Heavy metals contamination in water and sediments of an urban river in a developing country

Water and sediment samples were collected from 20 location of the Buriganga river of Bangladesh during Summer and Winter 2009 to determine the spatial distribution, seasonal and temporal variation of different heavy metal contents. Sequential extraction procedure was employed in sediment samples for the geochemical partitioning of the metals. Total trace metal content in water and sediment samples were analyzed and compared with different standard and reference values. Concentration of total chromium, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt and arsenic in water samples were greatly exceeded the toxicity reference values in both season. Concentration of chromium, lead, copper and nickel in sediment samples were mostly higher than that of severe effect level values, at which the sediment is considered heavily polluted. On average 72 % chromium, 92 % lead, 88 % zinc, 73 % copper, 63 % nickel and 68 % of total cobalt were associated with the first three labile sequential extraction phases, which portion is readily bioavailable and might be associated with frequent negative biological effects. Enrichment factor values demonstrated that the lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium and copper in most of the sediment samples were enriched sever to very severely. The pollution load index value for the total area was as high as 21.1 in Summer and 24.6 in Winter season; while values above one indicates progressive deterioration of the sites and estuarine quality. The extent of heavy metals pollution in the Buriganga river system implies that the condition is much frightening and may severely affect the aquatic ecology of the river.     

Geochemical and statistical approach for evaluation of heavy metal pollution in core sediments in southeast coast of India

Industrialization coupled with urbanizaton has led to stress in the Buckingham Canal which runs parallel to Bay of Bengal at a distance of around 1 km from the coastline. 4 sediment cores were collected along Ennore — Pulicat stretch to determine acid leachable trace metal concentration. Core samples were collected using gravity corer. The cores were sliced horizontally at 2.5 cm to determine the grain size, sediment composition, pH, organic matter, calcium carbonate, acid leachable trace metals; cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, zinc. The trace metals were extracted using acid mixture containing hydro fluoric acid, nitric acid and sulphuric acid and analysed by atomic emission spectrophotometer. In an attempt to infer anthropogenic input from geogenic input, several approaches including comparison with sediment quality guidelines — ecotoxicological sense of heavy metal contamination and classification by quantitative indexes such as geoaccumalation index, anthropogenic factor, enrichment factor, contamination factor and degree and pollution load index was attempted. Grain size analysis and sediment composition of core samples shows Ennore is sandy in nature having a neutral pH. Organic matter enrichment is observed to a higher extent in core 3. Core 2 at a depth of 5 cm shows organic matter of 9.4 %. calcium carbonate is totally absent at the surface sediments in core 2. Cores collected within the canal showed a higher heavy metal concentration than the cores collected from Pulicat lagoon and 2 km into the Ennore Sea. The trace metal concentration for cadmium, lead and zinc in Ennore does not pose a threat to the sediment dwelling fauna whereas chromium and copper are likely to pose a threat. Quantitative indexes place Ennore under moderately polluted. Ennore is likely to face a serious threat of metal pollution with the present deposition rates unless stringent pollution control norms are adopted.     

Association of trace metals with various sedimentary phases in dam reservoirs

In the present study sediment and water samples collected from Kowsar Dam reservoir in Kohkiluye and Boyerahmad Province, southwest of Iran, are subjected to bulk digestion and chemical partitioning. The concentrations of nickel, lead, zinc, copper, cobalt, cadmium, manganese and iron in water and bed sediment were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of metals bounded to five sedimentary phases were estimated. On this basis, the proportions of natural and anthropogenic elements were calculated.The anthropogenic portion of elements are as follows: zinc (96 %)> cobalt (88 %)> iron (78 %)> magnesium (78 %)> nickel (78 %)> copper (66 %)> lead (63 %)> cadmium (59 %). The results show sediment contamination by nickel, cadmium and lead, according to the world aquatic sediments and mean earth crust values. Manganese and copper have strong association with organic matter and are of high portion of sulfide bounded ions. Finally, The degree of sediment contamination was evaluated using enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and pollution index (IPoll). The sediments were identified to be of high cadmium and lead pollution index. The pattern of pollution intensity according to enrichment factor is as follows; manganese (1.25) < copper (1.63) < zinc (1.93) < cobalt (2.35) < nickel (3.83) < lead (12.63) < cadmium (78.32). Cluster analysis was performed in order to assess heavy metal interactions between water and sediment. Accordingly, nickel, cadmium and copper are earth originated. Zinc, copper and manganese are dominated by pH. All the elemental concentrations in water and sediment are correlated except for sedimental copper.     

