Variations in heavy metal contamination of stream water and groundwater affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine in Korea

This study evaluated variations in heavy metal contamination of stream waters and groundwaters affected by an abandoned lead–zinc mine, where a rockfill dam for water storage will be built 11 km downstream. For these purposes, a total of 10 rounds of stream and groundwater samplings and subsequent chemical analyses were performed during 2002–2003. Results of an exploratory investigation of stream waters in 2000 indicated substantial contamination with heavy metals including zinc (Zn), iron (Fe) and arsenic (As) for at least 6 km downstream from the mine. Stream waters near the mine showed metal contamination as high as arsenic (As) 8,923 μg L⁻¹, copper (Cu) 616 μg L⁻¹, cadmium (Cd) 223 μg L⁻¹ and lead (Pb) 10,590 μg L⁻¹, which greatly exceeded the Korean stream water guidelines. Remediation focused on the mine tailing piles largely improved the stream water qualities. However, there have still been quality problems for the waters containing relatively high concentrations of As (6–174 μg L⁻¹), Cd (1–46 μg L⁻¹) and Pb (2–26 μg L⁻¹). Rainfall infiltration into the mine tailing piles resulted in an increase of heavy metals in the stream waters due to direct discharge of waste effluent, while dilution of the contaminated stream waters improved the water quality due to mixing with metal free rain waters. Levels of As, Cu and chromium (Cr) largely decreased after heavy rain but that of Pb was rather elevated. The stream waters were characterized by high concentrations of calcium (Ca) and sulfate (SO₄), which were derived from dissolution and leaching of carbonate and sulfide minerals. It was observed that the proportions of Ca and SO₄ increased while those of bicarbonate (HCO₃) and sodium and potassium (Na+K) decreased after a light rainfall event. Most interestingly, the reverse was generally detected for the groundwaters. The zinc, being the metal mined, was the most dominant heavy metal in the groundwaters (1758–10,550 μg L⁻¹) near the mine, which far exceeded the Korean standard of 1000 μg L⁻¹ for drinking water. The decreases in the heavy metals contents in the groundwaters associated with reduced rainfall were quite different from the increases observed for the stream waters, which is not clearly understood at this time and warrants further investigation.     

Heavy metals in three commercially valuable cyprinids in the river Panjkora,district Lower Dir,Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,Pakistan

This study was conducted in river Panjkora (Khall, upstream; Timergara, downstream) and its tributary (Konhaye stream, reference site) at district Lower Dir. The study was aimed to assess heavy metal load in gills, liver, kidneys, and muscles of three fish species, namely Schizothorax esocinus, Racoma labiata, and Crossocheilus diplocheilus. The heavy metals, including nickel, cadmium, lead, copper, zinc, chromium, iron, and manganese were determined using an atomic absorption spect-rophotometer. Nickel and cadmium were not detected in any of the collected specimens at all sampling sites. Concentration of the detected metals varied significantly depending upon fish species and tissue type. Crossocheilus diplocheilus showed higher accumulated concentration of heavy metals while R. labiata contained the least. Schizothorax esocinus and R. labiata displayed significant differences in their concentrations of metals. The order of accumulation of heavy metals in different tissues was liver>kidneys>muscles>gills. Data demonstrated that heavy metal levels in the studied species were within permissible limits and thus, apparently suitable for human consumption. Currently, the river contains a sewage burden, and continued heavy pollution may ultimately lead to serious problems in the future.     

Some effects of century old abandoned lead mining operations on streams in Missouri,USA

Lead has been mined in the Old Lead Belt region of southeastern Missouri, USA since the early 1700s. Mining operations ceased totally in 1972. Since no other major industries were associated with the region, an investigation was initiated to study the long-term environmental effects of lead mining activities on the water quality sediments and biota otarea receiving streams. The principal study area was Flat River Creek,. which drained the major mining operations of the region. The findings of this study indicated the water of the lower Flat River Creek below the mining elevation contained elevated levels of lead, zinc, calcium and magnesium. The sediments and biota of the same stream area were also found to contain significantly higher levels of lead and zinc as well as copper and cadmium. Algae, crayfish and minnows were all found to have concentrated these metals. The studies indicated that some type of abandonment plan must be developed for the control and treatment of heavy metal pollution for mining operations on a continuing basis.     

