土壤汞污染对油菜的氧化胁迫效应

为了明确土壤汞污染的植物毒性效应,利用盆栽模拟试验研究了汞污染土壤对油菜的氧化损伤.结果表明,低浓度的汞污染轻微促进油菜的生长,汞浓度超过1.0 mg·kg-1就显著抑制植物生长,引起叶片面积变小、失绿变黄甚至枯萎等生理现象.随着汞浓度的增加,丙二醛(MDA)含量增加,当汞的浓度增加到8.0 mg·kg-1时,MDA的含量是对照组的4.17倍.随着汞浓度的增加,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性升高,过氧化物酶(POD),过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性先升高后下降,其中SOD和POD在8.0 mg·kg-1汞处理下,活性达到最大,CAT在0.5 mg·kg-1汞处理下活性最大.土壤汞含量为超过1.0 mg·kg-1时,油菜可食部分汞浓度大于食品安全国家标准《食品中污染物限量》(GB 2762—2012)的规定.油菜吸收的汞主要累积在根部,因此在利用此类植物进行土壤修复时,需要清除植物的地下部,才能实现植物修复的目的.     

大型垃圾焚烧厂周边土壤重金属含量水平、空间分布、来源及潜在生态风险评价

通过采集珠三角东部某市大型垃圾焚烧厂周边表层土壤样品,分析了各样品中Cd、Pb、Hg、As、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn和Co等9种重金属含量,研究了重金属的含量水平、空间分布、来源及潜在生态风险。结果表明,研究范围内表层土壤重金属含量分别为Cd(0.183±0.07)mg·kg-1、Pb(34.8±18.7)mg·kg-1、Hg(0.081±0.028)mg·kg-1、As(11.5±9.1)mg·kg-1、Cr(31.5±19.1)mg·kg-1、Cu(17.6±12.3)mg·kg-1、Ni(7.13±4.20)mg·kg-1、Zn(82.4±44.2)mg·kg-1、Co(3.37±3.08)mg·kg-1。其中,Hg和Zn的含量分别超出广东省土壤历史背景值1倍和2倍,其余重金属含量与背景值相差不大。综合空间分布特征分析、相关性分析、聚类分析和主成分分析的结果,可以将9种重金属分为4类。Cr、Ni、Cu、Co的分布特征极为相似,且相互之间有极显著相关性,结合聚类分析和主成分分析结果,其来源主要为土壤母质。As、Zn、Pb的空间分布特征具有一定相似性,但相关性分析和聚类分析显示元素间联系不紧密,结合主成分分析结果,其来源与土壤母质和多种人类活动污染有关。Cd和Hg的空间分布特征均显示这两种重金属与垃圾焚烧厂存在联系,Cd与垃圾焚烧厂存在一定联系,而Hg与垃圾焚烧厂存在较强联系。潜在生态风险评价结果显示,该研究区域土壤重金属生态风险不高,多种重金属的综合潜在生态风险指数(RI)的范围为51~269.79,Hg和Cd对RI的贡献率相对较大,分别为52.33%和18.30%。研究表明,垃圾焚烧厂周边表层土壤Hg具有独特的环境污染特征,在垃圾焚烧厂周边的土壤重金属污染调查中,Hg污染应受到重点关注。     

招远市区土壤及常见绿化植物汞污染特征

为查明长期黄金开采冶炼对城市汞污染的影响,以"金都"招远为研究对象,于2011年4月,采集了招远市区常见绿化植物柏树、落叶松、冬青的茎叶样品30份,并同步采集相应表层土壤样品34份。采用冷原子吸收法测定样品总汞含量,分析了土壤的理化性质。结果表明,招远市区表层土壤中汞含量范围为0.002~0.815 mg·kg-1,平均值为0.149 mg·kg-1。土壤汞含量与有机质呈极显著正相关,与p H、粗颗粒比例呈显著正相关关系,而与阳离子交换量、黏粒比例呈显著负相关。不同城市区域相比,处于金矿区污染源下风向、且与矿区距离较近的梦芝区土壤汞含量要显著高于其它区域。常见绿化植物茎叶汞含量范围为0.021~0.782 mg·kg-1,不同植物中的汞含量没有显著差异,但同种植物中茎、叶中汞含量存在极显著正相关。植物中的汞在各城市区域没有显著差异,与土壤汞含量也不存在显著相关性。研究结果显示,招远市区土壤和植物受周边金矿开采和黄金冶炼的影响,存在一定程度汞污染。     

