Photosynthetic pigments and peroxidase activity as indicators of heavy metal stress in the Grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh

Mangroves have been observed to possess a tolerance to high levels of heavy metals, yet accumulated metals may induce subcellular biochemical changes, which can impact on processes at the organism level. Six month-old seedlings of the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh, were exposed to a range of Cu (0-800 micrograms/g), Pb (0-800 micrograms/g) and Zn (0-1000 micrograms/g) concentrations in sediments under laboratory conditions, to determine leaf tissue metal accumulation patterns, effects on photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and carotenoids), and the activity of the antioxidant enzyme peroxidase. Limited Cu uptake to leaves was observed at low sediment Cu levels, with saturation and visible toxicity to Cu at sediment levels greater than 400 micrograms/g. Leaf Pb concentrations remained low over a range of Pb sediment concentrations, up to 400 micrograms/g Pb, above which it appeared that unrestricted transport of Pb occurred, although no visible signs of Pb toxicity were observed. Zn was accumulated linearly with sediment zinc concentration, and visible toxicity occurring at the highest concentration, 1000 micrograms/g Zn. Significant increases in peroxidase activity and decreases in photopigments were found with Cu and Zn at concentrations lower than those inducing visible toxicity. Significant increases in peroxidase activity only, were found when plants were exposed to Pb. Positive linear relationships between peroxidase activity and leaf tissue metal concentrations were found for all metals. Significant linear decreases in photosynthetic pigments with increasing leaf tissue metal concentrations were observed with Cu and Zn only. Photosynthetic pigments and peroxidase activity may be applicable as sensitive biological indicators of Cu and Zn stress, and peroxidase activity for Pb stress in A. marina.     

The glutathione antioxidant system as a biomarker suite for the assessment of heavy metal exposure and effect in the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh

Alterations in the glutathione antioxidant system and lipid peroxidation in Avicennia marina were studied under laboratory and field conditions. The activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) was found to respond to Zn exposure, and a significant positive relationship between leaf Zn concentration and GPx activity was observed after 96 h and 8 weeks. Lipid hydroperoxides increased proportionally with increasing leaf Zn concentration after 2 and 8 weeks, while no changes in total glutathione were observed. Induction of GPx at 96 h predicted effects at the individual level at a later time interval (reduced biomass at 8 weeks). Results from the field revealed that increasing leaf metal concentration (Zn, Cu or Pb) produced a proportional increase in GPx activity whereas lipid hydroperoxides and total glutathione were not affected. The utility of GPx as an early warning biomarker is suggested, since GPx activity increases in a dose-dependant fashion in response to accumulated leaf metals, and is predictive of later effects on growth.     

Influence of mangrove reforestation on heavy metal accumulation and speciation in intertidal sediments

To investigate the influence of mangrove reforestation on heavy metal accumulation and speciation in intertidal sediments, core sediments from a restored mangrove forest and adjacent mud flat in Yifeng Estuary (southeastern China) were analyzed. The chemical speciation of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni) was determined according to a sequential extraction procedure. Special attention was paid to the upper 20 cm of sediment, in which metal accumulation was enhanced and speciation was obviously modified. Mangrove reforestation decreased the concentrations of all metals in the acid-soluble fraction and increased metal concentrations in the oxidizable fraction. Increased Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations and decreased Ni and Cr concentrations were observed in the reducible fraction. These results suggest that mangrove reforestation facilitated the accumulation of heavy metals in the upper sediment layers but decreased their bioavailability and mobility.     

鄱阳湖饶河段重金属污染水平与迁移特性

鄱阳湖饶河入湖段是鄱阳湖重金属污染最严重的水域之一,为了研究其污染现状,本文于2005年3月平水期对鄱阳湖饶河段的水体、底泥、土壤及水生植物的重金属污染水平及迁移特性进行了调查与分析．结果表明,饶河段水体中的重金属除Pb的含量超出地表水环境质量标准Ⅲ类标准外,其它各项监测指标均能达到地表水环境质量Ⅲ类标准．饶河段底泥及河滩土壤的重金属含量平均值与国家土壤环境质量相比,Zn、Cd的平均值超出了三级标准,而Cu、Pb的含量指标均符合三级标准;通过地质积累指数评价结果表明,饶河段重金属底泥除Zn污染为中度污染以外,其他各种重金属污染为轻度污染或偏中度污染,且饶河段底泥中Cu、Zn、Ph三种重金属元素之间呈极显著正相关．饶河段水生植物对Cu、 Zn、Ph都有不同程度的富集;根据富集系数评价表明,植物对Cu的平均富集能力相对较强些,其次是Pb和Zn,多数水生植物表现出对Cd具有一定的抗性．     

