Trace metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons in sewage sludges of Kuwait

Levels of trace metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined in sludge produced at the three main wastewater treatment plants in Kuwait (Ardhiya, Jahra, and Reqqa). Over the 6 mo study period (October 1984 to March 1985) levels at the three plants showed the following ranges (μg g^?1 dry weight); Cd, 0.5 to 5.0; Cu, 90 to 270; Zn, 1100 to 3000; Pb, 80 to 300; Ni, 25 to 60; Hg, 1.8 to 3.6; Ag, 1 to 35; PCBs, 0.1 to 3.6; lindane, 0.4 to 7.4; EDDT (i.e., DDT + DDD + DDE), 0.07 to 0.20; aldrin, below detection to 0.07; endrin, below detection to 0.27; dieldrin, 0.005 to 0.04). Mean levels were generally close or lower than mean concentrations reported in the United Kingdom and the United States. They were also lower than suggested concentration limits for application of sludge on agricultural land, which is one of the most cost-effective and attractive techniques for sludge disposal. For Kuwait to adopt this application, however, the characteristics of the local soil and prevailing environmental conditions, notably the frequent occurrence of severe dust storms, should be considered.     

Factors influencing atmospheric deposition,stream export,and landscape accumulation of trace metals in forested watersheds

Wet and dry deposition inputs and streamflow output of Cd, Mn, Pb, Zn, and Al were measured intermittently at four deciduous forested watersheds in the southeastern United States between 1976 and 1982. Atmospheric inputs to each site were similar, varying by factors of 1.1 to 2.2 for the different metals. Metal levels in precipitation indicate that these sites are representative of rural, continental areas. Metals in rain exhibit significant temporal and spatial trends, with concentrations generally higher during summer than winter at all sites and generally lowest at the more remote site. The concentrations of Cd and Pb in both wet and dry deposition decreased between the period 1976 to 1977 and 1981 to 1982. Ion ratios and enrichment factors suggest that Mn is largely soil derived in atmospheric samples while Cd, Pb, and Zn are enriched over typical soil levels. Factor analysis indicates that soil components influence both Al and Mn while fine aerosol components influence Cd in wet and dry deposition. Both components influence the behavior of Pb. Dry deposition dominated the input of Mn and Al to each site, while wet deposition was the major input process for the other metals (54 to 85% of total). On an annual basis, deposited Cd, Pb, and Zn are strongly retained in each watershed: 2% of the Pb, 8 to 29% of the Cd, and 8 to 34% of the Zn inputs were transported in stream flow. Deposited Mn and Al are retained to a lesser degree and show a net loss from two sites. Metal export is controlled by stream pH, organic carbon, bedrock geology, and hydrologic characteristics of each site.     

Regional patterns of contaminants (PAH,pesticides and trace metals) in snow of Northeast Bavaria and their relationship to human influence and orographic effects

In January 1978, 31 snow samples were collected throughout NE-Bavaria and were analyzed for trace metals (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu), pesticides (α-BHC, Lindane, Aldrin, Dieldrin) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) (3,4-benzopyrene, 1,12-benzoperylene, fluoranthene and 3,4-(o-phenylene)-pyrene). The regional pattern of PAH-concentrations can be explained as follows: above urban areas and through orographic uplifting of the air, PAH's are scavenged from the atmosphere by snow. The trace metals and specific conductance show similar regional patterns, although the pattern for Pb is influenced by automobile traffic as well as by glass and ceramic industries. The pesticides show less distinct patterns relative to the other two groups of contaminants. Using multivariate statistics it was shown that the trace metals with the exception of Pb and the PAH's had regional patterns similar to each other but distinct from the pesticides. Although orography, urbanization and industries are shown to affect the regional patterns of PAH's and the trace metals, this is not the case for pesticides. They originate from diffuse sources in agricultural and f forested lands.     

Metals and chlorinated hydrocarbons in surficial sediments of three nile Delta lakes,Egypt

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - Surficial sediment samples from three shallow Nile Delta lakes (Lake Mariut, Hozha hydrodrome, andke Manzalah) were analyzed for PCBs, DDT-group pesticides, and...     

