Inland saline lakes of Wadi El Natrun depression, Egypt

The morphology and geochemistry of saline lakes in the Wadi El Natrun depression were studied. All lakes had pH values of 8.5--9.5 and a salinity from 283 to 540 g/L. The main ionic components were sulphate, chloride, carbonate and sodium. Traces of magnesium were also present. The water of the lakes is of the Cl^– to SO ₄ ^2– -Cl^– type. Increased Cl^– in Wadi El Natrun brines can increase metal solubility due to the formation of soluble chloro-complexes of trace elements. The metal concentrations decrease in the order: Pb > Cu > Cd > Ni > Zn > Fe > Mn. The characteristics of Wadi El Natrun saline lakes are compared with those from other saline lakes.     

东莞市农田土壤和蔬菜重金属含量分析(英文)

A total of 118 of agricultural soil and 43 of vegetable samples were collected from Dongguan City,Guangdong,China. The spatial distribution,sources,accumulation charac-teristics and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were de-picted in details by three different approaches,including total contents of eight metal ele-ments in soils and vegetables,GIS maps and multivariate analysis of heavy metals in soils in the study. The results show that there are higher accumulation of heavy metals such as Cu,Zn,Ni,Pb,Cd and Hg in agricultural soils,and the contents of Pb (65.38 mg kg-1) and Hg (0.24 mg kg-1) are 1.82 and 2.82 times of the background contents of the corresponding heavy metals in soils of Guangdong Province,respectively. There are about 3.4% of Cu,5.9% of Ni,1.7% of Cd and 28% of Hg in all collected soil samples from all investigated sites which have overran the contents for heavy metals of the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995,Grade Ⅱ ). The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly reflected by Hg. There are different sources to eight metal elements in soils,Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr and As are predominantly derived from parent materials,and Pb,Hg and Cd are affected by anthropogenic activities. The spatial distribution shows that the Cu,Zn,Ni,Cr,Pb,As and Hg contents of agricultural soils are high in the west and low in the east,and Cd contents are high in the northwest,southeast and low in the southwest in Dongguan. The ratios of vegetable samples which Ni,Pb and As concentrations higher than the Maximum Levels of Con-taminants in Foods (GB2762-2005) are 4.7%,16.3% and 48.8%,respectively. The order of bio-concentration factors (BCF) of heavy metals in vegetables is Cd Zn Cu As Ni Hg Cr Pb. It is necessary to focus on potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and hu-man's health from agricultural soils and vegetables in Dongguan City,Guangdong Province.     

Heavy metal concentrations of agricultural soils and vegetables from Dongguan, Guangdong

A total of 118 of agricultural soil and 43 of vegetable samples were collected from Dongguan City, Guangdong, China. The spatial distribution, sources, accumulation characteristics and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were depicted in details by three different approaches, including total contents of eight metal elements in soils and vegetables, GIS maps and multivariate analysis of heavy metals in soils in the study. The results show that there are higher accumulation of heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd and Hg in agricultural soils, and the contents of Pb (65.38 mg kg?1) and Hg (0.24 mg kg?1) are 1.82 and 2.82 times of the background contents of the corresponding heavy metals in soils of Guangdong Province, respectively. There are about 3.4% of Cu, 5.9% of Ni, 1.7% of Cd and 28% of Hg in all collected soil samples from all investigated sites which have overran the contents for heavy metals of the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995, Grade Ⅱ). The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly reflected by Hg. There are different sources to eight metal elements in soils, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr and As are predominantly derived from parent materials, and Pb, Hg and Cd are affected by anthropogenic activities. The spatial distribution shows that the Cu, Zn, Ni, Cr, Pb, As and Hg contents of agricultural soils are high in the west and low in the east, and Cd contents are high in the northwest, southeast and low in the southwest in Dongguan. The ratios of vegetable samples which Ni, Pb and As concentrations higher than the Maximum Levels of Contaminants in Foods (GB2762-2005) are 4.7%, 16.3% and 48.8%, respectively. The order of bio-concentration factors (BCF) of heavy metals in vegetables is Cd > Zn > Cu > As > Ni > Hg > Cr > Pb. It is necessary to focus on potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and human’s health from agricultural soils and vegetables in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province.     

