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.     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals by Amur Bay Sediments (the Sea of Japan) under the Effect of Biochemical Factors

Water Resources - The average concentrations of elements Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, V, Co, Cd, Ni, As, and Mo in the subcolloidal fraction of bottom sediments were determined in the northern and...     

Water characterization in three industrialized harbours (Vigo, Bilbao and Pasajes) in north coast of Spain

Total dissolved Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations, speciation, fluorescence of organic matter and toxicity for sea urchin development have been studied during three years in water samples of three of the most industrialized harbours in North Coast of Spain: Vigo, Bilbao and Pasajes. Total metal concentrations were below 0.4 nM for Cd and generally below 2 nM for Pb. Zn and Cu levels were higher (2.8-9 nM Cu and 15-234 nM Zn) and denoted an anthropogenic enrichment. Ligand concentrations were usually between 50 and 200 nM for Cu and between 6 and 80 for Pb and Zn. Organic matter and speciation analysis yielded complementary information to characterize the samples, but no correlation was present between the parameters calculated by both methods. Samples were tested for toxicity with sea urchin embryo bioassay and three samples were toxic but the toxicity could not be explained with the metal levels here measured.     

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.     

结合主成分分析法(PCA)和正定矩阵因子分解法(PMF)的鄱阳湖丰水期表层沉积物重金属源解析

为识别表层沉积物重金属的来源以及量化源贡献,选取鄱阳湖丰水期表层沉积物为研究对象,测定14种重金属(V、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Sr、Mo、Cd、Sb、W、Pb、Hg和As)的含量,分析其污染及空间分布特征,并利用主成分分析法(PCA)和正定矩阵因子分解法(PMF)对沉积物重金属进行源解析.结果表明:除V和Cr外,Cd、Mo、Hg、Cu、Pb、Zn、W、Sr、As、Ni、Co和Sb的平均含量分别为江西省土壤背景值的5.7、2.2、1.9、1.8、1.5、1.5、1.4、1.3、1.3、1.2、1.0和1.0倍; Cd、Hg、Cu、Mo、Pb、Sr和Zn超出江西省土壤背景值的比例相对较高,分别为100%、100%、100%、100%、97%、97%和93%,所有沉积物样品中Cd含量超过农用地土壤污染风险筛选值的比例为51%; V、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、Sr、Mo、Sb、W、Pb、Hg和As含量呈未污染至弱污染水平,而Cd含量属于中等污染水平,接近于重污染水平.总体而言,Cd的污染相对较严重.重金属的分布具有显著的区域特征,其中Cr、Cu、Zn、Sr、Pb、Hg和As的空间分布十分相似,表现为在赣江、抚河、信江和饶河入湖口附近区域含量较高,而Co、Ni、Mo和Sb明显在湖区南部、东北部和修水入湖附近这3个区域聚集,Cd和W的空间变异性相对较大,V的含量分布相对较均匀.PCA和PMF解析结果都表明鄱阳湖丰水期表层沉积物重金属受4种来源的共同影响,其中,矿业和工业活动的影响最大,相对贡献率为38%,其次是尾矿和废渣,相对贡献率为28%,再是农业活动,相对贡献率为19%,最后是自然来源的相对贡献率为14%.     

Water Pollution by Heavy Metals and Oil Products in Uglovoi Bay in February 2010–2016

Water Resources - Water pollution by heavy metals in Uglovoi Bay in 2015–2016 was analyzed. The concentrations of Mn, Fe, Cu, Ni, Hg, As, Pb, Cd, and oil products were found to exceed the...     

Baseline levels of heavy metals in the waters and sediments of Baffin Bay

Baseline levels of a number of trace metals have been determined in samples of water and sediment from Baffin Bay. Concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Cd in the waters of Baffin Bay are generally lower than those observed in eastern Canadian coastal waters, levels being close to reported open ocean concentrations. Nearshore sediment samples, analysed for Cr, V, Mn, Ni, Co, Cu, Zn, Hg and Pb, display comparable concentrations to unpolluted muds in eastern Canadian coastal regions. Concentrations of these elements in the deep sediments of central Baffin Bay closely resemble levels in Atlantic Ocean deep-sea clays.     

