Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1994
Publication Title
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology
Publisher
Springer-Verlag New York Inc.
Volume
52
First page number:
574
Last page number:
581
Abstract
Cover is an important component of aquatic habitat and fisheries management. Fisheries biologists often try to improve habitats through the addition of natural and artificial material to improve cover diversity and complexity. Habitat-improvement programs range from submerging used Christmas trees to more complex programs using sophisticated artificial habitat modules. Used automobile tires have been employed in the large scale construction of reefs and fish attractors in marine environments and to a lesser extent in freshwater and have been recognized as a durable, inexpensive and long-lasting material which benefits fishery communities.
Recent studies by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation have quantified the importance of tire reefs to enhancing freshwater canal fisheries in the southwestern United States. These studies have demonstrated that fishes and aquatic macroinvertebrates are attracted to these structures, increasing species diversity, densities and biomass where reefs are placed in canals. Potential benefits to fishermen are great in the form of recreational fishing. However, the use of tire reefs in aquatic environments which have relatively small volumes compared to marine or reservoir environments has raised water quality concerns. Effects of tires on water quality have not typically been studied in the past because of the obvious presence of fishes and other aquatic organisms that make use of tire reefs; the implication being that tires are inert and non-toxic.
Little information on effects of tires on water quality is contained in the literature. Stone et al. (1975) demonstrated that tire exposure had no detrimental effects on two species of marine fish while results of Kellough's (1991) freshwater tests were inconclusive, but suggested that some factor in tire leachate was toxic to rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). Nozaka et al. (1973) found no harmful substances leached from tire material soaked in fresh water.
Because there are few data on toxicity associated with tires, this became the focus of our study. Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) procedures developed by the EPA (1991) were used to evaluate water quality impacted by tires.
Keywords
Artificial habitats; Benthic organisms; Fisheries; Freshwater fishes; Macroinvertebrates; Water pollution; Water quality
Disciplines
Aquaculture and Fisheries | Biology | Environmental Engineering | Environmental Health and Protection | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Environmental Monitoring | Fresh Water Studies | Natural Resources Management and Policy | Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology | Water Resource Management
Language
English
Repository Citation
Nelson, S. M.,
Mueller, G.,
Hemphill, D. C.,
U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
(1994).
Identification of tire leachate toxicants and a risk assessment of water quality effects using tire reefs in canals.
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 52
574-581.
Available at:
https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/water_pubs/99
Included in
Aquaculture and Fisheries Commons, Biology Commons, Environmental Engineering Commons, Environmental Health and Protection Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Environmental Monitoring Commons, Fresh Water Studies Commons, Natural Resources Management and Policy Commons, Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecology Commons, Water Resource Management Commons