Investigation of trace metals distribution in water,sediments and wetland plants of K(i)z(i)l(i)rmak Delta,Turkey

In this study,accumulation and distribution of Pb,Cu,Zn,Co,Ni,Mn and Fe in water,bottom sediments and four plant species (Myriophyllum verticillatum,Hydrocharis morsus-ranae,Nymphaea alba and Typha latifolia) were investigated in (C)ernek Lake of Kizihrmak Delta.The Kizdirmak Delta is one of the largest natural wetlands of Turkey and it is protected by the Ramsar convention since 1993.Selected physico-chemical parameters such as pH,conductivity and dissolved oxygen and also trace metal concentrations were monitored in water.All the parameters obtained were found higher than that of the national standards for the protected lakes and reserves.The accumulated amounts of various trace metals in bottom sediments and wetland plants were found in the following order of Fe ＞ Mn ＞ Zn ＞ Ni ＞ Co ＞ Cu ＞ Pb and Fe ＞ Mn ＞ Zn ＞ Ni ＞ Co respectively.The historical trace metal intake of Myriophyllum verticillatum,Hydrocharis morsus-ranae,Typha latifolia and Nymphaea alba were obtained higher than that of the toxic metal levels and these plants may be accepted as accumulators for the detected trace metals and also bioindicators in the historically polluted natural areas.     

风浪扰动对太湖水体悬浮物重金属含量的影响

通过离心浓缩的方法,获取太湖梅梁湾口东岸处(即梅梁湾与贡湖湾的交界处)不同风浪条件下的悬浮颗粒物．冷冻干燥,微波消解,ICP-AES的方法测定了其中Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn等重金属元素及Al、Ca、Fe、Mn等相关金属元素的含量．结果发现,小风浪(2 m/s)、中风浪(7 m/s)和大风浪(11 m/s)下：①水体总悬浮颗粒态金属的量依次大幅度增加;②单位悬浮颗粒物中各金属元素的含量在不同风浪下变化不同．Ca在小、中、大风浪下含量依次增大;Zn在小、中、大风浪下含量依次减少;Mn和Cu的含量变化趋势相同：与小风浪相比,中风浪下Mn、Cu的含量显著增大;与中风浪相比,大风浪下含量显著减少;其它元素Al、Fe、Ni、Pb、Co、Cr等在单位悬浮物中,中风浪与小风浪相比含量减少,大风浪与中风浪相比含量略微增加．研究表明：①金属元素在水体总悬浮物中的含量主要受风浪影响,但风浪对单位悬浮物中金属含量的影响则因元素而异;②除Cu、Mn、Zn外,悬浮物中重金属含量随粒径增大含量减少．     

Distribution,fractionation, and contamination assessment of heavy metals in offshore surface sediments from western Xiamen Bay,China

Surface sediment samples were collected at 21 offshore sites in western Xiamen Bay, Southeast China.Total concentrations of Li, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sr, Mn,Pb, Ba, Fe, and Ti were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry; Hg was determined by atomic fluorescence spectrometry. A modified BCR sequential extraction procedure was used to extract fractions of the above elements. Concentrations of Pb, Cr, and Hg at most sites met the primary standard criteria of Marine Sediment Quality except site S12 for Pb and S7 for Cr, while concentrations of Zn at 17 sites and Cu at seven sites exceeded the criteria. The mean concentration of Hg was three times higher than the background, with a possible source being the Jiulong River. Fe, Ti, Ba, Co, V, and Li dominated the residual phase, mainly from terrestrial input.Ni, Cr, Pb, and Hg in the non-residual phase varied largely between sites. Sr, Mn, Cu, and Zn were mainly in the nonresidual fraction. Most sites showed considerable ecological risk; exceptions were site S7(very high) and sites S10,S11, and S14(moderate). Cu showed moderate-to-high pollution and Pb exhibited no-to-low pollution, while other metals had a non-pollution status according to their ratios of secondary phase to primary phase(RSP). Results of two assessment methods showed moderate pollution and a veryhigh ecological risk for Cu, Zn, Ni, and Cr at site S7, which might be due to the local sewage treatment plant.     

