Lead, Zinc, Arsenic and Copper Pollution in the Alluvial Plain of a Mining Wadi: The Beal Case (Cartagena–La Union Mining District, SE Spain)

The distribution and mobility of heavy metals in the non-saturated zone of the alluvial plain of a wadi in the Cartagena–La Union mining district was investigated. The elemental chemistry of soils, in-depth sediments and different plant species (namely Hirsfeldia incana, Ditrichia viscosa and Piptatherum miliaceum) was carried out by using X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction techniques. Potential mobility of metals was assessed by using lixiviation test runs (DIN 38414-S4). Concentrations detected in soils and sediments were higher than the acceptable limits reported in official regulations. Regarding metals mobility, values obtained for Pb, Zn and As exceed the limits established by European Union for DIN 38414-S4 leachates. Whilst the obtained leaching percentages for Pb, Cu and As were not especially high (<2%), Zn exhibit a very high leaching potential (up to 60% of the total metal content), involving potential risk of pollution events.     

The properties and genesis of “Tora-Han” (tiger-like) soil on the high terrace,North of Akashi City

On the high terrace to the north of Akashi City, Sanyo District. th ere is a heavy text ured soil which is charac te rized by the presence of altern ate red and gray bands in lower hor izons (photo.) . This soil is called "Tora-han" Soil as a local name by reason of its morph ological resemblance to “tora” (tiger^*). Heavy textured soils which have tiger-like (or zebra-like) mot tlings in lower hor izons are also found in other parts of Japan alm ost excl usively on high ter races , and hav e long attracted th e attent ion of Japanese pedologists.     

Distribution of Metals in Vadose Zone of the Alluvial Plain in a Mining Creek Inferred from Geochemical, Mineralogical and Geophysical Studies: The Beal Wadi Case (Cartagena�CLa Union Mining District, SE Spain)

The assessment of metals dispersal in polluted mining areas is a very complex issue, usually needing data from several analytical techniques in a joint approach. The present work focuses on the impact of the mining activity on lowlands alluvial plain sediments from an ephemeral creek, their role as source or sink of pollution and the spatial distribution of metals within the zone. In-depth distribution of elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, Ti and Zn) coming from mining activities was investigated by using X-ray fluorescence techniques and their mineralogical form using X-ray diffraction. A 2-D electrical resistance tomography field survey was carried out throughout at the creek bed to interpret the potential relationships between chemical, mineralogical and geophysical parameters. The application of leaching procedure (DIN 38414-S4 test) allows us to know the sediment??s heavy metals hazard and their potential mobility when changing redox conditions. From the results it was found that redox process of sulphur and the presence of carbonate influence the distribution of metals along the profile. In the present work, the precipitation of carbonates seems the most important process, especially for elements such as Zn and Mn. Secondary precipitation of sulphides enables the trapping of metals at sulphur-rich levels.     

Physical-Tomographic Characteristics and Structure of Bacterial Community of the Agrophysical System “Germinating Roots—Pore Space of Soils” (Physical Model Experiment)

Eurasian Soil Science - Computed tomography allows quantifying the volume of elements of soil solids, pore space, and root system. It was possible to record the dynamics of changes in the soil pore...     

Geochemical and Mineralogical Features of Overbank and Stream Sediments of the Beal Wadi (Cartagena-La Union Mining District, SE Spain): Relation to Former Lead�CZinc Mining Activities and Its Environmental Risk

Heavy metals and some major element concentrations were investigated in overbank sediments and stream bed sediments of the ephemeral Beal wadi creek in the Cartagena-La Union mining district (SE Spain). Two vertical sediment profiles were extracted and the chemical and mineralogical compositions were both investigated by X-ray fluorescence and X-ray diffraction. Geochemical variations in vertical profiles of these two kinds of sediments allow observing noticeable heavy metals pollution (especially Fe, Pb, and Zn) in both kind of sediments but especially in the overbank sediments (reaching values of approximately 13% Fe, 6% Pb, and 6% Zn). A single extraction (DIN 38414-S4 leaching test) was made to observe the transfer of metals from solids to liquid phase. Pb, Zn, Cu, and Cd contents surpass the leaching values established by the DIN 38414-S4 limits established by Spanish legislation to consider these wastes as hazardous wastes. Geochemical comparison between leaching behavior of the two types of sediments reveals a major ability of overbank sediments in transferring heavy metals to the water flow.     

