Heavy metal contents in river sediments

Extensive sample material from river sediments of Carinthia (Austria) was investigated with regard to the contents of heavy metals that are relevant to the environment, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Cr and Ni. The fraction <20 μm was separated from the total sample to minimize the effect of grain size. The disintegration was done with aqua regia. The results were related to the geochemical data of the geological background. Therefore the amount of anthropogenic pollution due to industry and overcrowded areas was determined. Especially the influence of industrial emissions from Pb-Zn smeltings is shown by extremely high values of Zn (18400 ppm), Cd (126 ppm) and Pb (7540 ppm). The contents of Cu, Cr and Ni in the metamorphic rocks from the Central Alps represent the geogenic influences, but the high values from 200 to 300 ppm Cr refer to actions of industries producing highly refrectory materials and chemical industries. The results of the elements zinc and nickel are documented in maps.     

Heavy metal contamination of agricultural soils around a chromite mine in Vietnam

Abstract

In Vietnam, the Co Dinh mine is the largest chromite mine in the country. Mining, ore dressing and disposal of the tailings provide obvious sources of heavy metal contamination in the mine area. The present study examined the influence of chromite mining activities on the adjacent lowland paddy field by investigating heavy metal and As levels in the mine tailings, sediments, paddy soils and water. At paddy fields located near the mine tailings, the total contents of Cr, Co and Ni were 5,750, 375 and 5,590?mg?kg^?1, and the contents of their water-extractable form were 12.7, 1.16 and 32.3?mg?kg^?1, respectively. These results revealed severe contamination of lowland paddy soils with Cr, Co and Ni as a result of mining activity, suggesting serious health hazards through agricultural products, including livestock in this area. The principal source of the pollution was sediment inflow owing to the collapse of the dike, which was poorly constructed by heaping up soil. Moreover, water flowing out from the mining area was also polluted with Cr and Ni (15.0–41.0 and 20.0–135?μg?L^?1, respectively). This might raise another problem of heavy metal pollution of watercourses in the area, indicating the need for further investigation and monitoring of fluctuations of water quality with seasonal changes.     

海南岛河流底泥肥力和重金属污染特征及其风险评价

特征分析及其评价是底泥资源化利用的重要前提,为了解海南岛热带玄武岩地区河流底泥特征及其资源化利用的可能性,选取典型河段塘柳塘为研究对象,采用典型断面布点采样法,对52个底泥样本的重金属和肥力进行检测和评价.结果表明:1)参照第2次全国土壤普查土壤养分分级指标,底泥中全氮质量分数指标达到Ⅰ级水平,全磷、全钾和有机质质量分数均为Ⅱ级水平,阳离子交换量达到Ⅳ级水平;各肥力指标的灰色关联度指数均大于对照区,说明河流底泥养分较为良好.2)采用HJ 332-2006《食用农产品产地环境质量评价标准》,评价底泥重金属污染状况,主要污染物Cd超标率为65.4％,超标幅度为14％;Hg超标率为59.6％,超标幅度为11％.3)地累积指数和内梅罗综合污染指数评价结果显示,该河段底泥中主要污染物为Cd和Hg,河段整体达到中度污染水平.4)潜在生态风险指数评价表明,Hg是最主要的潜在生态风险因子,河段整体达到“轻微生态危害”等级.该研究在海南省南渡江土地整治重大工程中,为疏浚底泥生态改造与土壤资源化利用,提供科学依据和技术支撑.     

Trace metal concentrations in selected biological,sediment, and water column samples in a Northern New England river

A baseline ecosystem study was undertaken in a relatively non-industrialized New England river to determine trace metal levels of Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in water column, sediment, fish, mollusks and aquatic macrophytes. Additional analyses were completed on fish and mollusks for Hg. Results showed metal concentrations in the study area were in general agreement with literature values. Both mollusks and aquatic macrophytes exhibited the highest levels of accumulated metals.     

Temporal and Spatial Variations of Inorganic Nitrogen Levels in Surface and Groundwater Around Hanoi,Vietnam

Abstract

Pollution of surface and groundwater by inorganic nitrogen (N) was assessed in farm villages of northern Vietnam. The pH and ammonium‐N and nitrate‐N concentrations were monitored at three communes near Ha Noi in the Red River Delta in March and September 2003, following monitoring in October 2002. In each monitoring time, ammonium‐N concentrations exceeded the Vietnamese water standards applicable to surface and groundwater, whereas the nitrate‐N concentrations were relatively low and below the corresponding standards. Neither spatial nor temporal variation was found in the ammonium‐N and nitrate‐N concentrations of the surface water. A temporal increase in the ammonium‐N concentration was statistically confirmed in the groundwater. Intensively applied fertilizer‐N and disposed animal/human wastes were thought to be sources of ammonium‐N. Ammonium‐N originating from those sources was seen to accumulate steadily in the groundwater through percolation from the surface water and surrounding land. A spatial variation of the nitrate‐N concentration was observed in the groundwater. The nitrate‐N concentration in the groundwater was particularly low in communes located in lowland areas with alluvial soils. The suppression of nitrification or promotion of denitrification was considered to be responsible for the low nitrate‐N concentration. A spatial variation was also found in the groundwater pH. Therefore, variation of the pH may be linked to variation of the nitrate‐N concentration in the groundwater.     

