Mercury in blood and eggs of the sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea from a nesting colony in Oaxaca, Mexico

Mercury concentrations were assessed in the sea turtle Lepidochelys olivacea from a nesting colony of Oaxaca, Mexico; 25 female turtles were sampled, a total of 250 eggs were collected during the season 2005-2006. Higher concentrations were found in yolk fraction, while in blood and albumen mean levels were below of 0.0010 μg g⁻¹ dry wt. On the basis of one nesting season, the maternal transfer of Hg via eggs-laying was estimated in 2.0 ± 1.1%. According to international norms, the health of this population and its habitats is acceptable for Hg and corresponds to baseline levels of a nearly pristine environment.     

Baseline heavy metals and metalloid values in blood of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from Baja California Sur, Mexico

Environmental pollution due to heavy metals is having an increased impact on marine wildlife accentuated by anthropogenic changes in the planet including overfishing, agricultural runoff and marine emerging infectious diseases. Sea turtles are considered sentinels of ecological health in marine ecosystems. The objective of this study was to determine baseline concentrations of zinc, cadmium, copper, nickel, selenium, manganese, mercury and lead in blood of 22 clinically healthy, loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), captured for several reasons in Puerto López Mateos, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Zinc was the most prevalent metal in blood (41.89 μg g⁻¹), followed by Selenium (10.92 μg g⁻¹). The mean concentration of toxic metal Cadmium was 6.12 μg g⁻¹ and 1.01 μg g⁻¹ respectively. Mean concentrations of metals followed this pattern: Zn > Se > Ni > Cu > Mn > Cd > Pb and Hg. We can conclude that blood is an excellent tissue to measure in relatively non-invasive way baseline values of heavy metals in Caretta caretta.     

Anthropogenic lead concentrations and sources in Baltic Sea sediments based on lead isotopic composition

The Gulf of Gdańsk is influenced by heavy metals of anthropogenic origin. In this study, temporal concentration changes of Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cu were studied in six, 50 cm long sediment cores. The main aim of the study was to concentrate on the history of Pb fluxes and Pb isotopic composition (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb) to trace Pb sources. The lowest Pb concentrations (19 μg g⁻¹) were measured in sediments deposited circa 1860, while the highest Pb concentrations (63–147 μg g⁻¹) were measured in sediments deposited between 1960s and 70s. Pre-industrial Pb fluxes were 7 Pb m² year⁻¹, while after WWII they reached 199 Pb m² year⁻¹. Highest ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (∼1.22) were measured in the oldest sediment layers, and the lowest ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios (∼1.165) were measured in the sediments deposited in 1970s–90s. During the period of highest Pb contamination, the anthropogenic Pb fraction reached up to 93%. A general discussion of the Pb sources, emissions, and loads for Poland is included.     

Trace elements in the sediments of a large Mediterranean marina (Port Camargue,France): Levels and contamination history

The study of trace elements (Cu, Zn, Pb, As, Hg) and butyltin concentrations in the sediments of Port Camargue enabled assessment of the levels and history of the contamination of the largest European marina linked with the use of antifouling paints. Surface sediments near the boat maintenance area were heavily contaminated with up to 1497 μg g⁻¹ of Cu, 475 μg g⁻¹ of Zn, 0.82 μg g⁻¹ of Hg, 94 μg g⁻¹ of Pb and over 10,000 ngSn g⁻¹ of tributyltin (TBT). High concentrations of Hg and TBT indicate ongoing sources of these elements despite the ban on their use as biocides in paints. Sediment cores provided records of contamination since 1969. The peak concentrations of As, Hg, Pb and TBT in the sediment profile reflect their presence on boat hulls when the marina was built at the end of the 1960s. Degradation of TBT in the sediments near the boat maintenance area is slow compared to other less contaminated area of the marina.     

