Uptake of trace elements by water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes)

Pistia stratiotes L. obtained from a eutrophic lake in Ibadan, Nigeria was examined for its mineral and trace element composition. The study indicated that the shoot system accumulated more potassium, calcium and magnesium, whereas the root system accumulated significantly more cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, manganese, mercury, nickel, sodium and zinc. The possible utilization of this aquatic plant for the treatment of polluted waters and industrial effluents is discussed.     

Bindungsverhalten ausgewählter Elemente in Sedimenten eines sauren Tagebaurestsees/FNR>

Binding Character of Selected Elements in Acidic Mining Lake Sediments To investigate the vertical element distribution in an acidic mining lake the concentrations of selected elements were measured by ICP‐MS and ICP‐OES. By knowing the metal concentrations in different depths it is possible to divide these metals into three groups. While the concentrations of iron, manganese, and zinc decline with decreasing depth, those of aluminium, copper, and nickel rise up. For lead and cobalt no distinct tendency could be determined. The limit value for all measured elements was not exceeded in any sampling location. The binding character of the metals is, besides the seasonal conditions of the lake (circulation in spring and stagnation in summer), influenced by the sediment depth. The addition of Carbokalk® for lake water neutralization had no significant effect on binding character of the analyzed metals. The application of a sequential extraction procedure enabled a classification of the available metal binding forms. All analyzed metals occurred mainly in compounds which are difficult to mobilize and for environment only slightly available.     

Mine-derived metal pollution in the Isle of Man

The sediments of rivers draining areas of past mining activity in the Isle of Man contained greatly enhanced levels of zinc, lead and, to a lesser extent, copper and cadmium. This contamination extended into the estuarine harbours where it was reflected in the metal content of four species of bivalve molluscs. Of the latter, Mytilus edulis was the most useful indicator species in that it occurred in all five estuarine harbours but Scrobicularia plana, although of more limited distribution, concentrated much higher levels of zinc and lead. Individual variation of metal levels was high in all species of bivalves examined; a negative correlation of dry weight: metal content was demonstrated in many cases, but other factors may also contribute to such variation.     

Surface Water Contamination by Uranium Mining/Milling Activities in Northern Guangdong Province,China

The northern region of Guangdong Province, China, has suffered from the extensive mining/milling of uranium for several decades. In this study, surface waters in the region were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES) for the concentrations of uranium (U), thorium (Th), and non‐radioactive metals (Fe, Mn, Mg, Li, Co, Cu, Ni, and Zn). Results showed highly elevated concentrations of the studied radionuclides and metals in the discharged effluents and the tailing seepage of the U mining/milling sites. Radionuclide and heavy metal concentrations were also observed to be overall enhanced in the recipient stream that collected the discharged effluents from the industrial site, compared to the control streams, and rivers with no impacts from the U mining/milling sites. They displayed significant spatial variations and a general decrease downstream away from upper point‐source discharges of the industrial site. In addition, obvious positive correlations were found between U and Th, Fe, Zn, Li, and Co (R² > 0.93, n = 28) in the studied water samples, which suggest for an identical source and transport pathway of these elements. In combination with present surface water chemistry and chemical compositions of uraniferous minerals, the elevation of the analyzed elements in the recipient stream most likely arose from the liquid effluents, processing water, and acid drainage from the U mining/milling facilities. The dispersion of radionuclides and hazardous metals is actually limited to a small area at present, but some potential risk should not be negligible for local ecosystem. The results indicate that environmental remediation work is required to implement and future cleaner production technology should be oriented to avoid wide dispersion of radioactivity and non‐radioactive hazards in U mining/milling sites.     

Towards a more ecologically relevant assessment of the impact of heavy metals on the photosynthesis of the seagrass, Zostera capricorni

This in situ study used photosynthetic activity (measured as chlorophyll a fluorescence) and photosynthetic pigment concentrations to assess the effect of copper, cadmium, lead and zinc on the seagrass Zostera capricorni. Custom-made portable in situ exposure (PIE) chambers were developed so seagrasses could be dosed within the meadow. Z. capricorni was exposed to 0.1 and 1 mg l⁻¹ of metal solutions for 10 h. During this time and for the subsequent four-day recovery period, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PS II) (ΔF/Fm^′) was measured. While the results were variable, copper and zinc exposed samples had a depressed ΔF/Fm^′ during the exposure period. Samples exposed to zinc recovered to pre-exposure levels but those exposed to copper did not. Cadmium and lead did not impact on the chlorophyll a fluorescence and the chlorophyll pigment data supported these findings. This study presents an innovative new application of chlorophyll a fluorescence stress assessment.     

