| Abstract: | Gold (Au) is ubiquitous in the environment and mined commercially at numerous locations worldwide. It is also an allergen that induces dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Gold concentrations were comparatively elevated in samples collected near gold mining and processing facilities, although no data were found for birds and non-human mammals. Maximum gold concentrations reported in abiotic materials were 0.001 ug/L in rainwater; 0.0015 ug/L in seawater near hydrothermal vents vs. <0.00004-0.0007 ug/L elsewhere; 5.0 ug/kg dry weight (DW) in the Earth‘s crust; 19.0 ug/L in a freshwater stream near a gold mining site; 440 ug/kg DW in atmospheric dust near a high traffic road; 843 ug/kg DW in alluvial soil near a Nevada gold mine vs. <29 ug/kg DW premining; 2.53 mg/kg DW in snow near a Russian smelter vs. <0.35 mg/kg DW at a reference site; 4.5 mg/kg DW in sewage sludge; 28.7 mg/kg DW in polymetallic sulfides from the ocean floor; and 256.0 mg/kg DW in freshwater sediments near a gold mine tailings pile vs. <5 ug/kg DW prior to mining. In plants, elevated concentrations of 19 ug Au/kg DW were reported in terrestrial vegetation near gold mining operations vs. <4 ug/kg DW at a reference site; 37 ug/kg DW in aquatic bryophytes downstream from a gold mine; 150 ug Au/kg DW in leaves of beans grown in soil containing 170 ug/kg DW; up to 1.06 mg/kg DW in algal mats of rivers receiving gold mine wastes; and 0.1-100 mg/kg DW in selected gold accumulator plants. Fish and aquatic invertebrates contained 0.1-38.0 ug Au/kg DW. In humans, gold concentrations up to 1.1 ug/L were documented in urine of dental technicians vs. 0.002-0.85 ug/L in reference populations; 2.1 ug/L in breast milk, attributed to gold dental fillings and jewelry of mothers; 1.4 mg/kg DW in hair of goldsmiths vs. a normal range of 6-880 ug/kg DW; 2.39 mg/L in whole blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients receiving gold thiol drugs to reduce inflammation (chrysotherapy) vs. a normal range of 0.2-2.0 ug/L; and 60.0 to 233.0 mg/kg fresh weight (FW) in kidneys of rheumatoid arthritis patients undergoing active chrysotherapy vs. <42.0 mg/kg FW kidney 140 months posttreatment. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 5224286 |
| Citation Author: | Eisler, R. |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Patuxent Wildlife Research Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 88 |
| Citation Issue: | 1-3 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Environmental Monitoring and Assessment |
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| Citation Number Of Pages: | 16 |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 73-88 |
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| Citation Public Comments: | 6121_Eisler.pdf |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | Gold concentrations in abiotic materials, plants, and animals: a synoptic review; 2004; Article; Journal; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment; Eisler, R. |
| Citation Start Page: | 73 |
| Citation Volume: | 90 |
| Citation Year: | 2004 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | Gold concentrations in abiotic materials, plants, and animals: a synoptic review; 2004; Article; Journal; Environmental Monitoring and Assessment; Eisler, R. |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DOCUMENT): | http://www.springerlink.com/content/n807k8u186364851/ |
| Date Other: | Wed, 16 Jun 2010 12:18 -0500 |
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