Colloid formation and metal transport through two mixing zones affected by acid mine drainage near Silverton,Colorado

Stream discharges and concentrations of dissolved and colloidal metals (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, Mg, Mn, Pb, and Zn), SO₄, and dissolved silica were measured to identify chemical transformations and determine mass transports through two mixing zones in the Animas River that receive the inflows from Cement and Mineral Creeks. The creeks were the dominant sources of Al, Cu, Fe, and Pb, whereas the upstream Animas River supplied about half of the Zn. With the exception of Fe, which was present in dissolved and colloidal forms, the metals were dissolved in the acidic, high-SO₄ waters of Cement Creek (pH 3.8). Mixing of Cement Creek with the Animas River increased pH to near-neutral values and transformed Al and some additional Fe into colloids which also contained Cu and Pb. Aluminium and Fe colloids had already formed in the mildly acidic conditions in Mineral Creek (pH 6.6) upstream of the confluence with the Animas River. Colloidal Fe continued to form downstream of both mixing zones. The Fe- and Al-rich colloids were important for transport of Cu, Pb, and Zn, which appeared to have sorbed to them. Partitioning of Zn between dissolved and colloidal phases was dependent on pH and colloid concentration. Mass balances showed conservative transports for Ca, Mg, Mn, SO₄, and dissolved silica through the two mixing zones and small losses (<10%) of colloidal Al, Fe and Zn from the water column.     

Trace metal speciation in sea and pore water of the Gotland Deep,Baltic Sea, 1994

Studies on the speciation (particulate, colloidal, anionic and cationic forms) of trace metals (Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Zn) in the water column and in pore waters of the Gotland Deep following the 1993/94 salt-water inflows showed dramatic changes in the total “dissolved” metal concentrations and in the ratios between different metal species in the freshly re-oxygenated waters below 125 m. Changes in concentrations were greatest for those metals for which the solubility differs with the redox state (Fe, Mn, Co) but were also noted for those metals which form insoluble sulphides (Cd, Pb, Cu, Zn) and/or stable complexes with natural ligands (Cu). Pore water data from segmented surface muds (0–200 mm) indicated that significant redox and related metal speciation changes took place in the surface sediments only a few weeks after the inflow of the oxygenated sea water into the Gotland Deep.     

A comparison of the early diagenetic environment in intertidal sands and muds of the Manukau Harbour,New Zealand

The early diagenetic environment of intertidal sandy sediments (sands) and muddy sediments (muds) is described and compared from two cores taken from an unpolluted part of the Manukau Harbour, New Zealand. Extraction techniques characterized the form of the trace elements (Fe, Mn, S, C, Pb, Zn, Cu) at different depths in the sediment. Dissolved forms of Fe, Mn, and S were measured in interstitial water. Nonresidual metal concentrations, humic acid, FeS, and FeS₂ are an order of magnitude higher in the muds than in the sands because of dilution by unreactive sand particles. Muds contain a larger proportion of metals in the mobile fractions; exchangeable (Mn), carbonate (Mn, Fe, Zn), and easily-reducible oxide (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb). This is due to greater surface area (for Mn adsorption); the favorable conditions for MnCO₃, FeCO₃, and FeS precipitation; and higher concentrations of easily reducible iron oxide and humic acid. Therefore, compared to the sands, muds are more important as reservoirs for toxic metals, both in terms of quantity and availability. At either site there was very little difference between the forms of Zn, Pb or Cu identified by sequential extraction as sediments changed from oxic to anoxic conditions. One reason for this is that the amounts and proportions of some of the important components that bind metals, viz., amorphous iron hydrous oxides, humic acids, and FeS₂, do not change much. Other components that do change with redox conditions, for example, manganese phases and FeS, are only minor components of the sediment. Redox conditions, then, have relatively little effect on trace-metal partitioning in the sediment matrix of these unpolluted sediments.     

