Metal concentrations in water and sediments from tourist beaches of Acapulco, Mexico

A survey on the metal concentrations (As, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn) in beach water and sediments is reported from the tourist destination of Acapulco city on the Pacific coast of Mexico. The concentration of dissolved trace metals (DTMs) in beach water and acid leachable trace metals (ALTMs) in sediments indicated that they are anthropogenic in nature due to the increased tourist activities in the crowded beach locations. The statistical analysis indicates Fe and Mn play a major role as metal scavengers in both the medium (water and sediment) and the higher value of other metals is site specific in the study area, indicating that they are transported from the local area. Comparison results suggest that the beach water quality has deteriorated more than the sediments and special care needs to be taken to restore the beach quality.     

Metal enrichment in beach sediments from Chennai Metropolis, SE coast of India

A survey on the Partially Extracted Trace Metals (PETMs) concentration (Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Co, Pb, Zn, Cd) in beach sediments is reported for the first time from 57 different locations in Chennai Metropolitan City of Southeast coast of India. The concentration of PETMs suggests that they are mainly concentrated with organic matter in the crowded part of the industrial regions in the beaches from the northern part rather than the tourist beaches in the southern part of the city. The comparison on enrichment of trace metals indicates higher values of Pb, Ni in the beaches than lowest effect level (LEL) and effects range low (ERL) than the tourist beaches.     

Evaluation of the contamination of platinum in estuarine and coastal sediments (Tagus Estuary and Prodelta, Portugal)

Platinum contamination in estuarine and coastal sediments has been evaluated in three cores collected from the Tagus Estuary and Prodelta shelf sediments. Elevated concentrations, up to 25-fold enrichment compared to background values, were found in the upper layers of the estuarine sediments. The degree of Pt enrichment in the estuarine sediments varied depending on the proximity to vehicular traffic sources, with a maximum concentration of 9.5 ng g⁻¹. A considerable decrease of Pt concentrations with depth indicated the absence of significant contamination before the introduction of catalytic converters in automobiles. Platinum distribution in the Tagus Prodelta shelf sediment core showed no surface enrichment; instead a sub-surface maximum at the base of the mixed layer suggested the possibility of post-depositional mobility, thereby blurring the traffic-borne contamination signature in coastal sediments.     

Modern stable isotopic (δ18O, δ2H, δ13C) variation in terrestrial,fluvial, estuarine and marine waters from north‐central Sarawak,Malaysian Borneo

Stable isotope data on humid tropical hydrology are scarce and, at present, no such data exist for Borneo. Delta¹⁸O, δ²H and δ¹³C were analysed on 22 water samples from different parts of the Sungai (river) Niah basin (rain, cave drip, rainforest pool, tributary stream, river, estuary, sea) in north‐central Sarawak, Malaysian Borneo. This was done to improve understanding of the modern stable isotope systematics of the Sungai Niah basin, essential for the palaeoenvironmental interpretation of the Late Quaternary stable isotope proxies preserved in the Great Cave of Niah. The Niah hydrology data are put into a regional context using the meteoric water line for Southeast Asia, as derived from International Atomic Energy Agency/World Meteorological Organization isotopes in precipitation network data. Although the Niah hydrological data‐set is relatively small, spatial isotopic variability was found for the different subenvironments of the Sungai Niah basin. A progressive enrichment occurs towards the South China Sea (δ¹⁸O ?4·6‰; δ²H ?29·3‰; δ¹³C ?4·8‰) from the tributary stream (δ¹⁸O ?8·4‰; δ²H ?54·7‰; δ¹³C ?14·5‰) to up‐river (δ¹⁸O c. ?8‰; δ²H c. ?51‰; δ¹³C c. ?12‰) and down‐river values (δ¹⁸O c. ?7·5‰; δ²H c. ?45‰; δ¹³C c. ?11‰). This is thought to reflect differential evaporation and mixing of different components of the water cycle and a combination of depleted biogenic δ¹³C (plant respiration and decay) with enriched δ¹³C values (due to photosynthesis, atmospheric exchange, mixing with limestone and marine waters) downstream. Cave drip waters are relatively enriched in δ¹³C as compared to the surface waters. This may indicate rapid degassing of the cave drips as they enter the cave atmosphere. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Metal concentrations, fluxes, inventories and chronologies in sediments from Sepetiba and Ribeira Bays: A comparative study

