Stable and radioactive pollutants in a Scandinavian glacier

Jaworowski, Zbigniew; Bilkiewicz, J.; Dobosz, E.; Wodkiewicz, L.

doi:10.1016/0013-9327(75)90063-4

Cited by 21 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Like Norheim (17) for seabirds, Gamberg and Scheuhammer (19) did not know whether the cadmium was primarily of natural origin in the terrestrial arctic ecosystem or whether it was mainly from atmospheric deposition. Increased cadmium in remote ice fields seems to coincide with human industrialization (21,22). Cadmium in wheat samples from 1972 was found to be twice that reported in samples from 1916 at the same location near Uppsala, Sweden (23 No HYs were collected at the third site in January.…”

Section: Metals Accumulation In Sea Ducks and Preymentioning

confidence: 87%

Contaminants and Sea Ducks in Alaska and the Circumpolar Region

Henny¹,

Rudis²,

Roffe³

et al. 1995

Environmental Health Perspectives

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We review nesting sea duck population declines in Alaska during recent decades and explore the possibility that contaminants may be implicated. Aerial surveys of the surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), white-winged scoter (M. fusca), black scoter (M. nigra), oldsquaw (Clangula hyemalis), spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri), and Steller's eider (Polysticta stelleri) show long-term breeding population declines, especially the latter three species. The spectacled eider was recently classified threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In addition, three other diving ducks, which commonly winter in coastal areas, have declined from unknown causes. Large die-offs of all three species of scoters during molt, a period of high energy demand, were documented in August 1990August , 1991August , and 1992 at coastal reefs in southeastern Alaska. There was no evidence of infectious diseases in those scoters. The die-offs may or may not be associated with the long-term declines. Many scoters had elevated renal concentrations of cadmium (high of 375 pg/g dry weight [dw]). Effects of cadmium in sea ducks are not well understood. Selenium concentrations in livers of nesting white-winged scoters were high; however, the eggs they laid contained less selenium than expected based on relationships for freshwater bird species. Histological evaluation found a high prevalence of hepatocellular vacuolation (49%), a degenerative change frequently associated with sublethal toxic insult. Cadmium and selenium mean liver concentrations were generally higher in those birds with more severe vacuolation; however, relationships were not statistically significant. We do not know if sea duck population declines are related to metals or other contaminants.

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Section: Metals Accumulation In Sea Ducks and Preymentioning

confidence: 87%

Contaminants and Sea Ducks in Alaska and the Circumpolar Region

Henny¹,

Rudis²,

Roffe³

et al. 1995

Environmental Health Perspectives

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show abstract

Section: Metals Accumulation In Sea Ducks and Preymentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Citizens reported on 20 August 1990 that scoters had been dying at Cape Yakataga (located in southeastern Alaska between Cordova and Yakutat) for about 2 weeks. A beach survey of about 2.5 km was made at Cape Yakataga on [21][22] August and revealed carcasses of 235 white-winged scoters, 28 surf scoters, and 5 unidentified scoters. About 20 obviously weakened scoters were observed on the beach and 150 to 200 live scoters were seen offshore.…”

Section: Scoter Die-offs On Alaska Molting Groundsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contaminants and sea ducks in Alaska and the circumpolar region.

Henny¹,

Rudis²,

Roffe³

et al. 1995

Environ Health Perspect

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We review nesting sea duck population declines in Alaska during recent decades and explore the possibility that contaminants may be implicated. Aerial surveys of the surf scoter (Melanitta perspicillata), white-winged scoter (M. fusca), black scoter (M. nigra), oldsqaw (Clangula hyemalis), spectacled eider (Somateria fischeri), and Steller's eider (Polysticta stellei) show long-term breeding population declines, especially the latter three species. The spectacled eider was recently classified threatened under the Endangered Species Act. In addition, three other diving ducks, which commonly winter in coastal areas, have declined from unknown causes. Large die-offs of all three species of scoters during molt, a period of high energy demand, were documented in August 1990, 1991, and 1992 at coastal reefs in southeastern Alaska. There was no evidence of infectious diseases in those scoters. The die-offs may or may not be associated with the long-term declines. Many scoters had elevated renal concentrations of cadmium (high of 375 micrograms/g dry weight [dw]). Effects of cadmium in sea ducks are not well understood. Selenium concentrations in livers of nesting white-winged scoters were high; however, the eggs they laid contained less selenium than expected based on relationships for freshwater bird species. Histological evaluation found a high prevalence of hepatocellular vacuolation (49%), a degenerative change frequently associated with sublethal toxic insult. Cadmium and selenium mean liver concentrations were generally higher in those birds with more severe vacuolation; however, relationships were not statistically significant. We do not know if sea duck population declines are related to metals or other contaminants.

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“…The 1978 precipitation samples collected at Gara and Changme Khangpu Glaciers, situated in northern and eastern Himalaya, show activity levels of only < 8 dpm/ kg (Bhandari and others, unpublished). Jaworowski and others (1975) have determined 2IOPb, 137Cs, 226Ra, and U in several samples, including the Nepalese Himalaya from 1957 to 1970. They found that 137Cs and 2IOPb activity peaks and troughs occur together.…”

Section: Radioactive Horizon In the Core Sectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radiometric Chronology of Neh–nar Glacier, Kashmir

et al. 1982

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Surface and core samples of Neh–nar Glacier in the Kashmir Valley have been analysed for the radionuclides 32Si. 210Pb, 40K, and 137Cs. The lateral and vertical profiles (at an altitude of about 4 140 m) reveal: (1)32Si activity decreasing slowly from the accumulation zone to 4 050 m altitude and then abruptly towards the snout. (2)Five zones of alternating high and low 210Pb activity in the surface samples. (3)An horizon at between 2 and 3 m depth containing 210Pb activity above natural levels. This horizon is also associated with 137Cs and a maximum in total ß activity. The ice samples have been dated on the basis of a simplified two–component model, the “fresh“contribution determined by 2l0Pb and the old component by 32Si. The following conclusions can be drawn from these observations: (1)The model age of the snout ice is c. 850 years. (2)The average rate of ice movement in the lower glacier is about 2 m/year, which compares well with the annual movement rate of 2.65 m/year observed since 1974.

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Stable and radioactive pollutants in a Scandinavian glacier

Cited by 21 publications

References 11 publications

Contaminants and Sea Ducks in Alaska and the Circumpolar Region

Contaminants and Sea Ducks in Alaska and the Circumpolar Region

Contaminants and sea ducks in Alaska and the circumpolar region.

Radiometric Chronology of Neh–nar Glacier, Kashmir

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