Derivation and Use of Sediment Quality Guidelines for Ecological Risk Assessment of Metals and Radionuclides Released to the Environment from Uranium Mining and Milling Activities in Canada |
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Authors: | P A Thompson J Kurias S Mihok |
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Institution: | (1) Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, Station B, 280 Slater Street, Ottawa, Canada |
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Abstract: | The Screening Level Concentration (SLC) approach was used to derive Lowest Effect Level (LEL) and Severe Effect Level (SEL)
concentrations for nine metals (As, Cr, Cu, Pb, Mo, Ni, Se, U and V) and three radionuclides (226Ra, 210Pb, and 210Po) released to the aquatic environment during the mining and milling of uranium ore. This method was chosen because it allowed
for the best use of the considerable historical and current data collected for diverse purposes in the uranium mining and
milling regions of Canada (20,606 data points used in the analysis). Except for Cr, all the LELs derived in this study using
the weighted method and published sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) were highly reliable (> 85%) in predicting sites unimpacted
by uranium mining/milling defined as sites where reductions in the abundance and species richness of benthic invertebrate
communities were < 20%. The derived SEL values and corresponding published SQGs (with the exception of Ni) were not reliable
predictors (≤60%) of severe impacts on benthic invertebrate communities when severe impacts are defined as a reduction in
abundance and species richness ≥40%. Most of the severely impacted sites had sediment contaminant concentrations well below
the SEL values. It is concluded that LELs derived using the weighted method can reliably be used in ecological risk assessments
as concentrations below which adverse effects on benthic invertebrate communities are not expected. In contrast, it is recommended
that SELs not be used in assessments of uranium mining/milling activities as concentrations above which adverse effects are
anticipated. |
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Keywords: | benthic invertebrates ecological risk assessment metals radionuclides sediment quality guidelines uranium mining |
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