Heavy metal pollution in the sediments of the Coeur d'Alene River,Idaho

Analysis of sediment samples collected from the Coeur d'Alene River in northern Idaho, USA, indicates that the main stem and the south fork of the river are contaminated with heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Mn, and Zn) from the local mining operations. Laboratory experiments indicate that these metals in the sediments can be leached and reach saturation concentrations in water in a relatively short period of time. The rate of leaching of heavy metals with distilled water appeared to follow first-order kinetics. The saturation concentrations of Mn and Zn in water reached ppm levels from the leaching process. Cadmium and Pb are much less soluble relative to Zn in the sediments. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments are a source of contamination that should be considered for the water quality management planning of the Coeur d'Alene River-Lake system.     

Trace metal dynamics in a seasonally anoxic lake

Selected results are presented from a detailed 12-month study of trace metals in a seasonally anoxic lake. Dissolved concentrations of Fe, Mn, organic carbon, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, and pH were determined in the water column and the interstitial waters on 39 occasions. Trace metal concentrations remained low throughout the year in both water column and pore waters. There was evidence for some remobilization at the sediment-water interface but sediments deeper than 3 cm acted as a sink throughout the year. Variations in the water concentrations were largely associated with increased loading during periods of heavy rainfall. During the summer, concentrations of Cu and Zn in the waters overlying the sediments were enhanced by release from decomposing algal material. Similarly, enhanced concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn were observed during periods of much reduced mixing during ice-cover. Although there were large seasonal variations in the concentrations of dissolved and particulate Fe and Mn, there were no comparable changes in the concentrations of trace metals.     

Spatial variability of soils and stream sediments and the remediation effects in a Portuguese uranium mine area

The old Senhora das Fontes uranium mine, located in central Portugal, was closed down in 1971. The treatment of ores from this mine and other mines by heap-leach ended in 1982. Seven dumps partially covered by vegetation were left in the area. Soil and stream sediment samples were collected in December 2009. The remediation was carried out from May 2010 to January 2011. Stream sediment samples were collected again in October 2013. Before the remediation, soils from inside the mine influence area have higher Al, As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Sr, Th, U and Zn concentrations than soils from outside this area, due to radionuclides, metals and metalloid released from the mine dumps. The principal component analysis (PCA) shows a distinction between soils from inside and outside the mine influence area. The U(VI), As(V) and metals from soils can be adsorbed to Fe-oxyhydroxides and the humic acid can increase the U uptake. Soils must not be used for public or private green and residential areas, because they are contaminated in U, As, Co, Cd and Ni. Before the remediation, downstream sediments have higher Al, As, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, U and Zn than upstream sediments, due to erosion and percolation of water through the mine dumps. The PCA shows a distinction between downstream and upstream sediments. The U(VI), Th and As(V) can be adsorbed to Fe-oxyhydroxides. The stream sediments are contaminated in As, Mn, Th and U. Downstream sediments are the most contaminated in U and As. After the remediation, upstream and downstream sediments have generally higher Al, Fe, As, Cr, Ni, Th, U and Zn concentrations than before the remediation, attributed to the relocation of dumps. Radionuclides, metals and metalloids were transported by surface water. Consequently downstream sediments have higher Al, As, Cu, Mn, Ni, Th, U and Zn concentrations than upstream sediments. The U(VI), Th and As(V) can be adsorbed to Fe-oxyhydroxides. Stream sediments became more contaminated in U, Th and As than before the remediation, but more intensively downstream.     

Large-scale distribution of metal contamination in the fine-grained sediments of the Clark Fork River,Montana, U.S.A.

