北京市菜地土壤和蔬菜的锌含量及其健康风险评估

通过97种蔬菜、454个样品的调查表明,北京市菜地土壤锌明显高于北京市土壤锌背景值,其含量范围、算术均值、中值和几何均值分别为24.9³08、79.2、63.8和70.7 mg/kg。北京市蔬菜锌含量范围、中值和算术均值分别为0.005²5.6、2.24和3.11 mg/kg鲜重。叶菜类蔬菜锌含量显著高于瓜果类蔬菜,其余各类型间差异均不显著。北京市市售外地产蔬菜锌含量显著高于本地产蔬菜;裸露地蔬菜与设施蔬菜锌含量差异不显著。冬瓜、西红柿、茄子、黄瓜、辣椒和大葱和部分特菜的锌富集系数最低,抗土壤锌污染的能力较强。北京市居民从蔬菜中摄入锌的量为4.04 mg/人.d,蔬菜锌对北京市居民不会构成健康风险。     

睦洞湖和古桂柳运河表层沉积物中汞和砷含量及其生态风险评价

于2018年1月18～19日,在广西会仙喀斯特湿地的睦洞湖和古桂柳运河中,设置了13个采样点,采集了表层(0～10 cm深度)的沉积物样品,采用(1+1)王水水浴消解法,消解沉积物样品,利用原子荧光形态分析仪,测定样品中的汞和砷含量;采用地累积指数法和潜在生态风险评价法,对会仙湿地睦洞湖和古桂柳运河表层沉积物中汞和砷的污染等级和潜在生态风险进行了评价。研究结果表明,表层沉积物中的汞质量比为0.29～1.81 mg/kg,平均值为0.51 mg/kg,其大于广西壮族自治区土壤汞含量背景值,表层沉积物中汞的地累积系数为0.40～1.22,表现为轻度污染或偏中度污染,并存在强潜在生态风险;表层沉积物中砷质量比为5.96～54.25 mg/kg,平均值为21.44 mg/kg,其略高于广西壮族自治区土壤砷含量背景值,表层沉积物中砷的地累积系数为-0.90～0.01,未出现明显的砷污染,但是,在部分采样点,表层沉积物中的砷含量极高,存在轻微潜在生态风险。     

西溪湿地土壤重金属分布特征及其生态风险评价

测试和研究了杭州西溪湿地土壤中铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)、铅(Pb)、镉(Cd)、汞(Hg)、砷(As)和铬(Cr)的含量与分布特征,采用内梅罗综合污染指数和Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对湿地土壤重金属污染环境质量和潜在生态风险进行了评价。结果表明,西溪湿地土壤表层7种重金属平均含量的质量比分别为36.8 mg/kg(Cu)、91.5 mg/kg(Zn)、39.2 mg/kg(Pb)、0.23 mg/kg(Cd)、0.19 mg/kg(Hg)、6.3 mg/kg(As)和64.9 mg/kg(Cr)。由于受各种人为作用的影响,与浙江省土壤背景值相比,Cu、Pb、Cd和Zn在湿地土壤中的积累较大,有3个采样点[菜地、芦苇(Phram ites austrlis)滩地和靠马路的居民区]土壤中的Cd含量超过《土壤环境质量标准》(GB15618-1995)标准值的二级标准(pH<6.5)。湿地土壤重金属污染环境质量和生态风险评价结果显示,内梅罗综合污染指数平均值为1.73,多种重金属潜在生态风险指数平均值为114.6,说明总体上西溪湿地土壤重金属污染及其潜在生态风险为轻微级。最后,讨论了西溪湿地公园土壤重金属的可能来源,对比了重金属污染评价中不同评价标准和评价方法的差异性。     