Heavy metal storage in near channel sediments of the Lahn River, Germany

Heavy metal pollution in urban, industrial, and mined watersheds of Europe is well documented, but less is known about metal contamination in agrarian watersheds or those with no history of mining. Along a 75-km reach of the Lahn River, central Germany, near-channel flood-plain sediments (<5 m from the active channel) have mean concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn that exceed background values. Vertically, metal concentrations are highest at 15 or 20 cm below the flood plain. Although mean metal concentrations in the watershed are below mean values found in more industrial watersheds of western Europe, individual near-channel sites along the Lahn River have metal concentrations approaching those found in more urbanized drainage basins. Several sites along the Lahn are “excessively contaminated” with Cd and “moderately/strongly” contaminated with Cu, Pb, and Zn. Metal concentrations are generally higher and more variable downstream from metal-producing locations and in the vicinity of industrial facilities. Topographic and geomorphic factors appear to have minimal influence on near-channel metal concentrations. The elevated concentrations of metals in geomorphically sensitive channel banks and near-channel sediments raise the possibility of future metal pollution in the Lahn River watershed even as metal emissions to the environment decline.     

The siliceous sediments of Lake Cantara South,a saline lake in South Australia

A textural analysis of the siliceous sediments component of a small saline lake in south-eastern South Australia (Lake Cantara South) was undertaken. The data indicated periods of marine incursion, lagoonal dominance and elevated freshwater inputs. Lake Cantara originated as a marine embayment; then followed periods of intermittent marine connection; finally, the lake became athalassic (mostly saline but with occasional freshwater inundations). This history accords well with that derived from an examination of mollusc fossils (marine, estuarine, athalassic saline, and freshwater forms) and with previously published mineralogical, geochemical and geomorphological evidence.     

Heavy metals and phosphorus in tidal flat sediments of the Yangtze estuary

Concentrations of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and Cd), and phosphorous (P) were determined in surface tidal flat sediments of the Yangtze estuary and Shanghai coast. Results demonstrate that there were significant differences among the accumulation of the heavy metals in sediments, following the order: Zn > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd. The spatial distribution and chemical forms of heavy metals in tidal flat sediments were closely related to the distribution of pollution resources (outlet of sewage) and the local sedimentary and hydrodynamic conditions. The dominated form of non-residual heavy metals is bound to Fe/Mn oxides, and the next form is bound to carbonates. Moreover, contents of total P in sediments range from 18.0 μmol.g-1 to 31.4 μmol.g-1 along the coastline, speciation of P in sediments was different, most of P in tidal flat sediments is associated with calcium phases (as Ca-P) similar to marine sediments.     

Application of GIS for the identification and demarcation of selective heavy metal concentrations in the urban groundwater

Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water, which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. To check the severity of the problem, 156 groundwater samples were collected from various depths (60-110 ft) of 52 different localities in Faisalabad city, the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, and analyzed for the metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn and Fe) concentration in 2009. Quantification was done by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with WHO standards for drinking water quality. Results showed that the levels of Cu, Mn and Fe were below the WHO standards while the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb were above the recommended levels of safe drinking water. Correlation analysis among the occurrence of these heavy metals revealed a highly significant and positive correlation of Mn with Zn and Fe. A significant and positive correlation of Cd was also found with Cu and groundwater depth showing that there is strong association between Cu-Cd pair and that the Cd concentration varies with depth of groundwater in the study area. Regional patterns of heavy metals occurrence were mapped using Geographical Information System (GIS) for the identification and demarcation of risk areas. The concentration maps may be used by policymakers of the city to mitigate groundwater pollution.     

