Ecotoxicity of riverbank spring water along the Hanford Reach, Columbia River

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to evaluate potential ecotoxicity of riverbank springs along the Columbia River on the Hanford site where nuclear materials were historically produced. Water samples from seven springs were collected during 1994 -1995. Bioassays were conducted with ( ) ( Pimephales promelas fathead minnows for survival and growth and with Ceriodaphnia dubia daph-) nids for survival and reproduction. Synoptic chemical data were used to supplement interpretation ( ) of bioassay results. Significant decreases p -0.05 in survival were observed for two springs in both P.( ) promelas and C. dubia at separate locations during 1994. Significant reductions p -0.05 in C. dubia ( ) reproduction were found for six springs in 1994 and one in 1995. A stimulatory effect p -0.05 was also observed for this endpoint at another spring in 1995. Reproduction was the most sensitive endpoint evaluated in terms of both number of adverse effects identified and test water concentration, while growth was the least sensitive endpoint. One or more toxicological benchmarks were equaled or exceeded for all riverbank spring samples where toxicity was observed. For the contaminants evaluated, ( ) heavy metals e.g., Cr, Cu, Ni, Zn may have contributed to the observed toxicity. Despite limitations of employing synoptic chemical data to supplement sample characterization and extrapolating laboratory bioassay data to the field, results of this study demonstrated ecotoxicity associated with several riverbank springs, presumably reflecting contamination of groundwater on the Hanford site.

Use of GC × GC/TOF‐MS and LC/TOF‐MS for metabolomic analysis of Hyalella azteca chronically exposed to atrazine and its primary metabolite, desethylatrazine

“…Although our results may appear contradictory to literature reports, atrazine and DEA could possibly be inducing a hormetic response. This response has previously been observed in H. azteca as well as other amphipods exposed to various environmental contaminants such as 4-nonylphenol (Brown et al, 1999), radiological-contaminated sediment (Delistraty and Yokel, 1999) and explosives (Steevens et al, 2002). Briefly, hormesis is the induction of beneficial effects such as increased growth at low doses of otherwise harmful agents (Werner and Nagel, 1997).…”

Are Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata and Chlorella vulgaris Affected by Environmental Samples from a Rice Field?

“…This pattern may traduce an hormetic response, which has already been widely documented as a common doseresponse relationship (Calabrese 2002), including in studies with WET test organisms (Delistraty and Yokel 1999;Chapman 2000). The prevalence of the stimulating effect in lower dilutions could be assigned to the nutrients provided in the sample and in the MBL, since previously published results (de Figueiredo et al 2004;Gonçalves et al 2005) proved that, for both P. subcapitata and C. vulgaris, growth in diluted MBL with up to 40% distilled water is not significantly affected in relation to growth under nutrient saturated conditions (MBL) but above 50% a significant growth reduction may be observed for C. vulgaris.…”

Springs in time: fish fauna and habitat changes in springs over a 20‐year interval

“…Flow from springs can be reduced by groundwater loss through extraction and affected springs may become intermittent or even dry completely. Polluted groundwater will discharge pollutants to associated spring waters (Delistraty and Yokel, 1999;Peterson et al, 2000). Spring habitats may be affected as sites are altered by excavation, the construction of spring houses, channelization of spring brooks, and damming (Matthews et al, 1985), and changes in local land-use can increase siltation and affect riparian shading.…”