Assessment of copper,cadmium and zinc remobilization in Mediterranean marine coastal sediments

The remobilization of copper, cadmium and zinc in sediments of three selected coastal microenvironments of the Aegean Sea (Eastern Mediterranean) is assessed. Various analytical methods and techniques were employed providing concentrations, profiles and forms of metals and organic matter in sediments and pore waters.     

Copper,chromium, and lead in Manukau Harbour sediments

A limited survey was undertaken to determine the concentrations of copper, lead, and chromium in sediments of the upper Manukau Harbour, New Zealand. The concentrations of copper and chromium (33–70 and 70–107 μg g^‐1 respectively) were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for other New Zealand harbours. However, lead concentrations (98–247 μg g^‐1) were higher than those found for the other harbours. This may be a consequence of higher traffic densities in the surrounding area.     

Structure and chemistry of sediments in Belfast Lough,a semi-enclosed marine bay

In a study of the benthic environment of Belfast Lough the structure of the subtidal sediment was examined along with its content of organic matter and selected metals (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb). A wide range of sediment types occurred within the lough but the mean grain sizes for individual sites lay predominantly within the size classes of fine sand, very fine sand and silt. The content of organic matter and metals in the sediments showed strong positive correlations with each other and with the content of silt/clay. Both organic matter and metals decreased in concentration in a seawards direction. The content of organic matter lay generally within the range of 1–5% which is normally associated with shelf sediments, but constituted up to 12% of the sediment in the docks area. Likewise, metals were usually within the range reported within other nearshore coastal waters of the U.K., but sediments in the docks area and inner lough were enriched with several metals. Cluster analysis identified four major subdivisions in the lough which were distinctly different in their contents of silt/clay, organic matter and metals.     

Sources and timing of trace metal contamination to sediments in remote sealochs,N.W. Scotland

Sediment cores from a transect of sealochs, Etive, Sunart, Nevis, Duich, Broom and Torridon in N.W. Scotland were analysed for the trace metals lead, copper, and zinc. In addition, sediment cores from the Clyde Sea Basin (Loch Fyne, the Gareloch, Clyde dumpsite) and from the Irish and Celtic Seas were analysed as possible source areas for contaminated particles. The sediment cores were dated using excess ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs, and Al normalisation was used to correct for sediment compositional effects. All cores showed increased concentrations of all trace metals (and M/Al) towards the surface, with a maximum of 280–500% above background being observed in Loch Etive. Only cores from Duich and Torridon (Zn/Al and Pb/Al) and Etive (Zn/Al) did not continue to show an increase in trace metals to the uppermost samples. The burden of atmospherically derived trace metals accumulated over the past 100 years was compared with similar published burdens from a series of freshwater lochs adjacent to the sealochs. Plots of excess ²¹⁰Pb (used to correct for sediment focusing) against atmospherically derived Pb showed a series of linear relationships of systematically decreasing gradient towards the north-west, away from potential urban sources of lead. It was calculated that 49% (15–77%) of the Pb but only 3% (1–4%) of the Zn and 2% (0–3%) of the Cu reached the sealochs from atmospheric sources. The remaining trace metals deposited in the sealochs came from marine particles. Using trace metal ratios as an indicator of pollutant provenance, it was shown that the trace metals came predominantly from the Irish Sea. There was no evidence of trace metals derived from the Firth of Clyde basin. It was concluded that trace metal contamination from the Clyde and the surrounding industrialised urban area was mainly deposited in the estuary and the Clyde Sea basin with its adjoining sealochs, such as the Gareloch and Loch Fyne.     

