Southern Research Station

Title: A procedure for developing ecosystem loading limits (TMDLs) for selenium in Wastersheds affected by gold mining in Northern Argentina

Author: Lemly, Dennis A.

Date: 2001

Source: Argentina Federal Secretary of Natural Resources, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Description: The Argentina Federal Secretary of Natural Resources oversees a wide array of mining operations conducted on public lands. Recently, selenium has emerged as a contaminant issue associated with several gold mines in the northern mountain ranges. The Secretary's Office contacted me and requested assistance interpreting selenium concentrations and possible impacts on fish, and formulating environmental quality goals to protect aquatic life. I conducted a technical review of environmental data collected by the mining companies, applied my Protocol for hazard assessment of selenium (Lemly, 1995), and concluded that their was a substantial risk of toxic impacts to fish in streams and wetlands near active and inactive mines.

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Citation

Lemly, Dennis A.  2001.  A procedure for developing ecosystem loading limits (TMDLs) for selenium in Wastersheds affected by gold mining in Northern Argentina.   Argentina Federal Secretary of Natural Resources, Buenos Aires, Argentina