US EPA

1015880 

Journal Article 

Selenium, arsenic, and mercury in fish inhabiting a fly ash exposure gradient: Interspecific bioaccumulation patterns and elemental associations 

Reash, RJ 

2012 

Yes 

Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
ISSN: 0730-7268
EISSN: 1552-8618 

31 

4 

739-747 

English 

22228575 

10.1002/etc.1745 

WOS:000301575700009 

http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/etc.1745
Exit
 

Releases from coal ash impoundments can be a significant source of trace elements to the aquatic environment. In the present study, whole body concentrations of arsenic, mercury, and selenium in various fish species inhabiting streams receiving a gradient of fly ash exposure are reported. High exposure sites had elevated water concentrations of arsenic, molybdenum, selenium, and sulfate. Fish were collected during two seasons in 2007. Mercury concentrations in all fish samples were low (range = 0.012-0.99 mg/kg dry wt); highest arsenic concentrations occurred in fish from high exposure sites. Whole body selenium concentrations were low at reference sites but increased as the magnitude of fly exposure increased. For all sites combined, a significant (r2 = 0.60) correlation was observed between the geometric mean of each species' whole body selenium concentration and log-transformed water selenium concentration. A significant inverse relationship was apparent with log-transformed whole body mercury and selenium concentrations (r2 = 0.56 for all species and sites combined), suggesting that high tissue selenium levels antagonistically regulated mercury bioaccumulation. Sunfish (Lepomis sp.) from high and medium-exposure sites had significantly higher selenium body residues, but significantly lower mercury, relative to fish from low exposure and reference sites. Ninety percent of fish from high exposure sites had a surplus of selenium whereas all fish from reference sites had Se/Hg molar ratios < 1.0. These ratios increased as water selenium increased. Where fish have moderate to high exposure to fly ash-influenced water, selenium tissue levels can be expected to be elevated (as well as arsenic, in some cases), but tissue mercury concentrations will likely be low. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. © 2012 SETAC. 

Fly ash; Bioaccumulation; Selenium; Mercury; Arsenic