渤海莱州湾表层沉积物中金属元素分布及环境质量

利用X-射线荧光光谱仪、等离子质谱仪或原子荧光光度计测定了莱州湾表层沉积物中金属元素的含量,探讨了它们的分布特征、来源及污染程度,结果表明,沉积物中铜、锌、铅、镉、砷、镍、铬、钴、钒、钪、铁、锰的含量由近岸向湾内递减,莱州湾北部海域的含量大于南部的。银含量高的沉积物主要分布在莱州湾中部偏西南的环流中心区。沉积物中砷和镍含量超过ERL值,潜在生态风险较高。富集系数和主成分分析显示,沉积物中铁、铜、锌、镉、砷、铬、镍、钴、锰、钒和钪为无富集,砷为轻度富集,铅和银为中度富集。铁、铜、锌、镉、铬、镍、钴、锰、钒、砷和钪主要来源于自然源,铅既有岩石和土壤风化产物硅酸盐矿物等自然源的贡献,又受到了人为活动的影响,银主要受人为活动的影响。聚类分析表明,可把莱州湾沉积物分为4类,其中黄河口西北缘沉积物中砷和镍污染生态风险最高,其次是莱州湾中部和北部。     

Trace metal composition of and accumulation rates of sediments in the Upper Gulf of Thailand

Sediment cores and grab samples were collected in the Upper Gulf of Thailand to determine sedimentation rates and to determine if metal concentrations reflect anthropogenic inputs.Accumulation rates of sediments in the Upper Gulf measured using the ²¹⁰Pb method, appear to vary from ca. 4 to 11 mm yr^?1. Sediment budgets suggest that little of the sediment delivered to the Upper Gulf by the major rivers is ultimately transported to the Lower Gulf. Metal concentrations in Upper Gulf sediments appear to be dominantly controlled by natural inputs.     

The impact of shrimp trawling and associated sediment resuspension in mud dominated, shallow estuaries

To address the relative importance of shrimp trawling on seabed resuspension and bottom characteristics in shallow estuaries, a series of disturbance and monitoring experiments were conducted at a bay bottom mud site (2.5 m depth) in Galveston Bay, Texas in July 1998 and May 1999. Based on pre- and post-trawl sediment profiles of ⁷Be; pore water dissolved oxygen and sulfide concentration; and bulk sediment properties, it was estimated that the trawl rig, including the net, trawl doors, and “tickler chain,” excavate the seabed to a maximum depth of approximately 1.5 cm, with most areas displaying considerably less disturbance. Water column profile data in the turbid plume left by the trawl in these underconsolidated muds (85–90% porosity; <0.25 kPa undrained shear strength) demonstrate that suspended sediment inventories of up to 85–90 mg/cm² are produced immediately behind the trawl net; an order of magnitude higher than pre-trawl inventories and comparable to those observed during a 9–10 m/s wind event at the study site. Plume settling and dispersion caused suspended sediment inventories to return to pre-trawl values about 14 min after trawl passage in two separate experiments, indicating particles re-settle primarily as flocs before they can be widely dispersed by local currents. As a result of the passage of the trawl rig across the seabed, shear strength of the sediment surface showed no significant increase, suggesting that bed armoring is not taking place and the trawled areas will not show an increase in critical shear stress.     

珠江口及其邻近海域重金属的河口过程和沉积物污染风险评价

根据2006年到2007年,“908专项”珠江口附近海域海水与沉积物的调查资料,研究珠江口海域海水和沉积物中重金属含量分布特征;珠江口及附近海域海水中铜、铅、锌、镉、总铬、汞、砷的含量平均值均符合国家一类海水水质标准,采用数理统计相关分析计算出各重金属元素与各环境因子之间的相关,发现在河口重金属主要以稀释混合过程为主,悬浮颗粒物中重金属在酸化作用下以解吸作用为主,氧化还原作用的影响不大.沉积物中铜-锌、铅-锌、铜-镉、铅-镉、锌-镉、铅-铬,锌-铬、镉-铬8组元素间具有显著的相关性,表明它们具有相似的元素地球化学性质和来源;并运用Hakanson潜在生态危害系数法对其潜在生态危害程度进行评估,珠江口沉积物的潜在生态风险的来源是镉和汞占据主要权重,尤其珠江口沉积物中镉的污染程度和潜在生态风险局部激增的特点值得重点关注.     