Historic discharges from the mining and smelting complex at the head-waters of the Clark Fork River have resulted in elevated Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations in the <60 μm fraction of both bed and flood-plain sediments of the river. Processes affecting the trends in longitudinal distributions of these metals were investigated by repeated sampling over a 380 km river reach between August 1986 and July 1989. At the most upstream site, bed-sediment metal concentrations were enriched 18–115 times above least enriched tributaries, depending on the metal. All metals decreased exponentially with distance downstream away from mining. The exponential model predicts that elevated metal concentrations should occur over 550 km downstream, in Lake Pend Oreille. Longitudinal trends, obvious on a scale of hundreds of kilometers, were obscured by small-scale spatial variability when shorter stretches of the river were considered. Longitudinal dispersion appeared to be controlled largely by physical dilution with less-contaminated sediments.Evidence suggests that erosion of contaminated flood-plains contributes to metal contamination in the bed sediments. Tributary input appeared to have little influence on the large-scale, downstream distribution of metals; however, it did contribute to local variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations. Association of metals with specific mineral grains, as well as variability in total organic C and Fe concentration, appeared also to contribute to variability.Some year-to-year variability in bed-sediment metal concentrations was observed, however, trends in longitudinal dispersion were not significantly different between at least two of the years sampled.     

Texture and geochemistry of the sediments of a tropical mangrove ecosystem,southwest coast of India

The textural and geochemical aspects of the sediments of a tropical mangrove ecosystem have been studied and discussed. The sediments are characterized by the abundance of silt and sand with minor amounts of clay. The mean size of the sediment ranges from 0.205 mm to 0.098 mm (fine to very fine grained sand). The sediments are very poorly sorted, negatively to very negatively skewed, and platy to extremely leptokurtic in nature. The organic carbon content of the sediments ranges from 0,33% to 4.93%, which is controlled by the particle size of the sediments. The CaCO₃ content is five times the enrichment of organic carbon. This enhanced CaCO₃ content of the mangrove sediments might be a result of the abundance of shell fragments in the sediments. The shell mining activities in the estuarine bed adjoining the Kumarakam mangroves also contribute a substantial amount of lime muds to the mangrove area, which in turn add CaCO₃ to the sediments. The relative concentrations of heavy metals are Fe > Mn > Cr > Zn > Ni > Cu. All heavy metals other than Fe show an increase in concentration compared to the other parts of the estuarine bed. Cluster analysis indicates that the contents of organic C, Fe and Mn have a marked bearing on the Cr, Zn, Ni, and Cu levels of the mangrove sediments.     

Geochemical investigations on fluvial sediments contaminated by tin-mine tailings,Cornwall, England

Tin-mine tailings containing high concentrations of Sn, Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, As, and W are discharged into the Red River of cornwall, England and are then transported into St. Ives Bay under normal flow conditions. Most of the tin-bearing particles in the fluvial sediments are smaller than 170 μm, but tin-bearing composite grains or mineral grains with tin interspersed in the crystal lattices also occur in coarser size fractions. Tin distribution in the sediments is controlledby: (1) the distance from the source of the tailings, and (2) the concentration processes operating on the river bed. Suspended sediment and sediment transported by saltation filtered from river water samples also showed high concentrations of metals although, in contrast to the bottom sediments, they vary within a narrow range. Distributions of Cu, Zn, Fe, As, and Pb in the filtered sediments probably are related to the physical and chemical behavior of their sulphide minerals during fluvial transportation. A regional stream-sediment geochemical reconnaissance survey for tin did not show the highest concentration in the Red River; this indicated that in other rivers and streams tin reconcentration by selective removal of light minerals had taken place in the bottom sediments after mining operations had ceased. These rivers and streams also can transport large quantitiies of land-derived sediment including tin-mine tailings discharged into them when mines were operating. The minimum distance of tin transported by the Red River is at least 10 km; however, most of the tin was derived from mine tailings and is considered to be unnatural.     

