淮南市城区地表灰尘重金属分布特征及生态风险评价

城市地表灰尘中重金属会对人体健康和生态环境产生危害,为研究城市中不同功能区地表灰尘重金属的含量和潜在生态危害水平,以典型煤炭资源型城市淮南市的地表灰尘为研究对象,采集工业区、商业区、交通区、文教区、居住区和公园绿地等6种功能用地共40个点位的地表灰尘。采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱（ICP-OES）和DMA-80直接测汞仪测定Zn、Pb、Cu、Cr、Cd、Ni、Co、V、Hg的含量,分析其在不同功能区地表灰尘中的分布特征、相关性及可能的来源;并应用潜在生态危害指数法对重金属在不同功能区的潜在生态危害进行评价。结果表明：1）淮南市地表灰尘中 Zn、Pb、Cu、Cr、Cd、Ni、Co、V、Hg的平均质量分数分别是202.59、74.63、62.74、110.69、0.57、35.82、12.18、50.95和0.105 mg·kg-1,其中Zn、Pb、Cu、Cr、Cd、Ni、Hg的平均含量分别是淮南市土壤背景值的3.47、3.17、2.04、1.21、9.50、1.12、2.56倍,是中国土壤背景值的2.73、2.87、2.78、1.81、5.88、1.33、1.62倍。2）9种重金属中,Zn和V的含量在不同功能区分布相对均匀,其他重金属在不同功能区含量均表现出较明显的空间异质性。3）不同功能区中,Zn、Pb、Cu、Ni、Co、V、Hg的平均含量在工业区最高,Cr 和 Cd 的平均含量在交通区最高。4）不同重金属的相关性表明,Zn、Pb、Cu、Cd、Ni 等5种元素有同一来源,Co 和 V 有同一来源。5）单项潜在生态危害系数大小为 Cd〉Hg〉〉Pb〉Cu〉Ni〉Co〉Zn〉Cr〉V。不同功能区9种重金属复合生态危害均处于强生态危害水平（300≤RI〈600）,其中工业区和交通区潜在生态危害水平最高。     

Metal contamination of soils and dusts in Seoul metropolitan city,Korea

To investigate the dispersion patterns and the characteristics of heavy metal contamination due to urbanisation and industrialisation, soils and dusts collected from the Seoul area were analysed for Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd. The metal concentrations in most soils and dusts are higher than the world averages. The pollution index (( Metal concentrations in soils/Permissible level for metal)÷(Number of metals)) of soils and dusts is > 1 in most of the Seoul area, a result that concurs with the industrialisation and urbanisation index of the Seoul area. The soils are contaminated with Cu, Zn, Cd and particularly Pb. This suggests that the contamination of the soils in the Seoul area are mainly caused by vehicular emissions. The pollution index of soil is the highest in the Kuro area where Cu and Zn contamination in soils are due to the indigenous brass and bronze factories. From the discriminant analysis, the Seoul area may be partitioned into control, traffic and industrialized areas by the metal concentrations in the order of Zn > Cu > Pb.     

Rieselfelder

Soils of the large sewage farm area south of Berlin are contaminated with heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Zn. Based on earlier studies the total amount and the bioavailable proportions of heavy metals in soil samples were analysed. In some samples very high levels of total heavy metal concentrations were detected. For Pb, Cd, Cu and Hg the maximum values were 1360, 29.7, 817 and 40.8 mg/kg soil dry matter, respectively. The biovailable fractions of heavy metals which were found primarily in the acetate and EDTA fractions and to a lesser degree in the water extract account for about 50 % (Pb, Ni), 70 % (Cd) or 90% (Zn) of their total amount and may therefore pose a considerable environmental risk.     

Assessing heavy-metal contamination and sources by GIS-based approach and multivariate analysis of urban–rural topsoils in Wuhan,central China

Nine potentially harmful heavy metals (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Pb, Ni, and Zn) were measured in 477 topsoil samples collected from urban–rural areas in the city of Wuhan in order to identify their concentrations and possible sources, and characterize their spatial variability for risk assessment. Results showed that in most rural areas heavy-metal concentrations in soil were similar to their natural background values, but Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn concentrations were relatively higher in densely populated districts and around industrial facilities. Multivariate analyses (correlation matrix, principal component analysis, and cluster analysis) indicated that Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb, and Zn were mainly derived from anthropogenic inputs, and Co, Cr, and Mn were controlled by natural source, whereas Ni appeared to be affected by both anthropogenic and natural sources. The result of risk assessment indicated that nearly 48% of the study area suffered from moderate to severe contamination.     