沅江下游入湖段河床沉积物重金属污染特征

对沅江入湖沉积物进行钻探取样,利用等离子质谱仪（ICP-MS）对沉积物重金属进行分析。结果表明：重金属Ba、Sc、V、Th、U、Cu、Co、Ni、Cr等在沉积物中含量变化相对稳定,分布相对均匀;而Mn、Zn、Pb、Mo、Cd、Tl、Bi等重金属的含量变化大,分布不均匀。重金属含量柱状剖面变化特征及富集系数（EF值）的计算结果显示：沉积物中Cd达显著富集,而Sc、V、Mn、Pb、Bi等为中等富集程度。沉积物中存在3个重金属富集层,即中下部Pb、Tl、Bi富集层;中上部Pb、Cr、Ni、Cu富集层;浅表部V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Tl、Bi等多种重金属富集层。地累积指数（I_geo）和综合富集指数（EI）评价结果显示：沅江入湖沉积物重金属污染程度自河床深部向浅部,污染程度趋于增强,污染元素组合趋于由Pb-Bi的单一元素组合向由V-Cr-Mn-Ni-Cu-Zn-Pb-Cd-Bi组成的复合元素组合变化。且自上游向下游,沉积物重金属污染程度趋于降低。这种重金属污染空间变化特征与区域人为活动有关,值得进一步研究。     

北极新奥尔松地区现代污染源及其指示植物研究

分析了采自北极新奥尔松(Ny-lesund)(78°55′N,11°56′E)煤矿开采区水平剖面12个点位上的三种苔原植物Dicranumangustum(苔藓类植物)、Puccinelliaphryganodes(穗状植物)和Salixpolaris(管状植物)及土壤中10种重金属(Hg、Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、Ni、Fe、Mn、As、Se)及S、TOC的含量。结果显示采矿过程中煤层的暴露是本地区的Hg、Cd、S污染的主要来源。三种分布最广泛、数量最多的苔原植物中苔藓植物Dicranumangustum对重金属元素具有最大的富集能力,位于矿区的Dicranumangustu体内污染元素含量显著高于非矿区部分,这也说明该水平剖面上的元素污染是由当地煤矿开采导致的。同时发现,Dicranumangustum体内元素积累和土壤中元素浓度之间沿水平剖面的变化趋势较一致,能较好地反映本地区的污染状况,可以作为污染监测和指示植物。从全球区域对比来看,北极新奥尔松苔藓体内污染水平显著低于邻近的北欧等工业区,但却是北极地区Hg、Cd和S污染最严重地区,同时也比南极地区高。     

青海湖流域沙柳河下游沉积物中重金属污染风险评价

对青海湖流域沙柳河下游沉积物中As、Cd、Pb、V、Cr、Mn、Ni、Cu和Zn 9种重金属元素的含量进行了分析测定,采用污染系数、富集系数、地累积指数和潜在生态危害指数评估了其污染程度。结果表明：无论在横向还是纵向上,重金属元素含量均低于青海湖土壤背景值;重金属元素污染系数和富集系数均小于2,且大多数样品的值低于1（高于1者多为Cd、Cu、Ni、Zn,且具高值）;地累积指数均为负值（除QB-19中Cd和Cu分别为0.10和0.02）;潜在生态风险因子大多低于30,潜在生态危害指数大多低于70。沙柳河下游沉积物尚未出现重金属污染,具有低的生态风险,但该流域重金属的人为排放确实存在（主要是Cd、Cu、Ni、Zn等）,而且在近代排放更为显著。     

澜沧江水系底沙重金属含量空间分布及其污染评价

流域内矿山开采引起的河流系统重金属污染是流域开发及资源利用过程中的主要环境问题之一.本研究选取澜沧江水系底沙沉积物为介质,考察其干流及11 条主要支流的5 种重金属元素铜(Cu)、砷(As)、铅(Pb)、锌(Zn) 和铬(Cr) 含量的空间变化,并综合采用了单因子指数法和潜在生态危害指数法评价澜沧江干支流底沙沉积物中重金属污染分布现状.结果显示: (1) 澜沧江水系自上游至下游,底沙重金属含量呈减弱趋势,但各支流重金属含量分布差异较大;(2) 单因子指数法评价结果表明,干流最上游的旧州断面因区域背景值较高而致使As、Pb 呈现重污染.支流黑惠江河口的As及勐戛河的Cu为重污染,沘江断面的Pb、Zn污染指数最大,属严重污染.其它干支流样点除了少数重金属元素有中度污染外,均为无污染状态;(3) 潜在生态危害指数法指出,干流旧州断面的As及支流沘江断面Pb 的E_rⁱ 值较高,其它各采样点值均未超出40,且各支流潜在生态危害指数(RI) 值均小于150,属于低潜在生态危害的范围.本研究对澜沧江干流及其主要支流底沙沉积物中重金属污染状况进行分析与评价,分析干流主要的污染来源及各支流主要污染物,为澜沧江干支流的污染治理提供科学依据.     

