Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Intertidal Gastropod Nerita lineata and Their Relationships to Those in Its Habitats： A Case Study in Dumai Coastal Waters

Concentrations of heavy metals in the intertidal gastropod Nerita lineata collected from 4 sampling stations in the intertidal zone of Dumai coastal waters have been analyzed and correlated with the respective metal concentrations in their habitat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the possible relationships between heavy metal concentrations in the N.lineata with metal concentrations in their habitat, which include seawater, algal mat, suspended particulate matter, and surface sediment. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations in the sediment, N.lineata, suspended particulate matter, algal mat and surface seawater were found to be higher in stations closed to Dumai city center which has more industrial and anthropogenic activities. The mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Fe in the N.lineata collected from Dumai intertidal area were 4.14 μg/g, 5.90 μg/g, 44.43 μg/g, 3.74 μg/g, 20.73 μg/g, 24.91 μg/g in shell; 4.16 μg/g, 7.31 μg/g, 51.78 μg/g, 17.63 μg/g, 23.52 μg/g, 30.60 μg/g in operculum and 0.71 μg/g, 15.09 μg/g, 9.41 μg/g, 94.42 μg/g, 5.10 μg/g, 398.24 μg/g dry weight in the total soft tissue, respectively. Cd, Pb and Ni concentrations of parts of the N.lineata were in the order: that of operculum>shell>soft tissue whilst Cu, Zn and Fe concentrations of parts of the N.lineata in the order: that of soft tissue>operculum>shell. This suggested that N.lineata could be used as biomonitoring agent for Cu, Zn and Fe (soft tissues) and for Cd, Pb and Ni (operculum). However, the shell had significant correlations (P<0.05) with metal concentrations in the sediment, algal mat, suspended particulate matter and seawater. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) values of the shell also revealed greater capacity for non-essential metals bioaccumulation from all environmental phases. This might suggest that the shell of N.lineata could be better used as biomonitoring agent for heavy metal pollution.     

Spatial Distribution and Anthropogenic Assessment of Heavy Metals in the Surface Sediments of Klang River

The study was conducted to quantify the concentration and distribution of metals (Cd, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb, and Fe) in the surface sediments and to assess the status of metal contaminations in the Klang River, Malaysia. The concentrations of metals (μg∕g, Fe%, dry weight) were as follows: 0.57-2.19 μg∕g Cd; 31.89-272.33 μg∕g Zn; 5.96-24.47 μg∕g Ni; 10.57-52.87 μg∕g Cu; 24.23-64.11 μg∕g Pb and 1.56%-3.03% Fe. Sequential extraction technique (SET) showed that mean anthropogenic portions of metals were in the order of Zn (60.22%), Cu (56.01%), Cd (45.63%), Ni (42.08%), Pb (33.22%) and Fe (10.26%). The highest concentrations of metals ( p<0.05) were found in the stations located close to industrial parks and highly populated areas. The results of the present study showed that the effectiveness of total organic carbon (TOC) contents in controlling the distribution and enrichment of metals was a more important factor compared to grain size. The study also indicated that the control of metals pollution from direct influx of domestic wastes and insufficiently treated industrial wastes in the Klang River was an important and desirable way to minimize the detrimental effects of metals.     

Heavy metal concentrations in surficial sediments from Wadi El Natrun saline lakes, Egypt

Heavy metal concentrations of Wadi El Natrun saline lakes were investigated. Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe and Al were measured in surficial sediments. The heavy metal concentrations largely indicate the influence of weathering of terrigenous sources on land. In comparison with the average in sedimentary rocks, the concentrations of the heavy metals studied are higher than the global average sandstone. This is also reflected in the high enrichment factors. The heavy metal concentration in lakes II and III decrease in the order Pb > Zn > Cu, while in lake I the decreasing order is Cu > Zn > Pb. Sediments with microbial mats were found to concentrate heavy metals above background sediment values.     