Vecteur de la pollution metallique du bassin versant de l’Oued El Bey vers le Golfe de Tunis (Tunisie)

Résumé

L’Oued El Bey, qui draine 60% de la charge polluante hydrique de plusieurs agglomérations urbaines du Nord-Est de la Tunisie, est un exemple représentatif du transfert des métaux lourds résultant de l’activité industrielle et urbaine. Il fournit une indication sur le devenir et la répartition des métaux lourds dans le Golfe de Tunis. Dans la fraction dissoute, Cd, Pb, Co et Hg ne sont pas détectés mais Zn varie entre 0,01 et 0,07 μg/L. Les concentrations du Mn, Zn, As, Ni, Pb, Cu et du Cd sont très élevées dans la fraction particulaire par rapport à la fraction dissoute, avec un coefficient de partage Kd de l’ordre de 10⁶, ainsi que dans les sédiments du lit de l’oued pour Pb et Zn. La pollution par les métaux la plus élevé de l’Oued El Bey a été trouvée pour Zn, Pb et Cu: les concentrations variaient respectivement entre 1698,9 et 14575, de 0 à 2153,7 et de 0 à 3431,8 μg/g. La variation spatiale des teneurs en métaux lourds confirme l’effet des eaux usées rejetées dans l’Oued El Bey. Les teneurs de ces métaux lourds dans les trois phases dissoute, particulaire (MES) et sédiments confirment que la MES constitue le vecteur de transport principal via la Sebkha Soliman vers le golfe. L’examen des rapports des différents éléments (Pb, Cu et Cd) par rapport au Zn dans les sédiments de l’oued montre une augmentation au niveau de la confluence de l’Oued El Bey et de son affluent l’Oued El Meleh, ce qui signifie que les apports sédimentaires de cet affluent contrôlent la signatutue chimique des sédiments de l’Oued El Bey.

Editeur Z.W. Kundzewicz; Editeur associé B. Touaibia

Citation Khadhar, S., Mlayah, A., Chekirben, A., Charef, A., Methammam, M., Nouha, S., et Khemais, Z., 2013. Bassin versant Oued El Bey: vecteur de transport de la pollution métallique vers le Golfe de Tunis (Tunisie). Hydrological Sciences Journal, 58 (8), 1803–1812.     

Tolerance and accumulation of copper in the salt-marsh shrub Halimione portulacoides

The present study evaluated the tolerance and accumulation potential in the salt-marsh shrub Halimione portulacoides under moderate and high external Cu levels. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of a range of external Cu concentrations (0 to 60 mmol l(-1)) on growth and photosynthetic performance by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigments. We also determined total copper, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations in the plant tissues. H. portulacoides survived with external Cu concentrations of up to 35 mmol Cu l(-1), although the excess of metal resulted in a biomass reduction of 48%. The effects of Cu on growth were linked to a drastic reduction in net photosynthesis. However, H. portulacoides tolerated Cu levels of up to 15 mmol Cu l(-1) without suffering adverse physiological effects. Our results indicate that this species could play an important role in the restoration of Cu-contaminated soils.     

Assessment of heavy metal pollution from the sediment of Tupilipalem Coast,southeast coast of India

Sediment from twelve stations was sampled from the Tupilipalem Coast, southeast coast of India, and the presence of a set of heavy metals was established including iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd). The heavy metals were assessed by factor analysis, the results of which showed positive and/or negative correlations among Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Cd. Factor analysis also indicated that heavy metals in the sediments of the study area have different natural and anthropogenic sources. Similarly, a sediment pollution assessment was done using the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), and Pollution Load Index (PLI). The Geoaccumulation Index indicated that the surface sediment of the Tupilipalem Coast was extremely contaminated with Fe, Mn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn. The calculation of enrichment factors showed a significant enrichment with respect to Pb, Zn, and Cd and a moderate enrichment with Cr, Cu, and Ni. The falling trend of average contents’ enrichment factors is Cd> Pb> Zn> Cu> Cr> Ni> Mn> Fe. The PLI values of the Cd show higher (>1) values due to the influence of distinct external sources like agricultural runoff, industrial activities, and other anthropogenic inputs. Ninety two percent of heavy metals under study showed the highest concentrations at station TP-5 where the Buckingham Canal and other agricultural and aquacultural effluents connect with the Bay of Bengal. This location is the second inlet which is periodically closed and it seemed that these parts of the study area are heavily affected by anthropogenic pollution.     

