Effects of heavy metal pollution on the ecological and biological characteristics of common chernozem

A detailed comprehensive study on the effects of heavy metals on the biological activity and other characteristics of common chernozem of the southern European facies was performed. This involved the analysis of various microbiological and biochemical indices characterizing soil biological activity, their dynamics, a set of several metals and their different chemical forms, and a wide range of metal concentrations in the soil. New important aspects of the effects of heavy metals on biological processes in the soil were revealed. An integral method was proposed for assessing changes in the total biological activity of the soil on the basis of informative indices used in the monitoring, diagnosis, and indication of soils polluted with heavy metals. Geographic trends in changes of soil resistance to heavy metal pollution were analyzed within the common chernozem subtype and by comparing chernozem with other soils.     

Features of Heavy Metal Accumulation by Epiphytic Lichens in Background Areas of the Taiga Zone in the European Northwest of Russia

The results of a study of the content of heavy metals in fruticose epiphytic lichens in the taiga zone of the European Northeast of Russia (Republic of Komi) are presented. The content of elements in lichens in this area is at the background level for the northern part of Eurasia. A series of accumulated heavy metals in lichen have been established. Metal distribution mapping has made it possible to differentiate areas with respect to the level of their accumulation. The accumulation of mercury by lichen increases and the contents of manganese, coper, and cadmium decreases from the southwest to the northeast.     

Microscale Spatial Variation in Forest Litter Phytotoxicity

The spatial variation (within a 100 × 100 m plot) in the pollution of forest litter with heavy metals (Cu, Cd, Pb, and Zn), its acidity, and phytotoxicity (measured by the results of the root test using seedlings from a genetically homogeneous sample of common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale s.l.) have been estimated. Forest litter has been sampled in three zones differing in the toxic impact of long-term polymetal pollution by emissions from a copper-smelting plant emissions in the Middle Urals. The phytotoxicity variation is maximum in a moderately polluted plot, where both very high and very low pollution levels were observed, which determines a substantially nonlinear dose–effect relationship. The litter phytotoxicity is mainly accounted for by exchangeable forms of metals. Biological testing of samples from the most polluted plot has demonstrated marked antagonism between heavy metals and acidity.     

Prospects of using mosses (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fontinalis antipyretica</Emphasis> Hedw. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pylaisia polyantha</Emphasis> (Hedw.) Bruch et al.) as indicators of environmental contamination with heavy metals

The contents of Al, Ti, Fe, Cr, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Cd, Pb, and rare earth elements (REEs) were determined in mosses (the hydrophyte Fontinalis antipyretica and the epiphyte Pylaisia polyantha) by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) method. These plants were used for estimating the spatial distribution of heavy metals (HMs) in the basins of small and medium rivers of Vologda and Kostroma oblasts (Russia). It was shown that water mosses are good indicators of REEs and epiphytic mosses, of the pollutant metals Cu, Zn, Se, and Pb. The epiphytic and hydrophytic mosses did not differ in the macroelement (Al, Ti, and Fe) content.     

Effect of boric acid on the ability of plants to accumulate heavy metals

The effect of boric acid on the ability of herbaceous plants to absorb heavy metals has been studied. The results show that at a low content of boron in sandy loam soil (0.0007 mg/kg dry matter), boric acid at doses of 0.1–3.0 kg/ha stimulates the accumulation of certain heavy metals in the aboveground part of plants from the families Asteraceae (Taraxacum officinale Wigg.), Poaceae (Phleum pratense L.), and Fabaceae (Trifolium pratense L.). The most active accumulation is characteristic of dandelion (T. officinale) plants, which allows this species to be considered promising for phytoremediation of soils with a low boron content given that boron is applied at specified doses.     