Preparation of the sea water reference material for trace metals,NASS-1

The preparation of a sea water reference material, NASS-1, is described. The sea water is an open ocean sample, salinity 35.07‰, gathered at the 1300 metre level in the North Atlantic, south-east of Bermuda. It is acidified to pH 1.6 with nitric acid and bottled in 2 1 polyethylene bottles. Reliable values are available for 11 trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Mo, Ni and Zn). The results of a long-term sea water storage experiment are also described.     

鄱阳湖流域赣江水系溶解态金属元素空间分布特征及污染来源

于2015年1月和7月在赣江干流和主要支流37个采样点共采集74个水样,分析赣江水系15种溶解态金属元素(Be、Al、V、Mn、Fe、Co、Ni、Cu、As、Mo、Cd、Sb、Tl、Pb、U)的空间分布特征和污染来源的贡献率.结果表明:多数水样的溶解态金属元素浓度符合水质标准,主要的超标元素是Fe,样品超标率为21.60%,其次为As(8.10%)、Mn(4.05%)、Tl(4.05%)和Al(1.35%).Be、Al、V、Fe、Co、Ni、Cu、U浓度在枯水期显著高于丰水期,其他元素差异不显著.依据溶解态金属元素的空间分布特征,赣江流域可分为3个区域:湘水、章水和赣江赣州市段(C1),桃江、袁水和锦江(C2),其他区域(C3);溶解态金属元素水平大小排序为C1C2C3,其中Be、Al、Cu、Mo、Sb、As浓度在C1最高,V、Mn、Fe、Ni、Cd浓度在C2最高.采矿废水、矿渣和农田土壤降雨淋滤、钢铁冶炼废水是赣江溶解金属元素的主要来源;Be、Al、Cu、Pb、U的污染源超过40%来自采矿废水,Cu、As、Mo、Cd的污染源超过35%来自矿渣和农田土壤降雨淋滤,V、Mn、Co、Ni的污染源超过41%来自钢铁冶炼废水.     

Trace element contaminations of roadside soils from two cultivated wetlands after abandonment in a typical plateau lakeshore, China

Total concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in order to assess their changes in contamination levels in roadside soils of long-term abandoned tillage (LAT) belt and short-term abandoned tillage (SAT) belt from a plateau lakeshore of China. Results showed that the mean concentrations of these trace elements except for Cd and Pb were lower than background values. The contamination index values of these trace elements fluctuated and generally decreased with increasing distances from the road in both sampling belts except for Cu and Ni. Both LAT and SAT soils were facing Cd and Pb contamination. The integrated contamination level was more serious in LAT soils compared to SAT soils, with heavy contamination levels at the distances from 5 to 10 m in LAT soils. The effects of the studied rural road on both belts were clearly shown up to 250 m away from the road.     

Content and distribution of trace metals in surface sediments from the northern Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea and adjacent Arctic areas

Concentrations of trace metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, V, Cd and Pb), total organic carbon (TOC), black carbon (BC) and their granulometry were examined in 25 surface sediment samples from the northern Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea and adjacent areas. Trace metal concentrations in the sediments varied from 21.06-168.21 mg kg(-1) for Zn, 8.91-46.94 mg kg(-1) for Cr, 2.69-49.39 mg kg(-1) for Cu, 32.46-185.54 mg kg(-1) for V, 0.09-0.92 mg kg(-1) for Cd, and 0.95-15.25 mg kg(-1) for Pb. The geoaccumulation index (Igeo) indicated that trace metal contamination (Zn and Cd) existed in some stations of the study area. The distribution of grain size plays an important role in influencing the distribution of trace metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, V, and Pb) in sediments from the Chukchi Sea and adjacent areas.     

