Acute Toxicity of Mercury,Copper and Zinc to a Freshwater Pulmonate Snail,Lymnaea luteola (LAMARCK)

The short-term toxicity of mercury, copper and zinc was studied using a freshwater pulmonate snail, Lymnaea luteola (LAMARCK ). The median period of survival increases with decreasing the toxicant concentration. The 96 h LC₅₀ values and their confidence limits were 0.135 (0.112 … 0.186) ppm of Hg²⁺; 0.172 (0.118 … 0.355) ppm of Cu²⁺; and 6.13 (5.73 to 7.19) ppm of Zn²⁺. The relative potency ratio indicates that the Hg²⁺ ions were most toxic, followed by Cu²⁺ and Zn²⁺ ions.     

Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrometry Determination of Trace Amounts of Cadmium and Zinc in Water Samples after Preconcentration onto Modified Amberlite XAD‐4 Resin

In the present article, a procedure for the simultaneous separation and preconcentration of trace amounts of cadmium and zinc is proposed. It is based on the adsorption of cadmium and zinc ions onto a column of Amberlite XAD‐4 resin loaded with aluminon reagent. Cadmium and zinc ions are quantitatively retained on the column in the pH range from 6.5–7.5, at a flow rate of 2 mL min^–1. The cadmium and zinc ions are eluted with 5.0 mL of 5 mol L^–1 HNO₃ solution. Cadmium and zinc are measured by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). In the present case, 0.1 μg of cadmium and 0.5 μg of zinc can be concentrated in the column from 1000 mL of aqueous sample, where their concentrations are as low as 0.1 and 0.5 ng mL^–1, respectively. The relative standard deviations, for seven replicated determinations of 1.0 μg mL^–1 of cadmium and zinc, are 1.2 and 1.1%, respectively. The detection limits for cadmium and zinc in the original solution are 0.02 and 0.11 ng mL^–1, respectively. The interference of a large number of anions and cations has been studied and the optimized conditions are utilized for the determination of trace amounts of cadmium and zinc in different environmental and standard samples.     

Auswirkung von Schwermetallgemischen auf die biologische Behandlung naphthalinsulfonsäurehaltiger Abwässer

Effect of Mixtures of Heavy Metals on the Biological Treatment of Sewages Containing Naphthalenesulfonic Acid Biological wastewater treatment processes can be destabilized considerably by heavy metals. In this investigation, the effect of loadings of heavy metals on the degradation of naphthalene-2-sulfonic acid (2NS) by immobilized bacteria in continuously operated airlift-loop reactors was studied. Shock loadings with mixtures of cadmium and nickel, or cadmium and zinc, respectively, resulted in increases in inhibition compared to those observed with the single metals. In contrast, the 2NS-degradation was less inhibited by shock loadings with mixtures of nickel and zinc than by the single metal ions. Repeated shock loadings up to 100 mg L^?1 nickel and 1000 mg L^?1 zinc effected an adaptation of the microorganisms. Continuous loadings with up to 10 mg L^?1 cadmium and nickel each, or with 50 mg L^?1 nickel and 210 mg L^?1 zinc, respectively, did not inhibit the degradation of 2NS. The permanent loadings led to an adaptation of the bacteria with an increased biosynthesis of proteins from 0.2 to 0.5 g g^?1 cell dry weight. However, if the immobilized cells were incubated with mixtures of cadmium and nickel, the specific polysaccharide content decreased to less than 0.2 g g^?1 cell dry weight, resulting in a detachment of the biofilms.     

Zur Konzentrationsabhängigkeit der Sorption von Co(II) an Titanschwamm

The sorption of Co(II) from aqueous solutions on granulated titanium dioxide was investigated in dependence on pH-value (pH = 6 … 10) and solution concentration (c_L = 10^?7 … 10^?2 mol/kg) at 83 °C. The precipitation in the solution occurred at high pH-values and solution concentrations was determined by control experiments without the adsorber. The adsorption isotherms are S-shaped. This can be interpreted as transition from chemisorption at the basic material to surface precipitation.     

