Linking the toxic metals to benthic community alteration: A case study of ecological status in the Bohai Bay

Ecological effects and quality status of sediments in the Bohai Bay (North China) were studied by incorporating the traditional chemical analysis and benthic community structure. In the present study, paired sediments from 20 stations were sampled for chemical analysis and benthic assemblages. The overall results demonstrated that sediment impairment mainly appeared in the southern part of the Bay. The results obtained from the principal component analysis regarding benthic data and potential explanatory factors indicated that As, Hg and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHs) were responsible for the distribution of macrofaunal assemblages. Canonical correspondence analysis further showed As was significantly correlated to the benthic alteration, which provided evidence of ecological relevance to chemical substances of concern. Overall, this study revealed the metal contamination in the Bohai Bay was not as severe as previously regarded. Yet, further investigation is still needed considering the complexity of sediment matrices.     

Sediment PAH: Contrasting levels in the Caspian Sea and Anzali Wetland

A comparative study of 23 PAH congeners in sediment of the Caspian Sea coast and Anzali Wetland was conducted in 2010. Surface sediment was analyzed using chromatography and mass spectrometry. Total PAH concentrations ranged between 212 and 9009 ng g⁻¹ dw. Spatial distribution maps revealed that PAH levels were higher in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea where oil related activities have been common since 1800’s. Diagnostic ratios analysis indicated that PAHs largely originated from petrogenic processes. PAH toxicity level was assessed using sediment quality guidelines and toxic equivalent concentrations to determine toxic effects on marine organism. Based on these investigations, in our study areas, the probability of toxicity for benthic organisms is “low to medium”. The toxic equivalent concentrations of carcinogenic PAHs varied between 11 and 231 ng TEQ/g; higher total toxic equivalent concentrations values were found in the coastal areas of the Caspian Sea.     

Partitioning of metals (Fe,Pb, Cu,Zn) in urban run‐off from the Kaikorai Valley,Dunedin, New Zealand

Urban run‐off from a catchment in Dunedin, New Zealand was sampled and chemically characterised (iron (Fe), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) in total and <0.4 (im fractions, suspended solids, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), dissolved organic carbon, major ions, pH) during base flows, and storm flows from five rainfall events. Fe and Pb were found to be predominantly particle‐associated (>0.4 μm) and their concentrations increased significantly at the beginning of storm run‐off. In contrast, the majority of Cu and Zn was found in the <0.4μm fraction before rainfall events but during the initial period of storm flows a significant proportion of Cu and Zn was also present in the >0.4 μm fraction. The results indicate that Cu and Zn may be more bio‐available, and more difficult to remove by storm‐water treatment, than Pb. The pH level and the concentration of major ions (Ca⁺², Na⁺, Mg⁺², K⁺), dissolved reactive phosphorus, and nitrate generally decreased during storm flows as a result of dilution by rainwater. Concentrations of total N and P often increased during the initial period of storm run‐off, which was likely because of wash‐off of particulate plant material.     

Dominance of point source in heavy metal distributions in sediments of a major Sydney estuary (Australia)

 Size-normalized (<63 μm) distributions of Cu, Zn, and Pb in the surficial sediments of one of Sydneys' four major estuaries – the Georges River/Botany Bay estuary – are not facies or depositionally controlled, but rather their distribution is dominated by source. Point sources (waste dumps, sewage overflows, and discharge from a polluted river) are responsible for elevating sediment heavy-metal concentrations up to 50 times above background. Nonpoint sources contribute in raising baseline levels to four times background and comprise mainly stormwater and also marinas, moorings, and wharfs/jetties. Heavy metals disgorged from a point source (Cooks River) strongly impact the sediments in the lower estuary, which has implications for the construction of a new runway for Sydney airport. Received: 3 October 1994 · Accepted: 21 September 1995     

Pollution history of the savannah river estuary and comparisons with Baltic Sea pollution history

The sediment record, as revealed in sediment cores, can be used to reconstruct the history of contaminant input into estuaries. The basic assumptions are that contaminant inputs equilibrate relatively rapidly with sediment inputs and that the sediment column represents a continuous sequence of sediment and associated contaminant accumulation. With radiochemical chronologies, it is possible to date sediments over a period corresponding to about five half-lives (100 years for ²¹⁰Pb). In our study we reconstruct the pollution history of the Savannah Estuary, which is a typical estuary in the South Atlantic Bight. A series of cores were taken in the estuary, followed by the analysis of the cores for a variety of organic and inorganic contaminants. Ages were assigned to different depth intervals by the use of two radiotracers, ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs. The major pesticides found were an isomer of DDT and dieldrin. The peak in their concentrations (1967) correlated with peak use of these pesticides before their use was banned. Between 1959 and 1962, there was more input of anthropogenic PAHs than before and after this period. The metals which showed significant changes in the cores include mercury, lead and chromium. Chromium reached a maximum during the late 1950s, followed by a decrease in the late 1960s. This chromium peak coincided with the initial operation of a titanium dioxide pigment plant in the Savannah Estuary. An interesting aspect of the study, which has been noted by many pollution history studies, was the decrease in the concentration of anthropogenic chemicals during the past two decades, suggesting that pollution controls have been effective, even while industrial and population growth was taking place.Similar studies have been carried out to reconstruct the historical record of contamination in the Baltic Sea. Concentrations of metals were found to increase after 1880 (industrial revolution in northern Europe). PCBs peaked in concentration in the late 1960s and the early 1970s, while DDT peaked in the 1960s. The Baltic experienced a major input of nutrients (N and P) after 1965 resulting from heavy use of fertilizers in this region.     