青海湖流域沙柳河下游沉积物中重金属污染风险评价

对青海湖流域沙柳河下游沉积物中As、Cd、Pb、V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu和Zn 9种重金属元素的含量进行了分析测定,采用污染系数、富集系数、地累积指数和潜在生态危害指数评估了其污染程度。结果表明：无论在横向还是纵向上,重金属元素含量均低于青海湖土壤背景值;重金属元素污染系数和富集系数均小于2,且大多数样品的值低于1（高于1者多为Cd、Cu、Ni、Zn,且具高值）;地累积指数均为负值（除QB-19中Cd和Cu分别为0.10和0.02）;潜在生态风险因子大多低于30,潜在生态危害指数大多低于70。沙柳河下游沉积物尚未出现重金属污染,具有低的生态风险,但该流域重金属的人为排放确实存在（主要是Cd、Cu、Ni、Zn等）,而且在近代排放更为显著。     

HEAVY METAL POLLUTION IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS COLLECTED FROM DRAINAGES RECEIVING DIFFERENT ANTHROPOGENIC SOURCES FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Surface drainage sediments were collected, between January and April in 2005, from 6 sampling sites in Peninsular Malaysia suspected to have received different anthropogenic sources. These drainages included sites near a petrochemical plant, an electronic factory, a metal factory and 2 townships in addition to a relatively unpolluted site (a reference site). Based on the aqua-regia method, the metal concentrations for all the sampling sites except for the agricultural site (reference site) at Sg. Benut were between 60.92-1 019 μg/g dry weight for copper (Cu), 65.32-1 266.6μg/g dry weight for plumbum (Pb), 1.46-15.93 μg/g dry weight for cadmium (Cd), 330.10-484.14 μg/g dry weight for zinc (Zn) and 47.03-120.90 μg/g dry weight for nickel (Ni). All of these ranges were significantly (p< 0.05) higher than those (Cu: 8.77 μg/g; Pb: 57.42 μg/g; Cd: 0.96 μg/g; Zn: 68.21 μg/g; and Ni: 17.87 μg/g) of the reference site at Sg. Benut that only received agricultural disposal. The concentrations for the 5 metals from all the sites (except for the reference site) were higher than the Sediment Quality Values for Hong Kong by Chapman et al (1999) for the 5 metals. Based on the sequential extraction technique, 3 geochemical fractions [easily, freely leachable and exchangeable (EFLE), acid-reducible and oxidisable-organic] were also useful in identifying these polluted sites. The elevated metal concentrations found in the sediments might be related to point sources of industrial effluent and urban waste. Hence, the results emphasized the necessity for the treatment of effluents into this drainage area. As part of the effort to control illegal discharges and dumping into drainages, public awareness should be enhanced.     

北京市小麦籽粒的重金属含量及其健康风险分析

为评价北京市小麦重金属含量及其健康风险,采集北京市现有小麦种植区土壤和小麦籽粒对应样品68份,分析其重金属含量,并估算消费导致重金属摄入量。结果表明:北京市麦地土壤重金属As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的平均值分别为7.46、0.165、37.8、20.3、24.2、14.3和70.1mg/kg,处于比较清洁水平。这说明小麦种植这种土地利用方式并不会导致土壤重金属升高。小麦籽粒中重金属含量,除Cr与食品卫生标准限值没有显著性差异外,其他元素均显著低于相应标准限值。普通人群通过小麦制品消费,As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn的摄入量分别为0.005、0.004、0.136、0.994、0.041、0.024、4.75mg/人 · d。北京小麦种植的主要4个区中,顺义产小麦的Cr、Cu、Ni和Pb导致的重金属摄入量高于其他3个区,房山产小麦导致的重金属摄入量最低。对于普通人群而言,通过小麦和蔬菜摄入重金属没有明显风险。     

A test of the integrity of metal records in sediment cores based on the documented history of metal contamination in Lac Dufault (Québec, Canada)

There is an important volume of published information on Lac Dufault (Québec) which describes the history of metal inputs over 70 years and the changes that occurred in the lake as a result of this contamination. We used this abundant source of chronological markers to test the hypothesis that lake sediments can provide true historical records of trace metal loading from metal mining. Sediment cores were obtained from the deepest zone of the lake (19 m). The sediments were dated using ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs and they were analyzed for total elemental concentrations (Ca, Cd, Cu, Fe, P, Pb, S, Zn). Metal profiles in the sediment core preserved the distinct signatures of different mine exploitations documented in the lake watershed. In particular, the core recorded: the beginning of industrialization in 1926; increasing sedimentation rates associated with perturbations in the lake watershed; the maximum of sediment [Cu] and the contemporary exploitation of ore bodies rich in Cu; the maximum of sediment [Fe] and the contemporary production of pyrite by a mining operation; the low sediment [Cu] and [Zn] in the 1950s and the low contemporary production of these metals by mining operations; the maximum of sediment [Cd] and the contemporary production of Cd by a subsequent mining operation. Anomalies in the distribution of ²¹⁴Pb activities in sediments reflected the intensity of acid mine drainage (AMD). There is good evidence that the lake resisted acidification from this AMD for the last thirty years. Overall, our results support the thesis that profiles of sedimentary Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Fe levels reflect the past history of metal input to Lac Dufault.     