Temporal and spatial distribution of dissolved copper, lead, zinc and cadmium in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters

Heavy metal concentrations were measured in the Changjiang Estuary and its adjacent waters. Results from a systematic survey in April 2002 to March 2003 indicate that the ranges of the concentrations of dissolved copper, lead, zinc and cadmium in the study waters are 1.01 - 6.86, 0. 10 - 0.39,3.17 - 9.12 and 0.011 - 0. 049 μg/dm^3 , respectively. Similar to zinc, the behavior of dissolved copper was essentially conservative, but high scatter has been observed for high salinity samples, which can be attributed to the decomposition or mineralization of organic matter by bacteria. Dissolved lead may have active behavior with an addition at high salinity. Overall concentrations of dissolved cadmium increase with salinity. The mean values of these dissolved metals calculated for the surface waters were higher than those for the middle and bottom ones. External inputs of dissolved heavy metals to the surface waters were the likely explanation for these higher values. The maximum seasonal average values of dissolved copper and zinc were found in summer, reflecting higher amounts of riverine input in this season. In contrast, the maximum seasonal average values of dissolved lead and copper were found in winter and the lowest ones in summer, respectively, which might be asso- ciated with a combination of low concentration with heterogeneous scavenging. Concentrations of these dissolved metals found for the Changjiang Estuary fall in the range observed for the other estuaries but are noticeably higher than those from uncontaminated rivers, except for cadmium. Compared with observations for the Changjiang Estuary in the last two decades, it is clear that the Changjiang estuarine waters has been contaminated with copper, lead, zinc and cadmium during China＇ s industrialization, but concentrations of them have decreased in the last few years.     

Behaviour of boron,calcium and magnesium in a polluted estuary

Behaviour of industrially added boron in the well mixed Ambika river estuary of South Gujarat, India has been studied along with that of calcium and magnesium. The ratios of Ca : Cl and Mg : Cl at varying chlorinities were always within the normal ranges found in river water at one end and seawater at the other end. B : Cl exceeded the river water end limit at the ebb tide at an upstream station. Percentage addition or removal of boron, calcium and magnesium was calculated using the concept of the theoretical dilution line. The external input raised the boron concentration by 263% in the vicinity of the industrial discharge. A correlation coefficient of ?0·82 between chlorinity and percentage addition or removal of boron supports the theory of boron incorporation in sediments in amounts proportional to salinity. Inverse relationship between percentage addition or removal of boron and suspended solids was observed. Behaviour of calcium and magnesium was in line with the replacement of Ca²⁺ ions occupying the majority of ion-exchange sites in riverine clays by Mg²⁺, Na⁺ and K⁺ during their first encounter with seawater.     

Behaviour of iron,manganese, phosphate and humic acid during mixing in a Delaware salt marsh creek

The mixing behaviour of iron, manganese, phosphate and humic acid in a Delaware salt marsh creek was studied using field data, laboratory mixing experiments, and geochemical mass balance equations. Property-salinity diagrams for field data indicated that the removal of iron is 56–70% in the 0–10‰ salinity range. A proposed mechanism of removal is the flocculation of colloidal iron, perhaps with humic acid. Phosphate, however, undergoes 195% addition in the same low salinity region, which may be due to release of phosphate from resuspended sediments. Dissolved manganese is conserved, as is humic acid throughout the salt marsh mixing zone. Within the uncertainty of the data the maximum possible removal of humic acid is 23%.Laboratory mixing experiments that simulated salt marsh mixing along the same salinity gradient as observed in the field (5–25‰) showed only small-scale additions and removals compared to the field results. Such small-scale changes occurred largely at salinities >10‰ in the laboratory experiments, whereas most removals and additions occurred at salinities <10‰ in the field. Mixing studies also showed little difference between prefiltered and unfiltered mixes. The studies suggest that simple mixing of salt marsh waters, with or without suspended material, does not strongly influence the observed behaviour of dissolved constituents in salt marshes, and that other processes (e.g. sediment or intertidal exchange) must dominate their behaviour.     