Sigmoid models for the uptake,concentration and effects of metals in consumer organisms

The uptake, concentration and effects of metals contamination in consumer organisms have been successfully described with the flexibly-shaped Richards sigmoid model. This model allows the simultaneous estimation of: (1) final asymptotic level of contaminant uptake or body growth, (2) the time required to approach asymptote, and (3) the particular path or trajectory taken by the function in approaching asymptote within the designated time. Analyses using the Richards model have shown that data for a variety of contaminants fail to conform to the shape of the classic monomolecular model and rather show an initial lag in the early uptake rate. In effects studies, the use of the Richards model to analyze body growth data from waterfowl exposed to dietary intake of Cd and other contaminants has shown that growth curve shape is more likely to change in response to contaminant intake than are either final asymptotic levels or the times required for asymptotes to be attained. Failure to consider such changes in growth curve shape could cause significant errors in the identification of growth responses to contaminant intake stress.

     

Total petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals in road-deposited sediments in Tijuana,Mexico

Purpose

A study was carried out to evaluate the concentration of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Hg) and total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) in road-deposited sediments (RDS) from Tijuana, Mexico, and identify their possible sources.

Materials and methods

Thirty RDS samples were randomly collected during the dry season using a brush and dustpan and classified according to construction material, traffic intensity, and land use. Soil samples were collected from a nonurban area and their concentrations were used as background values. For TPH, the samples were quantified gravimetrically after Soxhlet extraction, whereas heavy metals were extracted by acid digestion and their concentrations were measured by atomic absorption spectrometry.

Results and discussion

The mean TPH concentrations for RDS were 4208 mg kg^?1 and ranged from 1186 to 9982 mg kg^?1. For heavy metals, mean concentrations were 31.8, 50.2, 17.1, 0.1, and 0.1 mg kg^?1 for Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, and Hg, respectively. The Igeo results showed that RDS from Tijuana are moderately to strongly polluted with Pb and Cu and moderately polluted with Cr. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that Pb, Cu, and Cr could have their origin in tire wear, brake pads, bearings, and bushings.

Conclusions

The findings of this study revealed that RDS from Tijuana are polluted with TPH and heavy metals and that their principal sources are anthropogenic activities.

     

Deposition of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in the surroundings of primary aluminium industry

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) have been detemined in dust fallout at 4 sites in the neighborhood of primary Al plants over periods of 12 to 14 mo. The amounts of PAH deposited in these areas were large compared to other reported data. Variations were observed and the amounts were correlated with the frequencies of the wind direction from the factories to the sampling stations. Inversion episodes also seemed to cause an increase of the PAH depositions. Different PAH compositions were observed in samples exposed to pollutants from the al plants and in samples collected in an area where an anode plant was the main source.     

Concentration and deposition of trace metals in Ontario-1982

Results of trace metal concentrations in air and precipitation and the corresponding wet and dry deposition in Ontario in 1982 arc reported. In terms of the spatial patterns, in general, there was a decreasing gradient from south-to-north in both concentration and deposition. Patterns differed with each parameter although certain groups of metals (e.g., Fe and Al; Pb, Zn, and Mn) displayed similar patterns. In general, wet deposition was greater than dry deposition at all sites. Geographically, the variability in the wet to dry deposition ratio for coarse particles (MMD > 2.5 μm) was small. However, it increased from the south to the north for fine particles (MMD < 2.5 μm), being higher away from the source areas. Scavenging ratios (W) have been derived from the precipitation and air concentrations of trace metals. The scatter in W is quite large for all trace metals, up to 2 orders of magnitude. There was little seasonal variability in W for fine particles (Pb, Mn, Zn, and Cd). However, coarse particles (Fe, Al, and Cu) were more efficiently scavenged by snow than by rain.     

