Contamination risk assessment of fresh groundwater using the distribution and chemical speciation of some potentially toxic elements in Calabar (southern Nigeria)

The computer program PHREEQC was used to determined the distribution, chemical speciation and mineral saturation indices in a fresh groundwater environment with limited mining activities in the adjoining areas. The aim was mainly to determine the potential risk of a coastal plain aquifer contamination by some potentially toxic elements. The results show that the elements Ba, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Rb, Sr, and Zn are distributed as free metal ions. Arsenic is in the neutral form of H₃AsO₃ ^o, while three species of aluminium [Al³⁺, AlOH₂, Al(OH)₂ ⁺] dominate. The major species of uranium include UO₂CO₃, UO₂²⁺+, UO₂⁺, and UO₂OH⁺, respectively, in order of abundance. The groundwater is saturated with respect to alunite [KAl₃ (SO₄)₂ (OH)₆], basaluminite [Al₄ (OH)₁₀ SO₄], boehmite [Al(OH)], Cu metal (Cu), cuprous ferrite (CuFeO₂), diaspore [AlO(OH)], gibbsite [Al(OH)₃], goethite (FeOOH), hematite (Fe₂O₃), magnetite (Fe₃O₄) and uraninite (UO₂). Most of the species are not mobile under the prevailing pH (3.3 to 5.9) and Eh (7 to 158 mV) conditions. The mobile ones are very low in concentration and will be immobilized by precipitation of mineral phases. The study concludes that presently these species do not pose any risk to the aquifer.     

Environmental quality assessment and spatial pattern of potentially toxic elements in soils of Guangdong Province, China

The spatial distributions of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in surface soils of Guangdong Province, China, were investigated to evaluate the environmental quality of these potentially toxic elements using 261 samples. The following average concentrations were obtained: Cu, 17.4 mg/kg; Ni, 17.7 mg/kg; Cr, 56.7 mg/kg; Co, 6.8 mg/kg; Mn, 223.2 mg/kg; Pb, 36.6 mg/kg; Hg, 0.10 mg/kg; Cd, 0.09 mg/kg; Zn, 49.8 mg/kg. Correlation analysis was applied to the data matrix to evaluate the results and identify the possible sources of metals. Distribution maps of the elements were created using the inverse distance weighted interpolation method. The nine metals exhibited generally distinct geographical patterns. Results showed that 5,173 km² of the study area presented higher pollution indices and was slightly polluted.     

Mobility of some potentially toxic trace elements in the coal of Guizhou, China

 The mobility of 10 potentially toxic trace elements (PTTE), As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Se, Tl, and Zn from 32 coals of the Longtan Group formed in Permian Period in Guizhou Province, China was investigated using sequential extraction procedures. The results demonstrate that PTTEs such as Hg, As, Se, Cd, Cu, and Pb have the highest mobility at surface conditions, and the average extractable fractions of them are 86%, 95%, 79%, 76%, 69%, and 69% of the total amount in coal, respectively. The elements in coal with the lowest leachability include Tl, Cr, and Ni, and the average extractable fractions of them are 30%, 20%, and 29% of the total amount in coal respectively. Zinc has an intermediate behavior, and the average leachable fraction of it accounts for 46% of the total amount in coal. The results demonstrate that mobility of PTTE in coal depends on the speciation of these elements. The elements associated with sulfates, carbonates, sulfides and some organic matter in coal show the highest extraction rates during the weathering process, while elements with silicate affinities are inert at surface conditions. Received: 29 December 1998 · Accepted: 10 November 1998     

Environmental geochemistry and sources of potentially toxic elements in thermal springs in the Sabalan volcanic field,NW Iran

