PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES COMPOSITION AND HEAVY METAL CONTENT IN FLY ASH ECOSYSTEMS GOTTFRIED BRIEGER Department of Chemistry, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309-4401, USA JAMES R. WELLS Cranbrook hlstitute of Science, 500 Lone Pine Rd., Bloomfield Hills, M148304, USA and R. DOUGLAS HUNTER Department of Biological Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309-4401, USA (Received 11 February 1991; revised 14 August 1991) Abstract. Plant and animal species present on a coal fly ash slurry pond site and a dry deposit site were surveyed and sampled during a two-day period in October. Elemental analyses were determined for most of the species encountered. A total of 48 plant species were observed on the two sites, with 35 species on the wet site, and 20 on the dry site. Eighteen terrestrial and 7 aquatic animal species were found on the wet site, exclusive of vertebrates which were not studied with the exception of a carp (Cyprinus carpio). Eleven terrestrial invertebrates and one aquatic species were observed on the dry site. Neutron activation analysis was carried out for: Se, Hg, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, Sb, Cd, and As. Using literature values for phytotoxicity, we conclude that, in general, plants did not accumulate toxic levels of metals. Only one plant (Impatiens biflora Willd.) showed a significant level of Cd. Of 20 plants analyzed on the wet site, 10 had excessive Se concentrations (>5 ppm); on the dry site 6 out of 18 had high Se values. In animals (Gryllus sp.; Melanoplus sp.; Trachelipus sp.; Lumbricus terrestris; Physa integra; Cyprinus carpio) the trace metal concentration was generally in between that of control animals and that of the fly ash itself. One exception included Zn, which, although the most variable element examined, was concentrated in all the terrestrial animals to levels higher than in fly ash. Crickets are the most consistent bioconcentrators with Cr, Se, and Zn at higher levels than for control animals. All animal species studied accumulated Se compared to controls. 1. Introduction Approximately 70 • 106 t of coal ash were produced in the U.S.A. in 1983 (EPA, 1988). Of this total 12.8 • 106 t were utilized in some way. The remainder presumably wound up in landfills, either by direct dry deposition or via an intermediate slurry pond operation. Because there is potential for leaching of heavy metals to the environment, with possible detrimental effects on plant and animal life, there is considerable interest in establishing the extent of heavy metal uptake, as well as ecosystem adaptations to toxic pressures. Additionally it is of interest to determine how fly ash landfills can be converted most expeditiously to acceptable environments. The biological properties of fly ash and its effects on agricultural ecosystems have recently been reviewed (E1-Mogazi et al. 1988). Previous studies on the effects of wet or dry deposited fly ash on biota have involved a wide range of organisms Water, Air, and Soil Pollution 63: 87-103, 1992. 9 1992 Kluwer Academic Publishers, Printed in the Netherlands.