Mercury in the Moji-Guaçu river basin,S.P-Brazil: the link between marginal lagoons and river contribution,assessed by 210Pb dating profiles

Total mercury content was evaluated in water and suspended sediment samples of the Moji-Gua?u river and in water and bottom sediment of its 3 marginal lagoons (Catingueiro, Barrinha, and Rio das Pedras), located downstream of the sampling point in the main channel. In all situations, low Hg concentrations were found in suspended and bottom sediments. Aluminum was used as a geochemical tracer to normalize the Hg concentrations in the sediment cores from the Rio das Pedras lagoon (r = 0.92). It was estimated that the Moji-Gua?u river transports up to 19 kg Hg yr(-1), 65% in the dissolved form and 35% adsorbed onto particulate matter. Following an acute toxic stage observed in the years 1970-1980, the basin has been restored to its original conditions mainly by natural recovery and a general reduction in Hg input to the ecosystem.     

Heavy metal bioavailability and effects: II. Histopathology-bioaccumulation relationships caused by mining activities in the Gulf of Cádiz (SW, Spain)

The relationship between bioaccumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu) and histological lesions in different tissues of organisms is assessed in three different areas located in the southwest of Spain in the Gulf of Cádiz (Ría of Huelva, Guadalquivir estuary and Bay of Cádiz) affected and non-affected by mining activities. Data included in these relationships were obtained along the years 2000 and 2001 to address the impact of the Aznalcóllar mining spill on the Guadalquivir estuary. The bioaccumulation and the histological lesions measured in this seasonal study in the Gudalquivir estuary were linked to derive tissue quality guidelines (TQGs) by means of a multivariate analysis approach (MAA). Sediments collected in the same areas of study were used to expose organisms during the survey carried out in autumn 2001 and to address the relationship between bioaccumulation and histological lesions under laboratory conditions and related to chemicals bound to sediments. Lesions show that the organisms collected in the ría of Huelva and exposed to their sediments were severe, intermediate in the Guadalquivir estuary and absent in the Bay of Cádiz. Results show that the Guadalquivir estuary trends to recover its initial status quo previous to the mining spill. The link between chemical concentration and the lesions measured in the same tissues using MAA permits to derive tissue quality guidelines for two organisms, oysters (Crassostrea angulata) and clams (Scrobicularia plana) collected in the Guadalquivir estuary and associated with the heavy metals from the mining spill (Zn and Cd). The TQG values expressed as concentrations (mgkg-1--dry weight) not associated with biological effects are for oysters, Zn, 8603, Cd, 3.42; and for clams Zn, 800, Cd, 2.6.     

环渤海湾诸河口水质现状的分析

根据对环渤海湾诸河口实地采集的12个水样进行的重金属、砷、总氮和总磷含量分析，发现环渤海湾诸河口水污染严重，多超过地表水V类标准，主要污染物质为Hg、N和P，其他污染物含量均在地表水H类标准以内。其中海河口处的Hg含量在20年间增加了10倍左右。诸河口水体中N和P含量均达到水体富营养化危险负荷，可见陆源污染是渤海湾富营养化日趋严重、赤潮日趋增多的主要原因。     

Trace metals in flounder, Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758), and sediments from the Baltic Sea and the Portuguese Atlantic coast

Trace metals were examined in the muscle tissue of flatfish species of flounder, Platichthys flesus (Linnaeus, 1758), sediments from two southern Baltic Sea sites (Gdańsk Bay and Ustecko-?ebskie as a reference) and in two areas of the Portuguese Atlantic coast (Douro River estuary and Atlantic fishing ground as a reference) to evaluate spatial differences in trace metals. Additionally, the accumulation of trace metals in flounder of different length classes was assessed. Flounder from the Gdańsk Bay area contained twofold more cupper (Cu), lead (Pb) and mercury (Hg) than did flounder from the Douro River estuary, but zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) were at similar concentrations. The sediments from Gdańsk Bay contained significantly more Zn and threefold more Cd, while concentrations of Cu and Pb were twofold lower. The concentrations of metals in the sediments did not correlate with those in the flounder. Spatial differences were noted in metal concentrations in flounder from the southern Baltic Sea and the Portuguese Atlantic coast as well as within these regions, with higher concentrations in the flounder from the Baltic Sea Gdańsk Bay. The flounder in length class 25–30 cm from Gdańsk Bay contained metal concentrations comparable to those of class 40–45 cm specimens from the Atlantic coast. The accumulation of metals in flounder length classes differed in the two regions.     