Coregionalization of trace metals in the soil in the Swiss Jura

The provenance of trace metals in soil, whether from the parent material or from pollution, is rarely known with certainty, and the metals' history must usually be pieced together from fragmentary statistical information. This is particularly true in the Swiss Jura where the concentrations of several heavy metals around La Chaux de Fonds exceed the statutory recommended thresholds for safety. The topsoil of the 14.5-km² region was sampled on a square grid at 250-m intervals with additional nesting with distances of 100 m, 40 m, 16 m and 6 m. The concentrations of seven potentially toxic metals, namely Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn, were measured. Their coregionalization could be represented by a linear model consisting of a nugget component plus two spherical structures with ranges of 0.2 km and 1.3 km. The short-range component dominated the variograms of Cd, Cr, Cu and Pb; the long-range component dominated those of Co and Ni; the variogram of Zn combined the two in approximately equal proportions. The coregionalization matrices contain moderate correlation among the nugget and the short-range components, notably between Cu and Pb, between Cd and Zn, and between Cr, Ni and Zn. The strongest correlations are at the long range between Co, Cr and Ni, and to a somewhat smaller degree between Zn and Co. Analysis of variance showed Co and Ni to be related to geology, and to the Argovian formation in particular. The indicator variogram of this formation has also a short-range component. The analysis also showed Cr and Cu to be related to land use (in different ways). Copper and Pb are strongly correlated to one another and distinct from the five other metals. The long-range structure is almost certainly a geological effect, whereas the one of short range probably results from both the geology and human activities.     

Origin,retention and release of trace metals from sediments of the river seine

Metallic contents (Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Zn, Cr) of sediments were measured in 14 sites in the River Seine (France) along 110 km; in three sites surrounding the sewage treatment plant at Achères, vertical profiles were established from cores and dialysis cells, and interface exchanges have been studied. Metal contamination increases downstream, except for Pb for which contamination is higher immediately downstream of stormdrains (up to 130 mg kg^?1); that confirms its urban origin. Upstream of Achères, metallic contamination increases with depth while downstream, contribution to sediments of suspended matter from the treatment plant, loaded with organic matter, alters the behaviour of metals within the first ten centimeters. A strong link between particulate organic carbon (POC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), polychlorobiphenyls (PCB) and metal contents has been established. The organic matter brought down by the treatment plant effluents induces a specific diagenesis downstream leading to metal release in summer as attested by a 30% metal contents decrease in sediments. Calculation of molecular diffusion fluxes shows that in september, the release phenomenon is ending.     

Sources of bioavailable trace metals for earthworms from a Zn-, Pb- and Cd-contaminated soil

The sources of bioavailable metals for earthworms were investigated in a Zn-, Pb- and Cd-contaminated soil. Selective sequential extractions (SSE) of metals were performed on soil samples with different amounts of contamination and compared with the body burden concentration of metals in two earthworm species: Aporrectodea caliginosa and Lumbricus rubellus. The most labile forms (water extractable and exchangeable) of metals were poorly related with metal accumulation by the earthworms, except for Cd, whereas the moderately available forms (acid-soluble, bound to iron oxides and organic matter) were related to the pattern of metal accumulation by earthworms. This indicates that the ingestion of metals bound to soil components is likely to be a more important uptake route than the dermal uptake of dissolved ions for metals entering the body tissue of earthworms.     

Comparison of digestion methods for determination of trace and minor metals in plant samples

In this paper, three dissolution methods using pressure digestion vessels (low-, medium-, and high-pressure vessels) for the determination of metals in plant samples are described. The Plackett-Burman saturated factorial design was used to identify the significant factors influencing wet ashing and to select optimized dissolution conditions. The three methods were statistically compared (on-way ANOVA) on the same sample; no significant differences were obtained. In all cases the relative standard deviation values were <3%. The digestion method based on the use of low-pressure vessels and a microwave oven was validated against CRM GBW07605 tea leaves. This method was applied to the determination of Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Mg, and Ca in 22 different medicinal, aromatic, and seasoning plants by flame-atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentration intervals of metal in the plants analyzed were the following: Cu, 4 (Allium sativum)-35 (Thea sinensis) microg g(-1); Zn, 7 (Piper nigrum)-90 (Betula alba) microg g(-1); Mn, 9 (Allium sativum)-939 (Caryophylus aromaticus) microg g(-1); Fe, 33 (Allium sativum)-2486 (Anethum graveolens) microg g(-1); Mg, 495 (Allium sativum)-7458 (Ocimum basilicum) microg g(-1); Ca, 386 (Allium sativum)-21500 (Ocimum basilicum) microg g(-1).     

