Metal accumulation in arthropods near a lead/zinc smelter in Arnoldstein, Austria. I.

This study reports on accumulation of lead, cadmium, copper and zinc in soil, plants and arthropod species in the vicinity of a closed-down lead/zinc smelter with a long history of pollution in Arnoldstein, Austria. Significant site-dependent metal accumulations were measured in most species, increasing in line with site contamination. Within a site, clear species-specific differences were found, even between closely related species. Within some species, developmental-, sex- and/or seasonal-specificities occurred, reflecting individual metal budgeting capabilities. Evidence for copper regulatory mechanisms appeared to be established in most cases, whereas lead, the main pollutant of the region, became heavily accumulated in some organisms. Higher levels of lead than previously reported in field surveys were detected in Carabidae and Caelifera at the most polluted site. It is recommended to take ecological and physiological parameters of species into consideration in interpreting field data on arthropod metal accumulation.