An investigation into the heavy metal burden of Akkulam–Veli Lake in south India

The heavy metal burden of Akkulam–Veli Lake, a shallow lake in southern part of India, is investigated through the analysis of surface sediments. The average concentrations of heavy metals such as lead, chromium, nickel, copper, zinc, cobalt, iron, and manganese were determined at selected stations. The degree of contamination of selected stations was evaluated using indices such as enrichment factor, contamination factor, and pollution load index and compared with sediment quality guidelines. Statistical analysis is carried out by correlation analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis to identify relatively homogeneous groups of cases. The results of this study indicate severe contamination at most of the stations selected. The degree of contamination of the lake could be rated as ‘moderate’ to ‘strong’. The average pollution load index shows progressive deterioration of sediment quality indicating ‘risk’ on the aquatic environment and ecosystems of the lake.     

Geochemical distribution of trace metal pollutants in water and sediments of downstream of an urban river

A study was conducted to investigate the trace metal pollution of water and sediments of downstream of Tsurumi River, Yokohama, Japan. Twenty samples of water and sediments were collected from the river starting from Tokyo bay side up to the junction point of the Yagami River. Results show that the mean concentrations of chromium, cupper and nickel in water greatly exceed (>100 times) the surface water standard. The concentration of molybdenum and lead was also higher than standard values while iron and manganese was lower than that of surface water standard. The mean concentration of zinc, cupper, cadmium, lead, chromium, vanadium, bromine and iodine was 381.1, 133.0, 1.0, 40.8, 102.9, 162.0, 71.5 and 10.6 μg/g sediments, respectively and was greatly exceed the average worldwide shale concentrations and average Japanese river sediment values. However, mean concentration of arsenic, nickel and strontium was 11.0, 36.6 and 164.6 μg/g sediments, respectively which was lower than the average shale value. Other analyzed trace metals, including barium, zirconium, rubidium, yttrium, tin, antimony, cesium, lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium were detected in river sediments; the concentration of which was close to the Japan’s river sediment average values. Pollution load index values of the sites of the studied area ranged from 1.24 to 7.65 which testify that the river sediments are polluted. The PLI value of the area was, however, high (6.53) as the concentration of trace metals like zinc, cupper, cadmium, lead and chromium were very high and were the major pollutants.     

Heavy metal contamination and its indexing approach for river water

The objective of the study is to reveal the seasonal variations in the river water quality with respect to heavy metals contamination. To get the extend of trace metals contamination, water samples were collected from twelve different locations along the course of the river and its tributaries on summer and the winter seasons. The concentrations of trace metals such as cadmium, cromium, copper, cobalt, iron, manganese, nickel, lead, mercury and zinc were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Most of the samples were found within limit of Indian drinking water standard (IS: 10500). The data generated were used to calculate the heavy metal pollution index of river water. The mean values of HPI were 36.19 in summer and 32.37 for winter seasons and these values are well below the critical index limit of 100 because of the sufficient flow in river system. Mercury and chromium could not be traced in any of the samples in the study area.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution in the urban stream sediments and its tributaries

