Bioaccumulation of contaminants in Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at sites polluted by coal combustion residuals and radiocesium

Silva, Ansley E.; Speakman, Robert J.; Barnes, Brittany F.; Coyle, David R.; Leaphart, James C.; Abernethy, Erin F.; Turner, Kelsey L.; Rhodes, Jr., Olin E.; Beasley, James C.; Gandhi, Kamal J. K.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166821

Title: Bioaccumulation of contaminants in Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at sites polluted by coal combustion residuals and radiocesium

Journal Article · 08 September 2023 · Science of the Total Environment

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.166821 · OSTI ID:2203425

Silva, Ansley E. ^[1]; Speakman, Robert J. ^[2]; Barnes, Brittany F. ^[2]; Coyle, David R. ^[3]; Leaphart, James C. ^[4]; Abernethy, Erin F. ^[5]; Turner, Kelsey L. ^[4]; Rhodes, Jr., Olin E. ^[5]; Beasley, James C. ^[4]; Gandhi, Kamal J. K. ^[2]

University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, University of Georgia
University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)
University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); Clemson University, SC (United States)
University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States); University of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), Aiken, SC (United States)
University of Georgia, Aiken, SC (United States); Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), Aiken, SC (United States); University of Georgia, Athens, GA (United States)

Anthropogenic contamination from coal-fired power plants and nuclear reactors is a pervasive issue impacting ecosystems across the globe. As a result, it is critical that studies continue to assess the accumulation and effects of trace elements and radionuclides in a diversity of biota. In particular, bioindicator species are a powerful tool for risk assessment of chemically contaminated habitats. Using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and auto-gamma counting, we analyzed trace element and radiocesium contaminant concentrations in Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles (Order: Coleoptera), important taxa in decomposition and nutrient cycling, at contaminated and reference sites on the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, U.S. Our results revealed variability in trace element concentrations between Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at uncontaminated and contaminated sites. Compared to Scarabaeidae, Silphidae had higher levels of chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn). Unexpectedly, concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Ni were higher in both taxa at the uncontaminated sites. Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at the coal combustion waste site consistently had high concentrations of arsenic (As), and Scarabaeidae had high concentrations of selenium (Se). Of the 50 beetles analyzed for radiocesium levels, two had elevated radioactivity concentrations, both of which were from a site contaminated with radionuclides. Furthermore, our results suggest carrion beetles may be particularly sensitive to bioaccumulation of contaminants due to their trophic position and role in decomposition, and thus are useful sentinels of trace element and radionuclide contamination.

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Research Organization:: Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL), Aiken, SC (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Environmental Management (EM)

Grant/Contract Number:: EM0005228

OSTI ID:: 2203425

Journal Information:: Science of the Total Environment, Journal Name: Science of the Total Environment Vol. 904; ISSN 0048-9697

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
Inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy
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Radioecology
Savannah River Site
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Title: Bioaccumulation of contaminants in Scarabaeidae and Silphidae beetles at sites polluted by coal combustion residuals and radiocesium

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