Trace metal distribution in the bed,bank and suspended sediment of the Ravensbourne River and its implication for sediment monitoring in an urban river

Journal of Soils and Sediments - This study aims to identify a suitable sediment compartment for sediment quality monitoring by: (a) studying the concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and...     

Heavy metal species,mobility and availability in soils

The ecological effects of heavy metals in soils are closely related to the content and speciation of the elements in the solid and liquid phases of soils. Methods for the determination of metal species in both phases are described and critically evaluated. In connection with the possible binding mechanisms of heavy metals in soils the concept of specific and non-specific adsorption is discussed. Recent results indicate that the adsorption of heavy metals on soil particles is not only restricted to the formation of surface complexes but can also take place in the interior of minerals. Diffusion processes of heavy metals into soil minerals are described for goethite. In order to assess metal mobility and availability in soils, the concentration and speciation of metals in the soil solution or in comparable aeqeous equilibrium solutions of soil samples and the transfer of metals from solid pools to the liquid phase and vice versa have to be assessed. Methods for the determination of the amount of plant available heavy metals are described and the associated problems discussed.     

Heavy metal deposition in Scandinavia

Maps showing the regional differences in the atmospheric deposition of Pb, Cd, Hg, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Fe have been prepared for Finland, Norway and Sweden from data obtained by means of moss analysis, a method previously shown to be a sensitive and reliable tool in measuring heavy metal deposition. In all elements the minima were recorded in northern Norway, the maxima in south-central or south-western Sweden and southernmost Norway. The greatest regional differences were measured in Pb and Cd.     

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.     

伊朗土壤侵蚀及河流泥沙研究

土壤侵蚀使水土资源流失,河道泥沙淤积,严重制约着区域生态、社会、经济的发展。伊朗地处干旱、半干旱气候带,土壤侵蚀严重,河流泥沙问题突出,已成为影响该国经济社会发展的主要环境问题之一。通过介绍伊朗土壤侵蚀和泥沙淤积的基本情况,并对该国有关土壤侵蚀及河流泥沙方面的研究和治理成果进行总结,提出未来研究的趋势和相关建议,以期为伊朗和我国的水土保持及泥沙治理提供参考。     

Heavy metal contents of some solid wastes in Ibadan,Nigeria

The heavy metal contents of some solid wastes produced in residential areas, a market, a cafeteria and the composts in lbadan, Nigeria, were measured. The solid wastes produced in low density areas with higher per capita income showed higher levels of heavy metals. The cafeteria waste showed low levels of some of these metals. The significance of the heavy metal status on Nigerian environment is discussed.     

Levels and Chemical Forms of Heavy Metals in Soils from Red River Delta, Vietnam

Levels and chemical forms of heavy metals in forest, paddy, and upland field soils from the Red River Delta, Vietnam were examined. Forest soils contained high Cr and Cu levels that were higher in subsurface than in surface layers. Levels of Cu, Pb, and Zn that exceeded the limits allowed for Vietnamese agricultural soils were found in the surface layer of a paddy field near the wastewater channel of a copper casting village. High amounts of Zn accumulated in the surface soil of paddy fields close to a fertilizer factory and an industrial zone. In these cases, larger proportions of Cu, Pb, and Zn were found in the exchangeable and acid-soluble fractions compared to the low-metal soils. We conclude that no serious, large-scale heavy metal pollution exists in the Red River Delta. However, there are point pollutions caused by industrial activities and natural sources.     

Platinum-group and other traffic-related heavy metal contamination in road sediment, Guangzhou, China

Purpose

Human exposure to particulate matter emitted from on-road motor vehicles includes complex mixtures of heavy metals from tyres, brakes, part wear, and resuspended road sediment. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentrations of 14 platinum-group and other traffic-related heavy metals in road sediment within the metropolitan area of Guangzhou, China, with a view to identifying their sources and assessing the extent of anthropogenic influence on heavy metal contamination of road sediment.

