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An Aquatic Macroinvertebrate Bioassessment of the North Fork of the Edisto River After a Cyanide Release (Orangeburg, County, SC)
Glover, James B. South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Water
Glover, James B.
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control, Bureau of Water
Abstract
On 11/27/2012, staff in the Aquatic Biology Section of the SCDHEC conducted an aquatic macroinvertebrate study on the North Fork of the Edisto River in Orangeburg County, SC. This study was conducted to assess the condition of the aquatic life of the river after approximately 80 pounds of cyanide was released from the Abermarle Corporation NPDES discharge. Hydrogen cyanide (HCN) is a highly toxic compound that is readily absorbed by aquatic organisms, resulting in adverse health effects, including death (Dzombak et al. 2006). While the release in quantities that result in severe environmental degradation is rare, in 1990, an earthen dam owned by The Brewer Gold Mine collapsed, releasing large quantities of cyanide into the Little Fork Creek in Chesterfield County, SC (Griffin 1991). Aquatic organisms were nearly completely eliminated from Little Fork Creek and Fork Creek, while effects were noted miles downstream in the Lynches River.
Issue Date
2013-02
Keywords
Aquatic invertebrate populations--South Carolina, Edisto River (S.C.), Cyanides
Type
Technical Report
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