Trace element release from forest floor can be monitored by ion exchange resin tubes

Risk assessment of heavy metal input into forest ecosystems requires information about metal fluxes from the forest floor (organic layer) into the mineral soil. Common methods for the monitoring of element fluxes are generally time‐consuming and expensive. Additionally, the reliability of the results is in part contested especially for trace elements, showing very low concentrations which are sometimes even below analytical detection limit. We used ion exchange resin tubes installed below the forest floor to determine heavy metal and As fluxes at 25 forest monitoring sites in Germany. Chloride tracer experiments and the comparison of our data with throughfall and lysimeter data, determined within the Level II monitoring network, proved the accuracy of our method. Mean trace element fluxes based on the resin method were 50 g As ha^–1 yr^–1, 2 g Cd ha^–1 yr^–1, 168 g Cu ha^–1 yr^–1, 176 g Ni ha^–1 yr^–1, and 186 g Pb ha^–1 yr^–1.The results show that the organic layer may change into a source of heavy metals after emission has decreased.     

砷对烤烟生长发育及其产量和品质的影响

为了考察砷毒害对烤烟生产的影响,采用盆栽试验,研究了砷与烤烟生长发育、产量和品质的关系。结果表明,砷抑制了烤烟的生长发育,导致其生育期延迟,叶片数和叶面积减少,株高和产量降低。同时,砷造成了烤烟产值、均价和上中等烟比例降低,使其经济性状变差,总糖、还原糖、总氮、蛋白质含量提高,烟碱和K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Cl-含量降低,糖氮比、糖碱比、氮碱比等比例失调,因而降低了烤烟的商品价值和化学品质。当土壤中的砷含量达到100 mg/kg时,烤烟的生长发育受到严重抑制,丧失了生产价值;当砷含量达到200 mg/kg以上时,烤烟不能移栽成活;使烤烟减产10%的土壤砷含量阈值为16.89 mg/kg。砷在烤烟叶片中的积累规律为下部叶>中部叶>上部叶,有39.58%的砷残留在灰分中,其余60.42%存在于烟气中。若以食品中砷含量≤0.5 mg/kg为参照,下、中、上部叶片中砷含量≤0.5 mg/kg时的土壤砷含量阈值分别为2.63,6.56,13.91 mg/kg,中部叶燃烧后烟气中砷含量≤0.5 mg/kg时的土壤砷含量阈值为12.90 mg/kg。     

原子荧光光谱法测定肉类罐头中总砷含量不确定度的评定

以咸牛肉罐头为例,分析了整个测量过程产生的不确定度,及产生不确定度的主要来源,为有效地控制用该方法测定肉类罐头中总砷含量提供可靠的理论依据。     

土壤砷有效性及其在柑桔中累积特征研究

在对全国柑桔主产区部分土壤和植株系统采样基础上,采用1.0mol/L HCl、0.5mol/L NaHCO3和1.0mol/L NH4Cl对土壤砷提取测定,结合土壤总砷、柑桔植株枝条、叶片和果肉中砷的测定结果,研究柑桔园土壤砷的总量、有效性及砷在柑桔中分布累积规律.结果表明:供试土壤总砷含量在1.77～16.0mg/kg之间,按土壤类型,黄棕壤最高,以下依次为黄壤、红壤和紫色土;砷在柑桔植株中累积分布规律为,叶片最高,枝条次之,果肉最少.其中,果肉与叶片砷含量呈极显著正相关(R=0.735 6**n=13),且叶片累积远大于果肉;三种提取剂中,0.5mol/L NaHCO3无论在酸性或石灰性土壤上提取结果均表现与柑桔果肉砷含量具极显著正相关性(R=0.541 0**n=45),可作为柑桔土壤砷有效性指标;0.5mol/L NaHCO3提取有效砷与土壤Olsen磷呈极显著正相关(R=0.600 6**n=45),且在不同酸碱性质土壤上砷的提取量与Olsen磷的大小具有相同趋势,证明砷在土壤中具有与磷相似的化学行为和吸附-解吸特征.     