Three sediment cores were sampled at Sepetiba Bay and four cores at Ribeira Bay, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Sediment accumulation rates and chronologies were obtained from ²¹⁰Pb activity-depth profiles. Sediment accumulation rates in Ribera Bay ranged from 1.2 mm y⁻¹ in the inner bay to 2.6 mm y⁻¹ close to its entrance. In Sepetiba Bay two sediment accumulation rates were observed: a lower rate of 0.35 cm y⁻¹ before the 1960s and 0.76 cm y⁻¹ since then. The cause of this change is due to the construction of the Santa Cecília impoundment (1955) that brings water from the Paraíba do Sul Basin into the Guandu River, which increased its flow from the original 20 m³ s⁻¹ to 160 m³ s⁻¹. Concentration of 44 elements was obtained by ICP-MS after total dissolution of samples from two selected cores. The relative differences between the concentrations of crustal elements, such as Al, Fe and Ti are only about 20% (p < 0.05). Cd and Zn are 15 and four times larger in Sepetiba Bay than in Ribeira Bay, respectively. Other major and minor elements show lower statistically significant differences. The enrichment factors and metal inventories show that Sepetiba Bay can be considered polluted with Bi, Cd, Cr, Cu, Sb and Zn. Particularly, Cd and Zn present concentrations three and four times higher than the Brazilian existing limits.     

Indicators of microbial beach water quality: Preliminary findings from Teluk Kemang beach,Port Dickson (Malaysia)

This study aims to determine the concentrations of total coliforms and Escherichia coli (E. coli) in beach water, Teluk Kemang beach. This study was also aimed to determine relationship between total coliforms, E. coli and physicochemical parameters. As perceived health symptoms among beach visitors are rarely incorporated in beach water studies, this element was also assessed in this study. A total of eight water sampling points were selected randomly along Teluk Kemang beach. Total coliforms concentrations were found between 20 and 1940 cfu/100 ml. E. coli concentrations were between 0 and 90 cfu/100 ml. Significant correlations were found between total coliforms and E. coli with pH, temperature and oxidation reduction potential. Skin and eyes symptoms were the highest reported though in small numbers. Microbiological water quality in Teluk Kemang public beach was generally safe for recreational activities except sampling location near with sewage outfall.     

Assessment of metal contamination in surface sediments from Zhelin Bay,the South China Sea

Metals and biogenic elements were analyzed from surface sediments collected from Zhelin Bay in the South China Sea in December 2008. The high concentrations of TOC, TN and BSi indicate the high nutrient level and diatom productivity in Zhelin Bay. The concentrations of metals were generally far lower than the effects-range-low (ERL) values that define pollutant levels. Enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indices (I_geo) suggest there are pollution levels of Cd, Cu and Zn at some stations. As, Cu, and Pb are potentially biotoxic in some stations. Correlation and principal component analyses indicate that most of the metals primarily originate from natural sources, and from maricultural activities as well. Mariculture contributes considerable Cd and Cu contamination. As and Pb comes primarily from combustion of gasoline and diesel fuel by ships.     