厦门海域废弃物倾倒区表层沉积物重金属富集特征及其生态危害评价

根据浯屿临时倾倒区和厦门港临时倾倒区表层沉积物中重金属的监测结果,采用富集系数法和Hakanson潜在生态危害系数法对其富集程度和潜在生态危害程度进行分析和评价,结果表明：2个倾倒区表层沉积物中各重金属含量值都在一类沉积物标准范围内,沉积物类别属于一类沉积物;重金属富集程度不大,对海洋生态系统的潜在生态危害非常轻微,属于轻微潜在生态危害的范畴．从重金属元素的评价结果看,2个临时倾倒区仍然可以继续使用．     

上海市崇明岛农田土壤重金属的环境质量评价

通过对上海市崇明岛28个菜地土壤表层样品、65个稻田土壤表层样品及9个西瓜地土壤表层样品的分析测试,利用国家、行业和地方的相关标准评价了农田土壤重金属(Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Hg)的环境质量状况.研究发现:崇明岛农田土壤重金属的总体含量为Pb21.597 mg·kg-1、Cd 0.176 mg-kg-1、Cr 69.395 mg·kg-1、As 9.209 mg·kg-1、Hg O.128 mg·kg-1.与上海市土壤背景值相比,除Pb、Cr外,其余重金属平均含量均高于其背景值,Cd、As和Hg分别高出背景值33.O%、1.2%和26.3%.在GIS软件支持下,通过空间插值分析了研究区农田土壤重金属含量的空间分布特征,结果发现,农田土壤质量整体尚好,土壤生态率为1.26%,优良率为97.14%,合格率为1.47%,不合格率为0.12%.以背景值为标准,崇明岛农田土壤Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Hg的超标率分别为10.1%、85.7%、27.0%、55.4%、55.2%;3种土地利用类型中,菜地受重金属污染最为严重,这主要与菜地施用更多农药有关.崇明岛重金属的年沉降通量分别为Pb 7735.470 ug·m-2.a-1、Cd 208.432ug.m-2·a-1、As 2237.738 ug·m-2·a-1、Hg 52.783 ug·m-2·a-1,农作物秸秆焚烧处理是崇明岛大气重金属沉降的重要来源,大气沉降对崇明岛农田土壤重金属有较大的影响.     

开封古城不同朝代文化层重金属积累与污染分析

开封古城黄泛沉积形成的“城摞城”奇观为文化层重金属积累与污染分析提供难得的材料。在开封市城区（师专钻孔和医专钻孔）和郊区（金明钻孔）分别获取25 m连续岩芯,大部分按10 cm间隔分样,共获得657个沉积物样品。用ICP-MS和AFS方法测定样品Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、Hg、As、Ni、Cr和Co含量。结合地层¹⁴C年代数据、考古发掘及历史文献记载,建立不同朝代文化层年代框架,开展文化层重金属积累与污染分析。结果表明：师专、医专和金明钻孔均存在战国、宋金、明早期、明中期、明晚期和清代6个文化层。文化层大部分重金属发生不同程度富集,以Hg富集最为明显,城区钻孔明早期以前文化层达到强富集至极强富集水平。绝大多数文化层发生了重金属轻度至中度污染,中度污染发生在城区钻孔的宋金文化层。城区钻孔的最主要污染重金属是Hg,其次是Cu、Pb和Zn;郊区钻孔的主要污染重金属是Cd、Cr、Hg和Pb。不同朝代文化层重金属污染程度与其人口密度呈正相关。明早、中、晚期文化层污染程度逐渐减轻的现象可能与明朝开封城复兴与频繁的黄河泛滥有关。     

