Bioaccumulation of selenium from natural geologic sources in western states and its potential consequences |
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Authors: | Theresa S Presser Marc A Sylvester Walton H Low |
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Institution: | (1) National Research Program, US Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road (MS 435), 94025 Menlo Park, California, USA;(2) National Water Quality Assessment Program, US Geological Survey, 345 Middlefield Road (MS 470), 94025 Menlo Park, California, USA;(3) US Geological Survey, District Office, 230 Collins Road, 83702 Boise, Idaho, USA |
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Abstract: | Ecological impacts of water-quality problems have developed in the western United States resulting from the disposal of seleniferous
agricultural wastewater in wetland areas. Overt effects of selenium toxicosis occurred at five areas where deformities of
wild aquatic birds were similar to those first observed at Kesterson National Wildlife Refuge in the west-central San Joaquin
Valley of California. These areas are: Tulare Lake Bed Area, California, Middle Green River Basin, Utah, Kendrick Reclamation
Project Area, Wyoming, Sun River Basin, Montana, and Stillwater Wildlife Management Area, Nevada. Potential for ecological
damage is indicated at six more sites in Oregon, Colorado, the Colorado/Kansas border, and South Dakota out of 16 areas in
11 states where biological tissue data were collected. This conclusion is based on the fact that selenium bioaccumulated in
bird livers to median levels that had exceeded or were in the range associated with adverse reproductive effects. Selenium
concentrations in samples of fish and bird eggs support these conclusions at a majority of these areas. Reason for concern
is also given for the lower Colorado River Valley, although this is not exclusively a conclusion from these reconnaissance
data. Biogeochemical conditions and the extent of selenium contamination of water, bottom sediment, and biota from which this
assessment was made are given here. In a companion paper, the biogeochemical pathway postulated for selenium contamination
to take place from natural geologic sources to aquatic wildlife is defined. |
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Keywords: | Selenium Avian teratogenicity Bioaccumulation Environmental contamination Western United States |
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