No abstract

Levels of cadmium and zinc in various components of Williamson Ditch (an industrially contaminated stream flowing into Palestine Lake), Trimble Creek (a stream draining Palestine Lake) and the Tippecance River (a river receiving Trimble Creek) were determined. Water, sediment, plant, fish and clam samples were analyzed for cadmium and zinc content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Unweighted mean metal concentrations in Trimble Creek were the following: water, 51 sug Zn/ I and 4.2 g Cd/ 1; sediment, 592 g Zn/ g and 48.8 ug Cd/ g; plants, 375 MAm Zn/ g and 7.91 Mg Cd/g;, fish, 145 Mg Zn/g and 6.o2 Mg Cd/g. These concentrations were generally lower than those found in Williamson Ditch and higher than those found in the Tippecanoe River or background levels previously reported for other aquatic ecosystems.