Tracking changes in the global impacts of metal concentrate acquisition for the metals industry in Finland

This article considers the environmental impacts and the governance framework of the domestic and international supply of iron, zinc, copper and nickel concentrates smelted and refined in Finland. The metals industry in the country is heavily dependent on imported concentrates, and the research is thus focused on defining the level of impacts related to mining and mineral processing abroad, and the change in the impacts between 2000 and 2010. The estimations of environmental impacts are based on waste minerals and CO_2eq emissions, and the quality of governance in the set of indicators measuring different aspects of governance. The total amount of waste minerals and CO_2eq emissions related to metal concentrates decreased over the ten-year period. At the same time, the quality of governance improved in all concentrate groups except nickel. Ore grade, mine type and transportation distance appear to be the most influential factors on environmental impacts. The results suggest that the country of origin can have a noticeable effect on the environmental impacts and the quality of governance of the mining and processing of metal concentrates.     

Cadmium in soybeans and the relevance to human exposure

<正>Introduction Cadmium is considered a human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC,1993)and the US National Toxicology Program(NTP,1997).Cadmium contamination of food crops is a persistent issue for both the agricultural industry as well as consumers.This is an issue for agriculture because cadmium can be present in soils naturally or as a result of industrial processes and can contaminate foods that are consumed by humans.Industrial     

Persistent pollutants and the patchiness of urban green areas as drivers of genetic richness in the epiphytic moss Leptodon smithii

We determined genetic variation and metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in Leptodon smithii moss collected in holm oak stands at cities, outskirts and remote areas of Campania and Tuscany（Italy） to investigate if anthropogenic pressure（pollutant emissions and land use change） affects moss genetic richness. In both regions, metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations reflected the trend urban 〉 outskirts 〉 remote areas, excepting Tuscany remote site. In both regions,the moss gene diversity increased from urban to remote areas. The findings suggest the extent and the fragmentation of urban green areas, as drivers of moss genetic richness.     

Chemical Characteristics of Urban Stormwater Sediments and Implications for Environmental Management, Maricopa County, Arizona

On the basis of published guidelines, urban stormwater sediments do not appear to constitute a major regional environmental problem with respect to the chemical characteristics investigated here. At individual sites, high concentrations of organic compounds—chlordane, dieldrin, PCBs, and toxaphene—may require some attention. The possible environmental hazard presented by low-level organochlorine contamination is not addressed in this paper; however, high levels of toxicity in urban sediments are difficult to explain. Sediment toxicity varied significantly with time, which indicates that these tests should be evaluated carefully before they are used for management decisions.     

Artificial carbonation for controlling the mobility of critical elements in bottom ash

In municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI), bottom ash, generated at a stoker grate type incinerator, the critical elements were identified in terms of EU regulation. The stabilizing effect of moderate carbonation (pH 8.28 ± 0.03) on critical contaminants was studied through availability and diffusion leaching protocols. Data from the performed tests were evaluated with the goal of reusing MSWI bottom ash as secondary construction material. To investigate the mobilizing effect of CO₂, suspended MSWI bottom ash was severely carbonated (pH 6.40 ± 0.07). The effect of CO₂ and its interaction with other leaching factors, such as liquid/solid (L/S) ratio, leaching time, pH, ultrasound treatment, and leaching temperature, were examined using a reduced 2^6-1 experimental design. Contaminants identified as critical were Cr, Cu, Mo, Sb, Cl⁻, and SO₄ ²⁻. Although moderate carbonation decreased the release of Cr, Cu, Mo, and Sb from compacted bottom ash, the main disadvantage remains its inability to demobilize Cl⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻. The hypothesized mobilizing effect of severe carbonation was proven. The treatment enhanced the separation of critical components (α = 0.05) (except for Cl⁻), i.e., about fivefold for Sb and about twofold for Cr, Cu, and S. Nevertheless, the prospect is good that severe carbonation could constitute the deciding key parameter to facilitate the technical feasibility of a future washing process for MSWI bottom ash.     