苏州河网区河道沉积物重金属的污染特征

分析测定了苏州河网区河道底泥十个剖面样点60个样品中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、Al、Fe、K、Mn、有机质、TP、TN、粒度、pH及含水量,采用地累积指数、生态风险指数和相关分析等方法研究其重金属污染特征.结果表明:Cu和Zn处于中或中-强度污染,Pb处于无-中污染,没有Cr污染;垂直分布特征显示:Cu和Zn污染逐年变化较为一致,Pb污染有逐年加重趋势;重金属潜在生态风险处于轻微污染状态;相关性分析显示,有机质是影响其分布的重要因素,Mn、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb五种重金属相关性显著;通过与国内外河流、水库和湖泊沉积物中重金属含量比较,苏州河网区河道重金属的累积受多种因素影响.     

Chemical forms of Pb, Zn and Cu in the sediment profiles of the Pearl River Estuary

The chemical forms of heavy metals (Pb, Zn and Cu) in sediment cores of the Pearl River Estuary were studied using a sequential chemical extraction method. The isotope ratios of 206Pb/207Pb in various chemical fractions were also measured to assess the potential Pb sources. Zinc and Cu were mainly associated with the residual fraction. The Fe-Mn oxide and organic/sulphide fractions were the next important phases for Zn and Cu, respectively. For Pb, different chemical partitioning patterns were found among different sediment cores. Most Pb was associated with the residual fraction in the sediments. In some sediment profiles, the major phase of Pb in the top layers was the Fe-Mn oxide fraction. The proportion of Pb in the Fe-Mn oxide fraction decreased significantly with increasing depth. Among the different depths, the 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios in the residual fraction remained fairly stable, with a mean value of 1.202, which may represent the natural background value. The 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the exchangeable fraction were the lowest among the five fractions, particularly in top sediments, showing the anthropogenic inputs of heavy metals from recent rapid industrial development in the surrounding region. For the other three non-residual fractions, there was a similar trend of increasing 206Pb/207Pb ratios down the profile. Results from this study are useful in assessing both the chemical changes for heavy metals in marine sediments and the potential of heavy metal release into the water environment of an estuary area.     

鄱阳湖流域乐安河重金属污染水平

乐安河是鄱阳湖五大入湖水系中重金属污染最严重的水域.为研究其污染现状,于2003-2004年度对乐安河水体、底泥及水生生物的重金属污染进行了调查与分析.结果表明,乐安河水体中的重金属除Cu的含量超出地表水环境质量标准Ⅲ类标准外,其它各项监测指标均能达到地表水环境质量Ⅲ类标准.乐安河底泥的重金属含量平均值与国家土壤环境质量相比,Cu的平均值超出了三级标准,而Pb和Zn的含量指标均符合三级标准;通过地质累积指数评价结果表明,乐安河底泥中Cu为严重污染,Pb为偏中度污染,Zn为中度污染.乐安河水生植物对Cu,Pb,Zn都有不同程度的富集,根据富集系数评价表明,植物对Cu的平均富集能力相对较强,其次是Pb和Zn.浮游动物、植物和底栖动物也受到不同程度的污染,其分布和数量因河段水质变化的影响也出现类似的波动.     

Heavy metal content and lithological properties of recent sediments in the Northern Adriatic

Heavy metal (Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Co, Zn and Fe) concentrations, textural characters and mineralogical compositions have been determined on 246 surface sediment samples from the Northern Adriatic Italian sea area. The relationship between the heavy metals content and the pelite (< 63 μm fraction) percentage has been studied. All the metals resulted accumulated in the fine fraction with the following percentages (Hg, 95%; Zn, 86%; Pb, 82%; Cu, 79%; Cd, 74%; Ni, 70%; Cr, 65%; Co, 65% and Fe, 64%). The specific surface area has been measured on 44 samples and correlated to metal values. A fairly good (50% and more variation explained) linear correlation co-efficient has been found for Ni and Cu in the entire area, less significant correlation for other metals. In order to discriminate between natural and anthropogenic origin the metal concentrations on the whole sediment has been normalized on the basis of the pelite percentage. In the areal distributions drawn with the corrected values, zones contaminated by industrial discharges have been identified mainly in front of the lagoon of Venice.     

