Billings Complex is the largest water-storage reservoir in São Paulo, Brazil, and has been contaminated since the 1960s. Periodically, Billings sediments are subjected to currents causing resuspension and subsequent release of metals. A short-term (4-h) resuspension was simulated using sediment flux exposure chambers (SeFECs) to better understand the fate, bioavailability, and transport of iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) during these events, as well as possible organism toxicity. Daphnia magna and Hyalella azteca were exposed during the 4-h resuspension, and were monitored after exposure for survival, growth, and reproduction. Resuspension rapidly deoxygenated the overlying water, decreased the pH, and resulted in elevated dissolved Zn above the US Environmental Protection Agency's (2002) criteria for acute toxicity (120 µg L-1 ). However, Zn was scavenged (after 20 h) from solution as new sorption sites formed. Dissolved Mn increased during and after resuspension, with maximum values at 20 h post exposure. An initial release of Fe occurred, likely associated with oxidation of acid-volatile sulfides, but decreased after 1 h of resuspension. The Fe decrease is likely due to precipitation as oxyhydroxides. No acute toxicity was observed during resuspension; however, mortality of D. magna and H. azteca occurred during the postexposure period. Daphnia magna also exhibited chronic toxicity, with decreased neonate production after exposure. This sublethal effect could lead to decreased zooplankton populations over a longer period in the reservoir. Environ Toxicol Chem 2019;38:1476-1485. © 2019 SETAC.
Keywords: Acid-volatile sulfide; Metal bioavailability; Sediment toxicity; Tropical ecotoxicology; Water quality criteria.
© 2019 SETAC.