A mathematical model for the uptake of heavy metals in benthic algae

A mathematical model for the uptake of heavy metals in the benthic algae Ascophyllum nodosum has been developed. The model allows assignment of age-dependent growth parameters which also may be a function of external factors. Mortality curves for A. nodosum corresponding to a highly polluted and a nearly unpolluted area have been used in the study of metal uptake. Uptake has been simulated for different values of growth parameters and different concentrations of heavy metals in seawater. Emphasis has been on the uptake of zinc. The simulations showed that the concentration of zinc in the algae changed much less (6%) than the biomass (30%) with changes in intrinsic growth rate, mortality and carrying capacity.The concentration in the algae was found to be an approximately linear function of the mean concentration in seawater up to about 100 ppb. At very high concentrations, associated with high mortality, the deviation from linearity may be significant (about 13% at 162 ppb at one locality). The calculation indicates further that variations in the zinc concentration in the seawater are considerably damped in the algae.Simulations have also been performed to study the effects of sampling different parts of the algae, and some initial simulations have been performed to study the effects of heavy metal exchange between algae and sea water.     

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Sea Urchin Tissues From Egypt,Ireland and United Kingdom

Abstract

Sea urchins (Paracentrotus lividus) were collected from the Mediterranean coast off Alexandria, Egypt and the Atlantic coast of Ireland to the west of Galway. Samples of another urchin species, Psammechinus miliaris, were collected from the entrance to Southampton Water, U.K. Both the Alexandria coast and Southampton Water receive domestic and industrial waste water inputs whilst the western Irish coast is relatively unpolluted.

Sampled animals were dissected to separate coelomic fluids, Aristotle's lantern, gonads and tissue (digestive tract plus connective tissue). the concentrations of heavy metals (cadmium, copper, lead, nickel and zinc) in the different parts were measured using flame atomic absorption spectroscopy.

Many levels of heavy metals in the different parts were similar in specimens taken across the wide range of sites and the two species. A notable exception was the high level of copper (33 μg g^?1 dry wt.) and zinc 328 μg g^?1? dry wt.) in urchin tissue from Southampton Water.

The metal concentrations in the gonads of Paracentrotus lividus are of particular interest because of human consumption of this species. the highest levels of copper (3.3–5.2 g^?1? dry wt.) and zinc (74–181 μ g^?1? dry wt.) dry wt.) in gonads were found in the samples from Egypt. Data from this study are compared with other results reported from the Mediterranean.

A simple, short term, elevated water column copper uptake experiment was undertaken with Paracentrotus lividus which showed an increase in gonad concentrations of this element.     

Biosorption of lead and cadmium using marine algae

The use of algae (Ulva fasciata, green and Sargassum sp., brown) to reduce lead and cadmium levels from mono-metal solutions was investigated. The brown algae showed higher efficiency for the accumulation of lead (～1.5 times) and cadmium (～2 times) than green algae. The optimum pH value is found to be between 4 and 5.5. Regarding biomass concentration, an increase in metals percentage removal and a decrease in metal uptake capacity coincided with the increase in biomass concentration. All light metals (Ca, Mg and Na) showed a suppressive effect on biosorption capacity. The enhancement of biosorption in the case of NaOH was obvious. The biosorption process (65–90%) occurred within 3?min. Experimental data were in high agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich model for lead and cadmium biosorption using different biosorbents. In the desorption study, 0.2?mol?L^?1 HCl recorded the best concentration for the elution of metals from the biomass. The biosorption capacity decreased over the four operational cycles for both lead and cadmium. Infrared analysis showed that amino, hydroxyl and carboxyl functional groups provide the major biosorption sites for metal binding. Use of the above-mentioned algae for cheap metal absorbance is considered as one water treatment criterion.     

Uptake and accumulation of potentially toxic elements in colonized plant species around the world’s largest antimony mine area,China

To provide information on reclamation of multi-heavy metal polluted soils with conception of phytostabilization, a field survey on the uptake and accumulation of potentially toxic elements such as antimony (Sb), arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in colonized plant species around the world’s largest antimony mine area, China, was conducted. Samples including leaves and shoots (including roots and stems) of colonized plants as well as rhizospheric soils were collected from eight sampling zones in the studied area. The results showed that the contents of Cu, Zn, and Pb in rhizospheric soils below plants were comparable to the corresponding background values of Hunan province, otherwise Sb, Cd, and As contents were extremely high (17–106, 17–87, and 3–7 times of the corresponding background values). The highest concentration of Sb was found in Aster subulatus (410 mg kg^?1); Cd, As, and Zn were in Herba bidentis bipinnatae (10.9, 264, and 265 mg kg^?1, respectively); and Cu was in Artemisia lavandulaefolia (27.1 mg kg^?1). It also exhibited that all the contents of As in leaves were several times of those in shoots of plants, Cd and other heavy metals showed in a similar pattern in several studied species, implying that the uptake route of these heavy metals via foliar might contribute to the accumulation. With high bioconcentration factors of heavy metals (more than 1, except for Zn), together with the growth abundance, Herba bidentis bipinnatae was considered as the most suitable colonized species for phytostabilization of the multi-heavy metal pollution in soils on this antimony mine area.     