葫芦岛市有色冶金-化工区土壤与植物汞污染

通过对有色冶金-化工区土壤汞、植物汞空间特征的分析,确定不同源对土壤、植物的影响。土壤表层汞含量以锌冶炼厂和氯碱厂及其附近为中心,向外围辐散降低,呈双中心分布,其含量为0.055～14.575mg·kg-1,平均值为1.435mg·kg-1;植物叶汞含量为柳树(Salix)>榆树(Ulmus)>槐树(Sophora)>丁香(Cytisus)>杨树(Populus)>松树(Pinus)>柏树(Cyparissus),其汞含量为0.029～2.700mg·kg-1,平均为0.182mg·kg-1。植物汞的空间分布特征是以锌冶炼厂及其附近为中心,表明大气沉降作用对植物汞的含量有显著的影响,锌冶炼厂是植物汞含量的主要来源,有色冶金-化工区是我国汞污染最重的地区之一,其生态风险应引起重视。     

贵州省务川汞矿区汞污染的初步研究

对贵州省务川汞矿区的大气、地表水和土壤中汞污染的调查表明,务川汞矿区大气汞浓度为7-40000 ng·m-3,超出正常大气汞浓度1-4个数量级.地表水总汞为43-2100 ng·l-1,远高于对照区(15-29 ng·l-1);活性汞、溶解态汞和颗粒态汞含量也显著高于对照区,颗粒态汞是地表水汞迁移的主要方式.土壤总汞含量为1.3-360 mg·kg-1,远高于对照区土壤总汞含量(O.22-0.39 mg·kg-1),土壤剖面汞含量的垂向递减反映了大气汞的沉降是土壤汞的重要来源之一;同一地点不同土地利用类型的土壤,一般为稻田总汞含量高于菜地和玉米地;土壤pH值和有机质影响着土壤中汞的迁移和富集.     

广西阳朔铅锌矿周边土壤和白菜汞含量及污染评价

阳朔铅锌矿是广西境内一个较大型的铅锌老矿山。对阳朔铅锌周边耕作区、居民区土壤和白菜(Brassica rapa L.Chinensis Group)汞含量分布及污染进行调查和研究,可以为汞污染防治与修复提供科学依据。在铅锌矿下游耕作区、对照耕作区分别采集土壤样各66、38个,白菜样各35、20个;居民区采集土壤样17个。全部土壤和白菜样品采用MDS-2003F型压力自控密闭微波溶样系统进行消解,并用原子荧光测汞仪进行分析测定。结果表明,阳朔铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞质量分数为(0.567 4±0.268 3)mg·kg-1,对照耕作区土壤汞质量分数为(0.147 1±0.039 5)mg·kg-1,居民区土壤汞质量分数为(0.188 0±0.097 2)mg·kg-1,分别为中国一些地区土壤汞的自然含量(0.071 mg·kg-1)的7.99、2.07、2.65倍。在铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞含量随着远离矿区方向依次降低。阳朔铅锌矿下游耕作区白菜根汞平均质量分数为27 600 ng·kg-1,茎汞平均质量分数为7 100 ng·kg-1,叶汞平均质量分数为19 300 ng·kg-1;对照耕作区白菜根汞平均质量分数为12 500 ng·kg-1,茎汞平均质量分数为4 800 ng·kg-1,叶汞平均质量分数为10 000 ng·kg-1,白菜汞含量分布特征与土壤汞含量分布相似。白菜植株各部位汞含量与土壤有效态(水溶态、交换态)汞含量显著相关,且根汞与之相关性最为显著,白菜植株不同部位汞含量表现为:根叶茎,上述特点表明土壤汞是白菜汞的主要来源。所采土样中有61.2%的土壤样汞含量超过了中国《土壤环境质量标准(GB 15618─2008)》二级标准的最低限值(0.2 mg·kg-1)。铅锌矿下游耕作区土壤汞污染最为严重,中等-严重污染以上占53.0%,中等污染占36.4%;居民区次之,中等污染占35.3%;对照耕作区污染最轻,均在中等污染以下。阳朔铅锌矿耕作区白菜植株各部位汞平均含量均未超过国家相关标准,这表明尽管耕作区土壤总汞严重超标,但由于土壤中有效态汞并不高,土壤汞污染并未对白菜汞含量造成显著影响。     