Investigations into the differential reactivity of endogenous and exogenous mercury species in coastal sediments

Stable isotopic tracer methodologies now allow the evaluation of the reactivity of the endogenous (ambient) and exogenous (added) Hg to further predict the potential effect of Hg inputs in ecosystems. The differential reactivity of endogenous and exogenous Hg was compared in superficial sediments collected in a coastal lagoon (Arcachon Bay) and in an estuary (Adour River) from the Bay of Biscay (SW France). All Hg species (gaseous, aqueous, and solid fraction) and ancillary data were measured during time course slurry experiments under variable redox conditions. The average endogenous methylation yield was higher in the estuarine (1.2 %) than in the lagoonal sediment (0.5 %), although both methylation and demethylation rates were higher in the lagoonal sediment in relation with a higher sulfate-reducing activity. Demethylation was overall more consistent than methylation in both sediments. The endogenous and exogenous Hg behaviors were always correlated but the exogenous inorganic Hg (IHg) partitioning into water was 2.0–4.3 times higher than the endogenous one. Its methylation was just slightly higher (1.4) in the estuarine sediment while the difference in the lagoonal sediment was much larger (3.6). The relative endogenous and exogenous methylation yields were not correlated to IHg partitioning, demonstrating that the bioavailable species distributions were different for the two IHg pools. In both sediments, the exogenous IHg partitioning equaled the endogenous one within a week, while its higher methylation lasted for months. Such results provide an original assessment approach to compare coastal sediment response to Hg inputs.     

Mercury levels in muscle of two fish species and sediments from the Cartagena Bay and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia

Mercury (Hg) content in sediments and muscle from two fish species were determined in Cartagena Bay and Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, an industrialized bay and an unpolluted estuary in the Caribbean coast of Colombia. Sampling was conducted four times during March-November 1996, including both the dry and rainy seasons. Significant differences in Hg concentration were detected both for fish and sediments between the two waterbodies. Hg values ranged from 94 to 10,293 microg/kg dry weight (dw) in sediments from Cartagena Bay and between 20 and 109 microg/kg dw in Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta. Highest Hg concentrations were observed for the omnivorous species Eugerres plumieri, and lowest concentrations were found in the detritivorous Mugil incilis. High Hg concentrations in sediments of Cartagena Bay were detected in front of the sewage discharge of an extinct chlor-alkali plant, with decreasing concentrations in stations far from the source. Our results suggest that Hg can be persistent in the sediments of previously exposed ecosystems and that the use of their biological resources should be avoided until decontamination programs guarantee safe levels of the metal in the environment.     

Environmental assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments of the Santander Bay,Northern Spain

