Heavy metal concentrations in the Holston River Basin (Tennessee)

Contamination levels of zinc, cadmium, mercury, copper, lead, and manganese of the major streams in the Holston River Basin in Eastern Tennessee are reported and compared with other waterways. Heavy metal levels are sufficiently high in areas of the Basin to affect the health of aquatic life. The levels of cadmium, copper, manganese, lead and zinc were measured in fish samples from each lake and stream in the Basin and compared to those reported for fish throughout the world. The use of fish to monitor the levels of heavy metals is discussed as an alternative to grab samples of water; mercury levels in fish muscle reflected pollution of a stream, whereas grab samples of water did not.