武汉市葛店地区汞污染及其分布特征

对武汉市葛店地区的土壤、水体及沉积物进行了系统取样、测试.结果表明:该地区表层和底层土壤中汞的平均含量分别为0.314mg·kg-1和0.181mg·kg-1,分别是区域土壤汞背景值的6倍和3.6倍,初步分析原因为污灌、大气汞的干、湿沉降和使用含汞农药;水体汞含量平均值为1606.77ng·1-1,远远超过了国家地表水环境质量标准(GHZB1-1999)中的Ⅲ类水质标准(≤100ng·1-1),且水体汞含量随距化工厂距离的增加而递减,形态分析表明,水体汞大部分以粒子态和溶解态存在,活性汞只占很小一部分;沉积物样品中汞的含量范围为2.450-8.630mg·kg-1,平均值4.677mg·kg-1,污染程度随距化工厂距离的增加而递减.     

硫代硫酸铵添加对黄平大黄油菜富集土壤汞的影响-田间试验

在田间条件下,研究添加硫代硫酸铵对黄平大黄油菜(Brassica juncea var.HPDH)富集土壤汞(总汞含量13.7mg·kg-1)及土壤汞形态转化影响。试验设置2个处理,对照小区(无硫代硫酸铵)和处理小区(每公斤土壤加入8 g硫代硫酸铵),硫代硫酸铵溶液在植物收获前7 d添加到土壤。试验结束后,分析植物生物量和组织内汞含量。结果表明,硫代硫酸铵处理小区植物生物量(干重)要略高于对照区。硫代硫酸铵处理小区植物根系和地上部分汞含量分别是对照区的600和250倍。利用连续化学浸提法分析了修复前后土壤汞形态变化特征,发现硫代硫酸铵辅助植物修复后能显著降低土壤有机结合态汞含量,大幅度提高残渣态汞含量,溶解态与可交换态汞含量略有增加,特殊吸附态和铁锰氧化态汞含量无显著变化。     

上海市公园绿地常见落叶树木叶片汞浓度时空特征及环境意义

植物叶片汞浓度与大气气态单质汞(GEM/Hg0)浓度的线性关系表明叶片汞浓度大小可用于指示植物生长区内GEM浓度的高低水平.通过分析上海市绿地公园(25座)中常见落叶树木樱花、水杉、法桐叶片汞浓度的时空变化特征,探究区域内GEM含量水平及分布特征.2017年5—10月对7座公园中这3种树木叶汞浓度进行连续监测,结果显示叶汞浓度与叶片生长时间呈显著线性正相关关系(P<0.01),表明叶片在生长期内不断吸收累积大气汞.而且在生长期内,3种树木叶汞浓度日累积速率(g·kg^-1·d^-1)具有相似的变化趋势,意味着不同树木叶汞的累积对外界环境的响应可能是一致的,除树种差异外.同年11月初,25座公园(包含上述7座)中樱花、水杉、法桐衰老叶片叶汞浓度为(54.2±12,31.8—76.7)μg·kg^-1、(42.0±9,23.5—67.9)μg·kg^-1、(36.1±11,21.4—60.3)μg·kg^-1(平均值,范围),有显著的种间差异(P<0.01),而在中心城区和郊区间无显著差异(P>0.05).空间插值分析结果初步表明衰老叶片叶汞浓度的空间梯度差异不大,且高值区域没有完全重合.这表明了利用衰老叶片叶汞浓度反映区域GEM浓度整体水平空间分布规律存在一定的不确定性,仍需进一步深入研究.     