Samples of intertidal surface sediments (0-2 cm) were collected in 17 stations of the Santander Bay, Cantabric Sea, Northern Spain. The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), 16, were analysed by HPLC and MS detection. Surface sediments show a good linear correlation among the parameters of the experimental organic matter evaluation, where total carbon (TC) and loss on ignition (LOI) are approximately 2.5 and 5 times total organic carbon (TOC). A wide range of TOC from 0.08% to 4.1%, and a broad distribution of the sum of sigma16PAHs, from 0.02 to 344.6 microg/g d.w., which can be correlated by an exponential equation to the TOC, has been identified. A qualitative relationship may be established between the industrial input along the rivers and the concentration of sigma6PAHs in the sediments of the estuaries: Boo estuary (8404-4631 microg/g OC), Solia-San Salvador estuaries (305-113 microg/g OC) and Cubas estuary (31-32 microg/g OC). This work shows a dramatic change in the spatial distribution in the concentration of PAHs of intertidal surface sediments. The left edge of the Bay has the main traffic around the city and the major source of PAHs is from combustion processes and estuarine inputs, leading to medium values of PAHs in the sediments; the right edge of the Bay has much lesser anthropogenic activities leading to lower values of PAHs in sediments. The distribution of individual PAHs in sediments varies widely depending on their structure and molecular weight; the 4-6 ring aromatics predominate in polluted sediments due to their higher persistence. The isomer ratio does not allow any clear identification of the PAHs origin. Environmental evaluation according to Dutch guidelines and consensus sediment quality guidelines based on ecotoxicological data leads to the same conclusion, sediments in the Santander Bay show a very different environmental quality depending on the spatial position from heavily polluted/medium effects to non-polluted/below threshold effects. These results indicate that local sources of PAHs, especially estuary discharges, lead to very different qualities of sediments in coastal zones, where traffic and industrial activities take place.     

Heavy metal bioavailability and effects: I. Bioaccumulation caused by mining activities in the Gulf of Cádiz (SW, Spain)

The bioaccumulation of six metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu) was studied as part of the monitoring of the Aznalcóllar mining spill (April 1998) on the Guadalquivir estuary and in other estuaries located in the Gulf of Cádiz. Fish, clams and oysters were collected during different seasonal periods along the years 2000 and 2001 in the Guadalquivir estuary to determine the bioaccumulation of the metals originated by the mining spill. Results were compared to the bioaccumulation of the same metals in fish and clams exposed in the laboratory to sediments collected in the same areas during autumn 2001. The bioaccumulation of these metals was compared to the concentration of metals measured in tissues of same taxas collected in the areas of the ria of Huelva and the Bay of Cádiz. Results show that the bioaccumulation of Zn and Cd in the organisms sampled in the Guadalquivir estuary was associated with the enrichment of these metals in the estuary from the mining spill and decreased along the time reaching the lowest values in autumn 2001. The metal Cu show different trends that are associated with other sources of contamination than the spill and related to the transport of this metal from Huelva to Guadalquivir estuary and/or to the use of this metal as plaguicide in the rice fields located in the area. The comparison between bioaccumulation results under field and laboratory conditions obtained in the different areas of study shows that these data can be used to discriminate between acute and chronic impacts associated with mining activities.     

Influence of anthropogenic stress on fitness and behaviour of a key-species of estuarine ecosystems, the ragworm Nereis diversicolor

Fitness, (biometric measurements, reproduction) and behaviour that are ecologically relevant biomarkers in assessing the quality of estuarine sediments were studied by comparing the responses of the polychaete worm Nereis diversicolor - a key species in estuaries - along a pollution gradient. Intersite differences were shown for all the measured parameters: size-weight relationships, energy reserves as glycogen and lipids, sexual maturation patterns, total number of oocytes per female, total and relative fecundity, burrowing behaviour. The physiological and behavioural status of N. diversicolor was consistently disturbed in the larger, most contaminated estuaries (Loire and Seine, Fr.) compared to reference sites (Bay of Bourgneuf, Goyen estuary, Fr.). Many classes of potentially toxic chemicals present in these estuaries most likely contribute to these impairments but food availability may act as a confounding factor, interfering with the potential impact of contaminants.     

