Determination of historical emission of heavy metals into the atmosphere: Celje case study

The research shows that in the Celje area (Slovenia), the historical anthropogenical emissions are 1,712 tons of Zn and 9.1 tons of Cd. For Zn, this value represents approximately 0.3% of the total Zn production in that area. Close to the former zinc smelting plant, the “Zn precipitation” has been estimated to be up to 0.036 mm. The 100-year Zn production left behind a heavily contaminated area with maximum concentrations of Zn of up to 5.6% in attic dust and 0.85% in the soil, and 456 mg/kg of Cd in attic dust and 59.1 mg/kg in the soil. The calculation of historical emissions is based on the data of heavy metals concentration in the attic dust at 98 sampling points and on the data from 19 measurement sites of the weight of total monthly air deposit. The main idea behind determining past emissions is that when the weight of the deposited dust on a small area is multiplied by the concentration of the element in that area, the mass of the polluter which has been transported to the place of interest by air can be calculated. If we sum up all the weight over the whole geochemical anomaly, we get the quantity of historical emissions.     

Modelling of atmospheric dispersion of heavy metals in the Celje area,Slovenia

The aim of this research was to determine how fast the level of heavy metal concentrations in the air decreases in relation to increasing distance from the source of pollution and what the influence area is of the zinc smelting plant which existed for 100 years in Celje. In that period it produced approximately 580,000 tons of raw Zn from sphalerite ore by the pyrometallurgical process. The production left behind a heavily contaminated area, where the concentrations of Pb and Zn in the soil can be expressed as a percentage. A model has been made on the basis of the data of concentrations of Zn and Cd in the soil and attic dust regarding the distance and direction from the source of the pollution. Because Celje lies in a basin we chose a linear model, which describes the decreasing of the concentrations of Zn and Cd only in one direction. Sampling has been conducted on the four river valleys which stretch from the source of the pollution in all four directions: north, west, south and east, up to 13 km from the source. The power function with a negative exponent was used. With the solution to the calculated functions according to the distance, we can estimate the theoretical distance when the concentrations drop to the natural background level. The range of influence of the zinc smelting plant has been estimated to be between 14 and 52 km for the presence of anthropogenic Zn in attic dust and between 9 and 14 km for the presence of anthropogenic Zn in the soil, depending on the direction from the plant. Correlations between the measured values and the ones from the model are high: from 0.75 up to 0.98.     

Heavy metal contamination in dust from kindergartens and elementary schools in Xi’an,China

Concentrations of As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn in campus dust from kindergartens and elementary schools in Xi’an, China, were analyzed using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry and heavy metal contamination levels were assessed based on the geoaccumulation index (I _geo), enrichment factor (EF) and numero synthesis pollution index (NSPI). The results indicate that, in comparison with Shaanxi soil, dust samples have elevated metal concentrations as a whole, except for V, Mn, Ni, and As. The assessment results of I _geo and EF indicate that V, Mn, Ni, and As in campus dust are uncontaminated, while Ba and Cr are uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, and Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn are moderately to strongly contaminated. The NSPI results show that most dust samples presented heavily contaminated by heavy metals. More attention should be paid to heavy metal contamination of campus dust from kindergartens and elementary schools of Xi’an.     

Investigation of microrubbers,microplastics and heavy metals in street dust: a study in Bushehr city,Iran

This study aimed to (1) investigate microrubbers (MRs) for the first time and identify microplastics (MPs) in street dust, (2) determine the physicochemical and mineralogical characteristics and morphology of dust particles, (3) understand the concentration and the possible source(s) of heavy metals/metalloids, (4) identify the chemical speciation and mobility potential of trace metals in urban street dusts, and (5) determine adverse health effects of street dust on children and adults living in the city of Bushehr in southwestern Iran. Generally, twenty four street dust samples were collected and analyzed. Calculated enrichment factors indicate high levels of contamination. Statistical analysis reveals that the two main sources of trace elements include road traffic emissions (Cu, Zn, Sb, Hg, Pb, Mo) and re-suspended soil particles (Al, Mn, Ni, Ti, Cd, Co). BCR sequential extraction results indicated that As, Zn, Cu, and Pb mainly occur in the exchangeable fraction and hence are highly bioavailable. X-ray powder diffraction analysis revealed the presence of calcite, dolomite, quartz, and magnetite. The size distribution of dust particles was also investigated using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), while elemental distribution was analyzed using an attached energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM–EDS) unit. Dust particles from heavy traffic areas are much finer compared with other investigated areas. MPs and MRs, mostly fibers and fragments, were detected in all samples [ranging from 210 to 1658 (MPs) and 44 to 782 (MRs) items/10 g dust] using fluorescence microscopy. The hazard index for As is higher than 10^?4 for children and adults indicative of high risk. According to the calculated potential ecological risk index, Hg indicated moderate ecological risk in the street dust of the study area.     