单一汞同位素示踪大气与农田作物汞的交换过程

汞是引人注目的全球性污染物,植被叶片吸收是大气汞的主要去除途径之一.然而,当前对于大气-植被叶片汞通量交换过程及吸收后的汞在植被体内的归趋等认识尚有不明确之处.本文利用单一大气汞同位素标记技术,测定了大气汞浓度为0、2、5、10 ng·m~(-3)时,C3植物水稻与C4植物玉米叶片汞交换通量的变化特征,并分析了标记的汞同位素在植被体中根-茎-叶的分布比例.结果表明:(1)水稻和玉米叶片汞的沉降通量与大气汞浓度呈显著正相关关系;(2)植物叶片汞的沉降通量有明显的昼夜变化,水稻和玉米的吸收通量白天均高于晚上;(3)玉米对大气汞的补偿点白天为0.63 ng·m~(-3),夜间为2.85 ng·m~(-3);水稻白天为1.24 ng·m~(-3),夜间为1.32 ng·m~(-3),水稻对大气汞的富集能力强于玉米,但二者的补偿点均显著低于国内大气汞浓度;(4)植被从大气吸收的汞主要集中在植物地上部,水稻叶片分布88.92%,茎中分布11.08%,而玉米叶片分布90.95%,茎中分布7.09%,根中分布1.96%.这些结果表明,农田系统的植被能富集大气中的汞,并主要贮存在叶片内部,向茎、根迁移量较少,是大气汞的重要汇.上述结论为进一步估算中国农田系统的大气汞汇与认识汞在大气-叶片-茎-根-土壤中循环提供了科学依据.     

典型菜地土壤汞在小白菜和胡萝卜可食部位的富集规律

对广东省蔬菜种植面积较大的10个城市典型菜地土壤和蔬菜（小白菜和胡萝卜）对应采样,分析217个蔬菜可食部位中重金属汞（Hg）质量分数及对应土壤中Hg全量和有效态质量分数,研究大田条件下小白菜和胡萝卜可食部位富集Hg的规律。结果表明,广东省菜地土壤存在一定的Hg污染,约20％的土壤超过国家土壤环境质量标准（GBl5618－1995）中二级标准值,但小白菜和胡萝卜中Hg质量分数较低,均值分别为0．0012和0．0013mg·kg-1,仅2个小白菜样品Hg质量分数超过国家食品卫生标准《食品中污染物限量》（GB2762-2005）中的限值0．01mg·kg-1。TGA提取的土壤有效态Hg质量分数与土壤Hg全量显著正相关,TGA提取Hg量仅占土壤总Hg质量分数的3％-4％。小白菜和胡萝卜对Hg的富集系数分别为0．90％和0．94％,表明土壤中绝大部分的Hg不易转化迁移、为蔬菜吸收。小白菜和胡萝卜可食部位Hg质量分数与土壤中Hg全量和有效态质量分数均存在显著的线性关系,其中蔬菜与土壤Hg有效态质量分数的关系优于其与土壤Hg全量的关系。依据国家食品卫生标准,通过拟合回归方程计算出的保障小白菜和胡萝b质量安全的菜地土壤Hg有效态质量分数临界值分别为O．038和0．063mg·kg-1。计算出的土壤Hg全量临界值远大于我国现行土壤环境质量标准的二级标准值,表明该标准值对于保障广东省小白菜和胡萝b质量安全来说可能过于严格。     

Distributions of total metals in the surface sediments of the Bandirma and Erdek Gulfs,Marmara Sea,Turkey