湘江中下游农田土壤和蔬菜的重金属污染

从湖南省湘江中下游衡阳-长沙段沿岸采集219 个农田土壤样品和48 个蔬菜样品, 测 试其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn 等7 种重金属元素的含量, 并结合GIS 作图与数据统 计, 对农田土壤中重金属空间分布、土壤和蔬菜中重金属富集特征以及其潜在风险进行分析。 结果表明, 农田土壤中As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb 和Zn 含量均大于湖南省相应土壤重金属含量背 景值, Cd (2.44 mg kg^-1)、Pb (65.00 mg kg^-1)、Zn (144.13 mg kg^-1) 含量分别超标7.97、3.69 和 1.63 倍。与我国《土壤环境质量标准》(GB15618-1995) 中II 级标准(pH 6.5~7.5) 比较, 土壤 As、Cd、Cu、Ni、Pb 和Zn 含量的超标率分别为13.2%、68.5%、2.7%、2.7%、8.7%和 15.1%, 表现为以Cd 为主的多种重金属混合污染。菜地土壤中As、Cd、Cu、Pb 和Zn 的含 量( 几何均值) 分别高于水稻土As、Cd、Cu、Pb 和Zn 含量。与《食品中污染物限量》 (GB2762-2005) 等标准比较, 蔬菜As、Cd、Ni、Pb 含量的样本超标率分别为95.8%、68.8%、 10.4%和95.8%; 蔬菜Cd、Pb、Zn 含量与相应土壤的Cd、Pb、Zn 含量存在极显著的相关性 (P < 0.01)。湘江中下游的农田土壤和蔬菜中重金属污染的潜在风险值得关注。     

辽河口湿地土壤中汞、砷分布特征及风险评价

通过测定辽河口三道沟和笔架岭光滩、碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)沼泽和芦苇(Phragmites australis)沼泽土壤汞和砷含量,分析了辽河口不同类型湿地土壤汞和砷的垂直分布规律,并进行了风险评价。研究结果表明,2015年11月3日和2016年5月16日,三道沟湿地土壤汞和砷平均质量比分别为0.038 mg/kg和9.13 mg/kg;笔架岭湿地土壤汞和砷平均质量比分别为0.059 mg/kg和10.77 mg/kg。三道沟各类型土壤汞和砷含量明显低于笔架岭。笔架岭的芦苇沼泽和碱蓬沼泽土壤汞含量从表层向下逐渐增大,芦苇沼泽土壤砷含量从表层向下逐渐减小,而光滩和碱蓬沼泽0~10 cm深度土壤砷含量总体由表层向下逐渐减小。三道沟和笔架岭各类型湿地土壤汞和砷的I_(geo)指数都为负数,污染等级都是清洁;潜在生态风险指数结果表明,三道沟和笔架岭湿地土壤汞和砷的潜在生态风险较低。     

北京市不同土地利用类型的土壤砷含量特征

通过对北京市菜地、稻田、果园、绿化地、麦地以及自然土壤6种土地利用类型共500 个土壤样品的调查分析,探讨了不同土地利用方式对土壤砷积累的影响。与北京市土壤背景值相比,砷在土壤中均有不同程度的增加,累积现象比较普遍。在6种土地利用类型中,自然土壤的砷含量最低,最接近背景值;菜地和稻田的土壤砷含量的增加最为显著。以基线值为标准,北京市涉及土地利用的土壤砷含量总体超标率为1.8%;6种土地利用类型中,菜地、果园、麦地三种土壤砷含量的超标率分别为2.6%、2.7%、0.7%。土壤砷含量的平均值由高到低分别为:稻田>绿化地>菜地>果园>麦地>自然土壤。     

土壤及地下水砷污染现状调查与评价——以新疆奎屯123团为例

通过对新疆奎屯123团土壤及地下水中砷含量状况调查分析,研究了土壤及地下水中砷污染状况、砷的主要来源,提出了砷污染的治理措施。研究表明:奎屯123团地下水砷污染严重,自流井水砷浓度范围在0.07~0.83 mg/L。土壤中砷的含量范围在8.36~39.63 mg/kg,平均值为16.67mg/kg,高于全国的平均水平。土壤中砷的来源主要受自然因素的影响,同时也受到高砷地下水灌溉以及含砷农药、化肥等诸多人为因素的影响。     

泸沽湖大草海湖滨带表层土壤的多环芳烃污染状况及其生态风险评价

于2019年3月12~13日,在四川省泸沽湖大草海湖滨带的41处采样地中,采集表层(0~20 cm深度)土壤样品,分析测试土样的多环芳烃含量;根据多环芳烃含量的分级标准,确定表层土壤的多环芳烃污染状况,并评价其生态风险。研究结果表明,菜地、果园、林地、耕地和季节性湿草甸表层土壤中的16种多环芳烃质量比之和分别为1 565.98 ng/g、1 463.28 ng/g、676.93 ng/g、591.66 ng/g和583.03 ng/g,菜地表层土壤中多环芳烃含量相对最高;大部分采样地表层土壤属于多环芳烃轻微污染,分布在道路边、人流量较大的地方、居民住宅旁的菜地和污染沟渠附近的采样地表层土壤属中度和重度多环芳烃污染;采样地表层土壤中的多环芳烃来源主要以生物质能源燃烧和交通源为主;多环芳烃对儿童的致癌风险指数小于10^-6,处于安全范围,成人通过皮肤接触途径造成的多环芳烃致癌风险指数最大值和总致癌风险指数都大于10^-6,故成人存在致癌风险。     

