西安市城墙内公园土壤重金属含量水平及污染评价

以西安市城墙以内3个公园的表层土壤为研究对象,分析测定了其基本理化性质和其中代表性重金属Cu、Ni及Zn的总量与不同形态的含量,并分别采用单项污染指数法和内梅罗污染指数法对各公园土壤重金属污染进行了评价.结果显示:西安市城墙以内3个公园的表层土壤均呈碱性并含有较多有机质;3个公园表层土壤中Cu、Ni及Zn的平均含量分别...     

Investigation and risk assessment modeling of As and other heavy metals contamination around five abandoned metal mines in Korea

Tailings, agricultural soils, vegetables and groundwater samples were collected from abandoned metal mines (Duckum, Dongil, Dongjung, Myoungbong and Songchun mines) in Korea. Total concentrations of arsenic (As) and heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) were analyzed to investigate the contamination level. Several digestion methods (Toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP), synthetic precipitation leaching procedure (SPLP), 0.1 N/1 N HCl) and sequential extraction analysis for mine tailings were conducted to examine the potential leachability of As and heavy metals from the tailings. The order of urgent remediation for the studied mines based on the risk assessment and remedial goals was suggested. The Songchun mine tailings were most severely contaminated by As and heavy metals. Total concentrations of As and Pb in the tailings were 38,600–58,700 mg/kg (av. 47,400 mg/kg) and 11,800–16,800 mg/kg (av. 14,600 mg/kg), respectively. Agricultural soils having high As concentrations were found at the all mines. Average concentrations of Cd in the vegetables exceeded the normal value at all mines areas, while As only at the Dongjung, Myoungbong, and Songchun mine area. One groundwater sample each from the Dongil and Myoungbong mines, and 4 groundwater samples from the Songchun mine had values above 10 μg/L of As concentration. The TCLP method revealed that only Pb in the Songchun tailings, 6.49 mg/L, exceeded the regulatory level (5 mg/L). Employing the 1-N HCl digestion method, the concentration of As in the Songchun mine tailings, 4,250 mg/kg, was up to 3,000 times higher than its Korean countermeasure standard. Results from the sequential extraction of As in the tailings showed that the easily releasable fraction in the Myoungbong and Songchun mine tailings was more than 30% and the residual fraction was less than 40%. Based on results showing the exposure health risk employing the hazard quotient and cancer risk of As, Cd and Zn, the Dongil mine needs the most urgent remedial action. The concentration reduction factor (CRF) of As in both soil and groundwater follows the order: Songchun>Dongjung>Dongil>Myoungbong>Duckum mine.     

西安市兴庆宫公园土壤中重金属含量研究及污染评价

通过对西安市兴庆宫公园表层土壤的取样调查,分析了Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr及Pb等5种重金属的含量及形态分布特征,并对其综合污染状况及潜在生态风险进行分析与评价。结果显示,兴庆宫公园的表层土壤呈碱性,并含有较多有机质;土壤中Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr及Pb平均含量分别为29．89mg／kg、55．28mg／kg、0．169mg／kg、66．71mg／kg和43．59ms／kg;土壤中Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr及Pb化学形态均以残渣态为主;整个公园土壤内梅罗污染指数为2．29,土壤重金属综合污染已经达到中度污染;整个公园潜在生态风险指数平均值为73．89,生态风险等级为轻微。     

