Ecotoxicological risks associated with land treatment of petrochemical wastes. I. Residual soil contamination and bioaccumulation by cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus)

J Toxicol Environ Health A. 2003 Feb 28;66(4):305-25. doi: 10.1080/15287390306365.

Abstract

Petrochemical waste contains both organic and inorganic contaminants that can pollute soil and may pose significant ecological risks to wildlife. Petrochemical waste typically is disposed of in land treatment units, which are widespread throughout Oklahoma and the United States. Few studies have been conducted evaluating possible toxicity risks to terrestrial organisms residing on these units. In this study, the extent of soil contamination with fluoride (F), metals, and organic hydrocarbons, the bioaccumulation of F and metals in cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), the relationship between contaminants in soil and in tissues of cotton rats, and the level of potentially toxic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in soil were determined on land treatment units. Over a 2-yr period, cotton rats and soils were collected and analyzed from 5 land treatment and matched reference units. The number of land treatment units with soil metal contamination (in parentheses) included: Cr, Cu, Pb (5). Al, As, Ni, Sr, Zn (4). Ba (3). and Cd, V (2). The number of land treatment units with soil PAH contamination (in parentheses) were naphthalene, phenanthrene, benzo[g,h,i]perylene (3). acenaphthene, anthracene, pyrene, benz[a]anthracene, chrysene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, indeno[1,2,3-c,d]pyrene, dibenz[a,h]anthracene (2). and acenaphthylene, fluorene, fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene (1). Total PAH and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) were elevated at all five land treatment units. Mean sums of benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) equivalents (BaPequiv ) were not affected on

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Body Burden
  • Bone and Bones / chemistry
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Climate
  • Ecosystem*
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Fluorides / adverse effects
  • Fluorides / analysis
  • Fluorosis, Dental / classification
  • Fluorosis, Dental / diagnosis
  • Fluorosis, Dental / etiology
  • Fluorosis, Dental / veterinary
  • Hazardous Waste / adverse effects*
  • Hazardous Waste / analysis
  • Hydrocarbons / adverse effects
  • Hydrocarbons / analysis
  • Industrial Waste / adverse effects*
  • Industrial Waste / analysis
  • Kidney / chemistry
  • Metals, Heavy / adverse effects
  • Metals, Heavy / analysis
  • Oklahoma
  • Petroleum / adverse effects*
  • Petroleum / analysis
  • Rats
  • Risk Assessment
  • Risk Factors
  • Rodent Diseases / classification
  • Rodent Diseases / diagnosis
  • Rodent Diseases / etiology
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sigmodontinae* / metabolism
  • Soil Pollutants / adverse effects*
  • Soil Pollutants / analysis

Substances

  • Hazardous Waste
  • Hydrocarbons
  • Industrial Waste
  • Metals, Heavy
  • Petroleum
  • Soil Pollutants
  • Fluorides