Seasonal variation of particulate heavy metals in the Lower Paraíba do Sul River, R.J., Brazil

 Temporal and spatial variability of particulate metal concentrations (Cu, Cr, Zn, Mn and Fe) were investigated in the lower drainage basin of the Paraíba do Sul River. The results showed that the spatial variability was not important for all the studied metals, however, temporal variations seems to be considerable. In general, two distinct behaviors were observed for particulate heavy metals: (1) metal concentration increase together with water flow (Fe and Cu) and (2) concentration decrease with increasing water flux (Zn, Cr and Mn). The Fe and Cu behavior is probably due to the strong association of these metals with surface runoff, although their sources seem to be distinct. Iron probably originates from the regional soils rich in iron oxides, and Cu is possibly associated to the large-scale use of copper fungicides in the sugar cane plantations. The opposite trend observed for Zn, Cr and Mn probably reflects the importance of the industrial and urban effluents as a secondary source of these elements for the system. Their behavior is probably associated with the dilution effect caused by the input of a suspended matter poor in these metals originated from the surface runoff during the rainy season. Received: 4 March 1998 · Accepted: 30 June 1998     

The effects of the San Francisco Bay plume on trace metal and nutrient distributions in the Gulf of the Farallones

The distributions of particulate elements (Al, P, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb), dissolved trace metals (Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, and Cd), and dissolved nutrients (nitrate, phosphate, and silicic acid) were investigated in the Gulf of the Farallones, a region of high productivity that is driven by the dynamic mixing of the San Francisco Bay plume, upwelled waters, and California coastal surface waters. Particulate metals were separated into >10 and 0.4-10 μm size-fractions and further fractionated into leachable (operationally defined with a 25% acetic acid leach) and refractory particulate concentrations. Dissolved metals (< 0.4 μm pore-size filtrate) were separated into colloidal (0.03-0.4 μm) and soluble (<0.03 μm) fractions. The percent leachable particulate fractions ranged from 2% to 99% of the total particulate concentration for these metals with Mn and Cd being predominantly leachable and Fe and Al being predominantly refractory. The leachable particulate Pb concentration was associated primarily with suspended sediments from San Francisco Bay and was a tracer of the plume in coastal waters. The particulate trace metal data suggest that the leachable fraction was an available source of trace metal micronutrients to the primary productivity in coastal waters. The dissolved trace metals in the San Francisco Bay plume and freshly upwelled surface waters were similar in concentration, with the exception of Cu and Co, which exhibited relatively high concentrations in plume waters and served as tracers of this water mass. The dissolved data and estimates of the plume dynamics suggest that the impact of anthropogenic inputs of nutrients and trace metals in the San Francisco Bay plume contributes substantially to the concentrations found in the Gulf of the Farallones (10-50% of estimated upwelled flux values), but does not greatly disrupt the natural stoichiometric balance of trace metal and nutrient elements within coastal waters given the similarity in concentrations to sources in upwelled water. In all, the data from this study demonstrate that the flux of dissolved nutrients and bioactive trace metals from the San Francisco Bay plume contribute to the high and relatively constant phytoplankton biomass observed in the Gulf of the Farallones.     

Dissolved and particulate trace metals and their partitioning in a hypoxic estuary: The Tanshui Estuary in Northern Taiwan

The distribution and partitioning of trace metals (Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) between dissolved and particulate phases were studied in the Tanshui Estuary. The upper reach of the estuary is hypoxic and heavily polluted due to domestic and industrial discharges. The concentration ranges of dissolved and leachable particulate trace metals in the Tanshui Estuary were: Co: 0.3–6.1 nM, 1.8–18.6 mg kg⁻¹; Cu: 5–53 nM, 22–500 mg kg⁻¹; Fe: 388–3,364 nM, 1.08–6.67%; Mn: 57–2,914 nM, 209–1,169 mg kg⁻¹; Ni: 7–310 nM, 6–108 mg kg⁻¹; and Zn: 12–176 nM, 62–1,316 mg kg⁻¹; respectively. The dissolved concentrations of the metals were 2–35 times higher than the average values of the world river water. The distributions of dissolved and particulate studied metals, except Mn, in the estuary showed scattering, which could be attributed to the discharges from many industrial wastewater disposal works located in the upper tributaries. The daily input of dissolved metals from the disposal works to the Tanshui Estuary ranged from 0.1–0.4 tons. Dissolved Mn was nearly conservative in the region with salinity higher than 10 psu, while particulate Mn decreased in the region with salinity of 10–15 psu. The concentration increased significantly seawards, corresponding with the distribution of dissolved oxygen. The distribution coefficient (K_D) for Mn in the lower estuary was nearly three orders of magnitude higher than in the upper estuary. This phenomenon may be attributed to the diffusion of Mn from the anoxic sediment in the upper estuary and gradual oxidation into particulate Mn in the middle and lower estuary as the estuarine water became more oxygenated. The distribution coefficient for Cu decreased with increasing salinity. The percentages of trace metals bound by suspended particulate matter decreased in the following order: Fe>Zn, Cu>Co>Mn>Ni.     