Interpretation of metal profiles in a sediment core from lake geneva: metal mobility or pollution

The transition elements Mn, Fe, Co, Zn, Cu and Cr together with Pb and P were determined in three sequential extractions of sediment and in the pore water of a 35-cm sediment core from Lake Geneva. A high percentage of the mobile Mn, Fe, P, Co, Pb and Zn was extracted in the first (inorganic) fraction, whereas the mobile Cu and Cr were mostly found in the second (organic and sulfide) fraction. Mn was subject to recycling with solubilization from the surface sediment to the oxic bottom water where it was precipitated. Highly enriched Co and P values were observed in the top few mm of the sediment resulting from post depositional solubilization with upward migration and precipitation with oxi-hydroxides at the sediment surface. The slower increase of Cu, Zn and Pb concentrations towards the sediment/water interface are the result of an increase of anthropogenic sources over the past decades. A further increase in Pb in the first cm of the core is believed to be related to the freshly precipitated Mn oxi-hydroxides.     

Distribution of dissolved and labile particulate trace metals in the overlying bottom water in the vistula river plume (southern Baltic Sea).

Overlying bottom water samples were collected in the Vistula River plume, southern Baltic Sea, (Poland) and analysed for dissolved and labile particulate (1 M HCl extractable) Cu, Pb, Zn, Mn, Fe and Ni, hydrological parameters being measured simultaneously. Particulate organic matter (POM), chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen are key factors governing the chemical behaviour of the measured metal fractions. For the dissolved Cu, Pb, Zn, Fe and Ni two maxima, in the shallow and in the deeper part of the river plume, were found. In the shallow zone desorption from seaward fluxing metal-rich riverine particles account for markedly increased metal concentrations, as confirmed also by high particulate metal contents. For Pb, atmospheric inputs were also considered to have contributed to the elevated concentrations of dissolved Pb adjacent to the river mouth. In the deep zone desorption from detrital and/or resuspended particles by aerobic decomposition of organic material may be the main mechanism responsible for enrichment of particle-reactive metals (Cu, Pb, Zn) in the overyling bottom waters. The increased concentrations of dissolved Fe may have been due to reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides within the deep sediments by which dissolved Ni was released to the water. The distribution of Mn was related to dissolved oxygen concentrations, indicating that Mn is released to the water column under oxygen reduced conditions. However, Mn transfer to the dissolved phase from anoxic sediments in deeper part of the Vistula plume was hardly evidenced suggesting that benthic flux of Mn occurs under more severe reductive regime than is consistent with mobilization of Fe. Behaviour of Mn in a shallower part has been presumably affected by release from porewaters and by oxidization into less soluble species resulting in seasonal removal of this metal (e.g. in April) from the dissolved phase. The particulate fractions represented from about 6% (Ni) and 33% (Mn, Zn, Cu) to 80% (Fe) and 89% (Pb) of the total (labile particulate plus dissolved) concentrations. The affinity of the metals for particulate matter decreased in the following order: Pb > Fe > Zn > or = > Cu > Mn > Ni. Significant relationships between particulate Pb-Zn-Cu reflected the affinity of these metals for organic matter, and the significant relationship between Ni-Fe reflected the adsorption of Ni onto Fe-Mn oxyhydroxides. A comparison of metal concentrations with data from other similar areas revealed that the river plume is somewhat contaminated with Cu, Pb and Zn which is in agreement with previous findings on anthropogenic origin of these metals in the Polish zone of southern Baltic Sea.     

云南阳宗海沉积物重金属污染时空特征及潜在生态风险

分析了阳宗海柱状及表层沉积物中Al、Fe、Mn、Zn、Cr、Co、Ni、Cu、As、Cd、Pb等金属元素的含量,结合沉积年代学,研究了沉积物重金属污染的时空变化和潜在生态风险特征.结果表明,表层沉积物中重金属含量具有一定的空间差异性,As、Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn在中东部湖区含量较高,而Cr、Co、Ni含量高值位于南、北湖区的近岸区域;柱状沉积物中,1990s之前As、Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn含量较为稳定,1990s中后期以来,其含量逐渐增加,并在2009-2010年前后达到最大值,此后逐渐下降;而柱状沉积物中Cr、Co、Ni含量变化趋势与Al、Fe相似,总体上由下向上逐渐降低,这主要与沉积物质地(粒度)逐渐变粗有关.重金属富集系数表明,阳宗海沉积物中主要污染元素为As、Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn,1990s中后期污染程度快速增加,2009-2010年前后达到峰值,此后污染程度逐渐降低;表层沉积物中Cu为未污染至"弱"污染水平;Zn、Pb为"弱-中等"污染水平,As为"中等-强"污染水平,Cd为"弱-强"污染水平,中东部湖区污染程度高于其他湖区,这可能与该湖区缺少入湖径流、自然碎屑物质沉积速率较低以及砷污染事件等人为源的重金属贡献影响更为显著有关.生态风险评价结果表明,在2002-2010年前后沉积物重金属达到"中等-强"潜在生态危害,主要贡献因子是Cd和As,近年来其生态风险等级逐渐降低;表层沉积物中重金属在中东部湖区具有"中等"程度潜在生态危害,而其他湖区表层沉积物重金属具有较低程度的潜在生态风险.     

