Accumulation of Metals and Metalloids in Larvae of Insects and Frog Living in Wet Sedimentation Ponds Receiving Runoff from a Four Lane Motorway

Road runoff, containing high concentrations of several contaminants, is a significant source of diffuse pollution. Much effort has therefore been done to mitigate the contamination of receiving waters, and the building of wet sedimentation ponds is a typical example. These ponds are inhabited by aquatic organisms which may experience exposures of high levels of e.g. metals. The present study investigated the concentrations of several metals and metalloids in water, sediment and aquatic insects obtained from wet sedimentation ponds. Most of the ponds were only moderately contaminated, however, the pond receiving tunnel wash water was highly contaminated by copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). The metal and metalloid concentrations in water and sediment were only slightly correlated with metal and metalloid body burdens in the insects. Finally, metals and metalloids accumulated in a time-dependent manner in frog eggs and tadpoles sampled.