Globally, aquatic ecosystems are highly polluted with heavy metals arising from anthropogenic and terrigenous sources. The objective of this study was to investigate the pollution of stream sediments and possible sources of pollutants in Nakivubo Channel Kampala, Uganda. Stream sediments were collected and analysed for heavy metal concentration using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The degree of pollution in Nakivubo channelized stream sediments for lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, manganese and iron was assessed using enrichment factor, geo-accumulation index and pollution load index. The results indicated that (1) the sediments have been polluted with lead, cadmium and zinc and have high anthropogenic influences; (2) the calculation of geo-accumulation index suggest that Nakivubo stream sediments have background concentration for copper, manganese and Fe (I _geo ≤ 0); (3) factor analysis results reveal three sources of pollutants as explained by three factors (75.0 %); (i) mixed origin or retention phenomena of industrial and vehicular emissions; (ii) terrigenous and (iii) dual origin of zinc (vehicular and industrial). In conclusion, the co-precipitation (inclusion, occlusion and adsorption) of lead, cadmium and zinc with manganese and iron hydroxides, scavenging ability of other metals, very low dissolved oxygen and slightly acidic to slightly alkaline pH in stream water could account for the active accumulation of heavy metals in Nakivubo stream sediments. These phenomena may pose a risk of secondary water pollution under sediment disturbance and/or changes in the geo-chemistry of sediments.     

Characterization of stabilized waste: Evaluation of pollution risk

This study relates to the characterization of stabilized waste. Various parameters such as granulometric distribution, percentage of mineral and organic matter were estimated to appreciate environmental hazard potential and possibility of metal leaching of the samples of waste from Grange site in France. From the results, it was shown that the granulometric distribution was variable. Therefore, a strong proportion of fines (44.6 %) and medium (45.9 %) was observed due to the age of waste that supports the degradation of a great quantity of organic matter. That was confirmed by the strong mineral matter rate (63.8 %) obtained to determine the organic percentage of matter (36.2 %). The amount of heavy metals such as iron, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium and lead was also studied. The results obtained were in a good agreement with the ones of the literature. Indeed, it appeared that iron, lead, copper, nickel and zinc are in relative strong proportion while cadmium was not very present. Iron represents 78 % of the metals. From the leaching tests, it was shown that the heavy metals concentration were very weak. Moreover, the deposit of studied waste could be a potential source of organic pollution (COD = 150 Mg C/L on average) in the case of precipitation and flood.     

基于多元统计和傅立叶和谱分析的土壤重金属的来源解析及其风险评价

分析珠江三角洲腹地佛山顺德区208个蔬菜地表层土样Cu、Ni、Cr、As、Pb、Zn、Cd和Hg等8种重金属的全量,结果表明,8种重金属的平均浓度高于广东省土壤背景值。Cd和Hg的最高浓度和变异系数分别为6.54mg/kg、115%和4.82mg/kg、151%,暗示Cd和Hg的人为来源。多元统计与傅立叶和谱分析的结合,解释了Cr、Ni和Cu的自然来源,Pb、Zn、As、Cd和Hg的人为来源;傅立叶和谱分析进一步阐释了Zn与Cu的双重来源,并推断土壤Hg来源于大气沉降。研究区内大约21.7%的土壤受重金属污染,表明需要调整该区的农业生产活动。     

Trace metals in surface seawaters and sediments from various habitats of the Red Sea coast of Yemen

The purpose of this study was to determine and assess the concentrations of trace metals in surface seawaters and sediments from different coastal habitats of the Red Sea coast of Yemen. Surface seawater and sediment samples were collected, treated and analyzed for cadmium, cobalt, manganese, chromium, lead, iron, nickel, copper, zinc and vanadium by the atomic absorption spectrometric analysis. The concentrations were high for cadmium, cobalt and lead and low or consistent with the natural background concentrations for the rest of the metals. However, the coastal habitats of the Red Sea coast of Yemen are still considered unpolluted, it is concluded that the cadmium cobalt and lead levels in surface seawaters are high and could have negative effects on marine life of the sites. Further studies are needed to characterize the sources fate, biogeochemical processes and impacts of these trace metals on coastal habitats and marine life of the region.     

