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Trophic dynamics of U, Ni, Hg and other contaminants of potential concern on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site

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Abstract

The Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site is a former nuclear weapon material production and current research facility located in South Carolina, USA. Wastewater discharges from a fuel and nuclear reactor target manufacturing facility released depleted and natural U, as well as other metals into the Tims Branch-Steed Pond water system. We investigated the current dynamics of this system for the purposes of environmental monitoring and assessment by examining metal concentrations, bioavailability, and trophic transfer of contaminants in seven ponds. Biofilm, detritus, and Anuran and Anisopteran larvae were collected and analyzed for stable isotopes (δ 15N, δ 13C) and contaminants of potential concern (COPC) with a focus on Ni, U, and Hg, to examine metal mobility. Highest levels of Ni and U were found in biofilms U (147 and 332 mg kg−1 DW, respectively), while highest Hg levels were found in tadpoles (1.1 mg kg−1 DW). We found intraspecific biomagnification of COPCs as expressed through stable isotope analysis. Biofilms were the best indicators for contamination and Anuran larvae with the digestive tract removed were the best indicators of the specific bioavailability of the focal metals. Monitoring data showed that baseline δ 15N values differed between ponds, but within a pond, values were stable throughout tadpole Gosner stage, strengthening the case to use this species for monitoring purposes. It is likely that there still is risk to ecosystem integrity as COPC metals are being assimilated into lower trophic organisms and even low levels of this mixture has shown to produce deleterious effects to some wildlife species.

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Acknowledgements

This manuscript benefited from the comments of two anonymous reviewers. We thank David Kling for contributing his expertise to experimental design and implementation of this study. We also thank Gary Mills and Elizabeth Burgess for their insight into the project and assisting with water trace metal analysis, Tracye Murphy for conducting all trace metal analyses, and Tom Maddox for all stable isotope analysis. We thank Carol Eldridge for laboratory assistance. We followed an animal welfare protocol approved by the University of Georgia Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (A2009 10-175-Y3-A0). This project was funded by the Area Completions Project (ACP) of SRNS through DOE Award Number DE-FC09-07SR22506 to the University of Georgia Research Foundation and was used in partial fulfillment of a Master’s of Science degree in the Department of Biological Sciences at Eastern Illinois University.

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  1. Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Illinois University, 600 Lincoln Ave, Charleston, IL, 61920, USA

    Paul G. Edwards, Karen F. Gaines & James M. Novak

  2. University of Georgia’s Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, SRS Bldg. 737A, Aiken, SC, 29808, USA

    A. Lawrence Bryan Jr.

  3. Savannah River Nuclear Solutions, Savannah River Site, Aiken, SC, 29808, USA

    Susan A. Blas

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  1. Paul G. Edwards
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Correspondence to Karen F. Gaines.

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Edwards, P.G., Gaines, K.F., Bryan, A.L. et al. Trophic dynamics of U, Ni, Hg and other contaminants of potential concern on the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. Environ Monit Assess 186, 481–500 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3392-z

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