ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Monitoring Cadmium Concentrations in Sediments
and Aquatic Insects (Hydropsychidae: Trichoptera)
in a Stream near a Zinc Mining Area
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Faculty of Liberal Arts and Science, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus,
Nakhon Pathom Province, Thailand
Submission date: 2017-07-28
Final revision date: 2017-10-04
Acceptance date: 2017-10-14
Online publication date: 2018-04-13
Publication date: 2018-05-30
Corresponding author
Taeng On Prommi
Kasetsart University, 1 Moo 6 Tambon Kamphaeng Saen, Amphur Kamphaeng Saen, 73140 Nakhon Pathom, Thailand
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2018;27(5):2237-2243
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ABSTRACT
Aquatic insects can accumulate pollutants such as cadmium from stream sediments. This research
aimed to monitor cadmium concentrations in both larvae and adult Hydropsychidae (Trichoptera, Insecta)
in Mae Tao (MT1 to MT5) and Mae Ku (MK2 and MK8) watersheds in northern Thailand. Samples were
collected twice a month from July 2011 to May 2012 at seven sampling sites. The cadmium concentrations
in the stream sediments ranged from 0.12 to 21.5 mg kg-1 wet weight. The highest concentration was
recorded from the MT3 sampling site (21.5 mg kg-1), which is also closest to a mining area. The lowest
concentration was recorded from the MK2 sampling site (0.12 mg kg-1). Cadmium concentrations in
both larvae and adult Hydropsychidae were not significantly different at all sampling sites. However, the
cadmium concentrations in Hydropsychidae larvae that ranged from 0.07-1.70 mg kg-1 were higher than the
detected cadmium in adult samples (average 0.020 mg kg-1). There was no significant correlation between
cadmium concentrations in sediments, and in both larvae and adult Hydropsychidae. Concentrations
of cadmium in adult Hydropsychidae in this study were low. Even though the contamination of heavy
metals was low in adult Hydropsychidae, long-term exposure to heavy metals could seriously impact
terrestrial animals such as birds and bats that consume these insects.