Potential Long-Term Ecological Impacts Caused by Disturbance of Contaminated Sediments:A Case Study

Several submerged barges were recently removed from the Passaic River, New Jersey, USA, in two areas (areas 1 and 2) where contaminated sediments are known to exist. During removal of the single barge in area 1, elevated turbidity levels and chemical parameters were measured. Greater increases were measured in area 2, where several barges were removed. In both areas, water column concentrations of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and several metals exceeded one or more water quality criteria; turbidity levels in area 2 also exceeded regulatory criteria. Potential chemical bioaccumulation from the water column into residential aquatic receptors was estimated using standard models and assumptions. The modeled results predicted that steady-state tissue concentrations of bioaccumulative chemicals would not occur as a result of the brief increase in water column concentrations that occurred during barge removal but that metals and PCDD/Fs could bioaccumulate to levels that exceed regulatory ecological criteria during long-term sediment disturbance activities. In addition, based on some simplistic assumptions regarding settling of suspended sediments, we estimate that chemical bioaccumulation from surface sediments into the food web could result in substantial increases in PCDD/F body burdens in the benthic forage fish, mummichog. Our findings are consistent with the limited number of field studies that have measured increased body burdens of bioaccumulative chemicals following dredging. We suggest that, prior to consideration of extensive dredging as a remedial alternative for any river system, the potential significant and long-term impacts on the food web must be evaluated.     

Urban geochemistry: research strategies to assist risk assessment and remediation of brownfield sites in urban areas

Urban geochemical maps of Wolverhampton and Nottingham, based on multielement analysis of surface soils, have shown distribution patterns of “total” metals concentrations relating to past and present industrial and domestic land use and transport systems. Several methods have been used to estimate the solubility and potential bioavailability of metals, their mineral forms and potential risks to urban population groups. These include sequential chemical extraction, soil pore water extraction and analysis, mineralogical analysis by scanning electron microscopy, source apportionment by lead isotope analysis and the development of models to predict metal uptake by homegrown vegetables to provide an estimate of risk from metal consumption and exposure. The results from these research strategies have been integrated with a geographical information system (GIS) to provide data for future land-use planning.     

Effects of land use on concentrations of metals in surface soils and ecological risk around Guanting Reservoir,China

It is accepted that the historical routine use of agrochemicals may have resulted in undesirable concentrations of metals in the environment. To investigate and assess the effects of land use on concentrations of heavy metals around the Guanting Reservoir in China, 52 surface soil samples (depth of 2–10 cm) were taken from areas where four types of land use were practiced (including arable land, woodland, bare land, orchard land). The metals and metalloids (As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Significant accumulation of As, Cd, and Cr was found in soils of arable land. Based on correlation and cluster analysis, it can be concluded that Cd and Zn originate mainly from phosphate fertilizer, Pb from the use of insecticides, fertilizers, and sewage sludge as well as air deposition, and Cu from copper-based fungicides, while As, Ni and Cr might come from parent soil material. According to an ecological risk analysis of metals based on the ecological index suggested by Hakanson, the four types of land can be ranked by severity of ecological risk as follows: arable land > woodland > bare land > orchard land, with a high ecological risk of Cd for all four types. Management measures for land use planners for avoiding water, soil, and sediment pollution caused by metals around the Guanting Reservoir are presented.     

基于Cokriging的土壤重金属空间变异研究——以昆山市为例

土壤重金属来源及空间分布是土壤学及环境学研究的热点问题。地统计学是土壤元素空间变异研究的有效方法以昆山市土壤重金属分布为例,先利用多元回归分析方法,提取与重金属含量显著相关的因子,再利用协同克里格方法研究了土壤理化性质和土壤重金属含量的相互关系,最后比较协同克里格与普通克里空间预测的精度。研究表明Hg、As、Cu、Pb的精度分别提高了2.75%、2.13%、0.17%和0.43%,cr、Zn和Cd 3种元素空间预测精度没有显著提高。     

Metal and oxalate contamination in a suburban watershed in the greater Toronto area: the benefits of combining acid leach and selective extraction procedures

Environmentally available concentrations of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Ni in soils and sediments from a small suburban catchment, obtained using an acid leach procedure, are compared to the Ontario Ministry of the Environment lowest effect level (LEL) and severe effect levels (SEL) and to Provincial sediment quality guidelines (PSQG's). These data are then compared to the bioavailability, potential bioavailability and non-bioavailability of the same metals, plus oxalate concentration, identified using a selective extraction procedure. This combination of techniques enhanced analytical interpretation with respect to metal mobility and potential metal contamination. Selective extraction highlighted the presence of oxalate as a potential contaminant, especially in poorly drained valley floor deposits (33,633 mg kg(-1) and 26,284 mg kg(-1)) and lakeshore sediments (27,095 mg kg(-1) and 13,729 mg kg(-1)). These levels are considerably in excess of those previously documented in a similar study from Rio de Janeiro, where contamination of urban sediment by sewage is a recognised environmental problem, and could possibly be used both as an indicator of similar contamination and the identification of those areas that warrant further investigation.