Variable influence of the atmospheric flux on the trace metal chemistry of oceanic suspended matter

The particulate concentrations of 17 trace metals, Al, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Ag, Sb, Au, Hg, Pb and Th have been measured in the marine atmosphere (58 samples) and in the deep waters (35 samples) of the Tropical North Atlantic. For oceanic suspended matter, our results are similar to those in samples from the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans collected during the GEOSECS Program. Based on these results, we have made a flux balance for the mixed layer between input via the atmosphere and removal through small and large particles. These data show that the primary flux of suspended aluminosilicates in the Tropical North Atlantic is attributable to the atmospheric input. Elements Sc, Th, Fe, V, Mn, Co and Cr show high correlation with Al in the marine atmosphere. Of these elements, Fe, Mn, V, Co and Cr are influenced by additional processes such as biological, in the marine environment. For elements Ni, Cu, Zn, Se, Ag, Sb, Au, Hg and Pb, we observe high enrichments (relative to average crustal material) in the marine atmosphere which may be due, at least partially, to the influence of anthropogenic sources. These metals also show similar enrichments in deep ocean suspended matter. Model calculations indicate that the atmospheric flux may not control the deep ocean particulate chemistry of Ni, Cu, Zn, Ag, Sb, Au and Hg. Hence it is likely that, for these elements, the enrichment in the ocean is due to processes within the marine regime, for example their involvement in the biological cycle of the ocean. For Se and Pb, the atmospheric source looks to be the dominant contribution to their particulate concentration in seawater. In the deep North Atlantic, particulate Pb appears to be mostly of anthropogenic origin, which is not the case for Se.     

Analysis of the Ecotoxicological Conditions of Amur Bay,the Sea of Japan,by Chemical and Toxicological Characteristics

Water Resources - Data on the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in bottom sediments of Amur Bay are given. The pollution of bottom sediments is especially heavy near the central part of...     

白洋淀湿地表层土壤主要环境元素分布特征及来源

白洋淀是雄安新区生态共同体的重要组成部分,在"白洋淀生态环境治理和保护规划"中,淀区内纯水村和耕地将被淹没,而上述陆地的土壤环境元素分布特征及来源仍缺乏系统调查和分析.本文以淀区内现有0～ 20 cm土壤为研究对象,以环境元素As、Hg、Cd、Cr、Pb、Ni、Cu、Zn、N、P和土壤类型、质地为研究要素,以统计描述、方差分析、相关分析和因子分析为研究手段对淀区内土壤主要环境元素分布特征和来源进行刻画和分析.结果 表明:淀区主要环境元素在不同土地类型的差异性分布是大气沉降和人类工农业活动综合作用的结果.除元素P外,其余环境元素的淀区背景值均高于区域背景值,呈富集趋势.大部分元素趋向于在农用地富集,在水田的富集最为突出,Hg元素则更易在村镇用地富集.淀区内土壤主要环境元素来源分3种类型:大气沉降型,代表元素为Ni、Cr、As、Pb、Cu和Cd,主要来自区域燃煤烟气的沉降输入;农业输入型,代表元素为P、N、Hg、Cd、Pb,主要来自本地农业施肥和人类生活垃圾输入;工业叠加型,代表元素为Zn、Cu、Cd、Pb,主要来自大气沉降和淀区临近的小冶炼的排放叠加,其中Pb、Cd、Cu为综合输入方式.     

Concentration and subcellular distribution of trace elements in liver of small cetaceans incidentally caught along the Brazilian coast

