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Contaminants evaluation of Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas and Missouri, USA

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Abstract

At the new Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge in Linn County, Kansas, and Bates County, Missouri, USA, we evaluated long-lived contaminants before acquisition of the land for the refuge. We sampled sediments at 16 locations and fish at seven locations. The samples were analyzed for metals and for chlorinated hydrocarbon compounds. Selected sediment samples also were analyzed for aliphatic hydrocarbons. Arsenic concentrations in sediment samples from six locations were elevated compared to US norms, but arsenic was not detected in any fish composite. Mercury concentrations in largemouth bass from two locations were comparable to the 85th percentile concentrations in nationwide fish collections. Most sediment concentrations of other metals were unlikely to have detrimental effects on biota. No chlorinated hydrocarbons were detected in any sediment sample. Chlordane compound concentrations in fish composites from two sites at the eastern end of the sampling area were 0.127 and 0.228 μg/g wet weight, respectively, which are high enough to cause concern. Most aliphatic hydrocarbons detected were found at low concentrations and probably were natural in origin. We concluded that there are no serious contaminants concerns within the project area, but past use of arsenical pesticides may mean a legacy of elevated soil arsenic levels in parts of the area and some use of banned pesticides such as chlordane and DDT likely is still occurring near the refuge.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 315 Houston Street, 66502-6172, Manhattan, Kansas, USA

    George T. Allen

  2. US Fish and Wildlife Service, 608 East Cherry, 65205, Columbia, Missouri, USA

    Tom J. Nash

  3. Division of Realty Refuges and Wildlife US Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver Federal Center, PO Box 25486, 80225, Denver, Colorado, USA

    David E. Janes

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  1. George T. Allen
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  2. Tom J. Nash
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  3. David E. Janes
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Allen, G.T., Nash, T.J. & Janes, D.E. Contaminants evaluation of Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge in Kansas and Missouri, USA. Environmental Management 19, 393–404 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02471981

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