Surface metal enrichment and partitioning of metals in a dated sediment core from a Norwegian fjord

A 24-cm long sediment core from an oxic fjord basin in Ranafjord, Northern Norway, was sliced in 2 cm sections and analysed for As, Co, Cu, Ni, Hg, Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe, ignition loss and Pb-210. Partitioning of metals between silicate, non-silicate and non-detrital phases was assessed by leaching experiments, in an attempt to understand the mechanisms of surface metal enrichment in sediments. Relative to metal concentrations in sediments deposited in the 19th century, metals in near surface sediments were enriched in the following order: Pb > Mn > Hg > Zn > Cu > As > Fe. Cobalt and Ni showed no enrichment. The non-detrital fraction of Cu, Pb, Mn and Zn was significantly higher in the upper 10 cm than at greater depth in the core. This corresponds to sediments deposited since 1900, when mining activities started in the area. The enrichment of Cu, Pb and Zn is assumed to be mainly a result of mining, while Mn is apparently enriched in the surface due to migration of dissolved Mn and precipitation in the oxic surface layer. Elevated concentrations of As and Fe in the upper 4 cm are presumably due to discharges from a coke plant and an iron works respectively. The excess Hg present in the near surface sediments is tightly bound, either in coal particles or ore dust introduced by local industry, or via long distance transport of atmospheric particles. Calculations of metal flux to the sediments indicate an anthropogenic flux of Zn equal to its natural flux, while the flux of Pb shows a threefold increase above natural input.     

Granulometric and chemical composition of the Sava River sediments upstream and downstream of the Krsko nuclear power plant

Total concentrations of 13 elements (K, Ca, Ti, Cr, Mn, Fe, Cu, Zn, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Pb) in the size-fractionated Sava River sediments upstream and downstream of the Krsko nuclear power plant together with metal speciation within bulk sediment have been investigated. Trace metals generally increase with decreasing particle size, however, because of entrapment of organic matter in the 0.63–1 mm fraction, concentrations in the coarser sediment fraction are higher than expected. Exchangeable Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr and Fe are generally found to represent a negligible fraction of the total metal concentration of the bulk sediment. Seasonal variations of the Pb, Zn and Cu concentrations in the <0.5 mm fraction reflect decreased values during the spring period. Heavy metal concentrations in the 2003 waste water discharges from the Krsko nuclear power plant released into the Sava River were much lower than their maximum allowed values. Combined rubidium and organic matter normalization of the Zn, Pb and Cu concentrations, which was applied on the minus 0.063 mm fraction, indicated three potential sources of contaminants.     

Distribution of colloidal trace metals in the San Francisco Bay estuary

The size distribution of trace metals (Al, Ag, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr, and Zn) was examined in surface waters of the San Francisco Bay estuary. Water samples were collected in January 1994 across the whole salinity gradient and fractionated into total dissolved (<0.2 μm colloidal (10 KDa–0.2 μm) and < 10 kDa molecular weight phases. In the low salinity region of the estuary, concentrations of colloidal A1, Ag, and Fe accounted for ≥84% of the total dissolved fraction, and colloidal Cu and Mn accounted for 16–20% of the total. At high salinities, while colloidal Fe was still relatively high (40% of the dissolved), very little colloidal Al, Mn, and Cu (<10%) and no colloidal Ag was detectable. Colloidal Zn accounted for <3% of the total dissolved along the estuary, and colloidal Ni was only detectable (<2%) at the river endmember. All of the total dissolved Cd and Sr throughout the estuary consisted of relatively low molecular weight (<10 kDa) species. The relative affinity of metals for humic substances and their reactivity with particle surfaces appear to determine the amounts of metal associated with colloids. The mixing behavior of metals along the estuary appears to be determined by the relative contribution of the colloidal phase to the total dissolved pool. Metals with a small or undetectable colloidal fraction showed a nonconservative excess (Cd, Cu, Ni, and Mn) or conservative mixing (Sr) in the total dissolved fraction, relative to ideal dilution of river water and seawater along the estuary.

