Trace Elements In Water,Fish and Sediment from Tuskegee Lake,Southeastern Usa

The concentrations of trace elements in water, sediment and fish samples from Tuskegee Lake located in Southeastern United States were investigated in this study. The Lake is utilized both as a source for municipal drinking water, and for recreational fishing. The water quality characteristics over two sampling periods, the speciation of metals in the Lake sediments, the risk to water column contamination and levels of heavy metals in largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) samples from the Lake were evaluated. The Lake water quality characteristics were mostly below the recommended drinking water standards by the United StatesEnvironmental Protection Agency (US EPA) and the European Union (EU) except for aluminum, iron, manganese and thallium. In addition, the average values of Cr, As, Mn, Zn and Cl^- in the water samples analyzed were higher than the respective reference values for fresh water. To study the speciation of metals in the Lake sediments, ten elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn) in four grain sizes (< 710 μm – 250 μm, < 250 μm – 75 μm, < 75 μm – 53μm, and < 53 μm) were subjected to sequential extractions. Irrespective of grain size, the elements analyzed were distributed in both the non-residual and residual phases except Ni that was found only in the residual fraction. The potential risk to Lake water contamination was highest downstream (Sites 1 and 2) based on the calculated global contamination factors. From the calculated individual contamination factors, Mn and Pb followed by Zn, Cu, Cr, Co and V posed the highest risk to water contamination. Based on this study, the human health risks for heavy metals in fish caught from Tuskegee Lake are low for now, and irrespective of the source of fish, concentrations of metals in muscle tissues were all below the recommended Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) maximum limits for Pb (0.5 mg Kg^-1), Cd (0.5 mg Kg^-1), Cu (30 mg Kg^-1), and Zn (30 mg Kg^-1) in fish.     

Historical Variations in Lead Fluxes in the Pyrenees (Northeast Spain) from a Dated Lake Sediment Core

Variations in Pb concentration in lake sediments reflect changes in the fluxes of this element in the past. A sediment core from a lake in the Pyrenees (Lake Redó at 2,240 m a.s.l., NE Spain) was studied, with the aim of reconstructing past environmental and climatic conditions in the lake and its catchment area. The core was dated using both 210Pb and 14C. A surface peak of Pb concentration, which was about 10 times higher than the background level, was found. This peak is attributed to mining activities since the beginning of this century. Although Pb pollution due to the combustion of gasoline is expected to be present, no evidence can be deduced from Pb isotope ratios of sediment due to the masking effect of Pb from mines. A second peak appeared in a deeper layer, with a maximum Pb concentration of about 17 times higher than the background level. The origin of this peak is unclear. All evidence suggests that the ancient peak is due to mining operations in the central Pyrenees area, which were not documented historically.     

Using Factor Analysis to Characterise Historical Trends of Trace Metal Contamination in a Sediment Core from the Tagus Prodelta,Portugal

Water, Air, & Soil Pollution - It is well established that the livestock sector is a major contributor to greenhouse gases (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) emissions. In this paper, the evolution of...