Distribution and Chemical Forms of Heavy Metals in the Flood 1997 Sediments of the Upper and Middle Odra River and its Tributarie:, Poland

At the beginning of August 1997, 72 samples of flood sediments were taken along the Upper and Middle Odra river and its tributaries. The concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cd, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn, and Fe in the bulk samples and in the <20 μm fraction were determined by AAS method. The contents of metals vary in wide ranges and are significantly higher in the <20 μm fraction of sediments. The range concentrations vary as following: Zn 274...3 656 mg/kg, Pb 79...1 773 mg/kg, Cd 1.7...11.8 mg/kg, Cu 38...2 244 mg/kg, Cr 14...384 mg/kg, Co 4...73 mg/kg, Hg 0.2...3.9 mg/kg, Mn 214...6 972 mg/kg, and Fe 1.5...16.3 %. The highest amount of the metals was found in the Wrocław and Głogów regions. The mobile (exchangeable and carbonatic fractions) portions of metals reached up to 50 % of Zn, 40 % of Pb and Cu and 60 % of Mn.     

苏州河网区河道沉积物重金属的污染特征

分析测定了苏州河网区河道底泥十个剖面样点60个样品中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr、Al、Fe、K、Mn、有机质、TP、TN、粒度、pH及含水量,采用地累积指数、生态风险指数和相关分析等方法研究其重金属污染特征.结果表明:Cu和Zn处于中或中-强度污染,Pb处于无-中污染,没有Cr污染;垂直分布特征显示:Cu和Zn污染逐年变化较为一致,Pb污染有逐年加重趋势;重金属潜在生态风险处于轻微污染状态;相关性分析显示,有机质是影响其分布的重要因素,Mn、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb五种重金属相关性显著;通过与国内外河流、水库和湖泊沉积物中重金属含量比较,苏州河网区河道重金属的累积受多种因素影响.     

巢湖蓝藻聚集对重金属迁移释放的影响

以巢湖蓝藻水华聚集地西半湖表层沉积物与蓝藻为对象,研究了表层沉积物重金属(Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn、Pb、Ni和Mn)总量的分布特征.同时,利用BCR连续提取法对沉积物中重金属Cd和Mn的形态进行分析,模拟探究蓝藻腐殖化过程中重金属含量的变化,探讨了蓝藻腐殖化对重金属吸附-释放的影响.结果表明,各采样点表层沉积物重金属含量均不同程度超出背景值,且距离南淝河越近越突出.潜在迁移指数表明整个西半湖沉积物中重金属Cd比Mn更易形成二次污染.相关性分析显示重金属Cd和Mn各形态含量和总量之间均表现出极显著正相关.巢湖西半湖属于典型的藻型湖,Cd和Mn的来源和分布均与蓝藻聚集密切相关,结合实验室模拟蓝藻腐殖化过程对重金属的吸附-释放规律,认为蓝藻腐殖化过程会对Cd和Mn的迁移释放产生影响.     

