Release of elements to natural water from sediments of Lake Roosevelt, Washington, USA

Abstract

Reservoir sediments from Lake Roosevelt (WA, USA) that were contaminated with smelter waste discharged into the Columbia River (BC, Canada) were examined using three measures of elemental release reflecting varying degrees of physical mixing and time scales. Aqueous concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in the interstitial water of reservoir sediments, in the gently stirred overlying waters of incubated sediment cores, and in supernatants of aggressively tumbled slurries of reservoir sediments generally were higher than the concentrations from a reference site. When compared to chronic water-quality criteria, all three measures of release suggest that slag-contaminated sediments near the U.S.-Canadian border are potentially toxic as a result of Cu release and Pb release in two of the three measures. All three measures of Cd release suggest potential toxicity for one site farther down the reservoir, probably contaminated as a result of transport and adsorption of Cd from smelter liquid waste. Releases of Zn and As did not appear to be potentially toxic. Carbonate geochemistry indirectly affects the potential toxicity by increasing water hardness.

USGS Activities at Lake Roosevelt and the Upper Columbia River

“…Paulson and others (2006) measured not only (1) the concentrations of dissolved metals in interstitial water of sediments that were released from solid sediment, but also measured (2) the release rates of bioavailable dissolved metals that were released to the water column during gently stirred incubation core experiments, and (3) the release rates from slurries mixed end-over-end. For all three measures, the highest dissolved copper concentrations were associated with sediment samples collected from the riverine reach near the Canadian border that contained 70 percent slag based on the sediment zinc concentration (Paulson and Cox, 2007).…”

Toxicity of Metals Associated with Sediments from the Columbia River to Early Life Stages of White Sturgeon

“…the release of elements from contaminated sediments in the Columbia River into pore water, overlying water, and supernatants of aggressively tumbled slurries, and found that under certain conditions, there might be exposure to concentrations of metals sufficient to cause adverse effects [24]. Therefore, the current study employed an experimental design with controlled, fluvial, laboratory exposure settings, and water characteristics comparable to conditions found within the UCR stretch of concern, in order to assess UCR sediment toxicity to early life stages of white sturgeon.…”

Assessment of Columbia River Sediment Toxicity to White Sturgeon: Concentrations of Metals in Sediment, Pore water and Overlying Water

“…Previous studies have investigated releases of elements from contaminated sediments in the Columbia River by use of several methods, such as quantification of metals in pore water (interstitial water), overlying water, and supernatants of aggressively tumbled slurries [17,18]. From these studies Paulson and Cox [18] concluded that under certain conditions releases of elements from sediment could result in concentrations of metals in various matrices that might be toxic to aquatic organisms.…”

“…From these studies Paulson and Cox [18] concluded that under certain conditions releases of elements from sediment could result in concentrations of metals in various matrices that might be toxic to aquatic organisms. However, the Paulson and Cox [18] study employed techniques to simulate the potential release of metals from sediments under laboratory conditions that are unlikely to be directly applicable to conditions found in the above-mentioned region of concern of the UCR.…”

“…From these studies Paulson and Cox [18] concluded that under certain conditions releases of elements from sediment could result in concentrations of metals in various matrices that might be toxic to aquatic organisms. However, the Paulson and Cox [18] study employed techniques to simulate the potential release of metals from sediments under laboratory conditions that are unlikely to be directly applicable to conditions found in the above-mentioned region of concern of the UCR. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to assess toxicity of chemicals of potential concern (COPC) associated with sediments to early life stage white sturgeon in the UCR by use of a controlled, laboratory, fluvial, exposure that simulated water quality characteristics found within the UCR in the vicinity downstream of Trail, BC, Canada.…”