Aquatic hyphomycetes as survivors and/or first colonizers after a red sludge disaster in the Torna stream, Hungary

Vass, Máté; Révay, Ágnes; Kucserka, Tamás; Hubai, Katalin; Üveges, Viktória; Kovács, Kata; Padisák, Judit

doi:10.1002/iroh.201301540

Cited by 12 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…The immediate acute impacts of the spill on the receiving watercourses eliminated all aquatic life in a 71 km stretch of the Torna-Marcal system according to some accounts [30]. In electrofishing surveys, 2 weeks after the spill, in affected reaches of the Marcal river (25-100 km downstream), only four species of fish and 59 specimens were surveyed (compared to 22 species and present in prespill 2008 surveys, at a similar time of year) highlighting the impact of the caustic pulse on fish populations [31], which would likely have been sensitive to the sudden change in ionic strength and pH [32].…”

Section: Aquatic Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Studies on the impacts of the spill on fluvial hyphomycetes (fungi), which play a major role in leaf decomposition and subsequent in-stream nutrient cycling, highlighted differences before and after the spill in the Torna Stream [30,34]. Reduced rates of leaf litter decomposition were apparent after the spill, and that was ascribed to diminished fungal colonization relative to reference sites [34].…”

Section: Aquatic Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reduced rates of leaf litter decomposition were apparent after the spill, and that was ascribed to diminished fungal colonization relative to reference sites [34]. It was suggested that gypsum smothering of substrates was a more important factor in diminishing fungal growth and species richness than the red mud itself [30]. The larger particle size of the gypsum lent itself to deposition unlike the finer red mud, which remained suspended in the water column [30].…”

Section: Aquatic Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…It was suggested that gypsum smothering of substrates was a more important factor in diminishing fungal growth and species richness than the red mud itself [30]. The larger particle size of the gypsum lent itself to deposition unlike the finer red mud, which remained suspended in the water column [30].…”

Section: Aquatic Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This physicochemical recovery has been coupled with rapid biological recovery. Some of the early colonizers (or possible survivors of the spill pulse) in the affected rivers were aquatic fungi (notably Tricladium angulatum) and diatoms (unicellular algae) observed in stream foam samples 1 month after the spill [30]. By this point, the acid dosing operations maintained the Torna stream pH to values \9 [30].…”

Section: Landscape and Catchment Scale Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

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Advances in Understanding Environmental Risks of Red Mud After the Ajka Spill, Hungary

Mayes

Burke

Gomes

et al. 2016

J. Sustain. Metall.

130

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In the 5 years since the 2010 Ajka red mud spill (Hungary), there have been 46 scientific studies assessing the key risks and impacts associated with the largest single release of bauxite-processing residue (red mud) to the environment. These studies have provided insight into the main environmental concerns, as well as the effectiveness of remedial efforts that can inform future management of red mud elsewhere. The key immediate risks after the spill were associated with the highly caustic nature of the red mud slurry and fine particle size, which once desiccated, could generate fugitive dust. Studies on affected populations showed no major hazards identified beyond caustic exposure, while red mud dust risks were considered equal to or lesser than those provided by urban dusts of similar particle size distribution. The longer-term environmental risks were related to the saline nature of the spill material (salinization of inundated soils) and the release and the potential cycling of oxyanion-forming metals and metalloids (e.g., Al, As, Cr, Mo, and V) in the soil-water environment. Of these, those that are soluble at high pH, inefficiently removed from solution during dilution and likely to be exchangeable at ambient pH are of chief concern (e.g., Mo and V). Various ecotoxicological studies have identified negative impacts of red mud-amended soils and sediments at high volumes (typically [5 %) on different test organisms, with some evidence of molecularlevel impacts at high dose (e.g., genotoxic effects on plants and mice). These data provide a valuable database to inform future toxicological studies for red mud. However, extensive management efforts in the aftermath of the spill greatly limited these exposure risks through leachate neutralization and red mud recovery from the affected land. Monitoring of affected soils, stream sediments, waters and aquatic biota (fungi, invertebrates and fish) have all shown a very rapid recovery toward prespill conditions. The accident also prompted research that has also highlighted potential benefits of red mud use for critical raw material recovery (e.g., Ga, Co, V, rare earths, inform), carbon sequestration, biofuel crop production, and use as a soil ameliorant.

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Section: Aquatic Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%