Thermal springs are attractive geological features interesting for tourists because of their balneological and therapeutic applications. In Iran, the thermal springs surrounding Mount Sabalan are famous and unique in this regard. Two clusters of thermal springs consisting of 16 springs and mostly used as spas occur in Neer and Meshkinshahr areas. In order to investigate the seasonal changes of field and chemical parameters and to trace element concentrations in dry and wet seasons, springs were sampled twice in May and November. Field data including T, EC, pH and Q were measured on-site and major cations and anions were analysed in the laboratory along with 72 trace elements. Cations show the following order of abundance: Na ? Ca ≥ K > Mg and anions follow the order of Cl > HCO₃ > SO₄. Trace element concentrations indicate that most of the elements show concentrations well beyond the standard guideline values for drinking water. pH, T, spring discharge and elevation are not correlated with each other and with other parameters, indicating that they have had no role on concentrating or depleting trace elements in spring waters. While the two sets of samples were taken within a 6 month interval, the elements and parameters show slight or no variation from the first period to the second and in some cases, they show less than 5 % decrease or increase in the second sampling period. Correlation coefficient and principal component analysis of analytical data indicate that EC, K, Cl, HCO₃, As, B, Ba, Br, Li, Na, Rb, Sr and V show very strong mutual correlation coefficients implying their relationship and common source and fate in the hydrothermal fluid that carries them out of the geothermal system. Moreover, they all fall in the component 1 of PCA. This group of elements is supposed to be derived from the magmatic-hydrothermal system through the interaction of hydrothermal fluids with the rocks they have passed through. The mean As value is 160-fold higher than the guideline values (10 μg/l) and Mn and Sb shows an exceedance of 12- and 11.5-fold, respectively. Arsenic shows a variation of 5–5,834 μg/l. Hence, it is supposed that potentially toxic elements may have adverse effects on tourists using the springs as a treatment or recreation. Indeed, the discharge of springs with high values of As and other elements represents a threat for downstream water uses. The higher concentrations of most elements including As, Pb, S, Cl and Sb and the higher pH values found in Neer area springs seem to be more related to an older hydrothermal system present in this area than the Meshkinshahr system that is still active today.     

Accumulation of potentially toxic elements in sediments in Budi Lagoon,Araucania Region,Chile

The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Fe and Zn were determined in superficial sediments extracted from nine zones of Budi Lagoon, located in the Araucanía Region (Chile). The concentrations of these metals were determined by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy and the method was validated using certified reference material (marine sediment). The concentration ranges found for the trace elements were: Pb < 0.5; Cd < 0.2–3.9; Cu 21.8–61.9; Ni 31.2–59.4; Zn 54.5–94.8 mgkg^?1 (dry weight). The elements that registered the highest concentrations were Mn 285.4–989.8 mgkg^?1 and Fe 4.8–10.6 %. The lagoon cluster analysis of the stations was divided into three groups (Temo station with high Cu and low Mn concentrations, Bolleco, Comué, Allipén and Deume 3 stations presented highest Cd concentration, and another group Botapulli, Río Budi, Deume 2 and Deume 1 stations presented low levels of Cd). The textural characteristics of the sediment were determined (gravel, sand and mud) and the results were correlated with the concentrations of the metals in the various study zones. The sediments of Budi Lagoon presented high levels of Fe and Mn, which are of natural origin and exceed the maximum values recorded by many authors. With respect to the recorded concentrations for Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn, are within the ranges published by other authors in similar works. The Pb element was not detected. The results were subjected to statistical analysis to evaluate the correlations between the content of the elements and obtain the site of sediment.     

Mobilization, redistribution and bioavailability of potentially toxic elements in Shidiya phosphorites, Southeast Jordan

Shidiya Phosphorites, Southeast Jordan, provide a typical example of natural geological materials depleted with potentially toxic elements as compared to other phosphate deposits from all over the World. Nevertheless, the environmental concern as to whether processing and fertilizer production might affect the potentially toxic element concentrations in these phosphates positively or negatively has to be avoided. In order to do so, this study was designed to provide information on the redistribution pathways of the measured toxic elements during the several processing steps, including crushing, screening, washing, flotation and drying processes. It aimed also at providing information on the redistribution pathways during the different phosphate fertilizer production steps. The bioavailability of potentially toxic elements in acidic and alkaline environments has also been assessed.     

Geotechnical assessment of ground conditions around a tilted building in Cairo, Egypt using geophysical approaches

The flood plain of the Nile River has been a safe dwelling throughout history. Recently with a growing population and vast growing urbanization, some buildings have started to experience structural damages, which are not related to their construction design, but rather to the ground conditions around the buildings' foundations. Variations in properties of the soil supporting the buildings' foundations such as soil-bearing capacity, moisture content, and scouring may eventually lead to the failure of these buildings. This study is attempting to characterize the variations in the soil properties around the City Star shopping mall, in eastern Cairo, where a large building has tilted over the past few years. This tilting may lead to the collapse of the whole building if it continues at the same rate. An integrated geophysical investigation including multi-channel analysis of surface wave (MASW), ground-penetrating radar (GPR), and 2-D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) was used around the affected building to help detect possible causes of deterioration. The GPR data showed a soil-filled layer overlaying a thick bottom layer of higher moisture content. The MASW data revealed a middle layer of relatively low shear wave velocity sandwiched between two relatively high shear wave velocity layers. The ERT data showed an upper low resistivity layer overlying a high resistivity layer. Integrating the interpretations of the three geophysical methods provides a combined model that reflects lateral and vertical variation in the soil properties. This variation becomes dramatic near the tilted corner of the building.     