The salt-induced coagulation of colloidal A1, Fe, and Cu is indicated by their highly nonconservative removal along the salinity gradient. However, colloidal metals with low affinity for humic substances (Mn and Zn) showed conservative mixing behavior, indicating that some riverine colloids are not effectively aggregated during their transport to the sea. While colloidal metal concentrations correlated with dissolved organic carbon, they also covaried with colloidal Al, suggesting that colloids are a mixture of organic and inorganic components. Furthermore, the similarity between the colloidal metal:A1 ratios with the crustal ratios indicated that colloids could be the product of weathering processes or particle resuspension. Distribution coefficients for colloidal particles (K_c) and for large, filter-retained particles (K_d) were of the same magnitude, suggesting similar binding strength for the two types of particles. Also, the dependence of the distribution coefficients on the amount of suspended particulate matter (the so-called particle concentration effect) was still evident for the colloids-corrected distribution coefficient (K_p+c) and for metals (e.g., Ni) without affinity for colloidal particles.     

湖南洞庭湖水系As和Cd等重金属元素分布特征及输送通量

土壤地球化学调查显示,长江沿岸,尤其湖南洞庭湖流域存在以镉为主的重金属高值带。为进一步确定As和Cd等重金属元素在河流中的存在形式、迁移方式和通量等地球化学特征,本研究在洞庭湖水系主要干支流的关键位置布置采样点,分夏季丰水期和冬季枯水期两次,采集了原水、0.45μm过滤水和0.20μm过滤水等水样品,以及悬浮物固体样品,分析了水和悬浮物样品中As和Cd、Pb等重金属元素含量。结果发现,As元素在湘江、资水、湘江上游支流西河和耒水中含量最高,耒水、西河及湘江的Pb、Zn含量相对偏高,Cd在湘江、耒水及汨罗江的含量也明显高于其他河流;研究区河水中As、Ni、Cd和Zn等元素在水中离子态比例较大,其溶解态含量受河水pH和温度的控制,湘江、西河、耒水和汨罗江中悬浮物As、Zn、Cu、Cd、Pb和Cu等元素含量远高于其他水系悬浮物,这与这些流域内存在多金属矿区密切相关;不同元素在河水中迁移途径有很大差别,As以溶解态和胶体态为主要迁移形式,Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd和Ni等重金属元素以悬浮物形式迁移的比例最大;主要入湖河流中,湘江输入洞庭湖的As、Zn、Cu和Cd总量最大,年通量分别为961.43 t、478.90 t、101.67 t、59.58 t。     

Sediment trace metals and PCB input history in Lake Anna, Virginia, USA

Damming of the North Anna River in 1972 created Lake Anna, a cooling water source for the Dominion nuclear power plant as well as a popular recreation site in Spotsylvania and Orange counties, Virginia, USA. Previously dated (210-Pb) sediment cores from seven locations within the lake and three locations in the adjoining Waste Heat Treatment Facilities (WHTF) were analyzed for trace metals (Al, Ba, Zn, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) to examine the environmental evolution of the reservoir system. The reservoir has a history of mining activities in its watershed and unusually elevated concentrations of PCBs were found in fish tissues from previous studies. Therefore, dated sediment cores provided the framework for both the temporal and spatial analysis of possible sources and flux histories for both trace metals and PCBs. The trace metals results suggest that, though the upper reaches are relatively less impacted, the old mine tailings from the now ceased mining activities in the watershed of Contrary Creek tributary continue to dominate the sediment chemistry of the lower portion of the lake basin, signified by sediment enrichment of Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn. Lagoon-2 of the WHTF also seems to be receiving unusually high loadings of Cd (12.5 ± 1.07 μg/g) that is probably associated with waste materials from the nuclear power plant that maintains the lagoons. PCB sediment concentrations were relatively low in the lower sections of the basins with values typically being <3.5 ng/g. The upper reaches of the basin had several PCB hotspots, with the surface sediments of Terry’s Run tributary having values as high as 53.13 ng/g. The spatial distribution of PCBs seems to suggest the upper reaches of the basin as the probable source, with the unusually high concentrations near bridges suggesting a possible link between the PCBs and old bridge fill materials. The oldest lacustrine sediments also had relatively high trace metals and PCB values signifying a probable role of soil disruption and sediment reconcentration during reservoir construction.     

