Abstract
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project to build nuclear weapons, and currently operates as a national research laboratory. As part of an ongoing assessment of site-related ecological risk at LANL, western bluebird (Sialia mexicana) and ash-throated flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens) eggs were collected from 1997 to 2012 and analyzed for 18 inorganic elements. Concentrations of many inorganic elements in eggs were below reporting limits. Between species comparisons revealed that western bluebird eggs had higher levels of barium while ash-throated flycatcher eggs had higher levels of mercury. No statistically significant differences were observed in concentrations of inorganic elements in western bluebird eggs collected from the study area (which consists of areas within the current and historic LANL boundary) and from a non-industrial reference site; nor were any statistically significant differences observed between two canyons of interest, known to have received effluents and storm water runoff from LANL facilities, and the non-industrial reference site. Inorganic element levels detected in western bluebirds were typically within the range measured in eggs of other passerine in the published literature. These data suggest that concentrations of inorganic elements in passerine eggs collected from the study area appear to be at levels causing negligible risks to local bird populations.
Highlights
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is located on the Pajarito Plateau in Northern New Mexico and was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project with the primary goal of designing and building nuclear weapons (Figure 1)
No statistically significant differences were observed in concentrations of inorganic elements in western bluebird eggs collected from the study area and from a non-industrial reference site; nor were any statistically significant differences observed between two canyons of interest, known to have received effluents and storm water runoff from LANL facilities, and the non-industrial reference site
We evaluate concentrations of inorganic elements in eggs of western bluebirds and ash-throated flycatchers and predict that ash-throated flycatchers will have differing concentrations of inorganic elements due to their migratory behavior
Summary
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is located on the Pajarito Plateau in Northern New Mexico and was established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project with the primary goal of designing and building nuclear weapons (Figure 1). Release sites include numerous point sources such as firing sites, industrial and sanitary outfalls, landfills, and storage areas [1] [2] [3]. Assessing site-related ecological risk is especially challenging because LANL operations cover a large area (approximately 104 km2) and there are multiple release types and locations. Canyons of interest in this study include Cañada del Buey and Mortandad (Figure 1). Sections of both Cañada del Buey and Mortandad Canyon are currently part of LANL. Historic release sites along Cañada del Buey include various outfalls, an inactive septic system, and a disposal area for low-level radioactive waste [4]. Historic release sites along Mortandad Canyon include outfalls, sanitary septic systems, and discharges from a wastewater treatment plant [5]. Several constituents are of interest in these canyons, including inorganic elements [6] [7] [8]
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