Available contents of potentially toxic elements in soils from the Eastern Amazon

Background Values of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils are typically obtained from total or pseudo-total contents, but not represent the fraction of these elements available for plant uptake due to the predominance of the stable forms. Available contents to plants, in turn, tend to be positively correlated with the potential risk of contamination of PTEs. In this study, we determined the available contents, extracted with Mehlich-III solution, of Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn in Oxisols and Ultisols in the state of Pará, Eastern Amazon, Brazil. Available contents ranged from low to very low when compared to soils from other Brazilian regions and from other countries. Contents of PTE were higher in Oxisols than in Ultisols, except for Cu and Ni. In the Oxisols, PTEs were positively correlated with clay content. However, PTEs were not correlated with soil pH, organic matter and cation exchange capacity. In the Ultisols, Ba, Cu, Pb, and Mn contents were significantly correlated with pH, while Ni contents were correlated with the contents of silt.     

Geochemical background and baseline values of toxic elements in stream sediments of Campania region (Italy)

In this paper are discussed the baseline geochemical maps of elements harmful to human health, using concentration values of 2389 stream sediment samples collected over the Campania region (Southern Italy). Each sample was digested in aqua regia and analysed by ICP-MS. For compilation of baseline geochemical maps, a recently developed multifractal inverse distance weighted (lDW) interpolation method and spectral analysis (S-A) was applied, using a new geochemistry dedicated GIS software (GeoDAS). The aim of this study is to discriminate between the geogenic natural content (background) and the anthropogenic contribution in the collected sediments. The definition of background values, in contrast to baseline values, is very important in determining the extent of polluted areas in countries like Italy, where environmental legislation has not yet established intervention limits for stream sediments.     

Land degradation risk assessment of El Fayoum depression, Egypt

The main objective of this study is to assess the land degradation risk of cultivated land in El Fayoum depression. The physiographic map of the depression was produced by using remote sensing and land surveying data. The depression comprises lacustrine plain, alluvial–lacustrine plain, and alluvial plain representing 12.22%, 53.58%, and 34.20% of the total area, respectively. The soil, climate, and topographic characteristics of the depression were extracted from land surveying, laboratory analyses, digital elevation model, and available reports. A simple model was designed to employ these data for assessing the chemical and physical risk of land degradation using Arc-GIS 9.2 software. The obtained results indicate that severe risk to chemical and physical degradation affect 54.15% and 29.23% of the depression, respectively. The current status of soil salinity, sodicity, and water table indicate that most of lacustrine and alluvial–lacustrine soils are actually degraded by salinization, sodification, and waterlogging. The results of degradation risk and the actual hazard indicate that the human activities are not sufficient to overcome the degradation processes in the most of the depression (80. 22%). Moreover, a negative human impact affects 26.29% of the area mostly in the alluvial plain. Great efforts related to the land management are required to achieve the agriculture sustainability.     

Urban agriculture in Portugal: Availability of potentially toxic elements for plant uptake

Soils from urban areas often contain enhanced pseudo-total levels of potentially toxic elements (PTEs). Considering the expanding tendency of urban agricultural practices it is necessary to understand if these contaminants are available for plant uptake and if they pose risks to animal and human health.This study showed that estimates of Daily Intakes (DIs) of Cu, Pb and Zn for grazing animals were above animal Acceptable Daily Intakes (ADIs) at specific sites under the influence of an airport, an oil refinery and near highways with high traffic rates in the “Grande Porto” urban area (Portugal). These results suggest that there is a potential for dietary transfer of contaminants associated with the ingestion of both contaminated soil and feed by cows and sheep at unacceptably high concentrations.Furthermore, results showed that 40% of variability of ryegrass shoot contents of Cu, Pb and Ni; 60% for Ba; 70% for Zn; and 80% for Cd can be significantly (p < 0.01) explained by the variability of the corresponding chemical available pools in soils. Since the chemical available pools of PTEs in urban soils were rather low when compared with the corresponding pseudo-total pools (median 0.1–5%) and even when compared with the corresponding reactive pools it is advised to perform further research on the conditions and time span for the limited availability of PTEs in urban soils, and to determine under which conditions PTEs on reactive forms may become available.     