Transport processes of copper and zinc in a highly eutrophic and meromictic lake

Lake Baldegg was chosen to study the influence of a permanent anaerobic hypolimnion on the transport of copper and zinc. The evaluation of concentration variations in function of time and depth and the sedimentation rates lead to the conclusion that copper, in contrast to zinc, is sorbed additionally on newly formed iron particles at the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ interface and transported on the ‘iron wheel’. A flux scheme for the hypolimnic transport of copper is quantified in a one-dimensional diffusion model. By this the observed variations of concentration profiles can be explained.     

Sediment geochemistry of the urban Lake Paulo Gorski

The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration and distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of Paulo Gorski Lake, as well as the metals’ bioavailability and potential ecological risk, and to define the anthropogenic and natural heavy metal contributions to the lake. The chemical elements calcium (Ca), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), sodium (Na), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) were quantified by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry with two extraction methods to quantify the bioavailable and non-bioavailable fractions. The data were evaluated using multivariate statistics and sediment quality indices. All sediment collection points (S1, S2, S3, S4 and S5) are different in terms of the concentration of heavy metals, except for S4 and S5, which were statistically equal. The bioavailable fraction of the elements in the sediment follows the sequence Pb>Cu>Mn>Zn>Ni>Cr>phosphorus (P) for all points. The elements Co, Cr, Pb, and Zn showed moderate to considerable contamination at all points. Only points S3 and S5 had moderate ecological risk. Urbanization has been affecting Paulo Gorski Lake via the input of chemical elements, especially Co and Pb. The points most affected by heavy metal contamination are S3 and S5 when the sedimentological sensitivity factor is considered. The lake has high hydrodynamics, causing some of the contaminants that enter the system to leave it, leading to potential negative impacts downstream.     

Heavy metal contamination from gold mining recorded in Porites lobata skeletons, Buyat-Ratototok district, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Shallow marine sediments and fringing coral reefs of the Buyat-Ratototok district of North Sulawesi, Indonesia, are affected by submarine disposal of tailings from industrial gold mining and by small-scale gold mining using mercury amalgamation. Between-site variation in heavy metal concentrations in shallow marine sediments was partially reflected by trace element concentrations in reef coral skeletons from adjacent reefs. Corals skeletons recorded silicon, manganese, iron, copper, chromium, cobalt, antimony, thallium, and lead in different concentrations according to proximity to sources, but arsenic concentrations in corals were not significantly different among sites. Temporal analysis found that peak concentrations of arsenic and chromium generally coincided with peak concentrations of silica and/or copper, suggesting that most trace elements in the coral skeleton were incorporated into detrital siliciclastic sediments, rather than impurities within skeletal aragonite.     

Reuse of Drinking Water Treatment Waste for Remediation of Heavy Metal Contaminated Groundwater

Lime softening produces an estimated 10,000 metric tons of dry drinking water treatment wastes (DWTW) per year, costing an estimated one billion dollars annually for disposal worldwide. Lime softening wastes have been investigated for reuse as internal curing agents or supplementary cementitious materials in concrete as well as a high-capacity sorbent for heavy metal removal. Lead, cadmium, and zinc are common heavy metals in groundwater contaminated by mine tailings. Cement-based filter media (CBFM) are a novel material-class for heavy metal remediation in groundwater. This study investigated the incorporation of DWTW as a recycled, low-cost additive to CBFM for the removal of lead, cadmium, and zinc. Jar testing at three different metal concentrations and breakthrough column testing using synthetic groundwater were performed to measure removal capacity and reaction kinetics. Jar testing results show as DWTW content increases at low concentrations, removal approaches 100% but at high metal concentrations removal decreases due to saturation or exhaustion of the removal mechanisms. Removal occurs through the formation of metal carbonate precipitates, surface sorption, and ion exchange with calcium according to the preferential series Pb⁺² > Zn⁺² > Cd²⁺. Removal kinetics were also measured through column testing and exceeded estimated calculations derived from batch jar testing isotherms due to the large formation of oolitic metal carbonates. Lead, cadmium, and zinc was concentrated in the column precipitates from 0.29, 0.23, and 20.0 μg/g in the influent solution to approximately 200, 130, 14,000 μg/g in the reacted DWTW-CBFM. The control and DWTW-CBFM columns had statically similar removal for zinc and lead. In the DWTW-CBFM, cadmium had decreased removal of approximately 25% due to proportionately decreased hydroxide content from cement replacement with 25% DWTW. This study shows the potential for DWTW as an enhancement to CBFM, thereby valorizing an otherwise waste material. Furthermore, the concentrative abilities of CBFM through precipitate and oolitic mineral formation could provide a minable waste product and close the waste-product cycle for DWTW.     