Spatial and temporal variations of heavy metal contamination in sediments of a mangrove swamp in Hong Kong

Spatial and temporal variations of heavy metal contamination in sediments of a small mangrove stand in Hong Kong were examined by laying two transects perpendicular across the shore. Surface sediment samples were taken along the two transects running landward to seaward at intervals of 5 or 10 m during December 1989, and March, July and September 1990. Total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn and Pb did not show any specific trend along each transect, although the maximum concentration of heavy metals tended to occur at the landward edge. There was a high level of variability among locations within each transect; for instance, the Cu concentrations fluctuated from 1 to 42 μg g⁻¹. Certain sites contained exceptionally high levels of total metals. Total concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn and Pb as high as 42, 150, 640 and 650 μg g⁻¹, respectively, were recorded, implying contaminated sediment. A comparison of the two transects indicated that the sediments of Transect B seemed to contain higher total Zn but lower Cu and Mn concentrations than those of Transect A. Most of the heavy metals accumulated in the sediments were not extractable with ammonium acetate and no Cu or Pb was detected in these extracts. The concentrations of extractable Zn and Mn were low, less than 10% of the total metal concentration in the sediment, and appeared to decrease from the landward to seaward samples. For both total and extractable metals, there were significant seasonal fluctuations for both transects, but no specific trends could be identified. These spatial and temporal variations suggest that the scale and representativeness of sampling require careful planning, and a single sample might not give a satisfactory evaluation of the levels of heavy metal contamination in mangrove ecosystems.     

抚仙湖沉积物重金属时空变化与人为污染评价

分析了抚仙湖表层沉积物及沉积短岩芯中10种金属元素含量,结合沉积年代学,定量研究了Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn的污染特征及时空变化规律;参考沉积物质量基准与潜在生态风险指数法探讨了表层沉积物重金属的潜在生态风险.结果表明,表层沉积物中重金属含量具有一定的空间差异性,近岸地区重金属含量总体上高于湖心区;Pb、Zn含量自1980s中期以来逐渐增加,而Cr、Cu、Ni含量呈下降趋势.重金属富集系数与聚类分析结果表明,抚仙湖沉积物主要重金属污染元素为Pb、Zn,污染开始于1980s中期,并逐渐加重.表层沉积物中Pb、Zn富集系数分别为1.6~4.1和1.4~2.6,已达到弱—中等污染程度,北部湖区污染程度略高于南部湖区;除此之外,北部湖区近岸区域Cr污染程度也略高于其他湖区.除了大气沉降来源之外,抚仙湖沉积物重金属污染还可能与入湖河流输入有关.单因子生态风险指数表明,表层沉积物中Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn具有较低的潜在生态风险;而综合潜在生态风险指数表明,表层沉积物中重金属具有中等程度的潜在生态风险,这与根据沉积物质量基准所获得的评价结果一致.     

Heavy metals contamination levels at the Coast of Aliağa (Turkey) ship recycling zone

Alia?a Bay is one of the most important maritime zones of Turkey where shipping activity, shipbreaking industry, steel works and petrochemical complexes exist together. Concentrations of heavy metals and organic carbon in sediment of the Alia?a Bay were investigated to evaluate an environmental risk assessment from metals contamination in 2009-2010. Comparison of the metal concentrations with average shale and Mediterranean background levels revealed that most of the samples from the Alia?a were polluted with Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn and Ni. It was found that Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni levels in Alia?a Bay exceeded the PEL values. Sediments, contaminated with Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni were considered as heavily polluted per the SQG.     

太湖流域滆湖底泥重金属赋存特征及其生物有效性

为了探讨太湖流域滆湖底泥重金属(Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Ni和Pb)的赋存特征及其生物有效性,对底泥重金属总量、形态以及生物富集量进行了分析.结果表明,6种重金属含量的空间分布表现为北部湖区最高,其次为南部湖区,中部湖区最低,重金属Ni、Cu、Zn和Pb含量显著高于沉积物背景值,分别是背景值的4.77、3.89、2.96和2.76倍,重金属总量与沉积物中的黏土成分含量具有显著相关性.采用三级四部提取法对重金属形态进行分析表明,6种重金属的生物有效态(弱酸结合态、可还原态和可氧化态之和)含量顺序为CdCuZnPbNiCr,其中Cd、Cu、Zn和Pb的生物有效态含量分别占总量的84.15%、78.47%、76.50%和64.29%.Cu和Zn在铜锈环棱螺中富集含量要显著高于其他金属元素.相关性分析表明,6种重金属中仅Cr和Pb的生物富集量与有效态含量具有显著相关性,这表明,重金属在生物体内的富集不仅与有效态含量有关,还与底泥重金属总量有关.因此,评价滆湖重金属的生态风险时需要综合考虑重金属的总量及生物有效态含量.     