山东省小清河沿岸土壤重金属污染分布及迁移规律

通过对山东省小清河流域土壤重金属污染现状的调查研究,查明土壤重金属污染状况,元素来源和分布迁移规律,从而为该区土壤重金属污染的科学治理提供有效依据。研究发现,小清河沿岸地区的重金属污染主要表现为As、Cd、Cr、Ni等元素的污染;依据内梅罗污染指数评价方法发现研究区存在重金属污染的土壤总面积为880.5 km2,未受到重金属污染的土壤面积为1 822.1 km2,分别占全区总土壤面积的32.58%和67.42%,其中上游的济南市城区北园镇至华山镇区域的小清河两岸是重污染区。对小清河流域土壤重金属来源的探析表明,大气干湿沉降是土壤重金属污染的主要来源;土壤重金属的生物有效性评价显示重金属元素Cd的活动态比例高达56.17%,活化迁移能力强,是该区对生态环境危害性最大的污染因子。此外,As、Cd、Cr、Pb等重金属元素的活动态含量明显受pH值和Corg含量的制约,在低pH值、高Corg含量的土壤区应高度重视As和Cd的污染问题。     

西南典型矿业城市土壤及近地表大气尘中重金属污染特征及评价——以攀枝花市为例

以攀枝花市为研究区域,分别采用富集因子法、潜在生态危害系数法和单因子指数-内梅罗综合污染指数法有针对性地对土壤和近地表大气尘中As,Cd,Cr,Cu,V,Zn和Ni七种重金属污染状况进行了综合性评价。结果表明,攀枝花宝鼎煤矿区和攀钢片区土壤及近地表大气尘中的重金属含量较高,均超过四川省土壤背景值。富集因子指数分析表明,研究区重金属污染受到人为活动的影响较大,污染也较为严重,其中Zn和Cd的富集情况较为显著,Cd,V,Zn,Cu为主要污染因子。潜在生态危害系数结果表明,在各元素中,绝大多数元素处于轻微生态危害,Cd 8个点位处于强生态危害,7个点位处于很强生态危害,处于中等生态危害的占5%,处于强生态危害的占47%,处于很强生态危害的占41%,土壤中Cd元素的潜在生态危险最高,其余元素处于轻微生态危险状态。单因子指数-内梅罗综合污染指数分析结果表明,Cd,Cr和Ni元素在宝鼎煤矿区和攀钢片区都存在重度污染,Cd(7.70),Cr(3.38),Cu(4.49),V(3.62),Zn(3.68)和Ni(5.80)存在重度污染,As(2.07)存在中度污染。     

Multivariate analysis of heavy metal pollution in street dusts of Xianyang city, NW China

Urban street dust is one of important indicators of the status of urban environmental pollution. There are many studies in capital cities, but little attention has been paid to this kind of study in medium cities, especially in China. The dust samples were collected in the district of traffic crossroads in Xianyang city, Shaanxi Province. Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Zn, Cr and Mn concentrations were determined by using atomic absorption spectrometry. The results indicate that street dusts in Xianyang city have elevated metal concentrations as a whole in comparison with Shaanxi Province soil, except for Mn. The content of heavy metals was comparable to those in capital cities. Correlation coefficient analysis, principal component analysis and cluster analysis were used and three main sources were identified; Mn comes mainly from soil sources; Cu, Zn and Ni are mainly derived from industrial sources combined with traffic sources; Pb, Cr and Cd have traffic sources. Heavy metal enrichment factors were calculated, which can reflect human influence degree of street dusts.     

Heavy metal geochemistry and dispersion pattern in coastal sediments,soil, and water of Kedron Brook floodplain area,Brisbane, Australia

