Accumulation of selenium in aquatic systems downstream of a uranium mining operation in northern Saskatchewan, Canada

• Published in: Environmental pollution (1987) Vol. 156; no. 2; pp. 387 - 393
• Main Authors: Muscatello, J.R., Belknap, A.M., Janz, D.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-11-2008; Elsevier
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Applied ecology; aquatic invertebrates; Bioaccumulation; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology; Ecotoxicology - methods; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Environmental Pollutants - analysis; Environmental Pollutants - toxicity; Fishes - metabolism; Food Chain; Food Contamination; Fresh Water - analysis; Freshwater; freshwater fish; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; General aspects; Geologic Sediments - analysis; Industrial Waste; Invertebrates - chemistry; lakes; Metal mining; Mining; periphyton; plankton; Plankton - chemistry; Saskatchewan; Selenium; Selenium - analysis; Selenium - toxicity; Soil Pollutants - analysis; Soil Pollutants - toxicity; Trace Elements - analysis; Trace Elements - toxicity; Uranium; Water Pollutants, Chemical - analysis; Water Pollutants, Chemical - toxicity; water pollution; water quality; Saskatchewan; Canada; North America; America; Canada, Saskatchewan; Metal mining; Selenium; Ecotoxicology; Bioaccumulation; Freshwater; Radioactive pollution; Toxicity; Fresh water; Radioisotope; Heavy metal; Mining; Pollutant; Uranium; Environment; Biological accumulation; Mining industry; Downstream
• ISSN: 0269-7491; 1873-6424
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2008.01.039

The objective of this study was to investigate the accumulation of selenium in lakes downstream of a uranium mine operation in northern Saskatchewan, Canada. Selenium concentrations in sediment and biota were elevated in exposure areas even though water concentrations were low (<5
μg/L). The pattern (from smallest to largest) of selenium accumulation was: periphyton
<
plankton and filterer invertebrates
<
detritivore and predator invertebrates
<
small bodied (forage) fish and predatory fish. Biomagnification of selenium resulted in an approximately 1.5–6 fold increase in the selenium content between plankton, invertebrates and forage fish. However, no biomagnification was observed between forage fish and predatory fish. Selenium content in organisms from exposure areas exceeded the proposed 3–11
μg/g (dry weight) dietary toxicity threshold for fish, suggesting that the selenium released into these aquatic systems has the potential to bioaccumulate and reach levels that could impair fish reproduction.
Selenium bioaccumulation patterns in a north temperate, cold water aquatic ecosystem were similar to those reported from warm water systems.