MELIMEX,an experimental heavy metal pollution study: Behaviour of heavy metals in an aquatic food chain

Phytoplankton, periphyton and zooplankton samples, chironomid andSialis sp. larvae, and fry of trout and bream collected from unpolluted and artificially metal-polluted limno-corrals were analyzed for mercury, copper, cadmium, zinc and lead. The results indicate that these metals are not accumulated through the food chain and suggest that increased metal concentrations in the environment favor the growth of phytoplankton organisms with a low metal sorption capacity.     

Heavy metal residues in tissues of marine turtles

Heavy metal concentrations in the tissues of marine turtles are presented. The most frequently monitored elements are mercury, cadmium and lead; and the tissues mainly analysed in nearly all the stranded individuals are muscle, liver and kidney. The highest mercury and cadmium levels were found in liver and kidney respectively; the majority of the lead burden existed in bones and carapace, while arsenic was present mainly in muscle tissue. Mercury occurred quite completely as methylmercury in muscle, whereas in liver the main form was the inorganic one. Arsenic was exclusively present in the metallorganic form either in muscle tissue or in liver. Metals in the eggs were mainly present in the yolk. Significantly higher concentration of mercury, copper, zinc and iron were found in yolk than albumen, while shell contained highest levels of manganese and copper. The load of trace metals in these animals strictly correlated with the species seems to depend on their different food behaviour.     

Trace elements in Acartia clausi from Elefsis bay of the Upper Saronikos Gulf,Greece

Twelve trace elements (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, managenese, mercury, scandium, selenium and zinc) were determined by neutron activation analysis in a planktonic copepod (Acartia clausi) from Elefsis Bay of the Upper Saronikos Gulf, Greece. During the first cruise (January 1974) higher levels of most of these trace elements were found in this copepod collected from a polluted area of the bay. This trend however was not observed during the second cruise (February 1974) possibly due to the termination of the active vertical convection. Lower levels of cobalt, similar levels of iron and slightly increased levels of chromium were found in Elefsis Bay Acartia clausi from those reportedin Acartia clausi from the Bay of Roquebrune. Slightly increased concentrations of antimony and zinc as well as lower concentrations of arsenic and cadmium were found in Acartia clausi than those reported in other Copepoda. No significant differences were found for copper, manganese and mercury. More data are needed to confirm if higher levels of antimony, chromium and zinc found in Acartia clausi are due to the pollution of the bay.     

Historical fluxes of metal and metalloids in an aquatic ecosystem affected by land-use change and mining activities in northwestern Mexico

Freshwater reservoirs are essential owing because of their ecological, economic, and social importance. They are particularly vulnerable to contamination, as of metal and metalloids, derived from anthropogenic activities like mining. The temporal variations in trace element concentrations (arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn)), enrichment, fluxes, and possible sources were evaluated by studying two sediment cores from the La Angostura (ANG) Reservoir (northwest Mexico), using ²¹⁰Pb geochronology. The enrichment factors showed from null to minor enrichment for most elements, but moderate to severe enrichment of mercury (Hg). Most trace element concentrations had a detrital origin, and notable Hg concentration increases since the past decade were associated with severe drought periods, likely resulting from wildfires. The observed sediment concentrations of As and Hg can cause adverse effects on biota in the ecosystem since they are above the probable effect level (PEL). Development of strategies for metal attenuation in this reservoir is recommended and metals should be controlled until specific ecotoxicological studies are performed.     