南极磷虾硒及矿质营养的初步研究

应用AFS和ICP-AES测定分析了南极磷虾和中国海虾样品中的硒和其他12种矿质元素的含量,并做了对比研究。结果显示,南极磷虾中含有丰富的人体必需元素,特别是Se、P、Mg、Zn,其中,Se含量范围为：2.48-4.15 mg/kg［均值：（3.32±0.73） mg/kg］,所采集样品硒含量为中国海虾硒含量的2-5倍。普通干燥的南极磷虾中其他矿质元素,如P的平均含量为 （14.31±0.45） mg/g,Mg为 （6.18±0.16） mg/g,Zn为（153.9±5.7） mg/kg,约为中国海虾中含量的１.5倍。此外,样品中砷含量为0.68-1.22 mg/kg,低于国标GB4810-94对海产品中砷的限量要求≤2.0 mg/kg（以无机砷计）。这些结果表明南极磷虾不仅可以作为提供硒及矿质元素的一个良好的食物来源,还可以用作饲料添加剂、食品添加剂的加工原材料。     

农田、退耕还湿地、天然草本沼泽土壤重金属和农药的分布及潜在生态风险评价——以抚远市乌苏镇东兴村为例

为了解三江平原农田、退耕还湿地、天然草本沼泽土壤中重金属含量和农药残留状况,以黑龙江省抚远市乌苏镇东兴村为研究区,采集农田、退耕还湿地和天然草本沼泽土壤样品,分析了这些土壤中重金属含量和农药残留量;采用潜在生态风险指数法和风险商值法,分别评价了土壤中的重金属潜在生态风险水平和农药残留潜在生态风险水平。研究结果表明,研究区土壤中As、Cd、Cr、Ni和Cu的平均含量都低于国家土壤环境质量二级标准(GB15618—1995);农田土壤中的As、Cd、Cr、Cu和Ni平均质量比分别为12.4 mg/kg、0.24 mg/kg、97.06mg/kg、24.08 mg/kg和36.46 mg/kg,退耕还湿地土壤中的Cr和Ni平均质量比为95.13 mg/kg和31.43 mg/kg。农田、退耕还湿地和天然草本沼泽土壤中的滴滴涕残留以4.4'—滴滴伊为主,其4.4'—滴滴伊平均残留质量比分别为6.13 ng/g、6.80 ng/g和4.47 ng/g;农田土壤中检测出阿特拉津平均残留质量比达到了79.32 ng/g;农田土壤中的Cd含量达到了中等潜在生态风险水平;农田、退耕还湿地和天然草本沼泽土壤中5种重金属综合潜在生态风险处于轻度潜在生态风险水平;农田土壤中残留的阿特拉津的污染风险商大于1,说明阿特拉津残留可能有潜在的生态风险。     

北京菜园潮土-小白菜系统中铬的毒性评价

通过盆栽实验,以北京潮土为供试材料,研究了土壤中添加0~50 mg·kg^-1铬 (VI)对小白菜(Brassica chinensis L.)生物量与铬含量、土壤微生物量碳含量、土壤微生物量氮含量以及土壤微生物呼吸速率的影响。结果表明,高铬浓度(添加量≥25 mg·kg^-1)处理下,小白菜植株中铬的总量相对于未添加铬的处理显著增加(P<0.01),且小白菜根部铬的含量要远大于叶片中的铬含量。相对于未添加铬的对照,小白菜叶片生物量在1 mg·kg^-1铬处理下显著增加,而高浓度铬(≥10 mg·kg^-1)显著地减少了小白菜叶片和根的生物量(P<0.01),减幅最高达到了78.2%,且50 mg·kg^-1铬处理下土壤微生物量碳、氮含量以及呼吸速率均要显著低于对照。小白菜叶片生物量与铬含量、土壤微生物量碳、土壤微生物量氮以及土壤微生物呼吸都能够作为生物指标来反映土壤铬污染程度。将这些指标与对应的土壤总铬含量拟合方程,按照作物减产、食品安全以及生态剂量概念可以计算得到北京潮土铬轻度污染临界浓度ED₁₀为70.8 mg·kg^-1,中度污染临界浓度ED₅₀为111.6 mg·kg^-1。     

