Novel approach for assessing heavy metal pollution and ecotoxicological status of rivers by means of passive sampling methods

In order to study the pollution of fluvial ecosystems, it is necessary to analyze not only the levels of chemical contaminants in water, but also those accumulated in the sediment matrix, as well as to assess its ecotoxicological status. Eleven Catalan (Spain) river sections (one sampling point per river) located near urban and industrial areas were sampled during winter of 2009. Water pollutants were collected by using passive samplers as Diffusive Gradient in Thin-Films (DGTs) and Semi-Permeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs). Point water samples were also collected. The concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTE) in water, filtered water, DGTs and sediment samples were analyzed. Aqueous and organic solvent extracts of sediments samples and organic extracts of SPMDs were performed to assess acute toxicity to Vibrio fischeri by Microtox(?), and chronic toxicity to the green alga Pseudokirschneriella subcapitata. Microtox(?) test was also performed with DGT extracts. The results show that metals content of Catalan river waters are below the freshwater screening US EPA benchmarks, excepting some industrial areas (for Hg, Pb, and Zn). In contrast, sediments levels of some rivers were far above freshwater sediment screening US EPA benchmarks (for Zn, As, Cr, Pb, Ni, Hg, and Mn), particularly in the most industrialized areas. A good correlation was found between toxicity values of extracts (from sediments and DGTs) and PTE levels in sediments. The current results support the suitability of using combined point and passive sampling methods for assessing the chemical and ecotoxicological status of aqueous environments.     

Regional multi-compartment ecological risk assessment: Establishing cadmium pollution risk in the northern Bohai Rim,China

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) has been widely applied in characterizing the risk of chemicals to organisms and ecosystems. The paucity of toxicity data on local biota living in the different compartments of an ecosystem and the absence of a suitable methodology for multi-compartment spatial risk assessment at the regional scale has held back this field. The major objective of this study was to develop a methodology to quantify and distinguish the spatial distribution of risk to ecosystems at a regional scale. A framework for regional multi-compartment probabilistic ecological risk assessment (RMPERA) was constructed and corroborated using a bioassay of a local species. The risks from cadmium (Cd) pollution in river water, river sediment, coastal water, coastal surface sediment and soil in northern Bohai Rim were examined. The results indicated that the local organisms in soil, river, coastal water, and coastal sediment were affected by Cd. The greatest impacts from Cd were identified in the Tianjin and Huludao areas. The overall multi-compartment risk was 31.4% in the region. The methodology provides a new approach for regional multi-compartment ecological risk assessment.     

Trace element pollution records in some UK lake sediments, their history, influence factors and regional differences

Sediment cores were taken from six sites across the UK. Apart from Banbury Reservoir in London, all the other sites are relatively remote lakes. Trace elements Pb, Zn, Cu, Cd, Cr, Ni, Sn, As and V, major elements such as Fe, Mn, Ti and Al were analysed, and organic content measured as loss-on-ignition was determined in all of these cores. The result shows that these relatively remote sites have experienced enhanced atmospheric deposition of anthropogenically derived trace elements for over 100 years, and the contamination might start before industrialisation. Trace metal contamination remains the highest level at Banbury Reservoir showing "pollution source" influence. Despite the considerable reduction in atmospheric deposition in recent years, although some of the element concentrations in the surface sediments have declined, they are still much higher than their natural background values. In these sites, trace element pollution records have been influenced by many different factors. Redox condition could affect As distribution in the sediments. Sediment matrix could also affect trace element pollution signal. Apart from direct atmospheric deposition, the distributions of trace elements in the sediments have been affected by forestry activities and catchment erosion, and more contaminated soil in-wash could increase sediment pollution whilst less contaminated soil could dilute sediment pollution. In some sites, data suggest that catchment in-wash is an important source of elements for the lakes.     

