Comparative evaluation of several small mammal species as monitors of heavy metals, radionuclides, and selected organic compounds in the environment

Technical Report · Wed Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1990

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/6314973· OSTI ID:6314973

Talmage, S S ^[1]; Walton, B T ^[2]

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1. Tennessee Univ., Knoxville, TN (USA) Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)
2. Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (USA)

The primary purpose of this study was to evaluate which small mammal species are the best monitors of specific environmental contaminants. The evaluation is based on the published literature and on an analysis of small mammals trapped at several sites on the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Reservation in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Studies on the uptake of heavy metals, radionuclides, and organic chemicals are reviewed in Chapter II to evaluate several small mammal species for their capacity to serve as sentinels for the presence, accumulation, and effects of various contaminants. Where several species were present at a site, a comparative evaluation was made and species are ranked for their capacity to serve as monitors of specific contaminants. Food chain accumulation and food habits of the species are used to establish a relationship with suitability as a biomonitor. Tissue-specific concentration factors were noted in order to establish target tissues. Life histories, habitat, and food habits are reviewed in order to make generalizations concerning the ability of similar taxa to serve as biomonitor. Finally, the usefulness of several small mammal species as monitors of three contaminants -- benzo(a)pyrene, mercury, and strontium-90 -- present on or near the ORNL facilities was investigated. 133 refs., 5 figs., 20 tabs.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/EM
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-84OR21400
• OSTI ID: 6314973
• Report Number(s): ORNL/TM-11605; ON: DE91005647; TRN: 91-002552
• Resource Relation: Other Information: Thesis (Ph.D.). Environmental Sciences Division Publication No. 3534. Thesis. Submitted by Sylvia S. Talmage to University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
MAMMALS
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
METALS
TOXICITY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
RADIOISOTOPES
BENZOPYRENE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
CADMIUM
CESIUM 137
CONTAMINATION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
FIELD TESTS
KIDNEYS
LEAD
MERCURY
MICE
ORNL
RADIOECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
RATS
RETENTION
SHREWS
STRONTIUM 90
TISSUE DISTRIBUTION
ALKALI METAL ISOTOPES
ALKALINE EARTH ISOTOPES
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BETA DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BETA-MINUS DECAY RADIOISOTOPES
BODY
CESIUM ISOTOPES
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DISTRIBUTION
ELEMENTS
EVEN-EVEN NUCLEI
HYDROCARBONS
INTERMEDIATE MASS NUCLEI
ISOTOPES
NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
NUCLEI
ODD-EVEN NUCLEI
ORGANS
RODENTS
STRONTIUM ISOTOPES
TESTING
US AEC
US DOE
US ERDA
US ORGANIZATIONS
VERTEBRATES
YEARS LIVING RADIOISOTOPES
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
540220 - Environment
Terrestrial- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540230 - Environment
Terrestrial- Radioactive Materials Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
560162 - Radionuclide Effects
Kinetics
& Toxicology- Animals
Plants
Microorganisms
& Cells