中国公路交通的重金属排放及其对土地污染的初步估算

本文研究了全国各省市机动车Pb、Cu、Zn、Cd排放总量和公路两侧土壤中Pb含量的分布及其面积。结果表明,东部发达省份机动车的重金属排放量较西部地区大。使用含铅汽油的1990~1996年期间,北京市公路两侧土壤中Pb的年输入量为2.48~3.17 mg/ (kg · a)、累积量为11.4 mg/kg;1997~2003年使用无铅汽油后,两者分别下降到0.26~0.29 mg/(kg · a)和1.30 mg/kg。公路两侧的土壤中Pb含量随垂直距离的外延呈指数形式下降。公路交通对道路两侧土壤产生严重和轻度Pb污染的范围分别为距公路0~10 m和10~65 m。2003年北京市和全国受公路交通Pb污染的土地面积为2310 km²和28900 km²。公路交通的重金属排放是导致我国土地污染的重要原因之一。     

Organochlorine pesticide and metal residues in a cichlid fish, Tilapia, Sarotherodon (=Tilapia) alcalicus grahami Boulenger from Lake Nakuru, Kenya

29 specimens of a cichlid fishSarotherodon (=Tilapia) alcalicus grahami were collected from Lake Nakuru between September and October 1990 and samples of liver, kidney, muscle, brain and fat were removed for analysis of organochlorine pesticide and metal residues. Fat was extracted and the concentration of three lindane (BHC/HCH) isomers (alpha, beta andgamma), aldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, endrin, dieldrin, DDD, DDE and DDT was determined. Fish muscle samples were digested and the concentration of mercury, arsenic and cadmium was also determined. No residues of o,p¹-DDD, p,p¹-DDD, aldrin, endrin and dieldrin were detected. The highest residue concentration detected was 0.062 mg kg⁻¹ of p,p¹-DDT. The mean pesticide residue concentration levels were generally low. The [p,p¹-DDT]/[p,p¹-DDE] ratio of 1.22 indicated that the residues of the parent DDT compound exist in the Lake Nakuru ecosystem. There was a negative fish length: DDE concentration relationship. Similarly, there was a very weak negative relationship between arsenic concentration and length of fish. The concentrations of metal residues were considerably low. The median arsenic and cadmium concentrations were 0.03 mg kg⁻¹ and <0.1 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of mercury, with a median level of <0.01 mg kg⁻¹, were particulary low and did not approach a level that would give rise to public health concern. Metal and pesticide residue concentration in fish in 1970 and 1990 does not show a significant increase. From these results, Lake Nakuru is presently not exposed to heavy pesticide and metal contamination, but there is a gradual build-up of these residues in the biota.     

东莞市农田土壤和蔬菜重金属的含量特征分析

从东莞市采集118 个农田土壤样品和43 个蔬菜样品, 测试其中Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、Pb、 Cd、As 和Hg 等8 种重金属元素的含量, 并结合GIS 制图和数据统计, 对农田土壤中重金属 的空间分布和来源、土壤和蔬菜中重金属的富集特征及其潜在风险进行了分析。结果表明, 农田土壤中Cu、Zn、Ni、Pb、Cd 和Hg 等元素含量均高于相应元素的广东省土壤背景值, 其中, Pb (65.38 mg kg^-1) 和Hg (0.24 mg kg^-1) 含量分别为其对应背景值的1.82 和2.82 倍。与我国《土壤环境质量标准》中II 级标准(pH < 6.5) 相比, 土壤中Cu、Ni、Cd 和Hg 含量样本超标率分别为3.4%、5.9%、1.7%和28%, 表现为以Hg 为主的多种重金属共同污染。土壤 中8 种重金属中Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr 和As 等元素主要来源于成土母质, Pb、Hg 和Cd 等元素主要与人类活动有关。空间分布上, Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、Pb、As 和Hg 等7 种重金属含量呈现出西部高、东部低的特点, Cd 含量在西北部和东南部较高, 西南部较低。与《食品中污染物限量》(GB2762-2005) 等相关标准比较, 蔬菜中Ni、Pb 和As 含量的样本超标率分别为4.7%、16.3%和48.8%。蔬菜中重金属富集系数的顺序为: Cd > Zn > Cu > As > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb。     

