Assessment of heavy metal pollution in soil and their implications within and around mechanic villages

Analysis of nine composite soil samples, each made of three replicate core samples and their respective background samples collected from Okigwe, Nekede and Orji automobile mechanic villages were conducted. Metal concentrations (mg/kg) above the background levels in the top 100 cm soil profile ranges as follows: 748-70,606 (± 10114.3) for iron; 99-1090 +- 251.3 for lead; 186-600 ± 180 for manganese; 102–1001± 201.9 for copper; 8–23 ± 12.9 for cadmium; 4–27 ± 6.0 for chromium; and 3–10 ± 2.2 for nickel. The order of abundance is: iron > lead > manganese > copper> cadmium > chromium > nickel, with Okigwe > Nekede > Orji. Pollution indexes show that the metals have similar pollution trends in the three layers (L₁–L3), with L₁ (0–10 cm) > L₂ (10–20 cm) > L₃ (90–100 cm) in Okigwe, L₃ >L₁>L₂ in Nekede, and L₃ >L₂ >L₁ in Orji. In effect, the shaly Okigwe soil is more polluted in the top layer while the sandy Nekede and Orji are more polluted in the lower layers. Despite this order, metal bioavailability may be less in the Okigwe soil due to its high clay-silt content (47 %–64 %). Pollution factor for Okigwe is 0.8, Nekede is 0.7 and Orji is 0.5. Nekede is under severe to excessive pollution while Orji and Okigwe are under moderate to excessive pollution, with weathered depths 7.4m at Orji and Nekede and 4m at Okigwe as most implicated in the pollution process. Above provides the bases for introducing the innovative concepts of environmentally friendly mechanic village.     

Seismic and mechanical properties of Opalinus Clay: comparison between sandy and shaly facies from Mont Terri (Switzerland)

For the safe disposal of high-level radioactive waste, different host rocks are currently being considered. The favorable properties of clay are low permeability, some retention capacity concerning radionuclides, and the ability to self-seal cracks and fissures, e.g. by swelling or time-dependent compaction creep. In Switzerland, the Jurassic Opalinus Clay is envisaged as a potential host rock which—at Mont Terri—is subdivided into the sandy, shaly, and carbonate-rich facies, the latter being less abundant. For long-term safety assessments, the understanding of the relations of properties (e.g. mineralogical composition and microstructure) and performance (e.g. mechanical behavior) of clays and claystones is essential. In the case of the sandy Opalinus Clay, the mechanical strength increases with increasing carbonate content, because carbonates form the matrix. The mineralogical investigation of a set of sandy facies samples proved a significantly larger carbonate content (20–40 mass %) when compared to the shaly facies (10–20 mass %). The carbonates of the shaly Opalinus Clay, on the other hand, are mostly localized fossils aligned parallel to the bedding, acting as predetermined breaking points. Image analysis of SEM images of polished sections proved the determined microstructural differences. In addition, carbonate particles of the sandy facies are mostly isometric, whereas carbonate particles of the shaly facies cover a greater range of shapes. The mechanical tests were accompanied by investigations of the p- and s-wave velocities, which revealed that the anisotropy of the sandy facies is less pronounced than sedimentological analyses would suggest. The mechanical strength, which, for the first time, presents results of real triaxial tests of the sandy facies. The samples of the sandy facies exhibit a failure strength of σ _eff,B, approximately twice as high as was found for the shaly facies considering the deformation axis parallel to the bedding. Similar values were obtained when measuring perpendicularly to the bedding.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution in soils around a paper mill using metal fractionation and multivariate analysis

Effects of paper mill wastes on the status of soil copper (Cu), manganese (Mn) and zinc (Zn) in and around 16 sites near a paper mill in Assam, North East India (26°07.485′ to 26°07.915′ N latitude and 92°12.706′ to 92°15.065′ E longitude), have been investigated in the present study. The six-step sequential extraction techniques revealed that the water-soluble fraction had the least contribution (below detectable limit to 3.24 mg kg^?1 of Cu, 13.87 mg kg^?1 of Mn and 1.25 mg kg^?1 of Zn) towards soil contamination, irrespective of the metals evaluated. Chemical fractionation of Cu, Mn and Zn in majority of the sampling locations showed non-homogenous orders of contamination. Comparison of the magnitude of local and individual heavy metal contamination factors against global values showed that the places near the paper mill waste disposal site displayed higher potential risk from metal contamination. Furthermore, the mobility factor related to ecotoxicity of soil environment was found to be metal specific and depended not only on total metal concentration but also on the nature of metal in the order Mn > Cu > Zn.     

