Assessment of the Contamination of Cultivated Soils by Eighteen Trace Elements Around Smelters in the North of France

Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, In, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn,Tl, Th, U and Zn contamination of cultivated surfacehorizons has been assessed around two lead and zincsmelters in the North of France. The verticaldistribution of Ag, As, Bi, Cu, Hg, Se, Sb and Tl inthe soils has also been examined. The soils around thelead and zinc smelter at Noyelles-Godault arecontaminated by Ag, As, Bi, Cd, Cu, Hg, In, Ni, Pb, Sb,Se, Sn, Tl and Zn. The original concentration in themost contaminated soils may be multiplied by a factorof around 2 to 100, according to the element. Cadmium,Pb and Zn are the most abundant contaminants. The Pband Zn concentrations are correlated to those of theother contaminants, with the exception of Se. Aroundthe Auby zinc smelter, there is a contamination by thesame elements, but in different proportions, inaddition to Cr contamination. Contamination by Se canreach a depth of around 1 m, whereas contamination byAg, As, Bi, Cu, Hg, Sb and Tl is confined to the top 30cm. Although the contaminant content in most soilsdepends on the distance from the plant, Secontamination would appear to vary to a greater extentaccording to the physico-chemical soil conditions.     

Trace element distributions in soils developed in loess deposits from northern France

A pedo‐geochemical survey was carried out in the Nord‐Pas de Calais region (France) on soils developed in loess deposits. Total concentrations of Al, Fe and 18 trace elements, as well as common soil characteristics, were determined in samples from 52 surface and 97 deep horizons developed in these loess deposits. The Pb isotopic composition was determined in two sola. The composition of deep horizons, compared with that of the upper continental crust, with that of horizons developed from 21 other sedimentary rocks from the region and with that of loess from various parts of the world, confirms that loess from the Nord‐Pas de Calais region derives from multi‐recycled and well‐mixed ancient sedimentary rocks. Correlation analysis shows that least mobile (i.e. ionic potential (Z/r) is between 3 and 7) geogenic elements (Bi, Co, Cr, Cu, In, Ni, Pb, Sn, Tl, V, Zn) are associated with the fraction <2 µm (which we define as ‘lutum’). More mobile elements (As, Cd, Hg, Mn, Mo, Sb, Se) are less associated with this fraction. Cadmium is particularly linked to Mn. The distribution of [trace element]/([Al] or [Fe]) in the French loess gives the background content for soils developed from most sedimentary materials in northwestern Europe. Topsoils are enriched with all the trace elements examined, except Co, Cr and Ni. Enrichments with Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn are greater in cultivated soils than in forest soils. Enrichments with Pb and with Cu, Hg, Mo, Sb, Se and Sn are mainly due to human contamination through atmospheric fallout. Organic matter seems to act as a sink for all the exogenous trace elements.     

Application of ICP sector field MS and principal component analysis for studying interdependences among 23 trace elements in Polish beers.

Twenty-three metallic elements, including almost all essential and toxic metals such as lead, cadmium, mercury, arsenic, silver, and thallium, have been quantified in 35 types of bottled and canned Polish beer by using double-focusing sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) with ultrasonic nebulization. The samples were digested using concentrated HNO3 in closed PTFE vessels and applying microwave energy under pressure. The means and medians of the concentrations of Rb, Mn, and Fe were on the order of 200 ng/mL; Cu, Zn, V, Cr, Sn, As, Pb, and Ni were detected at 1-5 ng/mL; Ag, Ga, Cd, Co, Cs, Hg, U, and Sb were found at < 1 ng/mL; and In, Tl, Bi, and Th were present at < 0.1 ng/mL. The concentrations of Hg, Cd, As, Pb, and Zn were 1-3 orders of magnitude lower than proposed tolerance limits. The interdependences among determined trace elements were examined using the principal component analysis (PCA) method. The PCA model explained 74% of the total variance. The metals tend to cluster together (As, Tl, Cs, Sn, Th, Bi, and Hg; Cd and Co; Cs and Cr; Fe and Zn; Mn and V).     