Distribution and Removal of Silver and Lead in the Nearshore Waters of Western Taiwan

Concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Ag, and Pb in dissolved and particulate phases of the surface water were determined at 15 stations along the coastline off western Taiwan in April of 2007. This study presents the first set of data for Al, Ag, and Pb in the nearshore waters. Latitudinal distribution of these metals showed that high values were present in the regions affected by high fluvial discharge from the Dan-Sui River and the Cho-Sui River. Using the particle fluxes from ²¹⁰Po/²¹⁰Pb disequilibria, the removal fluxes and the residence times of the trace metals were calculated. Based on the K _d values, the sequence of particle affinity of trace metals, Fe ~ Al >> Pb > Mn > Ag, was found. The correlation of the residence times and of the partitioning coefficients of multiple metals in the nearshore waters implies that the affinities to the particles determine the geochemical cycling of metals in the coastal water.     

Partitioning of trace metals between particulate,colloidal and truly dissolved fractions in a polluted river: the Upper Vistula River (Poland)

Metal partitioning depends on the physical–chemical conditions of a system and can be affected by anthropogenic inputs. In this study, the authors report the results of trace metal partitioning between particulate (>1.2 μm), colloidal (1.2 μm–1 kDa) and truly dissolved (<1 kDa) fractions in the polluted section of the Upper Vistula River compared with the non-polluted headwaters. It was found that the salt input in the Vistula River induced a decrease of colloid concentration and the increase of suspended particulate matter. Compared with upstream from the polluted section, the metal concentrations (Co, Cu, Cr, Mn and Zn) in the colloidal fraction were lower. It was mainly due to the rapid colloid coagulation at increased salinity, the competition with ligands and major ions (Ca and Mg) and the weak mobility of metals associated with particles at the pollution sources.     

The importance of surface area in metal sorption by oxides and organic matter in a heterogeneous natural sediment

This study provides empirical validation of current trace metal sorption theory in a small urban river. We demonstrate that trace metal complexation reactions occur predominantly at the suspended particulate surface involving surface layers of Fe oxides and organic matter. Associated surface areas of these geochemical fractions were calculated where possible, using the total surface area (TSA) of the suspended particulate matter pool (SPM) in conjunction with estimates of suspended iculate Fe and Mn oxides (SPOX) and organic matter (SPOM) concentrations. Iron and Mn oxides concentrations were estimated using an extraction scheme. For two samples where no SPOM or Mn oxides were present, estimates of Fe oxides associated surface area were determined which compared favourably to literature estimates, providing further evidence for acceptance selectivity of extraction schemes. The utility of literature estimates of surface areas for single component sediments in heterogeneous sediments was also assessed. In mixed sediment samples, exposed surface areas of discrete phases are probably reduced due to mixed layering effects of the coatings, and the use of constants to estimate the surface areas of individual fractions does not work, since the relationship between the concentration of a given sedimentary fraction and its exposed surface area is no longer predictable.     