Current state of heavy metal contents in Vienna soils

This study presents the current state of heavy metal contents in both urban and forest soils within the city area of Vienna, Austria. Based on a systematic survey of urban soils and on targeted sampling in forest areas, local and regional anomaly thresholds are derived using statistical methods and considering regional distribution patterns. For urban soils, local anomaly thresholds of elements Cu (60?mg/kg), Hg (0.5?mg/kg), Pb (100?mg/kg) and Zn (200?mg/kg) exceed national guideline values for uncontaminated urban soils and according to Austrian legislation fall into the category “anthropogenic contamination present but no damage to plants, animals or humans detectable”. In forest soils within the city, thresholds are very similar to reference values for similar geological settings outside the city, apart from higher concentrations of elements Cr and Ni (threshold values of 107 and 64?mg/kg, respectively). Grouping urban soils according to land use reveals that Cd contents are 25?% higher, Pb contents 36?% higher, in traffic and industrial areas than in parks and like Cu, Hg and Zn, these elements can be shown to be at least partly caused by anthropogenic contamination. A dependency between heavy metal concentrations in soils and underlying geological units is shown within the flysch zone at the western city margin where the contents of elements Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and V are controlled by geology and reveal distinct differences between geological units. In built-up areas, no clear dependency between heavy metal contents in soils and geology is evident as urban soils represent accumulations by anthropogenic activity rather than in situ weathering products of underlying sediments.     

上海城市公园灰尘重金属污染及其潜在生态风险评价

通过对上海城市公园灰尘重金属含量的调查,发现上海城市公园灰尘重金属Pb、Zn、Cu、Cr、Cd和Ni含量的平均值分别为416.63 mg/kg、906.29 mg/kg2、35.89 mg/kg1、62.59 mg/kg1、.58 mg/kg和92.19 mg/kg,同上海市土壤环境背景值相比,均处于较高的积累水平。公园灰尘重金属空间上的分布特征表现为:内外环线之间公园灰尘各重金属元素含量平均值均高于内环线内公园;通过分析判定公园灰尘中较高的重金属含量可能主要源于交通和工业造成的污染。运用潜在生态危害指数法来评价上海城市公园灰尘重金属污染状况,发现单种重金属造成的潜在生态危害表现为:Cd>Pb>Cu>Ni>Zn>Cr;公园灰尘6种重金属潜在生态危害达到一个相当高的水平,在所调查的公园中,63.6%的公园灰尘重金属生态危害达到极高水平,29.5%的公园达到高水平,6.8%的公园处于较高水平。     

Determining distribution of heavy metal pollution in terms of ecological risk levels in soil of industrially intensive areas around Istanbul

The aims of the present study were to measure the concentrations of As, Cr, Co, Fe, and Zn in soils from two heavily industrialized areas and to assess the degree of heavy metal pollution by using the indices enrichment factor and the geo-accumulation index, as well as assessing the potential ecological risk. The concentrations of the selected elements in the environmental samples were determined by the neutron activation analysis. The pollutant concentrations in the studied areas showed that the soils were characterized by a high pollution from As and Cr due to the industrial facilities in the area. The concentrations in the Tuzla industrial area were 79–1215 mg/kg of Cr, 17–84 mg/kg of As, 22,000–54,000 mg/kg of Fe, 101–258 mg/kg of Zn, and 8–23 mg/kg of Co. The results for the Cerkezkoy industrial area were found to be 46–196 mg/kg of Cr, 6–24 mg/kg of As, 17,000–25,000 mg/kg of Fe, 67–136 mg/kg of Zn, and 7–10 mg/kg of Co. The contamination in the soils from heavy metals was assessed based on enrichment factor, geo-accumulation factors, and ecological risk indices. The results were compared with the data from other industrial areas in Turkey. It was found that the metals As and Cr showed higher concentrations in Tuzla than in other examined industrial areas. The results for Cerkezkoy industrial area indicate that the area is not as contaminated as the other industrial areas in Turkey.     

大沽排污河河口地区沉积物中重金属污染及其潜在生物毒性风险评价

本文以大沽排污河口表层沉积物为研究对象,分别运用ERL/ERM和生态危害指数两种评价方法对沉积物中6种重金属的潜在生物毒性风险进行评价,并对两种方法的评价结果进行对比。经均一化处理,重金属的含量均值由大到小的顺序排列为铬（168 mg/kg）〉锌（157 mg/kg）〉镍（60.7 mg/kg）〉铜（45.3 mg/kg）〉铅（7.31 mg/kg）〉镉（0.215 mg/kg）。经计算20个采样断面的沉积物中重金属毒性单位总和均在3~4之间,有80%的采样断面沉积物中重金属毒性单位总和大于3.5,毒性单位总和最大值为3.789。说明大沽排污河口沉积物中重金属的潜在生物毒性水平较低,可视为无生物毒性。     