Standards for the contents of heavy metals and metalloids in soils

In line with the present-day ecological and toxicological data obtained by Dutch ecologists, heavy metals/metalloids form the following succession according to their hazard degree in soils: Se > Tl > Sb > Cd > V > Hg > Ni > Cu > Cr > As > Ba. This sequence substantially differs from the succession of heavy elements presented in the general toxicological GOST (State Norms and Standards) 17.4.1.02-8, which considers As, Cd, Hg, Se, Pb, and Zn to be strongly hazardous elements, whereas Co, Ni, Mo, Sb, and Cr to be moderately hazardous. As compared to the general toxicological approach, the hazard of lead, zinc, and cobalt is lower in soils, and that of vanadium, antimony, and barium is higher. The new sequence also differs from that of the metal hazard in soils according to the Russian standard on the maximal permissible concentration of mobile metal forms (MPC_mob): Cu > Ni > Co > Cr > Zn. Neither an MPC_mob nor an APC_mob has been adopted for strongly hazardous thallium, selenium, and vanadium in Russia. The content of heavy metals in contaminated soils is very unevenly studied: 11 of them, i.e., Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cr, As, Mn, Co, Hg, and Se, are better known, while the rest, much worse, although there are dangerous elements (Ba, V, Tl) among them.     

泉州市324国道泉州至塘头段路旁土壤中重金属来源分析

分析了泉州市324国道泉州至塘头段路旁土壤中14种重金属元素Sc、V、Fe、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Sn、Sb、Pb、Bi的含量,用富集因子和多元统计分析方法探讨了重金属的污染特征和可能来源。结果表明,Pb、Sn、Sb、Cd、Ni、Zn、Sc、Cu和Bi的含量均超过泉州市土壤背景值,污染较严重;Ni、Sb、Sn的高富集系数说明其受人类活动影响较大。相关分析和因子分析结果显示,上述14种元素主要有3个来源:Sn、Sb、Pb、Bi、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd主要来源于交通污染;As、Sc、Fe来源于人类工业活动;而Co、Mn、V主要来源于土壤母质。聚类分析的结果也验证了因子分析的结果。     

Effects of addition of 12 metals on carbon dioxide release during incubation of an acid sandy soil

Samples of a sandy soil (pH 4.9) were mixed with 10 and 100 p.p.m. of 12 metals (as sulphates) and incubated (30°C) aerobically for 2 and 8 weeks. Depression of CO₂ release with 100 p.p.m. metal levels over 8 weeks increased in the order Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Ni, Tl, Sb, Sn, Zn, Hg, Ag. Toxicity order differed somewhat with 10 p.p.m. metal levels and with incubation period.     

Determination of “normal” levels and upper limit values of trace elements in soils

To determine “normal” levels of trace elements in soils, soil samples taken all over Belgium were analysed. The selection of the sampling places was based on the geological substrata, from which the soils originate and on the texture class to which they belong. The elements As, B, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Ti, V and Zn were determined using an extraction method with strong acids. The found concentrations were called “total acid extraction concentrations”, although this extraction does not extract all the elements which are incorporated into the minerals. This has been done, however, by arc emission spectrography which was applied to determine the elements Ag, B, Co, Cr, Ga, Mo, Ni, Sn, Sr and V. The greatest difference between the “overall total” concentrations and the “total extractable concentrations” were found for chromium. Based on the obtained results, an upper limit for normal levels of trace elements was fixed. For Ag, Cd, Hg, Pb and Sb, this upper limit value is almost the same for all the investigated soils irrelevant of their texture. The same conclusion could not be made for the other elements. For these elements, the soil texture and also the geological parent material, on which the soil was formed, have an influence on the upper limit value.     

Distribution of 32 Elements in Organic Surface Soils: Contributions from Atmospheric Transport of Pollutants and Natural Sources

Data are presented for 32 elements (Li, Be, B, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ge, As, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Hf, Tl, Pb, Bi) in organic-rich surface soils in Norway, based on samples from 464 sites. By considering geographical distributions based on isopleths, results from factor analysis, and ANOVA of median values from 12 different geographical regions, the contributions from natural and anthropogenic sources are estimated for each element. Long-range atmospheric transport of pollutants from areas out of Norway is a dominant source for Cd, Sb, Pb, and Bi and also a strongly contributing factor for Zn, As, Mo, and Tl. Also V, Ni, Cu, and Ge are somewhat affected, but other factors dominate for these elements. Local point sources of pollution provide significant contributions to soil concentrations of Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Mo, and Cd. The local bedrock is the overriding source of Li, Be, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Rb, Zr, Cs, Ba, REE, Hf, and probably of Ge and Ag. Surface enrichment by root uptake in plants and return to the soil surface by decaying plant material is particularly evident for Mn, Zn, Rb, Cs, and Ba. These elements show no clear difference between south and north in the country, indicating that their plant uptake does not depend on latitude. In the case of B and Sr, atmospheric deposition of marine aerosols is an important source. Rb and Ag, and to a less extent Mn, Ga, and Ba, appear to be depleted in soils near the coast presumably due to cation exchange with airborne marine cations.     