Spatial distribution,fractionation and ecological risk assessment of potentially toxic metals in bottom sediments of the Zarivar freshwater Lake (Northwestern Iran)

Freshwater lakes are one of the most vulnerable ecosystems to environmental contamination. This study was initiated to assess the spatial distribution, fractionation, ecological risk of selected potentially toxic metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Ni) in bottom sediments of the Zarivar lake, the second largest freshwater lake in Iran. The results revealed that Pb, Zn and Cu had the high spatial variability (coefficient of variation >50) across the sampling sites and their maximum concentrations (197.5 for Pb, 198.7 for Zn and 185.6 mg/kg for Cu) were observed in sampling sites from the northern, western and eastern margins of the lake. Cr and Ni with average concentrations of 28.3 and 31.38 mg/kg respectively, exhibited low spatial variability (coefficient of variation <20) and their concentrations did not vary significantly among the sampling sites. Based on the redundancy analysis (RDA), sediment organic matter was strongly correlated with Pb, Zn and Cu while Fe₂O₃ and Al₂O₃ showed a positive correlation with Ni and Cr. The calculated average enrichment factor (EF) and geoaccumulation index (I_geo) showed that the contamination level of metals can be arranged in the following order of Pb> Cu > Zn > Cr > Ni. Results from the modified five-step sequential extraction analysis indicated that 40 % of total Pb and Zn were associated with the reducible fraction, 45 % of Cu with the oxidizable fraction and more than 80 % of total Ni and Cr were retrieved from the residual fraction. It was also noticed that Pb, Zn and Cu were more incorporated into the non-residual fractions in the sites with a higher total concentration of these metals, suggesting that both total concentration and fractionation behavior of metals were influenced by their potential sources in the study area. Ecological risk assessment using the potential ecological risk index (PERI) and the modified potential ecological risk index (MPERI) showed that sediments from the eight sampling sites pose a moderate to considerable risk whereas the other sites had low ecological risk level. In comparison to sediment quality guidelines (SQGs), the effects range low (ERL) and probable effect level (PEL) values for Pb, Cu and Zn were exceeded at some sampling sites while Ni and Cr concentrations were found to be below or close to their SQGs values at all the sampling sites. Pb was generally identified as the contaminant of most concern in the study area. Taking into account the results obtained from the fractionation study and the source contribution estimate, it can be inferred that the Pb, Zn and Cu with the average contribution of 79, 54 and 64 % respectively, were mainly derived from anthropogenic sources whereas Ni and Cr with the estimated contribution of 80 and 89 % were predominately from the lithogenic source.     

Levels of Cd,Cu, Pb and V in marine sediments in the vicinity of the Single Buoy Moorings (SBM3) at Mina Al Fahal in the Sultanate of Oman

Recently in the Sultanate of Oman, there has been a rapid surge of coastal developments. These developments cause metal contamination, which may affect the habitats and communities at and near the coastal region. As a result, a study was conducted to assess the level of metal contamination and its impact on the marine sediments in the vicinity of the Single Buoy Moorings 3 (SBM3) at Mina Al Fahal in the Sultanate of Oman. Marine subtidal sediment samples were collected from six different stations of the SBM3 for the period ranging from June 2009 to April 2010. These samples were then analyzed for their level and distribution of the heavy metals of cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and vanadium (V). Overall, low concentrations of all four heavy metals were measured from the marine sediments, indicating that the marine at SBM3 is of good quality.     

Benthic foraminifera assemblages as elemental pollution bioindicator in marine sediments around fish farm (Vrgada Island,Central Adriatic,Croatia)

Effects on sediments of fish farming activity near Vrgada Island was analysed through living and total foraminiferal assemblages and concentration of major, minor and trace elements from three sediment cores. Elemental concentrations of sediments are in accordance with carbonate characteristics of the surrounding area and show mostly natural element variations between sampling locations and throughout the cores, with no significant increases due to fish farming activity. Only phosphorus concentration shows elevate values below the fish cage, assigned to fish pellets. Foraminiferal communities are dominated by epifaunal and stress tolerant species, while diversity indices point to normal marine conditions. The type of substrate and phosphorus content in sediments principally influence foraminiferal community composition, while other elemental concentrations have no perceptible effect on the assemblages. Some foraminiferal species Ammoniatepida, Ammoniabeccarii, Elphidiumcrispum, Elphidiummacellum and genus Haynesina are confirmed to be tolerant to elevated nutrient (phosphorus) content, while Ammonia parkinsoniana shows sensitivity to pollution. Postmortem processes cause decrease of foraminiferal density and species richness with core depth. All results point to negligible influence of fish farming and relatively stable environmental conditions at all sampling locations.     