博斯腾湖流域绿洲农田土壤重金属污染及潜在生态风险评价

新疆博斯腾湖流域绿洲采集195个农田土壤样品,测定其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Pb和Zn等8种重金属元素的含量,基于地统计法分析农田土壤重金属空间分布规律,采用污染负荷指数（PLI）和潜在生态风险指数（RI）评价农田土壤重金属污染和潜在生态风险程度,并对重金属的来源进行讨论。结果表明：① 博斯腾湖流域农田土壤Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb和Zn含量平均值分别超出新疆土壤背景值的1.67倍、1.13倍、1.15倍、1.29倍、2.11倍和1.65倍。② 农田土壤中8种重金属元素空间分布基本呈现岛状分布格局,各金属元素在部分区域出现高值区,表明研究区人类活动对农田土壤环境具有负面效应。③ 农田土壤Pb呈现中度污染,Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni和Zn轻度污染,Mn轻微污染,As无污染。农田土壤重金属污染负荷指数的平均值为1.09,呈现轻度污染态势。④ 各重金属元素单项生态风险指数平均值从大到小依次为：Cd、Ni、As、Cu、Pb、Cr、Zn。综合生态风险指数平均值为18.63,处于轻微生态风险态势。从生态风险程度的区域差异来看,各县生态风险指数从大到小依次为：和硕县、博湖县、焉耆县、和静县。⑤ 农田土壤Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni与Zn主要受到土壤地球化学成因的控制,As、Cd和Pb主要受到人类活动的影响。Cd与Pb是研究区主要的污染因子,研究区农田土壤中Cd与Pb污染必须关注。     

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.     

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。     

沅江下游入湖段河床沉积物重金属污染特征

对沅江入湖沉积物进行钻探取样,利用等离子质谱仪（ICP-MS）对沉积物重金属进行分析。结果表明：重金属Ba、Sc、V、Th、U、Cu、Co、Ni、Cr等在沉积物中含量变化相对稳定,分布相对均匀;而Mn、Zn、Pb、Mo、Cd、Tl、Bi等重金属的含量变化大,分布不均匀。重金属含量柱状剖面变化特征及富集系数（EF值）的计算结果显示：沉积物中Cd达显著富集,而Sc、V、Mn、Pb、Bi等为中等富集程度。沉积物中存在3个重金属富集层,即中下部Pb、Tl、Bi富集层;中上部Pb、Cr、Ni、Cu富集层;浅表部V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Tl、Bi等多种重金属富集层。地累积指数（I_geo）和综合富集指数（EI）评价结果显示：沅江入湖沉积物重金属污染程度自河床深部向浅部,污染程度趋于增强,污染元素组合趋于由Pb-Bi的单一元素组合向由V-Cr-Mn-Ni-Cu-Zn-Pb-Cd-Bi组成的复合元素组合变化。且自上游向下游,沉积物重金属污染程度趋于降低。这种重金属污染空间变化特征与区域人为活动有关,值得进一步研究。     

北京城市广场及校园表土(灰尘)中重金属水平与健康风险

通过对北京市城市广场和学校表层土壤与相应的地表灰尘中重金属含量调查,探讨土壤与灰尘之间元素分布的差异及来源,评估青少年在校期间通过灰尘摄入重金属的健康风险。研究表明:城市广场和校园土壤中Cu、Pb和Zn、灰尘中As、Cu、Pb、Zn和Cd显著高于北京市土壤重金属背景值,土壤(灰尘)中As、Ni、Cu、Pb、Zn和Cd超过背景值的样本比率分别为67%(27%)、13%(63%)、83%(100%)、73%(100%)、83%(100%)和53%(100%)。土壤中Cu、Pb和Zn存在一定积累,灰尘中Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn积累较重。灰尘中Cu、Pb和Zn显著高于土壤。校园土壤中Ni显著高于城市广场土壤,其他元素两者之间差异不大;校园灰尘中Ni、Pb和Zn显著高于城市广场。中学生通过校园灰尘摄入没有导致明显的健康风险。     

Heavy metal concentrations of agricultural soils and vegetables from Dongguan, Guangdong

A total of 118 of agricultural soil and 43 of vegetable samples were collected from Dongguan City, Guangdong, China. The spatial distribution, sources, accumulation characteristics and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were depicted in details by three different approaches, including total contents of eight metal elements 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 Contaminants 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 human’s health from agricultural soils and vegetables in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province.     