巢湖水及沉积物中总磷的分布变化特征

磷是导致巢湖水体富营养化的主要营养物质。采集大量巢湖表层水和沉积物样品,通过检测上覆水和沉积物中总磷含量,分析巢湖水体中磷的时空变化及赋存特征。结果显示:巢湖南淝河和裕溪河河口的上覆水中总磷含量值时间变化特征为8月5月3月12月;且南淝河口总磷含量年均值超过地表水Ⅴ类水质标准,明显高于裕溪河口值;表层水和沉积物中总磷含量在空间分布上呈西高东低趋势,最高值均出现在靠近合肥市河口处。巢湖周边土壤及湖区磷的等值线分布表明:杭埠河流域农业污染、东巢湖东南部水土流失可能是巢湖磷面源污染的主要来源。巢湖上覆水和沉积物中总磷的相关系数为0.515,蓝藻爆发期全湖表层沉积物中总磷含量显著减少,揭示目前内源磷释放已是巢湖富营养化的主要因素。结果将对巢湖流域的污染综合防治及蓝藻治理工作提供科学依据。     

Environmental geochemistry and pollution studies of Aliaga metal industry district

The Aliaga metal industry district located 50 km northwest of Izmir City, in Turkey, includes many metal factories. The geology of the area is represented by Mesozoic flysch deposits and Cenozoic volcano sedimentary rocks. Tectonic elements are NE-SW and NW-SE trending faults and a W-NW trending fault direction that is important for water supply. Rock, soil, stream sediment, and water samples taken at various distances from the industrial area were analyzed for Fe, Ti, Mn, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, and Mo. According to the results, the elements in rocks are reasonable for the range of "Clarke" values, but in the soils and stream sediment, they comprise higher values than are acceptable for agricultural activities. Toxicity analyses were carried out in the drinking artesian water of Cakmakli village and wastewater samples of the factories and river water both of which are used for irrigation of the agricultural areas in and around the investigated area. The people should, however be made aware that this waste and river water is unacceptable for agriculture. Additionally, the contamination of seawater in Nemrut Bay is probably caused by contaminated river and underground water running to the sea. The chemical and toxicity analysis of drinking water samples show that they are above accepted standards and harmful. Previous air pollution studies (funnel gas emission analyses) also show that gas emission contains high amount of dust particles with high Fe, Zn, Pb, and Cu concentrations. As a result, all elements analyzed are of great importance relative to problems concerning contamination of the soil, stream sediment, ground surface water, and air by individual metals from uncontrolled processing of some metal factories.     

近百年来长江中游牛轭湖沉积物铅元素富集记录及其环境意义——以长江荆江段牛轭湖群为例

通过对长江荆江段天鹅洲、中洲子和尺八3个牛轭湖钻孔沉积物进行短寿命放射性核素、粒度、磁学、铅元素测试与史志资料分析,在利用²¹⁰Pb比活度计算平均沉积速率,并结合史志资料与沉积物特征指示的事件进行沉积物年代校核基础上,运用地表物质非自然富集系数(EF值)方法,分析了牛轭湖沉积物铅元素富集状况。结果表明:三钻孔铅元素非自然因素富集特征基本一致,均起始于20世纪80年代初,并于2000年后呈下降状态,与我国铅污染历史及禁用含铅汽油的时间基本吻合;利用沉积物中铅元素非自然因素富集事件对沉积物进行断代分析,具有一定的可行性;牛轭湖河/湖沉积相转变未对沉积物铅元素的非自然因素富集产生影响,说明铅污染具有较广的“暴露面”。     

Time history of trace elements in sediments from Standley Lake,Colorado

Eighteen trace elements were analyzed in sections from a 50 cm long sediment core from Standley Lake, Colorado. The core was dated by the use of bomb-produced ¹³⁷Cs. Ten of the elements measured (Ag, Cd, Cu, Ga, Hg, Pb, Se, Sn, Tl, and Zn) appear to be enriched in this sediment; seven (Al, As, Be, Co, Cr, Ni, and V) are probably of local geological origin; and Te was not detected. Several of the constituents increase with depth in the sediment, and the concentrations of some compare to levels in lake sediments near highly industrialized centers. Based upon comparisons with other work, fluxes, enrichment factors, benzo(a)pyrene concentrations, and other evidence we conclude that the primary source of the “excess” elemental concentrations is local stream pollution.     

