skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

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

Abstract

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 inmore » sediment, acid-volatile sulfide, or organic carbon.« less

Authors:
; ; ; ;  [1];  [2];  [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
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6619342
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 13:12; Other Information: Presented at the Symposium on Integrated Ecological Assessment of a Superfund Site: Milltown Reservoir, Clark Fork River, Montana, 13th Annual Meeting, Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 8--12, 1992; Journal ID: ISSN 0730-7268
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; ARSENIC; ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION; CADMIUM; COPPER; CRUSTACEANS; SENSITIVITY; LEAD; MANGANESE; MONTANA; RIVERS; WATER POLLUTION; SEDIMENTS; CONTAMINATION; TROUT; ZINC; DAPHNIA; ANIMALS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; ARTHROPODS; BRANCHIOPODS; DEVELOPED COUNTRIES; ELEMENTS; FISHES; INVERTEBRATES; METALS; NORTH AMERICA; POLLUTION; SEMIMETALS; STREAMS; SURFACE WATERS; TRANSITION ELEMENTS; USA; VERTEBRATES; 540320* - Environment, Aquatic- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology

Citation Formats

Kemble, N E, Brumbaugh, W G, Brunson, E L, Dwyer, F J, Ingersoll, C G, Monda, D P, and Woodward, D F. Toxicity of metal-contaminated sediments from the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to aquatic invertebrates and fish in laboratory exposures. United States: N. p., 1994. Web. doi:10.1002/etc.5620131212.
Kemble, N E, Brumbaugh, W G, Brunson, E L, Dwyer, F J, Ingersoll, C G, Monda, D P, & Woodward, D F. Toxicity of metal-contaminated sediments from the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to aquatic invertebrates and fish in laboratory exposures. United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620131212
Kemble, N E, Brumbaugh, W G, Brunson, E L, Dwyer, F J, Ingersoll, C G, Monda, D P, and Woodward, D F. 1994. "Toxicity of metal-contaminated sediments from the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to aquatic invertebrates and fish in laboratory exposures". United States. https://doi.org/10.1002/etc.5620131212.
@article{osti_6619342,
title = {Toxicity of metal-contaminated sediments from the upper Clark Fork River, Montana, to aquatic invertebrates and fish in laboratory exposures},
author = {Kemble, N E and Brumbaugh, W G and Brunson, E L and Dwyer, F J and Ingersoll, C G and Monda, D P and Woodward, D F},
abstractNote = {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.},
doi = {10.1002/etc.5620131212},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6619342}, journal = {Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry; (United States)},
issn = {0730-7268},
number = ,
volume = 13:12,
place = {United States},
year = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994},
month = {Thu Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 1994}
}