The aim of this study is to determine the contents of aluminum, iron, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, chromium, cadmium, lead, and mercury in sediments at 1–30?m depths of the Band?rma and Erdek Gulfs in the Southern Inner Shelf of the Marmara Sea. Sediment samples were collected from different depths (1?m, 5?m, 10?m, 20?m, 30?m) at each region in February 2008. Primary hydrographic conditions, such as temperature (6.6–14.5°C), salinity (22.6–26.875 psu), percentage of dissolved oxygen saturation (35–83 %), and pH (8.0–8.4) were recorded for each sampling point. Moreover the total organic carbon (0.5–2.9%) and the total calcium carbonate contents (0.8–60%) of sediment samples were determined. In surface sediments of both gulfs, Pb (21–62?mg?kg^?1) and Cd (0.52–0.86?mg?kg^?1) contents were determined to be higher than the shale average (Pb 20?mg?kg^?1, Cd 0.2?mg?kg^?1) while the other metal contents were measured to be lower in general. On the other hand, generally Hg (0.06–1.1?mg?kg^?1) contents were higher than the shale average (0.3?mg?kg^?1)at all of the examined stations in the Band?rma Gulf and lower than the shale average in the Erdek Gulf.     

平原典型垃圾焚烧厂周边土壤重金属分布特征及污染评价

随着固体废弃物的增加,垃圾焚烧逐步成为城市垃圾处理应用一个较为理想可行的选择。垃圾焚烧不仅可以回收能源,且相对其他处理方式其减量效果显著。垃圾焚烧厂排出的尾气中的某些特定重金属可以通过大气干湿沉降进入土壤。采用XRF 荧光光谱仪、岛津原子吸收分光光度计和测汞仪测定了杭嘉湖平原的嘉兴垃圾焚烧厂周边土壤重金属的含量,利用地统计学方法分析了该区域74个土壤样品中Cr、Mn、Cu、Pb、Fe五种重金属元素浓度的空间分布,并采用单因子指数法和内梅罗综合指数法对该地区土壤进行污染评价。结果表明：该垃圾焚烧厂周边表层土壤上述5种重金属平均含量依次为174.05、707.76、47.68、41.95、39057.89 mg·kg-1。表层富集因子分析表明表层土壤中Cu和Pb的含量受到人为影响。因子分析将5种重金属分成3类,并揭示了3类金属在该区域具有不同的空间分布特征,Cr、Mn、Fe以土壤地球化学作用（37.88%方差贡献）为主导影响因素,Cu、Pb分别以农药施用作用为主（22.06%）、垃圾焚烧源尾气排放（22.74%）为主导影响因素。污染评价结果表明该区域土壤重金属复合污染程度为轻度污染,最大污染贡献来自于Pb（单因子污染指数高达2.16）,厂区周边土壤中重金属存在累积效应,不容忽视。     

Fish as an indicator of aquatic environment: Multielemental neutron activation analysis of nutrient and pollutant elements in fish from Indian coastal areas

Fish is the main food in coastal areas and its analysis for toxic metals has been used as an indicator of the pollution status of the aquatic environment. Several different fish species from the three Indian coasts, Visakhapatnam in the east, Mumbai in the west and Mangalore in the south west and also inland freshwater fish from Nagpur in the central region for comparison were analyzed for up to 20 elements (As, Au, Ba, Br, Cl, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mn, Na, P, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Zn) by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Dried fish samples in powdered form were irradiated with thermal neutrons in a nuclear reactor followed by high resolution gamma ray spectrometry at different intervals. Several Reference Materials (RMs) of biological origin were analyzed for quality assurance and data validation. Elemental contents in different fish species vary in a wide range depending on the species, its size, location, and aquatic environment. Fish from Mangalore showed highest mean contents of Cr (14.8?±?29.9?µg?g^?1), Cu (1005?±?643?µg?g^?1) and Sb (849?±?888?ng?g^?1) whereas those from Mumbai exhibited highest Hg (2066?±?2146?ng?g^?1) and P (20.3?±?4.63?µg?g^?1) but lowest Cu (6.30?±?3.10?µg?g^?1) contents. Fish from all the regions showed significant amounts of nutrient elements such as Na, K, P, Mn, Fe, Se and Zn as well as some pollutant elements (Br, Cr, Sb, Hg). No regularity in variation of elemental contents with the size was observed. Prawn (Panaeus latisulcatus), a popular fish species from four different regions showed wide variation in elemental contents of Cr, Mn, Fe, Zn, Se, P including toxic pollutants, Sb and Hg. An attempt has been made to calculate daily dietary intake (DDI) for some nutrient elements from Indian fish. Elemental data for Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Se, and Zn have been compared with those from other fish exporting countries.     

