Bioaccumulation and speciation of selenium in fish and insects collected from a mountaintop removal coal mining-impacted stream in West Virginia

Abstract

A major contaminant of concern for mountaintop removal/valley fill (MTR/VF) coal mining is selenium (Se), an essential micronutrient that can be toxic to fish. Creek chubs (Semotilus atromaculatus), green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), and composite insect samples were collected in March-July, 2011-2013 at two sites within the Mud River, West Virginia. One site (MR7) receives MTR/VF coal mining effluent, while the reference site (LFMR) does not. MR7 water had significantly higher concentrations of soluble Se (p < 0.01) and conductivity (p < 0.005) compared to LFMR. MR7 whole insects contained significantly higher concentrations of Se compared to LFMR insects (p < 0.001). MR7 creek chubs had significantly higher Se in fillets, liver, and ovary tissues compared to LFMR samples (p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, and p < 0.02, respectively). MR7 green sunfish fillets contained significantly higher Se (p < 0.0001). Histological examination showed LFMR creek chub gills contained a typical amount of parasitic infestations; however MR7 gills contained minimal to no visible parasites. X-ray absorption spectroscopic analyses revealed that MR7 whole insects and creek chub tissues primarily contained organic Se and selenite. These two species of Mud River fish were shown to specifically accumulate Se differently in tissues compartments. Tissue-specific concentrations of Se may be useful in determining potential reproductive consequences of Se exposure in wild fish populations.

Inorganic constituents of conductivity in five central Appalachian watersheds with mixed source-driven pollutants

“…Both Ni and Se were observed as trace levels. Mean Se levels were below USEPA surface water quality standards, which is worth noting as recent studies have shown adverse biological effects correlated with Se and its bioaccumulation (Farag et al, 1998;Clements 2004;Lindberg et al, 2011;Arnold et al, 2014). In general, it is likely that inorganic ions associated with UHW sites are the results of surface runoff associated with urbanization as well as organic compounds in-stream, while mining influence varied with surface/underground sourcing.…”

Microchemical analysis of selenium in otoliths of two West Virginia fishes captured near mountaintop removal coal mining operations

“…The Mud River splits into 2 forks, referred to in the present study as specific sites on the main stem Mud River (MR7) and Left Fork Mud River (LFMR; Figure 1). Naming conventions are in keeping with previously published research [8,9]. The Left Fork and the main stem Mud River are connected via the Mud River Reservoir, allowing fish to migrate between these sites.…”

“…Symptoms of Se toxicity in fish include reproductive failure, teratogenesis, and increased mortality of early life stages [4][5][6]. Mountaintop removal/valley fill coal mining is a type of surface mining practiced throughout the Appalachian coal region that facilitates the release of Se from spoil rock into surrounding streams and rivers [7][8][9]. Mountaintop removal/valley fill coal mining is a type of surface mining practiced throughout the Appalachian coal region that facilitates the release of Se from spoil rock into surrounding streams and rivers [7][8][9].…”

“…High summer temperatures increase evapotranspiration, which when combined with low rainfall can drive up surface water Se concentrations. We collected fish from the Mud River, West Virginia, USA, at a site with a long history of mountaintop removal/valley fill mining, a reference site, and another site with only recent mining activity [8][9][10]. Previous work has demonstrated that otolith chemistry often is correlated to surface water chemistry [17], suggesting that patterns in otolith Se concentration may be a combination of life-history traits and Se concentration in the water column.…”

Locomotor and behavioural responses of empire gudgeons (Hypseleotris compressa) exposed to coal mine wastewater

“…While the majority of studies have focused on invertebrate species, several studies have described a range of potential sub-lethal impacts in fish, which are related to coal mine discharge. These include effects on survival (Scullion and Edwards, 1980;Mylliemngap and Ramanujam, 2012), community structure (Branson and Batch, 1971;Daniel et al, 2014), morphometrics Banerjee, 2013, 2014), metal uptake (Bharti and Banerjee, 2011;Arnold et al, 2014), genotoxicity (Benassi et al, 2006), reproduction (Rudolph et al, 2008), metabolism (Miller et al, 2009) and oxidative stress (Benassi et al, 2006). However, research pertaining to native Australian fish species has been extremely limited, particularly considering the national importance of the mining industry.…”