毛头鬼伞子实体对重金属元素的富集特性

通过对毛头鬼伞(Coprinus comatus)产区中原辅材料中铅(Hg)、镉(Cd)、砷(As)、汞(Pb)4种重金属含量的检测和使用添加不同浓度重金属栽培材料的栽培试验,分析栽培原辅料中重金属含量对子实体中重金属含量的影响,为毛头鬼伞的安全生产提供参考。试验结果表明,除水之外的13个测试原辅材料样品中均含一定量的重金属元素;子实体中的重金属含量随着栽培材料中重金属元素含量的增加而呈上升趋势,子实体对覆土和对栽培基质中4种重金属元素的富集强弱分别为Hg>Cd>As>Pb和Hg>Cd>Pb>As,其中对覆土和栽培基质中重金属汞分别表现较弱和一定的富集作用。     

Comparing Deterministic and Probabilistic Risk Assessments. A case study at a closed steel mill in southern Sweden (7 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope   Contaminated land is a high priority environmental problem in most of Europe and North-America. Sweden is no exception and generic guideline values have been developed for the initial assessment, but site-specific assessments are also needed. The generic guideline values are not applicable when the exposure conditions are different from the typical Swedish conditions or when the site contains a particularly sensitive ecosystem. The Swedish guideline values have, like in many other countries, been set by using deterministic point estimates for all variables and constants in the used multimedia model. The same approach is common also for site-specific assessments, and a limitation is that it fails to quantify variability and uncertainty. Probabilistic risk assessment provided a method to deal with this problem. Variability and uncertainty in the input parameters (variables or constants) are described by probability distributions, and likewise the output (risk or exposure) is presented as a probability distribution. A substantial number of probabilistic risk assessments for contaminated land at sites in North America, Europe and Asia have been published. However, an extensive review of the literature did not identify any study where probabilistic risk assessment was applied to a site contaminated by an iron or steel industry. Here we will describe such a case, where we have compared a deterministic point estimate with a probabilistic risk assessment for six elements and benzo[a]pyrene. Methods   The site had different metallurgical plants in operation for more than 100 years. Most parts of the steel mill were closed by the mid 1980s, and today the site is used by small-sized enterprises. The soil is contaminated with metals from the previous industrial operations. The present owner plans to develop the site and has therefore initiated extensive investigations of soil contamination. Sixty-two soil samples collected between 1997 and 2000 provided a good coverage of the whole site, and were analyzed for the content of different elements and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The exposure assessments were focused on six elements with high concentrations compared to the generic guideline values; arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn). In addition, benzo[a]pyrene was included due to the high toxicity and comparatively high concentrations. Variability and uncertainty were characterized in a Monte Carlo simulation of exposures (10 000 iterations), and the exposures were evaluated with two land use scenarios; less sensitive use and sensitive use. Results and Discussion   The deterministic point estimates and the probabilistic estimates of the 95th percentile are in approximately the same ranges in the scenario of less sensitive land use. It is only the exposure for arsenic that is slightly above the toxicological reference value (TRV) in the deterministic assessment. In the probabilistic assessment, the exposure for all elements is below the TRV. The results for sensitive land use are applicable to a scenario where the site is developed for general housing. The deterministic point estimates and the probabilistic estimates of the 95th percentile are also here in approximately the same ranges, but the exposure exceeds the TRV for arsenic, cadmium and lead. Drinking water, vegetables grown on site and soil ingestion are the major exposure pathways for this scenario. In this assessment, the estimated intake distributions are applicable to a randomly selected individual. The probability distributions used here to characterize the different soil parameters are typically representing both variability and uncertainty, and the same is true the majority of the exposure variables. We therefore decided not to attempt to separate variability and uncertainty at this stage, but with additional data from a more in-depth site investigation it might be possible to achieve this. Conclusions and Outlook   To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first report on a probabilistic risk assessment on a former iron and steel works site. The materials handled by this industry were less toxic than for many other metallurgical operations, but contaminants may still severely limit the options for future land use. This case study shows that probabilistic exposure estimates for a set of soil contaminants can be quite similar to deterministic point estimates. The main difference is instead to be found in the additional information obtained with the probabilistic assessment. The sensitivity analyses show pathways and input variables that contribute most to variations in the total intake of each contaminant, e.g. dermal contact and ingestion of soil, vegetables and drinking water. This information can be used both in the planning of future land use and for active measures to reduce current exposure. The probabilistic assessment also provides information on the magnitude of exposure and the margin of safety. This information may facilitate risk communication between decision-makers and stakeholders. The presentation of results from probabilistic risk assessments is only briefly discussed in the literature and here we see a need for research and opportunities for enhancement. The choice of data analytical tools may then be of importance, since more complex multimedia models are rather difficult to decipher when implemented within traditional spreadsheet software. Some of the research needs are identified here and in a previous review article in this journal.     

