The use of tetragnathid spiders as bioindicators of metal exposure at a coal ASH spill site

Otter, Ryan R.; Hayden, Mary H.; Mathews, Teresa J.; Fortner, Allison M.; Bailey, Frank C.

doi:10.1002/etc.2277

Cited by 47 publications

(48 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Most of the ash remained within 1 km of the site and was removed from the river during the 5 yr following the spill; however, a substantial amount of ash still remains in the Emory River, with some being transported downstream into the Clinch River ( Figure 1) and even farther downstream into the Tennessee River. In addition, multiple studies were undertaken by other investigators on a variety of other aquatic and terrestrial receptors [2][3][4]. These studies were conducted by several investigators and covered the range of biological organization from biochemical to physiological to organs to population and community.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using ordination and clustering techniques to assess multimetric fish health response following a coal ash spill

Bevelhimer

Adams

Fortner

et al. 2014

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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The effect of coal ash exposure on fish health in freshwater communities is largely unknown. Given the large number of possible pathways of effects (e.g., toxicological effect of exposure to multiple metals, physical effects from ash exposure, and food web effects), measurement of only a few health metrics is not likely to give a complete picture. The authors measured a suite of 20 health metrics from 1100+ fish collected from 5 sites (3 affected and 2 reference) near a coal ash spill in east Tennessee over a 4.5-yr period. The metrics represented a wide range of physiological and energetic responses and were evaluated simultaneously using 2 multivariate techniques. Results from both hierarchical clustering and canonical discriminant analyses suggested that for most species × season combinations, the suite of fish health indicators varied more among years than between spill and reference sites within a year. In a few cases, spill sites from early years in the investigation stood alone or clustered together separate from reference sites and later year spill sites. Outlier groups of fish with relatively unique health profiles were most often from spill sites, suggesting that some response to the ash exposure may have occurred. Results from the 2 multivariate methods suggest that any change in the health status of fish at the spill sites was small and appears to have diminished since the first 2 to 3 yr after the spill.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using ordination and clustering techniques to assess multimetric fish health response following a coal ash spill

Bevelhimer

Adams

Fortner

et al. 2014

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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“…Previous research on the Kingston spill showed similar results for raccoons, with no spatial pattern of metal concentrations observed (Souza et al 2013). However, multiple other studies have observed significant increases, mainly in selenium and arsenic concentrations, at ash-associated sites compared to references locations in fish (Otter et al 2012) and spiders (Otter et al 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…As unfortunate as the spill was, it provided an opportunity to directly study the impact of coal fly ash in a large lotic system where the amount of downstream transport of ash was also being investigated and monitored (TVA 2010b). Previous research on the Kingston spill has provided insight on the contaminants of concern from multiple perspectives including sediment biogeochemistry, metal speciation, and metal bioaccumulation across multiple organisms (Ruhl et al 2010;Bednar et al 2010;Ruhl et al 2009;Otter et al 2013;Deonarine et al 2013;Bartov et al 2012;Liu et al 2013;Beck et al 2013;Souza et al 2013). Otter et al (2012) showed elevated concentrations of arsenic and selenium in various tissues of multiple fish species at ash-associated sites compared to reference sites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Previous studies at coal-ash-contaminated sites, including the Kingston spill site, have shown significant bioaccumulation of metals in various organisms including turtles (Nagle et al 2001), caddisflies (Reash et al 2006), crayfish (Nagle et al 2001), tadpoles (Hopkins et al 1999), largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) (Baumann and Gillespie 1986), bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus) (Reash et al 2006;Baumann and Gillespie 1986;Lohner et al 2001), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus) (Lohner et al 2001), redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) (Otter et al 2012;Sorensen 1988), snakes (Hopkins et al 1999), and spiders (Otter et al 2013). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Bioaccumulation of metals in three freshwater mussel species exposed in situ during and after dredging at a coal ash spill site (Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant)

Otter

McKinney

Brown

et al. 2015

Environ Monit Assess

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On December 22, 2008, a dike containing coal fly ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant (TN, USA) failed, and within months, dredging operations began to remove ash-contaminated sediments. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the bioaccumulation of metals in three mussel species during and after dredging operations. Mussels were caged for approximately 1 year during dredging and after, and then mussel condition index values and As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Se, Hg, U, Fe, Mg, Al, Sb, Ba, Be, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ag, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn concentrations in soft tissue were determined via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometery. Overall, the differences observed in metal bioaccumulation and mussel health suggest that mussels in the immediate downstream area of the dredging site may have been impacted, as evidenced by a significant decrease in mussel condition index values, but that this impact did not result in increased tissue concentrations of metals.

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“…In addition, 1 840 000 km of streams and rivers are under human fish consumption advisories for Hg contamination . Mercury is commonly introduced to lotic ecosystems by atmospheric deposition and watershed runoff , and Se may be introduced from point sources such as coal ash or from irrigation returns in landscapes with seleniferous soils .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury and selenium accumulation in the Colorado River food web, Grand Canyon, USA

Walters

Kennedy

Cross

et al. 2015

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

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Mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) biomagnify in aquatic food webs and are toxic to fish and wildlife. The authors measured Hg and Se in organic matter, invertebrates, and fishes in the Colorado River food web at sites spanning 387 river km downstream of Glen Canyon Dam (AZ, USA). Concentrations were relatively high among sites compared with other large rivers (mean wet wt for 6 fishes was 0.17-1.59 μg g(-1) Hg and 1.35-2.65 μg g(-1) Se), but consistent longitudinal patterns in Hg or Se concentrations relative to the dam were lacking. Mercury increased (slope = 0.147) with δ(15) N, a metric of trophic position, indicating biomagnification similar to that observed in other freshwater systems. Organisms regularly exceeded exposure risk thresholds for wildlife and humans (6-100% and 56-100% of samples for Hg and Se, respectfully, among risk thresholds). In the Colorado River, Grand Canyon, Hg and Se concentrations pose exposure risks for fish, wildlife, and humans, and the findings of the present study add to a growing body of evidence showing that remote ecosystems are vulnerable to long-range transport and subsequent bioaccumulation of contaminants. Management of exposure risks in Grand Canyon will remain a challenge, as sources and transport mechanisms of Hg and Se extend far beyond park boundaries.

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The use of tetragnathid spiders as bioindicators of metal exposure at a coal ASH spill site

Cited by 47 publications

References 34 publications

Using ordination and clustering techniques to assess multimetric fish health response following a coal ash spill

Using ordination and clustering techniques to assess multimetric fish health response following a coal ash spill

Bioaccumulation of metals in three freshwater mussel species exposed in situ during and after dredging at a coal ash spill site (Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant)

Mercury and selenium accumulation in the Colorado River food web, Grand Canyon, USA

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