Influence of pH on Sporulation,Spore Germination and Germling Survival in Blue-green Algae

An investigation is made on the influence of the pH-value in the range of pH = 4.5 to 11.0 on sporulation, germination and germling development of Anabaena fertilissima and Anabaenopsis arnoldii, isolated from the Sambhar Salt Lake, Rajasthan. Maximum rates of germination were obtained with Anabaena at pH = 7.0… 10.5, with Anabaenopsis at pH = 7.0 to 8.5. With both species, sporulation occurs in the same pH-ranges, Anabaena dying without sporulation in the range of pH = 5.5… 6.5 and above pH = 10.5 and Anabaenopsis surviving without sporulation above pH = 9.5. With Anabaena the germling growth steadily increases from pH = 7 to 10.5, whereas Anabaenopsis shows a maximum at pH = 7 and at any other pH-value growth is considerably lower. Moreover, spore germination is bound to an exchange of the medium. In agreement with these experimental findings concerning the cultures, from July to February Anabaenopsis occurs in the Sambhar Lake as a vegetative form with a partial mass development, and from March to June it survives as a spore. Anabaena, however, has only a short vegetative phase in June, and it survives the remaining part of the year as a spore. Thus, the fast germination and sporulation in the range of higher alkalinity is the ecological strategy for Anabaena to resist the competition offered by Anabaenopsis.     

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.     

Stable isotopes and metal contamination in caged marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Metal concentrations and isotopic composition were measured in different tissues of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in waters of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) in order to assess pollution levels. The isotopic composition was correlated with lead, cadmium, selenium and nickel obtained from the digestive gland and foot of the mussels. Significant negative correlations were found between cadmium, selenium and zinc and the mussel foot, mainly for ¹³C. Significant correlations were also found between lead and cadmium and the digestive gland. Pearson correlations indicated that the ¹³C isotopic signal in foot is a good proxy for the concentration of metals such as lead, cadmium, selenium and zinc. Similarly, ¹⁵N isotopic signatures in the digestive gland reflected the lead and cadmium concentration.     

Age-related change and distribution of cadmium and zinc concentrations in the Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubata) from the coast of Hokkaido,Japan

Tissue cadmium and zinc levels in Steller sea lions have been analysed to elucidate the body distribution of these metals and their age-related accumulation. A significant correlation between age (0.7–8.8 year old) and renal and hepatic cadmium concentration was noted. Of the tissues examined, the kidney manifested the highest cadmium content (mean: 20.9 μg g^?1 dry wt). A similar zinc distribution pattern was observed; its concentration was more uniform among tissues than that of cadmium. The tissue cadmium concentration in the Steller sea lion was lower than in other pinnipeds from various areas, possibly due to their feeding habits which may represent a major pathway of metal accumulation.     

Zur Toxizität einfacher und komplexer Cyanide gegenüber Wasserorganismen

The toxic effects of alkali cyanide, complex cyanide-containing heavy metal salts—as of iron, cadmium, copper, nickel and mercury—were investigated according to standard methods with the aid of the test organisms Poecilia reticulata (guppy) as well as the green alga Ankistrodesmus falcatus (β- bis α-mesosaprobic). Since various complex compounds can be photolytically decomposed, also discontinuous light-dark phases were used. As discussed equilibrium calculations have shown, inter alia also the pH-value is important in the fish organisms used with different reactions to ions and molecularly dissolved compounds. The results are summarized in tables and graphic representations, the substances investigated being classified into groups with “strong” and “high” toxic actions.     

Toxicities of ten metals to Crassostrea gigas and Mytilus edulis embryos and Cancer magister larvae

Pacific oyster (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) embryos, bay mussel (Mytilus edulis Linnaeus) embryos, and Dungeness crab (Cancer magister Dana) zoea I stage larvae were exposed to arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, lead, mercury, nickel, selenium, silver, and zinc salts. The two bivalve species were exposed through the completion of embryogenesis (48 h), and the effects of the metals upon abnormal development were monitored. The crab larval stages were exposed to the metal solutions for 96 h. Concentrations (μg l_.^?1 as metal) which caused 50% abnormal development in the two species of bivalve larvae and which were fatal to 50% of the crab larvae ranged from 5.3 (oyster) to 49 (crab) for copper; 5.8 (mussel) to 8.2 (crab) for mercury; 14 (mussel) to 55 (crab) for silver; 119 (oyster) to 456 (crab) for zinc; 232 (crab) to 3000 (mussel) for arsenic; 247 (crab) to 1200 (mussel) for cadmium; 349 (oyster) to 4360 (crab) for nickel; 476 (mussel) to 758 (oyster) for lead; 3440 (crab) to 4538 (oyster) for hexavalent chromium; and selenium greater than 10 000 for the three species. The acute toxicity testing of C. gigas embryo together with two California native species confirmed its usefulness for predicting toxicity to the latter species.     