Levels of persistent organic pollutants and residual pattern of DDTs in small cetaceans from the coast of São Paulo, Brazil

The State of São Paulo is the most developed area in Brazil and was impacted by persistent organic pollutants for several decades. This study investigated organochlorines in five species of small cetaceans (Pontoporia blainvillei, Stenella frontalis, Sotalia guianensis, Tursiops truncatus and Steno bredanensis) found dead along the coast of São Paulo between 1997 and 2003. DDTs (15.9 μg g⁻¹ lipid; mean for all pooled individuals) and PCBs (8.08 μg g⁻¹) exhibited the highest concentrations in the animals, reflecting large amounts formerly used in Brazil. Lower levels of mirex (0.149 μg g⁻¹), HCB (0.051 μg g⁻¹), CHLs (0.008 μg g⁻¹) and HCHs (0.007 μg g⁻¹) were detected in all species. Residual pattern of DDTs in dolphins suggests that o,p′-DDT is more recalcitrant than p,p′-DDT in the body of the animals and/or the environment. In contrast to p,p′-DDT, residues of o,p′-DDT seem to be preferentially converted into o,p′-DDD rather than o,p′-DDE.     

Metal concentrations in sediments from tourist beaches of Miri City,Sarawak, Malaysia (Borneo Island)

Forty-three sediment samples were collected from the beaches of Miri City, Sarawak, Malaysia to identify the enrichment of partially leached trace metals (PLTMs) from six different tourist beaches. The samples were analyzed for PLTMs Fe, Mn, Cr, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sr and Zn. The concentration pattern suggest that the southern side of the study area is enriched with Fe (1821–6097 μg g⁻¹), Mn (11.57–90.22 μg g⁻¹), Cr (51.50–311 μg g⁻¹), Ni (18–51 μg g⁻¹), Pb (8.81–84.05 μg g⁻¹), Sr (25.95–140.49 μg g⁻¹) and Zn (12.46–35.04 μg g⁻¹). Compared to the eco-toxicological values, Cr > Effects range low (ERL), Lowest effect level (LEL), Severe effect level (SEL); Cu > Unpolluted sediments, ERL, LEL; Pb > Unpolluted sediments and Ni > ERL and LEL. Comparative results with other regions indicate that Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn are higher, indicating an external input rather than natural process.     

Stable Pb isotope ratios in aerosols, precipitation, and size-fractionated particulate matter in the Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf, and Labrador Sea

Measurements of Pb isotopes in aerosols, precipitation, and size-fractionated particulate matter from the Gulf of Maine, Scotian Shelf and Labrador Sea are used to investigate the source of Pb. The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio in aerosols and precipitation collected at New Castle, NH suggests that anthropogenic Pb is a mixture of US and Canadian sources. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in >53 μm particulate matter from the Gulf of Maine and Scotian Shelf slope waters are consistent with contaminant Pb inputs predominantly from US and Canadian sources, while in shelf waters ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in >0.4 μm and >53 μm particles are consistent with a mixture of US and Canadian sources, as well as Pb associated with resuspended surface sediment. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios in particulate matter (>0.4 μm, 10-53 μm, and >53 μm) from Labrador Sea surface waters range from 1.165 to 1.211 and are a mixture of Pb derived from ore compositions consistent with Broken Hill, Australia and southeast Missouri, US sources.     

Refining the pre-industrial atmospheric Pb isotope evolution curve in Europe using an 8000 year old peat core from NW Spain

Pb pollution has existed for several millennia and remains relevant today. By using peat cores as environmental archives it is possible to reconstruct this long history on a regional scale. This is a significant contribution to the findings from ice core records, the only other archive recording purely atmospheric additions. Without information that allows linking and comparison between sites regionally, within Europe and elsewhere, our ability to make coherent global models of the natural Pb cycle, and anthropogenic forcing of this cycle, is limited. In this respect, the characteristics of the Pb pre-pollution aerosol (PPA) are important to define globally. We characterize for the first time a PPA in Southern Europe with [Pb] = 0.78 ± 0.86 μg g^− 1, net Pb accumulation rates of 0.032 ± 0.030 mg m^− 2 y^− 1 and a ²⁰⁶Pb / ²⁰⁷Pb signature of 1.25470 ± 0.02575. This PPA Pb isotope signature is more radiogenic than that found thus far in Western and Northern Europe. Spain is a historically important mining site. Using three-isotope plots and a pool of potential Pb isotope signatures, a detailed source appointment of both natural and anthropogenic Pb sources was made. We found evidence of Saharan aridification and its termination ∼4400 BP and/or agricultural signals and strong local control (from rock and soil) of the Pb PPA. Human impact is first recorded at 3210 BP but does not exceed 50% of deposited Pb until 3005 BP. Mines in SE Spain dominate early Pb pollution history at this site. During the rise of Roman rule, contributions come from mines in N, NW and SW Spain with no strong indication of other European mining activities. In Medieval and Industrial times local contributions to the peat bog are reduced.     