东莞市农田土壤和蔬菜重金属含量分析(英文)

A total of 118 of agricultural soil and 43 of vegetable samples were collected from Dongguan City,Guangdong,China. The spatial distribution,sources,accumulation charac-teristics and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were de-picted in details by three different approaches,including total contents of eight metal ele-ments in soils and vegetables,GIS maps and multivariate analysis of heavy metals in soils in the study. The results show that there are higher accumulation of heavy metals such as Cu,Zn,Ni,Pb,Cd and Hg in agricultural soils,and the contents of Pb (65.38 mg kg-1) and Hg (0.24 mg kg-1) are 1.82 and 2.82 times of the background contents of the corresponding heavy metals in soils of Guangdong Province,respectively. There are about 3.4% of Cu,5.9% of Ni,1.7% of Cd and 28% of Hg in all collected soil samples from all investigated sites which have overran the contents for heavy metals of the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995,Grade Ⅱ ). The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly reflected by Hg. There are different sources to eight metal elements in soils,Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr and As are predominantly derived from parent materials,and Pb,Hg and Cd are affected by anthropogenic activities. The spatial distribution shows that the Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr,Pb,As and Hg contents of agricultural soils are high in the west and low in the east,and Cd contents are high in the northwest,southeast and low in the southwest in Dongguan. The ratios of vegetable samples which Ni,Pb and As concentrations higher than the Maximum Levels of Con-taminants in Foods (GB2762-2005) are 4.7%,16.3% and 48.8%,respectively. The order of bio-concentration factors (BCF) of heavy metals in vegetables is Cd Zn Cu As Ni Hg Cr Pb. It is necessary to focus on potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and hu-man's health from agricultural soils and vegetables in Dongguan City,Guangdong Province.     

Heavy metal pollution of soils and vegetables in the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River, Hunan Province

A total of 219 agricultural soil and 48 vegetable samples were collected from the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River (the Hengyang–Changsha section) in Hunan Province. The accumulation characteristics, spatial distribution and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were depicted. There are higher accu-mulations of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in agricultural soils, and the contents of Cd (2.44 mg kg-1), Pb (65.00 mg kg-1) and Zn (144.13 mg kg-1) are 7.97, 3.69 and 1.63 times the corresponding background contents in soils of Hunan Province, respectively. 13.2% of As, 68.5% of Cd, 2.7% of Cu, 2.7% of Ni, 8.7% of Pb and 15.1% of Zn in soil sam-ples from the investigated sites exceeded the maximum allowable heavy metal contents in the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995, Grade II). The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly due to Cd. The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in vegetable soils are significantly higher than the contents in paddy soils. 95.8%, 68.8%, 10.4% and 95.8% of vegetable samples exceeded the Maximum Levels of Contami-nants in Foods (GB2762-2005) for As, Cd, Ni and Pb concentrations, respectively. There are significantly positive correlations between the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in vegetables and the concentrations in the corresponding vegetable soils (p<0.01). It is very necessary to focus on the potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and human health in agricultural soils and vegetables in the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River, Hunan Province of China.     

湘江中下游农田土壤和蔬菜的重金属污染

A total of 219 agricultural soil and 48 vegetable samples were collected from the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River（the Hengyang-Changsha section）in Hunan Province.The accumulation characteristics,spatial distribution and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were depicted.There are higher accumulations of heavy metals such as As,Cd,Cu,Ni,Pb and Zn in agricultural soils,and the contents of Cd（2.44 mg kg^-1 ）,Pb（65.00 mg kg^-1 ）and Zn（144.13 mg kg^-1 ）are 7.97,3.69 and 1.63 times the corresponding background contents in soils of Hunan Province,respectively. 13.2%of As,68.5%of Cd,2.7%of Cu,2.7%of Ni,8.7%of Pb and 15.1%of Zn in soil samples from the investigated sites exceeded the maximum allowable heavy metal contents in the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils（GB15618-1995,Grade Ⅱ）.The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly due to Cd.The contents of As,Cd,Cu,Pb and Zn in vegetable soils are significantly higher than the contents in paddy soils.95.8%, 68.8%,10.4%and 95.8%of vegetable samples exceeded the Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods（GB2762-2005）for As,Cd,Ni and Pb concentrations,respectively.There are significantly positive correlations between the concentrations of Cd,Pb and Zn in vegetables and the concentrations in the corresponding vegetable soils（p〈0.01）.It is very necessary to focus on the potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and human health in agricultural soils and vegetables in the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River,Hunan Province of China.     