Spatial patterns in PCBs, pesticides, mercury and cadmium in the common sole in the NW Mediterranean Sea, and a novel use of contaminants as biomarkers

We assessed spatial patterns in 37 PCB congeners, eight pesticides, and the heavy metals mercury and cadmium in the flatfish Solea solea at four sites in the Gulf of Lions (NW Mediterranean). Overall contaminant concentrations generally exceeded those reported for S. solea elsewhere, but fell into the range of other Gulf fishes, testifying of a relatively high contaminant load of this area. Spatial patterns in all three contaminant classes were highly significant, but differed among classes. PCB congener and chlorination class profiles also differed among sites. The observed patterns would be consistent with (1) PCB point-sources in the Eastern Gulf (Marseille, Rhone River) versus dominance of atmospheric input in the West, (2) pesticide input by the Rhone and from agricultural fields in the West, and (3) mercury point-sources near Marseille. The unique, site-specific contaminant profiles prove to be a powerful tool to differentiate between S. solea populations from different sites.     

Chromium(III) and Chromium(VI) Circulation in Aquatic Biocenoses

The cumulation of chromium(III) and (VI) has been studied in batch cultures of planktonic algae Microcystis incerta, Scedenesmus obliquus, Chlorella kessleri and Chlamydomonas geitleri at different chromium and algal cells concentrations. It has been found that chromium(VI) is practically not cumulated in algae, whereas chromium(III) is very rapidly cumulated in all types of algae investigated. The cumulation factor increases with the decrease of the radius of algae cells and it reaches the value of 10⁶ for Microcystis incerta even after a few hours of contact. The kinetics, the cumulation factors and the capacity of algae to cumulate chromium(III) is practically the same for living as well as for dead cells and therefore it can be concluded that the cumulation of chromium(III) is due predominantly to the chemical sorption on the surface of algal cells.     

A 14?500 year record of the accumulation of atmospheric mercury in peat: volcanic signals, anthropogenic influences and a correlation to bromine accumulation

A 14?500 calendar year record of mercury accumulation rates has been obtained from an ombrotrophic peat bog in the Swiss Jura mountains. The range of natural (pre-industrial) mercury accumulation rates varied from 0.3 to 8.0 μg m⁻² yr⁻¹. During the Late Glacial and Holocene, climatic and volcanic signals were evident in the mercury record. Mercury accumulation rates increased by a factor of ca 5 during the Younger Dryas cold period. Short-term spikes in mercury accumulation rates, which correspond in time to known volcanic eruptions, occur during the late Boreal and Older Atlantic periods, when volcanic influences on mercury deposition appear to have been intensified due to increased atmospheric humidity. A correlation of mercury to bromine accumulation is observed throughout the pre-anthropogenic period. During the Holocene, mercury accumulation only exceeded the range of this correlation for a few short periods of elevated mercury deposition which correspond to known volcanic eruptions during the Older Atlantic. During historical times, mercury accumulation rates have exceeded the range of the correlation of mercury to bromine continuously since ca 1330 AD. This excess in mercury accumulation is interpreted as an indication of pollution. During the industrial period, mercury accumulation rates reached 107.6 μg m⁻² yr⁻¹, of which 84% was mercury that exceeded the correlation range. Mercury accumulation rates peaked again during the 1970s, with 78.8 μg m⁻² yr⁻¹. Early 20th century pollution appears to have been dominated by non-Swiss emissions from coal burning, whereas Swiss mercury emissions appear to have been the dominant pollution source during the mid and late 20th century. Current mercury accumulation rates at the site are similar to those ca 10 years ago, with modern deposition rates being ca 15 times their prehistorical average. Anthropogenic emissions of reactive brominated compounds could be contributing to increased atmospheric deposition rates of mercury.     

Mercury Circulation in Aquatic Bioconeses. Part 1: Mercury (II)-Metabolism in Phytoplankton

The metabolism of inorganic mercury has been studied in stationary cultures of planktonic algae Chlorella kessleri, Scenedesmus obliquus and Microcystis incerta that were exposed for 14 days to the concentration of 2 × 10^?7 M of Hg(II). Individual chemical forms of mercury were determined in algae and in the culture medium at regular intervals. All the studied phytoplankton species started to metabolize mercury immediately after its application, with the exception of the blue-green alga Microcystis incerta. The accumulation of mercury proceeds without interruption till the end of the experiment. After a 14 days cultivation about 60… 80% of added mercury was present in algal cells and the portion of mercury washable from the cell surface did not exceed 2%. It was found that more than 99,5% of mercury in cultivation medium and more than 99,5% of mercury in algae was present in the form of Hg(II). A transformation of inorganic mercury to methyl-, or phenyl-mercury due to the action of algae was not observed.     

