Laboratory scale study of an industrial phosphate and thermal treatment for polluted dredged sediments

Dredged sediments are being chemically treated with phosphoric acid on an industrial scale.The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by performing the chemical reaction in a tubular reactor, followed by convective drying and maturation of the treated sediment at ambient temperature and finally thermal destruction of the organic matter by calcinations(500℃-900℃).The influence of acid concentration and calcination temperature on the specific surface area of the sediment was investigated. The stabilization of the heavy metals was evaluated by leaching tests and sequential extraction procedures.The phosphoric acid treatment is effective in reducing heavy metal mobility,a prerequisite for recycling the sediments in various construction materials.     

Characterisation of sediments polluted by acid mine drainage in the northeast of Algeria

The present study investigates the composition and the mineralogy of sediments in the Essouk River, located in the Northeast of Algeria in Sidi Kamber mining zone at approximately 2km upstream Guenitra Reservoir.The mine is abandoned since 1976,but acidic drainage water is still a source of river contamination.Powder X-Ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM) with energy dispersive analyses(EDX),X -Fluorescence analyses and infrared spectroscopy analyses were used to characterize surface sediments sampled at various sites in the area near the mining effluents. The obtained results show that the composition of the sediments is mainly dominated by iron and sulphur.In the vicinity of the mine,jarosite and schwertmannite are the essential precipitates. Downstream,sediments are formed by various phases of iron oxyhydroxydes with the presence of adsorbed sulphate.     

Total and organic mercury concentrations in the muscles of Pacific albacore (Thunnus alalunga) and bigeye tuna (Thunnus obesus)

Muscles of 115 North Pacific albacore (ALB, Thunnus alalunga) and 75 Pacific bigeye tuna (BET, Thunnus obesus), collected from 2001 to 2006, were analyzed. No ALB, but 13 large BET had organic mercury (OHg) concentrations exceeding 1 μg g⁻¹ wet weight. For both ALB and BET, total mercury (THg) and OHg concentrations were significantly and positively correlated with fork length (FL) and body weight. The muscle Hg bioaccumulation rates of BET were higher than those of ALB, particularly in the adult fish. Moreover, the lines had crossover points among the two species that imply the young BET (FL < 110 cm) contains lower muscle Hg concentrations than ALB of the same size. The suggested weekly dietary intake of ALB and small-BET meats is 340 g, and of BET meat it is 150 g for a 60-kg person based on the provisional tolerable weekly intake (PTWI) of methylmercury set by the WHO.     

洞庭湖沉积物中重金属污染特征与评价

于2003-2004年在洞庭湖湖区采集沉积物样品700个,测定了沉积物中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn的含量,并用地积累指数方法和主成分分析法对沉积物中的重金属污染状况进行了评价和分析.结果显示,洞庭湖各子湖区沉积物中Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、zn的平均含量都属于国家土壤二级标准,AB、Hg、Ni属于国家土壤一级至二级土壤标准;在南洞庭湖与东洞庭湖人湖河流的三角洲的前缘是沉积物重金属积累最高的地点,而在西洞庭湖入湖河流三角洲的后缘沉积物重金属含量比前缘高.采用综合地积累指数法对洞庭湖各子湖区沉积物进行评价,结果表明:南洞庭湖(重污染)>东洞庭湖(偏重污染)>西洞庭湖(中度污染)>大通湖(中度污染)>城陵矶(轻度污染).采用主成分分析法对洞庭湖各子湖区沉积物进行分析,结果表明:南洞庭湖与东洞庭溯第一主成分贡献率分别为55.22%、56.86%,主要支配AS、Cd、Hg、Pb、zn的载荷,而第二主成分贡献率分别为30.04%、33.11%主要支配Cu、Cr、Ni的载荷:西洞庭湖、大通湖和城陵矶因沉积物重金属来源不同,主成分分析结果相差较大.     

Bioremediation and fodder potentials of two Sargassum spp. in coastal waters of Shenzhen,South China

In this study, the bioremediation potentials of two seaweeds (Sargassum hemiphyllum and S. henslowianum) against pollution in a coastal mariculture area of Shenzhen, South China, were investigated by comparing the growth, nutrient bioaccumulation capacity of plants from the seaweed bed (control site) with plants from the fish farm. Results indicated that both species are potential candidates for bioremediation in the fish farm areas in terms of their high growth rates and high bioaccumulation capacities on inorganic nutrients. Both Sargassum spp. contain high levels of crude protein (11.7–14.0%) and crude fat (2.2–2.7%), suggesting high nutritional values. The S. hemiphyllum may serve as a good aquaculture fodder with high nutritional compositions and low heavy metal contents. However, heavy metals (Cr, Pb and Cd) of S. henslowianum exceed the maximum allowable concentrations as aquatic feed, which restricts its fodder application. In general, the results of this study may contribute to the marine pollution bioremediation in the coastal areas of South China, especially in mariculture zones.     