Space,social reproduction and food security in Cairo/Egypt

Urban life is a highly interconnected historically developed web of social relations. Taking the example of Cairo, Egypt, the construction of urban space over the last 150 years is discussed, and attention is further given to more recent urban planning objectives. The paper then takes up issues of space and social reproduction and traces them down to the microlevel of individual households in order to analyse how larger changes in the food system are shaping local food security.This article is a result of an interdisciplinary research project on the Metropolitan Food System of Cairo, Egypt, untertaken by the Institute of Cultural Geography, Freiburg University, Germany, which is funded by the German Research Society (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, DFG). Petra Kuppinger is also grateful for the support offered through a Research Fellowship by the Anthropology Department at the American University in Cairo.     

The contamination and transfer of potentially toxic elements and their relations with iron, vanadium and titanium in the soil-rice system from Suzhou region, China

A regional scale investigation was performed to study the contamination and transfer of Ni, Cr, Co, Al, Cd and Hg and their relations with Fe, V and Ti in the soil-rice system under actual field conditions from a typical developed industrial area. Thirty-two pairs of rice and soil samples were collected in Suzhou region, China. The results show that the transfer abilities of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were generally in the order of Cd > Hg > Co > Ni > Cr > Al from soil to root, Hg > Cr > Al > Ni > Cd > Co from root to straw and Ni > Hg > Cr > Cd > Al > Co from straw to grain. Compared with the relevant criterion, the major pollutants in rice grains were Al and Ni. 18.8 and 12.5 % of grain samples were contaminated by Al and Ni, respectively. Besides the increased soil PTEs concentrations, the enhanced transfer of Ni and Al from rice root to grain via straw may play another crucial role in Ni and Al contamination of rice grain. The relatively weaker transfer ability of Co in the rice plant may be conducive to the rice grain keeping an uncontaminated level of Co. Additionally, Al, Ni, Cr and Co showed high correlations with each other, and they also had a close association with Fe, V and Ti in soil and rice. These correlations imply that Fe, V and Ti may play an important role in the transfer, accumulation and speciation of Al, Ni, Cr and Co in the soil-rice system.     

Scenario-based earthquake loss estimation for the city of Cairo,Egypt

This paper describes a multi-tiered loss assessment methodology to estimate seismic monetary implications resulting from structural damage to the building population in Greater Cairo. After outlining a ground-shaking model, data on geological structures and surface soil conditions are collated using a considerable number of boreholes to produce a classification of different soil deposits. An inventory database for the existing building stock is also prepared. The seismic vulnerability of representative reinforced concrete building models, designed according to prevalent codes and construction practices, is evaluated. Capacity spectrum methods are utilised for assessing the structural performance through a multi-level damage scale. A simplified methodology for deriving fragility curves for non-ductile reinforced concrete building classes that typically constitute the building population of the city is adopted. In addition, suitable fragility functions for unreinforced masonry constructions are selected and used for completing the loss model for the study area. The results are finally used to build an event-based loss model caused by possible earthquakes in the region.     

Engineering geology of Mokattam city and vicinity, eastern Greater Cairo, Egypt

A highly jointed, highly fossiliferous, vuggy and sandy dolomitic limestone, the Ain Musa Bed, is the foundation bed rock of Mokattam city. The slopes southwestern sides of the Upper Plateau of Gebel Mokattam, where the city was built, have been affected by slope failure and retreat of the edge of the and a road have been damaged. A 55 m slope retreat took place between 1956 and 1989. A field model is proposed for the slope failure in this area where foundation bed rock are removed by erosion after swelling and flowing, which is due to saturation by leaking fresh and sewage water. The resulting unde bed rock leads to slope failure of large blocks where vertical joints act as potential failure surfaces. Several recommendations are proposed to decrea failure in the city.

The Upper Plateau of Gebel Mokattam is underlain by limestones of the Middle Plateau where a new suburb is being built. A comparison between the geolog properties of the foundation bed rocks of the Upper and Middle Plateaux indicates that the limestones of the latter are more suitable foundation bed ro with expansive clays and are composed of hard, micritic limestones with a few megafossils and no cavities. Rock mass properties are also different and are stable.     