南京城市土壤重金属含量及空间分布特征

研究了南京城市土壤重金属含量、来源及空间分布特征。结果表明,南京城市土壤中V、Mn、Co、Ni、Cr污染不明显,但受到了不同程度的Cu、Pb、Zn、Sb、Hg、Cd污染,其中Hg污染比较严重。V、Mn、Co、Ni、Cr含量之间均呈极显著正相父;Cu、Pb、Zn、Sb、Hg、Cd含量之间也均呈极显著正相关。南京城市土壤V、Mn、Co、Ni、Cr主要继承了原土物质;Hg、Cd、Pb主要来源于城市燃煤、机动车尾气及工厂排放粉尘;Sb主要来源于机动车尾气和工厂排放粉尘。南京城市土壤Hg、Cd、Pb、Sb含量空间分布规律非常相似,均表现为外围向市中心有逐渐增加的趋势,并且在新街口—鼓楼、梅山硫铁矿形成异常高值的岛状、环状区域。     

A Geochemical Survey of Topsoil in the City of Oslo, Norway

The city of Oslo is situated centrally in the Oslo-graben, which is a Permian rift basin consisting of different kinds of volcanic and sedimentary rocks. In the summer of 1998, approximately 300 samples of surface soil (2–3cm) were taken systematically, 1km^–2. The investigated area covers about 500km². Samples were dissolved in 7M HNO₃ and analysed for 29 elements with ICP-AES, mercury with cold-vapour technique (CV-AAS) and arsenic and cadmium with a graphite furnace (GF-AAS). A factor analysis is frequently used to identify relationships among sets of interrelated variables. To describe the covariant relationships among the elements, a factor analysis has been completed. The first factor contains the elements Sc, Fe, Li, Co, Al, Cr, Be, K, Ni, V, Mg, Y, Ba, Zr, Mn and As (listed with decreasing communality). These elements are typical for the minerals in the area and most of these elements have a near normal distribution. Sources for this factor are probably geological. The second factor contains Cd, Hg, P, Zn, Cu, Ba and Pb. They have a log-normal distribution. Road traffic is probably one of the sources contributing to this factor. In Norway studded tyres are used frequently in the winter season which results in large amounts of road dust. Leaded petrol has been a major source for Pb but is not in use any more. Wear and tear of tyres and brakes contribute also to this factor. Other sources contributing to this factor are probably industry, rubbish incineration, crematoria and release of some of these elements from structural material by fire. Factors 3, 4 and 6 with elements such as Ca, Na, La, Ti and Sr probably have geological sources. They are associated with minerals like amphiboles, pyroxenes and feldspars and some of the elements are from sea aerosols. Factor 5 contains Mn, Cd, Zn, As and Pb. Manganese may be derived from many different sources such as rock weathering, windblown dust, agriculture and traffic. Since As and Mn are placed in both factor 1 and 5 they probably have both geological and anthropogenic sources. Concentrations of the elements in the second factor are much higher in the central parts of Oslo, than in the rest of Oslo. The median value of Hg in the centre is 0.48mgkg^–1, which is 8 times higher than that in the rest of the city. Also, the other elements have much higher levels in the centre. The industrial district north-east of the centre also has high values. The distribution of arsenic is regular throughout the whole city, but has a slightly higher level in the centre. Norm values for contaminated land used by the Norwegian authorities are 2mg As kg^–1 and 25mg Cr kg^–1. Of 297 samples, 61% contain more than 25mg Cr kg^–1 and 79% more than 3mg As kg^–1, which is the detection limit of the analysis. These samples will therefore be regarded as contaminated. Factor analysis places these elements in the geological factor. The Norm value of zinc is 150mgkg^–1, and 40% of the samples contain more than this. The Norm value of lead is 150mgkg^–1, and 35% of the samples contain. Road traffic is probably the major source for these elements.     