Contamination of soils with heavy metals and metalloids and its ecological hazard (analytic review)

According to the present-day ecotoxicologic data, hazardous heavy metals/metalloids form the following sequence in the soil: Se > Tl > Sb > Cd > V > Hg > Ni > Cu > Cr > As > Ba. This sequence differs from the well-known series of the hazardous heavy elements, in which the danger of Pb and Zn is exaggerated, whereas that of V, Sb, and Ba, is underestimated. Tl also should be included in the list of hazardous elements in the soil. At present, the stress is made on the investigation of heavy metals/metalloids in agricultural soils rather than in urban soils, as the former produce contaminated products poisoning both animals and humans. The main sources of soil contamination with heavy metals are the following: aerial deposition from stationary and moving sources; hydrogenic contamination from the industrial sewage discharging into water bodies; sewage sediments; organic and mineral fertilizers and chemicals for plant protection, tailing dumps of ash, slag, ores, and sludge. In addition to the impact on plants and groundwater, heavy metals/metalloids exert a negative effect on the soil proper. Soil microorganisms appear to be very sensitive to the influence of heavy elements.     

Levels and Bioaccessibilities of Metals in Dusts from an Arid Environment

The elemental composition and bioaccessibility of trace metals have been determined in a variety of geosolids (soils, road dusts and house dusts) from an arid, coastal region (Dhahran, Saudi Arabia). Concentrations of many elements reflected those of the local geology, ascertained by analysis of desert sand. Several trace metals (e.g. Cu, Sb, Zn, Pb, Tl and Sn) were moderately enriched in both road and house dusts, reflecting external and internal (household) anthropogenic sources. For a given trace metal, bioaccessibilities, assessed using a physiologically based extraction test, were broadly similar across the range of geosolids. Median values for a simulated gastric phase ranged from less than 10% (Ba, Cu, Cr, Ni and V) to more than 50% (As, Cd, Sb, Sn and Tl), and for a subsequently simulated intestinal phase from less than 15% (Ba, Cr, Cu, Ni, V and Zn) to more than 50% (As, Cd, Sb, Tl and U). Results suggest that the levels and bioaccessibilities of trace metals in dusts from arid environments are controlled by the dilution of anthropogenic particulates by variable (but significant) proportions of fine, baseline sand.     

湘中下寒武统黑色页岩土壤的地球化学特征

以湘中发育于下寒武统黑色页岩之上的土壤为研究对象,选择安化东坪、烟溪,桃江,宁乡等地的典型土壤及相应成土母岩,利用等离子质谱(ICP-MS)、X射线荧光光谱(XRF)等分析技术,对土壤、成土母岩(黑色页岩)的主量元素和微量元素(包括重金属元素、稀土元素等)进行了较系统的分析测定。结果表明,湘中下寒武统黑色页岩土壤风化作用强烈,风化指数CIA均在73以上。强烈的风化使得土壤具有明显贫CaO、Na2O,而富Al2O3、Fe2O3的化学组成特征。土壤因继承成土母岩(黑色页岩)的特征而富集Mo、Cd、Sn、Sb、U、V、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Tl、Pb、Th等多种重金属元素,其综合富集指数(EI值)平均在3以上,最高达17。地质累计指数(Igeo)评价结果显示,土壤重金属的富集已达到污染程度,土壤存在Cd、Mo、Sb、U、Sn、V、Cu、Tl、Ba等重金属的污染,并以Cd、Mo、Sb等重金属污染最强,达中度至极强污染程度。重金属与主量元素的相关性分析显示,土壤中的重金属主要赋存于黏土矿物和铁氧化物(针铁矿)等矿物相中,其中Ba、Sn、Th、Cu、Sc等主要赋存黏土矿物中;Zn、Ni、Mn、Co、Cd、Tl、Pb等则主要赋存于铁氧化物矿物(针铁矿)中;而Cr、V、Mo、Sb、U等则不受黏土矿物和铁氧化物矿物的控制。此外,不同地区土壤的Zr/Hf、Ta/Nb、Nd/Sm等元素比值相对稳定,依次为36.20、0.085、5.30(n=73),并与相应的成土母岩(黑色页岩)相应值基本一致。土壤与成土母岩具有相同的稀土配分型式,且成土过程中稀土元素不发生明显的分异。微量元素比值和稀土元素特征指示土壤中的重金属来自成土母岩(黑色页岩)本身,为自然污染源。     