农作物叶片对大气沉降重金属的吸收转运和积累机制

近年来,农产品的重金属超标问题已经引起了公众的广泛关注,也是国内外学者研究的热点.要实现农产品重金属污染的有效防控,首先需要解决的就是重金属来源问题.目前已有的研究大多集中在根系对土壤中重金属的吸收机制研究,且已基本探明作物根系对重金属的吸收转运机制,包括根际离子的活化,根细胞的吸附和扩散、跨膜运输,根皮层细胞的横向运...     

Microbial biomass,activity, and organic matter accumulation in soils contaminated with heavy metals

Chemical characteristics and some parameters related to biological components were determined in 16 soils from a fairly homogeneous area in the north of Italy, contaminated with different levels of heavy metals. Correlation analysis of the parameters studied showed close positive relationships among the metals and with the organic C content in the soils studied. Negative relationships were observed among the heavy metals, soil respiration, and the ratio between evolved CO₂–C and microbial biomass C per unit time (specific respiratory activity). This was ascribed to an adverse heavy metal effect on the soil microflora, which appeared to increase the accumulation of organic matter as the heavy metal content increased, probably because the biomass was less effective in mineralising soil organic matter under these conditions.     

Simplified fat extraction with sulfuric acid as cleanup procedure for residue determination of chlorinated hydrocarbons in butter

A new cleanup procedure is described for chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in butterfat. The method is based on the dropwise addition of H2SO4 to a fat solution column and continuous removal of the lipids and the acid. The cleanup of 0.25-2.0 g fat requires only 10-40 ml sulfuric acid and 12-17 ml petroleum ether. There is no need for any further cleanup step, solvent evaporation, or centrifugation. The method is easy to standardize and is suitable for automation. At least 30 fat samples can be cleaned up manually by one analyst in one day. Recoveries were complete (greater than 90%) for polychlorinated biphenyl compounds and for 13 chlorinated pesticides of 16 examined. The method was tested on chlorinated hydrocarbon residues in commercial butter and the results were compared with those obtained with the acetonitrile method. The versatility and limitations of the method were investigated by varying the sulfuric acid strength, initial fat solution concentration, and column dimensions.     

Phytotoxicity and some interactions of the essential trace metals iron,manganese, molybdenum,zinc, copper,and boron

Abstract

The essential trace elements Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and B in high concentrations can produce phytotoxicities. Iron toxicity resulted from 5 × 10^‐4 M and 10^‐3 M FeSO₄, but not from equivalent amounts of FeEDDHA (ferric ethylenediamine di (o‐hydroxyphenylacetic acid) ). Leaf concentrations in bush beans of 465 μg Mn/g, 291 μg B/g, and 321 μg Zn/g all on the dry weight basis resulted in 27%, 45%, and 34% reduction in yields of leaves, respectively. Zinc was concentrated in roots while Mn and B concentrated in leaves. Solution concentrations of MnS0₄ of 10^‐3 and 10^‐2 M depressed leaf yields of bush beans by 63% and 83%, respectively, with 5140 and 10780 μg Mn/g dry weight of leaves. Copper concentrations were simultaneously increased and those of Ca were decreased. Bush bean plants grown in Yolo loam soil with 200 μg Cu/g soil had a depression in leaf yield of 26% (with 28. 8 μg Cu/g leaf); plants failed to grow with 500 μg Cu/g soil. A level of 10^‐3 M H₂MoO₄ was toxic to bush beans grown in solution culture. Leaves, stems, and roots, respectively, contained 710, and 1054, and 5920 μg Mo/g dry weight.     