Characterization of environmental water samples using strontium and lead stable isotope compositions

A simple procedure using both cation and anion exchange chromatography has been applied in the study of lead and strontium isotope composition in rain and stream water samples from remote catchments in Scotland. Whereas the soil released strontium to stream waters, lead was removed from rain water and the concentrations in stream waters were very low. Highly precise analysis by thermal ionisation mass spectrometry proved necessary in the determination of strontium isotope composition. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratio in rain water was close to that of marine strontium but the ratios in stream waters were constant and highly characteristic for the stream. In the case of the stream at the Sourhope site, the ratio (0.70798 ± 0.00005) was less than that in rain water and probably resulted from the weathering of one specific mineral. The results suggested that the ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios could be used as a stable isotope tracer of waters and to provide information on the weathering processes. Two major anthropogenic components of lead were identified in water samples. One had its origin in petrol additives whereas the other was probably of industrial origin. The low ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios observed in stream waters confirmed the lead as being of anthropogenic origin and the data suggested that there was a movement, albeit very small, of lead from the soil to waters.     

Geographical distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals: a case study of mine tailings pond

ABSTRACT

In China, a large number of tailings deposited on natural surfaces, the potential risk of tailings attracts people’s attention. In this study, heavy metals distribution, geo-accumulation index, ecological risk index, microbial diversity and community were examined to evaluate the risks of a tailings pond. Results indicated the tailings pH is about 8.17, and the redox potential was lower than zero. Heavy metals could be leached and migrate from the tailings. The tailings pond had more influence on the distribution of Pb, Zn, As, Cu, and S. The influence distance of Pb, Zn, and Cu was less than 10?m, and the influence distance of As and S was less than 50?m. S and As had stronger migration capability than other elements in the soil. The biggest potential ecological risk resulted from Pb, and the distances more than 100?m had low ecological risk. The tailings decreased microbial richness and diversity of the surrounding environment. Oxidising bacteria and reducing bacteria existed in both the tailings and the surrounding soils; however, there were more oxidising and reducing microbes in the tailings than in the surrounding soils. The tailings pond currently has little impact on the environment, but the potential risk still exists.     

Schwermetallbelastung von Dreissena polymorpha in Donau und Drau und ihre Bedeutung als Bioindikator

Goal and Scope

This study was undertaken to investigate the differences in heavy metal burden between the organisms and environmental compartments and to evaluate the role of Dreissena polymorpha as a bioindicator organism.

Methods

The concentrations of zinc, copper, cadmium and lead in whole soft body and selected tissues of D. polymorpha at two river habitats in Austria were examined using atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS). Concentrations in organisms were compared to those in sediment and water.

Results and Conclusion

Zebra mussels of the river Drau showed generally higher heavy metal concentrations as compared to mussels of the river Danube and contained elevated zinc and cadmium levels as compared to metal concentrations found in soft tissues of zebra mussels from uncontaminated sites in Germany and The Netherlands. The essential metals zinc and copper were mainly accumulated in gills, foot and byssal gland tissue of the mussel, in contrast to the non-essential metals cadmium and lead which were found predominantly in the midgut gland. The heavy metal concentrations in both, sediments and mussel tissue, were higher than in water samples. There was no correlation between the concentrations in water and in the organisms except for zinc. In contrast, correlations were found between concentrations in sediments and mussel soft tissue.

Recommendation and Perspective

Further investigations should include the examination of sediments and consider the mechanism of food uptake to assess the role of D. polymorpha as a bioindicator organism.     