Dynamics of arsenic-containing compounds sorption on sediments

Background  River and lake sediments constitute complex and difficult analytical samples. On the other hand, sediments play a fundamental role in the distribution of toxic compounds in aquatic systems and in the evaluation of the current state and the course of changes taking place in the environment. Among elements present in the environment in trace concentrations, but having well-elaborated toxic properties, one of most dangerous is arsenic. The element occurs in the environment in several chemical forms, predominant are inorganic forms of As(V) and As(III), and methylated forms such as monomethylarsonic acid (MMAA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMAA). Objectives  Reported herein are experiments, which were undertaken with the aim of examining the dynamics of arsenic sorption in sediments and its dependence on speciation of the element and the pH in the environment. Simultaneously, influence of organic matter content and chemical composition of the sediments on As sorption, were investigated. Methods  Sediment samples (upper 10 cm layer) were collected from three sites located in the vicinity of Cracow:

Accumulation of Lead and Arsenic by Carrots Grown on Lead-Arsenate Contaminated Orchard Soils

Concerns have been raised of possible human food chain transfer of lead and arsenic from crops grown on orchard soils with histories of lead arsenate use. The objective of this study was to determine arsenic and lead uptake by three cultivars of carrots grown on four orchard soils with histories of lead arsenate use. Total concentrations of arsenic and lead in these soils ranged from 93 to 291 and from 350 to 961 mg kg^?1 for arsenic and lead, respectively. Arsenic in peeled carrot ranged from 0.38 to 1.64 mg kg^?1, while lead ranged from 2.67 to 7.3 mg kg^?1 dry weight. This study demonstrated that carrots will accumulate arsenic and lead in the root, which may become a human health risk when consumed. However, further studies are needed to determine what fraction of arsenic and lead in these carrots are bioavailable to humans when consumed.     

砷污染下菌根接种对番茄生长和砷吸收的效应

为研究砷(As)污染条件下菌根真菌对番茄植株生长和砷吸收的效应,采用盆栽法,以全生育期的番茄植株为材料,对生长在不同砷浓度土壤中的番茄植株接种菌根真菌进行研究。结果表明:无论是接种还是不接种处理,基质砷添加水平增加植株总根长和比根长均呈现减少趋势;砷添加浓度从0 mg/kg增加到100mg/kg时,植株根冠比增加,但砷添加浓度为200 mg/kg时,对照植株根冠比在整个生育期明显增加,而在开花期和坐果期接种显著降低了植株根冠比;添加砷显著增加地上部分和根系砷含量,加砷后结果率显著降低,未接种植株结果量明显减少且质量下降,在200 mg/kg时,接种还是未接种植株均不结果实,但加砷条件下接种降低番茄果实中的含砷量和砷吸收量。     

三年生三七生长、光合特征及砷含量对土壤砷胁迫的响应

为了了解三年生三七对土壤砷污染的响应特征和机理。通过大田种植和室内分析的方法研究三年生三七在不同质量分数砷处理下的生长状况（形态指标、生物量、光合特征、光合色素）以及三七各部分（茎叶、剪口、主根、须根）砷含量,探讨砷处理对三年生三七生长、光合特征及砷积累的影响。结果表明：（1）高质量分数的砷处理（砷质量分数140 mg/kg）对三七形态指标、生物量有显著的抑制作用,但低质量分数的砷处理（80 mg/kg）对三七生长无显著影响。（2）高质量分数砷处理显著降低了叶片净光合速率（Pn）、蒸腾速率（Tr）、气孔导度（Gs）和光合色素含量,显著增加了细胞间隙CO2质量分数（Ci）。（3）三年生三七各部分砷含量随砷处理质量分数升高而增高,砷含量在三七各部分的分布依次为：须根 剪口 主根 茎叶。高质量分数的砷处理对三七的生长和光合作用具有显著的抑制作用,保证三七正常生长的土壤砷质量分数为80 mg/kg以下,三七中砷的主要分布部位为地下部分,需重点关注。