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Tungsten toxicity, bioaccumulation, and compartmentalization into organisms representing two trophic levels
Alan J Kennedy1, David R Johnson, Jennifer M Seiter
1US Army Engineer Research and Development Center, Vicksburg, Mississippi 39180, United States. Alan.J.Kennedy@usace.army.mil
Environmental Science & Technology
|August 10, 2012
Summary
Tungsten contamination poses risks, with cabbage growth impaired by soil tungsten. Snails accumulated more tungsten from eating cabbage than from soil, highlighting trophic transfer risks.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Toxicology
- Ecotoxicology
Background:
- Metallic tungsten is used in industry and was considered a lead alternative.
- Concerns about tungsten contamination in water and soil have led to scrutiny.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the toxicological effects of sodium tungstate and tungsten powder in soil on Brassica oleracae (cabbage) and Otala lactea (snail).
- To assess tungsten bioaccumulation and trophic transfer in a soil-cabbage-snail food chain.
Main Methods:
- Soil bioassays with cabbage and snails exposed to aged tungsten powder.
- Dermal toxicity tests using sodium tungstate on snails.
- Synchrotron-based X-ray fluorescence mapping for tungsten localization.
- Analysis of tungsten bioaccumulation in plant and animal tissues.
Main Results:
- Cabbage growth was inhibited at 436 mg W/kg in aged soil, while snail survival was unaffected up to 3793 mg W/kg.
- Sodium tungstate dermal exposure showed a median lethal concentration of 859 mg W/kg for snails.
- Snails accumulated significantly more tungsten from consuming contaminated cabbage than from direct soil exposure.
- Tungsten was predominantly found in cabbage leaf veins and snail hepatopancreas, with trace amounts in snail shells.
Conclusions:
- Tungsten poses toxicological risks to plants and can bioaccumulate in snails, with trophic transfer being a significant pathway.
- Snail shells may serve as a potential biomonitoring tool for environmental tungsten contamination.
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