The accumulation levels of heavy metals (Ni,Cr, Sr, & Ag) in marine algae from southwest coast of India

In the context of use of marine algae as biological indicators of heavy metal pollution in coastal waters, six species of marine algae collected from the southwest coast of India were analysed for the levels of heavy metals (Ni, Cr, Sr, and Ag). Interspecies and interclass variations were determined on a spatial and temporal scale. The metal contents varied in the ranges, Ni: 0.20–21.06?µg?g^?1 (mean?=?10.13?µg?g^?1), Cr: non-detectable level (ND)–37.18?µg?g^?1 (mean?=?13.86?µg?g^?1), Sr: 2.19–103.90?µg?g^?1 (mean =?29.40?µg?g^?1), and Ag: ND–6.39?µg?g^?1 (mean?=?1.80?µg?g^?1). Ni and Cr contents were of similar magnitude to those reported for algae from polluted areas.     

Distribution of selected elements and PAH in freshly deposited sediments of waste water streams from Lubin district, Southwest Poland

Nine selected elements (Cu, Pb, As, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd and Fe) were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy in 15 samples from the tailings pond (Zelazny Most) and waste water streams (Moskorzynke and Rudna) in the Kupferschiefer mining district in Southwest Poland. Waste water from mining and industry enter the Zelazny Most pond. The water then flows through Moskorzynke and Rudna streams, and discharges into the River Odra. The analytic results indicate that the contamination with Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Co, Cd and Fe extend about 6km along the streams in contrast to the nonpolluted samples close the River Odra. Their concentrations reach a level, which could be toxic for plants, animals and humans. The contamination with Ni and Cr continued at least 20km along Rudna stream. Besides mechanical transport, redox conditions and C_org contents also played an important role for trace element and Fe contamination in Rudna stream. The samples with high C_org contents have also high contents of trace metals. In Moskorzynke stream the element contamination was mainly caused by mechanical transport of particles. Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), which is abundant in Kupferschiefer, is toxic for animals and humans. The PAH concentration in the stream sediments was determined by GC and GC/MS. The results indicate that the contamination of PAH reaches 6 and 17mgkg_–1 in samples TP1 and RS6, respectively. In the other samples, the PAH contents are lower than 3mgkg_–1. Some PAH could be solved by waste water in the tailings pond and migrated to the stream sediments. Some PAH might be contained in particles which were transported mechanically from the tailings pond into stream sediments.     

二元联合作用藻红外测试方法——以重金属为例

为检验二元联合作用藻红外测试方法的可行性,用Cu~(2+)、Fe3+、Mn~(2+)、Al3+、Cr3+、Hg~(2+)、Cd~(2+)、Pb~(2+)、Zn~(2+)进行了二元联合作用测试实验。结果显示:联合药液的参照浓度与单药液的参照浓度比为0.5:0.25的有15组二元组合,为2.0:1.0的有10组二元组合,为1.0:0.5的有11组二元组合;在9种重金属的36组二元联合作用测试结果中出现拮抗作用、相加作用、协同作用,表明联合作用类型表现出多样性;14组拮抗作用中单组的再现性为50%~100%、多组的再现性的出现率为93%、单组的重现性为67%~100%、多组的重现性的出现率为100%,21组相加作用中单组的再现性为50%~100%、多组的再现性的出现率为86%、单组的重现性为67%~100%、多组的重现性的出现率为100%,1组协同作用重现性67%;36组联合作用测试结果的再现性为50%~100%、再现性的出现率为86%,重现性为67%~100%、重现性的出现率为100%。上述分析可知,9种重金属的36种二元联合作用测试结果具有较好的多样性、再现性、重现性,表明测试条件、藻温测试方法、三指标评价法能够保证藻响应温差和藻响应药品评价结果的质量,参照浓度分析方法、联合作用评价方法能够控制联合作用分析结果的质量;藻响应的有毒有害物都存在敏感浓度,用参照浓度分析方法可分析出藻响应有毒有害物的参照浓度。因此,藻红外测试技术可以用于测试重金属、农药、有机药品、抗生素等的二元联合作用。     

Combined bioremediation for lead in mine tailings by Solanum nigrum L. and indigenous fungi

Lead-contaminated mine tailings were bioremediated using microbial/phyto remediation. The optimum lead accumulation and tolerance capacity of the plant–microbe partnership were investigated, and their mechanisms were evaluated further under varied levels of lead contamination through a flowerpot experiment in a greenhouse. Enzymes activities revealed that bioremediation has improved fertility and metabolism of tailing soil. The removal efficiency of lead was in the order of microbial/phytoremediation?>?phytoremediation. Solanum nigrum L. was not shown to be a hyperaccumulator for lead. Mucor circinelloides significantly enhanced the growth response and lead accumulation in plants more than Mortierella and Trichoderma asperellum. Moreover, Mortierella was discovered to have good metal tolerance capacity under high Pb concentrations (1200 and 1600?mg?kg^?1). The results for lead bioavailability showed that phytostabilisation serves as a major repair pathway for S. nigrum L. Effective fractions were immobilised for decreased bioavailability by T. asperellum and M. circinelloides. On the contrary, an increased amount of lead was mobilised for increased bioavailability by Mortierella. This study provides new insights into the feasibility of using S. nigrum L. and the aforementioned indigenous fungus strains for large-scale bioremediation of mine tailings.     