Total concentration,speciation and mobility of potentially toxic elements in soils around a mining area in central Iran

The current study was designed to investigate the extent and severity of contamination as well as the fractionation of potentially toxic elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni) in minesoils and agricultural soils around a Pb–Zn mine in central Iran. For this purpose, 20 agricultural soils and eight minesoils were geochemically characterized. Results showed that minesoils contained elevated concentrations of As (12.9–254 mg kg⁻¹), Cd (1.2–55.1 mg kg⁻¹), Pb (137–6239 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (516–48,889 mg kg⁻¹). The agricultural soils were also polluted by As (5.5–57.1 mg kg⁻¹), Cd (0.2–8.5 mg kg⁻¹), Pb (22–3451 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (94–9907 mg kg⁻¹). The highest recorded concentrations for these elements were in soils influenced directly by tailing ponds. Chromium, Cu and Ni content in agricultural soils (with average value of 74.1, 34.6 and 50.7 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) were slightly higher than the minesoils (with average value of 54.5, 33.1 and 43.4 mg kg⁻¹, respectively). Sequential extraction data indicated that there were some differences between the speciation of PTEs in soil samples. In the agricultural soils, Zn and Cd were mainly associated with carbonate bound fraction, As and Pb with reducible fraction, Cu with oxidisable fraction and Cr and Ni with residual phase. With respect to mobility factor values, Zn and Cd in the agricultural soils have been found to be the most mobile while As mobility is negligible. Also, the mobility factor of As, Cd and Pb in agricultural soils adjoining tailing ponds was high. In minesoil sample Cd was most abundant in the carbonate form, whereas other studied elements were mainly present in the reducible and residual fractions; therefore, despite the high total concentrations of As, Pb and Zn in the minesoils, the environmental risk of these elements was low. Based on the obtained data, a portion of Cu, Cr and Ni input was from agricultural activities.     

Geophysical investigation for shallow subsurface geotechnical problems of Mokattam area,Cairo, Egypt

Nine vertical electrical soundings of Schlumberger configuration were measured with AB/2 = 1–500 m. Manual and computerized interpretation were done to detect the subsurface stratigraphy of the study area. The results show that the subsurface section consists of alternated units of limestone, clay, marly limestone and dolomitic limestone and the thickness of clay unit ranged from 10 to 40 m. Nine dipole–dipole sections have also been constructed to give a clearer picture of the subsurface at the study area. The length of each dipole–dipole section is 235 m, with a electrode spacing ranging between 5 and 25 m. The Res2Dinv software was used for processing and interpretation of field data. The dipole–dipole sections at the upper plateau display high resistivity values at most parts of the plateau. Twelve shallow seismic refraction profiles are measured at selected locations for the dipole sections to define the interface between the fractured limestone and the upper surface of the clay layer. Each profile consists of 24 geophones with a geophone spacing of 2–3 m. Interpretation of seismic data indicates that the surface layer of the upper plateau consists of fractured limestone with a velocity range of 1.16–1.56 km/s and another layer of compacted clay with a velocity range of 1.38–1.88 km/s. Furthermore, the surface layer of the middle plateau consists of marl and marly limestone with a velocity about 2.1 km/s and its underlying layer consists of massive limestone with a velocity of 4.94 km/s.     

Recovery of some valuable elements from lamprophyre dykes in the Abu Rusheid area, Southeastern Desert, Egypt

In the Abu Rusheid area, Southeastern Desert of Egypt, polymineralized (HREEs, U, Zn and Pb) lam-prophyre dykes are recently recorded. The lamprophyre dykes cut cataclastic rocks along share zones in NNW-SSE trends. The secondary U-minerals are essentially represented by uranophane, kasolite, torbernite and autunite. Ex-perimental work was carried out on the lamprophyre dykes for the recovery of uranium and other valuable elements (e.g. Zn, Pb and Al) from 50 kg of technological sample. The optimum conditions were: 100 g/L sulfuric acid con-centration, 1:5 S/L (solid/liquid) and soaking for 15 days at room temperature. The leaching efficiencies for the re-covery of uranium and other elements like Al, Zn and Pb were 40, 33.6, 98.8 and 78, respectively.