Some comments on: Mao et al. (2018) “Bibliometric analysis of insights into soil remediation” Journal of Soils and Sediments, 18(7): 2520–2534

In order to improve the bias of using the Web of Science databases for bibliometric studies, the “front page” has been proposed by Ho’s group in 2012. Using the “front page” as the filter resulted in a huge difference compared to the method from the original paper of Mao et al. Furthermore, a cited reference plays an important role in a published paper. Readers are interested in the paper’s statements and might find useful information from the following researches. The reference section is an important part in a paper; however, it was easily ignored by the authors. This comment also offered information for citing the original idea of publication indicators used for the comparison of countries’ and institutions’ publication performances.

     

Reply to comments on: Mao et al. (2018) “Bibliometric analysis of insights into soil remediation” Journal of Soils and Sediments, 18(7):2520–2534

Journal of Soils and Sediments -     

Effect of Synthetic Soil Aggregates as a Soil Ameliorant to Enhance Properties of Problematic Gray (“Jahgaru”) Soils in Okinawa,Japan

Synthetic aggregates (SA) were developed using low productive red soil, paper, and starch waste and then utilized as a soil ameliorant to improve poor physical and chemical properties of a gray soil (“Jahgaru”). The gray soil was amended with SA at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50% and then used for the cultivation of French marigold (Tagetes patula). The SA addition enhanced bulk density, porosity, water‐holding capacity, hydraulic conductivity, pH, organic matter, and carbon (C) content of original gray soil. Plant height, number of flowers per plant, shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, root length, root fresh weight, and root dry weight in 30% of SA addition were the greatest and were increased by 1.5, 2.9, 3.5, 4.7, 3.4, 4.3, and 9 times, respectively, compared to gray soil. It can be concluded that developed SA can be utilized as a soil ameliorant to improve poor physical and chemical properties of gray soil.     

Isotopic Record of Lead Contamination in Alluvial Soils and Tree Rings on Recent Floodplains (Southern Québec, Canada)

Current and past industrial pollution leaves many traces in the environment, in particular along rivers in industrial and urban areas. The isotopic analysis of the lead found in soils and tree rings offers a kind of environmental archive for presenting a portrait of the pollutant distribution in the environment in both spatial and temporal terms. This study is an attempt to identify and compare the source of contamination found in soils and tree rings located along two rivers affected by pollution over several years. Specifically, the focus is on the pattern of lead concentrations and lead isotopic signatures (206Pb/207Pb, 208Pb/206Pb, and 206Pb/204Pb) detected in soils and tree rings located on polluted floodplains. The concentration of Pb in overbank sediments does not rise with the increasing distance downstream from the point source (mining area), suggesting that significant fluvial transport of the pollutant particles over 80 km is involved. For the soil profiles, Pb concentration levels range between 12.32 and 149.13 mg/kg, with the highest concentrations found at the base of the profiles (>1 m). For the lead isotope ratios in the soil profiles, the values obtained range from 0.851 to 0.872 (206Pb/207Pb), 2.081 to 2.111 (208Pb/206Pb), and 0.547 to 0.562 (206Pb/204Pb). The tree ring analysis of red ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh.) shows average lead concentrations of 0.63 μg/g, and the lead values of all the tree specimens range between 0.03 and 11.38 μg/g. Pb concentrations varied greatly between the specimens in selected sites and lead isotope ratios in the tree rings showed a strong variability in the time series, particularly from 1945 to 1970. The greater number of variations in the lead concentration rates and isotopic ratios suggest that many more events associated with pollution and contamination have in fact occurred in this area. The study demonstrates the utility of combining stable isotope analyses (soils and tree rings) to examine the source and dispersion of contaminant Pb in fluvial systems by providing reliable and robust indicators for the detection of environmental changes on a local and regional scale.     

The effect of concentrations and properties of phenanthrene, pyrene, and benzo(a)pyrene on desorption in contaminated soil aged for 1 year

Purpose

The choice and timing of microorganisms added to soils for bioremediation is affected by the dominant bioavailable contaminants in the soil. However, changes to the concentration of bioavailable PAHs in soil are not clear, especially when several PAHs coexist. This study investigated the effects of PAH concentration and chemical properties on desorption in meadow brown soil after a 1-year aging period, which could reflect changes of PAH bioavailability during bioremediation.

Materials and methods

Based on the percentage of different molecular weights in a field investigation, high-level contaminated soil (HCS) and low-level contaminated soil (LCS) were prepared by adding phenanthrene (PHE), pyrene (PYR) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) to uncontaminated meadow brown soil. The concentrations of HCS and LCS were 250 mg?kg^?1 (PHE, PYR, and BaP: 100, 100, and 50 mg?kg^?1) and 50 mg?kg^?1 (PHE, PYR, and BaP: 20, 20, and 10 mg?kg^?1) respectively. The soils were aged for 1 year, after which desorption was induced by means of a XAD-2 adsorption technique over a 96-h period.

