Toxicological effects of short‐term resuspension of metal‐contaminated freshwater and marine sediments

• Published in: Environmental toxicology and chemistry Vol. 35; no. 3; pp. 676 - 686
• Main Authors: Fetters, Kyle J., Costello, David M., Hammerschmidt, Chad R., Burton Jr, G. Allen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Pergamon 01.03.2016; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Amphipoda; Animals; Aquatic ecosystems; Aquatic Organisms; Bioavailability; Bioluminescence; cadmium; chromium; Contaminated sediments; copper; Daphnia; Daphnia magna; Dinoflagellida; Ecological effects; Ecosystem; ecosystems; environmental impact; Fresh Water - analysis; freshwater; Freshwater pollution; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Hyalella azteca; Illinois; iron oxides; lakes; lead; life history; Maine; Marine pollution; Marine sediments; Metal bioavailability; Metal concentrations; Metals - toxicity; Neanthes arenaceodentata; nickel; Organic matter; Particulate matter; particulates; pollutants; Polychaeta; Propeller wash; Pyrocystis lunula; Resuspended sediments; Risk assessment; Sediment oxidation; Sediment pollution; Sediment resuspension; Speciation; Survival Analysis; Suspensions; Toxicity; Toxicology; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; Water pollution; Waterways; zinc; Illinois; Maine; ANW, USA, Maine; USA, Illinois; Metal bioavailability; Hyalella azteca; Propeller wash; Sediment resuspension; Sediment oxidation
• ISSN: 0730-7268; 1552-8618
• DOI: 10.1002/etc.3225

Sediments in navigation‐dominated waterways frequently are contaminated with a variety of particle‐associated pollutants and are subject to frequent short‐term resuspension events. There is little information documenting whether resuspension of metal‐contaminated sediments has adverse ecological effects on resident aquatic organisms. Using a novel laboratory approach, the authors examined the mobilization of Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr during resuspension of 1 freshwater and 2 coastal marine sediments and whether resuspension and redeposition resulted in toxicity to model organisms. Sediment flux exposure chambers were used to resuspend metal‐contaminated sediments from 1 site in Lake DePue, Illinois (USA), and 2 sites in Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine (USA). Short‐term (4‐h) resuspension of sediment at environmentally relevant suspended particulate matter concentrations (<1 g/L) resulted in metal mobilization to water that was sediment and metal specific. Overall, the net release of metals from suspended particles was limited, likely because of scavenging by organic matter and Fe oxides that formed during sediment interaction with oxic water. Minimal toxicity to organisms (survival of Hyalella azteca and Daphnia magna; survival, growth, and tissue metal concentration of Neanthes arenaceodentata; bioluminescence of Pyrocystis lunula) was observed during 4‐h exposure to resuspended sediments and during 4‐d to 10‐d post‐exposure recovery periods in uncontaminated water. Redeposited suspended particles exhibited increased metal bioavailability and toxicity to H. azteca, highlighting the potential for adverse ecological impacts because of changes in metal speciation. It is important to consider interactions between organisms' life histories and sediment disturbance regimes when assessing risks to ecosystems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2016;35:676–686. © 2015 SETAC