Toxicity of metal-contaminated sediments from the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to aquatic invertebrates and fish in laboratory exposures

Journal Article · Wed Nov 30 23:00:00 EST 1994 · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620131212· OSTI ID:6619342

Kemble, N E; Brumbaugh, W G; Brunson, E L; Dwyer, F J; Ingersoll, C G ^[1]; Monda, D P ^[2]; Woodward, D F ^[3]

---

1. National Biological Survey, Columbia, MO (United States). Midwest Science Center
2. Pyramid Lake Fisheries, Sutcliffe, NV (United States)
3. National Biological Survey, Jackson, WY (United States). Midwest Science Center

Sediments of the upper Clark Fork River, from the Butte and Anaconda area to Milltown Reservoir (230 km downstream), are contaminated with As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Mn, and Zn primarily from mining activities. The toxicity of pore water from these sediments was determined using Daphnia magna, rainbow trout, and Microtox[reg sign]. However, pore-water data from these exposures were questionable because of changes in the toxicity of pore-water samples after 5 to 7 d of storage. Whole-sediment tests were conducted with Hyalella azteca, Chironomus riparius, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) 21- to 28-d exposure and Daphnia magna. Sediment samples from Milltown Reservoir and the Clark Fork River were not generally lethal to test organisms. However, both reduced growth and delayed sexual maturation of amphipods were associated with exposure to elevated concentrations of metals in sediments from the reservoir and river. Relative sensitivity (most sensitive to least sensitive) of organisms in whole-sediment toxicity tests was: Hyalella azteca > Chironomus riparius > rainbow trout > Daphnia magna. Relative sensitivity (most sensitive to least sensitive) of the three end points evaluated with Hyalella azteca was: length > sexual maturation > survival. The lack of lethal effects on organisms may be related to temporal differences in sediment, acid-volatile sulfide, or organic carbon.

• OSTI ID: 6619342
• Journal Information: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States), Journal Name: Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States) Vol. 13:12; 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
ARSENIC
ARTHROPODS
BRANCHIOPODS
CADMIUM
CONTAMINATION
COPPER
CRUSTACEANS
DAPHNIA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
ELEMENTS
FISHES
INVERTEBRATES
LEAD
MANGANESE
METALS
MONTANA
NORTH AMERICA
POLLUTION
RIVERS
SEDIMENTS
SEMIMETALS
SENSITIVITY
STREAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
TROUT
USA
VERTEBRATES
WATER POLLUTION
ZINC