珠江三角洲潜在生态风险:土壤重金属活化

珠江三角洲典型土壤模拟酸雨提取实验表明，土壤酸缓冲能力为菜园土大于水稻土大于赤红壤。酸化过程早期，铝铁胶体吸附共沉淀导致重金属溶出量增长不明显甚至下降；进一步酸化时，多数元素溶出量与加入酸量呈显著正相关。计算表明，在pH=4．5的酸雨作用下，溶液中Hg、Mn、Pb、Fe(以Fe2O3表示)浓度已超出Ⅱ级地表水标准，Cu、Zn大大高于渔业用水标准。可见，土壤元素活化溶出对水体生态环境有潜在的危害。     

Magnetic screening of a pollution hotspot in the Lausitz area, Eastern Germany: correlation analysis between magnetic proxies and heavy metal contamination in soils

This investigation was carried out within the scope of EU-FP5 project MAGPROX. In parallel with the work of Kalinski et al. (2004, submitted), in which the magnetic signatures of the same soil profiles were analysed in more detail. The ‘hot spot’ under investigation was situated in the Lausitz area, Eastern Germany, between two major power plants, Schwarze Pumpe and Boxberg. This heavily industrialized region is known as the Black Triangle, named after the large lignite deposits and the old-technology power plants, among other petrochemical plants, refineries, textile manufacturing and glasswork industries. The relationship between magnetic parameters and heavy metal concentrations (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Cd, Co and Ni) in soil profiles was determined statistically using linear regression analysis. Strong positive correlation was observed between heavy metal concentrations as viewed preliminarily from the heavy metal and magnetic susceptibility distributions with depth (soil profiles), and from the correlation coefficients obtained.MAGPROX team–FP5 RTD Project No. EVK2-CT-1999-00019     

Morphotectonic analysis of Kosi River basin in Kumaun Lesser Himalaya: an evidence of neotectonics

The Himalayan arc is one of the prominent sites on Earth, for ongoing research on active tectonics because of the frequent occurrence of earthquakes of low-moderate intensity that occur in various sectors of the region. The present study is an attempt to decipher the active uplift and relative tectonic activity in Kosi River basin, a part of the southern Kumaun Himalayas. Several morphotectonic parameters such as asymmetry factor (AF), hypsometric integral (HI), mountain front sinuosity (S_mf), channel sinuosity (S), and basin elongation ratio (R_e) have been calculated with an objective to compare different sub-basins in the Kosi watershed that may prove useful in deciphering of relative tectonic activity. The watershed delineation of the Kosi River basin as well as its sub-basins, and detailed drainage network has been accomplished by using the CARTOSAT-1 DEM with the help of ArcGIS 10.3 software, using TauDEM tool and Global Mapper 18. Analysis of these morphotectonic parameters reveals that although the whole of the Kosi River basin lies in the seismically active zone, but the northern part along North Almora Thrust (NAT), central part around South Almora Thrust (SAT), Ramgarh Thrust (RT), and southern part along Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) are tectonically more active and undergoing neotectonic rejuvenation. The information derived would prove beneficial in identification of hazard prone areas and in planning of socio-economic development in mountainous terrain.     