Urban geochemistry: A study of element distributions in the soils of tallinn (Estonia)

First results are presented from the Urban geochemistry of Tallinn, a project supported by the Scientific and Environmental Affairs Division of NATO. The distribution of chemical elements in 532 samples of the topsoils from the territory of the biggest industrial centre of Estonia (pop. 500,000) is interpreted. Statistical analysis and mapping of major and trace elements at the territory of the Tallinn region and of the city were performed and background values and local anomalies of chemical elements on the territory were determined. The investigation focussed on the determination of zones with anomalously high concentrations of elements and the relationships of soil contamination with different pollution sources. The increase of the element concentrations has natural as well as anthropogenic origins. A detailed comparative analysis of the element distributions and the results of a factor analysis showed that the distribution of the major chemical elements depended mainly on the composition of the underlying sedimentary rocks.The territory of Tallinn is characterised by relatively high and widespread concentrations of Ba, Cr, Ga, Ni, Ti and Zn. Especially intensive local concentrations were determined for As, Cr, Mn, Ni, Pb, S, V and Zn, which are typical for the local pollution of the soils by industrial sources. The levels of As, Cr, Mn and V are more than three times. Pb and Zn are more than five times higher in the geochemical anomalies than for background levels. For the Tallinn region two major associations of elements connected with industrial pollutions of the soil are typical: the first association includes Ba, Cr, Mn, Ni and partly Fe and the second one includes As, Pb and Zn. For the city of Tallinn an increase of Ag, Ba, Be, La, Pb, Sn and Zn concentration in the soil was detected. Ba, Cr, Mn and Ni occur in high concentrations in the soils around Maardu. Different types of contamination sources can be identified in Tallinn and its suburbs.     

Barley lipid-transfer protein as heavy metal scavenger

A lipid-transfer protein was isolated from a domestic cultivar of brewers barley grain, Hordeum vulgare. The presence of Cu (II), Pb (II), Cd (II) and Zn (II) ions in its structure and its ability to bind Hg (II) and Ni (II) ions is known. We investigated its ability to bind other metal ions by differential pulse polarography. Here we demonstrate that the lipid-transfer protein has an affinity to bind Co (II) and Pb (II) and has no affinity towards Cd (II), Cu (II), Zn (II) and Cr (III). These results suggest a new possible role of barley lipid-transfer protein for phytoextraction.Selected article from the Regional Symposium on Chemistry and Environment, Krusevac, Serbia, June 2003, organised by Dr. Branimir Jovancicevic     

中国大气颗粒物中金属元素环境地球化学行为研究

大气颗粒物金属污染已成为目前大气污染的研究热点之一。文章梳理、分析归纳了中国近年来大气颗粒中金属元素的环境地球化学方面的研究。目前研究较多的是Fe、Ca、Mg、Si等地壳元素和Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Hg等污染元素;大气颗粒物中对人体有害的Cu、Pb、Cd、As、Zn等污染较严重,而Cr、Mn、Co、Ni等污染较轻。大气颗粒物中金属含量随时间分布变化显著,总体上呈现冬季〉秋季〉春季〉夏季的特点,空间分布上一般北方燃煤城市大于南方一般城市;城市内部一般工业区〉交通区〉居民区〉郊区;金属元素在细粒径颗粒（〈2μm）中高,粗颗粒（〉2μm）中低,尤其以污染元素明显。污染元素与地壳元素的垂直分布规律差异较大。大气颗粒物中金属元素的富集程度与元素种类、区域类型、季节变化、粒径大小等有关。最后,提出应加强大气颗粒物中金属元素空间分布差异、时间分布的尺度及差异性研究;同时加强超细颗粒物的研究,以便建立大气颗粒物金属元素与人类健康关系的风险模型。     

Assessment of a Smelter Impact Area Using Surface Soils and Plants

The concentrations of 37 trace elements (Ag, Ba, Be, Cd, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Dy, Er, Ga, Gd, Ge, La, Li, Mo, Nb, Nd, Ni, Pb, Pr, Rb, Sb, Sm, Sn, Sr, Tb, Th, Tl, U, V, W, Y, Yb, Zn and Zr) were determined by ICP-MS in surface soils and plants (Sida rhombifolia) sampled around a lead smelter in Lastenia, Province of Tucuman, NW Argentina. Soil and plant patterns of Pb, Cd, Ag, Zn and Cu demonstrate the effects of pollutant dispersion plumes following the prevalent wind directions. The high element concentrations observed, especially Pb (>5,000 mg/kg), could cause serious environmental problems in areas of close proximity to the smelter. Consequently, measures to assess potential consequences for the local population should be considered to determine if measures to protect the environment are necessary.     