Patterns of soil contamination,erosion and river loading of metals in a gold mining region of northern Mongolia

Mining has become one of the main causes of increased heavy metal loading of river systems throughout the world. There is however an evident gap between assessments of soil contamination and metal release at the mined sites and estimates of river pollution. The present work focuses on Zaamar Goldfield, which is one of the largest placer gold mines in the world, located along the Tuul River, Mongolia, which ultimately drains into Lake Baikal, Russia. It combines field observations in the river basin with soil erosion modelling and aims at quantifying the contribution from natural erosion of metal-rich soil to observed increases in mass flows of metals along the Tuul River. Results show that the sediment delivery from the mining area to the Tuul River is considerably higher than the possible contribution from natural soil erosion. This is primarily due to excessive mining-related water use creating turbid wastewaters, disturbed filtering functions of deposition areas (natural sediment traps) close to the river and disturbances from infrastructures such as roads. Furthermore, relative to background levels, soils within Zaamar Goldfield contained elevated concentrations of As, Sr, Mn,V, Ni, Cu and Cr. The enhanced soil loss caused by mining-related activities can also explain observed, considerable increases in mass flows of metals in the Tuul River. The present example from Tuul River may provide useful new insights regarding the erosion and geomorphic evolution of mined areas, as well as the associated delivery of metals into stream networks.

     

Diatoms in bottom sediments as indicators of pollution of urban aquatic ecosystems

Analysis of the concentrations of chemical elements and the composition of diatoms in the surface layer of bottom sediments has been performed in a small reservoir at the mouth of dammed river to evaluate the levels of pollution and the impact of toxicants on diatom communities of the river ecosystem. Data on interrelations between the concentrations of chemical elements and the relationship between inorganic pollution and accumulation of diatoms in bottom sediments as an indicator of development of the diatom assemblage have been obtained using linear correlation analysis and graphical plotting.     

基于SWAT模型的丹江口水库流域农业非点源污染的时空分布特征

利用SWAT模型,基于GIS技术和流域DEM,构建了丹江口水库流域农业非点源污染基础信息库,并根据实测资料对模型的参数进行了率定和验证,在确定模型适用性的基础上分析了流域农业非点源污染负荷的时空分布特征,模拟计算了流域内主要的土地利用类型的单位面积农业非点源污染负荷量。结果表明：研究区农业非点源污染负荷年内分布不均,污染负荷与降雨量具有较强的相关性,氮负荷同月径流的相关系数为0896,磷负荷同泥沙负荷的相关系数为0920;氮、磷等营养物质的流失量具有较大的空间差异性,且不同土地利用方式下单位面积的农业非点源污染有较大的差别,耕地和裸露地的单位面积污染负荷均较高,而林地单位面积的泥沙负荷污染负荷最低,其单位面积的泥沙负荷、吸附态氮、溶解态氮、吸附态磷和溶解态磷分别为715 t/hm2、892 kg/hm2、835 kg/hm2、807 kg/hm2、006 kg/hm2;设计不同的情景,模拟了不同施肥量和水土保持措施对农业非点源污染物产出的影响,与基准情景相比,发现减少化肥施用水平对研究区农业非点源污染总氮和总磷负荷削减比例较大,采取退耕还林和还草两种水土保持措施能有效减少流域泥沙负荷和农业非点源污染负荷     

Particulate and dissolved elemental loads in the Kuji River related to discharge rate