Characterization of heavy metal pollution in the paddy soils of Xiangyin County, Dongting lake drainage basin, central south China

The heavy metal accumulation in soils caused by industrialization has attracted broad attention. To evaluate the soil environmental quality of Xiangyin County, an important food production base in China, 99 top paddy soil samples were analyzed for total concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Zn and Pb. Kriging interpolation was used to determine the spatial distribution of the metals. The assessment of soil environmental quality was performed according to pollution index methods. As the results showed, except for Cu, Cr and Ni, the mean concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, As and Hg in soils were elevated to different extents when compared with the background values. Moreover, except for Cd, contents of seven other elements in most soil samples were below the Class II criteria for Chinese environmental quality standards, which established the maximum allowable concentration of heavy metal in the farmland. Therefore, the soils were believed to be polluted mainly by Cd. All of the elements showed a similar spatial distribution pattern with low contents in the east upland area, and high contents in the middle by the west area, located close to Dongting lake. The long-term practice of using the Xiangjiang river as irrigation water was believed to be the main reason resulting in the enrichment of heavy metals in soils around Dongting lake. In addition, the evaluation results showed that about 45.8, 51.1 and 3.1?% of the study area were classified as slightly, moderately and seriously polluted with Cd, respectively. As for the other seven elements, soil environmental quality was fairly well because of their grades belonging to clean or excellent. By integration of the assessment results for individual elements, it was found that about 3.8?% of the study area was clean, 82.2?% was slightly polluted and 14.1?% was moderately polluted. On the whole, most of the study area was at safe and guarded level. However, appropriate measures still should be adopted to control the levels of heavy metals in agricultural soils. The findings obtained in this study were useful for establishing policies for protecting the local soil environments and guaranteeing the food quality as well as the people??s health.     

Temporal and spatial variations of trace metal concentrations in oysters from the Patuxent River, Maryland

Concentrations of copper (Cu), silver (Ag), and cadmium (Cd) in eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica) from the upper Patuxent River estuary analyzed since 1986 (Cd since 1991) were high relative to concentrations in other sites in the United States analyzed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration National Status and Trends program. Patuxent River oysters had above average concentrations of Ag and Cu, and unusually high concentrations of Cd. Metal concentrations were highest in summer, a period in which oyster meat condition index was relatively low. Copper values were highest in 1986–1987, likely elevated by erosion from Cu-Ni alloy condensers at a local power plant. Silver and Cd values exhibited more year-to-year variation. A number of factors were examined as candidates to explain the interannual differences, including river flow, salinity, and oyster condition, but none was able to explain the high and low years. Samples collected in spring and late summer of 1996 at a number of oyster bars located along the length of the Patuxent River showed that concentrations of all three metals increased with distance up-river. For Cd, the upstream increase was linear with distance, while for Ag and Cu, there was a secondary maximum near river km 16. A close correlation was observed between Ag and Cu for individuals at each site, with a poorer correlation between Cd and either Ag or Cu.     

Small-scale spatial variations of natural radionuclide and trace metal distributions in sediments from the Hudson River estuary

Multiple sediment cores were collected in June 1994 in the turbidity maximum zone of the Hudson River estuary off Manhattan, New York. Results from X-radiography of the sediments and measurements of natural radionuclides (²³⁴Th,⁷Be, and²¹⁰Pb) and trace metals (Ag, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn) show significant spatial variability of sediment composition and structure and patchy distributions of radionuclides activities and trace metal concentrations in this small area (0.6 km × 0.5 km). Radionuclide and trace metal analyses confirm prior work (Olsen et al. 1978; Olsen et al. 1981; Hirschberg et al. 1996) that show the western margin area of the river acts as a repository of these chemical constituents at least for the short-term period (0.5–1 yr), and the mid-channel area is not a depositional area for sediments and associated chemical constituents.⁷Be profiles reveal short-term sediment deposition rates ranging from 6 cm yr^?1 to 26 cm yr^?1 in the western margin area. Significant spatial variations in excess²³⁴Th and⁷Be inventories (up to a factor of 10 and 5 for²³⁴Th and⁷Be, respectively) are found in the western margin depositional area, although the inventories are balanced, on average, with in situ production in water column and atmospheric supply. The spatial variation of surficial excess²¹⁰Pb and trace metal concentrations in depositional areas of the western margin are ≤10% for Ag, Cu, Pb, and Zn and 29% for Cd. However, the variations in the transition zone range from 28% to 93%. This variability is likely related to variations in tidal current velocity, bottom shear stress, and river channel morphology.     