Metal (Al, Fe, Mn and Cu) distributions and origins of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the surface sediments of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul, Turkey

In this study, total metal (Al, Fe, Mn and Cu) and PAHs analyses have been done in the surface sediments. Sediment samples have been collected from seven parts of the Marmara Sea and the coast of Istanbul during 2009. Total Al, Fe, Mn and Cu contents vary between 1.8% and 5.4%; 1.1% and 2.8%; 122 and 259 μg g⁻¹; 27 and 416 μg g⁻¹, respectively. EF and CF values of Fe and Mn are lower than 1.5 and 1, respectively, in all the stations. Total PAH contents range between 135 and 6009 ng g⁻¹ in the surface sediments. The origin of PAHs has been found pyrolitic according to the Phe/Ant ratio in the all stations. Contrastingly, at K0, MKC and MY1 Stations, PAH origins have been observed petrogenic according to the Flu/Pyr ratio.     

Assessment of health safety from ingestion of natural radionuclides in seafoods from a tropical coast, India

The activities of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were determined in commonly consumed seafoods to evaluate the internal exposure and risk to humans residing Kudankulam coast where a mega nuclear power plant is under construction. The concentration of ²¹⁰Po in seafoods ranged from 1.2 ± 0.7 to 248 ± 8.1 Bq kg⁻¹. Meanwhile, ²¹⁰Pb ranged between 1.1 ± 0.05 and 14.8 ± 1.6 Bq kg⁻¹. The committed effective dose (CED) due to ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb varied from 11.04 to 515.6 and 3.93 to 23.5 μSv yr⁻¹, respectively. The lifetime cancer risk for the public due to ²¹⁰Po was in the range of 3.47 × 10⁻⁵-1.62 × 10⁻³ and it was 4.03 × 10⁻⁵-1.96 × 10⁻⁴ due to ²¹⁰Pb. The activity intake, effective dose and cancer risk was found lesser than international guidelines and the seafood intake was considered to be safe for human consumption.     

Occurrence and distribution of phthalate esters in riverine sediments from the Pearl River Delta region,South China

Sixty-eight sediment samples collected from Dongjiang River, Xijiang River, Beijiang River and Zhujiang River in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region, Southern China, were analyzed for 16 phthalate esters (PAEs). PAEs were detected in all riverine sediments analyzed, which indicate that PAEs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. The Σ₁₆PAEs concentrations in riverine sediments in the PRD region ranged from 0.567 to 47.3 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (dw), with the mean and median concentrations of 5.34 μg g⁻¹ dw and 2.15 μg g⁻¹ dw, respectively. Elevated PAEs concentrations in riverine sediments in the PRD region were found in the highly urbanized and industrialized areas. Of the 16 PAEs, diisobutyl phthalate (DiBP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DnBP) and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) dominated the PAEs, with the mean and median concentrations of 1.12 μg g⁻¹ dw, 0.420 μg g⁻¹ dw and 3.72 μg g⁻¹ dw, and 0.429 μg g⁻¹ dw, 0.152 μg g⁻¹ dw and 1.55 μg g⁻¹ dw, respectively, and accounted for 94.2–99.7% of the Σ₁₆PAEs concentrations. Influenced by local sources and the properties of PAEs, a gradient trend of concentrations and a fractionation of composition from more to less industrialized and urbanized areas were discovered. As compared to the results from other studies, the riverine sediments in the PRD region were severely contaminated with PAEs. Information about PAEs contamination status and its effect on the aquatic organisms in the PRD region may deserve further attention.     

Levels of Po and Pb in mussel and sediments in Candarlı Gulf and the related dose assessment to the coastal population

²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and sediment samples collected at Candarl? Gulf during the period of 2010–2012 are presented and discussed. The activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb were measured by means of alpha spectrometry. Activity concentrations of ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb in mussels are in the ranged of 332 ± 17–776 ± 23 Bq kg⁻¹ dw and 14 ± 1–40 ± 5 Bq kg⁻¹ dw, for sediments the ranges for 52 ± 5–109 ± 8 Bq kg⁻¹ dw and 38 ± 5–92 ± 9 Bq kg⁻¹ dw, respectively. The estimated consequent annual effective ingestion dose due to ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Pb from mussel consumption in Candarl? Gulf coastal region were calculated. The highest dose due to ²¹⁰Po and ²¹⁰Po were calculated to be 4232 ± 126 μSv and 126 ± 16 μSv, respectively.     