Hydrochemical monitoring and heavy metal speciation by sequential extraction techniques indicate direct relationships among enrichment of the heavy metals (copper, lead, zinc, iron, manganese, and cadmium), soil acidification, and salinization in Kedron Brook floodplain area of Brisbane, Australia. Assessment of modes of occurrence and distribution pattern of the heavy metals in soil, sediment, and water environments of this coastal plain indicates that the total concentrations and reactive fractions of these metals are elevated in soil and channel bed sediments. Such geochemical signatures reflect the complex influence of sources and a combination of natural and anthropogenic processes on concentration and dispersion within the coastal zone. According to a working model presented, the enrichment of the heavy metals, like cadmium, in the soil and sediment profiles is triggered by capillary pumping during low groundwater standing levels, when the metals are in a stable form associated with dry gels. During higher groundwater levels and occasional flood events, these metals become mobilized when the gel material is transformed into soluble colloidal phase.This study indicates that the potential impacts of heavy metal pollution on the coastal ecosystems can not be assessed and managed in isolation solely by considering the natural cause-effect relationships. The complex nature of sediment-soil-water interactions in the coastal hydrodynamic zones can produce a manifold of effects, including mobilization, concentration, and/or dispersion of heavy metals at both short and longer time scales. In the case of Kedron Brook, chemical erosion due to variation in natural climatic and hydrodynamic conditions contributes significantly to concentration of heavy metals in the coastal environments. Therefore, a sound understanding of the prevailing hydrogeochemical processes is essential for prediction of the fate of heavy metals and establishment of meaningful coastal zone management strategies.     

Accumulation of heavy metals in the lacustrine sediment of Longgan Lake, middle reaches of Yangtze River, China

Spatial and temporal distribution of heavy metals (Chromium, Copper, Nickel, Lead, and Zinc) in the sediment of Longgan Lake, middle reaches of Yangtze River, China were analyzed to discuss their enrichment characteristics and history in combination with geochronological data and to identify anthropogenic effects. The results showed that the enrichment state of heavy metals was higher in the western versus eastern lake area, although their concentrations behave in the opposite case, which demonstrated that stronger human activities existed in the western lake catchment. The enrichment history of heavy metals pointed out that prior to 1950, the enrichment state was lower in the ambient lake areas illustrating the natural effect on the lake; thereafter the human activities in the catchment enhanced markedly causing an increasing heavy metal enrichment. The increase of heavy metal enrichment in the 1970s occurred in the central lake areas. The temporal difference between the ambient and central areas elucidated that the heavy metal accumulation might be buffered by the lake before they entered the sediment. Correlation analysis revealed that there was a significant correlation between heavy metals in the sediment suggesting their similar sources. Heavy metals were distinctly related to aluminum, calcium, lithium, iron, and organic matters, which could denote their forms in the sediment.     

南京栖霞山铅锌矿区铅同位素示踪

南京栖霞山铅锌矿已开采50余年,环境问题日益突出。为了了解污染来源和污染传播方式,采集了该地水、土、植物、大气沉降、燃油灰尘、矿石、人血和生物等多种样品进行重金属元素含量和铅同位素示踪分析。结果表明矿区重金属污染严重,且污染随着靠近矿区而逐渐加重,重金属元素Pb、As、Cd、Cu、Zn之间相关性明显,初步反映了污染与矿山有关;同位素分析显示,矿区大气沉降样品、大部分植物样品、部分土壤和部分生物样品铅同位素组成与矿石铅同位素组成相似,证实了污染源为矿山。另外,大气沉降与植物样品铅含量高且它们的铅同位素组成相当,反映了大气沉降是污染传播方式之一。     

Heavy metal contamination of urban soils and street dusts in Hong Kong

Due to rapid urbanisation and scarcity of land, most of the urban parks and recreational areas in Hong Kong are built close to major roads or industrial areas, where they are subject to many potential pollution sources, including vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. An extensive soil survey was conducted in urban parks of Hong Kong to study the current conditions of heavy metals contamination in soils. Soil samples and associated street dusts were collected from more than 60 parks and public amenity areas in old urban districts, industrial areas and New Towns of the territory. Soils were also sampled in the remote country parks to establish the baseline conditions. The total concentrations of heavy metals and major elements in the samples were determined. The results indicate that urban soils in Hong Kong have elevated concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn. The parks with high metal concentrations are located in old urban commercial districts and industrial areas, indicating that the major contamination sources in these soils are traffic emissions and industrial activities. In addition, the application of Cd containing phosphate fertilizers may be an important source of Cd in urban park soils. The street dusts have highly elevated Zn concentration, particularly along the main trunk roads. The high Zn content in the street dusts may come from traffic sources, especially vehicle tyres. Selective soil and road dust samples were also analysed for potential chemical speciation by a sequential chemical extraction method. The chemical partitioning results show that Pb and Zn are mainly in the carbonate/adsorbed and Fe–Mn oxide phases, while Cu is largely associated with the organic and sulphide fractions. The high exchangeable Cd in urban soils and high concentration of Zn in street dusts need further investigation for their ecological and health implications.     