Interaction of surface water and groundwater in the Nile River basin: isotopic and piezometric evidence

Hydrogeology Journal - Past discussions around water-resources management and development in the River Nile basin disregard groundwater resources from the equation. There is an increasing interest...     

Formal education and disaster response of children: evidence from coastal villages in Indonesia

Natural Hazards - Although children are exposed to a high mortality risk during disasters, what determines their disaster response, especially during earthquakes, remains largely unexplored. The...     

Effects of heavy metal pollution on farmland soils and crops: A case study of the Xiaoqinling Gold Belt,China

This paper focuses on the heavy metal enrichment and heavy metal pollution degree associated with mining activities in some crops and the soils of different parent materials in the Xiaoqinling Gold Belt. According to the geochemical analysis results of the soils observed in the gold belt, the soils are most highly enriched in Pb, followed by Cr, Cu, and Zn. Furthermore, they are relatively poor in Hg, Cd, and As. It is also shown that the heavy metals in all kinds of soils have the same geochemical characteristics in the gold belt. As for the crops (such as corn and wheat) in the gold belt, Zn and Cu are the most abundant elements, followed by Pb and Cr. Meanwhile, Hg, Cd, and As were found to have relatively low concentrations in the crops. The heavy metals in wheat and corn have the same geochemical characteristics in the gold belt in general. Compared to the aeolian loess soils and the crops therein, heavy metals are more enriched in diluvial and alluvial soils and the crops therein. As shown by relevant studies, the Hg, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Zn pollution are mainly caused by mining activities. Corn and wheat in the gold belt have a high tendency of risk exposure to heavy metal pollution since they are mostly affected by mining activities and feature high background values of heavy metal concentrations. Furthermore, wheat is more liable to be enriched in heavy metals than corn is grown in all types of soils. The Hg pollution in soils leads to Hg accumulation, increasing the risk of Hg uptake in crops, and further affecting human health. This study will provide a scientific basis for the control and management of heavy metals in farmland soils of mining areas.     

淮北平原中更新世以来古气候和沉积环境演变：来自涡河流域沉积物粒度和地球化学的证据

通过对毗邻中国南北地理分界线的第四系标准孔岩芯进行粒度和地球化学研究，探讨了淮北平原中更新世以来的古气候变化和沉积环境变迁。研究表明淮北平原中更新世气候在暖湿与干冷(温凉）频繁交替中总体经历了从暖湿趋于干冷，与中国东部季风区北部的温带季风气候变化趋势属同相位演变，而与受控于亚热带季风气候的长江中下游及淮河源区古气候演变模式总体呈反相位。晚更新世，气候总体经历了干冷(即温干—严寒—干冷）、温湿、转向干冷，却表现出与以长江中下游及淮河源区气候演化格局更相似，而与中国北方气候总体上由暖湿向干旱化转变步调不一致。进入全新世，淮北平原与中国南北方气候均回暖，降水相应增多。涡河流域GBK1标准孔区域沉积环境总体上经历了中更新世早中期从半深湖演化到浅湖、滨湖，到晚期湖泊快速收缩直至消失，演化为泛滥平原或河流；晚更新世以来主要为河流和泛滥平原。淮北平原区域气候变化总体上对全球变化有着积极的响应，或许因其地处中国南北地理分界线边缘，致使其气候又具区域独特性。     

Heavy metal pollution in freshly deposited sediments of the Yamuna River (the Ganges River tributary): a case study from Delhi and Agra urban centres, India

 The Yamuna River sediments, collected from Delhi and Agra urban centres, were analysed for concentration and distribution of nine heavy metals by means of atomic adsorption spectrometry. Total metal contents varied in the following ranges (in mg/kg): Cr (157–817), Mn (515–1015), Fe (28,700–45,300), Co(11.7–28.4), Ni (40–538), Cu (40–1204), Zn (107–1974), Pb (22–856) and Cd (0.50–114.8). The degree of metal enrichment was compared with the average shale concentration and shows exceptionally high values for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in both urban centres. In the total heavy metal concentration, anthropogenic input contains 70% Cr, 74% Cu, 59% Zn, 46% Pb, 90% Cd in Delhi and 61% Cr, 23% Ni, 71% Cu, 72% Zn, 63% Pb, 94% Cd in Agra. A significant correlation was observed between increasing Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu concentrations with increasing total sediment carbon and total sediment sulfur content. Based on the Müller's geoaccumulation index, the quality of the river sediments can be regarded as being moderately polluted to very highly polluted with Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd in the Delhi and Agra urban centres. The present sediment analysis, therefore, plays an important role in environmental measures for the Yamuna River and the planning of these city centres. Received: 21 June 1999 · Accepted: 1 October 1999     

