Trophic transfer of arsenic and antimony in a freshwater ecosystem: a field study.

The distribution of arsenic and antimony discharges related to a past mining activity in the Bravona River and its tributary, the Presa River, was investigated. We determined levels of arsenic and antimony in the water and the biota (bryophytes, benthic macroinvertebrates and fish), along a pollution gradient. Concentrations of metalloids downstream mining wastes were significantly higher than those in reference station sites. The pattern of accumulation of arsenic in the food chain decreased as follows: macroinvertebrates>bryophytes>water>fish tissues. For antimony, the lowest concentrations were found in water. The accumulation of metals in invertebrate taxa depends on their place in the food chain, their feeding behavior, and their specific habit (lenitophilic/rheophilic species). Concentrations of both metalloids decreased with increasing trophic level.