中国南方稻田土壤汞含量及潜在危害评价

选择我国南方水稻主产区安徽、浙江、湖南、湖北以及广西5个省,采集213个稻田土壤样品,探究我国南方稻田土壤中汞的空间分布特征与土壤理化参数(如p H值和有机质)的相关关系及汞富集的潜在危害。结果表明:不同省份的稻田土壤汞含量存在显著的差异(P0.05,n=213),含量范围是0.029~0.326 mg·kg~(-1)(干重),平均值为(0.094±0.036)mg·kg~(-1),与农用地土壤环境质量标准0.30 mg·kg~(-1)(GB15618—1995)相比,除湖北省以外均有轻度汞污染。Pearson相关性分析表明,稻田土壤中的汞含量与有机质含量呈显著正相关关系(P0.01,r=0.445),说明适度偏高的有机质有利于土壤汞的富集。不同省份稻田土壤潜在危害等级除浙江省外均在轻微到中等的范围内,浙江省的为强等级。     

灵芝中重金属的检测及其健康风险初步评价

为了研究灵芝中重金属的污染状况,对北京市一些药店及部分中医门诊部所售的不同产地灵芝中的As、Hg、Pb等重金属元素含量进行了测定.结果表明,灵芝中As含量范围为0.016￣0.239mg·kg-1,平均值0.117mg·kg-1,Hg含量范围从未检出到0.43mg·kg-1,平均值0.115mg·kg-1,Pb含量范围从未检出到0.256mg·kg-1,平均值0.047mg·kg-1,As、Pb含量均符合我国《药用植物及制剂进出口绿色行业标准》,Hg有5例超标,占样品总数的25%,主要是野生灵芝.健康风险初步评价结果表明,服用灵芝的人群,成人每人每日通过灵芝摄入As、Hg、Pb分别为0.18￣2.3μg、0.17￣2.3μg、0.07￣0.94μg,分别占每日允许摄入量(ADI)的0.14%￣1.9%、0.4%￣5.4%、0.03%￣0.4%,对人体健康风险不大.但是对于个别野生和人工种植灵芝而言,每日摄入总汞量可达0.47￣6.24μg,占ADI的1.1%￣15%,对人体健康存在一定的风险.     

The potential of Berkheya coddii for phytoextraction of nickel,platinum, and palladium contaminated sites

The study involved assessing the potential of the native plant species (Berkheya coddii) for the phytoextraction of nickel, palladium, and platinum contaminated sites. Plant and soil samples were randomly collected from Barberton area, near Agnes mine, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. Samples were analysed for total nickel, palladium, and platinum concentrations together with other elements found in the soil and in the plants' roots, and leaves. Soil versus leaves and soil versus roots uptake of these metals by the plant were compared. The mean concentration of nickel in the leaves/canopy was found to be 13,980?±?10,780?mg?kg^?1?dry mass, in the roots it was 2046?±?789?mg?kg^?1 dry mass, and in the soil it was 1040?±?686?mg?kg^?1?dry mass. This resulted in a mean concentration ratio in the leaves to soil of 13.44. The platinum mean concentration in the leaves was 0.22?±?0.15?mg?kg^?1?dry mass, in the roots it was 0.14?±?0.04?mg?kg^?1?dry mass, and in the soil it was 0.04?±?0.03?mg?kg^?1?dry mass. This resulted in a mean concentration ratio in the leaves to soil of 5.5. Palladium was found to have a mean soil concentration of 0.07?±?0.045?mg?kg^?1?dry mass. The mean concentrations in the roots and in the leaves were 0.18?±?0.07 dry mass and 0.71?±?0.52?mg?kg^?1?dry mass, respectively. This gave a mean concentration ratio in the leaves to soil of 10.1 for palladium. Other elements that were found to have a mean concentration ratio in the leaves to soil of around 2.5 or above are sodium, potassium, magnesium, calcium, and sulfur. Berkheya coddii was found to be most efficient in accumulating nickel, palladium, and platinum from the soil. The results for the first time revealed that the plant may have the potential to uptake platinum and palladium; both metals are in the same group of the periodic table as nickel.     