Geochemical investigations on atmospheric precipitation in a medium-sized city (Göttingen,F.R.G.)

The concentration of 27 elements was investigated in 10 samples of precipitation from Göttingen, collected during May and September 1972. Göttingen is a non-industrial town of 130000 inhabitants, situated in a rural area, and essentially all the dissolved and undissolved material in rainwater is locally derived. Elemental concentrations in freshwater and shale are used for comparison with the dissolved elements in precipitation and the undissolved residue. The two phases have been separated after evaporation (concentration factors: 15 to 25-times). Phosphorous, Zn, Mn, and Pb are enriched in rainwater, while Si, Mg, Na, Ca, Cl, Fe, Hg, K, Li, and Al are depleted relative to average freshwater. Sulfate, Cd, and Cu have similar concentrations in rain and freshwater. The factors of accumulation between elements in residue and average shale are calculated after normalization to the Al-value. They are: ? 100 for Ag, Hg, Pb; between 10 and 20 for Zn, Cd, P, Cu, Mo; > 2 for Cr, Bi, Ni, Ba, Ti, V ; between 0.9 and 2.0 for Rb, K, Na, Li, Mg, Mn, Fe, Si, Ca; and 0.5 for Tl. The trace element accumulation is due to different anthropogenic sources: combustion of liquid petroleum fuels contributes to Ph, V, Ni, Mo, Hg, and sulfate, combustion of coal to Ba, sulfate, and chloride, and to the. readily volatile elements such as Hg, Cd, Tl, Bi, and Ag, combustion of refuse to Ag, Bi, Pb, Cd, Hg, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ba, and Mo in highly variable amounts. Fertilizers and road salts change the chemistry of soils and indirectly supply P, alkali and alkaline-earth metals to the fly dust. Modest industrial activity is responsible for high Cu and Cr concentrations. Despite the appreciable accumulation of some toxic elements, the precipitation in Göttingen is relatively pure compared to other areas. Favorable geologic conditions around Göttingen decrease the negative influences of potentially harmful airborne elements. The high carbonate content in the dust neutralizes the anthropogenic acids in the rainwater. Furthermore, the toxic trace elements are diluted, especially in the center of Göttingen, by a large amount of airborne dust.     

Microelements in anthropogenically contaminated soils in the central part of Petrozavodsk

Urban soils (Urbic Technosols) formed within or near the industrial sites removed of service show a considerable excess over the regional background in the content of Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, as well as over the average content of W, Mo, Pb, Sb, Cr, Cu, Sn, Ni, Zn, and Mn in urban soils. Microelements are concentrated for the most part in the soil fine earth, and above all, in the fraction with particle size <0.1 mm. Surface films (on quartz and feldspar grains) of quartz–feldspar–muscovite (partially with tremolite and chlorite) composition and undifferentiated dispersed mixture of quartz, albite, microcline, muscovite and organomineral soil substance are the strongest concentrators of heavy metals and metalloids. Pb and Sn are partially present in soils as oxides, and a part of Zn and Pb, in the form of substantial admixtures to technogenic chemical compounds. As a whole, distribution of elements in the studied soils is controlled by the specifics and type of contamination, resistance of coarser grains to weathering under the given physicochemical conditions, and by predominantly mineral (quartz–feldspar) composition of the solids in soil layers and the features of elements proper.     

