Geology topics

Research about Coeur d'Alene River Basin

Source-linked reports with geographic coverage including Coeur d'Alene River Basin.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

USGS2004

Effects of lead-contaminated sediment and nutrition on mallard duckling brain growth and biochemistry

Day-old mallard ( Anas platyryhnchos ) ducklings received either a clean sediment (24%) supplemented control diet, Coeur d'Alene River Basin, Idaho (CDARB) sediment ( 3449 μg/g lead ) supplemented diets at 12% or 24%, or a positive control diet (24% clean sediment with equivalent lead acetate to the 24% CDARB diet) for 6 weeks. The 12% CDARB diet resulted in a geometric mean concentration of 396 ppb (WW) brain lead with decreased brain protein and ATP concentrations but increased oxidized glutathione (GSSG) relative to the control diet. The 24% CDARB diet resulted in a concentration of 485 ppb brain lead with lower brain weight and ATP concentration than controls but higher concentrations of reduced glutathione (GSH) and calcium. Lead acetate accumulated twice as well as CDARB derived lead and resulted in histopathological lesions of the brain. With a combination of a suboptimal diet and 24% CDARB, brain lead concentration was higher (594 ppb) than with 24% CDARB in the standard diet, histopathological lesions became apparent and GSH was higher than suboptimal diet controls.

Idaho↗

USGS2000

Relation of waterfowl poisoning to sediment lead concentrations in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin

For many years, waterfowl have been poisoned by lead after ingesting contaminated sediment in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin, in Idaho. Results of studies on waterfowl experimentally fed this sediment were combined with results from field studies conducted in the Basin to relate sediment lead concentration to injury to waterfowl. The first step in the model estimated exposure as the relation of sediment lead concentration to blood lead concentration in mute swans ( Cygnus olor ), ingesting 22% sediment in a rice diet. That rate corresponded to the 90th percentile of sediment ingestion estimated from analyses of feces of tundra swans ( Olor columbianus ) in the Basin. Then, with additional laboratory studies on Canada geese ( Branta canadensis ) and mallards ( Anas platyrhynchos ) fed the sediment, we developed the general relation of blood lead to injury in waterfowl. Injury was quantified by blood lead concentrations, ALAD (δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase) activity, protoporphyrin concentrations, hemoglobin concentrations, hepatic lead concentrations, and the prevalence of renal nuclear inclusion bodies. Putting the exposure and injury relations together provided a powerful tool for assessing hazards to wildlife in the Basin. The no effect concentration of sediment lead was estimated as 24 mg/kg and the lowest effect level as 530 mg/kg. By combining our exposure equation with data on blood lead concentrations measured in moribund tundra swans in the Basin, we estimated that some mortality would occur at a sediment lead concentration as low as 1800 mg/kg.

Idaho↗

USGS1999

Persistence of high lead concentrations and associated effects in Tundra Swans captured near a mining and smelting complex in northern Idaho

Lead poisoning of waterfowl, particularly tundra swans ( Cygnus columbianus ), has been documented in the Coeur d'Alene River Basin in northern Idaho for nearly a century. Over 90% of the lead-poisoned tundra swans in this area that were necropsied have no ingested lead shot. Spent lead shot from hunting activities over the years is therefore a minor source of lead in these swans. The migrating swans accumulated lethal burdens of lead from ingestion of sediments and aquatic vegetation during a short stopover in the spring. The lead originated from mining and smelting activities. Lead concentrations and physiological characteristics of blood were compared in swans captured in swim-in traps, with moribund swans caught by hand in the lead-contaminated area in 1987 and 1994–1995 and with birds captured by night-lighting in reference areas in 1994–1995. Blood lead concentrations in swans were highest in moribund birds (3.3 μg g -1 in 1987 and 1995), intermediate in those trapped in the contaminated area (0.82 μg g -1 in 1987 and 1.8 μg g -1 in 1995), and lowest (0.11 μg g -1 ) in those trapped in the reference areas. δ-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) was significantly inhibited in swans from the contaminated area. Hematocrit and hemoglobin were significantly depressed only in moribund swans. Of the 19 swans found moribund and euthanized, 18 were classified as having lead toxicosis on the basis of lead levels in blood (1.3 to 9.6 μg g -1 ) and livers (6 to 40 μg g -1 ) and necropsy findings. The 19th swan had aspergillosis. There was no evidence that effects of lead on tundra swans had diminished from 1987 to 1995.

Idaho↗

USGS1998

Lead exposure of waterfowl ingesting Coeur d'Alene River Basin sediments

Feces from tundra swans [ Cygnus columbianus (Ord)], Canada geese [ Branta canadensis (L.)], and mallards [ Arias platyrhynchos (L.)] were collected from the Coeur d'Alene River Basin and two reference areas in Idaho to estimate exposure to lead from mining activities and relate that exposure to the ingestion of contaminated sediments. The average acid-insoluble ash content of the feces, a measure of sediment ingestion, was 18% for Canada geese and tundra swans, and 12% for ducks. The 18% value corresponded to an estimated 9% sediment ingestion rate (dry weight). The 90th percentile for acid-insoluble ash in feces of tundra swans corresponded to an estimated 22% sediment in the diet. The average lead concentration (dry weight) of tundra swan feces from all Coeur d'Alene River Basin wetlands sampled was 880 mg/kg, compared to 2.1 mg kg −1 from reference areas. The 90th percentile of lead in tundra swan feces from the Coeur d'Alene River Basin sites was 2700 mg kg −1 . Fecal lead concentrations of tundra swans were correlated (Spearman's rho = 0.74, P < 0.05) with the acid-insoluble ash content of the feces. The very low lead concentrations in feces having low acid-insoluble ash contents established that the sediment was the primary source of the lead ingested by waterfowl. Sediment lead concentrations at 11 wetland sites were closely correlated ( r = 0.91, P < 0.05) with average fecal lead concentrations for all waterfowl, corrected for the average percent acid-insoluble ash in the feces.

Idaho↗