Grantee Research Project Results

2002 Progress Report: Aquatic Toxicity and Exposure Assessment

EPA Grant Number: R829500C005
Subproject: this is subproject number 005 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829500
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment
Center Director: Allen, Herbert E.
Title: Aquatic Toxicity and Exposure Assessment
Investigators: Adams, Craig D.
Institution: Missouri University of Science and Technology
EPA Project Officer: Packard, Benjamin H
Project Period: April 1, 2002 through March 31, 2005
Project Period Covered by this Report: April 1, 2002 through March 31,2003
RFA: Targeted Research Center (2006) Recipients Lists
Research Category: Targeted Research , Hazardous Waste/Remediation

Objective:

The University of Missouri at Rolla is conducting a metals fate and transport study on the two adjacent river systems of southeastern Missouri. These systems include the watersheds of the Big River and the West Fork of the Black River. Each river transects a world-class sized, lead-zinc district that is hosted in carbonate bedrock. The objective of this research project is to develop the necessary data for calibration and validation of comprehensive fate and transport models for heavy metals to be developed within the Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment. The working hypothesis of this study is that the transport and bioavailability of heavy metals in streams impacted by mining activity are a function of particle size distribution, mineralogy, density, acid leachability, specific surface area, and other key parameters. The heavy metals to be investigated include lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and nickel (Ni).

Progress Summary:

The samples taken during Year 1 of the project were collected from the Big River and West Fork of the Black River in southeastern Missouri. Although our results are preliminary, some interesting observations have been made in the river systems:

• Metal concentrations in waters being emitted from the tailings piles are very high, with a significant contribution from soluble and colloidal sized materials. The high metal concentrations occur, despite the moderately alkaline nature of the water. Generation of an acidic microenvironment on the surfaces of sulfide minerals located within the tailings piles is believed to be the cause of the high metal contents.
• Metal concentrations decrease from the tributary creeks adjacent to the tailings piles to the Big River system. Decreases may result from dilution, adsorption onto sediment particles, or both.
• Storm surges in the river result in an increase in the concentration of most metals in the water column and an increase in the proportion of metals contained on particulate material. In some cases, a disproportionally high amount of metals occurs on the particles, suggesting that storm surges may result in the removal of metals from the water column by particle scavenging and sedimentation as the river flow subsides. A similar process was observed in the West Fork of the Black River following a construction related disturbance of the river gravels.
• Metals in the water column and bed sediments correlate with manganese, suggesting that manganese oxides are acting as adsorbents for metals in the river systems.
• Improved environmental mining practices in the New Lead Belt have resulted in substantially lowered metal release to the Black River system when compared to the Old Lead Belt. A disturbance of sedimentary material above all known mining operations has released enough metals from the river to swamp the release of metals from mining operations.

Future Activities:

We will continue to develop the necessary data for calibration and validation of comprehensive fate and transport models for heavy metals to be developed within the Center.

Journal Articles on this Report : 3 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Publications Views

Other subproject views:	All 3 publications	3 publications in selected types	All 3 journal articles
Other center views:	All 4 publications	4 publications in selected types	All 4 journal articles

Publications

Type	Citation	Sub Project	Document Sources
Journal Article	Field LJ, Macdonald DD, Norton SB, Ingersoll CG, Severn CG, Smorong D, Lindskoog R. Predicting amphipod toxicity from sediment chemistry using logistic regression models. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 2002;21(9):1993-2005.	R829500 (2002) R829500C001 (2002) R829500C002 (2002) R829500C003 (2002) R829500C004 (2002) R829500C005 (2002) R829500C006 (2002) R829500C007 (2002)	Abstract from PubMed
Journal Article	Paquin PR, Gorsuch JW, Apte S, Batley GE, Bowles KC, Campbell PGC, Delos CG, Di Toro DM, Dwyer RL, Galvez F, Gensemer RW, Goss GG, Hogstrand C, Janssen CR, McGeer JC, Naddy RB, Playle RC, Santore RC, Schneider U, Stubblefield WA, Wood CM, Wu KB. The biotic ligand model: a historical overview. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology 2002;133(1-2):3-35.	R829500 (2002) R829500C001 (2002) R829500C002 (2002) R829500C003 (2002) R829500C004 (2002) R829500C005 (2002) R829500C006 (2002) R829500C007 (2002)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: Science Direct Full Text Exit Other: Science Direct PDF Exit
Journal Article	Santore RC, Mathew R, Paquin PR, DiToro DM. Application of the biotic ligand model to predicting zinc toxicity to rainbow trout, fathead minnow, and Daphnia magna. Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology Part C: Toxicology & Pharmacology 2002;133(1-2):271-285.	R829500 (2002) R829500C001 (2002) R829500C002 (2002) R829500C003 (2002) R829500C004 (2002) R829500C005 (2002) R829500C006 (2002) R829500C007 (2002)	Abstract from PubMed Full-text: Science Direct Full Text Exit Other: Science Direct PDF Exit

Supplemental Keywords:

aquatic toxicity, metals, heavy metals, exposure assessment, fate and transport, fate and transport models, sediments, water column, metal release, adsorption, sediment particles, Big River, Black River, Missouri, MO, lead, Pb, zinc, Zn, copper, Cu, cadmium, Cd, nickel, Ni,, RFA, Scientific Discipline, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, Waste, Geochemistry, Hazardous Waste, Environmental Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, Hazardous, fate and transport , modeling, remediation, aquatic ecosystems, extraction of metals, mobility of contaminants, bioaccumulation, metal contamination

Relevant Websites:

http://www.ce.udel.edu/CSME/Index.html Exit

Progress and Final Reports:

Original Abstract

2003

Final

Main Center Abstract and Reports:

R829500    Center for the Study of Metals in the Environment

Subprojects under this Center: (EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
R829500C001 Role of Dietary Exposure for Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of Metals in Aquatic Ecosystems Affected by Mining
R829500C002 The Role of Organic Matter and Metal Oxides in the Retention of Trace Metals by Soil and Suspended Particles
R829500C003 Developing a Model to Predict the Persistence of Metals in Aquatic Environments
R829500C004 Effects of Dietary Metal Exposure on Fish and Aquatic Invertebrates
R829500C005 Aquatic Toxicity and Exposure Assessment
R829500C006 Development of a Model to Predict the Bioavailability of Metals to Soil Invertebrates
R829500C007 Bioaccumulation and Toxicity of Dietborne Particulate Metals to Benthic Invertebrates