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RESEARCH FRONT
Contents Vol 6(2)

Bioaccumulation of antimony and arsenic in a highly contaminated stream adjacent to the Hillgrove Mine, NSW, Australia

Kristy Telford A , William Maher A , Frank Krikowa A , Simon Foster A , Michael J. Ellwood B , Paul M. Ashley C , Peter V. Lockwood C and Susan C. Wilson C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Ecochemistry Laboratory, Institute for Applied Ecology, Faculty of Applied Science, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2601, Australia.

B Research School of Earth Sciences, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 0200, Australia.

C School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: swilso24@une.edu.au

Environmental Chemistry 6(2) 133-143 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN08097
Submitted: 15 December 2008  Accepted: 12 February 2009   Published: 27 April 2009

Environmental context. Concern over the presence of antimony (Sb) in the environment because of chemical similarities with arsenic (As) has prompted a need to better understand its environmental behaviour and risks. The present study investigates the bioaccumulation and uptake of antimony in a highly contaminated stream near the Hillgrove antimony–gold mine in NSW, Australia, and reports high Sb (and As) concentrations in many components of the ecosystem consisting of three trophic levels, but limited uptake into aboveground parts of riparian vegetation. The data suggest that Sb can transfer into upper trophic levels of a creek ecosystem, but that direct exposure of creek fauna to creek sediment and soil, water and aquatic autotrophs are more important metalloid uptake routes than exposure via riparian vegetation.

Abstract. Bioaccumulation and uptake of antimony (Sb) were investigated in a highly contaminated stream, Bakers Creek, running adjacent to mining and processing of Sb–As ores at Hillgrove Mine, NSW, Australia. Comparisons with arsenic (As) were included owing to its co-occurrence at high concentrations. Mean metalloid creek rhizome sediment concentrations were 777 ± 115 μg g–1 Sb and 60 ± 6 μg g–1 As, with water concentrations at 381 ± 23 μg L–1 Sb and 46 ± 2 μg L–1 As. Antimony and As were significantly elevated in aquatic autotrophs (96–212 μg g–1 Sb and 32–245 μg g–1 As) but Sb had a lower uptake efficiency. Both metalloids were elevated in all macroinvertebrates sampled (94–316 μg g–1 Sb and 1.8–62 μg g–1 As) except Sb in gastropods. Metalloids were detected in upper trophic levels although biomagnification was not evident. Metalloid transfer to riparian vegetation leaves from roots and rhizome soil was low but rhizome soil to leaf As concentration ratios were up to 2–3 times greater than Sb concentration ratios. Direct exposure to the rhizosphere sediments and soils, water ingestion and consumption of aquatic autotrophs appear to be the major routes of Sb and As uptake for the fauna of Bakers Creek.

Additional keywords: ecosystem, food web, uptake.


Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the NSW Environment Trust for funding the project and Straits Hillgrove Gold for allowing access to the site and providing logistical support. We thank Hugh Doyle for assistance in sample collection.


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