An evaluation of selenium bioaccumulation and effects on fish communities in mining influenced watersheds in West Virginia

Attention has recently been focused on mining related discharges which may have elevated selenium concentrations.  Studies conducted by state and federal agencies in West Virginia have indicated concentrations of selenium elevated above the currently recommended national aquatic criteria and the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection’s (WVDEP) water quality criteria below mining discharges.  Concurrent to these findings has been an effort by the United States Environmental Protection Agency to update the nationally recommended criteria to an ion specific acute criterion and a more relevant tissue criterion for chronic exposure.  The variability between water column concentrations, bioaccumulation factors, and community effects due to selenium accumulation is substantial and difficult to predict in both lentic and lotic environments.  Patriot Coal Company has undertake studies in several watersheds in West Virginia to examine the exposure levels, bioaccumulation rates,  and potential effects on fish communities (including larval fish development) in mining influenced streams.  Data describing the outcome of these studies will be presented along with comments on variability in the lentic and lotic environments. 
Keywords:  selenium bioaccumulation mining