Untersuchung der Sorptionseigenschaften des Kationenaustauschers KB-2M mit Makronetzstruktur zur Abtrennung von Zinkionen aus Ab- und Spülwässern

Study of Sorptional Properties of the Cation Exchanger KB-2M with Macroreticular Structure for Recovery of Zinc Ions from Sewage and Rinsing Water Although a number of ion-exchange methods have been employed for the recovery of some transition metals from industrial effluents, knowledge about ion-exchange resins with macroreticular structure is poor. The present paper describes the mechanism of sorption on such exchangers and their application for recovery of zinc from sewage rinsing water. Ion exchanger of macroreticular structure are polymers with long-chained cross-linking agents. We have synthesized carboxylic ion-exchange resins by hydrolysis of copolymerisates of methyl acrylate with different cross-linking agents: divinylbenzene, divinyl sulfide, divinyl ester of ethylene glycol and divinyl ester of di- or triethylene glycol. The sorption process on modifications of the carboxylic resins KB-2 of various structure was studied with different methods: potentiometric titration, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, X-ray structural analysis. The initial zinc concentration in rinsing water was 0.05 mol/L at pH from 3 to 6. For the sorption, 0.2…1.0 g of resin were equilibrated with 100 mL of zinc solution. After equilibrium (12 h), the resin was separated from solution. The zinc ions were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry after stripping with 100 mL of 10% sulfuric acid. The distribution ratio D was calculated (D: mmole of Zn sorbed per gram of resin divided by mmole of Zn per millilitre of solution). By means of infrared spectroscopy, the mechanism of sorption of zinc ions from rinsing water was determined. There may be a possibility of the formation of complexes in the cation-exchange resin phase. It was found out in this paper that the cation-exchanger KB-2M of macroreticular structure is the most effective for the sorption of the Zn²⁺-ions from sewage and rinsing water.     

Baseline heavy metals and metalloid values in blood of loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta) from Baja California Sur, Mexico

Environmental pollution due to heavy metals is having an increased impact on marine wildlife accentuated by anthropogenic changes in the planet including overfishing, agricultural runoff and marine emerging infectious diseases. Sea turtles are considered sentinels of ecological health in marine ecosystems. The objective of this study was to determine baseline concentrations of zinc, cadmium, copper, nickel, selenium, manganese, mercury and lead in blood of 22 clinically healthy, loggerhead turtles (Caretta caretta), captured for several reasons in Puerto López Mateos, Baja California Sur, Mexico. Zinc was the most prevalent metal in blood (41.89 μg g⁻¹), followed by Selenium (10.92 μg g⁻¹). The mean concentration of toxic metal Cadmium was 6.12 μg g⁻¹ and 1.01 μg g⁻¹ respectively. Mean concentrations of metals followed this pattern: Zn > Se > Ni > Cu > Mn > Cd > Pb and Hg. We can conclude that blood is an excellent tissue to measure in relatively non-invasive way baseline values of heavy metals in Caretta caretta.     

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.     

Chlorination of Humic Acids and Chloroform Production

By diluting a boggy water there is produced water with a COD-Mn of 3.4 … 10.6 mg/l O₂ which is due only to humic substances. The water is mixed with 2.5 … 12.9 mg/l Cl₂ at pH-values of 5.2 … 8.5 and incubated for 24 h at 20°C. CHCl₃ concentrations of 38 … 480 μg/l were found by the subsequent gas-chromatographic determination. The production of chloroform can be calculated by means of a quadratic polynomial in dependence on COD-Mn, chlorine concentration and pH-value.     

Heavy metals in sediments from the Athens sewage outfall area

Sediments in the upper Saronikos Gulf have been contaminated by heavy metals from the discharge of untreated industrial and domestic wastewater from the area around Athens. Neutron activation analysis indicates concentrations of antimony, arsenic, chromium, gold, mercury, silver and zinc are 8–200 times greater than in the surrounding uncontaminated sediments. The bottom area affected by increased metal concentrations is at least 13 km² and indicates a nearly radial dispersal pattern from the main outfall with higher concentrations extending to the southeast and southwest.     

Mercury Circulation in Aquatic Environment. Part 2: Metabolism of Methyl and Phenyl Mercury in Phytoplankton

Biotransformation of phenyl and methyl mercury chloride was studied in experiments with planktonic algae Chlorella kessleri, Scenedesmus obliquus and blue-green algae Microcystis incerta. To algal cultures cultivated in an inorganic medium the labelled phenyl or methyl mercury hydroxide was added separately in the phase of the logarithmic growth, the resultant concentration being 3.2 × 10^?7 M. In intervals of 0, 1, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days samples of the algae and medium were analysed for the total amount of mercury and for the presence of phenyl or methyl mercury. It was found that both methyl and phenyl mercury had accumulated very rapidly in the algae and that up to 70% of ²⁰³Hg added was present in the algae during the first 72 hours of the experiment. From the 2nd day onwards, however, methyl and phenyl mercury changed rapidly into inorganic mercury so that by the end of the experiment almost all of the mercury present in algae and the medium was in the form of inorganic mercury.