Crocodile bones as archives of pollution exposure: lead contamination in Kakadu National Park, and what's in Sweetheart's Osteoderms?

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dc.contributor.authorJeffree, RAen_AU
dc.contributor.authorMarkich, SJen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHammerton, KMen_AU
dc.contributor.authorRussell, RAen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2024-02-23T00:08:00Zen_AU
dc.date.available2024-02-23T00:08:00Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2001-08-23en_AU
dc.date.statistics2024-02-20en_AU
dc.descriptionProceedings are held in hardcopy in ANSTO Library at ANSTO/E-748en_AU
dc.description.abstractExperimental findings made it then possible to evaluate the hypothesis that the estuarine crocodile osteodermal laminations would record enhanced blood lead concentrations resulting from the ingestion of lead shot. At about 140 days following lead shot ingestion, two osteoderms were removed from each exposed and control animal. SIMS analysis of Pb-208 and Ca-42 signal intensities was then performed on sections that were prepared and analysed using similar methods previously used on field-collected specimens (Twining et al., 1999). These initial findings are consistent with the hypothesis that incremental laminations of the osteoderm will archive a lead signal that responds to enhanced levels of lead in the animal's blood during its life. SEM analysis identified the laminated structure of the osteoderm, however microprobe analysis did not detect appreciable amounts of even Ca and P, although the organic matrix was obviously present. It is proposed that this anomalous result is due to the preparatory tanning of the skin, in acid solution, that could be expected to leach elements from the organic matrix. An analogy is drawn with the decalcified skeletons in the bodies of the Druid sacrifices due their deposition in acid swamp waters in the UK. The challenge is now to sample osteoderms from large crocodiles in the Finniss River, preferably in close proximity to the Rum Jungle mine site, where any archived pollution signal would be more intense, and then repeat this analytical investigation of the osteodermal history of contaminant loadings. © 2002 Commonwealth of Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.articlenumber14en_AU
dc.identifier.booktitleThe Finniss River: a natural laboratory of mining impacts - past, present and futureen_AU
dc.identifier.citationJeffree, R. A., Markich, S. J., Hammerton, K. M., & Russell, R. (2002). Crocodile bones as archives of pollution exposure: lead contamination in Kakadu National Park, and what's in Sweetheart's Osteoderms? Paper presented at The Finniss River Symposium, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, August 23 - 24, 2001. In S.J. Markich & R. A Jeffree (Eds.), The Finniss River: a natural laboratory of mining impacts - past, present and future, ANSTO : Sydney, ANSTO E/748, (pp. 49-52).en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceenddate2001-08-24en_AU
dc.identifier.conferencenameThe Finniss River Symposium, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, August 23 - 24, 2001en_AU
dc.identifier.conferenceplaceDarwin, Northern Territory, Australiaen_AU
dc.identifier.conferencestartdate2001-08-23en_AU
dc.identifier.editorsS.J. Markich & R. A Jeffreeen_AU
dc.identifier.isbn0642599955en_AU
dc.identifier.issn1030-7745en_AU
dc.identifier.pagination49-52en_AU
dc.identifier.placeofpublicationSydneyen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttps://apo.ansto.gov.au/handle/10238/15401en_AU
dc.language.isoenen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisationen_AU
dc.relation.ispartofseriesANSTO; E--748en_AU
dc.subjectAcid mine drainageen_AU
dc.subjectBlood chemistryen_AU
dc.subjectCalcium 42en_AU
dc.subjectIngestionen_AU
dc.subjectReptilesen_AU
dc.subjectRiversen_AU
dc.subjectLeaden_AU
dc.subjectContaminationen_AU
dc.subjectNorthern Territoryen_AU
dc.subjectAustraliaen_AU
dc.subjectMiningen_AU
dc.subjectEstuariesen_AU
dc.subjectIon microprobe analysisen_AU
dc.subjectMass spectroscopyen_AU
dc.titleCrocodile bones as archives of pollution exposure: lead contamination in Kakadu National Park, and what's in Sweetheart's Osteoderms?en_AU
dc.typeConference Paperen_AU
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