Levels of some high molecular chlorinated hydrocarbons in sediment samples from the eastern Adriatic coastal waters

It is well documented that synthetic chlorinated hydrocarbon residues are widespread through the oceanic ecosystem. The Adriatic Sea, as semi-enclosed body of water, is of special interest for an evaluation of the entry, extent and fate of the pollution by chlorinated hydrocarbons. Sediments samples were collected from 1976 to 1990 at seven areas and over forty stations located on the eastern Yugoslav coastal waters. Concentrations of chlorinated insecticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in surface sediment samples ranged from <0.1 to 93.9 for DDTs and from <0.5 to 294 μg kg^?1 for PCBs on dry weight basis. It is very important to stress that all these samples were analyzed from a single analytical group (mostly by the same analyst), using a uniform methodology. Total DDT and PCB concentration do not exhibit Gausian distribution in the investigated area and collecting period, so it is necessary to be very careful in interpreting the concentration data using parametric statistics. Very often, the pollutant levels in sediment samples differ significantly in samples collected at the same time at nearby stations.     

Sorption of trace metals by suction cups of aluminium oxide,ceramic and plastics

The sorption properties of ceramic, aluminium oxide and plastic suction cups in respect to trace metals (Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) were compared in laboratory and field experiments. The sorption effect is determined by the level of the cation exchange capacity of the cup material, the pH-value of the soil solution, the content of dissolved organic carbon, the sampling rate and the sampled volume. Sorption was generally negligible only in case of cobalt, manganese and nickel. At low pH-values no retention of trace metals occurred with the exception of lead in the aluminium oxide and the ceramic cups. At pH-values of about 8 cadmium and zinc were strongly sorbed only by aluminium oxide and ceramic cups whereas beryllium, copper and lead were markedly sorbed at this pH-range by all cup types. These results are only valid for the boundary conditions used. Whenever a suction cup's suitability is in doubt it should be tested after a conditioning procedure using realistic boundary conditions.     

Empirical models for estimating the concentrations and exports of metals in rural rivers and streams

Concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu were measured monthly at 24 sites in 21 rivers in Ontario and Quebec. Relationships between metal and suspended particulate matter (SPM), turbidity, colour (g440), temperature and system hydrology were quantified, and used to derive empirical models for predicting metal concentrations. In a test of the models using an independent data set, they explained a significant proportion of the variation in Al (90%), Fe (85%), and Mn (57%), but only 37% of the variation in riverine Zn concentrations. Metals concentrations are most strongly associated with SPM concentrations. The proportion of the total metal load associated with particulates (>0.45 μm) is highly variable below 10 ppm SPM, indicating that this concentration approximates the division between systems dominated by weathered (solution) versus eroded (particulate) inputs. Annual metal exports were calculated, and empirical models for predicting catchment exports were developed using system hydrology and average SPM concentrations. These simple models can be used to estimate metals concentrations and exports from routine water quality monitoring data, without requiring chemical analyses. They also serve to distinguish background levels from those indicating metal contamination, and will, therefore, be useful for water quality evaluation.     

Concentration and partitioning of particulate trace metals in the Changjiang (Yangtze River)

Suspended sediments from the lower Changjiang (Yangtze River) were sampled to determine concentrations of Cu, Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cr. The particulate trace element values in the Changjiang are higher than in the Huanghe (Yellow River), but lower than in the other large Chinese rivers (e.g. Pearl River) and polluted rivers. A general pattern of high element levels in the clay minerals and low element concentrations in coarse sediment fractions are observed in the Changjiang. Sequential extraction shows the predominance of metals in the residual fraction relative to labile fractions in the Changjiang, emphasizing the importance of natural weathering and erosion in the drainage basin on the transport of particulate metals. Elevated Enrichment Factors (EF: the ratio of element concentration in microsurface to that in subsurface layer minus 1.0) suggest a potential influence of atmospheric input on the concentrations of particulate metals in the river.