Distribution and source of heavy metals in the surface sediments from the near-shore area,north Jiangsu Province,China

Samples of surface sediment and vibrocore were collected in the near-shore area of north Jiangsu Province for grain size, elements, ²¹⁰Pb_excess and ¹³⁷Cs analyses. In our study area, the diversity of metal concentration was controlled not by the grain size, but by the source. The element content of the old Yellow River Delta was used as baseline for our study area. Geoaccumulation indexes indicate that no station was polluted by Cu, Pb, Zn and As, but the I_geo values of As were close to zero in some stations. Slight pollution caused by Cd was observed in some stations. Correlation and enrichment factors suggest that Cu, Pb and Zn are lithogenic in origin, while As and Cd are mixed in origin. Especially, in some polluted stations Cd was obviously anthropogenic in origin.     

武汉典型湖泊沉积物中重金属累积特征及其环境风险

采集武汉市8个典型湖泊的表层沉积物,分析11种重金属的含量及其不同形态组成,研究了不同湖泊金属元素的富集与污染程度,探讨了沉积物中重金属的污染来源及其潜在生态风险,结果表明,沉积物中重金属Cd累积最严重,Zn和Hg也发生明显累积,龙阳湖污染较重,南太子湖和墨水湖污染中等,其它湖泊污染总体较轻.沉积物性质对重金属累积的影响不显著,城市工业活动强烈影响着重金属的分布,不同重金属的形态分布差异较大,Cd生物可利用态含量最高,其次为Mn、Zn、Co、Cu和Pb;而Sb和Hg以残留态占绝对优势,生态风险较小,相关分析和主成分分析表明,化石燃料燃烧、金属冶炼等是武汉市湖泊沉积物中重金属来源的主要贡献者,同时岩石风化等地球化学过程也影响着重金属的污染.     

Spatial distribution and bonding forms of heavy metals in sediments along the middle course of the River Elbe (km 287ċ390)

Sediments of eight groyne fields along the middle course of the River Elbe (river km 287?390) were geochemically studied. The 78 sediment samples were analysed for pH and grain size distribution. The grain size fraction < 2 μm was used for mineralogical and chemical analysis: semiquantitative clay mineral analysis; total element content (Al, Ca, Fe, K, Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn), total inorganic and organic C, and bonding form fractionation with a six‐step sequential chemical extraction. The latter was performed on selected samples (n = 32). The sediments along the Elbe's course are still contaminated with heavy metals far above the local geogenic background level. An enrichment factor of more than 15 was calculated for zinc. Cr and Ni are the elements with the lowest enrichment. The bonding form analysis of selected heavy metals shows a dominance of relatively immobile bonding forms, e. g. the moderately reducible and the residual fraction, which implies a relative low mobility potential. Only Zn poses a higher potential threat to the environment, since it has a higher percentage of the first three extracted phases: adsorbed, carbonate, and easily reducible fraction.     

Self-organizing map for the detection of seasonal variations in Sidi Chahed Dam sediments (Northern Morocco)

ABSTRACT

A database of 88 superficial sediment samples, distributed in space and time, was collected from the Sidi Chahed Dam (northeast of Meknes city, Morocco) and from four other reference stations (in the same region) located in supposedly uncontaminated environments. Analyses were focused on the physico-chemical characteristics and concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Cd). The database was processed by advanced statistical analysis techniques. The method of classification by self-organizing maps (SOM) was used, permitting understanding and visualization of the spatial and temporal distribution of samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) and SOM hierarchical classification (SOM-HC) were used to validate the classification and detect seasonal variations in heavy metal concentrations. Dependencies between different metal tracers were considered and their spatio-temporal distribution is shown, together with the ranking of clusters, according to their pollution levels. Thus, autumn samples were the only ones with high concentrations of As, compared to the four reference stations. This is due to leaching of bare soil by the first stormy rains of autumn. In winter and spring samples, the concentrations of tracers Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr were relatively high compared to those of the reference stations. Summer sample concentrations were most comparable with the reference stations, probably due to the scarcity of rainfall and runoff in this season.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz Associate editor E. Gargouri     

Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metal concentrations in mussels (Mytilus edulis) from the Baie des Chaleurs, New Brunswick, Canada

Previous studies on heavy metal contamination of the Baie des Chaleurs focus only on industrial centers and overlooked the ecosystem as a whole. To fill this gap, the objective of this study is to establish a baseline of the spatio-temporal distribution of heavy metals in mussels from the Baie des Chaleurs based on the ecosystem approach. Our results show, for the first time, a cadmium contamination in mussels across the south coast of the Baie des Chaleurs and not only in industrial centers. Our results also confirm previous studies showing heavy metal contamination of the Belledune area. This study demonstrates that the use of the ecosystemic approach is essential to obtain a comprehensive picture of environmental contamination in marine ecosystems.     

Heavy metal concentrations and biomarkers of oxidative stress in native mussels (Mytilus edulis chilensis) from Beagle Channel coast (Tierra del Fuego, Argentina)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of oxidative stress biomarkers of pollution in native mussels Mytilus edulis chilensis from the Beagle Channel. Spatial and seasonal variations of catalase, glutathione-S-transferase and lipid peroxidation in gills and digestive gland were analyzed in relation to environmental parameters, heavy metals in sediment and in tissue. Four sites with anthropogenic impact and a control site were selected and monitored during the four seasons of 2007. We found significant differences among sites in concentrations of dissolved nutrients and heavy metals in sediments, with the highest values recorded at sites with anthropogenic pressure. Different patterns were observed between concentrations of metals in tissues and in sediments suggesting differences in bioavailability. There were also significant differences in biomarker responses among sites, despite the strong seasonal variability. Our results showed relatively moderate levels of pollution in the study area as a result of urban influences.     

Speciation of organic carbon,Cu and Mn in the River Marne (France): the role of colloids

The distribution of organic carbon (OC) and of some metals (Cu, Mn) amongst the particulate (>0·2 μm), colloidal (10 kDa–0·2 μm) and the truly dissolved (<10 kDa) fractions of the River Marne was investigated during the phytoplankton spring bloom. A tangential ultrafiltration (UF) device was utilized to separate the colloidal fraction. On average, 22% of the OC, 31% of the Cu and 53% of the Mn, usually assigned to the so‐called dissolved fraction, were found in the colloidal fraction. The colloidal fraction exhibited a behaviour different from that of the particulate and truly dissolved fractions. Autochthonous production led to enrichment in the colloidal and particulate OC pools: up to 47% of the total dissolved OC was in the colloidal fraction. An increase in the colloidal metal fraction, concomitant with a fall in the truly dissolved fraction, coincided with peaks in phytoplankton during the bloom. These phenomena might be related either to an increase in pH associated with photosynthetic activity, resulting in the precipitation of truly dissolved forms into the colloidal fraction, or to scavenging of the truly dissolved metals by the algal species of colloidal size. The interaction between the colloidal and the truly dissolved phases was very important. The partition coefficients of the Cu and Mn between the colloidal and truly dissolved fractions were higher than between the particulate and the truly dissolved fractions. This pattern is consistent with a greater specific surface area of colloids than macroparticles. Consequently, the adsorption and complexation capacities are enhanced in the colloidal fraction of the particulate matter. The extraction of hydrophobic complexes with Cu using C₁₈ Sep‐Pak columns, showed that the Cu occurring in colloidal, total dissolved or truly dissolved forms was significantly complexed by the organic matter. The truly dissolved fraction might be complexed up to 100% during a phytoplankton bloom. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.