Results and discussion

The range of the rapidly desorbing fraction (F _rap) for PHE, PYR, and BaP in HCS and LCS was from 1.9 to 27.8 %. In HCS, desorption of PYR was most difficult, and the rate constant of very slow desorption (K _vs) of PYR was 8 orders of magnitude lower than that of BaP, which had similar very slow desorbing fractions (49.8 and 50.5 %, respectively). However, in LCS, desorption of PYR was the easiest; the K_vs of PYR was 8–10 orders of magnitude higher than those of PHE and BaP. In HCS, the time scale for release of 50 % of the PAHs was ranked as BaP?>?PYR?>?PHE, while in LCS this was BaP?>?PHE?>?PYR.

Conclusions

The combined effect of PAH concentrations and properties should be taken into account during desorption. The desorption of PAH did not always decrease with increasing molecular weight, and the desorption of four-ring PAHs might be special. These results are useful for screening biodegrading microbes and determining when they should be added to soils based on the dominant contaminants present during different periods, thus improving the efficiency of soil bioremediation.     

The chemical characterization of the aroma of dessert and sparkling white wines (Pedro Ximénez, Fino, Sauternes, and Cava) by gas chromatography-olfactometry and chemical quantitative analysis

Wines from Pedro Ximénez (PX), Fino, botrytized Sauternes, and Cava were screened by gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), and the most relevant aroma compounds were further quantified in six different wines of each group. The comparison of GC-O and quantitative data with similar data from white young wines has made it possible to identify the aroma compounds potentially responsible for the specific sensory characteristics of these wines. Results have shown that all these wines are relatively rich in 3-methylbutanal, phenylacetaldehyde, methional, sotolon, and the ethyl esters of 2-, 3-, and 4-methylpentanoic acids. While Cava has a less specific aroma profile halfway between these special wines and young white wines, PX is richest in 3-methylbutanal, furfural, beta-damascenone, ethyl cyclohexanoate, and sotolon; Fino in acetaldehyde, diacetyl, ethyl esters of branched aliphatic acids with four, five, or six carbon atoms, and 4-ethylguaiacol; and Sauternes in phenylacetaldehyde, 3-mercaptohexanol, and 4-methyl-4-mercaptopentanone.     

The role of stromatolites in explaining patterns of carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, and silicon in the Se?ovlje saltern evaporation ponds (northern Adriatic Sea)

Purpose

In summer 2007, biweekly benthic fluxes of the biogenic elements carbon (C), nitrogen (N), silicon (Si), and phosphorus (P) were studied in the Se?ovlje saltern (salt-making facility) in the northern Adriatic Sea, Slovenia in order to determine the impact of stromatolite (??petola??) on the geochemical properties of saltern sediments.

Materials and methods

The brine and pore waters were analyzed for salinity, NH ₄ ⁺ , NO ₃ ^? , PO ₄ ^3? , SiO ₄ ^4? , total dissolved nitrogen, total dissolved phosphorus, and fluorescent dissolved organic matter. The sediment was analyzed for organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN), total and organic phosphorus (OP), and biogenic Si concentrations, as well as values of ?? ¹³C_OC and ?? ¹⁵N_TN.

Results and discussion

Nutrient concentrations in brine water increased along the salinity gradient due to different processes, such as the evaporative concentrations of seawater, bacterial activity, more pronounced transformation and degradation of organic matter, and regeneration of nutrients. The petola from the Se?ovlje saltern, which is predominately composed of cyanobacterial and diatom communities, develops during the early evaporation stage and survives during high salinity and halite crystallization. Nitrogen fixation and P removal were the principal biogeochemical processes controlling dissolved inorganic N and P concentrations. At higher salinities, N limitation was more important. Microbes decomposed at higher salinities, and the remineralized N and P nutrients were released from surface pore waters to the brine. OP remineralization was also an important process influencing the distribution of PO ₄ ^3? concentrations in pore waters deeper in the sediments. The increasing SiO ₄ ^4? concentrations with increasing salinity in the brine waters were due to dissolution of diatom frustules, while the decrease in pore water SiO ₄ ^4? was probably the consequence of microbial uptake.

Conclusions

This study provides a better understanding of nutrient cycling and the geochemical processes in the Se?ovlje saltern.     

Characterization of “Mais delle Fiorine” (Zea mays L.) and nutritional,morphometric and genetic comparison with other maize landraces of Lombardy region (Northern Italy)

Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution - The loss of agrobiodiversity is a topic of global impact. On a local scale, Lombardy, in the Alpine macro-Region, has lost more than 78% of its plant...