镍钴采选行业废石和尾矿中重金属淋溶释放规律研究

镍钴采选废石和尾矿中重金属的溶出释放规律对矿区的重金属污染防治具有重要意义。但目前,国内还没有对镍钴行业采选产生的尾矿和废石中重金属的溶出规律开展研究。本文以镍钴采选企业的尾矿和废石作为样本,开展了毒性浸出实验。研究了不同pH值、离子强度、温度等实验条件对重金属溶出的影响,探讨了镍钴采选过程中所产生的尾矿和废石中重金属的溶出特性和释放规律。实验结果表明,尾矿样品中Ni的浸出浓度为42.28 mg·L^-1,是最大允许排放浓度的8.86倍,为具有浸出毒性特征的危险废物;废石样品中重金属Ni和Cu的溶出浓度分别为4.72 mg·L^-1和26.2 mg·L^-1,超过最大允许排放浓度,属于第Ⅱ类一般工业固体废物。pH对样品中Ni、Cr、Pb、Co和As的溶出量影响较大,其中尾矿中Ni和Cu在pH较低的条件下,可达到44.28 mg·L^-1和53 mg·L^-1,远高于最大允许排放浓度,而Hg、Cd和Cu的溶出量随pH值的变化不大。除As以外,样品中大多数重金属的溶出质量浓度在酸性条件下比在中性条件下高,这表明在酸性环境条件下,这些重金属对周围生态环境的潜在风险更大。离子强度的变化对Cd和Co的溶出量的变化并不明显,而当离子强度变化时,Ni、Cr、Pb、Hg、Cu和As的溶出量可能达到最大,使周围环境的潜在生态风险增大。当温度达到35~40℃时,部分重金属如Co、Pb、Cd 等,溶出量将达到最大;当温度低于25℃时,除 Ni 以外,大部分重金属溶出量很低。而温度变化对重金属Cu、As、Cr和Hg的溶出量的影响不明显,波动范围较小,对周围生态环境产生的潜在生态风险较小。     

Geochemical baselines of heavy metals in the sediments of two large freshwater lakes in China: implications for contamination character and history

The aim of this study was to estimate the geochemical baseline concentrations of various heavy metals in the surface sediments of two large freshwater lakes in Taihu and Dianchi, China, and to assess the character and history of heavy metal contamination around the two lakes. Heavy metal concentrations in the sediments were obtained by field surveys and were supplemented with published data. The statistical methods of cumulative frequency and normalization were employed to obtain the baselines. The respective baseline concentrations for As, Sb, Hg, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were 9.92, 1.67, 0.14, 22.62, 100.56, 31.63, 31.97, 33.05 and 97.01?mg/kg, respectively, in Taihu, and 24.60, 4.29, 0.25, 36.78, 135.68, 90.05, 50.76, 73.56 and 208.76?mg/kg, respectively, in Dianchi. The baseline concentrations of these heavy metals in Lake Taihu were equivalent to the pre-industrial concentrations determined from lakes in Sweden and Europe. Conversely, those in Lake Dianchi were much higher than the pre-industrial values. Li, Fe, Sc, Ti, V and Al were found to be the suitable reference elements for normalization, and one of these elements could be used to predict the baseline concentrations of heavy metals except Hg. Most of the heavy metals had one inflexion, and only Cu and Pb in Taihu, Sb, Pb and Zn in Dianchi, were found to have two inflexions in the cumulative curves, suggesting remarkable anthropogenic inputs of Cu and Pb in Taihu, Sb, Pb and Zn in Dianchi, which are generally consistent with the respective industrial structure around Taihu and Dianchi.     