化学品急性毒性藻红外测试技术的方法改进研究

在以往藻红外测试技术的急性毒性测试中,每次每个测试杯测试1个藻温,共2个测试组,并用藻最大响应温差1个指标进行毒性评价,测试结果的可行性和稳定性不理想,针对这个问题提出了改进方法:1)每次每个测试杯连测3个藻温;2)改为3个测试组;3)将单指标法改为三指标法;4)增加测试结果的重现性分析。通过蒸馏水毒性测试实验和重金属毒性测试实验,分析改进方法的效果。结果显示,不同指标方法中,三指标法控制假结果出现率为20%,控制效果最好;在测试4元重金属共存(总浓度0.066~0.156 mg·L~(-1))的毒性时,测试3个藻温的所有指标法的平均重现率(%)/重现性(%)均为100%/100%,测试1个藻温的三指标法的平均重现率(%)/重现性(%)为67%/100%,表明测试高浓度的重金属毒性时,不同指标法都有很好的评价效果;在测试一元重金属(0.001~0.1 mg·L~(-1))毒性时,只有三指标法的平均重现率(%)/重现性(%)是100%/100%,远高于其他指标法,表明只有三指标法才可准确测试低浓度重金属的毒性。在测试5种不同重金属共存的毒性时,三指标法的平均重现率(%)/重现性(%)平均为86.8%/100%。研究表明,改进后的技术用于化学品急性毒性测试,灵敏度高和稳定性好,结果可靠。     

Indications from photosynthetic components that iron is a limiting nutrient in primary producers on coral reefs

Because iron is not available generally in oxygenated sea water, it may be a limiting factor in marine primary production. This hypothesis was tested in the context of Davies Reef, Latitude 18°50′S (one of the coral reefs in the central region of the Great Barrier Reef system). Samples were collected for study in the period August, 1980 to March, 1981. Sea water around the reef contained ≦2x10^-6 M Fe, surface sediments from the reef contained 66±26 (1 SD) ppm total Fe, and interstitial water near the surface contained ≧5x10^-7 M Fe. Thus, Fe constituted a trace component of the reef environment, but limited Fe should be available to algae associated with the sediments. Specific biochemical analyses to test the Fe status of benthic photosynthetic organisms were carried out with a common blue-green alga, Phormidium sp., and a ubiquitous symbiotic dinoflagellate, Gymnodinium microadriaticum (zooxanthellae). The blue-green alga contained the electron transport protein, flavodoxin, which is found only in Fe-deficient organisms. Supporting evidence for Fe stress in this organism included chlorosis in the presence of plentiful biliprotein, and very low extractable photosynthetic cytochrome, c-553. The latter observations were shown to be the result of Fe deficiency in laboratory cultures of a blue-green alga, Synechococcus sp. These cultures showed that production of flavodoxin is not a universal response of algae to Fe stress, but that lowered cellular concentrations of Fe-containing proteins involved in photosynthesis probably is universal. The zooxanthellae from a soft coral, Sinularia sp., had three-fold lower total Fe and ferredoxin (an electron transport protein), than the same alga from a clam, Tridacna maxima. Thus, some algae in symbiotic associations may also suffer Fe-deficiency. It was concluded that the degree and extent of Fe-stress in primary producers on a coral reef may influence growth rates, biomass, and distribution of species.     

Heavy Metals in Macroalgae of Havana's Northern Littoral,Cuba

Copper, iron, lead, manganese, and zinc contents were determined in various phyla of macroalgae typical of the rocky mesolittoral zone of Cuba and widely distributed in the Caribbean Region. the samples were collected in different zones along the shores of Havana City which are more or less influenced by anthropogenic activities. Differences in metal contents were observed due to seasonal variations and differences between sampling sites. of the analyzed species, only one brown alga, Padina vickersiae is considered as a suitable candidate for the monitoring of metal contamination.     

