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

Title: Natural levels of abnormalities in the trilling frog (neobactrachus centralis) at the Olympic dam mine

Abstract

Frogs are more susceptible than most vertebrates to environmental contaminants. Unlike amniotes, the frog egg is not protected by a semi-impervious shell, and hence is readily exposed to pollutants. In addition, tadpoles develop in wetlands to which many noxious substances drain from the surrounding landscape. Coupled with this high exposure rate, frogs are also very sensitive to trace elements, some pesticides, heavy metals especially when coupled with exposure to low pH and ionizing radiation. Frogs commonly exhibit discernible deformities following exposure to teratogenic contaminants, and therefore are valuable indicators of the existence of noxious substances in the environment. The abundance and ease of sampling of frogs, along with their sensitivity to environmental contaminants, makes them ideal organisms for environmental monitoring in the Australian arid zone. The study of abnormalities in frogs has become an integral part of the Environmental Management Programme of the Olympic Dam Operations (ODO) copper-uranium-gold-silver mine in northern South Australia. The Trilling Frog (Neobatrachus centralis) is the only frog species which has been recorded at Olympic Dam. It is likely that these frogs, are relatively sedentary, thus enhancing their value as indicator organisms. A pilot survey in 1989 documented frog deformity levels comparable to those found atmore » undisturbed sites in Australia and in other countries. This paper reports on larger study conducted in February and March 1992 when heavy rains provided another opportunity to survey the frog population. The low levels of abnormalities support the conclusion that N. centralis at Olympic Dam does not appear to be accumulating or being influenced by the very low levels of radionuclides present here.« less

Authors:
 [1];  [2]
  1. Environmental Department Olympic Dam Operations, Roxby Downs (Australia)
  2. Univ. of Adelaide (Australia)
Publication Date:
OSTI Identifier:
6790344
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 53:1; Journal ID: ISSN 0007-4861
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; FROGS; MALFORMATIONS; URANIUM MINES; BIOLOGICAL EFFECTS; AMPHIBIANS; ANIMALS; AQUATIC ORGANISMS; MINES; PATHOLOGICAL CHANGES; UNDERGROUND FACILITIES; VERTEBRATES; 560150* - Radiation Effects on Animals

Citation Formats

Read, J L, and Tyler, M J. Natural levels of abnormalities in the trilling frog (neobactrachus centralis) at the Olympic dam mine. United States: N. p., 1994. Web. doi:10.1007/BF00205134.
Read, J L, & Tyler, M J. Natural levels of abnormalities in the trilling frog (neobactrachus centralis) at the Olympic dam mine. United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00205134
Read, J L, and Tyler, M J. 1994. "Natural levels of abnormalities in the trilling frog (neobactrachus centralis) at the Olympic dam mine". United States. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00205134.
@article{osti_6790344,
title = {Natural levels of abnormalities in the trilling frog (neobactrachus centralis) at the Olympic dam mine},
author = {Read, J L and Tyler, M J},
abstractNote = {Frogs are more susceptible than most vertebrates to environmental contaminants. Unlike amniotes, the frog egg is not protected by a semi-impervious shell, and hence is readily exposed to pollutants. In addition, tadpoles develop in wetlands to which many noxious substances drain from the surrounding landscape. Coupled with this high exposure rate, frogs are also very sensitive to trace elements, some pesticides, heavy metals especially when coupled with exposure to low pH and ionizing radiation. Frogs commonly exhibit discernible deformities following exposure to teratogenic contaminants, and therefore are valuable indicators of the existence of noxious substances in the environment. The abundance and ease of sampling of frogs, along with their sensitivity to environmental contaminants, makes them ideal organisms for environmental monitoring in the Australian arid zone. The study of abnormalities in frogs has become an integral part of the Environmental Management Programme of the Olympic Dam Operations (ODO) copper-uranium-gold-silver mine in northern South Australia. The Trilling Frog (Neobatrachus centralis) is the only frog species which has been recorded at Olympic Dam. It is likely that these frogs, are relatively sedentary, thus enhancing their value as indicator organisms. A pilot survey in 1989 documented frog deformity levels comparable to those found at undisturbed sites in Australia and in other countries. This paper reports on larger study conducted in February and March 1992 when heavy rains provided another opportunity to survey the frog population. The low levels of abnormalities support the conclusion that N. centralis at Olympic Dam does not appear to be accumulating or being influenced by the very low levels of radionuclides present here.},
doi = {10.1007/BF00205134},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/6790344}, journal = {Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology; (United States)},
issn = {0007-4861},
number = ,
volume = 53:1,
place = {United States},
year = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994},
month = {Fri Jul 01 00:00:00 EDT 1994}
}