Missouri has been recognized for lead production since the early 1800's and has been the primary producer of lead for the US since 1902. Huge piles of coarse to finely ground dolomitic residue (tailings) occur throughout the Old Lead Belt. Tailings contain relatively high concentrations of heavy metals and have resulted in the contamination of stream ecosystems. In 1977 a dam on the abandoned Desloge tailings pond in the Old Lead Belt ruptured and an estimated 90,000 cubic meters of tailings entered Big River. Erosion of tailings into Big River continue from this site as well as from other tailings piles in the region. The objective of this study was to determine which tailings ponds were the major sources of heavy metals in Big River by using caged pocketbook mussels (Lampsilis ventricosa C. Barnes 1823). The pocketbook mussel was selected for this study because it occurs throughout the Big River drainage basin, and it is large, and relatively unaffected by handling and confinement for extended periods of time.

• Research Organization: Missouri Dept. of Conservation, Columbia
• OSTI ID: 5878073
• Journal Information: Bull. Environ. Contam. Toxicol.; (United States), Vol. 38:4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
METALS
BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS
WATER POLLUTION
MONITORING
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
CADMIUM COMPOUNDS
LEAD COMPOUNDS
MISSOURI
MORTALITY
MUSSELS
PONDS
RIVERS
TAILINGS
ANIMALS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
ELEMENTS
FEDERAL REGION VII
INVERTEBRATES
MOLLUSCS
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
SOLID WASTES
SPECTROSCOPY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
USA
WASTES
550300* - Cytology