Selenium Ecotoxicology in Freshwater Lakes Receiving Coal Combustion Residual Effluents: A North Carolina Example.

ABSTRACT: Anthropogenic activities resulting in releases of selenium-laden waste streams threaten freshwater ecosystems. Lake ecosystems demand special consideration because they are characterized by prolonged retention of selenium and continuous cycling of the element through the food chain, through which it becomes available to toxicologically susceptible egg-laying vertebrates. This study documents the current selenium burden of lakes in North Carolina (NC) with historic selenium inputs from nearby coal-fired power plants. We measured selenium concentrations in surface waters, sediment pore waters, and resident fish species from coal combustion residual (CCR)-impacted lakes and paired reference lakes. The data are related to levels of recent selenium inputs and analyzed in the context of recently

SUBMITTER: Brandt JE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6388687 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature