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Effects of coal pile leachate on Taylor Brook in western Massachusetts
Author(s) -
Tan Barrie,
Coler Robert A.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
environmental toxicology and chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.1
H-Index - 171
eISSN - 1552-8618
pISSN - 0730-7268
DOI - 10.1002/etc.5620051006
Subject(s) - soft water , environmental chemistry , leachate , chemistry , hard water , acid rain , toxicity , zoology , biology , organic chemistry
The metals in Taylor Brook, a second‐order stream that receives the runoff and leachate from a coal pile, were analyzed and evaluated for toxicity. Al, Fe and Mn levels were highest immediately downstream from the coal pile at site 4, where the pH was 4.9. The water at this site was soft (41 ppm). Ca and Mg were predominantly unbound, yet maximum binding with organic acids occurred. The increase in SO 4 concentrations (fourfold) and HCO 3 :SO 4 ratios indicated little or no buffer capacity but the SO 4 :NO 3 :Cl ratios showed that the effect was local rather than a consequence of acid precipitation alone. The 96‐h LC50 values for guppies in water from sites 4 and 3 were 26 and 100%, respectively. The increase of Al (80‐fold) was inversely proportional to pH, but this proportionality was more pronounced at site 4 than at site 3. The 36‐h LC50 values obtained on the addition of Al and acidity to water from site 3 at the levels measured in water from site 4 were 24% and greater than 100%, respectively. When compared with the values (17% and 49%) derived for site 4 water, the data indicate that the toxicity was principally exerted by aluminum. Residual oxygen data also suggest that fish mortality was primarily a function of Al. Additions of Al (0.3 ppm) to Taylor Brook control site water resulted in increased toxicity to guppies, while added acidity (pH 4.5) had no marked effect.