Distribution of major and trace elements in surface sediments of Hangzhou Bay in China

The Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometer was used to analyze sediment samples collected from the Hangzhou Bay to determine major and trace elemental concentrations. Based on these concentrations, the study area can be classified into three geochemical provinces. Province I covers the northern Hangzhou Bay area and contains high concentrations of Al₂ O₃ , Fe₂ O₃ , MgO, Na₂ O, K₂ O, MnO, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, V, Co and Zn. Province III is located in the western Hangzhou Bay, near the Qiantang River mouth, and contains high concentrations of SiO₂ , Na₂ O, P₂ O₅ , TiO₂ , Cr, Sr, Zr. Province II is located in the middle and eastern Hangzhou Bay, with the medium concentrations of major and trace elements. The results also demonstrate that the grain size is the dominating factor controlling the spatial variations of elemental concentrations, and the Changjiang River （Yangtze River） and Qiantang River sediments play an important role in the distribution of these elements. Anthropogenic impact on heavy metal concentrations （especially Cr, Sr and Zr） can be detected in the surface sediments near the Qiantang River mouth.     

Distribution characteristics of heavy metals in surface sediments and core sediments of the Shenzhen Bay in Guangdong Province, China

The concentration of zinc, chromium, cadmium, nickel, lead and copper was measured on both surface sediments and core sediments in the Shenzhen Bay. The average contents of all metals have exceeded the background values in the coastal zone of Guangdong Province. Cadmium is a heavy pollution matter which indicates a strong pollution level according to the ecological risk coefficient method. The ecological risk index of the whole area is 299 which belongs to middle and strong level. The area with strong pollution level is the near shore area closing to the inside of Shenzhen Bay, Shakou area is in the middle level while the weak pollution level occurs in Shenzhenhe Estuary according to ecological risk index. The four sediment cores can be divided into two parts based on lead-210 dating, sediments size analysis and economic development period in surrounding areas since 1950 with strong human intervention. The sediment size, deposition rate and human activities have positive relationship with the contents of heavy metals which directly impact the pollution level of heavy metals in sediments in Shenzhen Bay.     

深圳湾海域表层和柱样沉积物中的重金属分布特征

分析深圳湾表层沉积物中锌、铬、镉、镍、铅、铜等6种重金属元素的含量发现它们的浓度均值已全部超过广东省海岸带沉积物背景值。根据潜在生态危害法,在6种重金属中镉造成的污染最严重,从潜在的生态危害指数评价看镉的含量已达到很高的污染水平。从面状分布看,重金属污染危害指数值在深圳河口区最低,在蛇口段居中等水平,在深圳湾内侧的近岸水域最大。柱样沉积物的浓度变化以1950年为界划分为两部分:1950年以来的现代沉积物中有较强的人类活动干扰痕迹,表现为重金属元素的浓度增长幅度大,且浓度很高,其均值全部大于广东省海岸带的背景值;1950年以前的近代沉积物中有稍弱的人类活动干扰痕迹。研究认为沉积物粒度特征、沉积速率、人类活动与重金属在沉积物中的浓度高低有直接相关关系,并直接影响到重金属在沉积物中的污染水平。     

莱州湾表层沉积物重金属分布特征、污染评价与来源分析

基于2016年莱州湾32个站位表层沉积样的测试和分析并结合以往调研资料,探讨了Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、Cd、As和Hg等7种重金属元素的含量、空间分布特征和相关性,并采用潜在生态风险法、地累积指数法和沉积物质量基准法对该区重金属污染状况进行了系统评价。结果表明,表层沉积物中重金属主要在黄河口以北、西南部小清河口及其东北部富集;Cr、Cd、Hg等与细颗粒沉积物相关,揭示重金属含量受沉积物粒度影响;而沉积物类型分布特征与莱州湾平均环流基本吻合,并与周围河口水动力和潮流显著相关。重金属污染评价结果表明：全部站位的重金属含量均低于PEL（可能效应水平）,综合潜在生态风险为低风险;地累积指数评价结果表明：研究区约60%区域受到了Hg的污染,较多比例站位Cd（37.5%）和As（12.5%）显示为轻度污染。统计分析发现,Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、As和Hg之间存在较为显著的正相关关系,其中Cu、Pb和Zn主要受地壳自然风化过程控制,而Cu和Zn还受有机碳含量的影响;Cd和As推测与人类活动相关;Cr的含量主要来源于地壳自然风化过程,人类活动影响次之。研究结果表明黄河和小清河很有可能是莱州湾西部和西南部表层沉积物的主要来源,该结果与以往研究结果基本一致。     

