Heavy metals in Baltic herring and cod

The monitoring programme of harmful substances in selected species in the Baltic Sea was started in 1979. In the present study, three-year averages of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in cod liver (Hg in cod muscle) and herring muscle are reported. The concentrations of heavy metals in cod show areal differences roughly in accordance with the concentrations of heavy metals in sea water. No significant differences between heavy metal concentrations in North Atlantic and Baltic Sea species were found, except for mercury, for which values in the Baltic Sea species are lower than in those from the North Atlantic.     

Heavy metal pollution and assessment in the tidal flat sediments of Haizhou Bay,China

The heavy metal inventory and the ecological risk of the tidal flat sediments in Haizhou Bay were investigated. Results show that the average concentrations of heavy metals in the surface sediments exceeded the environment background values of Jiangsu Province coastal soil, suggesting that the surface sediments were mainly polluted by heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn). In addition, the profiles of heavy metals fluxes can reflect the socio-economic development of Lianyungang City, and heavy metals inputs were attributed to anthropogenic activities. Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn were mainly present in the non-bioavailable residual form in surface sediments, whereas Cd and Mn were predominantly in the highly mobile acid soluble and reducible fractions. The ecological risk of the polluted sediments stemmed mainly from Cd and Pb. According to the Sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), however, the adverse biological effects caused by the heavy metals occasionally occurred in tidal flat.     

Evaluation of geochemical behavior and heavy metal distribution of sediments：The case study of the Tirumalairajan river estuary,southeast coast of India

The purpose of this study was to assess the chemical partitioning of selected heavy metals(Fe,Mn,Cu,Zn,Pb,Cr,Co and Ni) in 10 surface sediments at Tirumalairajan River Estuary in the southeastern coast of India.A five-step sequential extraction technique was used to assess the environmental status of heavy metals.Most of metals were considered to be immobile due to the high availability in the residual fraction of heavy metals.The sediments of Tirumalairajan River estuary had not been polluted by heavy metals,and they didn’t pose any high ecological risk.The seasonal variations of heavy metals were slightly higher in summer than in monsoon season.Factor analysis was also carned out to understand the associations of metals in different fractions with sand,silt,clay,organic matter,pH,salinity and other metals.The relationship between the Q-mode and R-mode cluster analyses was useful for identifying the pollution levels in both seasons.It was proved that the enrichment of heavy metals was related with geogenic and anthropogenic sources.The information on total metal concentrations in sediments was not sufficient for assessing the metal behavior in the environment,but the sequential extraction technique was more effective in estimating the environmental impact of contaminated sediments.     

Assessment of heavy metal impact on sediment quality of the Xiaoqinghe estuary in the coastal Laizhou Bay,Bohai Sea: Inconsistency between two commonly used criteria

Surface sediments in the Xiaoqinghe estuary, southwestern coastal Laizhou Bay, were examined to assess the bio-toxic risk of heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) with the effects range-low and effects range-median guidelines (ERL–ERMs) and the concentration ratio of simultaneously extractable metals to acid volatile sulfides ([SEM]/[AVS]). Based on the ERL–ERM guidelines, bio-toxic effect caused by Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn could be expected in the riverine surface sediments of the Xiaoqinghe estuary; and the surface sediments in the marine area were in good quality and only Ni might cause bio-toxic effect occasionally. The AVS–SEM guidelines revealed that no bio-toxic effect could be caused by any of the studied metals in both the riverine and marine sediments, since there were excess sulfides in surface sediments which could form water-insoluble substances with free metal ions and reduce the bioavailability of heavy metals.     

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.     

太湖宜溧河水系沉积物的重金属污染特征

用ICP方法分析了太湖宜溧河水系沉积物中主要重金属含量,以太湖宜溧河口下层沉积物作背景样品,用均根法对沉积物中重金属进行了污染综合指数计算,并根据划分的污染等级对宜溧河水系沉积物污染状况进行了分析和评价。结果表明：宜溧河及其入湖口沉积物平均呈轻污染状态,北部支流未受污染,南部支流和太湖沿岸呈轻污染,干流河段污染最为严重,呈偏中度污染水平,在个别测点综合评价已达到重度污染状态。全水系Cu,Zn,Cd和Pb的污染指数略高。其中仅有Cd含量高出我国土壤一级自然背景值,表现为Cd污染型,其原因能与该地区水泥制造业和有色金属冶炼的污染排放有关。     

Toxicological impact assessment of heavy metal contamination on macrobenthic communities in southern coastal sediments of Korea

In the heavily industrialized Masan Bay of southern coast, Korea, the potential harmful effects of heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sn, Zn, and Hg) were evaluated in terms of the pollution load index (PLI) and ecological risk assessment index (ERI) methods, and the results obtained were considered alongside the health of the macrobenthic fauna communities. The results revealed that the bay sediments, especially in the inner bay and the outfall area of a sewage treatment plant, are exposed to moderate to serious levels of metal pollution. Hg and Cd contributed the most to the potential toxicity response indices in sediments recently deposited in the bay. The potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in the bay was highlighted by the use of the benthic biological pollution index (BPI), suggesting that the ERI is a useful toxicity response index, which can quantify the overall ecological risk level to a target environment.     

