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Barrage fishponds, a funnel effect for metal contaminants on headwater streams

DOI:10.1007/s11356-019-07195-3
Authors:
François Le Cor at University of Lorraine
François Le Cor
Sylvain Slaby at Université du Havre
Sylvain Slaby
Juliette Gaillard at Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle
Juliette Gaillard
Xavier Dauchy
Xavier Dauchy
Xavier Dauchy
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Abstract and Figures

Fishponds are man-made shallow water bodies that are still little studied because of their small size. They represent high value ecosystems, both environmentally (biodiversity hotspot) and economically (fish production). They can have a high place on the hydrographic network, so their influence on water quality is of first importance for rivers and water bodies located downstream and monitored under the Water Framework Directive. These small water bodies can be a source of contaminants during draining period or an efficient buffer for pesticides. We wanted to evaluate whether these ponds could also be a remediation tool against metals by following the annual evolution of upstream/downstream flows. Cadmium, copper, lead and zinc concentrations were quantified in the dissolved phase upstream and downstream of three ponds, each one having a specific agricultural environment (traditional or organic). Metal concentration was quantified in sediments and water. For the dissolved phase, the predictive non-effect concentration was often exceeded, suggesting an environmental risk. Results highlighted also greater quantity of metals at the downstream of the pond compared to the upstream, suggesting remobilization into the ponds or direct cross-sectional contributions from the watershed (e.g. runoff from crops) or even remobilization. Regarding sediments, minimal contamination was shown but a high mineralogical variability. No buffer effect of ponds, which could reduce the risk of acute or chronic toxicity, was detected.
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Barrage fishponds, a funnel effect for metal contaminants
on headwater streams
François Le Cor
1,2
&Sylvain Slaby
1
&Juliette Gaillard
1,3
&Xavier Dauchy
1,2
&Cyril Feidt
1
&Damien Banas
1
Received: 30 September 2019 /Accepted: 27 November 2019 /Published online: 21 December 2019
#Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2019
Abstract
Fishponds are man-made shallow water bodies that are still little studied because of their small size. They represent high value
ecosystems, both environmentally (biodiversity hotspot) and economically (fish production). They can have a high place on the
hydrographic network, so their influence on water quality is of first importance for rivers and water bodies located downstream
and monitored under the Water Framework Directive. These small water bodies can be a source of contaminants during draining
period or an efficient buffer for pesticides. We wanted to evaluate whether these ponds could also be a remediation tool against
metals by following the annual evolution of upstream/downstream flows. Cadmium, copper, lead and zinc concentrations were
quantified in the dissolved phase upstream and downstream of three ponds, each one having a specific agricultural environment
(traditional or organic). Metal concentration was quantified in sediments and water. For the dissolved phase, the predictive non-
effect concentration was often exceeded, suggesting an environmental risk. Results highlighted also greater quantity of metals at
the downstream of the pond compared to the upstream, suggesting remobilization into the ponds or direct cross-sectional
contributions from the watershed (e.g. runoff from crops) or even remobilization. Regarding sediments, minimal contamination
was shown but a high mineralogical variability. No buffer effect ofponds, which could reduce the risk of acute or chronic toxicity,
was detected.
Keywords Shallow lakes .Dissolved phase .Fishponds .Sediments .Environmental contaminations .Flux
Introduction
Historically, France has been exposed to metal contamination
from various anthropogenic activities, such as metallurgy
(Sterckeman et al. 2000; Douay et al. 2008), mining (Audry
et al. 2004; Escarré et al. 2011), intensive agriculture (Chopin
et al. 2008; Banas et al. 2010) and livestock production
(L’Herroux et al. 1997), hunting activities (Pain and Amiard-
Triquet 1993) and also world wars (Bausinger et al. 2007;
Gorecki et al. 2017). Concerning agriculture, the Lorraine
region (North-eastern France) is largely occupied by agricul-
tural lands, which represent 48.6% of the total region’ssurface
(Ministère de l’Agricultureetdel’Alimentation 2015).
However, it is well known that this activity is a source of metal
pollution induced by the use of mineral fertilizers, such as
phosphate fertilizers (Nziguheba and Smolders 2008). Then,
world wars are also significant sources of metal contaminants
in the Lorraine region. The two world wars have sustainably
transformed landscapes and ecosystems. If we only consider
the First World War, 1 billion shells and ammunitions were
fired in Europe (Gorecki et al. 2017), and about 1.7 billion
tons of unfired ammunitions were left at the Armistice (Hubé
2017). These amounts represent an important source of metal
pollution. Yet, one of the main sources remains industrial ac-
tivities since the industrial revolution (beginning of the nine-
teenth century). According to the INERIS (French National
Institute for Industrial Environment and Risks), there is a
François Le Cor and Sylvain Slaby contributed equally to this work.
Responsible editor: Stuart Simpson
*Sylvain Slaby
sylvain.slaby@univ-lorraine.fr
1
URAFPA, Unité de Recherche Animal et Fonctionnalités des
Produits Animaux, Université de Lorraine, INRA, 2 Avenue de la
Forêt de Haye, Vandœuvre-lès-Nancy, F-54500 Nancy, France
2
LHN, Laboratoire d’Hydrologie de Nancy, ANSES, 40 Rue
Lionnois, 54000 Nancy, France
3
Present address: EPOC, Environnements et Paléoenvironnements
Océaniques et Continentaux, Université de Bordeaux, UMR CNRS
5805, Allée Geoffroy Saint-Hilaire, 33615 Pessac, France
Environmental Science and Pollution Research (2020) 27:6228–6238
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-07195-3
Content courtesy of Springer Nature, terms of use apply. Rights reserved.
ResearchGate has not been able to resolve any citations for this publication.
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