Interaction between Scenedesmus obliquus and the Heavy Metals Copper and Lead

The effects of the addition of copper (in copper sulphate and copper chloride) and lead (in lead nitrate and chloride) on Scenedesmus obliquus were studied. The laboratory studies have shown that Sc. obliquus is able to accumulate copper and lead to some extend depending on the concentration of the metal and on the time of contact of algae with the metal. Copper in the concentration of 1 mg/l caused the decrease of the total protein and the growth of the population as well as the destruction of histons, peptids chains and vacuolization of cells. Such drastic effects were observed in the higher concentration of lead (100 mg Pb/l).     

Trace metals in corals from the Great Barrier Reef

Various octocorallian and scleractinian corals from within the Great Barrier Reef Province were analysed for zinc, copper, cadmium, nickel and lead by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Of the two coral groups, the octocorals accumulated significantly greater amounts of all detectable metals. The soft coral, Sarcophyton sp., revealed distinct inter-locational differences for zinc, copper and cadmium. The potential of this genus for monitoring trace metal pollution in tropical reef waters is briefly discussed.     

种植不同植物的人工湿地深度处理城镇污水处理厂尾水的中试研究

利用种植不同植物的人工湿地对污水厂尾水进行深度处理以达到更严格的排放标准.利用5块尺寸一致的中试规模人工湿地,以潮汐流作为运行方式,研究不同植物对尾水的处理效果.经过一年的实验,结果表明：5块人工湿地出水各指标均能达到提升标准的排放要求.在不同植物的去污效果对比实验中,种植芦苇（Phragmites communis）的人工湿地对化学需氧量（COD）、氨氮和总氮（TN）的平均去除率均为最高,分别为24.01%、68.15%和92.70%;种植风车草（Cyperus alternifolius）的人工湿地对TP的平均去除率最高,为71.68%.在不同季节的去污效果对比实验中,春季芦苇湿地对COD、氨氮和TN的去除效果最好,平均去除率分别为52.51%、76.06%和92.04%,美人蕉（Canna indica）湿地对TP去除效果最好,平均去除率为66.72%;夏季对COD、氨氮、TP和TN处理效果最好的分别是种植丝带草（Phalaris arundinacea）、菖蒲（Acorus calamus）、风车草和芦苇的人工湿地,平均去除率分别为15.83%、78.11%、67.30%和91.73%;秋季对COD、氨氮、TP、TN处理效果最好的分别是种植芦苇、丝带草、风车草、美人蕉的人工湿地,平均去除率分别为12.19%、58.82%、83.16%和94.01%;冬季对COD去除效果最好的是种植丝带草的人工湿地,平均去除率为33.39%,对氨氮、TP处理效果最好的是种植美人蕉的人工湿地,平均去除率分别为76.33%和79.43%,对TN处理效果最好的是种植芦苇的人工湿地,平均去除率为94.97%.在以后的实际工程中,可以考虑用种植不同季节、不同指标对应的最佳去污植物为主,并且搭配种植其他植物的人工湿地进行污水厂尾水的深度处理.     

湿地植物固体碳源养分释放动态及其对人工湿地水体脱氮效率的影响

污水低碳氮比(C/N)是影响人工湿地氮去除效果限制因素,传统的碳源添加及利用存在成本较高、补充困难的局限性.本研究契合“就地取材,原位处理”的废物利用原则,选择人工湿地常见的水生植物和农业废弃物(玉米芯、稻草)作为对照,对比了挺水植物(香蒲、美人蕉)、浮叶植物(莲)、沉水植物(菹草)、湿生植物(南荻、短尖苔草)的释碳能力,初步确定了以香蒲、美人蕉、南荻为代表的植物具有较好的释放碳能力,在中国湿地中分布广泛,且均对水体二次污染较小.以南荻、美人蕉、玉米芯作为碳源添加的模拟人工湿地实验验证表明,在低碳氮比的模拟表流人工湿地投入植物碳源,能有效提高系统的脱氮效率,对照组、南荻组、美人蕉组和玉米芯组的出水总氮浓度分别为(5.24±0.07)、(4.50±0.10)、(3.75±0.17)和(2.97±0.18) mg/L,对应的去除率分别为58%、64%、70%和76%,确定南荻和美人蕉植物残体以及改性材料均残体和改性材料适合作为人工湿地中原位利用的外加碳源.本研究探索了通过湿地植物配置解决人工湿地水体低C/N比的问题,为提高湿地脱氮效果提供了有意义的新途径.     