A study of heavy metal pollution in the Tinto-Odiel estuary in southwestern Spain using factor analysis

The estuary of Odiel and Tinto rivers, located on the southwestern coast of the Iberian Peninsula, receives acidic fluvial water discharges with high concentrations of sulphates and heavy metals from these rivers. In addition, a big industrial complex which efflues directly on the system is located in the same estuary. The effluents induce the presence in the estuary of high concentrations of heavy metals and phospates (nutrients). The application of factorial analysis techniques on the nutrients and heavy metal concentrations in 46 water samples taken from 32 different sampling stations located along the estuary, allows three groups of elements and compounds with a distinct origin to be determinated. So, Cu and Zn have a clear fluvial provenance, whereas PO₄ and As are clearly industrial wastes and Cl, K, Ca, Li, Rb and Sr come from the sea. From the factorial analyses we can deduce the existence of two agents controlling the behavior of the analyzed elements, which are: the tidal exchange with the open sea and the fluvial supply. Received: 20 November 1998 · Accepted: 11 August 1999     

A comparative frequency analysis of three standardized drought indices in the Poyang Lake basin,China

Regional drought frequency analysis was carried out in the Poyang Lake basin (PLB) from 1960–2014 based on three standardized drought indices: the standardized precipitation index (SPI), the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) and the standardized Palmer drought index (SPDI). Drought events and characteristics were extracted. A Gumbel–Hougaard (GH) copula was selected to construct the bivariate probability distribution of drought duration and severity, and the joint return periods (T _a ) were calculated. Results showed that there were 50 (50 and 40) drought events in the past 55 years based on the SPI (SPEI and SPDI), and 9 (8 and 10) of them were severe with T _a more than 10 years, occurred in the 1960s, the 1970s and the 2000s. Overall, the three drought indices could detect the onset of droughts and performed similarly with regard to drought identification. However, for the SPDI, moisture scarcity was less frequent, but it showed more severe droughts with substantially higher severity and longer duration droughts. The conditional return period (Ts|d) was calculated for the spring drought in 2011, and it was 66a and 54a, respectively, based on the SPI and SPDI, which was consistent with the record. Overall, the SPI, only considering the precipitation, can as effectively as the SPEI and SPDI identify the drought process over the PLB under the present changing climate. However, drought is affected by climate and land-cover changes; thus, it is necessary to integrate the results of drought frequency analysis based on different drought indices to improve the drought risk management.     

内蒙古某矿矿井水重金属污染特征及来源分析

确定矿井水中重金属污染程度及主要来源,对矿井水的再利用及矿区生态环境保护具有重要的理论意义。以内蒙古某矿区为研究对象,采集地表水、第四系潜水、承压水及矿井水水样49组,检测水体中Zn、Pb、Fe、Mn、As、Cu、Cd、Cr、Hg、Se 10种重金属浓度,分析矿井水中重金属污染特征及超标情况,利用HPI模型定量评价重金属污染程度,并综合数理统计、不同类型水样重金属浓度箱形图及煤/顶板重金属浸出试验,分析矿井水重金属主要来源。结果表明:内蒙古某矿矿井水中Zn、Pb、Fe、Mn、As 5种重金属浓度值超标,其中Fe和Zn的超标率高达100%;7个矿井水样中6个矿井水的HPI值大于临界值100,矿井水重金属污染程度较高;矿井水中的Pb、As主要来源于采煤及运输机械油类物质泄漏,Mn主要来源于Ⅲ含地下水,Fe、Zn主要来源于Ⅲ含地下水及煤层中含Fe、Zn矿物的溶滤。该结论将为矿井水中重金属污染防治提供基础与依据。