佛山农业表层土壤磁化率特征及其与重金属含量的关系

环境磁学方法针对城市、矿区、工业区等特定区域土壤的研究现已比较普遍,但在农业土壤重金属研究中的应用还比较少。本文对采自佛山市的532件农业表层土壤样品进行低频（976 Hz）和高频（15616 Hz）磁化率测试,在分析其空间分布特征的基础上选取175件（其中,旱地土样149件,水田土样26件）代表性样品进行重金属（Cd、Pb、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn、Hg、As）含量的分析测试。在分析不同土壤样品磁化率与重金属含量之间相关关系的基础上,从旱地和水田土壤中分别挑选出6种与低频磁化率高度相关的重金属元素（旱地Ni、Cu、Cr、Zn、Cd、Pb,相关系数分别为0.599、0.492、0.279、0.510、0.445、0.225;水田Ni、Cu、Cr、Zn、Cd、Hg,相关系数分别为0.728、0.699、0.606、0.602、0.764、0.450）进行回归分析,列出回归方程,并得到一些初步认识。主要有（1）低频磁化率与频率磁化率在空间分布上总体呈现相反趋势;（2）重金属含量与低频磁化率总体呈正相关,但正相关的元素种类在旱地和水田土壤中有所差异;（3）所研究的旱地土壤重金属含量与频率磁化率呈负相关关系,但这种相关关系在水田土壤中没有明显表现;（4）Pb 元素在旱地土壤中与低频磁化率表现出显著正相关（P〈0.01）,在水田土壤中却与低频磁化率和频率磁化率表现出一定的负相关性。（5）通过测定农业土壤的磁化率即可初步推算出相应的重金属含量,为磁学方法在农业表层土壤重金属快速监测领域的进一步应用提供了数据支持和科学依据。     

典型野生食用菌重金属含量及其人体健康风险评价

土壤重金属污染是影响生态环境、食品安全和人体健康的重要因素.云南省土壤重金属背景值较高,且矿产资源丰富、采矿活动频繁,导致土壤重金属含量较高.野生食用菌是高效重金属储积器,云南是中国野生食用菌最大产区.因此,本文以云南省8种典型野生食用菌为研究对象,探究其重金属含量(汞、镉、铅、锌、铜、砷)与分配特征,采用单因子污染指数对其进行重金属污染评价,利用概率方法(THQ指数)评估其对不同年龄人群(成人、儿童)的人体健康风险.研究结果表明,不同种类野生食用菌重金属含量存在显著差异(P<0.05).Hg、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu浓度范围分别为0.5—7.2、0.3—15、0—26.8、47.7—214、56.7—428 mg·kg^-1 dw;As未检出.此外,Hg、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu均主要分布于菌盖.除虫草花、白森、干巴菌中Hg未检出,其余重金属污染评价中单因子污染指数均>1,且同一元素在同种野生食用菌不同部位污染程度不同,其中,老人头菌盖受Cd污染最为严重.基于国家食品安全标准,本研究中98%野生食用菌Hg、Cd、Pb含量超标.然而,THQ指数表明,部分野生食用菌中Zn无风险(THQ<1),老人头菌盖、鸡枞菌盖中Cd、Hg、Pb、Cu具有人体健康风险(THQ>1),且风险值儿童>成人.     

Natural and anthropogenic metal inputs to soils in urban Uppsala, Sweden

Urban soils are complex systems due to human activities that disturb the natural development of the soil horizons and add hazardous elements. Remediation projects are common in urban areas and guideline values are set to represent a desired level of elements. However, the natural content of trace elements may not always equal the desired levels. In this study, an attempt is made to distinguish between metals that are present in the soil due to natural origins and to anthropogenic origins. Seventy-five soil samples of the 0–5, 5–10 and 10–20 cm layers were collected from 25 sites in urban areas of Uppsala City and analysed for aluminium (Al), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), mercury (Hg), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), tungsten (W) and zinc (Zn) using aqua regia for digestion. In order to highlight elements of geological origin, the results were compared to a similar study carried out in Gothenburg City, which has about three times as many inhabitants as Uppsala and has a more industrial history. A cluster analysis was also performed to distinguish between elements of natural and anthropogenic origin. Contents of As, Al, Fe, Cr, Ni, Mn and W in Uppsala were concluded to be of mainly geological origin, while contents of Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb and Hg seemed to have been impacted upon by mainly urban activities.     

