Trace metal biomagnification in species inhabiting stormwater retention ponds in Maryland

Abstract

Stormwater retention ponds are built to stop trace metals and other pollutants from flowing into the watershed. Over time, ponds are expected to accumulate trace metals at higher concentrations than surrounding areas. Plants and animals inhabiting contaminated areas may be at risk of accumulating trace metals from these ponds. I quantified the level of bioaccumulation of trace metals in plants, invertebrates, and Peromyscus leucopus, found in 10 stormwater retention ponds in the Red Run, Maryland watershed and the Towson University Field Station in Monkton, Maryland and compared them to the concentrations found in the sediment. Plants and Peromyscus leucopus lacked any significant relationship with sediment concentrations whereas invertebrates may be accumulating nickel and cobalt. Overall, organisms inhabiting stormwater ponds are at a low risk of biomagnification of trace metals.