The Odra Estuary as a Filter and Transformation Area

The Odra Estuary is one of the most polluted coastal waters of the southern Baltic. To investigate how and whether the estuary acts as a filter and transformation area for the fluviogenic material, different models were developed and an intensive monitoring programme was carried out. Summarizing different methodological approaches, it could be shown that the total system filter capacity reaches 2...5% for nutrients and 10...15% for some heavy metals related to the current mean annual input. In the western part of the estuary, the retention is more important and amounts to 10...40% of the annual nutrient yield. Carbon flux studies revealed that both a reduction of the inputs and more internal and external nutrient sinks are needed to reverse the anthropogenic eutrophication process.     

Assessment of Metal Contamination in Surface Sediments of Jiaozhou Bay,Qingdao, China

An assessment of metal contamination in surface sediments of the Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, one of the rapidly developing coastal economic zones in China, is provided. Sediments were collected from 10 stations and a total of 15 heavy metals were analyzed. Concentrations of metals show significant variability and range from 210 to 620 ppm for Ti, 2.7 to 23 ppm for Ni, 4.2 to 28 ppm for Cu, 5.2 to 18 ppm for Pb, 12 to 58 ppm for Zn, 0.03 to 0.11 ppm for Cd, 5 to 51 ppm for Cr, 1.5 to 9.9 ppm for Co, 5.3 to 19 ppm for As, 12 to 32 ppm for Se, and 19 to 97 ppm for Sr. Based on concentration relationships and enrichment factor (EF) analyses, the results indicate that sediment grain size and organic matter played important roles in controlling the distribution of the heavy metals in surface sediments of the Jiaozhou Bay. The study shows that the sediment of the Jiaozhou Bay has been contaminated by heavy metals to various degrees, with prominent arsenic contributing the most to the contamination. The analysis suggests that the major sources of metal contamination in the Jiaozhou Bay are land‐based anthropogenic ones, such as discharge of industrial waste water and municipal sewage and run‐off. Notably, the elevated heavy metal concentrations of the Jiaozhou Bay sediments could have a significant impact on the bay's ecosystem. With the rapid economic development and urbanization around the Jiaozhou Bay, coastal management and pollution control should focus on these contaminant sources, as well as provide ongoing monitoring studies of heavy metal contamination within the bay.     

Environmental challenges in Polish agriculture covering a main area of the Baltic Sea Basin

Poland largely encompases the estuary of the Vistula and Odra rivers, which drain into the Baltic Sea. Only a very small area of the south-east part of the country is within the Black Sea Basin. Poland contributes significantly to the pollution of the Baltic Sea, with biogenic nutrients and organic substances. Poland includes more than half the coastal inhabitants of the Baltic Sea, and they use 40% of the arable land situated there. The contribution to the pollution of this sea with nitrogen, phosphorus and organic substances is approximately 30, 40 and 22%, respectively. The main sources of nutrients are untreated sewage and the runoff and leakage of fertilizers from agricultural land. The natural conditions in Poland are poorer than in Western Europe due to the prevalence of light soils and a short growing period with frequent droughts. After correcting the synthetic index for soil and climate, it was estimated that for each inhabitant of Poland there are 0.3 ha of farmland, which is comparable to that of Western Europe. For the maintenance of the population, intensive agricultural production must be accompanied by environmental protection regulations. Polish agriculture is not only a polluter but also a recipient of pollution, especially the deposits of sulphur and heavy metals emitted by industry and municipal areas. The estimated annual emission of sulphur dioxide is about 4 million t, which equals an average deposit of about 90 kg of sulphur per hectare of farmland. The pedological processes and acid deposits cause more than 60% of agricultural land in Poland to be acidic. The contamination of soils with heavy metals in general is lower than in Western Europe, but in some areas (e.g. Upper Silesia) it exceeds the safe limits.     