Sediment pollution and its effect on fish through food chain in the Yangtze River

Suspended sediment adsorbs pollutants from flowing water in rivers and deposits onto the bed. However, the pollutants accumulated in the river bed sediment may affect the bio-community through food chain for a long period of time. To study the problem the concentration of heavy metals （Cr, Cd, Hg, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb and As） in water, sediment, and fish/invertebrate were investigated in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River during 2006-2007. The concentrations of heavy metals were 100-10,000 times higher in the sediment than in the water. Benthic invertebrates had relatively high concentrations of heavy metals in their tissues due to their proximity to contaminated sediments. Benthic invertivore fish had moderately high concentrations of heavy metals whereas phytoplanktivore fish, such as the silver carp, accumulated the lowest concentration of heavy metals. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Fe were higher than Hg, Pb, Cd, Cr, and As in the tissue samples. The concentration of heavy metals was lower in the river sediments than in the lake sediments. Conversely, the concentration of heavy metals was higher in river water than in lake water. While a pollution event into a water body is often transitory, the effects of the pollutants may be long-lived due to their tendency to be absorbed in the sediments and then released into the food chain. The heavy metals were concentrated in the following order： bottom material 〉 demersal fish and benthic fauna 〉 middle-lower layer fish 〉 upper-middle layer fish 〉 water.     

长江中下游不同湖泊沉积物中重金属污染物的累积及其潜在生态风险评价

利用富集因子和Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法,结合年代学结果,对长江中下游湖泊太白湖、龙感湖、巢湖和西氿沉积物中重金属元素Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn的富集程度进行了评价,并比较分析了上述重金属的潜在生态风险.结果表明,太白湖和龙感湖沉积物中各重金属富集程度均较低;巢湖沉积物中Co、Cr、Ni的富集程度接近中等水平,而Cu、Pb、Zn的富集已经达到中等水平;西氿沉积物中Co的富集非常低,Cr、Ni富集水平较低,Pb达到中等富集,Cu、Zn达到较高的富集水平.对4个湖泊沉积物中重金属的综合污染程度进行比较:巢湖西氿龙感湖太白湖.各湖泊沉积物中单一元素的潜在生态风险都较低,但是,根据多元素潜在生态评价指数,各湖泊沉积物中重金属存在明显不同的潜在生态风险:巢湖西氿龙感湖太白湖.总体上看,太白湖和巢湖沉积物重金属污染以及潜在生态风险自1965年以来一直在加重,而龙感湖和西氿沉积物在表层有下降的趋势.这种差异与各个湖泊流域内人类活动的方式和强度密切相关.巢湖和西氿流域内城市化、工业化发展迅速,人类活动导致大量重金属元素进入湖泊,给湖泊带来明显的污染;而龙感湖和太白湖流域人类活动主要以农业活动为主,人类活动对重金属的贡献相对较小.     

Effects of Salinity and Mangrove Detritus on Desorption of Metals from Brackish Water Desorption of Metals from Brackish Water and Shrimp

Desorption and bioaccumulation of Cd, Zn, and Pb were studied using naturally contaminated sediment from a brackish water pond in the Sunderban Biosphere Reserve in India. Pattern of desorption of the metals from the sediment and bioaccumulation in fingerlings of the teleost Oreochromis mossambicusand postlarvae of the shrimp Penaeus monodon were studied as a function of salinity and loading of detritus of a mangrove plant. Effects of both salinity and loading of detritus on bioaccumulation of the metals were studied under two conditions: either the animals were allowed free access to the sediment or access was denied. Ninety‐six hour experiments showed that desorption of Cd and Pb from sediment into water increased with salinity of the medium while desorption of Zn decreased. Salinity of the medium also had a significant effect on the bioaccumulation of metals by fish; Cd and Pb accumulation decreased in saline medium while the accumulation of Zn increased. Conditions of access to sediment had no effect on the bioaccumulation of metals by fish; effect of interaction between salinity and access condition was also insignificant. The access conditions, however, significantly influenced accumulation of metal by the shrimp postlarvae. The effect of interaction between salinity and access condition was insignificant in influencing the bioaccumulation of all metals except Zn. The accumulation of Zn increased as a function of the salinity of the medium when shrimp postlarvae were allowed access to the sediment. Desorption of metals from sediment to water were below detection limits when detritus of a mangrove plant was added to the medium. Both the level of detritus and the conditions of access influenced accumulation of metals by fish, but the effect of interaction between the two factors were found to be insignificant. Shrimp postlarvae showed net accumulation only of Pb in the presence of detritus and the accumulation of Pb increased when the larvae were separated from the sediment. The results are important in understanding the mobility of metals between solid and aqueous phases in brackish water environments that experience periodic fluctuations in salinity and fluxes of organic load in the form of mangrove detritus.     