拉萨巴嘎雪湿地土壤重金属分布及生态风险评价

巴嘎雪湿地是西藏拉萨河流域的代表性湿地之一.文章为了解巴嘎雪湿地的重金属分布特征,在2018年10月采集了巴嘎雪湿地的表层土壤样品,对土壤中的Cu、Zn、Cr、Ni、Pb、Cd、As、Hg重金属的含量进行了检测.巴嘎雪湿地表层土壤的重金属污染评价采用的方法主要包括内梅罗综合污染指数法、地积累指数法和潜在生态风险指数法.结果表明,重金属Cu、Zn、Cr、Ni、As、Hg含量的平均值低于国家土壤环境质量标准(一级),但Pb、Cd的含量略偏高;Ni、As、Cr、Hg的平均含量低于拉萨市环境背景值,但Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd平均含量高于环境背景值.该研究区域的内梅罗综合污染指数平均值P_N=1.50,说明湿地整体处于轻度污染;按照国家土壤环境质量标准(二级)作为背景值,得到的P_N=0.64,属于安全水平.地积累指数平均值在-2.587到-0.744范围内,I_geo<0区域整体上无污染;潜在生态风险指数的平均值RI=72.779,属于低风险.各元素组合之间总体相关性不足,说明重金属累积方式具有多源性特点.巴嘎雪湿地整体生态环境优于国内大部分湿地,其表层土壤中Hg、Pb、Cd元素为强度变异,在部分位点中存在明显富集,受到人类活动影响,应加强关注.     

西安污灌区土壤重金属含量及对西红柿影响研究

通过对西安污灌土和西红柿Cu，Pb，Cd，Cr，As，Hg元素分布的研究，结果表明这些元素在污灌土中发生了明显累积，但不同元素的累积强度不同。重金属从土壤向西红柿的迁移转化中，迁移累积率在灌土中Cd＞As＞Cu＞Cr＞Hg＞Pb，而正常土中Cd＞As＞Hg＞Cu＞Cr＞Pb。西红柿不同生长阶段对土壤中重金属吸收程度不同，西红柿Cu、Cd、Hg含量与土壤中该元素含量呈明显的正相关关系。     

Levels and distribution of trace metals in surface sediments from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic

Trace metal contents (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) have been measured in 27 surface sediment samples collected from Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Norwegian Arctic. The analyses yielded concentration values (in mg kg^?1) of 0.13–0.63 for Cd, 11.89–21.90 for Co, 48.65–81.84 for Cr, 21.26–36.60 for Cu, 299.59–683.48 for Mn, 22.43–35.39 for Ni, 10.68–36.59 for Pb, 50.28–199.07 for Zn and 8.09–65.34 for Hg (in ng g^?1), respectively. Relative cumulative frequency method has been used to define the baseline values of these metals, which (in mg kg^?1) were 0.14 for Cd, 13.56 for Co, 57.86 for Cr, 25.14 for Cu, 364.08 for Mn, 26.22 for Ni, 17.46 for Pb, 70.49 for Zn and 9.76 for Hg (in ng g^?1), respectively. The enrichment factor analysis indicated that Hg showed some extent of anthropogenic pollution, while Pb, Zn and Cd showed limited anthropogenic contamination in the study areas.     