The distribution of zinc,nickel, manganese,cadmium, copper,and iron in some surface waters from the world ocean

Determinations of Zn, Ni, Mn, Cd, Cu, and Fe have been carried out on 51 near-shore and 38 open-ocean surface seawaters from various regions of the World Ocean.The concentrations of the trace metals have been established in the open-ocean waters, and have been used as “baselines” to evaluate trace-metal enhancement in near-shore regions. The factors by which the trace metals are enriched in near-shore regions vary from one element to another and, according to the highest concentration factors found, decrease in the order Zn = Mn > Cd = Cu = Ni.These elements exhibit differences in their distributions between near-shore and open-ocean waters, and they have been divided into two types on this basis: Type I, in which the largest number of samples in both shelf and open-ocean waters lie in the same concentration range. Zinc, cadmium, and copper are Type I elements. Type 2, in which the largest number of samples of near-shore waters lie in a higher concentration range than the largest number of samples of open-ocean waters. Nickel and manganese are Type 2 elements.The concentrations of Mn, Cd and Zn are similar in open-ocean surface waters from the South Atlantic and Indian Ocean, but Cu and Ni have higher concentrations in the former ocean.There is considerable variation in the concentrations of the trace metals in near-shore surface waters from various regions of the World Ocean. These variations are discussed in detail.     

Concentrations of zinc,manganese, copper,cadmium, magnesium and iron in ten species of algae and sea water from Aqaba,Jordan

Concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper, cadmium, magnesium and iron in three species of red, four species of brown and three species of green macroalgae, and also in sea water have been determined at two localities along the coast of Aqaba. Significant differences in metal concentrations were found between the various species (P<0·01). Similar significant differences were found with regard to different metals (P<0·001). Concentration factors ranged between 10² for Cd and 9·2 × 10⁴ for Fe. The difference in levels of metals between the two localities, however, was not significant (P > 0·05). Of the three groups of algae examined, rhodopytes exhibited the highest concentration power of metals.     

近40 a厦门海域表层沉积物重金属时空分布及综合生态风险评价

本文通过对自20世纪80年代以来九龙江口-厦门湾海域的表层沉积物重金属调查数据进行对比分析,确定了各区域重金属含量的平均水平,对表层沉积物重金属含量分布作了概述,同时根据潜在生态风险指数法的需要确定了各重金属元素含量的背景值,为该区域重金属含量的研究和评价以及背景值提供了参考数据。结合2016年8月该区域表层沉积物重金属含量调查数据,进行了总体潜在生态风险评价,结果表明:九龙江口-厦门湾海域的表层沉积物重金属潜在生态风险情况并不乐观,厦门东部水道部分海域重金属潜在生态风险以轻度风险为主,九龙江口海域重金属潜在生态风险以重度风险为主,其余海域以中度风险为主。     

Behavior of rare earth elements in coexisting manganese macronodules,micronodules, and sediments from the central Indian basin

Distribution characteristics of cobalt‐rich manganese deposits were evaluated from stereo photographs and video data on a seamount in the central Pacific Ocean by image analysis, photogrammetric technique, and visual observations. The results show that many locations have high crust coverages with highly undulating micro‐topography. High nodule coverages occur on relatively flat seafloor, and the nodule size distribution varies from uniform to inhomogeneous among different locations. Distribution of these deposits along detailed topographic sections show that the seafloor can be divided into nodule dominant zones between 0° and 3° slopes, with sediment patches up to 4° slopes; and crust dominant zones, which occur on slopes higher than 15°. The transition zone, between 4° and 15° slopes, has many locations, where nodules and crusts co‐occur in varying percentages. The observation of crust outcrops among sediments and nodules, as well as in the gravity core samples, indicates the presence of shallow buried crusts as well, which can substantially enhance resource evaluation of the deposits.