Trace metals in the living and nonliving components of scleractinian corals

Trace metals in coral tissue and skeleton have been investigated in various ways since the early seventies. More recently it has been suggested that the symbiotic zooxanthellae may play an important role in the accumulation and regulation of trace metals. Furthermore gamete development and mucus production may influence the metal accumulation and loss in corals. Many studies have attempted to use the annual growth bands in coral skeletons to investigate historical pollution events. However the relationship between the metal concentrations in the surrounding environment and the incorporation of this into coral skeleton is not well understood. This paper explains a method for investigating metal loads in coral tissue, zooxanthellae and skeleton. Furthermore, it presents new information suggesting that zooxanthellae accumulate most metals (Al, Fe, As, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb) in greater concentrations than the coral tissue. Coral skeletons had consistently lower metal concentration than the zooxanthellae, tissue and gametes. The loss of zooxanthellae during stress events may have a significant contribution to the total metal loads in corals. The use of corals as biomonitors should carefully factor in zooxanthellae densities and gamete development before conclusions are drawn.     

Heavy metals accumulation in two syntopic sandhopper species: Talitrus saltator (Montagu) and Talorchestia ugolinii Bellan Santini and Ruffo

We assessed the capacity for heavy metals accumulation in Talorchestia ugolinii by standard methods of heavy metals analysis. To compare the bioaccumulation in syntopic sandhopper species, we collected samples of T. ugolinii and Talitrus saltator living on the same and on different beaches in Corsica. There was a marked difference in the zonal distribution of the two species along the sea-land axis of the beach: T. ugolinii was distributed nearer the water line than T. saltator. The bioaccumulation capacity of T. ugolinii only partly matched that of the Mediterranean T. saltator: while Hg, Zn, Cu, and Cd were accumulated by both species, Al and Fe were accumulated by T. saltator but not by T. ugolinii. Pb was accumulated only by T. ugolinii, while Cr did not seem to be accumulated by either species. The bioaccumulation in sympatric T. saltator and T. ugolinii specimens collected on the same beach reflected the general trend of the two species on the Tyrrhenian and Corsican coasts, respectively. Moreover, six of the eight heavy metals considered (Hg, Pb, Zn, Fe, Al, Cu) were present in higher quantities in T. ugolinii than in T. saltator, independently of whether the trace elements were accumulated by the two species. Thus, there are some differences between T. ugolinii and T. saltator, even when the two species live in the same locality. These differences involve their zonation within the damp belt of sand, the bioaccumulation of some heavy metals (Al, Pb, Fe), and the quantity of each heavy metal in the body, independent of the bioaccumulation capacity.     

Trace metal concentrations and fluxes in Bermuda sediments

Concentrations and calculated fluxes of trace metals into Bermuda nearshore marine and lake sediments are presented. In areas affected by anthropogenic activity, metal profiles show surface sediment enrichments similar to those observed in North American and European lacustrine and estuarine sediments. Atmospheric fluxes of Cu, Zn and Pb into the lake sediments are higher than those of rural areas in North America. These high fluxes are assumed to be due to jet-fuel combustion. Sediment profiles in the Hamilton City area indicate increased anthropogenic input of Cu and Pb compared to other marine locations.     

Sponges and sediments as monitoring tools of metal contamination in the eastern coast of the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

Sediments and sponges were collected from various locations along the eastern coast of the Red Sea, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Total concentrations of Cd, Zn, Ag, Cu, Pb, As and Hg in the sediments were measured. Metal contamination was not significant in most of the studied sites and only one site was moderately polluted by Zn, Cu, and Pb. Sponges accumulated specific metals readily even though the metal exposure was low in the ambient environment. Contrasting interspecies differences in metal accumulation patterns were observed among the nine collected species of sponges. Significant positive correlations were found between the metal concentrations in the two species of sponges collected from the same sites. The strong ability to accumulate specific metals and the diversity of sponges that live in the Red Sea coastal areas make them a promising biomonitor of metal contamination in the areas.     

Evaluation of Sediment-associated Heavy Metal Pollution in Chaohu Lake,Eastern China

Water Resources - Heavy metal pollution in lacustrine sediments is a worldwide environmental issue. In the present study, eight heavy metals including Zn, Pb, Co, Cr, Cd, Mn, As and Cu in sediment...