Baseline selenium in sculpins related to the northeast coal zone ...
Selenium (Se) is a contaminant of particular concern for coal mines in British Columbia and elsewhere. The primary concern is uptake of the organic form of Se by fish and water birds, potentially resulting in reproductive impairments of their offspring. Because the primary concern relates to dietary...
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| Format: | Text |
| Language: | English |
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The University of British Columbia
2009
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| Online Access: | https://dx.doi.org/10.14288/1.0042502 https://doi.library.ubc.ca/10.14288/1.0042502 |
| Summary: | Selenium (Se) is a contaminant of particular concern for coal mines in British Columbia and elsewhere. The primary concern is uptake of the organic form of Se by fish and water birds, potentially resulting in reproductive impairments of their offspring. Because the primary concern relates to dietary uptake, tissue Se concentrations are measured and compared to tissue threshold reference values (TRVs) to determine whether or not there is a potential risk. However, Se is also an essential element that can be preferentially accumulated by organisms. Thus, background tissue concentrations need to be determined to reduce uncertainties in the application of TRVs. Extensive coal mining development is presently occurring in the northeast of British Columbia (BC), Canada, where the rocks are Se-enriched such that natural background concentrations can be elevated. This paper reports on the determination of background Se concentrations in whole bodies of slimy sculpin (Cottus cognatus) collected from reference areas ... |
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