Hydrological and biogeochemical dynamics of the minor and trace elements in the St. Lawrence River

Surface water samples from the St. Lawrence River were collected in order to study the processes controlling minor and trace elements concentrations (Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni and Zn), and to construct mass balances allowing estimates of the relative importance of their natural and anthropogenic sources. The two major water inputs, the upper St. Lawrence River, which drains waters originating from the Lake Ontario, and the Ottawa River were collected fortnightly over 18 months. In addition, other tributaries were sampled during the spring floods. The output was monitored near Quebec City at the river mouth weekly between 1995 and 1999. Dissolved metal concentrations in the upper St. Lawrence River carbonated waters were lower than in the acidic waters of the tributaries draining the crystalline rocks of the Canadian shield and the forest cover. Biogeochemical and hydrodynamic processes occurring in Lake Ontario drive the seasonal variations observed in the upper St. Lawrence River. Biogeochemical processes relate to biological uptake, regeneration of organic matter (for Cd and Zn) and oxyhydroxide formation (for Mn and Fe), while hydrodynamic processes mainly concern the seasonal change in vertical stratification (for Cd, Mn, and Zn). In the Ottawa River, the main tributary, oxyhydroxide formation in summer governs seasonal patterns of Al, Fe, Mn, Cd, Co and Zn. The downstream section of the St. Lawrence River is a transit zone in which seasonal variations are mainly driven by the mixing of the different water masses and the large input of suspended particulate matter from erosion. The budget of all dissolved elements, except Fe and Zn, was balanced, as the budget of particulate elements (except Cd and Zn). The main sources of metals to the St. Lawrence River are erosion and inputs from tributaries and Lake Ontario. Direct anthropogenic discharges into the river accounted for less than 5% of the load, except for Cd (10%) and Zn (21%). The fluxes in transfer of dissolved Cd, Co, Cu and Zn species from the river to the lower St. Lawrence estuary were equal to corresponding fluxes calculated for Quebec City since the distributions of dissolved concentrations of these metals versus salinity were conservative. For Fe, the curvature of the dilution line obtained suggests that dissolved species were removed during early mixing.     

The contrasting biogeochemistry of iron and manganese in the Pacific Ocean

Vertical and horizontal distributions of dissolved and suspended particulate Fe and Mn, and vertical fluxes of these metals (obtained with sediment traps) were determined throughout the Pacific Ocean. In general, dissolved Fe is low in surface and deep waters (0.1 to 0.7 nmol/kg), with maxima associated with the intermediate depth oxygen minimum zone (2.0 to 6.6 nmol/kg). Vertical distributions of dissolved Mn are similar to previous reports, exhibiting a surface maximum, a subsurface minimum, a Mn maximum layer coincident with the oxygen minimum zone, and lowest values in deep waters.Near-shore removal processes are more intense for dissolved Fe than for dissolved Mn. Dissolved Mn in the surface mixed layer remains elevated much farther offshore than dissolved Fe. Elevated near-surface dissolved Mn concentrations occur in the North Pacific Equatorial Current, suggesting transport from the eastern boundary. Near-surface mixed-layer dissolved Mn concentrations are higher in the North Pacific gyre reflecting enhanced northern hemisphere aeolian sources.Residence time estimates for the settling of refractory paniculate Fe and Mn from the upper water column are 62–220 days (Fe), and 105–235 days (Mn). In contrast, residence times for the scavenging of dissolved Fe and Mn are 2–13 years (Fe) and 3–74 years (Mn). Scavenging residence times for dissolved Mn based on horizontal mixing in the surface mixed layer of the northeast Pacific are 0.4 years (nearshore) to 19 years (1000 km offshore).There is no evidence for in situ Fe redox dissolution within sub-oxic waters in the eastern tropical North Pacific. Dissolved Fe appeared to be controlled by dissolution from sub-oxic sediments, with oxidative scavenging in the water column or upper sediment layers. However, in situ Mn dissolution within the oxygen minimum zone was evident.     

Early diagenesis of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Co, Ni, U, Mo, and V) in the freshwater reaches of a macrotidal estuary