Mercury bioaccumulation and risk to three waterbird foraging guilds is influenced by foraging ecology and breeding stage

We evaluated mercury (Hg) in five waterbird species representing three foraging guilds in San Francisco Bay, CA. Fish-eating birds (Forster's and Caspian terns) had the highest Hg concentrations in thier tissues, but concentrations in an invertebrate-foraging shorebird (black-necked stilt) were also elevated. Foraging habitat was important for Hg exposure as illustrated by within-guild differences, where species more associated with marshes and salt ponds had higher concentrations than those more associated with open-bay and tidal mudflats. Importantly, Hg concentrations increased with time spent in the estuary. Surf scoter concentrations tripled over six months, whereas Forster's terns showed an up to 5-fold increase between estuary arrival and breeding. Breeding waterbirds were at elevated risk of Hg-induced reproductive impairment, particularly Forster's terns, in which 48% of breeding birds were at high risk due to their Hg levels. Our results highlight the importance of habitat and exposure timing, in addition to trophic position, on waterbird Hg bioaccumulation and risk.     

Mercury in the Mediterranean,part I: spatial and temporal trends

The present paper provides an overview of mercury studies performed in the Mediterranean Sea region in the framework of several research projects funded by the European Commission and on-going national programmes carried out during the last 15 years. These studies investigated the temporal and spatial distribution of mercury species in air, in the water column and sediments, and the transport mechanisms connecting them. It was found that atmospheric concentrations of Hg compounds, particularly oxidised Hg species observed at five coastal sites in the Mediterranean Sea Basin, are significantly higher compared with those recorded at five coastal sites distributed across N Europe, most probably due to natural emissions. Hg levels in water are comparable to other oceans. Anthropogenic and natural point sources show locally limited enrichments, while natural diffusive sources influence Hg speciation over larger areas. Results and statistic comparison of mercury species concentrations within Mediterranean compartments will be presented and discussed.     

The utilization of the Antarctic environmental specimen bank (BCAA) in monitoring Cd and Hg in an Antarctic coastal area in Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea--Northern Victoria Land)

The first projects relating to levels of Cd and Hg on marine biota and sediments from Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea--Antarctica) and their bioaccumulation and biomagnification in this trophic web have been carried out by research programmes pertaining to the Italian Antarctic Research Program (PNRA) since 1989. Making use of this data, and checking the same metals after 10 years thanks to the samples stored in the BCAA, we have looked for the levels of Cd and Hg in a coastal marine ecosystem of Terra Nova Bay, and have proposed using some organisms to monitor the levels of these two heavy metals in this environment where the Italian Base is located, using the data determinate in this work as background levels. In our work, the amount of Hg and Cd concentrations have been determined in biota from the inner shelf of Terra Nova Bay (Adamussium colbecki, Laternula elliptica, Odontaster validus, Sterechinus neumayeri, Trematomus bernacchii, Iridaea cordata, Phyllophora antarctica, Parborlasia corrugatus), and in two different size fractions of sieved marine sediments (<2000 microm and <63 microm). To widen the distribution of Cd and Hg in this ecosystem we have also investigated the fraction of these metals bound to the labile phase of the marine sediments, and their presence in the particulate matter found in pack-ice cores, recent snow, water column and sea microlayer.     

Pre-Colombian Mercury Pollution Associated with the Smelting of Argentiferous Ores in the Bolivian Andes

The development of the mercury (Hg) amalgamation process in the mid-sixteenth century triggered the onset of large-scale Hg mining in both the Old and New Worlds. However, ancient Hg emissions associated with amalgamation and earlier mining efforts remain poorly constrained. Using a geochemical time-series generated from lake sediments near Cerro Rico de Potosí, once the world’s largest silver deposit, we demonstrate that pre-Colonial smelting of Andean silver ores generated substantial Hg emissions as early as the twelfth century. Peak sediment Hg concentrations and fluxes are associated with smelting and exceed background values by approximately 20-fold and 22-fold, respectively. The sediment inventory of this early Hg pollution more than doubles that associated with extensive amalgamation following Spanish control of the mine (1574–1900 AD). Global measurements of [Hg] from economic ores sampled world-wide indicate that the phenomenon of Hg enrichment in non-ferrous ores is widespread. The results presented here imply that indigenous smelting constitutes a previously unrecognized source of early Hg pollution, given naturally elevated [Hg] in economic silver deposits.     