Quantitative and structural analyses of hazardous elements in Chinese medicines and herbs

Thirty samples of Chinese medicines and herbs were analyzed using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) methods, mainly noting on the hazardous elements arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), chromium, antimony and cobalt. The three Niuhuang Jiedu Pian samples contained 8.6%, 8.3% and 2.2% As. Two out of four Liushen Wan samples contained approximately7% of both As and Hg. Despite being identically named, the other two Liushen Wan samples did not contain such high concentrations. Japanese Liushen Wan for children contained 1.2 ± 0.03% As and 31 ± 12 mg/kg Hg, whereas Liushen Wan for adults manufactured by another Japanese company contained 550 ± 22 mg/kg As and 1.2 ± 0.05 mg/kg Hg. All the chemical structural formulas of As and Hg in the high-concentration Niuhuang Jiedu Pian and Liushen Wan were realgar (As₄S₄), uzonite (As₄S₅) and cinnabar (HgS). Although the human body is generally not believed to absorb sulphides, continuous intake of these Chinese medicines is potentially no good because it is possible that some arsenic-sulfides will dissolve in gastric acid and then alter their chemical structures. Additionally, many herbs contained low concentrations of Hg, and their chemical structures were unknown.     

Speciation of mercury in South African coals

Total mercury (Hg_TOT) concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP MS) for South African Highveld coals. The distribution of Hg in coals was investigated using a four-stage sequential leaching protocol and isotope dilution/gas chromatography coupled to ICP MS (ID-GC-ICP MS). The results show that Hg_TOT ranged from 144 to 303?µg?kg^?1 with a mean of 199?±?26?µg?kg^?1, while Hg_TOT leached from coals using different solvents ranged between 103 and 310?µg?kg^?1 (mean: 218?±?60?µg?kg^?1). Hg leaching rates of 53–78% were achieved in crushed coals. Hg⁰, Hg²⁺, and CH₃Hg⁺ were identified in all coals. CH₃Hg⁺ in studied coals ranged between 0.1 and 0.4 (mean: 0.2) µg?kg^?1. GC ICP MS chromatograms also showed unknown Hg peaks which were identified as other organomercury species such as ethylmercury. Modes of occurrence of Hg in coals were variable with the organic-bound (37–40%) and the sulfide-bound (37–39%) being the dominant mercury forms. Increasing the HCl concentration in the used protocol increased the amount of Hg leached (16%) during this step.     

Determination of metals in printed wiring boards of waste mobile phones

Metal contents of waste mobile phones represent a major environmental risk, especially considering the adoption of inappropriate management options in developing countries including open burning and disposal into surface water bodies. In this study the metal contents of mobile phone printed wiring board (PWB) samples were assessed. Sixty-two waste mobile phones of 15 brands were collected, dismantled, and their PWB samples were analyzed for Cu, Pb, Ag and Cd. The metal concentrations in the samples varied widely between and within brands. Among these metals, Cu and Pb were found to be at very high concentrations. The range (mean?±?SD) of Cu and Pb concentrations were 94.1–532?g?kg^?1 (250?±?92.3?g?kg^?1) and 7.0–46.2?g?kg^?1 (20.1?±?8.4?g?kg^?1), respectively. All Cu and Pb concentrations exceeded toxicity threshold limit concentration (TTLC) regulatory limits used in characterizing wastes as hazardous in the state of California, USA. The mean Cu and Pb concentrations exceeded the corresponding TTLC limits by factors of 100 and 20, respectively. The Ag and Cd concentrations were in the range 59.4–759?mg?kg^?1 (mean 227?±?104?mg?kg^?1) and ND – 15.6?mg?kg^?1 (2.1?±?3.3?mg?kg^?1), respectively.