Vertical profiles from the water column, including the maximum turbidity zone (MTZ) to the consolidated sediment were sampled in September 2000 in the freshwater reaches of the Gironde Estuary during a complete neap tide-spring tide cycle. The vertical distributions of dissolved major redox parameters and metals (Mn, Fe, Cd, Cu, V, Co, Ni, Mo, and U) were determined. Reactive particulate metal fractions were also determined from selective leaching. The studied system is characterized by density layers functioning at different time-scales, consisting of two mobile layers, i.e., the liquid (LM) and the soft mud (SM), overlying consolidated sediments (CS). This results in a three-zone diagenetic regime where (1) O₂ dynamics are fast enough to show depletion in the rapidly mixed LM sequence (tidal time-scale), (2) denitrification occurs on the weekly time-scale mixing SM sequence, and (3) the Mn, Fe, and sulfate cycling occurs in the CS layer (annual time-scale). The studied trace metals show differential behavior during early diagenesis: (1) Cd, Cu, and V are released into pore water preferentially from organic matter in the SM, (2) Co, Ni, and U are released in the CS from Mn and Fe oxides during reductive dissolution, and (3) Mo from both processes. Transient conditions (i.e., oscillations of redox fronts and reoxidation processes), due to the dynamics of the mobile layers, strongly influence the trace metal distributions as inducing resolubilization (Cd, Cu, and Mo). In the CS, authigenic metal phases accumulate, either by direct precipitation with sulfides (Cu, Cd) or co-precipitation with Fe-sulfides (Mo). Microbially mediated reduction of Fe oxides is proposed to control U removal from pore water by reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) at depth. However, a significant fraction of the trace metals is trapped in the sediment in exchangeable forms, and therefore is susceptible to be mobilized due to resuspension of estuarine sediment during strong river flood periods and/or dredging activities.     

Characteristic features of pockmarks on the North Sea Floor and Scotian Shelf

This paper presents the results of a comparative study of pockmarks and associated features appearing on both sides of the North Atlantic: on the Scotian Shelf off Nova Scotia and in the northern North Sea. Pockmarks are formed in seabed material consisting of soft silty clay. The seismic, sonar and lithologic characteristics of the sediments on the Scotian Shelf are remarkably similar to those found in the northern North Sea. Sediment clouds suspended in the water column immediately over the seabed have previously been observed on side-scan records associated with gas-charged sediments on corresponding shallow-seismic records. These and similar observations strongly suggest that most pockmarks are caused by gas efflux through the seafloor. However, the detailed mechanism of formation and the origin of the gas in the sediments is still unknown.     

Relationships between organically bound Cu and Mn in settling particulate matter and biological processes in a subarctic estuary

Plankton studies in Kachemak Bay, Alaska were combined with short-term sediment trap deployments in order to show the relationships of fluxes of Cu and Mn in organic particulate matter with biological processes occurring in the overlying water column. A large spring bloom decrease throughout the summer, due to decreasing nutrient levels and increasing grazing pressure by zooplankton. The concentration of organically bound Cu and Mn in the sediment trap particulate material increased throughout the summer reaching a maximum in August while fecal pellet production exhibited a similar increase. The fluxes of total particulate matter and organic carbon reached a maximum in June and represented a 30% increase over the corresponding fluxes in May. In contrast, the fluxes of organically bound Cu and Mn and fecal pellets in August represented 200%, 360% and 760% increases, respectively, over their respective fluxes in May. These results suggest that the enrichment of Cu and Mn in the organic particulate matter during August was a result of bioaccumulation of these metals into fecal material. The increase in the flux of the organically bound metals indicates a strong coupling between biological processes in the water column and their vertical transport. Thus, the production and subsequent sinking of fecal pellets may govern the transport of trace metals to the underlying water column and may also govern the transfer of a primary source of food and its associated trace metals to benthic communities.     

Partitioning and Speciation of Trace Metal Diagenesis in Differing Depositional Environments in the Sediments of the Oman Margin

Organic-rich sediment samples collected from a transect within, and below, the Oman Margin oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) were analysed using a sequential leaching technique to characterise the diagenetic behaviour and speciation of Mn and Fe in operationally defined sediment host fractions. Trace metals showed distinct diagenetic behaviour in the two contrasting environments that were sampled. The absence of non-detrital Mn in the cores below the OMZ site is attributed to the lack of easily reducible oxides in surficial sediments and to the reduction and export of any moderately reducible aged oxides. The reactive form of solid phase Mn showed a classic feature of enrichment in the upper layer of the sediments at the abyssal site, reflecting the presence of an oxidising sedimentary layer which acts as a Mn trap during its recycling. The diagenetic Mn enrichment was inferred from typical downcore colour changes and an upward-increasing Mn content in the upper core sections. An easily reducible Fe oxide layer was observed in the abyssal sediments at an identical depth to the Mn enrichment suggesting that Fe associated with Mn oxides also has undergone sub-oxic diagenesis. However, the association of Fe with organic matter did not indicate diagenetic modification; i.e., the binding strength of the metal with organic materials appears to be sufficiently strong to preserve the trace metal. The speciation signature of non-detrital Fe differed from that of Mn. The association of Fe with organic matter suggests that this metal does not undergo diagenetic modification and is preserved in abyssal sediments. The contrasting behaviour of Mn and Fe observed between cores within the OMZ were particularly interesting. Another interesting observation was that, for cores below the OMZ, the iron oxides were associated with the Mn-oxide peak, rather than deeper in the sediments as observed by earlier studies in the Atlantic [Froelich et al. (1979). Geochim. et Cosmochim Acta 43, 1075–1090].This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the article title.     