Mercury concentrations at a historically mercury-contaminated site in KwaZulu-Natal (South Africa)

Introduction  

A mercury (Hg) processing plant previously operating in KwaZulu-Natal Province (South Africa) discharged Hg waste into a nearby river system causing widespread contamination since the 1980s. Although the processing plant ceased operation in the 1990s, Hg contamination (due to residual Hg) remains significant. Previous studies in the area since the plant’s closure have found elevated Hg concentrations in fish, and that these concentrations were as a direct consequence of widespread contamination of the Hg processing plant operations conducted between the 1980s and 1990s.     

Increased Bioavailability of Mercury in the Lagoons of Lomé, Togo: The Possible Role of Dredging

Surface sediments of the lagoons of Lomé, Togo, were analyzed for mercury, methylmercury, and trace elements. Concentrations were greater than typical for natural lagoon sediments, and with greater variability within the Eastern lagoon compared to the Western one. The Eastern lagoon is larger and has been dredged in the past, while the Western lagoon, which also receives major waste inputs, has not been dredged and shows less tidal flushing. Accordingly, one naturally believes that the Eastern lagoon is cleaner and probably safe to use due to its natural resources, including fishes to eat. Unexpectedly, we describe here that mercury methylation was greater in the Eastern lagoon, indicating increased bioavailability of mercury, as probably facilitated by past dredging that decreased solid-phase retention of inorganic mercury. Urbanization has historically been more developed in the southern part of the lagoons, which is still reflected in contamination levels of sediment despite dredging, probably because sources of contamination are still more important there today. Such urban contamination emphasizes the need to regulate waste discharges and possible airborne contamination in growing cities of developing countries, and implements environmental and public health monitoring, especially in relation to misbelieves systematically associated with the cleansing effect of dredging activity.     

Characterization of surface marine sediments from Ría de Arousa estuary according to extractable humic matter content

Surface marine sediments from Ría de Arousa estuary were analyzed for humic and fulvic acids by UV-visible spectrometry and have been characterized using elemental analysis (carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen elemental composition) and spectrometric data (A2/A4 ratio, absorbancies at 270 and 407 nm and E4/E6 ratio, absorbancies at 465 and 665 nm). These variables have been used as discriminating factors to distinguish of marine and terrestrial origin of humic and fulvic acids in Ría de Arousa surface marine sediments. Principal component analysis, PCA, and cluster analysis, CA, have been used as unsupervised pattern recognition procedures. The half-range central value transformation was used as data pre-treatment to homogenize data. After a Varimax rotation, PCA applied to humic acid data has reveled that spectrometric A2/A4 and E4/E6 ratios are the main dominating features in the first principal component (48.6% of total variance), the humic acid content is the feature with the highest weight in the second principal component (22.9% of the total variability) and the carbon elemental composition domain in the third principal component (13.3% of total variance). Results from PCA have revealed that surface sediments collected at inner-left part of the estuary and at the mouth of the river Ulla belong to the same group. Similarly, PCA has shown that surface sediments from the right mouth of the estuary form a compact group. Taking in account the water circulation in Ría de Arousa estuary, these findings mean that the organic matter in surface sediments from the inner-left part of the estuary derived mainly from terrestrial organic matter while the organic matter in surface sediments from the right mouth of the estuary is mainly derived from marine sources. Finally, it must be noticed that any classification of surface sediments was assessed when applying of PCA and CA from fulvic acids data.     