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.     

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.     

Heavy metal contamination and ecological risk in Spartina alterniflora marsh in intertidal sediments of Bohai Bay,China

To investigate the effects of Spartina alterniflora on heavy metals pollution of intertidal sediments, sediment cores of a S. alterniflora salt marsh and a mudflat in Bohai Bay, China were analyzed. The results showed that S. alterniflora caused higher total C and P, but lower bulk density and electrical conductivity. The levels of Cd, Cu and Pb were higher in S. alterniflora sediment. Both Cd and Zn were higher than the probable effect level at both sites, indicating their toxicological importance. The geo-accumulation and potential ecological risk indexes revealed higher metal contamination in S. alterniflora sediment. Multivariate analysis implied that anthropogenic activities altered mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals. The percentage of mobile heavy metals was higher in S. alterniflora sediment, indicating improvement of conversion from the immobilized fraction to the mobilized fraction. These findings indicate that S. alterniflora may facilitate accumulation of heavy metals and increase their bioavailability and mobility.     

Factors contributing to heavy metal accumulation in sediments and in the intertidal mussel Perna perna in the Gulf of Annaba (Algeria)

This paper presents the results of a seasonal survey of heavy metals accumulated in sediments and in the soft parts of the body of the mussel Perna perna at four stations in the Gulf of Annaba (Algeria). Pooled soft tissues from 10 mussels representing the entire range of sizes were digested in nitric acid. Statistical analysis reveals a significant seasonal effect on all the measured metals, the highest values being recorded in winter. With the exception of Cr, the levels for all metals were significantly higher in the east, at the outlet of the Seybouse River, than at all other monitoring stations. The study also shows that north-western waters are subject to a significantly lower degree of heavy metal pollution than elsewhere in the gulf. Levels were nevertheless within the limits of public health standards.     

A baseline study of metal contamination along the Namibian coastline for Perna perna and Choromytilus meridionalis

The use of bivalves such as the brown mussel (Perna perna) and the black mussel (Choromytilus meridionalis) is common in the study of marine pollution and the effect of these pollutants on ecosystems and are important in both economic and ecological roles. Namibian marine ecosystems are threatened by pollution from mining, commercial fishing and population growth. The aims of this study were to determine baseline metal concentrations, spatial variation and variation between species. Metal levels in C. meridionalis from Guano Platform (GP) are the lowest of all the sites. The most polluted sites are Rocky Point (RP), Halifax Island (HIL) and between Walvis Bay and Swakopmund (WS). The bioaccumulation of metals between P. perna and C. meridionalis were not uniform for all metals. Overall the study indicates the condition of the coastline to be mostly normal, with Cd and Pb levels being of concern.     

太湖梅梁湾沉积物中重金属的赋存相态及其对污染历史的示踪

本文以梅梁湾沉积物中的重金属元素为研究对象,利用五步连续提取的方法将梅梁湾沉积物中的重金属元素分水溶态、可交换态、碳酸盐结合态、铁锰氧化物结合态、有机物结合态和残留态六种相态.应用210Pb、137Cs定年法相结合,通过对百年沉积物的连续提取及元素富集系数的分析,得到重金属元素在不同相态中的含量随时间的变化.与历史时期人类活动相比较,重建了自19世纪末期到2000年的人类活动影响流域环境的历史,证实了重金属元素含量变化主要受人类活动的强度和方式制约.具明显影响的人类活动分三个时段,其中最为严重的时段是自1977年至今.与无锡历年工业产值变化的对比分析表明,各相态中重金属含量的相似变化记录了梅梁湾受湖湾沿岸居民的经济生产活动影响,污染程度日益加剧,且工业废污水中重金属主要以铁锰氧化物结合态进入太湖生态系统中.     

Temporal distribution of heavy metal concentrations in oysters Crassostrea rhizophorae from the central Venezuelan coast

The oyster Crassostrea rhizophorae is a bivalve abundant in Venezuelan estuaries and consumed by local populations. No known values have been reported on trace metals in oysters from the central Venezuelan coast. We report the concentrations of Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn in the soft parts of C. rhizophorae, which were collected bimonthly between March 2008 and March 2009, at two sampling areas from the Central Venezuelan Coast: Buche estuary and Mochima estuary. Our results show that for each metal there is a similar temporal variation pattern. The concentrations of the heavy metals reported in this work are useful as reliable baselines and can be used for comparison in future environment studies. Concentrations in C. rhizophorae from the Buche estuary can be interpreted to be high on a global scale for Cd, Cu, Ni and Mn, indicating atypically raised bioavailabilities.     