Particulate trace metal and major element distributions over consecutive tidal cycles in Port Jackson Estuary,Australia

Particulate trace metal (Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn) and major element (Fe, Mn and Al) concentrations have been determined following intensive sampling over two consecutive spring tidal cycles in the 'turbidity maximum zone' (TMZ) of the Port Jackson estuary, Australia. Salinity, temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, suspended particulate matter (SPM) and chlorophyll a were also determined. A three-factor analysis of variance was used to test temporal variability in concentrations of particulate trace metals and major elements as a result of tidal oscillation. Estuarine master variables, such as temperature and pH, varied within a narrow range; nevertheless, the tidal signal was clear for surface and bottom waters. In surface water, no variance was detected in SPM concentrations between consecutive tidal cycles or between tidal stages (i.e. flood, ebb and slack water). In bottom water, however, SPM concentrations were significantly higher (PА.05) at flood tide than at slack high water and ebb tide. Concentrations of particulate trace metals and major elements in surface water do not display significant variability between tidal cycles or stages. Nevertheless, differences within each tidal stage were significant (PА.05) for all elements. In bottom water, only particulate Fe and Al exhibited significant differences (PА.05) between tidal cycles, whereas particulate Ni was the only trace element that presented significant differences (PА.05) between tidal stages, following the distribution of SPM, with highest concentrations at flood tide. Among the metals studied, significant variation was found at all three temporal scales examined (i.e. from hours to consecutive tidal cycles), although the patterns of variation were different for each metal. The semi-diurnal fluctuation of SPM and particulate trace metal concentrations during spring tides is interpreted as a resuspension-deposition cycle caused by cyclical oscillations of bottom currents. The results are discussed in the context of the implications of tidal cycle influence on the geochemistry and cycling of particulate trace metals in the Port Jackson estuary.     

Trace metals and dissolved organic carbon in an estuary with restricted river flow and a brown tide bloom

This study was designed to establish the distributions of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and inorganic nutrients (PO₄ and H₄SiO₄) in the water column of the small, relatively pristine Peconic River estuary. We were also able to examine the effects of a harmful microalgal bloom, known as the brown tide, which occurred in the area during our study. Because river inflow to the Peconic estuary is restricted by a small dam at the head of the estuary, direct evaluation of the relative importance of riverine inputs on estuarine metal distributions was possible. The simultaneous analyses of geochemical carrier metals (Al, Fe, and Mn), an indicator of sewage (Ag), and other ancillary parameters (e.g., suspended particulate matter, dissolved O₂, chlorophylla) were used to describe the major processes controlling metal concentrations in the dissolved phase. The trace metal distributions indicated two distinct biogeochemical regimes within the estuary: an anthropogenically perturbed region with high metal levels (e.g., Ag, 165 pM; Cu, 51 nM; Zn, 57 nM) at the head (Flanders Bay), and a larger outer region with relatively low metal concentrations. The very similar distributions of some metals (e.g., Mn, Ni) in the Peconic estuary compared to those in estuaries having much higher river flow demonstrated the dominant role of internal processes (e.g., diagenetic remobilization) in controlling these metal patterns. An inverse relationship between dissolved Fe and DOC with cell counts of the brown tide microalgaeAureococcus anophagefferens in our field study suggested a close association with the bloom, although a similar relationship was observed between dissolved Al and brown tide cell counts, implying that removal of Fe could be due to particle scavenging rather than biological uptake.     

