Sediment-Quality Assessment of the Lower Oconee River

Lasier, Peter J.; Winger, Parley V.; Shelton, James L.; Bogenrieder, K. J.

doi:10.1656/1528-7092(2004)003[0139:saotlo]2.0.co;2

Cited by 3 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…In contrast, effluent from a kaolin‐processing facility or another local industry may be introducing bioavailable Cd, Cu, and Hg to COM (an Oconee tributary) via LCC, resulting in significantly higher bioaccumulation downstream of their confluence. The work of other investigators has found that kaolin mining activities can increase the concentrations of Cu and Hg but not Cd in sediment [15,16]. In a 1998 study survey using similar methods and conducted on the same stretch of the Oconee, Lasier et al [15] found that directly below the confluence with COM had concentrations of Hg higher than 83% of the sediments in the National Status and Trends data set, supporting the findings of the present study.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…The work of other investigators has found that kaolin mining activities can increase the concentrations of Cu and Hg but not Cd in sediment [15,16]. In a 1998 study survey using similar methods and conducted on the same stretch of the Oconee, Lasier et al [15] found that directly below the confluence with COM had concentrations of Hg higher than 83% of the sediments in the National Status and Trends data set, supporting the findings of the present study. In most of the sediment samples, Hg was below detection but one site (Oconee River 2) contained concentrations of Hg similar to those found by Lasier et al in the same area (Table S1).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Based on the findings of the present study and those of Lasier et al [15], COM seems to transport Cd, Cu, and Hg to the Oconee River and that Hg enters the creek at or below the confluence with LCC. The difference in bioaccumulation at the downstream site is not taken into account by any of the models in the present study, and the two sites were similar (downstream edges of sandbars) and sampled on the same day.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

“…In most of the sediment samples, Hg was below detection but one site (Oconee River 2) contained concentrations of Hg similar to those found by Lasier et al in the same area (Table S1). That study also identified sediment enriched with Cu could not link those concentrations to kaolin activities [15]. On the other hand, the concentrations of Cd found in sediments from the present study sites on the Oconee River were two to five times greater than those found by Lasier et al [15].…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

“…The Oconee River, a primary tributary of the Altamaha, is also home to an extensive kaolin mining and processing industry [14]. The kaolin industry in Georgia and abroad has been implicated for increasing loads of Zn and Hg in local sediments [15,16]. Other possible point sources for trace elements in this region include a former tire cording plant, a nuclear power plant, a paper mill, and a state prison.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea as a biomonitor of trace element contamination: Accounting for different sources of variation using an hierarchical linear model

Shoults-Wilson¹,

Peterson²,

Unrine³

et al. 2009

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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In the present study, specimens of the invasive clam, Corbicula fluminea, were collected above and below possible sources of potentially toxic trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn) in the Altamaha River system (Georgia, U.S.A.). Bioaccumulation of these elements was quantified, along with environmental (water and sediment) concentrations. Hierarchical linear models were used to account for variability in tissue concentrations related to environmental (site water chemistry and sediment characteristics) and individual (growth metrics) variables while identifying the strongest relations between these variables and trace element accumulation. The present study found significantly elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, and Hg downstream of the outfall of kaolin-processing facilities, Zn downstream of a tire cording facility, and Cr downstream of both a nuclear power plant and a paper pulp mill. Models of the present study indicated that variation in trace element accumulation was linked to distance upstream from the estuary, dissolved oxygen, percentage of silt and clay in the sediment, elemental concentrations in sediment, shell length, and bivalve condition index. By explicitly modeling environmental variability, the Hierarchical linear modeling procedure allowed the identification of sites showing increased accumulation of trace elements that may have been caused by human activity. Hierarchical linear modeling is a useful tool for accounting for environmental and individual sources of variation in bioaccumulation studies.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 82%

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 82%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea as a biomonitor of trace element contamination: Accounting for different sources of variation using an hierarchical linear model

Shoults-Wilson¹,

Peterson²,

Unrine³

et al. 2009

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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Comparison of metal concentrations in Corbicula fluminea and Elliptio hopetonensis in the Altamaha River system, Georgia, USA

Shoults-Wilson

Unrine

Rickard

et al. 2010

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The present study evaluated the use of the invasive clam Corbicula fluminea as a surrogate for metal accumulation in native mussels. The tissue concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were analyzed in Corbicula and a native Unionid mussel species (Elliptio hopetonensis) collected from 13 sites in the Altamaha River system (GA, USA). Corbicula accumulated greater concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Ni when compared to E. hopetonensis at the same sites. The reverse was true for the metals Mn and Zn, with E. hopetonensis accumulating greater concentrations than Corbicula. Concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb were found to be significantly (alpha = 0.05) positively correlated between the two species. Greater water alkalinity and hardness tended to negatively correlate with metal accumulation, while organism size tended to correlate positively with tissue concentrations. Tissue Cd, Cu, and Pb concentrations demonstrated a correlation between bivalve tissues and concentrations of those metals in fine sediments. These correlations were significant (alpha = 0.05) for Cd and Cu concentrations in Corbicula and Pb concentrations in E. hopetonensis. The present findings support the hypothesis that bioaccumulation of some metals by Corbicula can be used to approximate levels accumulated by co-occurring native mussel species.

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Improving data resolution and statistical rigor in the analysis of bivalve shells as environmental archives

Shoults-Wilson

Seymour

Unrine

et al. 2014

Environ. Sci.: Processes Impacts

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Bivalves secrete their shells in an annual fashion, resulting in discrete bands of growth within each shell. In doing so, they may incorporate trace elements in concentrations reflecting exposure. This may make it possible to use them as archives of environmental information, such as contamination events. In this study, we used laser ablation inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry to analyze trace elements (Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) on a fly-scanning transect perpendicular to the growth annuli of the freshwater bivalve Elliptio hopetonensis collected from the Altamaha river system. Concentrations of Mn from multiple shells at each site were correlated and average Mn data series were formed. Periodicity of Mn data was determined and sampling errors removed using an autoregression model. The Mn data series at each site were shown to have regular fluctuations of high and low concentrations. Fluctuations were similar between the shells from the same site but different between shells from different sites, demonstrating that Mn deposition in the shells of E. hopetonensis follows a regular, seasonal pattern but that growth differs between sites with different environments. Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn could not be analyzed in a statistically robust manner. This is the first study to attempt to improve data resolution by using the fly-scanning approach and, additionally, the first to apply an autoregression model to Mn data from bivalve annuli. Further study is required to develop this approach for environmental monitoring.

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Sediment-Quality Assessment of the Lower Oconee River

Cited by 3 publications

References 33 publications

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea as a biomonitor of trace element contamination: Accounting for different sources of variation using an hierarchical linear model

The Asian clam Corbicula fluminea as a biomonitor of trace element contamination: Accounting for different sources of variation using an hierarchical linear model

Comparison of metal concentrations in Corbicula fluminea and Elliptio hopetonensis in the Altamaha River system, Georgia, USA

Improving data resolution and statistical rigor in the analysis of bivalve shells as environmental archives

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