Trace element concentrations in the dorsal muscle of white suckers and brown bullheads from two acidic Adirondack lakes

Concentrations of 14 elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, V, and Zn) were measured in the dorsal muscle of omnivorous white suckers and brown bullheads, fish likely to ingest sediment while feeding. The fish were collected in two acidic Adirondack lakes known to have elevated concentrations of several of these elements in their surface sediment. Trace element concentrations in the muscle of the white suckers and brown bullheads were compared with government guidelines for edible fish and survey data for concentrations present in commercial species. Only the largest white sucker exceeded the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's guidelines for Hg in food of 1 ppm (wet wt). Concentrations of all the other elements measured were at low or innocuous levels in the edible muscle. A significant positive correlation was found between body weight and Hg concentrations in both species. Zinc was negatively correlated for the same parameters in white suckers. With the possible exception of Hg, our results indicate that elevated levels of potentially toxic elements in the surface sediment of the two acidic Adirondack lakes are not reflected in the edible muscle of the omnivorous bottom feeding fish present in these systems.     

中国太原市农业土壤的重金属污染状况

To evaluate the current state of the environmental quality of agricultural soils in Taiyuan City, a hotspot for China’s industrial development, the concentrations of 8 heavy metals in soils were investigated by means of extensive sampling in farmlands, forestlands, and grasslands in the city. Statistical analyses and spatial distribution maps were used to identify the most significant heavy metal pollutants. The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, Ni, and Cr were slightly higher than their background values in Taiyuan’s topsoil, but were lower than the maximum permissible concentrations in the Chinese Environmental Quality Standard for agricultural soils. Farmland soils in Taiyuan had the highest average Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cr concentrations, but the As and Ni concentrations did not differ significantly among the farmland, forestland, and grasslands. Soil contamination by Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, and Cr was mainly derived from farming practices, especially the use of sewage water for irrigation. In contrast, As and Ni might derive mainly from the soil parent material. The identification of heavy metal sources in agricultural soils may provide a basis for taking appropriate action to protect soil quality.     

The distribution of heavy metals in sediments of Sörfjord,West Norway

The bottom sediments of Sörfjord, West Norway, contain unusually high concentrations of Ag, Ba, Bi, Cd, Cu, In, Pb, Sb, Sn, and Zn. The concentrations of Zn and Pb reach ～ 10% by weight in some sediments. The concentrations of most of the elements are positively correlated, those of Pb, Cd, and Cu with Zn being particularly well developed; correlations also exist between Sb and Zn, and Ag and Cu. The concentrations of the metals in the bottom sediments decrease southwards and northwards from a locality close to a source of industrial waste.     

贵阳市城区土壤重金属分布特征及污染评价

调查了贵阳市不同功能区表层土壤中重金属含量及其分布特征,以基线为参比值,采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对重金属的潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明,贵阳市城区土壤重金属(Hg、Cd、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn)主要来源于工业、交通以及燃煤等活动,其平均含量分别为0.108、0.320、20.53、22.17、35.71、64.87、48.65、217.90mg/kg,除Cr外,均显著高于相应基线。工矿区土壤中Pb、Zn含量显著高于其他功能区(p0.05)。Hg和Cd是主要的生态危害因子,其污染已达强生态危害水平,其余均显示为轻微生态危害水平;不同功能区土壤重金属污染均已达强生态危害水平,且污染程度依次是:商务区工矿区文教区居民区城市绿地交通区。     

广东省土壤无机元素背景值的变化趋势研究

通过对“七五”期间广东省土壤环境背景监测点回顾性调查,以研究广东省土壤背景监测点13种无机元素含量变化趋势.与“七五”背景值对比,土壤A层中Hg以及A、C两层中F含量下降,其他11种元素含量均上升,特别是Se、V、Zn和Co的含量有较明显的上升.As、Co、Cr、F、Hg、Mn、Ni、V和Zn的含量从A层到C层呈增加趋势,Cd、Pb和Cu的含量呈减少趋势,Se的含量基本没有变化,此外还对无机元素含量变化的原因进行分析.     

Heavy metal pollution of the world largest antimony mine-affected agricultural soils in Hunan province (China)

Purpose  

The present work concerns the distribution of ten heavy metals (Sb, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in the surrounding agricultural soils of the world largest antimony (Sb) mine in China. The objective is to explore the degree and spatial distribution of heavy metal pollution of the Sb mine-affected agricultural soils. The presented data were compared with metal concentrations in soils from mining and smelting sites in China and other countries.