Heavy metal pollution from copper smelting during the Shang Dynasty at the Laoniupo site in the Bahe River valley,Guanzhong Basin,China

Heavy metal pollution is hazardous for the environment and human health. However,there are few studies of heavy metal pollution caused by historic metallurgical activity. The Laoniupo site in the Bahe River valley, Guanzhong Basin, China, was an important settlement of the Shang Culture(1600–1046 BCE). We studied two stratigraphic profiles at the Laoniupo site, which were used for measurements of magnetic susceptibility, heavy metal concentrations, and AMS ~(14) C ages to provide evidence of copper smelting activity at the site during the Shang Dynasty. The Nemerow Pollution Index and Geoaccumulation Index were calculated to assess the heavy metals record(Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cr, and As) in the topsoil on the loess tableland. According to the Single Pollution Index, the topsoil was slightly polluted by As and unpolluted by Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb and Cr; according to the Nemerow Composite Pollution Index the topsoil was mildly polluted; and according to the Geoaccumulation Index, the topsoil was moderately polluted by As, slightly polluted by Cu, and unpolluted by Zn, Ni, Pb and Cr. The main cause of the heavy metal pollution in the topsoil is the presence of copper slag in the cultural layers that was disturbed by modern farming activity.     

A weighted-averaging regression and calibration model for inferring lakewater salinity from fossil diatom assemblages in saline lakes of the Vestfold Hills: a new tool for interpreting Holocene lake histories in Antarctica

The relationship between surface sediment diatom assemblages and measured limnological variables in thirty-three coastal Antarctic lakes from the Vestfold Hills was examined by constructing a diatom-water chemistry dataset. Previous analysis of this dataset by canonical correspondence analysis revealed that salinity accounted for a significant amount of the variation in the distribution of the diatom assemblages. Weighted-averaging regression and calibration of this diatom-salinity relationship was used to establish a transfer function for the reconstruction of past lakewater salinity from fossil diatom assemblages. Weighted-averaging regression and calibration with classical deshrinking provided the best model for salinity reconstructions and this was applied to the fossil diatom assemblages from one of the saline lakes in the Vestfold Hills in order to assess its potential for palaeosalinity and palaeoclimate reconstruction.     

Heavy metal pollution of soils and vegetables in the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River, Hunan Province

A total of 219 agricultural soil and 48 vegetable samples were collected from the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River (the Hengyang–Changsha section) in Hunan Province. The accumulation characteristics, spatial distribution and potential risk of heavy metals in the agricultural soils and vegetables were depicted. There are higher accu-mulations of heavy metals such as As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in agricultural soils, and the contents of Cd (2.44 mg kg-1), Pb (65.00 mg kg-1) and Zn (144.13 mg kg-1) are 7.97, 3.69 and 1.63 times the corresponding background contents in soils of Hunan Province, respectively. 13.2% of As, 68.5% of Cd, 2.7% of Cu, 2.7% of Ni, 8.7% of Pb and 15.1% of Zn in soil sam-ples from the investigated sites exceeded the maximum allowable heavy metal contents in the China Environmental Quality Standard for Soils (GB15618-1995, Grade II). The pollution characteristics of multi-metals in soils are mainly due to Cd. The contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in vegetable soils are significantly higher than the contents in paddy soils. 95.8%, 68.8%, 10.4% and 95.8% of vegetable samples exceeded the Maximum Levels of Contami-nants in Foods (GB2762-2005) for As, Cd, Ni and Pb concentrations, respectively. There are significantly positive correlations between the concentrations of Cd, Pb and Zn in vegetables and the concentrations in the corresponding vegetable soils (p<0.01). It is very necessary to focus on the potential risk of heavy metals for food safety and human health in agricultural soils and vegetables in the midstream and downstream of the Xiangjiang River, Hunan Province of China.     