In order to investigate influences of discharge rates on fluvial transport behavior of elements in the Kuji River, Japan, suspended and dissolved phase concentrations in the river water were measured together with the water flow rates. The concentrations of suspended particulate matter (SPM) increased by two or three orders of magnitude with the water discharge, and also had seasonal variations. Adsorptive elements or heavy metal elements, which tend to form insoluble compounds, were present generally as suspended forms in the river waters, and their dissolved form concentrations tended to increase with the water discharge. On the other hand, non-adsorptive elements such as alkali and alkaline-earth elements were present as dissolved forms under a normal flow rate condition, but equivalent quantity of suspended species also occurred under a high flow condition. In this case, the dissolved form concentrations decreased with the water discharge. Characterization of SPM with analyses of chemical compositions, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffractometry (XRD) indicated that clay mineral such as montmorillonite would be the main carrier material of trace and major elements during the fluvial transport in the Kuji River. Variations of contents of selected elements in SPM with the water discharge indicated that river bottom sediments, which are probably potential sources of SPM added due to high water flow rates, would be different in chemical compositions from SPM floating under a normal flow condition. Variations of chemical compositions of SPM as well as of suspended or dissolved form concentrations of elements in the river waters were formulated as a function of the water discharge rates.     

Present to future sediment transport of the Brahmaputra River: reducing uncertainty in predictions and management

The Brahmaputra River in South Asia carries one of the world’s highest sediment loads, and the sediment transport dynamics strongly affect the region’s ecology and agriculture. However, present understanding of sediment conditions and dynamics is hindered by limited access to hydrological and geomorphological data, which impacts predictive models needed in management. We here synthesize reported peer-reviewed data relevant to sediment transport and perform a sensitivity analysis to identify sensitive and uncertain parameters, using the one-dimensional model HEC-RAS, considering both present and future climatic conditions. Results showed that there is considerable uncertainty in openly available estimates (260–720 Mt yr^?1) of the annual sediment load for the Brahmaputra River at its downstream Bahadurabad gauging station (Bangladesh). This may aggravate scientific impact studies of planned power plant and reservoir construction in the region, as well as more general effects of ongoing land use change and climate change. We found that data scarcity on sediment grain size distribution, water discharge, and Manning’s roughness coefficient had the strongest controls on the modelled sediment load. However, despite uncertainty in absolute loads, we showed that predicted relative changes, including a future increase in sediment load by about 40 % at Bahadurabad by 2075–2100, were consistent across multiple model simulations. Nevertheless, for the future scenarios we found that parameter uncertainty almost doubled for water discharge and river geometry, highlighting that improved information on these parameters could greatly advance the abilities to predict and manage current and future sediment dynamics in the Brahmaputra river basin.     

Composition, sources, and potential toxicological significance of PAHs in the surface sediments of the Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China

Twenty-five surface sediment samples were collected from Meiliang Bay, Taihu Lake, China, in 2003. The concentrations of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), identified as priority pollutants by the USEPA, were determined by gas chromatography equipped with a mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). Total concentrations of the PAHs ranged from 1207 to 4754 ng/g dry weight. Sediment samples with the highest PAH concentrations were from the northern site of the bay, which is in proximity to the incoming PAH source; the PAH levels in the southern part were relatively low. The observed PAH levels were higher than those in river sediments in China but were lower than those found in sediments of urban areas and harbors. According to the observed molecular indices, PAHs originated largely from the high-temperature pyrolytic process, whereas the petrogenic process was more commonly responsible for PAH contamination in harbors. A good correlation existed between the benzo[a]pyrene level and the total PAH concentration (r=0.97), making benzo[a]pyrene a potential molecular marker for PAH pollution. According to the numerical effect-based sediment quality guideline (SQGs) of the United States, the levels of PAHs at most studied sites in Meiliang Bay, except some sites in the northern part of the bay, should not exert adverse biological effects. In the northern part of the bay, the PAH levels at sites 21 and 22 exceed the effects range low (ERL) and could thus cause acute biological impairments, in comparison with the sediment quality guidelines. The total PAH levels were expressed as the B[a]P toxicity equivalents (TEQs(carc)) and compared to the contaminated sediments from Guba Pechenga, Barents Sea, Russia.     