Comparison of trace metal adsorption onto different solid materials and their chemical components in a natural aquatic environment

Solid materials such as suspended particulate matter (SPM), deposited sediment (DS) and natural surface coatings (NSC, composed of biofilms and associated minerals) are important sinks and potential sources of pollutants in natural aquatic environments. Although these materials can exist in the same water body, few studies have been conducted to compare their ability to adsorb trace metals. In this study, the adsorption of Pb, Cu and Cd by these solids, collected from an urban lake, was investigated. In addition, the metal adsorption properties of the main components of these solids, namely Mn and Fe oxides and organics, were also investigated using the method of selective extraction followed by metal adsorption. The solids that co-existed in water showed similarities and differences in their compositions. For each metal, adsorption to the solids occurred in the same order: NSC > SPM > DS. For Pb and Cd, Fe and Mn oxides and organics contributed to the adsorption by NSC and SPM, and the adsorption by DS was dominated by Fe oxides. For Cu, the organics were the main adsorptive phase. The specific adsorption capability of these components decreases in the following order: Mn oxides > Fe oxides > organics. Overall, the results presented herein indicate that different solids and their components played important roles in the adsorption of trace metals.     

Mobilization of trace metals in a tropical turbid estuary influenced by a monsoon season

The selective removal of trace metals by suspended matter in high turbidity zones plays a major role in the fluvial transport of terrigenous metals to the marine environment. The seasonal longitudinal variability of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Cd, Ni, Pb, Fe, and Mn) in Cochin estuary, a tropical positive estuary, was studied and the results were compared with the prevailing situation in other subtropical waterways. The hydrodynamical features showed increasing turbidity downstream with increasing salinities during both the seasons. In contrast with the temperate estuaries where the development of turbidity maxima causes the removal of metals, the estuaries of tropics modify the fluvial transport of metals by the way of redistribution between the dissolved and particulate fractions in the intermediate salinities. In Cochin estuary, the distributional features of trace metals are primarily influenced by the variations in salinities and river discharges. Consequently, this gives rise to two different types of distributional patterns: (1) during premonsoon, the estuarine reactivity is more pronounced and hence, mid-estuarine solubilization of the particulate metal appears to play a prominent role in controlling the fluxes of trace metals studied and (2) but during monsoon, the hydrological conditions influence the downstream transport of the metals more by physical dilution than chemical reactivity.     

Iron and other transition metals in Patagonian riverborne and windborne materials: geochemical control and transport to the southern South Atlantic Ocean

The bulk of particulate transition metals transported by Patagonian rivers shows an upper crustal composition. Riverine particulate 0.5 N HCl leachable trace metal concentrations are mainly controlled by Fe-oxides. Complexation of Fe by dissolved organic carbon (DOC) appears to be an important determinant of the phases transporting trace metals in Patagonian rivers. In contrast, aeolian trace elements have a combined crustal and anthropogenic origin. Aeolian materials have Fe, Mn, and Al contents similar to that found in regional topsoils. However, seasonal concentrations of some metals (e.g., Co, Pb, Cu, and Zn) are much higher than expected from normal crustal weathering and are likely pollutant derived.We estimate that Patagonian sediments are supplied to the South Atlantic shelf in approximately equivalent amounts from the atmosphere (∼30 × 10⁶ T yr⁻¹) and coastal erosion (∼40 × 10⁶ T yr⁻¹) with much less coming from the rivers (∼2.0 × 10⁶ T yr⁻¹). Low trace metal riverine fluxes are linked to the low suspended particulate load of Patagonian rivers, inasmuch most of it is retained in pro-glacial lakes as well as in downstream reservoirs. Based on our estimation of aeolian dust fluxes at the Patagonian coastline, the high nutrient-low chlorophyll sub Antarctic South Atlantic could receive 1.0 to 4.0 mg m⁻² yr⁻¹ of leachable (0.5 N HCl) Fe. Past and present volcanic activity in the southern Andes—through the ejection of tephra—must be highlighted as another important source of Fe to the South Atlantic Ocean. Based on the 1991 Hudson volcano eruption, it appears that volcanic events can contribute several thousand-fold the mass of “leachable” Fe to the ocean as is introduced by annual Patagonian dust fallout.     