Organochlorine pesticide and metal residues in a cichlid fish, Tilapia, Sarotherodon (=Tilapia) alcalicus grahami Boulenger from Lake Nakuru, Kenya

29 specimens of a cichlid fishSarotherodon (=Tilapia) alcalicus grahami were collected from Lake Nakuru between September and October 1990 and samples of liver, kidney, muscle, brain and fat were removed for analysis of organochlorine pesticide and metal residues. Fat was extracted and the concentration of three lindane (BHC/HCH) isomers (alpha, beta andgamma), aldrin, heptachlor, heptachlor-epoxide, endrin, dieldrin, DDD, DDE and DDT was determined. Fish muscle samples were digested and the concentration of mercury, arsenic and cadmium was also determined. No residues of o,p¹-DDD, p,p¹-DDD, aldrin, endrin and dieldrin were detected. The highest residue concentration detected was 0.062 mg kg⁻¹ of p,p¹-DDT. The mean pesticide residue concentration levels were generally low. The [p,p¹-DDT]/[p,p¹-DDE] ratio of 1.22 indicated that the residues of the parent DDT compound exist in the Lake Nakuru ecosystem. There was a negative fish length: DDE concentration relationship. Similarly, there was a very weak negative relationship between arsenic concentration and length of fish. The concentrations of metal residues were considerably low. The median arsenic and cadmium concentrations were 0.03 mg kg⁻¹ and <0.1 mg kg⁻¹, respectively. The concentrations of mercury, with a median level of <0.01 mg kg⁻¹, were particulary low and did not approach a level that would give rise to public health concern. Metal and pesticide residue concentration in fish in 1970 and 1990 does not show a significant increase. From these results, Lake Nakuru is presently not exposed to heavy pesticide and metal contamination, but there is a gradual build-up of these residues in the biota.     

The late Pleistocene ostracod record of the crater lake sediments from Lago di Albano (Central Italy): changes in trophic status, water level and climate

Four cores (ranging between ca. 9 and ca. 14 m in length) from Lago di Albano in Central Italy were studied for their ostracod content, as well as algal and bacterial pigments, CaCO3 and concentration of organic matter. Cores PALB 94 1E and PALB 94 1C from Site 1, located at the bottom of a steep slope at 70 m water depth, where oxygen concentration is below 6 mg l-1, spans the Holocene and the late Pleistocene until 28 kyr B.P. (calibrated age). The other cores, PALB 94 6A and PALB 94 6B taken at a depth of 30 m, where oxygen is 7--11 mg l-1, represent mainly Pleistocene deposits.Ostracod valves were found in the lowermost ca. 3 m of the sequence at Site 1, dated to ca. 28--24 kyr B.P., and throughout the sequence from Site 6 which represents the interval 23--17 kyr B.P.Candona neglecta is the dominant species in most of the levels at Site 1, whereas both C. neglecta and Cyclocypris sp. dominate during different biostratigraphic zones at Site 6. The influx of springs entering the lake at Site 1 was inferred on the basis of species of the genus Potamocypris and Ilyocypris bradyi present in the record. Wide fluctuations in species abundance and assemblages in both coring sites indicate lake-water level oscillations between 28 to 17 kyr B.P. In particular, a strong rise in water level of the order of 40 m occurred between 24 and 23 kyr B.P. Fluctuations in productivity, oxygen availability and water temperature at both sites were also reconstructed on the basis of the ostracod assemblages and the algal and bacterial pigment concentrations. The environmental reconstruction reached using ostracod remains and pigments was verified with other proxy records published elsewhere such as invertebrate remains, diatoms, magnetic properties, etc. A synthesis of climatic reconstructions for Central and Southern Italy for the late Full Glacial is attempted on the basis of previous studies on hydrology, lithostratigraphy and palynology. Sharp fluctuations in lake palaeoproductivity/palaeoclimate recorded by invertebrate and pigment remains at both sites from Lago di Albano might be related to similar events reported in North Atlantic Full-Glacial records from marine and ice cores.