Concentrations of selected trace elements in fish tissue and streambed sediment in the Clark Fork-Pend Oreille and Spokane River basins, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, 1998 (original) (raw)
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Science of The Total Environment, 1988
from the San Joaquin River and two tributaries (Merced River and Salt Slough) were analyzed to determine if the concentrations of any of nine elements were elevated as a result of exposure of the fish to agricultural subsurface (tile) drainage water. Highest concentrations (pg/g dry weight) detected were as follows (first number in each pair applies to bluegills and the second to carp): arsenic (As), 0.97 and 1.5; boron (B), 14 and 20; cadmium (Cd), 0.14 and 0.27; chromium (Cr), 2.7 and 2.2; mercury (Hg), 3.3 and 2.9; molybdenum (Mo), 2.8 and 3.6; nickel (Ni), 0.87 and 2.2; lead (Pb), 0.26 and 2.3; and selenium (Se), 3.2 and 5.5. The lowest concentrations were below the levels of detection, except for Hg (0.15 in bluegills and 0.12 in carp) and Se (0.43 and 0.56). As judged by comparisons with data from the National Contaminant Biomonitoring Program and other published surveys, the concentrations of B, Hg, Mo, and Se were moderately elevated in fish from several sites in the San Joaquin Valley. However, only the Se concentrations were positively correlated with water quality variables (e.g., total alkalinity, conductivity, and turbidity) known to be influenced by irrigation return flows. Historical data from one site (Salt Slough), where trace elements in whole fish have been measured since 1969, indicated that Se concentrations increased more than twofold between 1973 and 1977, but thereafter remained near 3.0.F~gg 1 (dry weight basis), presumably due to the continuing practice of disposing seleniferous tile drainage water into the most convenient stream channel.
Open-File Report
This report presents the results of a contaminant monitoring survey conducted annually by the Missouri Department of Conservation to examine the levels of selected elemental contaminants in fish fillets, fish muscle plugs, and crayfish. Fillets of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus), bass (Micropterus salmoides, Micropterus dolomieu, Morone chrysops), walleye (Sander vitreus), common carp (Cyprinus carpio), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), northern hog sucker (Hypentelium nigricans), and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were collected from 21 sites as part of the Department's Fish Contaminant Monitoring Program. Long-pincered crayfish (Orconectes longidigitus) were collected from one site to assess trophic transfer of metals to fish. Fish muscle plugs were collected from smallmouth bass (Micropterus dolomieu) at two different locations from one site.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 1998
The approach of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP) to monitoring of fish tissue contaminants is shown to have utility for regional assessment, and for discrimination of regional from local contamination. The survey sampling design employed by EMAP can be used to make regional assessments without conducting a complete resource inventory. The Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program-Surface Waters conducted a survey of 167 lakes in the northeastern United States during 1992 through 1994 and analyzed whole fish composite samples for contaminants, including Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn. Using fish tissue contaminant consumption risk levels derived from U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hazard assessment models, methylmercury (MeHg) was determined to be the elemental contaminant of regional concern to fish consumers: 26% of lakes contained fish with MeHg exceeding a human critical value of 0.2 g/g; 54 and 98% of lakes contained fish with MeHg exceeding wildlife critical values for piscivorous mammals (0.1 g/g) and birds (0.02 g/g), respectively. The other elements analyzed appeared to be at safe levels on a regional scale, or only of localized concern with regard to human health.
Due to the bioaccumulation and biomagnification effects of Methyl Mercury (MeHg), elevated Hg concentration in fish has been found in some lakes and new impoundment reservoirs. Thus, this study analyzes the presence of Mercury (Hg), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), selenium (Se), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), and zinc (Zn) to determine the composite of whole-body largemouth bass (LMB; Micropterus salmoides) samples across three Missouri Lakes. The three lakes (Port Hudson, Buffalo Bill, and Ben Branch reservoirs) were compared with US-EPA Standard values to determine the concentration of 26 elements (Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Se, V, Zn, B, Hg, Pb, P, Tl, Be, Ba, Sb, Ag, Al, and As) in largemouth bass (LMB; skin–off fillet). The two methods were validated from the analyses of certified reference materials (DOLT-5 and DORM-4). In addition, the weekly intakes of metals and metalloids in comparison with regulatory thresholds and the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks via ...