Assessing geochemical influence of traffic and other vehicle-related activities on heavy metal contamination in urban soils of Kerman city,using a GIS-based approach

Heavy metal pollution caused by traffic activities is increasingly becoming a great threat to urban environmental quality and human health. In this paper, soils of Kerman urban and suburban areas were collected to assess the potential effects of traffic and other vehicle-related pollution by heavy metal accumulation in soils. Eighty-six samples were collected along streets and from residential and rural sectors, as well as vehicle-related workshops from depth of 0–5 and 15–20 cm and analyzed by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) for heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Sn and Zn), as well as major elements (Al, Ca, Fe and Mn). Several hot-spot areas were identified in the composite geochemical maps produced based on Geographical Information System (GIS) technology. The majority of the hot-spot areas were identified to be vehicle-related workshops, fuel stations and road junctions. The most polluted hot-spot in the study area was located in soils close to a car battery processing workshop in the southwestern part of Kerman city, with concentrations of Cd (0.32 mg/kg), Cr (169 mg/kg), Cu (250 mg/kg), Pb (5,780 mg/kg), Sn (27.2 mg/kg) and Zn (178 mg/kg) of 1, 8.5, 8.3, 230, 13.5 and 3 times more than the relevant mean concentrations in natural soils, respectively. Traffic pollution has resulted in significant accumulation of heavy metals in soils and sediments, and that level of accumulation varied remarkably among elements. Based on X-ray diffraction analysis, most parts of soils and sediments of the Kerman basement consist of calcite and clay minerals. Abundance of clay minerals and medium to alkaline pH causes low mobility of heavy metals in soils of Kerman.     

宝山堇菜多金属吸收特征和耐性策略

宝山堇菜Viola baoshanensis Shu,Liu et Lan是一种Cd超富集植物,但它对不同重金属的吸收和转运能力有待进一步研究。从湖南桂阳宝山多金属矿区中筛选4个宝山堇菜优势分布的小生境,分析这些生境中宝山堇菜及其根区土壤的重金属质量分数。化学分析结果显示,宝山堇菜优势分布土壤中Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu、Mn和Fe的平均质量分数（mg/kg）分别为471、15 044、8 273、1 776、4 702和69 054。宝山堇菜地上部Cd、Pb、Zn、Cu、Mn和Fe的平均质量分数（mg/kg）分别为387、1 077、1 037、99、379和1 812,其中Cd、Pb超过超富集植物标准,Zn、Cu的平均质量分数大约是Zn、Cu超富集植物标准的10%,Mn的平均质量分数低于Mn超富集植物标准的5%,Fe的平均质量分数高于1 000 mg/kg。上述结果表明,宝山堇菜可以超富集Cd和Pb,富集Zn、Cu和Fe以及低积累Mn。此外,宝山堇菜对不同重金属差别化吸收模式可能也代表了超富集植物适应重金属复合污染土壤的一种策略。     

磷肥种类对李氏禾富集铜、铬的影响及其生理响应

植物修复是现下环境和生态领域研究的热门话题。环境中的铜、铬等重金属复合污染问题越发严重,在水环境修复和治理的方法中,植物修复技术的优越性越发显著。该文旨在加深磷对李氏禾累积重金属铜和铬复合污染的认识。施磷是一种重要的农艺措施,其在提高植物修复复合污染水体效率方面的效果不容忽视。该实验研究李氏禾(Leersia Hexandra Swartz)分别在磷酸氢二铵(DAP)、磷酸二氢铵(MAP)、磷酸氢钙(DCP)、过磷酸钙(SSP)4种磷肥的不同质量浓度(无磷0 mg·L^?1、低磷11.38 mg·L^?1、中磷22.76 mg·L^?1和高磷45.52 mg·L^?1),Cu(II)、铬(VI)质量浓度均为10 mg·L^?1的复合污染水体下的重金属累积影响和生理响应。结果表明:在中磷浓度下,施加SSP后李氏禾对铜、铬的富集能力最大,为0P处理组的1.8—3.4倍,均高于其他处理组且存在显著性差异(P<0.05)。在高磷浓度处理下,施加(NH4)2HPO4处理组李氏禾生物量为9.260 g·10 plants?1,株高为59.07 cm,叶绿素含量为4.889 mg·g^?1,可溶性蛋白含量为10.77 g·L?1,均高于其他处理组且达到显著性差异(P<0.05)。在中磷浓度处理下,SSP处理组李氏禾叶片中丙二醛(MDA)含量为1.251μmol·g?1,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)的含量分别为4.765、3.077、10.16 U·mg^?1(以prot.计),均高于其他处理组且达到显著性差异(P<0.05)。适量施加磷肥可以有效地提高李氏禾的生物量,以及各组织对铜、铬的累积作用,这一结果提高了我们对磷在植物修复技术中的作用的认识。     