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in the surficial sediments from the lower Meghna River estuary,Noakhali coast,Bangladesh

Sediment samples were collected from ten selected sites of the lower Meghna River estuary,and six heavy metals were analyzed with Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry(AAS)to assess the contamination level and the metals’association with sediment grain size.The current results revealed that the mean concentrations of the studied metals were ranked in descending order of iron(Fe)(1.29×103 mg/kg)>zinc(Zn)(42.41 mg/kg)>lead(Pb)(12.48 mg/kg)>chromium(Cr)(10.59 mg/kg)>copper(Cu)(6.22 mg/kg)>cadmium(Cd)(0.28 mg/kg).The geo-accumulation,contamination,and pollution load indexes suggested that the lower Meghna river estuary was not contaminated by Fe,Zn,Pb,Cr,and Cu.The mean size of the sediment ranged from 28.92 to 126.2 mm,and the Pearson correlation coefficient showed a significant association between Fe and Pb(coefficient of determination,r2=0.836;p<0.05),and no significant correlation was found between individual metals and grain size,indicating no or low influence on the metals distribution.     

Monitoring of heavy metals in wild mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from the Spanish North-Atlantic coast

Concentrations of five heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu and Zn) were determined in tissues of wild mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) collected at 41 stations located on the Spanish Atlantic and Northern coasts to assess the levels and spatial distribution of metals in the environment. This study, performed in 2005, constituted a contribution to the last international OSPAR pollution monitoring survey. A pool of mussel soft tissue was prepared using 50 or more individuals, representing the size range present at the sampling points. Quantification was carried out after a nitric acid digestion by atomic absorption spectrometry, AAS (Cd and Pb by electrothermal AAS; Cu and Zn by flame AAS; and total mercury by the cold vapour technique). The quality of the chemical analyses was assessed by interlaboratory exercises carried out on a regular basis. In general, the levels of the metals were higher for the Northern region than for the Atlantic one (except for a sampling site close to Vigo, one of the main Galician industrial areas). Some Galician sampling points (Atlantic coast, NW of Spain) located far from human inputs showed high Cd concentrations, which were attributed to the annual upwelling processes in this region. The levels of Cu increased from Northwest to East, whereas Zn concentrations were very homogeneous throughout the two studied geographical regions. These results were confirmed using multivariate studies (PCA and cluster analysis), as well as international ‘background assessment concentrations’ criteria.     

巢湖沉积物重金属富集特征与人为污染评价

本文分析了巢湖主要入湖河流河口区表层沉积物及西部湖心区沉积岩芯中Al、Fe、Ni、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb、Li、V等金属元素变化特征,采用地球化学方法对金属元素变化的"粒度效应"进行矫正,并以Li、V为参照元素对矫正结果进行检验;参考历史沉积物,对河口区及西部湖心区沉积物重金属人为污染特征进行分析;结合沉积岩芯210Pb年代结果,估算西部湖心区近150a来Ni、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb等重金属元素的人为污染贡献量.结果表明,河口表层沉积物重金属污染具有显著的空间差异,南淝河河口重金属人为污染最重,其中Ni、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb的人为污染贡献量分别为12.2、32.2、25.3、479.9和76.0 mg/kg,分别占总含量的35%、37%、64%、92%和77%;其次是柘皋河河口,主要重金属污染元素为Cu、Zn和Pb,人为污染贡献量达57.6、57.0和19.5 mg/kg,分别占总含量的73%、47%和36%;而派河、白石山河、杭埠河等河口表层沉积物中重金属元素人为污染程度较弱.巢湖西部湖心区主要污染元素为Cu、Zn、Pb,人为污染开始于1950s,1980年以来其人为污染贡献量显著增加,平均为16.2、245.6、47.8 mg/(m2.a),分别占各元素沉积通量的23%、61%和37%;Ni人为污染开始于1980s初期,人为污染贡献量平均为12.6 mg/(m2.a),占其沉积通量的13%左右;Cr基本未受人为污染影响.西部湖心区沉积岩芯及南淝河河口表层沉积物中重金属污染程度均表现为Zn>Pb>Cu,而且南淝河河口沉积物重金属污染程度显著高于西部湖心区.结合主要入湖河流径流量与河口沉积物重金属污染特征,认为巢湖西部湖心区重金属污染主要通过南淝河输入,来自合肥等城市的废水是主要的污染源.     