Concentrations of trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Ga, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, T-Hg, Org-Hg, Tl and Pb) were determined in liver samples of estuarine dolphin (Sotalia guianensis; n = 20), Franciscana dolphin (Pontoporia blainvillei; n = 23), Atlantic spotted dolphin (Stenella frontalis; n = 2), common dolphin (Delphinus capensis; n = 1) and striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba; n = 1) incidentally caught along the coast of Sao Paulo State and Parana State, Brazil, from 1997 to 1999. The hepatic concentrations of trace elements in the Brazilian cetaceans were comparable to the data available in literature on marine mammals from Northern Hemisphere. Concentrations of V, Se, Mo, Cd, T-Hg and Org-Hg increased with increasing age in liver of both estuarine and Franciscana dolphins. Very high concentrations of Cu (range, 262-1970 microg/g dry wt.) and Zn (range, 242-369 microg/g dry wt.) were observed in liver of sucklings of estuarine dolphin. Hepatic concentrations of V, Se, T-Hg, Org-Hg and Pb were significantly higher in estuarine dolphin, whereas Franciscana dolphin showed higher concentrations of Mn, Co, As and Rb. Ratio of Org-Hg to T-Hg in liver was significantly higher in Franciscana dolphin than estuarine dolphin, suggesting that demethylation ability of methyl Hg might be lower in liver of Franciscana than estuarine dolphins. High hepatic concentrations of Ag were found in some specimens of Franciscana dolphin (maximum, 20 microg/g dry wt.), and 17% of Franciscana showed higher concentrations of Ag than Hg. These samples with high Ag concentration also exhibited elevated hepatic Se concentration, implying that Ag might be detoxified by Se in the liver. Higher correlation coefficient between (Hg+0.5 Ag) and Se than between Hg and Se and the large distribution of Ag in non-soluble fraction in nuclear and mitochondrial fraction of the liver also suggests that Ag might be detoxified by Se via formation of Ag2Se in the liver of Franciscana dolphin.     

Lead in corals: reconstruction of historical industrial fluxes to the surface ocean

Twentieth century environmental lead chronologies for the western North Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian Oceans have been reconstructed from annually-banded scleractinian corals. Measurements of lattice-bound Pb in sequential coral bands reveal temporal changes in surface water Pb concentrations and Pb isotopic distributions. Perturbations are observable in all specimens studied, attesting to global augmentation of environmental Pb by industrialization.In the western North Atlantic, Pb perturbations have occurred in direct response to the American industrial revolution and the subsequent introduction and phasing-out of alkyl Pb additives in gasoline. Surface ocean conditions near Bermuda may be reliably reconstructed from the coral data via a lead distribution coefficient of 2.3 for the species,Diploria strigosa. Based on²¹⁰Pb measurements, a similar distribution coefficient may be characteristic of corals in general. Surface Pb concentrations in the pre-industrial Sargasso Sea were about 15–20 pM. Concentrations rose to near 90 pM by 1923 as a result of metals manufacture and fossil fuel combustion. Beginning in the late 1940's, increased utilization of leaded gasoline eventually led to a peak concentration of 240 pM in 1971, representing an approximate 15-fold increase over background. Surface ocean concentrations are presently declining rapidly (128 pM in 1984) as a result of curtailed alkyl Pb usage. Lead isotopic shifts parallel the concentration record indicating that characteristic industrial and alkyl Pb source signatures have not changed appreciably in time. Industrial releases recorded in the Florida Keys reflect a weaker source and evidence of recirculated Pb (5–6 years old) from the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. An inferred background concentration of 38 pM suggests influence of shelf and/or resuspended inputs of Pb to these coastal waters.In remote areas of the South Pacific and Indian Oceans, industrial signals are fainter and the corals studied much younger than their Atlantic counterparts. Contemporary Pb concentrations implied by coral measurements (assumingK_D = 2.3) are 40–50 pM for surface waters near Tutuila and Galapagos in the South Pacific, and 25–29 pM near Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. A single coral band from Fiji (1920 ± 5yr) implies a pre-industrial surface water concentration of 16–19 pM Pb for the South Pacific. In view of reported surface water measurements and the North Atlantic coral data, the Pacific coral extrapolations may be slightly high. This could be a result of small variations inK_D among different coral genera, or incorporation of diagenetic Pb by corals sampled in coastal environments.     

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.     