沿海表层沉积物中重金属的有效结合态

以浙江沿海表层沉积物为研究对象,系统地研究了重金属有效结合态与沉积环境、矿物组成和人为排放等环境因素之间的相互关系.结果表明:沿海表层沉积物中重金属的积累数量,呈现出潮汐河口沉积物>沿海沉积物>强潮汐河口沉积物的趋势,这反映了不同沉积类型对重金属富集作用的差异;重金属的有效结合态,总体上以铁锰氧化物结合态>碳酸盐结合态>硫化物及有机结合态>可交换态的顺序存在,但是不同的重金属或同种重金属在不同的采点,主要有效结合态的比例存在明显的差异,这不仅与重金属的地球化学性质、沉积环境和沉积物中的粘土矿物组成有关,更受到重金属污染物的人为排放量的影响.     

南方某工业区大气总悬浮颗粒物重金属来源解析及其对土壤环境质量的影响

解析大气总悬浮颗粒物(TSP)的重金属来源可为重金属生态风险评价和环境修复提供理论依据。本文研究了中国南方某工业城市冶炼厂周边冬季TSP和表层土壤(0~20 cm)中的重金属环境效应。采用大气主动采样技术收集TSP样品,原子荧光光谱法和电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定其中重金属的含量,结合富集因子法和Pearson系数法分析重金属含量特征及其来源。结果表明,研究区TSP中Zn、Pb、Cd含量最高达到30809.06×10-6、9902.91×10-6、1011.21×10-6,分别是中国土壤背景值的201.43、222.53、5616.20倍,属于污染严重级别;Ni、Cr含量分别是中国土壤背景值的1.83倍和2.96倍。冶炼厂、火力发电厂和化工厂等人为源是Zn、Pb、Cd、Hg、As等重金属富集的主导因素;土壤重金属含量与TSP重金属含量呈显著正相关,可判定研究区土壤的重金属来源主要为大气沉降。     

唐山市曹妃甸地区大气降尘矿物学特征及环境意义——以华北理工大学校区为例

大气降尘矿物学特征研究具有重要的环境学意义。文章以华北理工大学校区采集样品为例,应用激光粒度分析仪、扫描电镜、X射线粉末衍射、电感耦合等离子体质谱等对河北省唐山市曹妃甸地区大气降尘矿物学特征进行了初步分析研究。结果表明,曹妃甸地区大气降尘粒径较粗,颗粒物包括块状、柱状、片状、球状及不规则粒状集合体,主要由石英、长石、石膏、云母、绿泥石、角闪石、白云石、方解石和赤铁矿等矿物组成;降尘样品中Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Pb等重金属元素含量均较高。研究分析表明,降尘样品中硅酸盐矿物主要源自地面扬尘,而石膏、方解石等碳酸盐矿物可能为环境中的次生矿物,样品中重金属污染主要来源于燃煤、工矿企业生产排放和少部分汽车尾气排放。     

某金矿区农田土壤重金属污染的人体健康风险

环境重金属污染的人体健康效应是当今社会最为关注的重大环境问题。某金矿区矿业活动导致土壤、地下水、农作物中重金属元素存在不同程度的累积或超标。通过土壤、地下水、蔬菜及粮食作物的样品采集,人群暴露问卷调查,获得了暴露人群的膳食结构参数。以农田土壤中7种重金属元素的综合污染分区内的土壤、地下水、蔬菜、小麦玉米等样品中的重金属元素的平均含量为依据,采用USEPA推荐的人体健康风险评价模型,计算了经口食入、皮肤接触等暴露途径对成年人的健康风险概率。研究表明,研究区存在因重金属导致的不可接受的人体健康高非致癌风险和致癌风险。总体而言,土壤重金属污染愈重地区,区内人体健康风险愈高。地下水中的Cr元素、土壤综合污染区内的Hg元素、污染区内的蔬菜及粮食是危害人体健康的重要因素。因此,禁饮Cr含量高的地下水、禁食污染区内的农作物、修复土壤重金属污染、调整农作物种植结构是保护研究区人群健康的重要环境管理工作。     

微量元素在湖积物、土壤的垂向分布与稻谷中的分配

报道了“江苏省国土生态地球化学调查”项目有关湖积物、土壤柱微量元素垂向分布及稻谷样元素分配研究的初步成果。通过对有关样品元素含量的分析对比,指出洪泽湖沉积柱元素垂向分布与其动荡的沉积环境关系密切、太湖局部沉积物在其目前20cm以上深度存在人为重金属污染,这二湖沉积物中其氮与总有机碳含量呈显著正相关;认为城市化可使当地土壤环境受重金属等污染的深度显著加大、城市土壤环境受人为活动的影响要显著高于农村;发现Mo易富集于稻米、重金属与营养元素易富集于稻皮、各元素在米-谷间的分配关系不确定。     