Water-quality trends in White Rock Creek Basin from 1912-1994 identified using sediment cores from White Rock Lake reservoir, Dallas, Texas

Historical trends in selected water-quality variables from 1912 to 1994 in White Rock Creek Basin were identified by dated sediment cores from White Rock Lake. White Rock Lake is a 4.4-km² reservoir filled in 1912 and located on the north side of Dallas, Texas, with a drainage area of 259 km². Agriculture dominated land use in White Rock Creek Basin before about 1950. By 1990, 72% of the basin was urban. Sediment cores were dated using cesium-137 and core lithology. Major element concentrations changed, and sedimentation rates and percentage of clay-sized particles in sediments decreased beginning in about 1952 in response to the change in land use. Lead concentrations, normalized with respect to aluminum, were six times larger in sediment deposited in about 1978 than in pre-1952 sediment. Following the introduction of unleaded gasoline in the 1970s, normalized lead concentrations in sediment declined and stabilized at about two and one-half times the pre-1952 level. Normalized zinc and arsenic concentrations increased 66 and 76%, respectively, from before 1952 to 1994. No organochlorine compounds were detected in sediments deposited prior to about 1940. Concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB) and DDE (a metabolite of DDT) increased rapidly beginning in the 1940s and peaked in the 1960s at 21 and 20 µg kg^-1, respectively, which is coincident with their peak use in the United States. Concentrations of both declined about an order of magnitude from the 1960s to the 1990s to 3.0 and 2.0 µg kg^-1, respectively. Chlordane and dieldrin concentrations increased during the 1970s and 1980s. The largest chlordane concentration was 8.0 µg kg^-1 and occurred in a sediment sample deposited in about 1990. The largest dieldrin concentration was 0.7 µg kg^-1 and occurred in the most recent sample deposited in the early 1990s. Agricultural use of chlordane and dieldrin was restricted in the 1970s; however, both were used as termiticides, and urban use of chlordane continued at least until 1990. Recent use of dieldrin and aldrin, which degrades to dieldrin, has not been reported; however, increasing trends in dieldrin since the 1970s suggest recent urban use could have occurred.     

Arsenic contamination of lake sediments in Florida: evidence of herbicide mobility from watershed soils

Organic arsenical herbicides, which include monosodium methylarsonate (MSMA), have been applied to golf courses and lawns throughout Florida, USA, since the 1950s. These products convert rapidly to inorganic forms of arsenic (As) in soils and are mobilized readily. Leachates have been known to contaminate groundwater and surface waters, although past studies have not examined whether use of these products has led to significant As accumulation in lake sediments. We used paleolimnological methods to document the depositional history and inventories of total As in sediments and porewaters of Little Lake Jackson in Florida, which is adjacent to three golf courses. Six sediment cores, four of which were ²¹⁰Pb dated, showed porewater total As concentrations as high as 435 μg l⁻¹, and dry-sediment total As concentrations as high as 148 mg kg⁻¹. Approximately 537 kg of total As is present in >19,000 metric tons of sediment (dry mass), and an additional 18 kg of As is dissolved in 10.8 × 10⁴ m³ of porewaters. Total As content in surface sediments (mean = 47.3 mg kg⁻¹) exceeds the consensus-based sedimentary concentration for probable toxicity effects in freshwater benthic fauna. Surface and subsurface waters flow to the lake from topographically higher areas to the west, where golf courses and residential areas are located. Total As concentrations were elevated highly in monitoring wells and in a stream that flows between the golf courses and lake, but As was below detection limits in wells that were located at the distal perimeter of the golf courses. Subsurface and surface waters exit the lake towards topographically lower areas to the east. Nearly all As in sediments remains bound in the solid phase, indicating that As sedimentary profiles largely reflect depositional history. Sedimentary As concentrations are correlated strongly with aluminum and iron, which suggests that As was scavenged from lake waters during the past. Sedimentary As concentrations increased until the 1980s, then declined somewhat to the present time. Dissolved As was scavenged efficiently from the water column when hypolimnetic waters were oxygenated persistently, but after eutrophication led to a seasonally anoxic hypolimnion in the 1980s, apparently less As was co-precipitated, and more was lost to hydrological outflow. Arsenic accumulation in sediments might be common in areas where As derived from organic arsenical herbicide applications is directed by shallow water tables towards adjacent lakes.