基于分式析因及最佳子集回归的多种污染物复合污染特征——阿特拉津与多种污染物在松花江沉积物上的吸附效应

为揭示农药（晶体乐果、甲霜灵、阿特拉津、马拉硫磷、扑草净）与重金属（铜、锌、铅、镉、镍）10种污染物共存时的复合污染规律,以阿特拉津为目标污染物,采用分辨度为Ⅲ的2^10-6分式析因实验设计,并用完全折叠实验和区组设计进行辅助,通过多元线性回归的建模方法筛选并建立了以阿特拉津为因变量、10种污染物因子主效应和二阶交互效应为自变量的多元线性回归吸附模型。研究表明：共存体系中因子主效应项铅、铜、锌、镉、镍和农药晶体乐果显著抑制（显著性水平α=0.05）阿特拉津在沉积物上的吸附,与阿特拉津产生竞争吸附效应,因重金属主效应产生的拮抗作用占总拮抗作用的63.5%,其拮抗作用从大到小为镍、镉、晶体乐果、锌、铅、铜;在以镍为关键自变量的二阶交互效应项中,因二阶交互效应项产生的协同或拮抗作用占阿特拉津吸附能力的35.3%,其中,铅、镉和晶体乐果抑制镍与阿特拉津的竞争吸附,与阿特拉津在沉积物上的吸附发生协同作用,协同作用从大到小为镉×镍、铅×镍、镍×晶体乐果;而镍作为调节自变量的二阶交互效应项镍阿特拉津会促进阿特拉津的吸附,说明多种污染物共存体系中重金属镍对阿特拉津在沉积物上吸附影响作用的复杂性和重要性。     

Assessment of Metals Concentration and Ecotoxicology of the Sediment Core of Rehri Creek, Karachi Coast, Pakistan

Trace metal concentrations were investigated in a recent sediment core collected from the Rehri Creek area of the Karachi coast,Sindh-Pakistan.The core was sliced horizontally at 2.5-cm intervals to determine grain size,sediment composition,pH,organic matter,and acid-leachable trace metals:cadmium,chromium,copper,lead,and zinc.The trace metals were analyzed by ICP.To separate anthropogenic from geogenic input,several approaches were made,including comparison with sediment quality guidelines—ecotoxicological sense of heavy metal contamination and classification by quantitative indexes.Grain-size analysis and sediment composition of core sample show a sandy nature with neutral pH.Elemental sequence(ES)of the trace metals is in the order of Zn(19.2-109.56 ppm)>Si(66.46-101.71 ppm)>Ba(12.05-26.86 ppm)>As(8.18-17.36 ppm)>Ni(4.2-14.69 ppm)>Cr(3.02-9.62 ppm)>Pb(2.79-6.83 ppm)>Cu(2.2-5.29 ppm)>Co(0.9-2.05 ppm).Thus it is likely that the area may face a serious threat of metal pollution with the present deposition rates unless stringent pollution control norms are adopted.The Sediment Geo-accumulation Index shows that there is no Cr,Cu,Ni,Pb,Zn,or Fe pollution;however,the former index and the Pollution Load Index indicate arsenic pollution in the sediments.     

High-resolution profiles of iron, manganese, cobalt, cadmium, copper and zinc in the pore water of estuarine sediment

The remobilization of iron, manganese, cobalt, cadmium, copper and zinc in the pore water of estuarine sediment cores at Yingkou was assessed using diffusive equilibrium in thin films and diffusive gradients in thin films techniques. A relatively anoxic system (+33.7 to ?224.1 mV) in the sediment cores might cause the reductive release of iron, manganese and cobalt into pore water from the estuarine sediment. High-average concentrations of iron (47.85 μg ml^?1) and manganese (3.81 μg ml^?1) were observed using diffusive equilibrium in thin films on the sediment core, but the concentration of cobalt (18.02 ng ml^?1) was relatively low. A strong correlation between iron and cobalt was observed based on the vertical profiles of the metals. Manganese and iron were more readily released from the solid phase to the solution. The peak cobalt, copper and zinc concentrations were observed in the upper layer (2–4 cm) measured using diffusive gradients in thin films. However, the peak iron, manganese and cobalt concentrations were located in the deeper layer (≥7 cm). In addition, the concentration profiles measured using diffusive gradients in thin films of cobalt, copper and zinc were independent of the iron, manganese and cobalt distribution with respect to depth.     

