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Geochemical factors complicating the use of aufwuchs as a biomonitor for lead levels in two New Jersey reservoirs

1983; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/0043-1354(83)90231-2

1879-2448

Michael C. Newman, Alan W. McIntosh, Victor A. Greenhut,

Water Quality and Pollution Assessment

Material accumulating on glass slides was sampled monthly from two reservoirs for 1 year. Monthly changes in lead concentration in these samples were correlated with fluctuations in associated iron plus manganese concentration. Correlation with changes in algal cell density was also significant (α = 0.05), yet not as important in the statistical model as iron plus manganese concentration. Upon microscopic examination, it was evident that the majority of the material removed from the slides was a rust-colored matrix. X-ray analysis revealed that the majority of the lead in the material scraped from the slides was associated with this iron and manganese-rich matrix surrounding the microflora, not with the microflora itself. As a result the material scraped from the slides (often defined as aufwuchs in biomonitoring efforts) could not be considered a valid biomonitor of lead levels in these reservoirs. The local geochemistry, not the biota, was the dominant factor affecting the lead concentrations in the material accumulating on the glass slides. The findings of this study indicate a potential for misinterpretation of biomonitoring efforts employing procedurally defined aufwuchs.