Studies on heavy metal accumulation in aquatic macrophytes from Sevan (Armenia) and Carambolim (India) lake systems

Aquatic macrophytes are unchangeable biological filters and they carry out purification of the water bodies by accumulating dissolved metals and toxins in their tissue. In view of their potential to entrap several toxic heavy metals, 45 macrophytes belonging to 8 families collected from two different physiographic locations (36 from Sevan Lake, Armenia; 9 from Carambolim Lake, Old Goa, India) were studied for estimation of 14 heavy metals. The study was aimed at understanding the importance of these macrophytes in accumulation of toxic metals and controlling the heavy metal pollution and suggesting the remedial measures, if any, for the preservation and restoration of lake ecosystem. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectrometric (ICP-AES) analyses of these aquatic macrophytes have shown the importance of aquatic macrophytes in accumulation of heavy metals and maintaining the clarity of water bodies beside their role in trophic systems. Accumulation of most of the heavy metals was higher in root system. The representative macrophytes from two different physiographic locations show similar trends and order in accumulating different metals generally. Of the 14 metals investigated, 9 (Ca, Fe, Al, Cr, Cu, Ba, Ti, Co and Pb) showed higher rates of accumulation in the root whereas 3 (Mn, Zn and Mg) showed more accumulation in stem and 1 (Ca) showed higher accumulation in the leaves. In most of the samples Cu was accumulated more in the roots (50+/-47.15 microg/g) and less in flowers (9.52+/-3.97 microg/g). Occurrence of heavy metal was much higher in macrophytes of Sevan Lake than that of the Carambolim Lake. The accumulation of 14 elements was in order of Ca>Mg>Fe>Al>Mn>Ba>Zn>Ti>Cu>Cr>Co>Ni>Pb>Cd. The present study revealed that the aquatic macrophytes play a very significant role in removing the different metals from the ambient environments. They probably play a major role in reducing the effect of high concentration of heavy metals. Therefore, the macrophyte community of the Sevan Lake area needs to be protected and restored on a priority basis. Accumulation of highly toxic metals like--Cr, Cd, Pb and Ni was lower as compared to the essential metals like Ca, Fe and Mn in all the macrophytes from both the lake systems, consequently high metal concentrations observed in both the areas may not directly reflect on the pollution level.     

A survey of heavy metal deposition in Nigeria using the moss monitoring method

The bioaccumulation of Sb, Sn, As, Fe, Ni, Mn, Pb, Cu, and Zn in mosses from polluted and unpolluted areas of the southern parts of Nigeria is presented. Results of the moss samples show strong variations in the concentration of metal ions with type of sampling sites. The concentration of accumulated heavy metals also differs in various moss species from the same biotope. Bryidae mnium is a better accumulator of heavy metals than Tetraphidae tetraphis, as evidenced from the interspecies calibration between the two moss samples.     

The effects of FeCl3 on the distribution of the heavy metals Cd, Cu, Cr, and Zn in a simulated multimetal incineration system

Recognizing that waste-derived chlorine can enhance heavy metal emissions by forming volatile metallic chlorides during municipal solid waste (MSW) combustion, and that in Taiwan, FeCl3-containing sewage sludge may either be landfilled or coincinerated with other MSW, this study thus investigated the effects of FeCl3 on the speciation and partitioning of heavy metals in a multimetal incineration system by using a tubular furnace and FeCl3-spiked simulated wastes. The molar ratio of chlorine content to heavy metal content (referred to as the Cl/ M ratio), ranging from 3 to 200, was used as a parameter to evaluate the effects of chlorine on the movement of heavy metals between the incinerator discharges. Results indicate that speciation and partitioning were related to the affinity between the chlorine and the heavy metals and between chlorine and hydrogen in the combustion system. The effectiveness of increasing the Cl/M ratio to the formation potential of metallic chlorides and on the shift of heavy metals from the bottom ash to the fly ash and/or the flue gases was found to have in increasing order as follows: Zn>Cu>Cr, a phenomenon basically reflecting the volatility of the heavy metals and their chlorides formed during combustion.     