会泽某铅锌矿周边农田土壤重金属生态风险评价

为了了解云南会泽某铅锌矿废周边农田土壤中重金属含量及潜在的生态危害程度,利用野外采样与实验室分析相结合的方法,以会泽某铅锌矿周边农田土壤（0-20 cm）为研究对象,分析其中7种的重金属（Cd、As、Pb、Cr、Cu、Zn和Hg）含量,并采用风险评价代码法和Hankanson潜在生态风险指数法评价对重金属污染程度与潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明：7种重金属都存在超标或污染,其中Pb、As、Cd等的污染较为严重。统计学分析结果表明,Pb、As、Hg、Zn、Cd来源相同,铅锌矿冶炼污染物的排放可能是导致研究区域农田土壤重金属含量升高的主要原因。7种重金属化学形态也不尽相同：在重金属有效态中,Cd的水溶态和可提取态较高（平均值达到31.2%）;Pb、Cu和Zn可还原态、可氧化态这两部分含量较高,两部分之和的平均值分别可达到27.9%、30%和27.2%;Hg、As和Cr的残渣态含量较高,平均值分别为90.4%、72.9%和76.8%。风险评价代码评价结果表明,54.4%的样点Cd为高生态风险,45.6%的样点Cd为中度生态风险;100%的样点Zn为中度生态风险;Cu有41.2%的点位属于低生态风险,58.8%的点位属于中度生态风险;As和Pb主要以低生态风险为主（所占比例分别为92.6%和91.8%）;Hg主要以无生态风险为主（所占97.1%）。Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法结果表明,7种重金属潜在生态危害大小顺序为：Cd（331）〉Hg（127.5）〉Pb（43.6）〉As（14.9）〉Cu（9.3）〉Zn（2.3）〉Cr（2.1）。7种重金属的综合潜在生态风险指数（RI）的范围为58.2-1839.3。11%的采样点处于轻微生态风险程度,27.1%的采样点处于中等生态风险程度,46.3%的的采样点处于强生态风险程度,15.6%的采样点处于很强的生态风险程度。综上所述,该矿区周边农田土壤受到了严重的重金属污染,由此引起的重金属生态风险不容忽视?     

福建省菜园土壤重金属的含量及其污染评价

采集了福建省26个县市158份菜园表层土壤样品,测定了土壤样品中重金属含量,采用单项及综合污染指数法对土壤重金属污染进行评价分析,并通过元素相关性分析和聚类分析,研究了菜园土壤重金属元素的赋存特征与区域分布.结果表明,福建省菜园土壤存在着不同程度的重金属污染,主要污染元素为Pb,Hg和Cd;元素相关性分析与聚类分析的结果表明:Cu,Zn,Ni和As具有伴随污染的特点,其污染源主要来自土壤母质和大量施用的农药和化肥;Cd,Pb和Hg在土壤中各聚成一类,说明它们在菜园土壤具有较独特的污染源,特别是Cd和Hg,其污染特征明显.而Pb和Cd虽有各自的污染源,但其污染具有一定的相关性.     

Residuary Toxic Elements And PAHs in Sediments of the Zbiornik Gilow Tailings Pond and Zimmica Stream from Lubin District, Southwest Poland

Eight selected elements (As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr and Ni) were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) in five samples from the tailings pond (Zbiornik Gilow) and waste water stream (Zimmica) in the Kupferschiefer mining district in Southwest Poland. Waste water from mining and concentration plants was discharged into Zbiornik Gilow pond for 30 years before 1989. Below Zbiornik Gilow the water flows through Zimmica stream, and then discharges into the River Odra. The analytic results indicate that the contamination of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb and Zn has spread out over 5km, and the contamination by Ni and Cr extends for 1.5km along the Zimmica stream although the stream has been abandoned since 1989. These elements could still be toxic for plants, animals and humans. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined by GC and GC/MS. The results of the sediment samples show a contamination of PAHs only in trace contents.     

Temporal variation of metals in the seagrass Posidonia australis and its potential as a sentinel accumulator near a lead smelter

Temporal variation in the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in leaves of the seagrass Posidonia australis was studied at three sites near a lead smelter on the shore of Spencer Gulf, a large hypersaline marine embayment in South Australia, on four occasions from October 1980 to September 1981. Concentrations of Cd, Mn, Pb and Zn of up to 541, 537, 379 and 4241 g g^-1, respectively, were found in leaves collected from the site nearest to the smelter. A substantial temporal variation in the concentrations of these metals in samples from all sites resulted from the combined effect of leaf age and collection strategy. Concentrations of Cd, Cu and Zn in the leaf epibiota were lower than those in the leaves, but the reverse was true for Mn and Ni. The use of seagrass leaves as sentinel accumulators for Cd, Pb and Zn must be based on collections made at the same time of year, or otherwise account for the effect of leaf age on concentrations of the metals in the samples.