Heavy metal action on transintegumentary absorption of glycine in two annelid species

Absorption of ¹⁴C-glycine from ambient sea water across the body surface of the oligochaete Enchytraeus albidus Henle was, after 6 h preincubation, significantly reduced in the presence of 0.1 to 0.15 ppm mercury, 0.25 ppm copper, 1.5 ppm silver, and 2 ppm cadmium. Addition of heavy metal salts reduced maximum uptake rates (V _max ), without affecting transport constants (K _t ). Influx of ¹⁴C-glycine remained unchanged in the presence of up to 10 ppm aluminium, chromium, iron, lead, molybdenum, vanadium, and zinc. Effects of up to 150 ppm nickel, manganese, cobalt and selenium were negligible. Inhibition of glycine absorption by mercury and cadmium in the polychaete Nereis diversicolor Müller is almost identical with results presented for E. albidus. Transintegumentary solute absorption in soft-bodied marine invertebrates obviously represents a suitable biological function for studies on heavy metal toxicity. The close relationship between rates of heavy metal absorption, inhibition of transintegumentary glycine uptake, and acute toxicity is discussed.     

Impact of Gold mining on the Environment and Human Health: A Case Study in the Migori Gold Belt, Kenya

The study of gold sites in the Migori Gold Belt, Kenya, revealed that the concentrations of heavy metals, mainly Hg, Pb and As are above acceptable levels. Tailings at the panning sites recorded values of 6.5–510 mg kg^–1 Pb, 0.06–76.0 mg kg^–1 As and 0.46–1920 mg kg^–1 Hg. Stream sediments had values of 3.0–11075 mg kg^–1 Pb, 0.014–1.87 mg kg^–1 As and 0.28–348 mg kg^–1 Hg. The highest metal contamination was recorded in sediments from the Macalder stream (11075 mg kg^–1 Pb), Nairobi mine tailings (76.0 mg kg^–1 As) and Mickey tailings (1920 mg kg^–1 Hg). Mercury has a long residence time in the environment and this makes its emissions from artisan mining a threat to health. Inhaling large amounts of siliceous dust, careless handling of mercury during gold panning and Au/Hg amalgam processing, existence of water logged pits and trenches; and large number of miners sharing poor quality air in the mines are the major causes of health hazards among miners. The amount of mercury used by miners for gold amalgamation during peak mining periods varies from 150 to 200 kg per month. Out of this, about 40% are lost during panning and 60% lost during heating Au/Hg amalgam. The use of pressure burners to weaken the reef is a deadly mining procedure as hot particles of Pb, As and other sulphide minerals burn the body. Burns become septic. This, apparently, leads to death within 2–3 years. On-site training of miners on safe mining practices met with enthusiasm and acceptance. The use of dust masks, air filters and heavy chemical gloves during mining and mineral processing were readily accepted. Miners were thus advised to purchase such protective gear, and to continue using them for the sake of their health. The miners' workshop, which was held at the end of the project is likely to bear fruit. The Migori District Commissioner and other Government officials, including medical officers attended this workshop. As a result of this, the Government is seriously considering setting up a clinic at Masara, which is one of the mining centres in the district. This would improve the health of the mining community.     

Physicochemical characterization of sediments from Tajan river basin in the northern Iran

Abstract

Continuous monitoring of water quality of freshwater bodies may prevent outbreak of diseases and occurrence of hazards through employment of effective protection measures. The aim of the current investigation was to determine occurrence of water and sediment pollution in Tajan River North Iran which ultimately may be a threat to recreational beaches of Caspian Sea. Water samples were analyzed for various physicochemical parameters including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), bicarbonates, sulfates, cations, chlorides and heavy metals. The concentrations of zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr) and lead (Pb) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. Similarly, sediment samples were assessed for physicochemical characteristics including pH, EC, saturation percentage, organic matter, organic carbon, texture and cations. Overall, pH, EC, organic matter, and cation values were within acceptable limits according to USEPA water quality guidelines. However, phosphorus (P) concentration up to 5.6?mg/L was considered as “unsafe” which might result in undesirable eutrophication and increased accumulation of sediment organic content leading to excessive growth of algal species in riverine ecosystem. Heavy metal concentrations of Cd (0.08?ppm) and Pb (3?ppm) were above USEPA threshold limits which may consequently affect sustainability of Tajan River. The unacceptable levels of Cd, Pb and P may produce eutrophication of Caspian Sea coasts and damage the ecosystem.