Heavy Metals in a Stream Ecosystem at Sites near Highways
- 1 November 1980
- journal article
- Published by Oxford University Press (OUP) in Transactions of the American Fisheries Society
- Vol. 109 (6) , 636-643
- https://doi.org/10.1577/1548-8659(1980)109<636:hmiase>2.0.co;2
Abstract
Concentrations of lead, zinc, nickel, and cadmium were low in streamwater samples obtained quarterly over 1 year at three sites adjacent to highways of low to moderate traffic volumes (<50, 6,550, and 15,000 vehicles per day). Sediment concentrations of lead, nickel, and zinc were highly correlated with traffic density. Stream sediments appeared to serve as the storage reservoir and primary source for bioconcentration of heavy metals. Whole body (dry weight) concentrations of heavy metals in benthic insects and fish were generally comparable to literature values for animals from contaminated waters. Lead concentrations in members of three benthic insect families were significantly correlated with traffic density, as were lead and zinc concentrations in three fish species. Two of the fish species also showed progressive increases in nickel and cadmium with traffic density. Seasonal variation in heavy metal content was evident only in sediment, with highest values during the spring period of maximum runoff.This publication has 0 references indexed in Scilit: