Uptake of sediment-bound lead and zinc by the freshwater isopod Asellus communis at three different pH levels

• Published in: Archives of environmental contamination and toxicology 1986-09, Vol.15 (5), p.495-504
• Main Authors: LEWIS, T. E, MCINTOSH, A. W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; Fresh water environment; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
• ISSN: 0090-4341; 1432-0703
• DOI: 10.1007/BF01056561

The sediment/water exposure system used in this study consisted of two tanks placed one above the other. The upper tank contained water (pH 4.5, 5.5, 7.5) and test sediment. The lower tank, which contained no sediment, was supplied with water from the upper tank. Test sediments from Westons Mill Pond (WMP) and the Delaware and Raritan Canal (DRC) contained 367 and 266 ug lead per g dry weight respectively, and 772 and 352 ug zinc per g respectively. Despite the significant release of zinc from both sediments when overlying water was acidified, there was no significant bioaccumulation of the metal by A. communis held in the upper and lower tanks for 20 days. A. communis accumulated lead from the water column and via ingestion of sediment. Lead uptake rates in WMP tanks were considerably higher than those from DRC sediment/water, and were inversely related to pH. Treatment-related differences in uptake rates were related to differences in the proportion of total lead bound to amorphous iron oxides.