Assessment of Metal Pollution in Water and Surface Sediments of the Seyhan River,Turkey, Using Different Indexes

The aim of this study was to assess the level of heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contamination and enrichment in the surface sediments of the Seyhan River, which is the receiving water body of both treated and untreated municipal and industrial effluents as well as agricultural drainage waters generated within Adana, Turkey. Sediment and water samples were taken from six previously determined stations covering the downstream of the Seyhan dam during both wet and dry seasons and the samples were then analyzed for the heavy metals of concern. When both dry and wet seasons were considered, metal concentrations varied significantly within a broad range with Al, 7210–33 967 mg kg^?1 dw; Cr, 46–122 mg kg^?1 dw; Cu, 6–57 mg kg^?1 dw; Fe, 10 294–26 556 mg kg^?1 dw; Mn, 144–638 mg kg^?1 dw; Ni, 82–215 mg kg^?1 dw; Pb, 11–75 mg kg^?1 dw; Zn, 34–146 mg kg^?1 dw in the sediments while Cd was at non‐detectable levels for all stations. For both seasons combined, the enrichment factor (EF) and the geo‐accumulation index (I_geo) for the sediments in terms of the specified metals ranged from 0.56 to 10.36 and ?2.92 to 1.56, respectively, throughout the lower Seyhan River. The sediment quality guidelines (SQG) of US‐EPA suggested the sediments of the Seyhan River demonstrated “unpolluted to moderate pollution” of Cu, Pb, and Zn, “moderate to very strong pollution” of Cr and Ni. The water quality data, on the other hand, indicated very low levels of these metals suggesting that the metal content in the surface sediments were most probably originating from fine sediments transported along the river route instead of water/wastewater discharges with high metal content.     

Investigations on Mineralogical and Chemical Composition of Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) in the Odra Estuary

In order to recognize lateral and seasonal variations in composition of suspended particulate matter (SPM) in the Odra Estuary, samples were taken at four sites in the period July 1996 - July 1997 monthly if possible. The contents of the elements Si, Ti, Al, Fe, Mn, Mg, Ca, Na, K, P, C, S as well as Ba, Cr, Sr, V, Zn, Cu, Zr, and of the minerals illite, chlorite, smectite, kaolinite and others have been determined. The decreasing influence of the river Odra towards the open sea could be realized with the help of the contents of the minerals quartz, smectite, and of the elements Ba, Cr, K, P, Si and other. 60% of the seasonal and lateral variations can be explained by changing contents of total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), Al, Fe, Si, Ti, P, Mn, and Ba. They are mainly caused by differences in the production of organic matter, resuspension, riverine input, and redox-sensitive processes.     

Schwermetalle (Fe,Mn, Cd,Cr, Cu,Pb, Zn) im Pelagial des Bodensees (Obersee und Untersee) und des Greifensees

Monthly measurements were made over a one-year period to determine the heavy metals Fe, Mn, Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn in the vertical profiles of Lake Constance (Obersee and Untersee) and Greifensee, by means of atomic absorption spectrometry. Fe and Mn exhibited the usual cyclical fluctuations depending on redox conditions in the hypolimnion. For Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn no concentration patterns were noted that would show their dependency on seasonal and vertical stratifications.      

镍添加对水鳖(Hydrocharis dubia)叶片镍和营养元素含量以及氧化胁迫和抗氧化系统的影响

采用营养液水培的方法,研究不同镍(Ni)添加浓度(0、0.05、0.10、0.15、0.20 mmol/L)对水鳖(Hydrocharis dubia)叶片中Ni元素积累、营养元素(Ca、Mg、K、Fe和Mn)含量、氧化胁迫和抗氧化系统的影响.结果显示:(1)叶片中Ni含量以浓度依赖的方式增加;(2)叶片中营养元素含量(Ca、Mg、K、Fe、Mn)也受影响,其中Ca、Mg含量随Ni浓度增加而显著上升;K含量随Ni浓度增加有所升高,但不显著;Mn含量虽在较大Ni浓度时有所下降,但处理组始终高于对照组;而Fe含量则随Ni浓度增加而下降;(3)Ni胁迫诱导了明显的氧化胁迫,主要表现为:O·-2产生速率以及过氧化氢和丙二醛含量显著升高,可溶性蛋白以及光合色素含量明显下降;(4)随着Ni浓度的升高,过氧化物酶活性逐渐升高,过氧化氢酶活性呈下降趋势,超氧化物歧化酶活性在Ni添加浓度为0.05 mmol/L时出现短暂升高随后下降;维生素E和黄酮含量随Ni浓度增加呈缓慢上升趋势;还原型谷胱甘肽未发生明显变化,非蛋白巯基和植物络合素含量均表现为先升后降的趋势;总抗氧化能力随Ni浓度升高先增强后减弱.由此可见,Ni添加引起水鳖叶片中Ni元素的累积和营养元素含量变化,同时产生明显的氧化胁迫,打破了抗氧化系统的平衡.     