长江口洋山海域表层沉积物重金属的富积及其潜在生态风险评价

根据长江口洋山海域表层沉积物监测资料，利用变异系数法和富积系数法，对表层沉积物中重金属的空间波动程度及富积程度进行了分析，并采用Hakanson潜在生态危害指数法对其潜在生态危害程度进行了评价。结果表明：在表层沉积物所监测的重金属中，Pb元素的空间波动程度最高，其它重金属元素的空间波动程度较低，各重金属空间波动程度的顺序依次为Pb＞Cd＞Hg＞Cu＞Cr＞As＞Zn；沉积物中Cu元素的富积程度最高，Pb元素次之，其它重金属元素的富积程度较低，各重金属富积程度的顺序依次为Cu＞Pb＞Zn＞As＞Cr＞Cd＞Hg。潜在生态危害评价结果显示：洋山海域表层沉积物中的重金属对海洋生态系统的潜在生态危害较轻微，均属于轻微潜在生态危害程度，其轻微潜在生态危害程度顺序为Cu＞As＞Hg＞Pb＞Cd＞Cr＞Zn。     

Heavy metals in agricultural soils of the European Union with implications for food safety

Soil plays a central role in food safety as it determines the possible composition of food and feed at the root of the food chain. However, the quality of soil resources as defined by their potential impact on human health by propagation of harmful elements through the food chain has been poorly studied in Europe due to the lack of data of adequate detail and reliability. The European Union's first harmonized topsoil sampling and coherent analytical procedure produced trace element measurements from approximately 22,000 locations. This unique collection of information enables a reliable overview of the concentration of heavy metals, also referred to as metal(loid)s including As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, Sb. Co, and Ni. In this article we propose that in some cases (e.g. Hg and Cd) the high concentrations of soil heavy metal attributed to human activity can be detected at a regional level. While the immense majority of European agricultural land can be considered adequately safe for food production, an estimated 6.24% or 137,000 km² needs local assessment and eventual remediation action.     

Heavy metals in water, sediments, plants and fish of Kali Nadi U.P. (India)

The distribution of heavy metals viz., Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in the water, sediments, plants and fish samples collected from the Kali Nadi (India) have been determined. The studies have shown that there was considerable variation in the concentration of heavy metals from one sampling station to the other which may be due to the variation in the quality of industrial and sewage wastes being added to the river at different places. The orders of the concentration of heavy metals in water, sediments, plants (Eicchornia crassipes) and fish (Heteropnuestes fossilis) were Fe > Zn > Cu > Mn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Co > Cd; Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Cr > Co > Cu > Pb > Cd; Fe > Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Co > Pb > Cr > Cd and Fe > Zn > Mn > Ni > Pb > Co > Cr > Cu > Cd, respectively.     

鄱阳湖水土环境及其水生维管束植物重金属污染

位于鄱阳湖流域乐安河中下游的德兴铜矿,是我国著名的大型铜业基地,是鄱阳湖流域重金属污染的主要来源之一。2003年7月至8月对鄱阳湖部分流域的水质、沉积物、底泥及水生维管束植物等样品的重金属污染进行了研究调查,采用原子吸收分光光度法分别对样品中的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd等重金属含量进行了测定,并对测定结果进行了评价。研究结果表明,鄱阳湖流域水体中的重金属含量均达到地表水评价标准中的Ⅰ类标准,底泥、土壤等已受到了一定程度的重金属污染。而水生植物对重金属元素都具有不同程度的富集能力,植物对重金属的富集作用与土壤背景值有一定的相关性,土壤中重金属的背景值越高,植物对重金属的富集量也相应增加。     

Distribution of the Forms of Heavy Metals in Natural Landscapes of Belarus

Studies on the distribution of the forms of heavy metals (HMs) in the humus soil horizon were performed in the Berezinskii Reserve and Braslavskie Ozera National Park. The ratios of active to inert HM forms (with trace values of the mobile form) in these areas proved to be similar and independent of the total HM content. The calculated coefficients of technogeneity (Kt and Xt) and mobility (Km and Xm) are proposed, which reflect the natural ratio between the forms of HMs in the Northern and Central lithogeochemical provinces of Belarus.     