Temporal and spatial variability of trace metals in suspended matter of the Mandovi estuary,central west coast of India

Studies on the suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Mandovi estuary, western India indicate that during the monsoon and pre-monsoon, the SPM increases, and the major and trace metals decrease from stations in the upstream to downstream of the estuary. SPM is consistently low at all stations during the post-monsoon. Trace metals (Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr, and Pb) show strong inter-relationships. They correlate well with Fe and Mn only during the monsoon. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Pb are high during the post-monsoon. Enrichment factors and I _geo values of metals indicate that Mn shows significant to strong pollution in all seasons, while Cr, Ni, and Zn during monsoon, and Cr during the post-monsoon show moderate pollution. SPM is controlled by the turbidity maximum, while major and trace metals are governed seasonally by a combination of river discharge, resuspension, spillage of Fe–Mn particulates, and anthropogenic contamination. Incursion of saline waters deep into the river channel during the dry season facilitates aggregation and settling of particulate-borne pollutants close to the discharge area, thereby keeping the estuarine waters free from major contamination.     

Further insights into how sediment redox status controls the preservation and composition of sedimentary biomarkers

Sedimentary biomarker distributions can record ocean productivity and community structure, but their interpretation must consider alteration during organic matter (OM) export and burial. Large changes in the water column redox state are known to impact on the preservation of biomarkers, but more subtle variation in sediment redox conditions, characteristic of major modern ocean basins, have been less thoroughly investigated. Here we evaluate changes in biomarker distributions during sinking and burial across a nearshore to offshore transect in the southwestern Cape Basin (South East Atlantic), which includes a range of sedimentary environments. Biomarker concentrations and distributions in suspended particulate matter from the upper water column were determined and compared with underlying sedimentary biomarker accumulation rates and distributions. Biomarker distributions were similar in surface and subsurface waters, indicating that the OM signature is exported from the ocean mixed layer with minimal alteration. We show that, while export production (100 m) is similar along this transect, ²³⁰Th_xs-corrected biomarker accumulation rate varies by over an order of magnitude in sediments and is directly associated with sedimentary redox conditions, ranging from oxic to nitrogenous–ferruginous. Biomarker distributions were dominated by sterols in surface water, and by alkenones in underlying sediments, which we propose to be primarily the result of selective preservation. Notably, the difference in sediment O₂ penetration depth was associated with relative biomarker preservation. Subtle variation in sedimentary redox conditions has a dramatic impact on the distribution of preserved biomarkers. We discuss mechanisms for preferential degradation of specific biomarkers within this setting.     

Geochemistry of dissolved and particulate elements in the major rivers of China (The Huanghe,Changjiang, and Zhunjiang rivers)

The relationship between the geochemistry of dissolved and particulate materials and geographic conditions was investigated. Samples of water and suspended particulate matter were collected from five locations in three of the major rivers of China (the Huanghe, Changjiang, and Zhunjiang rivers). Because these rivers generally flow parallel to latitudes and flow through diverse geologic and climate zones, they provide excellent opportunities for comparisons of solute transport. The geochemistry of these rivers is influenced strongly by climate. The low discharge of the Huanghe River influences the character of the major ionic materials (Cl^?+SO₄ ^2? and Na⁺+K⁺) as well as the high degree of mineralization within the system. Dissolved concentrations of both major ions and trace elements are lower in the southern reaches of the rivers. The highly mobile ions, such as, Na⁺ and Ca²⁺, are depleted from the suspended particulate material in the southern regions, while the relatively immobile ions of Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, and trace metals are concentrated within the suspended mateiral. The relative mobility of some elements as measured by the Dissolved Transport Index (DTI) changes with climate. The geology of the area drained by the rivers has a major influence on the geochemistry in areas of similar climate. Lowest leaching rates in the southern climates occur in areas dominated by granite, which is resistant to weathering. The composition of both cations and anions among the three tributaries of the Zhujiang River are dependent on the rocks that dominate each eregion. Some particulate forms of the rare earth elements are present in the highest concentrations in regions dominated by granite. The DTI calculated for the major rivers in China are much smaller than those computed for other major rivers of the world. The low concentration of heavy metals in the particulate material suggests that pollution in the rivers of China is less serious than in rivers of other industrialized countries.