Partitioning of copper and zinc in the sediments and porewaters of a high-elevation alkaline lake,east-central Arizona,U.S.A.

In Pacheta Lake, a high-elevation alkaline lake proximal to the smelting region of southern Arizona-New Mexico, concentrations of transition metal ions in pore waters and co-existing sediments were compared. Copper, Fe, Mn and Zn have been partitioned among operationally defined sediment solid phases (exchangeable sites, organic complexes, amorphous oxides, crystalline oxides, sulfides and residual silicates) and their concentrations in interstitial waters were measured. Concentrations are reported as a function of depth in the sediment column. The diagenetic environment is described and cycling mechanisms postulated for the above metals.Selective, sequential extraction of metals from lake sediments showed different binding mechanisms for Cu and Zn, the former most strongly associated with organic complexes, and the latter with iron oxyhydroxides. This difference has strong implications for selective metal remobilization under variable environmental conditions, both naturally and anthropogenically induced. Copper and zinc in porewaters were estimated to diffuse to overlying waters at 12.8 and 21.9 μg/cm²/a, respectively. These fluxes are large enough to account for observed concentrations of Cu and Zn in overlying waters. No sediment metal contamination was directly attributable to smelting activity. However, this study does document a flux from sediments, which have accumulated Cu and Zn, to overlying waters no longer receiving trace metal deposition from now inactive smelters.     

Speciation and Mobility of Selected Trace Metals (As, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) in Sediment with Depth in Cam River-Mouth, Haiphong, Vietnam

The speciation and mobility of some selected trace metals (As, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn) in sediments with depth was investigated in the Cam River-mouth (Vietnam) by collecting sediment cores and analysing porewater and sediment composition, complemented with single (ammonium-EDTA) and sequential (BCR 3-step) extractions and mineralogical analysis (XRD). All trace metals show overall decreasing trends with depth in porewater as a result of anthropogenic input in upper sediment layers. High porewater concentrations of As, Mn and Pb in oxic and suboxic sediment layers may result in groundwater pollution. Sediment-bound Pb and Mn dominate in the reducible and the acid-soluble fraction, respectively, while Cu and Zn distribute rather evenly between four extracted fractions. The porewater metal speciation, as predicted by a geochemical model Visual MINTEQ version 3.0, indicates that the toxicity of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn (presented by the proportions of free metal ions) decreases with depth, while the toxicity of As increases when As(III) becomes more abundant. The dissolved concentrations of trace metals are not only controlled by the precipitation/dissolution of discrete hydroxide/oxide, carbonate and phosphate minerals, but also by sorption processes on major sorbents (i.e. As on goethite, and Mn and Zn on calcite and dolomite). Sulphide minerals do not show any control even in the anoxic zone most likely because of the low concentration of sulphur.     

Impact of mining activities on sediments in a semi-arid environment: San Pedro River, Sonora, Mexico

A study of the San Pedro River (SPR), which is located in a semi-arid region in Sonora, Mexico, was conducted to evaluate the chemical, spatial and temporal (mobilization) trends of potentially harmful metals in its sediment in the rainy and dry seasons. High total concentrations of metals were detected in the following order: Fe > Cu > Mn > Zn > Pb > Cd. All studied metals except for Pb were increased during the dry season showing the effect of climate on the metal distribution in sediments. The results of sequential extraction indicated that the residual and Fe/Mn oxide fractions were the most important with regard to retaining potentially harmful metals in the sediments. In the exchangeable carbonate and Fe oxide fractions, high concentrations of metals were detected, representing high environmental risk. The geoaccumulation index shows slight to moderate contamination in most samples, and sampling point E4 (related to cattle activity) shows strong contamination for Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. Enrichment factors (EFs) demonstrate anthropogenic origins for Pb (EF: 3–57), Cd (EF: 6–73) and Cu (EF: 1.5–224). This study shows that sediments are impacted by anthropogenic activities related to the mining industry, untreated wastewater discharges from the city of Cananea and cattle activities. Metal mobility in the SPR can disrupt the development of aquatic species in the river.     