RECOGNITION OF A BIOFILM AT THE SEDIMENT–WATER INTERFACE OF AN ACID MINE DRAINAGE-CONTAMINATED STREAM,AND ITS ROLE IN CONTROLLING IRON FLUX

Material collected over a month on plates attached to the bed of the Afon Goch, Anglesey, a stream highly contaminated by acid mine drainage (AMD), was either examined intact by electron microscopy or suspended and cultured to reveal the presence of microbiota. Certain of the aerobic microbiota were identified, the genus Pseudomonas formed the commonest isolate and cultures of Serratia plymuthica were grown in order to compare the biofilms formed with the material collected in the Afon Goch. The material at the sediment–water interface of the Afon Goch was of similar underlying morphology to that of the cultured biofilms. However, the former had a superficial granular coating of equidimensional (60–100 nm) and evenly spaced iron rich particles (determined by X-ray microanalysis). The sediment–water interface of this AMD-contaminated stream is therefore best described as a highly contaminated biofilm. Evidence from previous work suggests that the streambed is active in iron removal from the water column. The intimate association of iron with microbiota at the streambed, therefore, implies that iron flux prediction may not be possible from physical and chemical data alone but requires knowledge of biofilm physiology and ecology. Microbially mediated metal precipitation, both by single bacteria and by biofilms, has been reported elsewhere but mass balance considerations suggest that this explanation cannot hold good for the large amounts of iron hydroxide depositing from waters of the prevalent pH and redox status. Filtered stream water analyses indicate the presence of colloidal iron hydroxide and also its removal downstream where ochreous (iron hydroxide rich) material accumulates. The process of iron immobilization is likely to be the attraction and physical trapping of colloidal iron hydroxide by extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) which constitute the matrix of biofilms. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hysteresis‐based analysis of overland metal transport

Introducing a concept of equivalent mass depth of flow, this study describes the phenomenon of non‐point source pollutant (metal) transport for pavement (or overland) flow in analogy with wave propagation in wide open channels. Hysteretic and normal mass rating curves are developed for runoff rate and mass of 12 dissolved and particulate‐bound metal elements (pollutants) using the rainfall‐runoff and water quality data of the 15 × 20 m² instrumented pavement in Cincinnati, USA. Normal mass rating curves developed for easy computation of pollutant load are found to be of a form similar to Manning's, which is valid for open channel flows. Based on the hysteresis analysis, wave types for dissolution and mixing of particulate‐bound metals are identified. The analysis finds that the second‐order partial‐differential equation normally used for metal transport does not have the efficacy to describe fully the strong non‐linear phenomena such as is described for various metal elements by dynamic waves. In addition, the proportionality concept of the popular SCS‐CN concept is extended for determining the potential maximum metal mass M_p of all the 12 elements transported by a rain storm and related to the antecedent dry period (ADP). For the primary metal zinc element, M_p is found to increase with the ADP and vice versa. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Removal of Copper,Nickel, and Zinc Ions from Electroplating Rinse Water

Removal of copper, nickel, and zinc ions from synthetic electroplating rinse water was investigated using cationic exchange resin (Ceralite IR 120). Batch ion exchange studies were carried out to optimize the various experimental parameters (such as contact time, pH, and dosage). Influence of co‐existing cations, chelating agent EDTA on the removal of metal ion of interest was also studied. Sorption isotherm data obtained at different experimental conditions were fitted with Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson, and Toth models. A maximum adsorption capacity of 164 mg g^?1 for Cu(II), 109 mg g^?1 for Ni(II), and 105 mg g^?1 for Zn(II) was observed at optimum experimental conditions according to Langmuir model. The kinetic data for metal ions adsorption process follows pseudo second‐order. Presence of EDTA and co‐ions markedly alters the metal ion removal. Continuous column ion exchange experiments were also conducted. The breakeven point of the column was obtained after recovering effectively several liters of rinse water. The treated rinse water could be recycled in rinsing operations. The Thomas and Adams–Bohart models were applied to column studies and the constants were evaluated. Desorption of the adsorbed metal ions from the resin column was studied by conducting a model experiments with Cu(II) ions loaded ion exchange resin column using sulfuric acid as eluant. A novel lead oxide coated Ti substrate dimensionally stable (DSA) anode was prepared for recovery of copper ions as metal foil from regenerated liquor by electro winning at different current densities (50–300 A cm^?2).