Tims Branch Sampling Campaign
A team of researchers from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL), and the University of Georgia Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (SREL) is studying the dynamics of mercury and inorganic tin in Tims Branch, a small stream at the Savannah River Site in SC that has received the discharge from a groundwater treatment system since 1985. The treatment removes chlorinated solvents from contaminated groundwater using air stripping. In 2007, the treatment system was modified to include addition of trace levels of inorganic tin to the influent water to reduce mercury to a strippable form for removal. This lowers mercury concentration in the treated water and lowers the potential for mercury accumulation in fish in the receiving ecosystem. The collaborative research effort will assess the fate and potential impacts of the relatively non-toxic inorganic tin released into Tims Branch as well as the potential benefits of concomitant decrease in mercury discharge. Specifically, the research will provide an initial indication of the potential for lowering mercury concentrations in fish and elucidate the general distribution and fate of tin. Five scientists from ORNL visited the Savannah River Site during the week of November 14th. With the assistance of Larry Bryan and David Kling of SREL, the team collected fish and invertebtrates (insects and crayfish) from various locations that have been impacted by the treated groundwater as well as two unimpacted control locations. This recent fish collection will supplement the fish that were collected by SREL and SRNL in 2006 (pretreatment) and 2010 (post-treatment). The fish collected with ORNL were dissected to help determine key details of contaminant behaviors within the biota and to help determine the relationship between the whole body concentration of contaminants and the amount in the edible (fillet) portion of fish.
 John Sorting Bugs |  Redfin Pickerel |
Slideshow for Tim's Branch Sampling Campaign
