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2004 Progress Report: Metal Toxicity Thresholds for Important Reclamation Plant Species of the Rocky Mountains

EPA Grant Number: R829515C012
Subproject: this is subproject number 012 , established and managed by the Center Director under grant R829515
(EPA does not fund or establish subprojects; EPA awards and manages the overall grant for this center).
Center: HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites
Center Director: Shackelford, Charles D.
Title: Metal Toxicity Thresholds for Important Reclamation Plant Species of the Rocky Mountains
Investigators: Paschke, Mark W , Redente, Edward F
Institution: Colorado State University
EPA Project Officer: Lasat, Mitch
Project Period: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2006
Project Period Covered by this Report: October 1, 2003 through September 30, 2004
RFA: Hazardous Substance Research Centers - HSRC (2001)
Research Category: Hazardous Waste/Remediation

Description:

Objective:

The objective of this research project is to establish soil metal toxicity thresholds for numerous plant species that are commonly used in reclamation activities in the Rocky Mountains. This information currently is not available; therefore ecological risk assessments must rely on toxicity thresholds established for agronomic species. These crop plants have very different physiological characteristics and sensitivity levels than native species used in the reclamation of sites contaminated with metals. As a result, risk assessors may classify sites as phytotoxic to native species and call for intensive remediation activities that may not be necessary. The objective of this work is to provide a better estimate of the soil metal toxicity thresholds for four metals and a large number of native plant and a few commonly used introduced species. These threshold values would be used by those in the reclamation industry (government regulators and private entities) to assess more accurately risks associated with soil metal contamination and to better match revegetation plant species to site conditions.

Progress Summary:

To date, six of the seven proposed greenhouse experiments have been completed. The completed experiments are:

  1. Mn testing on six grass species;
  2. Zn testing on six forb species;
  3. As testing on six grass species;
  4. As testing on six forb species;
  5. Cu testing on six forb species;
  6. and Mn testing on six forb species.

The results from experiment 1 have been accepted for publication in Environmental Pollution.

Future Activities:

We will prepare the results from experiments 2-4 for publication. Laboratory analyses of materials from experiment 5 have been completed and are currently undergoing statistical analysis. Upon completion of this statistical analysis, a publication will be prepared. The greenhouse phase of experiment 6 has been completed. Plant materials are being weighed and prepared for laboratory analyses (tissue Mn content). Once laboratory analyses are completed, the data will be analyzed and a publication will be prepared. Experiment 7, Mn testing on six shrub species, currently is entering the greenhouse phase. This greenhouse experiment will be completed in early 2005, and the data subsequently will be analyzed and prepared for publication.

Publications/Presentations:

See the list of publications/presentations included in the 2004 Annual Report Summary for R829515, which is the overall report for the Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center.

Supplemental Keywords:

Technical Outreach Services for Communities, TOSC, Technical Assistance to Brownfields, TAB, groundwater, industry sectors, waste, water, ecological risk assessment, ecology, ecosystems, ecology and ecosystems, environmental chemistry, environmental engineering, geology, geochemistry, toxicology, microbiology, hazardous, hazardous waste, mining-NAIC 21, selenium, acid mine drainage, acid mine runoff, aquatic ecosystems, arsenic, contaminant transport, contaminated sediments, contaminated marine sediment, contaminated waste sites, contaminated sites, contaminated soil, field monitoring, mining-impacted runoff, sediment transport, stream ecosystems, suspended sediment, sediments, mining, remediation, metal mobility, subsurface, extraction of metals, heavy metals, leaching of toxic metals, metal release, metal wastes, metals, metals-contaminated soil, mining wastes, remediation technologies, risk assessment, , Industry Sectors, POLLUTANTS/TOXICS, INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, TREATMENT/CONTROL, Scientific Discipline, Waste, RFA, Remediation, Geology, Waste Treatment, Ecological Risk Assessment, Chemicals, Hazardous Waste, Hazardous, Mining - NAIC 21, Ecology and Ecosystems, heavy metals, risk assessment, treatment, phytoremediation, extraction of metals, contaminated waste sites, mining wastes, acid mine runoff, acid mine drainage, metal release, remediation technologies, contaminant transport, leaching of toxic metals, metal wastes, contaminated sediments, metals, contaminated soil, plant species, metal remediation, environmental engineering, metals-contaminated soil, contaminated sites
Relevant Websites:

http://www.engr.colostate.edu/hsrc/ exit EPA

Progress and Final Reports:
Original Abstract
2005 Progress Report


Main Center Abstract and Reports:
R829515    HSRC - Rocky Mountain Regional Hazardous Substance Research Center for Remediation of Mine Waste Sites

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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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