Bacterioplankton dynamics along the gradient from highly eutrophic Pearl River Estuary to oligotrophic northern South China Sea in wet season: implication for anthropogenic inputs

Bacterioplankton abundance (BA) and biomass (BB) from the eutrophic Pearl River Estuary (PRE) to the oligotrophic northern South China Sea (NSCS) were studied in the wet season. BA was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in PRE (12.51 ± 3.52 × 10⁸ cells L⁻¹), than in the continental shelf neritic province (CSNP, 4.95 ± 2.21 × 10⁸ cells L⁻¹) and in the deep oceanic province (OP, 3.16 ± 1.56 × 10⁸ cells L⁻¹). Nutrient-replete PRE waters (DIN > 100 μM and PO₄ > 1 μM) resulted in high chl a and BB, whereas nutrient-depleted offshore waters (DIN <5 μM and PO₄ < 0.5 μM) had low biomass. Temperature (>26 °C) was not the controlling factor of BA. BB was significantly correlated with chl a biomass both in PRE and NSCS. The bacteria to phytoplankton biomass (BB/PB) ratio increased clearly along the gradient from near-shore PRE (0.15) to offshore CSNP (0.93) and deep OP (2.75), indicating the important role of small cells in the open ocean compared to estuarine and coastal zones.     

Historical record of metal accumulation and lead source in the southeastern coastal region of Korea

Concentrations of heavy metals and Pb isotopes were measured in the 1-M HCl leaching fraction of core sediments spanning the last 400 years. This sedimentary record of pollution history in metal concentrations shows a good correlation with the increases in industrialization, urbanization, and energy consumption since 1901s. Notably, the Pb concentration and the ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb ratios were constant before the 1910s (16.7 μg/g, 0.844, and 2.098, respectively), whereas they increased steadily up to 21.9 μg/g, 0.848, and 2.101 after the 1910s. The correlations between Pb isotope ratios (²⁰⁶Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb, and ²⁰⁸Pb) showed different linear regression trends for core sediments before and after the 1910s, indicating differences in Pb sources. Our interpretation suggests that the source of anthropogenic Pb in Korean coastal region and the Yellow Sea shelf was presumed to be Chinese coals or ores, which have also played a major role as sources of atmospheric particulate Pb.     

Dry deposition and particle-size distribution of phosphorus in the marine atmosphere over the northeastern coast of Taiwan

This study is the first to measure the particulate phosphorus, including total inorganic phosphorus (TIP) and organic phosphorus (OP), in size-fractionated atmospheric particles. The results indicate that continental and marine sources are the key controls on the particle-size distribution of phosphorus species. For continental and local anthropogenic sources, both TIP and OP are associated with fine-mode aerosols during the winter and spring, and both are also associated with coarse particles during the summer and autumn. The coarse/fine ratios are low during periods with a non-oceanic source but high at other times, probably because of the biological growing season in the surface waters of the study area. The calculated annual fluxes based on estimates of dual-mode particles are 532±185, 435±172, and 96.8±48.8 μmol m⁻² yr⁻¹ for TP, TIP, and OP, respectively. Based on previously published solubility data for particulate phosphorus (34%), we calculated an annual flux of 180±63 μmol m⁻² yr⁻¹ for readily soluble particulate phosphorus.     

Occurrence,distribution and partitioning of nonionic surfactants and pharmaceuticals in the urbanized Long Island Sound Estuary (NY)

This work deals with the environmental distribution of nonionic surfactants (nonylphenol and alcohol ethoxylates), their metabolites (NP, nonylphenol; NPEC, nonylphenol ethoxycarboxylates; and PEG, polyethylene glycols) and a selection of 64 pharmaceuticals in the Long Island Sound (LIS) Estuary which receives important sewage discharges from New York City (NYC). Most target compounds were efficiently removed (>95%) in one wastewater treatment plant monitored, with the exception of NPEC and some specific drugs (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide). Concentrations of surfactants (1.4–4.5 μg L⁻¹) and pharmaceuticals (0.1–0.3 μg L⁻¹) in seawater were influenced by tides and sampling depth, consistent with salinity differences. Surfactants levels in suspended solids samples were higher than 1 μg g⁻¹, whereas only most hydrophobic or positively charged pharmaceuticals could be found (e.g., tamoxifen, clarithromycin). Maximum levels of target compounds in LIS sediments (PEG at highest concentrations, 2.8 μg g⁻¹) were measured nearest NYC, sharply decreasing with distance from major sewage inputs.     

