Department of Integrative Biology, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, 74078, USA.
Grand River Dam Authority, Vinita, OK, 74301, USA.
Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2019 Jan;76(1):31-41. doi: 10.1007/s00244-018-0559-1. Epub 2018 Sep 18.
The Tri-State Mining District (TSMD) is a historic mining area containing the Tar Creek superfund site and is the source for sediment-bound metals in Grand Lake. Despite elevated concentrations of cadmium, lead, and zinc, no evidence of sediment toxicity has been observed during previous investigations; however, these studies were limited to lake transects with mostly deep-water sediments. The purpose of this study was to assess whether TSMD-specific sediment toxicity thresholds (STTs), developed for small streams and tributaries draining the TSMD, are predictive of biological effects within the greater lake body. Investigations focused on determining trace metal distribution within the northern reaches of Grand Lake, emphasizing shallow water areas (≤ 6-m depth), and the effects of sediment disturbance on trace metal bioavailability and toxicity to two freshwater invertebrates. No significant mortality or differences in growth occurred under natural or disturbed sediment conditions for either aquatic invertebrate despite using some sediments that exceeded both McDonald general sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) and TSMD-specific STTs. Although the simulated disturbance event (i.e., vigorously aerating sediments for 30 days before toxicity tests) was sufficient to increase trace metal water concentrations and detection frequencies, no changes in overall sediment load, bioavailability, or toxicity were observed following a 10-day exposure duration. These results suggest that TSMD-specific STTs could be used to evaluate Grand Lake sediments that could potentially be disturbed by boat traffic, wave action, and dredging associated with dock construction as opposed to the more conservative general-SQGs.
三州矿区（TSMD）是一个历史悠久的矿区，包含塔尔克里克超级基金场地，也是格兰德湖中沉积物金属的源头。尽管镉、铅和锌的浓度很高，但在之前的调查中没有观察到沉积物毒性的证据；然而，这些研究仅限于主要是深水沉积物的湖剖面。本研究的目的是评估是否为 TSMD 特定的沉积物毒性阈值（STTs），这些阈值是为流经 TSMD 的小溪和支流开发的，是否可以预测更大的湖体内的生物效应。研究重点是确定格兰德湖北部的痕量金属分布，强调浅水区（≤6 米深），以及沉积物扰动对两种淡水无脊椎动物痕量金属生物利用度和毒性的影响。尽管使用了一些超过麦克唐纳一般沉积物质量指南（SQGs）和 TSMD 特定 STTs 的沉积物，但在自然或受干扰的沉积物条件下，两种水生无脊椎动物都没有出现显著的死亡率或生长差异。尽管模拟的扰动事件（即在毒性测试前剧烈曝气沉积物 30 天）足以增加痕量金属的水浓度和检测频率，但在 10 天的暴露期后，没有观察到总沉积物负荷、生物利用度或毒性的变化。这些结果表明，TSMD 特定的 STTs 可用于评估可能因与码头建设相关的船只交通、波浪作用和疏浚而受到干扰的格兰德湖沉积物，而不是更保守的一般 SQGs。