SWASV speciation of Cd, Pb and Cu for the determination of seawater contamination in the area of the Nicole shipwreck (Ancona coast, Central Adriatic Sea)

The study reports for the first time on the heavy metal contamination of the waters surrounding a shipwreck lying on the sea floor. Square wave anodic stripping voltammetry has been used for a survey of the total and dissolved Cd, Pb and Cu contents of the seawater at the site of the sinking of the Nicole M/V (Coastal Adriatic Sea, Italy). Results show that the hulk has a considerable impact as regards all three metals in the bottom water, especially for the particulate fraction concentrations, which increased by factors of ∼9 (Cd), ∼3 (Pb) and ∼5 (Cu). The contaminated plume extended downstream for about 2 miles. Much lower contamination was observed for dissolved bottom concentrations; nevertheless Pb (0.56 ± 0.03 nmol/L) is higher than the Italian legal limits established for 2015 and Cd (0.23 ± 0.03 nmol/L) is very close the limit of Cd will be exceeded if the hulk is not removed.     

In situ trace metal speciation in a eutrophic lake using the technique of diffusion gradients in thin films (DGT)

We evaluated the application of DGT (diffusion gradients in thin films) as a tool to determine Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Pb and Mn concentrations and speciation in a hardwater eutrophic lake. This technique was used in situ during six sampling periods over one year in Lake Greifen. The DGT-labile species of Cu and Ni amounted to 15-25% of the total dissolved concentrations. Speciation by ligand-exchange/DPCSV indicated that Cu and Ni were predominantly organically complexed (>99%). Thus, the DGT-labile species for Cu and Ni were much more abundant than the free ionic and inorganic species determined by ligand-exchange/DPCSV. The results can be explained by incomplete metal exchange of very strong complexes with the chelating resin in the DGT devices, metal exchange of less abundant weaker complexes, and by slow diffusion of exchangeable organic complexes. For Zn (36 to >90% DGT-labile) and Mn (50 to 100% DGT-labile), the results indicated that these metals are less strongly organically complexed. A larger fraction of Zn occurred in DGT-labile species in the hypolimnion than it did in the surface water, probably due to a larger concentration of strong ligands in the productive surface water. DGT-labile Cd- (0.01-0.02 nM) and Pb-species (0.03-0.06 nM) were detected at very low levels. The combination of measurements of dissolved and DGT-labile species showed a decrease of Cu, Zn, Cd and Mn concentration at 2.5 m from June to August, which was probably linked to intensive sedimentation of organic matter during summer stagnation. Mixing and oxygenation of the lake in winter-spring led to an increase in dissolved and DGT-labile Ni, Zn and Cd, whereas Mn decreased in the hypolimnion.     

Ecological risk assessment of Cd and other heavy metals in soil-rice system in the karst areas with high geochemical background of Guangxi,China

Karst areas are widely distributed in China, and the soil derived in these areas is enriched with trace elements and has the typical characteristics of high geochemical background. Therefore, soil ecological risk has gradually attracted extensive attention. In this study, 1090 sets of rice grains and paired rhizosphere soils were collected as research objects from the outcropped karst areas of carbonate rocks in Guangxi, and the concentration characteristics and influencing factors of heavy metals, such as Cd and As, in rice grains and the corresponding soils were studied. According to the Chinese Soil Environmental Quality Standard(GB 15618-2018), the proportion of karstic soil samples in Guangxi with heavy metal(As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni,Pb and Zn) concentrations that exceed the standard risk screening values was generally greater than that of surface soils in China or non-karstic soils in Guangxi. Notably, Cd and As were the most prominently enriched heavy metals in soils. According to the Chinese Food Safety Standard(GB 2762-2017), Pb in rice grains from the studied area did not exceed the standard; the exceedance rates of Cr, Hg, and inorganic As were only about 1%; and the exceedance rate of Cd was 12.5%. Soil Cd concentration increased gradually whereas the concentration and exceedance rate of Cd in rice grains decreased gradually with the increase of soil pH. Specifically, the exceedance rate of Cd in rice grains was only 4% when soil pH6.5. The results indicated that the risk screening values of Cd element in the Chinese Soil Environmental Quality Standard are not satisfactorily applicable to the ecological risk assessment of Cd in karstic soils. Therefore, the recommended threshold values for the safe utilization and risk control of Cd in karstic soils was proposed so as to provide a basis for soil environmental quality hierarchization, pollution risk control and land safety zoning of agricultural land in karst areas in China.