重金属对蚯蚓的毒性毒理研究

通过室内模拟实验以及对株洲市重金属污染区农田土壤中采样，进行了重金属对蚯蚓的毒性毒理研究．毒性实验表明，各重金属元素４８ｈ的ＬＤ５０分别为：Ｃｄ１０００ｍｇ／ｋｇ，Ｐｂ８１２ｍｇ／ｋｇ，Ｃｕ６３３ｍｇ／ｋｇ，Ｈｇ３０４ｍｇ／ｋｇ，Ｚｎ５２８ｍｇ／ｋｇ，Ｃｒ４２８ｍｇ／ｋｇ．对蚯蚓毒理研究证明，重金属对蚯蚓酯酶同工酶有抑活作用，而重金属对蚯蚓过氧化物酶同工酶有激活作用．在光镜下观察，可见重金属污染可引起蚯蚓的体表溃疡及产生肿瘤，可使胃肠道粘膜层出血、背血管肿胀，同时可引起胃肠道粘膜上皮细胞产生萎缩或溃疡灶．蚯蚓特有的黄色细胞团污染程度不同而显示出消长规律．在电镜下可见到在重污染区的蚯蚓胃肠道粘膜上皮细胞中的ｒＥＲ肿胀、高尔基体膨大，线粒体嵴消失，甚至空泡化或解体．另可见细胞核膜间隙肿胀、断裂、核质外溢，胞质自溶．蚯蚓以上病变的大小是随土壤重金属污染区的污染级别而定；各病理变化指标均能定性地反映土壤重金属污染状况．     

Hair burning and liming in tanneries is a source of pollution by arsenic,lead, zinc,manganese and iron

Heavy metals in the environment may be toxic for human and animals. Tanneries are a source of pollution by heavy metals. There is little information on heavy metals pollution in tanneries, especially on metals produced by the process of hair burning and liming. Liming is the first stage of chemical treatment where animal hair or wool is removed with sodium sulphide and calcium oxide. Here we studied cow, goat, buffalo and sheep hair, conventional liming agents and liming wastewaters from several sources. Samples were acid-digested and aliquots were analysed by atomic absorption spectroscopy following APHA standard method to measure concentrations of arsenic, lead, cadmium, zinc, manganese and iron. Results show that the range of metal contents in hair or wool and liming agents are 1.3–8.2 mg/kg for arsenic, 0.02–21.8 mg/kg for lead, 17.7–121.0 mg/kg for manganese, 7.3–141.1 mg/kg for zinc and 119.6–10613.8 mg/kg for iron. Liming wastewaters contain 1.9–5.6 µg/L arsenic, 0.03–6.05 µg/L lead, 38.6–139.0 µg/L manganese, 144.0–171.5 µg/L zinc and 399.5–1069.0 µg/L iron. Cadmium was below detection limits. This is the first investigation that reveals that hair burning liming operation is a potential source of heavy metals in the environment.     