The role of sorption and bacteria in mercury partitioning and bioavailability in artificial sediments

This study compared the relative importance of three types of sorption (organic matter-particle, mercury-organic matter and mercury-particle) in controlling the overall mercury partitioning and bioavailability in sediments. We found that all three types of sorption were important for both inorganic mercury (Hg) and methylated mercury (MeHg). Mercury-particle sorption was more important than mercury-fulvic acid (FA) sorption in increasing the mercury concentrations with increasing aging. Bioavailability (quantified by gut juice extraction from sipunculans) was mainly controlled by mercury-particle sorption, while FA-particle and mercury-FA sorption were not as important, especially for MeHg. Bacterial activity also increased the partitioning of Hg or MeHg in the sediments and was further facilitated by the presence of organic matter. The bioavailability of Hg or MeHg from sediments was only slightly influenced by bacterial activity. This study highlights the importance of sorption from various sources (especially mercury-particle sorption) as well as bacteria in controlling the partitioning and bioavailability of Hg or MeHg in sediments.     

Mercury accumulation in surface sediments of salt marshes of the Bay of Fundy

Mercury contamination in Canada's Bay of Fundy is a priority concern because of elevated levels observed in fish, birds and wildlife. Salt marshes constitute an important part of the Bay's coastline and are potential stores of mercury for the region. We measured the amount of mercury accumulated over a 5-yr period from 1997 to 2002 in surface sediments of seven salt marshes along the New Brunswick coast of the Bay. The seven study sites extended from outer to inner Bay, spanning a gradient in tidal range (6-12 m) and sediment characteristics such as %LOI (4-29%) and sediment deposition rate (0.27-1.76 cm yr(-1)). In each study site, mercury was measured in low and high marsh areas. Sediment mercury concentrations ranged from 7 to 79 ng g(-1) and loading rates ranged from 0.1 to 1.1 mg m(-2). Total estimated 5-yr storage of mercury in salt marsh sediments of the Bay is 854+/-465 kg. We also compared sediment mercury loading to atmospheric inputs measured at a deposition monitoring station operating in New Brunswick from 1997 to 2002 and found that direct atmospheric deposition appears to be a minor input of mercury to these sediments. We are unaware of documentation of mercury loading in salt marshes on a bay-wide scale and over a constrained (5-yr) time period elsewhere.     

Heavy metal and organic contaminants in mangrove ecosystems of China: a review

China’s rapid economic growth has been accompanied by increasing environmental pollution. Mangrove ecosystems are now facing greater pollution pressures due to elevated chemical discharges from various land-based sources. Data on the levels of heavy metals and organic pollutants in mangrove compartments (sediments, plants, zoobenthos, and fish) in China over the past 20 years have been summarized to evaluate the current pollution status of the mangrove ecosystem. Overall, the Pearl River and Jiulong River estuaries were severely polluted spots. Concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb in mangrove sediments of Guangdong, Fujian, and Hong Kong were higher than those from Guangxi and Hainan. The pollution status was closely linked to industrialization and urbanization. The highest concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were found in mangrove sediments from Hong Kong, followed by Fujian and Guangdong. Mangrove plants tend to have low-enriched ability for heavy metals and organic pollutants. Much higher levels of Pb, Cd, and Hg were observed in mollusks.     

Distribution and bioaccumulation of PAHs in the UNESCO protected natural reserve of Urdaibai, Bay of Biscay

Along 10 campaigns, from June 2002 to September 2004, the concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were measured in sediments and oysters (Crassostrea sp.) taken from four sites in the Unesco protected natural reserve of Urdaibai (Basque Country, Bay of Biscay). Total PAH concentration ranged from 0.7 to 140 microg kg(-1) (dw) in the case of sediments, and from 300 to 1400 microg kg(-1) (dw) in the case of oysters. During this study, the coast of the Bay of Biscay was severely affected by the Prestige oil spill (November 2002). Presumably, as a consequence of this accident, both spatial and temporal variations of the PAHs, as well as the sources of the PAHs were affected by the oil spill, and this effect was observed in the total concentrations and, especially, in several diagnostic ratios and in multivariate data analysis. Finally, both BAF (bioaccumulation factor) and BSAF (biota-sediment accumulation factor) parameters were calculated to conclude that particulate matter seems to be the most favourable uptake pathway of PAHs in oysters from this estuary.