Cell bioassays for detection of aryl hydrocarbon (AhR) and estrogen receptor (ER) mediated activity in environmental samples

In vitro cell bioassays are useful techniques for the determination of receptor-mediated activities in environmental samples containing complex mixtures of contaminants. The cell bioassays determine contamination by pollutants that act through specific modes of action. This article presents strategies for the evaluation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (hereafter referred as dioxin-like) or estrogen receptor mediated activities of potential endocrine disrupting compounds in complex environmental mixtures. Extracts from various types of environmental or food matrices can be tested by this technique to evaluate their 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin equivalents or estrogenic equivalents and to identify contaminated samples that need further investigation using resource-intensive instrumental analyses. Fractionation of sample extracts exhibiting significant activities, and subsequent reanalysis with the bioassays can identify important classes of contaminants that are responsible for the observed activity. Effect-directed chemical analysis is performed only for the active fractions to determine the responsible compounds. Potency-balance estimates of all major compounds contributing to the observed effects can be calculated to determine if all of the activity has been identified, and to assess the potential for interactions such as synergism or antagonism among contaminants present in the complex mixtures. The bioassay approach is an efficient (fast and cost effective) screening system to identify the samples of interest and to provide basic information for further analysis and risk evaluation.     

Contaminated ground and contaminated estuary sediment illustrated by two case histories

 Contaminated ground forms a problem in all of the industrialized countries of the world. Contaminated ground may give rise to hazards and that implies a degree of risk which also involves a problem of definition. The investigation of a site which is suspected of being contaminated differs somewhat from a routine site investigation. Sampling of soil, groundwater and gas-producing material may be required. Various precautions may be necessary to do this and personnel may have to wear protective clothing. The first case history considered involves a site investigation for a relief sewer in Glasgow. As the site investigation progressed it ran into made-ground which contained chemical waste. The presence of this waste meant that the nature of the investigation changed and much more stringent safety precautions had to be taken. It also meant that the initial location of the sewer tunnel had to be repositioned at greater depth in uncontaminated sandstone rather than in the superficial deposits above. The other case history considers the contamination of sediments in the Forth Estuary. When trace metals are released into the water column they can be transferred rapidly to the sediment phase by adsorption onto suspended particulate matter, followed by sedimentation. Intertidal flats may be considered as important trace metal sinks since they accumulate large amounts of suspended matter. Hence, in polluted estuaries the deposition of suspended particles on intertidal flats may thus cause severe contamination. The Forth Estuary has unique contamination for British estuaries; it is experiencing significant Hg pollution. In addition, due to the presence of a nuclear submarine base in the Forth Estuary, ⁶⁰Co is detectable in the intertidal sediments. Temporal and spatial contamination patterns were analysed in relation to historical and present pollution point sources. The effect of fluvial and marine sediment mixing on trace metals and other processes controlling contaminant levels is reviewed. Preliminary results on quantifying sediment accretion rates using Caesium levels are discussed. Received: 9 August 1996 · Accepted: 17 December 1996     

Heavy metal distribution in sediments from Calabar River, southeastern Nigeria

The concentration and areal distribution of selected metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Fe, and Cr) in the sediments of the Calabar River were studied to determine the extent of anthropogenic input and to estimate the effects of dumping industrial waste materials into the river. The concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu indicate relatively moderate pollution mainly on the left-hand side of the river while Ni, Cr, Co, Cd, and Fe levels are below values found to have adverse effects on the lives of marine biota. High metal contents are found close to industrial establishments and so enhanced metal concentrations are related to industrial sewage and metal leaching from garbage and solid waste dumps.     

Nutrient,heavy metal and organic pollutant composition of suspended and bed sediments in the Rhone River

The environmental quality of the Rhone River (Switzerland-France) has been assessed with a geochemical survey of the pollutants bound to suspended sediments. Ten samples were collected between Lake Geneva and the Mediterranean Sea in Nobember 1989 by continuous flow centrifugation and analysed for grain size distribution, carbonate, organic C, N, forms of particulate P, trace metals, and organic compounds (chlorobenzenes, organochlorine pesticides, PCBs, and PAHs). Four bed sediment samples were also studied for comparative purposes. The suspended solids provide lower variance by parameter than the bed sediments and are clearly most suitable for synoptic monitoring.The Upper Rhone River carries a glacial derived sediment with a low nutrient content, the stretch from Geneva to Lyon provides a sediment dominated by carbonate, and in the Lower Rhone the organic matter and phosphorus are relatively increased, mainly due to wastewater effluents and to an industrial P source. High concentrations of metals and organic micropollutants downstream of Lyon indicate a multiple contamination in the Lower Rhone, whereas more specific inputs are located downstream of Geneva and Arles.The comparison with data from other polluted major systems, the Rhine, the Niagara and the Detroit rivers, shows on overall similarity confirming that the Rhone quality is degraded downstream of Lyon. The levels of particular concern are for Hg, DDT metabolites which reveal a recent release in the basin, PCBs with a likely high chlorine content, and PAHs.The statistical evaluation of the compositional variables indicates a limited number of well defined associations, suggesting that the contamination of the suspended sediments results from the combination of numerous and intermittent point and diffuse sources in the Rhone River basin.