Copper,zinc, cadmium,nickel, iron and manganese in the Southern Bight of the North Sea

Ni, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Fe were determined in water and suspended matter samples and Mn in suspended matter samples from the Southern Bight region of the North Sea. Four distinct areas, comprising the Rhine estuary, the Dutch coastal waters, the centre of the Bight, and the English coastal water can be distinguished on the basis of the distribution of the trace metals. The total concentrations of all metals were high in the Rhine estuary, decreased in a seaward direction to reach very low values, comparable to continental shelf water, in the centre of the Bight, and increased again towards the English coast. Elevated concentrations of dissolved Cu, Ni, Cd and Zn near the English coast are not only due to river inputs. Over the entire region, the fraction of Cd, Ni and Zn in solution was consistently more important than the fraction in the suspended particulate phase. In contast, the fraction of Fe and Mn in the solid phase was consistently greater than the fraction in solution. Total concentrations of Fe, Mn and Cu are more dictated by the suspended particulate matter concentration than Cd, Ni and Zn.     

环境条件对极大螺旋藻金属元素吸收的影响

研究卫不同微量元素浓度和不同ＥＤＴＡ加入量对极大螺旋藻金属元素吸收的影响。结果显示,增加培养基中的微量元素含量有利于藻细胞对金属元素的吸收。少量ＥＤＴＡ的加入,有助于部分金属元素的吸收,较大量的ＥＤＴＡ可阻碍金属元素的吸收。藻细胞的吸附实验表明,极大螺旋藻对Ｃｏ、Ｎｉ、Ｃｕ、Ｚｎ、Ｐｂ有很强的吸附能力,死细胞与活细胞的吸附能力相近,表明这一吸附过程不依赖于生理活动。     

Heavy metals contamination levels at the Coast of Aliağa (Turkey) ship recycling zone

Alia?a Bay is one of the most important maritime zones of Turkey where shipping activity, shipbreaking industry, steel works and petrochemical complexes exist together. Concentrations of heavy metals and organic carbon in sediment of the Alia?a Bay were investigated to evaluate an environmental risk assessment from metals contamination in 2009-2010. Comparison of the metal concentrations with average shale and Mediterranean background levels revealed that most of the samples from the Alia?a were polluted with Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn, Mn and Ni. It was found that Hg, Pb, Cu, Zn and Ni levels in Alia?a Bay exceeded the PEL values. Sediments, contaminated with Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni were considered as heavily polluted per the SQG.     

A laboratory study of the biogeochemical cycling of Fe,Mn, Zn and Cu across the sediment-water interface of a productive lake

Laboratory incubation experiments were carried out on sediment cores collected from Esthwaite Water, U.K., during April 1987, when the sediments displayed a characteristic surface (1.5 to 2 cm) oxide floc. The experiments were undertaken at 10°C, in the dark, under variable redox and pH conditions for periods of ~ 720 h (30 d). In some cases, realistic amounts of decomposing lake algae were added to simulate the deposition of an algal bloom. Pore waters and overlying waters were obtained from the incubated sediment cores at various time intervals and the samples analysed for pH and dissolved Fe, Mn, Zn and Cu by AAS. The results demonstrated that trace metal concentrations at the sediment-water interface can show rapid, pulsed responses to episodic events associated with controlling factors such as algal deposition and mixing conditions. The variations in dissolved Fe and Mn concentrations could generally be explained by their well known redox behaviour. Appreciable loss of Mn from solution under conditions of well-developed anoxia was consistent with adsorption of Mn²⁺ by FeS. Cu and Zn were both rapidly (24 h) released into solution during incubation of sediment cores prior to the development of anoxia in the overlying waters. Their most likely sources were the reductive remobilization of Mn oxides and the decomposition of organic matter. The addition of decomposing algae to a series of cores resulted in even higher interfacial dissolved concentrations of Cu and Zn, probably through acting as a supplementary source of the metals and through increased oxide dissolution. Switching from anoxic to oxic conditions also rapidly increased dissolved Cu and Zn concentrations, possibly due to their release during the oxidation of metal sulphides. The enhanced releases of dissolved Cu and Zn were generally short-lived with removal being attributed to the formation of sulphides during anoxia and to adsorption by Fe and Mn oxides under oxic conditions.