Materials and methods

Thirty-five samples of road sediment were collected. The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, La, Ce, Mo, Cd, Pb, Ba, and Rh were measured by inductively coupled plasma?Cmass spectrometry. Pt and Pd were analyzed by isotopic dilution?Cinductively coupled plasma?Cmass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analysis and enrichment factor methods were employed to identify the sources of these heavy metals and to assess anthropogenic influences on their occurrence.

Results and discussion

The mean concentrations of Pt, Pd, Rh, Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, La, Ce, Mo, Cd, Pb, and Ba in the road sediment samples were 68.24, 93.15, 23.85, 147.5, 712.3, 47.24, 177.5, 1254, 47.50, 96.62, 4.91, 3.00, 198.1, and 641.3?ng?g^?1, respectively. Very weak to significant linear positive correlations were found among the various heavy metals. The elemental composition of road sediment was dominated by five principal components. Three clusters were identified through cluster analysis, and enrichment factors were calculated relative to soils in China. The sources and degree of contamination of the heavy metals are discussed based on the results.

Conclusions

The mean concentrations of heavy metals are higher than background values, especially for Pt, Pd, Rh, Cd, and Zn. Four main sources are identified: (1) Pt, Pd, and Rh were derived from traffic sources; (2) La, Ce, Mn, and Ba were derived mainly from natural sources; (3) Cr, Ni, Cu, Mo, Cd, and Pb showed mixed traffic-industry sources; and (4) Zn originated mainly from industrial sources. Enrichment factor analysis supported this source identification and further indicated that contamination of road sediment in Guangzhou is extremely high for Pt, Pd, and Rh; moderate to very high for Cd, Zn, Pb, Cu, and Mo; and minimal for Cr, Ni, La, Ce, and Ba.     

神府─东胜煤田开发对乌兰木伦河河道淤积与输沙的影响

神府─东胜煤田自1987-1993年开发以来,河道露天采煤、矿区建设排弃的大量土石碴堆积于河道或岸坡,导致河床淤积严重,输沙量骤增.乌兰木伦河下游50km净淤积1310.5×10⁴m³,平均年增加187.2×10⁴m³,输沙量比采矿前增加70%,平均年增加735×10⁴t.文中对河道淤积的泥沙来源和采矿排弃物流失量进行了深入分析,并提出该流域治理的建议与对策.     

Multivariate correlation of water quality,sediment and benthic bio-community components in Ell-Ren river system,Taiwan

The distribution and correlation of benthic bio-community, water and sediment pollutants were evaluated with multivariate analysis from data collected over six samplings at 12 sites in the Ell-Ren river system, Taiwan. A total of 41 benthic algae species, 8 aquatic insect species and 2 annelid species were collected. On the basis of both principal component and correlation matrix analyses, we defined six water and sediment pollutant components to reveal common behaviour. Metrioenemus sp., Tubifex sp., Bacillariophyceae and Cyanophyceae could tolerate the environment at highly polluted sites. Caenis sp., Rhithrogena sp. and Baetis sp. preferred sites that were aerobic, and their populations were negatively correlated (52–56%) with detrital heavy metals in sediment. The population of benthic algae was positively variated with lead of the “bound to organic matters and sulphides” fraction, but negatively with copper in the detrital pattern. Results suggested that benthic bio-community demonstrated measurable relationships with water and sediment pollutants in Ell-Ren river system, and could be used as indicators to assess the water quality of river over a longer period.     

Heavy metal pollution of urban soils

The chemical properties of urban soils (southeastern administrative district, Moscow) affecting the behavior of heavy metals were studied. The current heavy metal pollution level of the soils was assessed. The use of different approaches for the pollution standardization is shown to produce different results. The fractional composition of the metal compounds in the soils and the factors affecting its formation under technogenic pollution were investigated. In the district studied, the distribution of heavy metals by the fractions primarily depended on the chemical properties of the heavy metals themselves; the pollution level; and, to a lesser degree, on the soil properties. Zinc and cadmium were the most mobile metals in the soils studied.     

Anaerobic sediment potential acidification and metal release risk assessment by chemical characterization and batch resuspension experiments