Reuse of mining wastewater in agricultural activities in Jordan

A pilot study was completed in the Al-Abyad area near phosphate mining activity in Jordan. Six plots of 50 m² each were planted with two types of plant species (Zea mays spp. and Medicago lupulina spp.) and irrigated using three types of water (fresh groundwater, mine wastewater, and hydride water consisting of 50% fresh and 50% mine wastewater) to investigate the suitability of utilizing mine wastewater for food production in the area. Water, soil and plant sampling was completed for each plot over different time intervals and analyzed for heavy metal (Cr⁺⁶, Ni⁺², Zn⁺² and Pb⁺²) in addition to major ionic composition of the water used for irrigation. Crop yield was estimated at the end of the experiment. Plots irrigated with mine wastewater showed slightly higher heavy metals concentrations and soil salinity during the experiment period was higher for plots irrigated with mine wastewater compared to plots irrigated with fresh water, and it was uniform through the upper 45 cm of the soil profile due to the high amount of irrigation water used during the experiment. Crop yield was inversely proportional to salinity as an increase of salinity by 2-folds resulted in reducing yield by almost 50%. However, no risk of heavy metals contamination was found in plants and soil. Readers should send their comments on this paper to: BhaskarNath@aol.com within 3 months of publication of this issue.     

武汉地区湖泊沉积物重金属的分布及潜在生态效应评价

对武汉地区6个湖泊沉积物重金属元素Hg、Cd、Cu、Pb、Zn、As、Cr、Ni的空间分布特征及其潜在生态效应进行研究。调查区的湖泊底泥重金属含量表现出市区内湖泊沉积物的重金属含量普遍高于郊区湖泊,其中墨水湖中重金属含量最高;湖泊沉积物柱重金属元素垂向分布表现为城区受到一定程度污染的湖泊某些元素表现出表层沉积物显著高于底部沉积物含量的特征,而郊区湖泊除Cd外其它元素垂向含量变化不大,说明郊区湖泊受到人为影响较小。利用潜在生态危害指数法对湖泊沉积物进行生态危害评价,显示武汉地区湖泊元素生态危害排序为：Cd>Hg>As>Cu>Pb>Zn;墨水湖沉积物重金属潜在生态危害相对最高,其次是金银湖;其它湖泊重金属生态危害都比较轻,总体而言武汉湖泊重金属生态危害还是较小的。但参照国外沉积物基准的生态数据库阈值,市区受到人为污染较严重的湖泊沉积物可能会对生物产生负面影响。     

Heavy metal contamination by Al-fabrication plants in Hong Kong

Leaf samples of six plant species collected from locations near the Al-fabrication plants in Sai Kung, Hong Kong were found to be heavily contaminated by Al, Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu and Zn, as determined by inductively — coupled plasma emission spectrophotometer (ICP). Studies using scanning electron microscope incorporated with X-ray microanalyzer showed that significant amounts of dust, with elevated concentrations of heavy metals, were deposited on the leaf surface. The stomatal pores were partially plugged and the guard cells were distorted. The amount of dust deposition and metal contamination varied significantly among different species. Lantana camara had the highest concentrations of all metals. Washing with deionized water could remove the surficial dust particles and reduce the metal contamination, with a degree of effectiveness depending on plant species and metal species. About 50% of Al and other metals were removed from leaves of L. camara and Fiscus variegata by washing, whereas only 20% removal was recorded in Bauhina variegata, the species had the least dust deposition. The soil samples and Al wastes collected from the same sites also exhibited higher values of total metal concentrations than the control. However, the contents of extractable metals were extremely low and were almost below the limits of detection. Experimental data further suggested that the source of leaf metals was mainly accumulated from metal-enriched aerosols, either from Al-fabrication plants or from automobile exhausts, and contribution from soil was relatively unimportant.     

