Characterizing toxicity of metal‐contaminated sediments from the Upper Columbia River, Washington, USA, to benthic invertebrates

Abstract

Sediments from the Upper Columbia River, Washington, USA, are contaminated with metals from smelting operations. We conducted short‐term and long‐term tests with the midge Chironomus dilutus and the amphipod Hyalella azteca and short‐term tests with the freshwater mussel Lampsilis siliquoidea with 54 sediments from the Upper Columbia River to characterize thresholds for toxicity of metals to benthic invertebrates. Test sediments were screened for toxicity by comparisons with low‐metal reference sediments. Toxic effects on amphipods occurred primarily in sediments from the upstream (riverine) reach, and toxic effects on midges occurred in sediments from both the upstream reach and the downstream (reservoir) reach. Little toxicity was observed in mussel tests. Toxicity thresholds (20% effect concentrations [EC20s]) for metals in sediment and porewater were estimated from logistic concentration–response models. Copper (Cu) concentrations in the simultaneously extracted metal fraction of sediments and bioavailable Cu in porewater, as characterized by biotic ligand models, had consistent associations with toxicity endpoints. Concentration–response models for sediment Cu produced EC20s for 6 endpoints, with long‐term amphipod survival and reproduction being the most sensitive. A logistic regression model fitted to an endpoint sensitivity distribution for sediment Cu predicted that approximately one‐half of the sediments tested would be toxic to at least one endpoint and that approximately 20% of test sediments would be toxic to more than half of the endpoints. These results indicate that sediments from the upstream reach of the Upper Columbia River, which contain high concentrations of metals associated with slags, cause a wide range of toxic effects in laboratory tests and are likely to have adverse effects on benthic invertebrate communities. Environ Toxicol Chem 2018;37:3102–3114. Published 2018 Wiley Periodicals Inc. on behalf of SETAC. This article is a US government work and, as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.

Copper Concentrations in the Upper Columbia River as a Limiting Factor in White Sturgeon Recruitment and Recovery

“…In addition to risk of direct toxicity to sturgeon from metals in slag‐contaminated porewater and coincidental ingestion of slag during feeding, the metals can be toxic to benthic organisms that are prey for white sturgeon, particularly in the riverine reaches of the UCR (Besser et al 2008, 2018). Recent experimental data demonstrated that metal‐contaminated sediments in the river upstream of the Kettle River are often toxic to amphipods, whereas sediments were toxic to midges in both the riverine and reservoir of the US portions of the UCR (Besser et al 2018).…”

Laboratory‐Derived Bioaccumulation Kinetic Parameters for Four Per‐ and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Freshwater Mussels

“…Each replicate experimental unit contained 11 mussels and 1 L of commercially available sand (Granusil #5010; Unimin) that was used previously at the CERC laboratory as control in sediment toxicity tests using mussels (Besser et al, 2018). During the exposure period, mussels were fed a standard mix of Nannochloropsis Shellfish Diet at a rate of 5 ml/mussel daily.…”

“…Each replicate experimental unit contained 11 mussels and 1 L of commercially available sand (Granusil #5010; Unimin) that was used previously at the CERC laboratory as control in sediment toxicity tests using mussels (Besser et al, 2018).…”

Stabilization and solidification of metal and organotin contaminated sediment after electrochemical pretreatment

“…In general, the toxicity is reduced by each degradation step (Antizar-Ladislao, 2008). Leaching of metals from the sediments is also a concern as elevated concentrations of some metals, e.g., Cu and Zn, could harm biota (Besser, et al, 2018, Jakimska, et al, 2011. The level of contamination and existing legislation are determining factors for the choice of management option (Casper, 2008, Norén, et al, 2020.…”