Lead isotopic ratios in source apportionment of heavy metals in the street dust of Kolkata,India

Street dust from 29 locations, in some of the busiest parts of north and south Kolkata, was analysed for heavy metal composition. The decreasing order of average metal concentrations (mg kg^?1) found was Mn (390) > Pb (380) > Zn (300) > As (96) > Cu (61) > Cr (40) > Co (13) > Ag (2.1). The heavy metal composition of the Kolkata dust was compared with reported data for other cities. Enrichment factors of Pb and As were high. Multivariate statistical analysis of the heavy metals and analysis of lead isotopic ratios of the dust revealed a predominant anthropogenic influence in the contamination. The range of lead isotopic ratios found in the dust was between 0.8789 and 0.8998 with a mean Pb concentration of 383 mg kg^?1. The three Pb isotope plots of street dust, diesel and rainwater clustered linearly, while coal did not fit into this trend. The highest 207/206 lead isotopic ratio obtained was from diesel with a mean value of 0.9015, followed by the rainwater sample. The application of the binary mixing model showed that about 66.86% of lead contamination in the street dust was sourced from the atmosphere. The two components extracted by the principal component analysis explained 64.34% of the total variance. Vehicular and industrial emissions appeared to be an important contributor to the accumulation of heavy metals in the dust. The health risk assessment study of the dust indicated carcinogenic risk associated with As and Cr.     

Influence of parent sediments on the concentration of heavy metals in urban and suburban soils in Turku,Finland

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of parent sediment material on soil geochemistry and to locate possible pollution sources in the area of Turku town in southwestern Finland. The study area is glaciated terrain and subsurface samples were chosen to represent five different parent sediment materials: glacial till, glaciofluvial or littoral sand, clay, peat and marine mud. Elemental concentrations of surface (100 samples) and background soil (50 samples) were analysed by ICP-AES (Al, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, P, S, Sr, Ti, V) and by graphite furnace AAS (As, Cd, Mo, Se). Loss-on-ignition was determined as an indicator of organic matter. Analytical results were examined using multivariate statistical methods. The results indicate that the studied soils are not heavily contaminated; there were only few sample sites with elevated heavy metal concentrations. High Pb concentrations were observed along main traffic routes, and also in places where there has been small-scale use of antifouling paints. However, concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil were in general significantly lower than those measured in large cities elsewhere. The parent material strongly affects the geochemical character of the soils. Clays naturally have a significantly higher concentration of heavy metals than sands or till material. This is also reflected in concentrations in organic topsoil. When assessing target levels for polluted soil, the primary sediment appears to be a more important factor than the amount of organic matter.     

成都市近地表大气尘铅分布特征及源解析

分析了成都市近地表大气尘样品铅及其同位素含量比的测定数据,铅含量变化范围为(119.76~1 327.42)×10-6,均值为374.51×10-6,统计标准偏差为273.36,变异系数为 0.73,说明成都市近地表大气尘铅含量变化大.燃煤飞灰的放射性成因铅明显高于汽油和柴油,可作为鉴别大气尘铅来源的证据.铅同位素含量数据表明成都市近地表大气尘的铅污染是复合污染源所致,其中,相对清洁区污染以建筑扬尘为主,中度污染区是汽车尾气和扬尘的叠加作用,重污染区是燃煤飞灰汽车尾气和工业污染源的综合表征.     

Subsurface movement of zinc from contaminated dredge spoils at a periodically flooded site

In 1982, sediments contaminated with zinc, cadmium, and copper were dredged from Lake DePue in Illinois and deposited in a diked sediment disposal area (DSDA) that is flooded annually for at least three months. Data from soil and groundwater samples collected at multiple depths within and adjacent to the DSDA indicate vertical movement of the metals in the subsurface, although groundwater outside of the DSDA was not contaminated with any of the metals. Zinc was elevated in almost all of the wells inside the DSDA. Cadmium concentrations were elevated in shallow wells inside the DSDA, while copper was rarely detected in the groundwater. Comparisons of groundwater samples taken within the DSDA under flooded and unflooded conditions suggest that pH and redox conditions controlled metal solubilities. A comparison between soil cores and sediment cores from Lake DePue suggest that zinc was more mobile than cadmium or copper within the DSDA.