西苕溪干流水体、悬浮物和表层沉积物中营养盐分布特征与水质评价

了解不同介质的营养盐分布可以全面掌握河流的环境现状。为了调查西苕溪干流的营养盐分布特征和水质现状,沿着干流采集了11个点位的水体、悬浮物和表层沉积物样品,并对水体、悬浮物和表层沉积物中的营养盐特征进行了分析,拟为苕溪流域的水污染防治提供基础数据。研究表明:整个西苕溪干流,水体和沉积物中总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)浓度均存在丰水期明显高于枯水期的季节变化特征,水体中总氮的浓度均超出地表水环境质量Ⅴ类的标准,显示氮污染是西苕溪流域的特点。相关性分析结果表明,悬浮物中的TN和有机质(OM)呈极显著性正相关(r=0.974,p0.01);水体中的TN和悬浮物的各营养盐指标之间的相关性均达到了极显著水平,但沉积物营养盐指标与水体的TN和TP相关性不明显,显示沉积物并不能很好反映流域水质的现状。     

Quantitative assessment of the long term behaviour of 90Sr in Lake Uruskul,Southern Urals,Russia

The present paper is aimed at assessing the long term behaviour of 90Sr migration from water to bottom sediments of Lake Uruskul, Southern Urals, Russia. The lake was contaminated following the nuclear accident at the Mayak nuclear complex in 1957 (the Kyshtym accident). Some transfer parameters relevant to the behaviour of 90Sr in the water-sediment system were evaluated: a) the radionuclide migration velocity from the water column to the bottom sediment, b) the radionuclide migration rate from bottom sediment to water, and c) the radionuclide migration rate from bottom sediment to deep sediment. The estimated values of the above parameters were 6.4 x 10(-1) m s(-1), 5.7 x 10(-10) s(-1) and 5.2 x 10(-10) s(-1), respectively. These values were compared with data obtained for some Italian lakes contaminated by 90Sr after the nuclear weapons tests fallout. The relatively low radionuclide migration from water to sediment of these lakes is reflected by the values of the ratio migration velocity/migration rate from sediment to water (4 m and 12 m) that are significantly lower than the corresponding value in the Russian lake (112 m). The peculiar hydrochemical conditions of Lake Uruskul (high pH, high mineralisation, etc.) are considered to be responsible for the high radionuclide migration from water to sediment.     

三峡库区香溪河库湾沉积物重金属污染特征

2010年3月在三峡水库香溪河库湾获取了无扰动沉积物柱状样,在香溪河口的长江干流(长江右岸)获取了表层沉积物样,现场进行了环境因子测量和室内粒度分析、矿物分析、重金属元素含量分析。沉积物矿物以绿泥石、伊利石和石英为主,占到全部矿物的65%左右。柱状沉积物pH值随深度增加呈现变小的趋势,Eh值也有随深度减少的趋势,反映了环境还原性加强。R-型因子分析结果表明:重金属元素的含量随粒径变细、绿泥石和伊利石含量增加而增加,而随石英、白云石含量增加而降低;且重金属元素含量变化与pH值密切相关,当pH值下降时部分重金属容易重新释放出来而进入环境中。库湾下游具有较中上游高得多的重金属含量,沉积物中重金属的污染程度为无污染到轻度污染,且轻度污染出现于下游至干流。三峡水库蓄水前香溪河沉积物中重金属含量顺序大致为Zn>Pb>Cu>As>Cd,而蓄水后香溪河及干流沉积物均表现为Cu含量高于Pb。     