天津公园土壤重金属污染评价及其空间分析

随着城市化和工业化进程的加快,我国城市及其周边目前已遭受到明显的重金属污染,本文着重研究了天津17个主要公园土壤重金属的污染特征。2007年10月采集公园土壤样品,利用ICP-MS分析土壤重金属的含量。研究结果表明：Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、Cd和Pb的平均质量分数分别为36.57mg·kg-1,116.56mg·kg-1,30.15mg·kg-1,51.04mg·kg-1,0.25mg·kg-1和31.62mg·kg-1。以天津市土壤背景值为评价标准,天津公园土壤重金属污染属于中度污染和轻微生态风险。重金属主要污染因子为Cd,其次是Pb、Zn和Cu。天津中环线以内区域公园土壤重金属污染较中外环线之间相比较重。不同行政区划区域公园土壤重金属污染从综合污染指数来看,由重到轻的顺序为：红桥区〉河北区〉河东区〉南开区〉河西区〉和平区〉北辰区;从潜在生态指数评价来看,由重到轻的顺序为：红桥区〉河北区〉河东区〉南开区〉河西区〉北辰区〉和平区。     

丛枝菌根真菌与重金属的相互作用对玉米根际微生物数量和磷酸酶活性的影响

以玉米为供试植物 ,研究了砂培条件下不同丛枝菌根真菌 (Acaulosporalaevis,Glomuscaledonium ,Glomusmanihotis)与不同浓度重金属 (铜和镉 )的相互作用对菌根侵染率、孢子数、根际微生物数量和磷酸酶活性的影响 .在不同浓度的铜和镉中 ,G .caledonium的侵染率均最高 ,且随重金属浓度的增加而变化较小 ,而它的孢子数在这 3种接种处理中最低 .低量的铜 (0 .0 5mg/kg)可显著地减少不接种、接种A .laevis和G .manihotis的细菌数量 ,却能显著地增加接种处理的真菌数量 .当溶液中铜的浓度大于 0 .2mg/kg时 ,接种处理的真菌数量小于不接种处理的真菌数量 .铜或镉的浓度不同时放线菌数量均有接种远大于不接种 ,其中接种之间放线菌数量相差不大 ,且随重金属浓度增大而变化较小 .无论是不同浓度的铜还是不同浓度的镉的接种处理常有利于增加磷酸酶活性 .重金属浓度低时 ,细菌和真菌数量、磷酸酶活性变化较大 ,高浓度时变化较小 .图 7参 15     

Distribution of heavy metals in soil and accumulation in plants at an agricultural area of Umudike,Nigeria

This study assessed the distribution of heavy metals in soil and their subsequent accumulation in plants at a site at Umudike, Nigeria, that had been contaminated by agrochemicals. Soil and plant samples were analysed for zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr) and cadmium (Cd). The highest concentrations of Zn (251.50 mg/kg) and Cd (61.33 mg/kg) were obtained at a soil depth of 0–10 cm. The highest concentrations of Zn (16.52 mg/kg), Cd (27.12 mg/kg) and Cr (164.07 mg/kg) were accumulated by Baphia nitida. The levels of Cd, Cr and Zn in soil were 27.97–61.33, 24.97–45.43 and 148.57–251.50 mg/kg, and their concentrations in B. nitida were 16.18–27.13, 97.99–164.07 and 0.10–16.52 mg/kg, respectively. There were significant correlations between Cd and Cr and Cd and Zn in soil, as well as between Cd and Cr in plants. The concentration of Cd in soil reflected a state of pollution relative to Dutch criteria for soil and the FAO/WHO Codex Alimentarius Commission.     

Metal fractionation of cadmium, lead and arsenic of geogenic origin in topsoils from the Marrancos gold mineralisation, northern Portugal