Heavy metals distribution and fractionation in sediments of the Mahanadi River basin, India

Heavy metals distribution in core sediments, different size fractions of bed sediments (>212 urn, 90-212 jam, 63–90 urn, 53–63 urn, < 53 urn), and suspended sediments (>30 urn, 20–30 m, 10–20 urn, 2–10 urn, <2 m) have been discussed. Pb, Zn, and Cr have been accumulating in recent years in the sediments. Si, Al, Fe, Ca, and Mg dominate the bed and suspended sediment composition. Metals show increasing concentrations in finer sediments. Applying multivariate analysis to sediment composition, metals have been grouped into different factors depending upon their source of origin. Chemical fractionation studies on suspended and bed sediments show Fe, Zn, Cu, and Pb are associated with the residual fraction and Mn with the exchangeable fraction.     

Dissolved trace elements and heavy metals from the shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region,China

Dissolved trace elements and heavy metals of waters and sediments in the ten shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River region were determined to identify their composition and spatial distribution, and to assess the extent of their environmentally detrimental effects by comparison with water and sediment quality guidelines. Results indicated that As and Pb were the main pollutants in lake waters and Mn and Hg the potential ones, while As, Cu and Pb were the main pollutants in lake sediments. Their spatial distribution indicated that Daye Lake was seriously polluted by metals, which was corroborated by cluster analysis. Higher concentrations of trace elements have been found in lakes downstream of the Yangtze River delta, and higher concentrations of metals have been recorded in sediments of upstream lakes, suggesting that metals in water were more sensitive to anthropogenic activities and that metals in sediment were mainly controlled by minerals. Correlation analyses demonstrated that there were stronger associations among metals in lake sediments than those in lake waters, and their good relationships suggested the common sources. Further research on the subject will help develop water quality management with the aim of restoring shallow lakes in the Yangtze River.     

Heavy metal anomalies in the Tinto and Odiel River and estuary system,Spain

The Tinto and Odiel rivers drain 100 km from the Rio Tinto sulphide mining district, and join at a 20-km long estuary entering the Atlantic Ocean. A reconnaissance study of heavy metal anomalies in channel sand and overbank mud of the river and estuary by semi-quantitative emission dc-arc spectrographic analysis shows the following upstream to downstream ranges in ppm (μg g^?1): As 3,000 to <200, Cd 30 to <0.1, Cu 1,500 to 10, Pb 2,000 to <10, Sb 3000 to <150, and Zn 3,000 to <200. Organic-rich (1.3–2.6% total organic carbon, TOC), sandysilty overbank clay has been analyzed to represent suspended load materials. The high content of heavy metals in the overbank clay throughout the river and estuary systems indicates the importance of suspended sediment transport for dispersing heavy metals from natural erosion and anthropogenic mining activities of the sulfide deposit. The organic-poor (0.21–0.37% TOC) river bed sand has been analyzed to represent bedload transport of naturally-occurring sulfide minerals. The sand has high concentrations of metals upstream but these decrease an order of magnitude in the lower estuary. Although heavy metal contamination of estuary mouth beach sand has been diluted to background levels estuary mud exhibits increased contamination apparently related to finer grain size, higher organic carbon content, precipitation of river-borne dissolved solids, and input of anthropogenic heavy metals from industrial sources. The contaminated estuary mud disperses to the inner shelf mud belt and offshore suspended sediment, which exhibit metal anomalies from natural erosion and mining of upstream Rio Tinto sulphide lode sources (Pb, Cu, Zn) and industrial activities within the estuary (Fe, Cr, Ti). Because heavy metal contamination of Tinto-Odiel river sediment reaches or exceeds the highest levels encountered in other river sediments of Spain and Europe, a detailed analysis of metals in water and suspended sediment throughout the system, and epidemiological analysis of heavy metal effects in humans is appropriate.