鄱阳湖主要入湖口重金属的分布及潜在风险评价

于2011年5月在鄱阳湖的主要入湖口采集了水样和表层沉积物，测定并分析了其中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd 4种重金属元素的含量和分布。同时采用地积累指数法、潜在生态危害指数法和生态毒性效应等评价方法对沉积物中重金属的污染状况进行了分析评价。结果显示：鄱阳湖主要入湖口水体重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd含量均符合国家渔业水质标准要求，除修河的Pb和信江、饶河入湖口的Cd含量属于国家地表水Ⅱ类水质外，其它所有样地的4种重金属含量均低于国家地表水I类标准限值。沉积物中4种重金属含量均超过鄱阳湖相应背景值且呈积累富集的趋势，其中信江入湖口、饶河入湖口以及三江口已受到重金属的严重污染，潜在生态危害均为中等，而污染最轻的区域为南主湖区。揭示重金属污染程度顺序为Cu＞Zn＞Pb＞Cd；单个重金属潜在生态风险顺序为Cd＞Cu＞Pb＞Zn。进一步的生态毒性效应评价结果表明，虽然鄱阳湖主要入湖口沉积物已经受到重金属污染，但对多数底栖生物未产生明显毒害     

Trace and major element pollution originating from coal ash suspension and transport processes

Coal ash obtained by coal combustion in the "Nikola Tesla A" power plant in Obrenovac, near Belgrade, Yugoslavia, is mixed with water of the Sava river and transported to the dump. In order to assess pollution caused by leaching of some minor and major elements during ash transport through the pipeline, two sets of samples (six samples each) were subjected to a modified sequential extraction. The first set consisted of coal ash samples taken immediately after combustion, while the second set was obtained by extraction with river water, imitating the processes that occur in the pipeline. Samples were extracted consecutively with distilled water and a 1 M solution of KCl, pH 7, and the differences in extractability were compared in order to predict potential pollution. Considering concentrations of seven trace elements as well as five major elements in extracts from a total of 12 samples, it can be concluded that lead and cadmium do not present an environmental threat during and immediately after ash transport to the dump. Portions of zinc, nickel and chromium are released during the ash transport, and arsenic and manganese are released continuously. Copper and iron do not present an environmental threat due to element leaching during and immediately after the coal ash suspension and transport. On the contrary, these elements, as well as chromium, become concentrated during coal ash transport. Adsorbed portions of calcium, magnesium and potassium are also leached during coal ash transport.     

Monitoring of environmental heavy metals in fish from Nasser Lake

Lake ecosystems are, in particular, vulnerable to heavy metal pollution. Tilapia nilotica is one of the aquatic organisms affected by heavy metals. Therefore, heavy metals Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Sr and Zn were determined in different tissues of T. nilotica (ages 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5 and 3 years), which include the muscle, gill, stomach, intestine, liver, vertebral column and scales, to assess the fish pollution with heavy metals. In addition, the study was extended to determine these elements in the aquatic plant (Najas armeta), sediment and water of Khor E1-Ramel in Nasser Lake (Egypt). The study showed that of all the fish parts, fish liver accumulated the highest levels of Cu and Zn. Manganese presented in the intestine and stomach in the highest concentration. Scales exhibited the highest levels of Co, Cr, Ni and Sr, while the gill and vertebral column contains the lowest level of the studied elements. Heavy metals in different parts of T. nilotica differ with the fish growth and extraction rate of these elements from sediment, aquatic plant and lake water. Heavy metals under study in the edible parts of the investigated fish were in the safety permissible levels for human uses.     

Sediment quality in Rio Guadiamar (SW, Spain) after a tailing dam collapse: contamination, toxicity and bioavailability

An integrated assessment of sediment quality in the Guadiamar River after a mining spill was conducted. The concentration of different metals and other conventional parameters were measured in sediments located along the river. Four sediment toxicity tests (Hyalella azteca 28-day survival and growth test; Chironomus riparius 10-day survival and growth test; Hexagenia spp. 21-day survival and growth test; and Tubifex tubifex 28-day reproduction and survival test) were carried out to determine the effects associated with the accidental spill. The geochemical fractions of 6 metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, and Cd) were determined to establish the bioavailability of the metals. The relationship found in the concentrations of metals associated with the mobile fractions of the sediments in the sites studied is similar to the toxic mud from tailing pond and confirms that the toxic effects are associated with the metals Zn and Cd originating from the spill.