A Screening-Level Assessment of Lead, Cadmium, and Zinc in Fish and Crayfish from Northeastern Oklahoma, USA

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate potential human and ecological risks associated with metals in fish and crayfish from mining in the Tri-States Mining District (TSMD). Crayfish (Orconectes spp.) and fish of six frequently consumed species (common carp, Cyprinus carpio; channel catfish, Ictalurus punctatus; flathead catfish, Pylodictis olivaris; largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides; spotted bass, M. punctulatus; and white crappie, Pomoxis annularis) were collected in 2001-2002 from the Oklahoma waters of the Spring River (SR) and Neosho River (NR), which drain the TSMD. Samples from a miningcontaminated site in eastern Missouri and from reference sites were also analyzed. Individual fish were prepared for human consumption in the manner used locally by Native Americans (headed, eviscerated, and scaled) and analyzed for lead, cadmium, and zinc. Whole crayfish were analyzed as composite samples of 5-60 animals. Metals concentrations were typically higher in samples from sites most heavily affected by mining and lowest in reference samples. Within the TSMD, most metals concentrations were higher at sites on the SR than on the NR and were typically highest in common carp and crayfish than in other taxa. Higher concentrations and greater risk were associated with fish and crayfish from heavily contaminated SR tributaries than the SR or NR mainstems. Based on the results of this and previous studies, the human consumption of carp and crayfish could be restricted based on current criteria for lead, cadmium, and zinc, and the consumption of channel catfish could be restricted due to lead. Metals concentrations were uniformly low in Micropterus spp. and crappie and would not warrant restriction, however. Some risk to carnivorous avian wildlife from lead and zinc in TSMD fish and invertebrates was also indicated, as was risk to the fish themselves. Overall, the wildlife assessment is consistent with previously reported This document is a U.S. government work and is not subject to copyright in the United States.biological effects attributed to metals from the TSMD. The results demonstrate the potential for adverse effects in fish, wildlife, and humans and indicate that further investigation of human health and ecological risks, to include additional exposure pathways and endpoints, is warranted.

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in water, air, soil and fish

“…Among the heavy metals analyzed in Langat River and Cempaka lake Malaysia, Cr had the HQ value greater than 1 for culture pond A and culture pond B, Langat River. While the HQ value for Pb ranged from 0.017 to 0.073 which were much lower than those measured in Tri states mining districts where the HQ ranged from 0.1 to 4.6 (Schmitt et al, 2006). In the study at Langat River and Cempaka Lake, Malaysia, although the observed values of HQ for Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn were lower than the safe standard of 1, but ΣHQ of these metals (HI) were higher t han 1.…”

“…Similar to the findings, Tu et al (2008) worked on the concentration of Cr, Cu, Zn and Cd, and measured HQ values of less than 1 which indicated that the local residents were not exposed to potential risk via consumption of shrimp. On the other hand, Schmitt et al (2006) reported a higher range of HQ values for Cd (0.1 to 0.5) and Zn (0.1 to 12.6) in carp fishes. Samples of black-chin Tilapia, collected from Sukumo lagoon of Ghana, were analyzed for the concentration of heavy metals and the calculated values of HI indicated that the Tilapia did not pose any health risk to humans (Laar et al, 2011).…”

Cadmium Exposure and Incident Peripheral Arterial Disease

“…Nonetheless, urine cadmium concentrations in the SHS participants were higher than in the general US population. 41 Although the prevalence of smoking is higher in American Indians than in other US ethnic groups, [42][43][44] their intensity of smoking is markedly lower, 43 and sources of exposure other than smoking, such as occupational and environmental exposures, 40,[45][46][47] may be involved in the increased urine cadmium concentrations in our study population.…”

Environmental contaminants in freshwater fish and their risk to piscivorous wildlife based on a national monitoring program

“…However, elemental contaminants also are natural constituents of the earth's crust; some are essential trace elements for terrestrial and aquatic organisms. In spite of regulation, elemental concentrations in fish remain elevated in some areas due to irrigated agriculture (Hamilton 2004), mining (Schmitt et al 2006), and the combustion of fossil fuels (Baumann and Gillespie 1986;Yeardley et al 1998), and both organochlorine and elemental contaminants are distributed globally by atmospheric transport. Considered independently, concentrations of most organochlorine residues and elemental contaminants we evaluated represented no or low risk to bald eagle and mink.…”