Source and distribution of lead in the surface sediments from the South China Sea as derived from Pb isotopes

Rapid economic development in East Asian countries has inevitably resulted in environmental degradation in the surrounding seas, and concern for the environment and its protection against pollutants is increasing. Identification of sources of contaminants and evaluation of current environmental status are essential to environmental pollution management, but relatively little has been done in the South China Sea (SCS). In order to investigate the abundance, distribution, and sources of Pb within the SCS, stable Pb isotopes and their ratios were employed to assess the contamination status and to differentiate between natural and anthropogenic origins of Pb in the surface sediments. The total Pb concentrations in sediments varied from 4.18 to 58.7 mg kg⁻¹, with an average concentration of 23.6 ± 8.9 mg kg⁻¹. The observed Pb isotope ratios varied from 18.039 to 19.211 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 15.228 to 16.080 for ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 37.786 to 39.951 for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, 1.176 to 1.235 for ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb, and 2.468 to 2.521 for ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁷Pb. The majority of these ratios are similar to those reported for natural detrital materials. Combined with Pb enrichment factor values, our results show that Pb found within most of the SCS sediments was mainly derived from natural sources, and that there was not significant Pb pollution from anthropogenic sources before 1998. Further studies are needed to reconstruct deposition history and for trend analysis.     

Selenium in sediments and biota from estuaries of southwest England

Selenium concentrations have been measured in sediment, fucoid macroalgae and macroinvertebrates from four estuaries of SW England (Yealm, Plym, Looe, Fal). Sediment concentrations ranged from about 0.4 μg g⁻¹ in the Yealm to 1.49 μg g⁻¹ at one site in the Plym. Concentrations in Fucus vesiculosus (0.05–0.31 μg g⁻¹) and F. ceranoides (0.05–0.51 μg g⁻¹) were significantly lower than corresponding concentrations in sediment but there was no correlation between algal and sediment concentrations. Selenium concentrations in Littorina littorea (∼4 μg g⁻¹), Hediste diversicolor (2.82–12.68 μg g⁻¹), Arenicola marina (∼17 μg g⁻¹) and Scrobicularia plana (1.18–6.85 μg g⁻¹) were considerably higher than concentrations in macroalga or sediment, suggesting that Se is effectively accumulated from the diet. Although Se concentrations in some invertebrates exceed toxicity thresholds for the diet of predacious birds and fish, no specific evidence for Se toxicity exists in these estuaries.     

Lead concentrations and isotopes in aerosols from Xiamen, China

To investigate the magnitude and origin of lead (Pb) pollution in the atmosphere of Xiamen, China, 40 aerosol samples were collected from the coast of Xiamen from January to December 2003. All these samples were measured for Pb isotopic compositions (²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁶Pb = 2.10897 ± 0.00297, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁶Pb = 0.85767 ± 0.00159, n = 40) using a Multi-collector-Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (MC-ICPMS). Thirty-five out of forty samples were also measured for Pb concentrations (79.1 ± 38.3 ng/m³, n = 35) by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The results indicate that the Pb concentrations display significant seasonal variations while Pb isotopic ratios remain relatively constant. The Pb concentrations were high in January and February, abruptly decreased in March, remained relatively constant (but low) from April to August, and then gradually increased from September to December. This corresponds to the rainless climate in winter and rain scavenging in summer. The higher Pb concentration of Xiamen aerosols in winter and spring may be also caused by long-range transferred anthropogenic Pb during the northeastern monsoon seasons. Although the use of leaded gasoline in Xiamen was banned in 2000, our new data indicate that the Pb annual concentrations of aerosols in Xiamen increased about 12% when compared to the data measured between 1991 and 1993. Thus, Pb pollution in the atmosphere of Xiamen has not receded even after the phase-out of leaded gasoline. Our results further confirm the previous studies’ conclusion that the primary source of atmospheric Pb in China, especially in South China, is the vast combustion of lead-containing coal, not leaded gasoline.