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Upper Midwest Environmental Sciences Center

Wildlife Toxicology

Study site locations: Colorado - Deer and Snake Creeks

Trace element concentrations in bird tissues and food (aquatic insects) were elevated in mid-drainage areas where abandoned mines were present, however, concentrations were below effect-levels for birds.  The graph below for cobalt is similar to the pattern for other trace elements.

 

Deer and Snake Creeks graph
   

Custer, C.M., C. Yang, J.G. Crock, V. Shern-Bochsler, K.S. Smith, and P.L. Hageman. 2009. Exposure of insects and insectivorous birds to metals and other elements from abandoned mine tailings in three Summit County drainages, Colorado. Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 153:161-177. (Abstract)

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URL: http://www.umesc.usgs.gov/wildlife_toxicology/study_sites/colorado/wt_co_deer_snake_creeks.html
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Page Last Modified: April 19, 2010