Comparative analysis of heavy metal concentration in secondary treated wastewater irrigated soils cultivated by different crops

The use of treated urban wastewater for irrigation is a relatively recent innovation in Botswana and knowledge is still limited on its impact on soil heavy metal levels. The aim of this study is to analyze and compare heavy metal concentration in secondary wastewater irrigated soils being cultivated to different crops: olive, maize, spinach and tomato in the Glen Valley near Gaborone City, Botswana. The studied crop plots have been cultivated continuously under treated wastewater irrigation for at least 3 years. Most crop farms have sandy loam, loamy sand soils. Based on food and agriculture organization, heavy metal threshold values for crop production have been studied. Results showed that the wastewater irrigated soils in the Glen Valley have higher cadmium, nickel and copper than desirable levels, while the levels of mercury, lead and zinc are lower than the maximum threshold values recommended for crop production. The control sites show that the soils are naturally high in some of these heavy metals (e.g copper, zinc, nickel) and that crop cultivation under wastewater irrigation has actually lowered the heavy metal content. Comparing between the crops, mercury and cadmium levels are highest in soils under maize and decline linearly from maize to spinach to olive to tomato and control site. By contrast, concentrations of the other metals are at their lowest in maize and then increase from maize to spinach to olive to tomato and to control site.     

Use of Siam weed biomarker in assessing heavy metal contaminations in traffic and solid waste polluted areas

The ability of Chromolaena odorata to accumulate and serve as biomarker to lead and cadmium metals pollution load had been revealed by this study. Samples of soils and Siam weed were collected to assess impacts of solid waste disposal and traffic density on the environment. Composite sample were collected from a solid waste dumpsite, three traffic polluted areas with varying traffic density and a background site distant from traffic. Concentration of eight elements: cadmium, cobalt, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc were determined in soil and plant samples and correlated together. Accumulative factors like pollution load index, transfer factor, contamination factor, enrichment factor were calculated for the metals in both plants and soils and used as basis for interpreting the state of the environment and ability of C. odorata to accumulate metals. The accumulative factors of plants were generally greater than that of soil samples indicating increased accumulative capacity of the plant. The accumulations of lead and cadmium in C. odorata were remarkable with contamination factor 10.51 and 23.50, respectively and mean enrichment factors 3.52 and 6.93, respectively. Other metals had lower accumulative factors. The distribution of metals and calculated factors placed solid waste disposal site as the most polluted site while the trend observed in areas with traffic pollution depicts the ability of C. odorata to clean up metal pollution by accumulating them. It can therefore be suggested that solid waste disposal negatively affects the environment more than traffic pollution subject to the volume of traffic.     

Evaluation of impact of industrial effluents on intertidal sediments of a creek

A large amount of material in the form of industrial effluents and urban sewage containing metal contaminants directly enters Dudh creek. Metals on entering the creek tend to settle at the bottom and become part of the sediments. The distribution of metals with depth reflects changes in their supply as well as diagenetic modifications with time. In the present study, an attempt has been made to understand the impact of waste discharged from Tarapur Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation on Dudh creek. Two cores were collected, one close to the creek mouth and the other in the inner part of the creek. Sediment component, organic carbon and metal (vanadium, copper, nickel, lead, zinc, manganese, iron and aluminium) analyses were carried out on the two cores. The variation in the distribution of sediment components with depth reflects changes in hydrodynamic condition of the creek over the years. Increase in concentration of most of the metals in the upper part of the cores indicates additional input in recent years. The core collected in the inner part of the creek showed higher metal and organic carbon concentration as compared to the downstream core. This was very well supported by distribution of points on an isocon plot. Enrichment factor and index of geoaccumulation were used to find the extent of pollution in sediments of the creek. Correlation and R-mode factor analysis have also been computed to understand the association and source of metal input in sediments of Dudh creek.     

Urbanization impact on metals mobility in riverine suspended sediment: Role of metal oxides

