Trace metals in the marine bird food chain downstream from the El Salvador copper mine, Chile / Kees Vermeer and Juan Carlos Castilla.: CW69-5/83E-PDF

"Trace metals in a marine bird food chain were investigated in the Chañaral area, downstream from the El Salvador copper mine, Chile. Beach deposits, algae and marine invertebrates showed a decreasing residue gradient for arsenic, copper, iron, lead, titanium and vanadium from the tailings discharge site on the edge of the visible tailing deposits. Cadmium was found in high levels in marine organisms at some reference sites. Observed metal levels in birds, except cadmium, were thought to be close to background levels and may reflect the presence of little contaminated prey for birds to feed upon in the tailing deposit area. Cadmium levels of some concern (40-90 ppm) were observed in Whimbrels (Numenius hudsonicus) and in sand crabs (Emerita analoga) (5-6 ppm). It is suggested that the cadmium pathway should be further investigated in the Whimbrel food chain"--Abstract, p. i.

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Publication information
Department/Agency Canada. Environment Canada.
Canadian Wildlife Service. Pacific and Yukon Region.
Title Trace metals in the marine bird food chain downstream from the El Salvador copper mine, Chile / Kees Vermeer and Juan Carlos Castilla.
Series title Technical report series ; no. 83
Publication type Series - View Master Record
Language [English]
Format Electronic
Electronic document
Note(s) Digitized edition from print [produced by Environment and Climate Change Canada].
Includes bibliographical references.
Issued also in print format.
Includes abstract in French.
Publishing information Delta, B.C. : Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region, 1989.
Author / Contributor Vermeer, Kees.
Castilla, Juan Carlos.
Description 16 p. : map.
Catalogue number
  • CW69-5/83E-PDF
Subject terms Water birds
Food chains (Ecology)
Copper mines and mining
Pollutants
Chile
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