Reduced Trace Element Concentrations in Fast-Growing Juvenile Atlantic Salmon in Natural Streams
Environmental Science & Technology, 2010
To assess the effect of rapid individual growth on trace element concentrations in fish, we measured concentrations of seven trace elements (As, Cd, Cs, Hg, Pb, Se, Zn) in stream-dwelling Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) from 15 sites encompassing a 10-fold range in salmon growth. All salmon were hatched under uniform conditions, released into streams, and sampled ~120 days later for trace element analysis. For most elements, element concentrations in salmon tracked those in their prey. Fast-growing salmon had lower concentrations of all elements than slow-growers, after accounting for prey concentrations. This pattern held for essential and non-essential elements, as well as elements that accumulate from food and those that can accumulate from water. At the sites with the fastest salmon growth, trace element concentrations in salmon were 37% (Cs) to 86% (Pb) lower than at sites where growth was suppressed. Given that concentrations were generally below levels harmful to salmon and that the pattern was consistent across all elements, we suggest that dilution of elements in larger biomass led to lower concentrations in fast-growing fish. Streams that foster rapid, efficient fish growth may produce fish with lower concentrations of elements potentially toxic for human and wildlife consumers.
Heavy metals in fish from streams near F-Area and H-Area seepage basins
1990
This report summarizes results of recent analyses of heavy metals in fish from SRS streams near the F-Area and H-Area seepage basins. Fish were collected from headwater areas of Four Mile Creek and Pen Branch, from just below the H-Area seepage basin, and from thre_ sites downstream in Four Mile Creek. These fish were analyzed for RCRA trace metals using standard EPA methods. Silver, arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, nickel, lead, antimony, and thallium were ali either undetectable or had only a few detectable values. Mercury values were ali well below the regulatory limit of 1 I_g/g. For the total group of fish analyzed, there were no differences among sampling sites for aluminum, chromium, or zinc. Selenium concentrations differed among sites, with fish collected near the H-Area and two control sites having the highest concentrations. When selenium concentrations were compared across sunfishes only, the seepage basin site was shown to be slightly elevated. Among species, yellowfin shiners had higher aluminum and zinc concentrations than sunfishes and bottom fish.
Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 1998
Arsenic, Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, and Zn were measured in sediments, biofilm, benthic macroinvertebrates, and fish from the Coeur d'Alene (CDA) River to characterize the pathway of metals transfer between these components. Metals enter the CDA Basin via tributaries where mining activities have occurred. In general, the ranking of food-web components from the greatest to smallest concentrations of metals was as follows: biofilm (the layer of abiotic and biotic material on rock surfaces) and sediments Ͼ invertebrates Ͼ whole fish. Elevated Pb was documented in invertebrates, and elevated Cd and Zn were documented in sediment and biofilm approximately 80 km downstream to the Spokane River. The accumulation of metals in invertebrates was dependent on functional feeding group and shredders-scrapers that feed on biofilm accumulated the largest concentrations of metals. Although the absolute concentrations of metals were the largest in biofilm and sediments, the metals have accumulated in fish approximately 50 km downstream from Kellogg, near the town of Harrison. While metals do not biomagnify between trophic levels, the metals in the CDA Basin are bioavailable and do biotransfer. Trout less than 100 mm long feed exclusively on small invertebrates, and small invertebrates accumulate greater concentrations of metals than large invertebrates. Therefore, early-lifestage fish may be exposed to a larger dose of metals than adults. Note: Use of trade names does not imply endorsement of a product.
The Science of the total environment, 2005
Concentrations of three non-essential elements (cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)) were determined in sediment and fish from several locations in Alaska (AK) and California (CA) and used to examine differences in bioaccumulation within and between geographic locations. We analyzed tissue (liver, muscle, gill, and stomach contents) from white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus) and English sole (Pleuronectes vetulus) in California and flathead sole (Hippoglossoides elassodon) in Alaska, in addition to several species of invertebrates (mercury only). As found in previous work on arsenic (As) [Meador et al., 2004], Cd in fish liver exhibited a negative correlation with sediment concentrations. No such correlations were found for Hg and Pb when fish liver and sediment were compared; however, these metals did exhibit a positive relationship between liver and organic carbon normalized sediment concentrations, but only for the CA sites. Sediment concentrations of Hg at the AK sites were ...