Inorganic Monomeric Aluminum Concentrations Research Articles

Response of Water Chemistry and Young-of-Year Brook Trout to Channel and Watershed Liming in Streams Showing Lagging Recovery from Acidic Deposition

Reductions in sulfur emissions have initiated chemical recovery of surface waters impacted by acidic deposition in the Adirondack region of New York State. However, acidified streams remain common in the region, which limits recovery of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) populations. To investigate liming as a method to accelerate recovery of brook trout, the channels of two acidified streams were limed annually from 2012 to 2015, and an entire watershed of a third acidified tributary was limed by helicopter in 2013. Stream flow, water chemistry, and density of young-of-year (YOY) brook trout were measured in limed streams, an untreated acidified stream, and a buffered reference stream. Lime additions increased pH and acid-neutralizing capacity and decreased inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations to less than 2.0 μmol/L, the minimum concentration at which in situ brook trout mortality has been documented. However, of the two channel-limed streams, only stream T8 showed a significant response (P < 0.01) in YOY density, increasing from a mean of 0.4 fish/m2 before liming to 2.7 fish/m2 after liming. No YOY brook trout response was observed in the stream within the limed watershed. Groundwater inputs to streams were identified by relative differences in temperature and concentrations of silica and sodium. YOY brook trout densities increased only in the channel-limed stream (T8) with suitable groundwater inputs for fall spawning and a summer nursery. Results suggest that targeted liming of acidified streams with the necessary groundwater habitat could be beneficial in accelerating recovery of brook trout populations.

Use of soil-streamwater relationships to assess regional patterns of acidic deposition effects in the northeastern USA

Declines of acidic deposition levels by as much as 50% since 1990 have led to partial recovery of surface waters in the northeastern USA but continued depletion of soil calcium through this same period suggests a disconnection between soil and surface water chemistry. To investigate the role of soil-surface water interactions in recovery from acidification, the first regional survey to directly relate soil chemistry to stream chemistry during high flow was implemented in a 4144-km2 area of the Catskill region of New York, where acidic deposition levels are among the highest in the East. More than 40% of 95 streams sampled in the southern Catskill Mountains were determined to be acidified and had inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations that exceeded a threshold that is toxic to aquatic biota. More than 80% likely exceeded this threshold during the highest flows, but less than 10% of more than 100 streams sampled were acidified in the northwestern portion of the region. Median Oa horizon soil base saturation ranged from 50% to 80% at 200 sites across the region, but median base saturation in the upper 10 cm of the B horizon was less than 20% across the region and was only 2% in the southern area. Aluminum is likely to be interfering with root uptake of calcium in the mineral horizon in approximately half the sampled watersheds. Stream chemistry was highly variable over the Catskill region and, therefore, did not always reflect the calcium depletion of the B horizon that our sampling suggested was nearly ubiquitous throughout the region. Published 2013. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Persistent Mortality of Brook Trout in Episodically Acidified Streams of the Southwestern Adirondack Mountains, New York

AbstractWater chemistry, discharge, and mortality of caged brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis were characterized in six headwater streams in the southwestern Adirondack Mountains of New York during spring 2001–2003. Results were compared with mortality recorded during similar tests during 1984–1985, 1988–1990, and 1997 to assess contemporary relations between stream acidification and brook trout mortality, the effects of exposure duration on mortality, and the effects of decreased rates of acidic deposition on water quality and fish mortality. Water quality and mortality of caged, young‐of‐the‐year brook trout were evaluated during 30‐d exposure periods from mid‐April to late May during the most recent tests. In 2001–2003, mortality ranged from 0% to 100% and varied among streams and years, depending on the timing of toxicity tests in relation to the annual snowmelt and on the ability of each watershed to neutralize acids and prevent acutely toxic concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum (Alim) during high‐flow events. Mortality rates in 2001–2003 tests were highly variable but similar to those observed during earlier tests. This similarity suggests that stream water quality in the southwestern Adirondack Mountains has not changed appreciably over the past 20 years. Concentrations of Alim greater than 2.0 and 4.0 μmol/L were closely correlated with low and high mortality rates, respectively, and accounted for 83% of the variation in mortality. Two to four days of exposure to Alim concentrations greater than 4.0 μmol/L resulted in 50–100% mortality. The extended periods (as long as 6 months) during which Alim concentrations exceeded 2.0 and 4.0 μmol/L in one or more streams, combined with the low tolerance of many other fish species to acid and elevated Alim concentrations, indicate a high potential for damage to fish communities in these and other poorly buffered streams of the Northeast.