Background, Aim and Scope  Sediments act as a sink for toxic substances (heavy metals, organic pollutants) and, consequently, dredged materials often contain pollutants which are above safe limits. In polluted anaerobic sediments, the presence of sulphides and redox potential changes creates a favorable condition for sulphide oxidation to sulphate, resulting in potential toxic metal release. The oxidation reaction is catalyzed by several microorganisms. Some clean up measures, such as dredging, can initiate the process. The aim of the present work is to assess the acidification and metal release risk in the event of sediment dredging and also to compare two different acid base account techniques with the resuspension results. The oxidation mechanism by means of inoculation with an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain was also evaluated. Methodology  The sediments were chemically characterized (pH; organic oxidizable carbon; acid volatile sulphides; total sulphur; moisture; Cr, Cu and Zn aqua regia contents). A metal sequential extraction procedure (Community Bureau of Reference, BCR technique) was applied to calculate the Acid Producing Potential (APP) and Acid Consuming Capacity (ACC) of the sediment samples through Fe, Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ measurements. The acid base account was also performed by the Sobek methodology (Acid producing potential — AP — calculated with total sulphur and neutralization potential — NP — by titration of the remaining acid after a reaction period with the sample). Fresh sediments were placed in agitated shake flasks and samples were taken at different times to evaluate pH, SO₄ ²⁻ and Cr, Cu, Zn and Fe²⁺ concentration. Some of the systems were inoculated with an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain to assess the biological catalysis on sulphide oxidation. Results  Sediment chemical characterization showed high organic matter content (5.4–10.6%), total sulphur (0.36–0.86%) and equivalent CaCO₃ percentages (4.5–8%). pH was neutral-alkaline for all of the samples. AVS content was high except for sample 5. The acid base account obtained with the two methods gave different results for the acid generating risk of the samples. A decrease of 0.4 to 3.1 pH units was measured in the agitated shake flasks. In all of the systems, sulphate concentration increased (2,100–2,200 mg L⁻¹ to 2,500–3,000 mg L⁻¹), and positively correlated with the initial total sulphur content of the samples in the inoculated flasks. Cu and Cr in solution were not detected in most of the sampling occasions (<0.5 mg Cu L⁻¹ and <0.5 mg Cr L⁻¹). Zn reached high concentrations (up to 11.8 mg L⁻¹). For every system — except sediment 1 — the lowest pH registered was similar in comparison to inoculated and control systems. The inoculation effect was mostly evidenced in the systems by a higher sulphate release rate compared to the control systems. Discussion  The BCR method categorized all of the samples as potentially acid generating material. The Sobek method using NPR (NP/AP) criteria classified sample 3 as a possible acid generator and samples 1, 2 and 5 with a low acid generation potential. Despite this, all the samples acidified the media in the kinetic tests in at least one of the conditions employed in this work. It would seem that NPR and NNP (NP-AP) risk classification criteria should not be directly used with anaerobic sediments. Appropriate classification levels for sediments should be developed considering the different sulphide reactivity between rock and sediments. Sediment oxidation can cause acidification, which is partially explained by sulphide oxidation. In the samples studied, we found a positive correlation between sulphate increase in solution after oxidation and total sulphur content in the inoculated systems. Significant amounts of Zn could be released to solution while Cr and Cu remained insoluble despite the pH decrease observed. The low Cu and Cr mobility could be explained by the very low solubility of their hydroxides and high affinity for organic matter and iron oxides/hydroxides that might form during sediment oxidation. Dredged sediment management and disposal should be carefully planned. Conclusions  All of the sediment samples lowered the pH media in the laboratory batch resuspension experiments. However, both risk classification criteria (NNP, NPR) from Sobek acid base account were not able to predict the samples’ behavior as accurately as the BCR derived base account. The inoculation effect was mostly associated with a higher sulphate release and not to a lower pH due to acid base equilibrium. Recommendations and Perspectives  Appropriate risk classification levels for sediments should be developed considering the different sulphide reactivity between rock and sediments. ESS-Submission Editor: Dr. Sabine Ulrike Gerbersdorf (sug@st-andrews.ac.uk)     

Heavy metal contamination of soils in Northern Slovakia

Environmental damages like forest decline in Northern Slovakia could be a result of long-distance transport of pollutants with the dominating north-west winds. On 10 sites, primarily in the northbound upper slopes of west-east oriented mountain ranges in Northern Slovakia, the extent of the heavy metal contamination in soils along a north-south transect was examined. Oi, Oe, Oa, A, and B horizons were sampled and the total concentrations of Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were determined. The ranges of heavy metal concentrations in the forest floor were higher than reported for comparable samples from Bavarian soils except for Zn (Cd: 0.65–1.77; Cr: 12–40; Cu: 19–41; Ni: 8–24; Pb: 70–187; Zn: 31–92 mg kg^?1), in the mineral soil the concentrations were lower. The depth distribution of the metal concentrations indicated a contamination with Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The concentration differences between forest floor and mineral soil tended to be higher at the northern than at the southern sites for Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn, indicating a long-distance transport from the north. Correlation and principal component analyses of the total metal concentrations revealed three groups: Cu, Pb, and Zn inputs mainly seemed to result from long-distance transport from the north, Cr and Ni inputs additionally from local sources. Cd probably had its origin mainly in local sources. This result was further confirmed by the grouping of the sites when clustered.