Comparison of metal accumulation in the azooxanthellate scleractinian coral (Tubastraea coccinea) from different polluted environments

The response of metal accumulation in coral Tubastraea coccinea to various degrees of metal enrichment was investigated from the Yin-Yang Sea (YYS) receiving abandoned mining effluents, the Kueishan Islet (KI) hydrothermal vent field, and the nearshore area of remoted Green Island (GI). The concentrations of most dissolved metals were highest in seawater at YYS, followed by KI, and then GI, showing the effects of anthropogenic and venting inputs on metal levels. Five metals (Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn) yielded significant differences (p < 0.05) among the skeleton samples. We identified similar patterns in the metal–Ca ratios, indicating that the elevated metals in skeletons was a consequence of external inputs. The coral tissues were relatively sensitive in monitoring metal accumulation, showing significant differences among three locations for Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Specific bioconcentration factors provided strong support for the differential metal accumulation in skeletons and tissues.     

Adaptation to high light irradiances enhances the photosynthetic Cu resistance in Cu tolerant and non-tolerant populations of the brown macroalgae Fucus serratus

The relationship between light acclimation and Cu²⁺ tolerance was studied in two populations of Fucus serratus known to be naturally non-tolerant and tolerant to Cu²⁺. Acclimation to high irradiances increased the photosynthetic tolerance to Cu²⁺. The xanthophyll cycle was apparently not involved in protecting the photosynthetic apparatus against Cu²⁺ toxicity, as results showed that Cu²⁺ did not induce dynamic photoinhibition. The higher photosynthetic Cu²⁺ resistance of high light algae did not result in increased growth. The excess energy acquired by high light-adapted algae appeared to be utilized in Cu²⁺ defense mechanisms in the Cu²⁺ non-tolerant population. The polyphenol content of the algae was reciprocal to the Cu_T content, suggesting that polyphenol may be the primary Cu²⁺ defense of non-tolerant low light algae, acting through secretion and extracellular chelating of Cu²⁺, while the compounds do not seem to be involved in the primary Cu²⁺ tolerance mechanism in Cu²⁺ tolerant algae.     

Effect of Sample Digestion,Air Filter Contamination,and Post‐adsorption on the Analysis of Trace Elements in Air Particulate Matter

Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry and inductively coupled plasma MS are the major analytical tools for trace elements in environmental matrices, however, the underestimate of certain trace elements in analysis of air particulate matter by these two techniques has long been observed. This has been attributed to incomplete sample digestion. Here, we demonstrate that the combined effects of sample digestion, air filter impurities, and post‐adsorption of the analytes contribute to the interference of the analysis. Particular attention should be paid to post‐adsorption of analytes onto air filters after acid digestion.     

典型小型水库表层沉积物重金属分布特征及生态风险

以典型乡镇水库通济桥水库表层沉积物为研究对象,在分析其中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb和Zn等有毒、有害重金属分布特征的基础上,分析重金属来源,评价重金属污染程度及其潜在生态危害.结果表明:通济桥水库表层沉积物中,上述8种重金属均存在一定程度的污染,坝前和入库区污染物蓄积更为明显.其中,Hg和Cd的污染范围较广、污染程度较严重.受重金属Hg和Cd的影响,水库表层沉积物存在中等程度的重金属生态危害风险,其中坝前区域已处于强风险等级.为保障水库水体水质安全,防范重金属污染应提到当前水库管理工作的重要位置.     

Correlation assessment and monitoring of the potential pollutants in the surface sediments of Pyeongchang River, Korea

The study provides a baseline for the assessment of the organic and inorganic pollution specially, heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments of Pyeongchang River,South Korea.The assessment of the study areas was done with respect to metal pollution load,ecological risk and geoaccumulated risk.Based upon the used indices,a priority index(P_index) was used to rank the utmost contaminated sites.Though the concentrations of mercury in all sediments were below the guideline, the significant enriched contamination was observed by all applied indices.As expected,the values of pollution load index（PLI）,ecological risk index（RI） and geoaccumulation risk index(I_geo) demonstrated lower heavy metal contamination in upstream areas compared to the downstream. Admittedly,sediments were unpolluted to slightly-polluted according to PLI while high to extremely high ecological risks were observed in several sediment samples.Furthermore,all the samples were uncontaminated as per I_geo.After simplification of I_geo,the P_index,showed the utmost contaminated sediments with a value of 2.537.Notably,protective measures should be taken to the highly contaminated areas which are prioritized by P_index Admittedly,the maximum concentrations of total organic carbon,total nitrogen,inorganic nitrogen,total phosphorous,inorganic phosphorous,calcium, magnesium,sodium and potassium were significantly observed as 7.8×10⁴,3,185,36,1,032,3.7, 1,5163,2,881,669 and 4,076mg/kg accordingly.