Effects of acidic deposition on forest and aquatic ecosystems in New York State

Acidic deposition is comprised of sulfuric and nitric acids and ammonium derived from atmospheric emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and ammonia, respectively. Acidic deposition has altered soil through depletion of labile pools of nutrient cations (i.e. calcium, magnesium), accumulation of sulfur and nitrogen, and the mobilization of elevated concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum to soil solutions in acid-sensitive areas. Acidic deposition leaches essential calcium from needles of red spruce, making this species more susceptible to freezing injury. Mortality among sugar maples appears to result from deficiencies of nutrient cations, coupled with other stresses such as insect defoliation or drought. Acidic deposition has impaired surface water quality in the Adirondack and Catskill regions of New York by lowering pH levels, decreasing acid-neutralizing capacity, and increasing aluminum concentrations. Acidification has reduced the diversity and abundance of aquatic species in lakes and streams. There are also linkages between acidic deposition and fish mercury contamination and eutrophication of estuaries.

Low concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum impair physiological status and marine survival of Atlantic salmon

Two strains of Atlantic salmon ( Salmo salar ) presmolts were exposed for 3 months to moderately acidic water (pH 5.8; 6±2 μg aluminum (Ali) l −1 inorganic monomeric aluminum-acid exposure group) or non-acid water (pH>6.5–6.9; <5 μg Ali l −1 —Good/control group) at NINA Research Station, Ims, Southern Norway. Exposure to low concentrations of Ali raised the gill-aluminum (gill-Al) concentration by 20–30 μg Al g −1 gill dry weight compared to control fish having <10 μg Al g −1 gill dry weight. The fish responded to the Al loading with elevated blood glucose, but retained more normal hematocrit and plasma chloride levels. Fish exposed under acid conditions grew significantly poorer than the control fish. After 3 months of exposure, 150 Carlin-tagged smolts from both Imsa treatments were released into the non-acidic River Imsa, 800 m upstream from a trap that caught all migrating smolts. Acid-exposed fish migrated downstream slightly later than the controls. At the same time, Carlin-tagged fish from all four treatments (Acid and Good, both strains; approximately 1000 fish group −1 ) were released downstream of the trap located 150 m above the river mouth. Based on the number of adult recaptures (by May 2001), marine survival was 20–30% lower for the acid-exposed fish than for the controls. There were no differences in marine growth between the treatments. The results suggest that even very low concentrations of Ali (6±2 μg l −1 ) can reduce seawater survival, thereby having effect on the population level. The physiological responses, reduced growth and reduced marine survival also suggest that the presmolts did not acclimate to the acid conditions.

Effect of Navy Chaff Release on Aluminum Levels in an Area of the Chesapeake Bay

The U.S. Navy uses aluminized glass chaff as a passive countermeasure for radar-guided threats to aircraft and surface ships. Over the last 25 years, several hundred thousand pounds of aluminized chaff have been released during flight operations over a training area on the Chesapeake Bay. There is concern that these releases have resulted in the accumulation of significant amounts of aluminum in the soil and sediment of this training area. This study compares the exchangeable and monomeric aluminum content of sediment within the affected area with that of samples taken from outside the training area. We found a less than twofold increase in the content of organic monomeric aluminum in samples taken from the affected area versus background samples, whereas inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations within the affected area were significantly lower than background. These results suggest that chaff releases have not resulted in a significant accumulation of aluminum in this training area.

Composition of Fish Communities in Relation to Stream Acidification and Habitat in the Neversink River, New York

Abstract The effects of acidification in lotic systems are not well documented. Spatial and temporal variability of habitat and water quality complicate the evaluation of acidification effects in streams and rivers. The Neversink River in the Catskill Mountains of southeastern New York, the tributaries of which vary from well buffered to severely acidified, provided an opportunity to investigate the extent and magnitude of acidification effects on fish communities of headwater systems. Composition of fish communities, water quality, stream hydrology, stream habitat, and physiographic factors were characterized from 1991 to 1995 at 16 first- to fourth-order sites in the basin. Correlation and regression analyses were used to develop empirical models and to assess the relations among fish species richness, total fish density, and total fish biomass and environmental variables. Chronic and episodic acidification and elevated concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum were common, and fish populations wer...

Studies of soils, soil water and stream water at a small catchment near Guiyang, China

Acid deposition is considered to be a major environmental problem in China, but information about effects on soils and waters is scarce. To contribute to increased knowledge about the problem a small catchment (about 7 ha) in the outskirts of Guiyang, the provincial capital of Guizhou in south-western China, was instrumented for collection of precipitation, throughfall, soil water and stream water. In addition soil samples have been collected and analyzed for key properties. Median pH in the precipitation is 4.40 (quartiles: 4.19 and 4.77) and the median sulfate concentration 228 µeq/L (quartiles: 147 and 334 µeq/L). The dry deposition of both SO2 and alkaline dust is considerable. The sum of wet deposition of sulfate and dry deposition of SO2 has been estimated to about 8.5 gSm-2yr-1. The total S-deposition may be somewhat higher due to dry deposition of sulfate and occult deposition. In soil water, SO4 2- is the major anion, generally ranging from 300 to 2500 µeq/L in the different plots. Calcium is an important cation, but there is also a considerable contribution of aluminum from the soil. In some of the plots the concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum (Ali) are typically between 200 and 400 µm. Potential harmful levels of aluminum and/or high Ali/(Ca2+ + Mg2+) molar ratios occur in the catchment, but damages to vegetation have not yet been reported. In most cases exchangeable aluminum accounts for between 75 and 95% of the total effective cation exchange capacity (CECE) in the mineral soils. The aluminum chemistry cannot easily be explained by conventional models as the Gaines-Thomas ion-exchange equation or equilibrium with an Al(OH)3 mineral phase. The stream water is generally less acidic and has considerably lower concentrations of aluminum than the soil water, even though quite acid events have been observed (pH < 4.4). The median pH values are 4.9 and 5.0 in the two first order streams and 6.3 in the dam at the lower boarder of the catchment.