Understanding the dynamics of heavy metals in a freshwater ecosystem through their toxicity and bioavailability assay

The current study investigates on correlating the heavy metal contamination, its distribution, and the human health risk associated with all three components of an aquatic ecosystem. For this purpose, water, sediment, and fish samples (three species, notably Notopterus notopterus, Clarias batrachus, and Channa striata) from Deepor Beel were considered, and their heavy metal contamination and distribution were determined. The corresponding health risks were then evaluated for six different heavy metals; Cr, Cd, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Pb. Pb and Mn were found to significantly impact the non-carcinogenic human health risks for the water column. Simultaneously, Cd was considered to possess the highest potential for both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health effects in the sediment column. Cd also played a critical role in the fish samples' bioaccumulation factor, with the liver showing the maximum bioaccumulation potential. Furthermore, children were found to have considerably higher effects (both carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic) than adults. Finally, the sediment column was found to substantially contribute to the bioaccumulation factor in the fish biota, compared to the water column. The results of this investigation will thus prove consequential in designing, monitoring and restoring aquatic ecosystems.

     

城市土壤重金属含量及其对儿童健康风险的初步评价——以四川省宜宾市为例

通过对宜宾市主要街道47个土壤样中Pb、As、Zn和Cu含量的调查研究，并利用健康风险评价模型，初步评价了城市土壤中重金属对儿童(6~12岁)的健康风险。Pb、Zn和Cu采用火焰 原子吸收光谱仪测定，As采用氢化物发生 原子荧光光谱测定。结果表明，宜宾市城市土壤中Pb、Zn和Cu含量显著高于四川省土壤背景值，表现出明显的累积效应(〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗=0000)，As含量显著低于四川省土壤背景值(〖WTBX〗p〖WTBZ〗=002)；与四川省土壤基线值相比，土壤中Pb、Zn和Cu含量的超标率分别为362%、297%和511%，As含量尚未超标。城市土壤中Pb、As、Zn和Cu的单危害指数大小(〖WTBX〗HI)依次为HIAs>HIPb>HICu>HIZn，总危害指数THI〖WTBZ〗为346×10-1。单危害指数和总危害指数均低于可接受水平1，未对儿童表现出非致癌危害。土壤中As的总致癌风险〖WTBX〗TCR〖WTBZ〗为872×10-6，在可接受水平内(1×10-6~1×10-4)，未对儿童表现出致癌风险。     

Historical change of heavy metals in urban soils of Nanjing, China during the past 20 centuries

Two typical areas, including once commercial and residential quarters of Nanjing, China, were studied by investigating soil properties especially heavy metals of soils in various cultural layers formed in different Chinese Dynasties. The age of the soil profiles was dated by both archaeological and 14C chronological methods. The results showed that urban soils in the old commercial/workshop quarter of Nanjing were generally contaminated by heavy metals Cu, Zn, Pb, but their concentration levels varied significantly among the cultural layers formed in different dynasties. The substantial increase of heavy metals appeared in three historical periods, i.e., South Dynasty (222-589 AD), the earlier Ming (1368-1644 AD) and the late Qing (1644-1912 AD) in one area. The tremendous input and storage of heavy metals in soils was explained by the primitive smelting and the strengthened metal processing activities, which might be due to the requirement of weapon making or other industries, in the changing social conditions of the corresponding periods. Soils in the once noble political, cultural centers did not show significant increase of heavy metals. The difference in the distribution pattern of heavy metals revealed the contrasting history of the site uses. The change of contaminant level in soils is believed to be a reflection of various human activities in the city during the past 20 centuries.     

黄浦江表层沉积物中重金属污染的潜在生态风险评价

采用潜在生态风险指数法对黄浦江表层沉积物中重金属污染的潜在生态风险进行了评价。评价结果表明,黄浦江表层沉积物中重金属的潜在生态风险水平较低,其中杨浦大桥和南市水厂断面达到中等生态风险,其它断面均为轻微生态风险;重金属的潜在生态风险依次为Cd>Hg>Cu>As>Pb>Cr>Zn,除Cd达到中等生态风险外,其余元素均为轻微生态风险。沉积物中重金属的污染水平从上游到下游呈上升趋势,工业排放是水环境中重金属的主要来源,苏州河对黄浦江下游重金属存在一定的输入贡献。相关性分析表明,黄浦江表层沉积物中大多数重金属元素呈现相近的来源特征,有机质是影响沉积物中重金属分布的重要因素。