Arsenic in sediments, water and aquatic biota from lakes in the vicinity of Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada

Abstract

Arsenic concentrations were measured in aquatic invertebrates, macrophytes, sediments, and water of lakes in the vicinity of Yellowknife (N.W.T.), Canada. In arsenic-contaminated lakes the arsenic concentration ranged from 0.70 to 5.5 ppm in water, 6 to 3,500 ppm in bottom sediments, 150 to 3,700 ppm in macrophytes, 700 to 2,400 ppm in zooplankton, and less than 1 to 1,300 ppm in other invertebrates. The arsenic concentration in invertebrates varied with sampling time, place, and taxon. Arsenic concentration factors were calculated, and found to decrease with increasing concentration of arsenic in ecosystem components of the lake. No evidence was found for biomagnification of arsenic through ascending trophic levels. In high-arsenic lakes herbivores had the highest arsenic concentrations, and omnivores the lowest. Pelecypoda, Ephemeroptera, Amphipoda, and Hirudinea were conspicuously absent from high-arsenic lakes. These particular organisms may be more susceptible to the effects of arsenic than others.