The Effects of Low pH and Aluminum on Breeding Success in the Frog Rana temporaria

The effects of low pH on fertilization and embryonic development in Rana temporaria (L.) were studied in the laboratory and field. In the field, fertilization success was reduced principally by high concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum, while embryonic mortality was caused mainly by low water temperatures. Most dead eggs were at the mid to late cleavage or early gastrula stage. In the laboratory, embryonic survival decreased with increasing inorganic monomeric aluminum concentration at pH 4.5. High concentrations of inorganic monomeric aluminum also increased the number of embryos which died in the early stages of development, and increased the proportion of embryos which remained constricted within the perivitelline membrane and failed to hatch

Inorganic Monomeric Aluminum and pH as Predictors of Acidic Water Toxicity to Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations were found to be the primary determinant of survival of brook trout feeding fry exposed for 21 d to various combinations of total aluminum and pH, plus several concentrations of fluoride or DOC, or several temperatures. Total aluminum concentrations in the 4 × 4 × 4 experimental matrices ranged from 3–1276 ppb, pH from 4.4–6.7, fluoride from &lt;10–328 ppb, DOC from &lt;1–9.2 ppm, and temperatures from 5.4–12.0 °C. Stepwise logistic regression was used to determine the significance of the effect of each water quality variable on survival. Inorganic monomeric aluminum accounted for 78–98% of the variation in survival. Except in the fluoride bioassay where pH was not significant, pH was the second-most important variable, accounting for up to 16% of the variation in survival. Fluoride or temperature accounted for 1–2% of the variation in survival, while DOC accounted for 6% of the variation in survival.

Aluminum and Acid Toxicity to Two Strains of Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

Two strains of 1 yr-old brook trout were exposed to 14 combinations of pH, aluminum, and calcium during a 28-d experiment. Survival, weight, and gill histology of both strains were affected similarly by pH, aluminum, and calcium exposure. Survival was reduced at inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations (IA1) of 29 μg/L at pH 5.2 and [Formula: see text] at pH 4.4 and 4.8. Fish weight was reduced with exposure to pH below 4.8 or aluminum concentrations [Formula: see text]. The gills sampled from fish exposed to low pH exhibited lifting of the outer epithelium and hypertrophy (increase in size) of chloride and epithelial cells. The response of gills sampled from fish exposed to low pH and elevated aluminum was more pronounced relative to the low pH exposure alone. In addition to the effects observed in the low pH exposed fish, the gills from fish exposed to both acid and aluminum exhibited vacuolation and degeneration of epithelial and chloride cells and the presence of dense cells. Finally, fish confined in PVC tubes designed to mimic in situ field exposure procedures were more sensitive to the toxic effects of acid and aluminum compared to free-swimming fish. Caution must be taken when extrapolating safe field levels from in situ exposures of caged fish.

The mobilization of aluminum in a natural soil system: Effects of hydrologic pathways

A two‐component soil water flow model was used in conjunction with an equilibrium speciation model WATEQF to study aluminum mobility in soils of a forested watershed, White Oak Run, in the Shenandoah National Park, Virginia. Soil solution samples, taken from the O, E, B, C1, and C2 horizons, were collected from zero‐tension lysimeters designed to collect faster gravitational macropore flow and tension lysimeters designed to collect slower capillary micropore flow. Dissolved aluminum was fractionated into acid‐soluble, inorganic monomeric, and organic monomeric aluminum. Soil water aluminum concentrations decreased with depth indicating that the deep soil is a sink for aluminum. All waters contained significant concentrations of acid‐soluble aluminum and exhibited a negative correlation between pH and the inorganic monomeric aluminum concentrations. Water in the shallow soil showed distinctly different chemical compositions for the two flow types, while C horizon micropore and macropore waters were more similar. Because of its shorter residence time, water flowing in deep soil macropores underwent less extensive neutralization and immobilization of aqueous aluminum than micropore water. The O horizon macropore waters were undersaturated for all hydroxide, silicate, and sulfate mineral phases considered. The C horizon samples from both flow types were near equilibrium with respect to kaolinite and synthetic gibbsite, indicating that mineral solubility controls water chemistry in the deep soil, while organic substances are the key control in the shallow macropore waters.