武汉典型湖泊沉积物中重金属累积特征及其环境风险

采集武汉市8个典型湖泊的表层沉积物,分析11种重金属的含量及其不同形态组成,研究了不同湖泊金属元素的富集与污染程度,探讨了沉积物中重金属的污染来源及其潜在生态风险,结果表明,沉积物中重金属Cd累积最严重,Zn和Hg也发生明显累积,龙阳湖污染较重,南太子湖和墨水湖污染中等,其它湖泊污染总体较轻.沉积物性质对重金属累积的影响不显著,城市工业活动强烈影响着重金属的分布,不同重金属的形态分布差异较大,Cd生物可利用态含量最高,其次为Mn、Zn、Co、Cu和Pb;而Sb和Hg以残留态占绝对优势,生态风险较小,相关分析和主成分分析表明,化石燃料燃烧、金属冶炼等是武汉市湖泊沉积物中重金属来源的主要贡献者,同时岩石风化等地球化学过程也影响着重金属的污染.     

Heavy metal pollution in sediments of a typical mariculture zone in South China

The heavy metal inventory and the ecological risk of the estuarine sediments in Hailing Bay, an important maricultural zone along the southern coast of China, were investigated. Results show that the surface sediments were mainly polluted by As (2.17-20.34 mg/kg), Ni (1.37-42.50mg/kg), Cu (1.21-58.84 mg/kg) and Zn (11.69-219.22 mg/kg). Furthermore, the aquafarming zone was significantly more polluted than the non-aquafarming zone, and cluster analysis suggested additional sources of heavy metal input in the aquafarming zone. As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were mainly present in the non-bioavailable residual form in the surface sediments, whereas Cd was predominantly in the highly mobile acid soluble and reducible fractions. The ecological risk of the polluted sediments stemmed mainly from Cd, and from As, Cu and Pb to less degrees. The highest potential risks occurred near the aquaculture base, indicating the need to control heavy metal inputs from aquafarming activities.     

Ecotoxicity assessment of natural attenuation effects at a historical dumping site in the western Baltic Sea

During the late 1950s and early 1960s of the past century, industrial waste material highly enriched in various contaminants (heavy metals, PAHs) was dumped in the inner Mecklenburg Bay, western Baltic Sea. Large-scale shifts in the spatial distribution of heavy metals in surface sediments were mapped by geochemical monitoring in the mid-1980s and 12 years later in 1997. A further study in 2001 was designed to investigate the small-scale spatial distribution of contaminants inside, on top of, and around the historical dumping ground and to examine possible effects to benthic organisms (Arctica islandica, microbiological toxicity tests). The site is located within an area characterized by a discontinuous deposition of fine sediments, but net sedimentation rate of about 3mm/y led ultimately to a gradual coverage of the dumped material. During the first decades after the dumping, about half of the originally dumped material was already spread over the surrounding area as a result of sediment dynamics and re-suspension processes. Recent sediments of the historical dump site are still significantly enriched in heavy metals and PAHs. Microbiological toxicity test results were positive, though uptake of contaminants in mussels was found to deviate only slightly from that of a non-contaminated reference station due to a gradual dilution and decrease in bioavailability of the contaminants.     

Storage of sediment‐associated heavy metals along the channelized Odra River,Poland

The importance of long‐term storage of heavy metals in groyne fields, functioning over 150 years, is investigated for the River Odra (Oder), western Poland. Construction of groynes along the Odra preceded rapid development of heavy industrialization in the largest coal mine districts in Poland and the Czech Republic that resulted in persistent riverine pollution. The 187 km long Middle Odra reach was repeatedly channelized from the first half of the eighteenth century to the turn of the twentieth century, during which time partially filled groyne fields were dissected by new bank lines and groyne systems, with older groyne fields partially keyed into the floodplain. Consequently, concentrations of zinc, lead, cadmium, and copper within historically deposited groyne field sediments exceed local geochemical background levels by more than 60, 40, 15 and 10 times, respectively. Sediments contaminated with heavy metals occur within three distinctive geomorphic zones: zone I is up to 250 m wide and furthest from the present channel, comprising decimeter‐thick polluted sediments, overlying eighteenth century sand and gravel bars; zone II represents the former nineteenth century groyne fields, with widths between 10 and 100 m, filled with as much as 3 m of polluted sediments; zone III represents the twentieth century groyne fields, which are several to a dozen metres wide and filled with polluted sediments averaging depths of more than 2 m. This investigation indicates that large and extensive sediment quantities of moderately polluted sediments are stored immediately along the banks of the River Odra. These sediments could be a significant secondary pollution source and therefore careful maintenance of contemporary bank protection structures is required. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Flood in the Odra River 1997 – Impact of Suspended Solids on Water Quality

