Lead distribution throughout soil, flora, and an invertebrate at a wetland skeet range

Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A
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Abstract

Lead pellets from a skeet range impart Pb to the local soil, plants, and animals. Concentrations and distributions of Pb in the various media were studied at the now-abandoned skeet range bordering a cordgrass marsh at the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach in Southern California. The concentrations of Pb in soil (maximum = 16,200 ppm, dry mass) are significantly correlated to the shot pellet densities. Lead concentrations in plants vary according to species' abilities to inhibit Pb uptake from soil. Horn snails had a mean Pb concentration (1987 ppm, dry mass) over 100 times greater than the leaves of the plant species with the highest mean concentration (18.1 ppm, dry mass) at the same site. Avian predators of gastropods may receive minimum exposure to Pb due to calcium in the shells, but incidental ingestion of soil in addition to direct ingestion of shot pellets may provide significant exposure to birds. Because shotgun pellets may persist in wetland soil for 300 yr, reduction of wildlife exposure to Pb in such cases requires deliberate action.

Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Lead distribution throughout soil, flora, and an invertebrate at a wetland skeet range
Series title Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, Part A
DOI 10.1080/152873902760125246
Volume 65
Year Published 2002
Language English
Publisher Taylor & Francis
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 15 p.
First page 1093
Last page 1107
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