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Selenium Pollution in Salt Lake Valley: Groundwater Contamination and Selenium Sources, Study notes of Environmental Science

The groundwater pollution in the salt lake valley caused by selenium contamination. It presents the major aquifer systems, flow paths of groundwater pollutants, and sources of selenium. Human activities such as irrigation drainage, mining spoils, coal, phosphate, uranium, livestock grazing, erosion, commercial fertilizers, and coal-fired power plant stack emissions are identified as potential sources of selenium inputs. The document also explains the toxic effects of selenium on fish and birds, particularly reproductive impairment, and the ecological risk thresholds for selenium in freshwater, sediment, diet, and avian eggs.

Typology: Study notes

Pre 2010

Uploaded on 07/30/2009

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Selenium &
Groundwater
Pollution in
the Salt Lake
Valley
WATS 4530/6530
For Se problems in southern
Idaho see:
http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/40
8/index.html
Activities contributing to
groundwater contamination
Aquifers
Fig. 7. Block diagram showing major aquifer systems i n Salt Lake & Utah Counties
Flow paths of groundwater pollutants
Chloride plume
INEL, Idaho
16 years
Chromium plume
Long Island, NY
13 years
2-Dimensional View
(26,000 ft)
pf3
pf4
pf5

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Selenium &GroundwaterPollution inthe Salt LakeValleyWATS 4530/6530 For Se problems in southernIdaho see: http://www.pbs.org/now/shows/408/index.html

Activities contributing togroundwater contamination

Aquifers Fig. 7. Block diagram showing major aquifer systems in Salt Lake & Utah Counties

Flow paths of groundwater pollutants

Chloride plumeINEL, Idaho16 years Chromium plumeLong Island, NY13 years

2-Dimensional View (26,000 ft)

Flow paths of groundwater pollutants

Lighter-than-watercontaminants

Dissolvedcontaminants

Flow paths of groundwater pollutants

Direction ofground-water flow

Product flow Å

Dissolvedcontaminants

Source of Product(Density > water)

Source of Product(Density < water)

Product flow

Salt Lake Valley groundwater pollution^ KennecottMine

Groundwatercontamination

Contaminant Plume (Se and SO

For example: Ponds on Ouray NationalWildlife Refuge, Utah, are Influencedby Irrigation Drainage Inputs and theCentral Tendancy for SeleniumConcentration was About 40 ug/L

High Productivity (and absence ofcompeting fish in many cases) in salinelakes is very attractive to water birds

A Bonanza ofBrine Flies

Selenium is an essential micronutrient inbacteria and animalsBeneficial effects in humans stem mainlyfrom Se’s role as an antioxidantHowever, Se is the most toxic of allessential micronutrients

Fish and birds are the most sensitivetaxa to Se contamination of aquatic foodwebsThe toxic responses of greatest concernare various forms of reproductiveimpairment

Selenium istransferred fromadults tooffspring viamaternaldeposition intoeggs

EMBRYO TERATOGENESIS

  1. A medical term from the Greek, literally meaning“monster making”2. The production of non-heritable birth defects

5.00 4.00 3.00g/g DW)μ 2.00Se, (1.00 0.

Brine Shrimp

Sediment

Se in Brine Shrimp & Sediment from

Great Salt Lake (south arm) Se in Brine Shrimp & Sediment from

Great Salt Lake (south arm)A

A B

Bird repro- ductive threshold3-8 ppm DW forfoodsAverage Se inB freshwatersediments:0.2–2.0 ppm N= N=

Great Salt Lake Benthic Food Web

3 Selenium Concentrations 2 1 0 Water^

Periphyton^

Brine FlyLarvae

Brine FlyPupae

Brine FlyAdult

Se (ug / L) or (ug / g) +- s.e.

Bridger BayGilbert South No Biomagnification

Based on San Joaquin Valleyrelationship between Se inbrine shrimp and Se in earedgrebe eggs, the median Secontent of GSL shrimp wouldcorrespond with about 7-8ug/g, dw in eared grebe eggs.The level would be marginallytoxic if grebe embryos are assensitive as mallard embryos,but would be inconsequentialif grebe embryos are astolerant as American avocetembryos.