The flood in the Odra river in 1997 has led to considerable additional pollution of the Stettin Lagoon and the Baltic Sea with contaminated suspended solids. For some priority substances, the pollutant entries via suspended solids during the flood period are estimated to be approximately 1/3 of the usual annual load. Among these priority pollutants there are total organic carbon (TOC), nitrogen, and the heavy metals Cu, Pb and Zn. For the concentrations of the priority pollutants in suspended solids accumulation factors from 2 to 4 in the comparison with normal conditions were observed. On the basis of the analysis of sediments sampled after the flood, main sources of the pollutants should be evaluated. As reference area with an industrial background as well as a typical pollutant pattern the region around Glogow/Legnica is proposed.     

Recovery simulations of grossly polluted sediments in the Bilbao Estuary

The Bilbao Estuary is one of the most contaminated estuaries on the north coast of Spain, and vast efforts have been made to abate pollution there. In fact, the local water authority has forecast a biological recovery of the native fauna after a substantial increase in dissolved oxygen to normoxic levels. In order to assess this prediction by evaluating the extent of natural regeneration of these polluted sediments, two long-term bioassays (t=90 d) were performed. In both of them, lethal (differences in survival) and sublethal (differences in length and weight growth) effects were measured by using juvenile individuals of the autochthonous clam, Scrobicularia plana (Da Costa, 1778). The sediments tested differed in pollution levels, as measured by a set of indicators including PAHs, PCBs, heavy metals, volatile organic matter and coprostanol. All sediments were finally exposed to normoxic conditions in situ in the Bilbao Estuary (DO approximately 6.3 mg l(-1)). In the first experiment, concerning moderately polluted sediments from the Bilbao Estuary and reference sediments from the "pristine" Plentzia Estuary, no significant differences (P>0.05) were found regarding animal survival (approximately 94.5%) or growth in length or weight between the sediments tested. In the second experiment, also involving grossly polluted sediments (GPS) from the Bilbao Estuary, survival (24.5%) was statistically lower (P<0.05) than in the other sediments (approximately 93%). No significant differences were found in growth (length, weight) between animals exposed to moderately polluted or reference sediments. We interpret this dramatic difference in survival as the lethal effect on the animals tested of the GPS of the Bilbao Estuary, indicating a situation where biological recovery is not possible due to the adverse consequences of contaminants sorbed into sediments. The extensive use of this inexpensive bioassay could help to distinguish sediments in which homeostatic recovery is possible from grossly polluted "hot spots", which need costly remedial actions.     

沉积物中有机质的环境行为研究进展

水体沉积物是重金属,有毒有机化合物等环境污染物及C,N,P等营养元素的汇和释放源,而有机质对灾些污染物和营养元素在沉积物中的迁移,转化等地球化学行为中起着至关重要的作用,本文就近期有关沉积物中有机质的环境地球化学行为为方面的研究进行了综述,重点评述了有关沉积物中有机质本身的来源,性质,迁移和矿化及其环境效应等方面的研究进展。     

Heavy metals in surface sediments from nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay,Northern China

Concentrations of heavy metals in river water and sediment were investigated in nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay, Northern China. Multivariate statistical techniques such as principal component analysis and cluster analysis, in combination with metal concentration analysis and correlation analysis, were used to identify the possible sources of the metals and the pollution pattern in nine estuaries along the coast of Bohai Bay. The environmental risks of metals, evaluated by sediment quality guidelines and background values, revealed Hg contamination in the estuaries. However, levels of Cd in estuarine sediments were low, and they were less than those levels in river sediments, partly due to the high mobility and dilution of river or seawater. Cd did not contribute to sediment deposits in estuaries. High organic matter from effluents from large municipal sewage treatment plants was predominantly responsible for restricting Hg mobility from the river to Bohai Bay.     

Study of Heavy Metal Compound Transformations in Surface Waters

Results of studying Fe(III) hydrolysis and sorption of heavy metal compounds by organic matter of bottom sediments are discussed. The rate of Fe(III) hydrolysis is found to be largely determined by the concentration of dissolved organic substances. Values of kinetic parameters are obtained for heavy metal compounds sorption under static and dynamic conditions. Calculating the solubility of Fe, Cu, Cd, Zn, and Pb sulfides allowed the assessment of the amount of metals lost by bottom sediments due to the formation of metal complexes with dissolved organic substances contained in natural waters.