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.     

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.     

Use of Factor Analysis to Study the Distribution of Metalliferous Bauxitic Tailings in the Seabed of the Gulf of Corinth,Greece

In 1994, a detailed marine environmental survey was carried out in surface sediments of the northern flank (Antikyra Bay) and the basin floor of the Gulf of Corinth. Metalliferous tailings (red-mud slurry) of a bauxite processing plant are discharged through a pipeline at a water depth of 100 m, in the Antikyra Bay, covering an area of 16 km². The bauxitic tailings are detached from the main deposit at the outfalls, flow as turbidity currents downslope, and are redeposited on the basin floor of the Gulf of Corinth, where they cover an area of about 277 km². One hundred sediment samples, that were collected from red-mud deposits and the surrounding natural sediments, were analyzed for Ag, Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, Si, Ti, V, and Zn concentrations. Statistical analysis of the heavy metals concentrations using factor analysis allowed (i) an examination of the interrelations among metals and (ii) distinguishing possible sample groups on the basis of metal concentrations in order to study the mechanisms of transport of the red mud and the degree of mixing with natural sediments. Factor 1 (Al, Cr, Ti, Fe, Co, Ni, Pb, Ag, Hg, V, Cd, and Cu) and the positive pole of Factor 2 (Cu, Ag, Cd, and Hg) are red-mud factors, reflecting different metal behaviors, which are related to processes that take place during the transport and redeposition of the red mud. The negative poles of Factors 2 and 3 and the positive pole of Factor 4 are related to natural sediment supply processes. Q-mode factor analysis identifies three distinct sediment groups located in different areas, on the base of the degree of mixing of red mud with natural sediments.     

A Comparative Study of Distribution of Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Pomacea insularum Collected from Polluted and Unpolluted Sites of the Freshwater Ecosystem in Malaysia

The snails (Pomacea insularum) were collected from polluted and unpolluted sites at Juru River and the Universiti Putra Malaysia Lake, respectively. Besides the shells, the soft tissues of snails were dissected into 6 different parts: intestine, operculum, foot, pennial sac, lung sac and the remainder. They were analyzed for the concentrations of Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni and Fe. The present study found 6 interesting points. First, all the metal levels found in the different parts of P. insularum collected from Juru River were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the snails of unpolluted lake. These results were also supported by the sediment data in which the Juru River sediment had significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of metal than those in the unpolluted lake. Second, the high levels of Cd and Pb were found in the shell of P. insularum, indicating that it is a potential biomonitoring material for these metals. Third, intestine accumulated elevated levels of Zn, Ni and Fe and thus is a potential biomonitoring organ for the 3 metals. Fourth, high levels of Cu were found in the lung sac and this phenomenon could be related to this metal binding to metallothionein in this organ. Fifth, elevated level of Pb found in the soft tissues of P. insularum indicated that this snail is not suitable for human consumption since its pollution level was higher than the food safety guideline for Pb. Sixth, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the different sizes (small sizes: 30.5-33.2 mm; large sizes: 37.7-40.4 mm) of P. insularum. The first 5 points supported the use of different soft tissues of P. insularum as biomonitoring organs of heavy metal pollution in the freshwater ecosystem in Malaysia although further validation is required.     

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。     

Application of GIS for the identification and demarcation of selective heavy metal concentrations in the urban groundwater

Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water, which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. To check the severity of the problem, 156 groundwater samples were collected from various depths (60-110 ft) of 52 different localities in Faisalabad city, the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, and analyzed for the metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn and Fe) concentration in 2009. Quantification was done by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with WHO standards for drinking water quality. Results showed that the levels of Cu, Mn and Fe were below the WHO standards while the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb were above the recommended levels of safe drinking water. Correlation analysis among the occurrence of these heavy metals revealed a highly significant and positive correlation of Mn with Zn and Fe. A significant and positive correlation of Cd was also found with Cu and groundwater depth showing that there is strong association between Cu-Cd pair and that the Cd concentration varies with depth of groundwater in the study area. Regional patterns of heavy metals occurrence were mapped using Geographical Information System (GIS) for the identification and demarcation of risk areas. The concentration maps may be used by policymakers of the city to mitigate groundwater pollution.