Spatial and temporal fractionation of trace metals and major elements in suspended particulate matter in the Seine River was investigated to study the impact of the increasing urbanization in the Greater Paris Region. Suspended sediments in the Seine River were collected between December 2008 to August 2009 upstream and downstream of Paris. They were subjected to total digestion and sequential extraction procedure certified by the Bureau Communautaire de Référence and trace metals along with major elements were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. Metal enrichment factors increased up to eight folds after the Seine River downstream of the Greater Paris Region showing a significant contribution of urbanization. Enrichment of copper, lead and zinc downstream of Paris are followed by the increase of their reducible fraction of at least 10% implicating an increase in metals associated with iron oxides. The exchangeable fraction, which includes the carbonate-associated metals, is only significant for cadmium, nickel and zinc (more than 2 %) while the oxidisable fraction accounts for less than 20 % for the anthropogenic metals downstream except for copper. The metals can be divided to (a) “reducible” group including cadmium, lead, and zinc, associated with more than 60 % of the total Bureau Communautaire de Référence extractable metals to the reducible fraction containing mostly iron oxide phases for the downstream sites. (b) A “distributed” group including chromium, copper, and nickel that are associated to at least 3 different phase-groups: (1) oxides, (2) organic matter and sulphides and (3) mineral phases.     

Mercury contribution to an adirondack lake

Elevated copper, lead, and zinc concentrations in the upper 10 to 20 cm of sediment sampled from Cranberry Lake, a large Adirondack lake, are attributed to atmospheric contributions. Pb-210 and pollen core data, however, suggest Cranberry Lake also received mercury discharges during the turn of the century when the area was the center of extensive lumbering and related activities. Elevated mercury concentrations in Cranberry Lake smallmouth bass derived from remobilization from mercury-contaminated bottom sediments which increased the bioavailability to Cranberry Lake organisms. Mercury remobilization and accumulation by fish are promoted by fluctuating pH values resulting from acid precipilation.     

Mathematical models to predict soil heavy metal toxicity in the 2012 Olympic site

Heavy metal concentrations in samples collected from the London 2012 Olympic Village were determined using a three-step sequential extraction and a rapid extraction method. Metal toxicity was measured by employing the Microtox^? solid phase analysis. Both extraction methods produced comparable results (p?=?0.996), but the rapid method produced higher readings. A number of heavy metals were detected using the two extraction methods, including aluminum, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, nickel, lead and zinc; beryllium, molybdenum, niobium and titanium were also found in low concentration ranging between 0.16 and 27.10?mg/kg in the total acid digestion. The total metal levels in all the soil samples were within the UK Soil Guideline Value (SGV) except for lead which ranged between 62.9 and 776.2?mg/kg. The 30?min EC₅₀ of different soil fractions was 2?C5.8?g/L. In the absence of any of heavy metals in the SGV, the Dutch Guideline values were referred. Mathematical models for a number of metals were generated based on the changes in EC₅₀ values between each (F1, F2 and F3) soil fractions and the initial toxicity in the non-fractionated samples. The resulting models produced good R² values (>96%) for predicting the change in toxicity of lead, cadmium, zinc and copper by measuring their changes in concentrations. These models could substantially reduce the time requires to determine the toxicity in the samples; they would be a useful tool in the clean up process where monitoring of metal toxicity is required.     

The “Sea Diamond” shipwreck: environmental impact assessment in the water column and sediments of the wreck area

In the “Sea Diamond” shipwreck, it is estimated that almost 1.7 tons of batteries/accumulators and approximately 150 cathode ray tube technology televisions have gone to the bottom of the sea. Under these circumstances, all the aforementioned materials will eventually undergo severe accelerated corrosion. Consequently, a variety of heavy metals will either be released in seawater or precipitate in the form of salts resulting in contamination of the sea sediments. According to the ship data, and the aforementioned quantities of batteries and televisions, it is estimated that approximately 75–80 g of mercury, 630–1,050 g of cadmium and 1.14–1.26 tons of lead exist in the wreck only due to the electrical and electronic equipment present in the ship, not to mention the significant amount of heavy metals such as copper, nickel, ferrous and chromium that exist in the hulk. Four series of seawater sampling (n = 85) were conducted in different stations surrounding the wreck area in order to assess the overall impact from the release of heavy metals in the surrounding aquatic environment. The analysis indicated that there were stations where lead, zinc and cadmium were present in concentrations higher than the permissible limits set by the Unites States Environmental Protection Agency for seawater. Furthermore, the analysis of three series of sediment sampling (n = 31) from the wreck area showed elevated but expected concentration values for ferrous and manganese, considering the geological background of the area and contamination with lead, copper and cadmium.