The Marrancos gold mineralisation has a chemical assemblage of Fe–As–Se–Bi–Au–Ag–Te–(Cu–Pb–Zn–Sn–W). The −200 mesh of 144 topsoil samples was analysed by ICP–MS to determine total contents of 53 elements that include potentially harmful elements like Cd, As and Pb. The soil geochemistry shows that some trace elements occur in considerably high concentrations. On the basis of data for total metal concentrations, 10 topsoil samples were selected to carry out a metal fractionation study using a selective extraction method. A set of four leaches of increasing strength was used sequentially in the soil samples. Across the study area, there is some evidence of past mining and exploration activity, indicating that these soils may be locally disturbed. The shallow mineralised quartz veins were exploited for gold by the Romans. Several galleries were constructed during the 2nd World War, probably for the exploration of quartz–cassiterite–wolframite veins. However, the main mineralised body in depth was never explored. The results of metal fractionation show different partitions for the three elements. Total Cd concentrations in these soils are low, with a median value of 0.1 mg/kg. In average, 12% of total Cd is adsorbed by clays and/or co-precipitated with carbonates, and 19% is bounded to Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides. However, the low concentrations indicate that the metal does not represent an immediate risk to human health. For Pb, metal fractionation shows that, on average, 22% of Pb is adsorbed by amorphous Fe and Mn oxides, but the samples from the northern part of the area have the major fractions of Pb in soluble forms. The low probability of exposure in this part of the study area decreases the risk posed by this heavy metal. Total As concentrations in the Marrancos soils are extremely high. A large area has As concentrations above 1,000 mg/kg. For As, metal fractions in the sulphide phase vary between 84 and 98% in the studied samples. But one sample has 20% of total As in easily reducible forms, corresponding to a partial concentration of 1,800 mg/kg that has a high probability of being bioavailable. The most labile As forms occur at the southern part of the area, where the probability of exposure is higher and the risk of human health increases in the same order. From the three studied potentially harmful elements, As is certainly the element of concern.     

Geochemical distribution of trace element concentrations in the vicinity of Boroo gold mine, Selenge Province, Mongolia

The environmental impacts of Boroo gold mine project in Mongolia was evaluated by chemical characterization of trace element concentrations in water, soils and tailing dam sediment samples. The results showed that concentrations of B, Cd, Ni and Se in the water samples were within the accepted levels of the Mongolia water quality standard (MNS4586: 1998). However, the concentrations of Al, As, Cu, Mn, Fe, Pb, U and Zn were higher than the maximum allowable concentration especially in the monitoring and heap leach wells. The average concentrations of As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in the tailing dam sediment were 4419, 58.5, 56.0, 4.8, 20.6 and 25.7 mg/kg, respectively. Generally, arsenic and heavy metals in the soil samples were within the acceptable concentrations of the soil standard of Mongolia (MNS 5850: 2008). The chemical characterization of As solid phase in tailing dam sediment showed that the majority of As were found in the residual fraction comprising about 74% of total As. Assessing the potential risk to humans, simple bioavailability extraction test was used to estimate bioavailability of arsenic and heavy metals, and the concentrations extracted from tailing dam sediment were; 288.2 mg/kg As, 7.2 mg/kg Cd, 41.1 mg/kg Cu, 13.5 mg/kg Pb, 4.7 mg/kg Ni and 23.5 mg/kg Zn, respectively. From these results, the Boroo gold mine project has presently not significantly impacted the environment, but there is a high probability that it may act as a source of future contamination.     

Bioaccumulation and regional distribution of trace metals in fish of the Tibetan Plateau

There are limited data on trace metals in the fishes of the Tibetan Plateau. In this study, 62 fish samples were collected from six alpine lakes and a river to investigate the levels and spatial variations of trace metals across the Tibetan Plateau. The concentrations of nine trace elements in fish samples were measured using an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer after microwave digestion. Results showed the metal concentrations in the fish muscles had the following ranges: Cr 0.09–0.74 mg/kg, Mn 0.38–4.49 mg/kg, Ni 0.06–0.91 mg/kg, Cu 1.00–32.2 mg/kg, Zn 13.1–102.5 mg/kg, As 0.12–3.10 mg/kg, Pb 0.46–3.22 mg/kg, Ba 0.60–4.93 mg/kg, and Se 0.77–9.38 mg/kg on a dry weight basis, respectively. All the lake-averaged metal concentrations in the fish muscle were below the maximum permissible levels set by the Chinese food health criterion (GB2762-2012). The results were analyzed by multivariate statistical techniques to identify the major factors explaining the variance of metal concentrations in the alpine lakes. This work provides baseline data on metal pollution in common fish species of the Tibetan Plateau, contributing to the effective evaluation of both the environmental quality and health status of organisms in the aquatic ecosystem.