Comparison of the heavy metal bioaccumulation capacity of an epiphytic moss and an epiphytic lichen

This study compared the heavy metal bioaccumulation capacity in the epiphytic moss Scorpiurum circinatum and the epiphytic lichen Pseudevernia furfuracea, exposed in bags for 3 months in the urban area of Acerra (S Italy). The content of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn was measured by ICP-MS. The results showed that both species accumulated all the heavy metals assayed. The moss had the highest bioaccumulation capacity for all metals and showed a more constant and linear accumulation trend than the lichen. Intra-tissue heavy metal bioaccumulation was assessed by X-ray microanalysis applied to ESEM operated in high and low vacuum and ESEM modes.     

Atmospheric deposition of major and trace elements in Amman, Jordan

Wet and dry deposition samples were collected in the capital of Jordan, Amman. Concentrations of Al, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, V, Zn, Fe, Sr, Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻ and SO₄ ²⁻, along with pH were determined in collected samples. Mean trace metal concentrations were similar or less than those reported for other urban regions worldwide, while concentrations of Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ were among the highest. High Ca²⁺ concentrations were attributed to the calcareous nature of the local soil and to the influence of the Saharan dust. However, high SO₄ ²⁻ concentrations were attributed to the influence of both anthropogenic and natural sources. Except for Cl⁻, NO₃ ⁻, SO₄ ²⁻ and Cu, monthly dry deposition fluxes of all measured species were higher than wet deposition fluxes. The annual wet deposition fluxes of trace metals were much lower than those reported for other urban areas worldwide.     

Biomonitoring of environmental pollution by thorium and uranium in selected regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan

Two former uranium mines and a uranium reprocessing factory in the city of Aktau, Kazakhstan, may represent a risk of contaminating the surrounding areas by uranium and its daughter elements. One of the possible fingerprinting tools for studying the environmental contamination is using plant samples, collected in the surroundings of this city in 2007 and 2008. The distribution pattern of environmental pollution by uranium and thorium was evaluated by determining the thorium and uranium concentrations in plant samples (Artemisia austriaca) from the city of Aktau and comparing these results with those obtained for the same species of plants from an unpolluted area (town of Kurchatov). The determination of the uranium and thorium concentrations in different parts of A. austriaca plants collected from the analyzed areas demonstrated that the main contamination of the flora in areas surrounding the city of Aktau was due to dust transported by the wind from the uranium mines. The results obtained demonstrate that all the areas surrounding Aktau have a higher pollution level due to thorium and uranium than the control area (Kurchatov). A few “hot points” with high concentrations of uranium and thorium were found near the uranium reprocessing factory and the uranium mines.     

Speciation of methylmercury in rice grown from a mercury mining area

Monomethylmercury (CH₃Hg⁺ and its complexes; MeHg hereafter) is a known developmental neurotoxin. Recent studies have shown that rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain grown from mercury (Hg) mining areas may contain elevated MeHg concentrations, raising concerns over the health of local residents who consume rice on a daily basis. An analytical method employing high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) - inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) following enzymatic hydrolysis was developed to analyze the speciation of MeHg in uncooked and cooked white rice grain grown from the vicinity of a Hg mine in China. The results revealed that the MeHg in the uncooked rice is present almost exclusively as CH₃Hg-l-cysteinate (CH₃HgCys), a complex that is thought to be responsible for the transfer of MeHg across the blood-brain and placental barriers. Although cooking does not change the total Hg or total MeHg concentration in rice, no CH₃HgCys is measurable after cooking, suggesting that most, if not all, of the CH₃HgCys is converted to other forms of MeHg, the identity and toxicity of which remain elusive.     

A simple inexpensive gas phase chemiluminescence analyzer for measuring trace levels of arsenic in drinking water

An inexpensive sensitive gas-phase chemiluminescence (GPCL) based analyzer for arsenic is described; this device utilizes manual fluid dispensing operations to reduce size, weight and cost. The analyzer in its present form has a limit of detection (LOD, S/N = 3) of 1.0 μg/L total inorganic As (peak heightbased, 3 mL sample). The system was used to measure low level arsenic in tap water samples from Texas and New Mexico and compared with results obtained by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) as well as those from an automated GPCL analyzer. Good correlations were observed. Higher levels of As (50-500 μg/L, As(III), As(V) and mixtures thereof) were spiked into local tap water; the recoveries ranged from 95 ± 2% to 101 ± 1%. A single instrument weighs less than 3 kg, consumes <25 W in power, can be incorporated in a briefcase and constructed for <$US $1000. It is easily usable in the field.     

Speciation and uptake of arsenic accumulated by corn seedlings using XAS and DRC-ICP-MS

ICP-MS was used to investigate the uptake of As(III) and As(V) from hydroponics growth media by corn seedlings. It was found that arsenic uptake by the plant roots for the arsenic(V) and arsenic(III) treatments were 95 and 112 ppm, respectively. However, in the shoots of the arsenic (V) treatments had 18 ppm whereas arsenic(III) treatments had 12 ppm. XANES studies showed that As for both treatments arsenic was present as a mixture of an As(III) sulfur complex and an As(V) oxygen complex. The XANES data was corroborated by the EXAFS studies showing the presence of both oxygen and sulfur ligands coordinated to the arsenic. Iron concentrations were found to increase by 4 fold in the As(V) contaminated growth media and 7 fold in the As(III) treatment compared to the control iron concentration of 500 ppm. Whereas, the total iron concentration in the shoots was found to decrease by approximately the same amount for both treatments from 360 ppm in the control to approximately 125 ppm in both arsenic treatments. Phosphorus concentrations were found to decrease in both the roots and shoots compared to the control plants. The total sulfur in the roots was found to increase in the arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) treatments to 560 ppm and 800 ppm, respectively, compared to the control plants 358 ppm. In addition, the total sulfur in shoots of the plants was found to remain relatively constant at approximately 1080 ppm. The potassium concentrations in the plants were found to increase in the roots and decrease in the shoots.     

电感耦合等离子体质谱法测定大气颗粒物中微量元素及铂族元素

大气颗粒物样品采集量较少,一般只有5~10mg左右,其中铂族元素含量很低并且受到Cu、Ni、Cd、Zr、Hf等元素的严重干扰,直接测定误差很大,必须要进行分离富集。因此,同时测定其中的微量元素及铂族元素非常困难。本文利用HF和HNO3在封闭溶样装置中对大气颗粒物样品进行消解,样品完全消解后,分取约1/4的样品溶液,以Ir作为内标元素等离子体质谱法测定微量元素,然后将剩余样品通过Dowex,50W X8阳离子树脂和P507萃淋树脂混合交换柱,分离基体元素及干扰元素,以Ir为内标等离子体质谱法测定Pt、Pd、Rh三个铂族元素以及Re和Au。实现了一次溶样同时测定大气颗粒物中的微量元素、稀有分散元素及铂族元素。国际标样结果稳定可靠。     

成都绕城高速两侧土壤重金属含量测定及健康风险评价

成都绕城高速公路属于成都市主要交通干线,为成都市带来巨大经济及社会效益,但是,也不可避免给环境带来污染。因此,研究成都绕城高速两侧土壤污染情况具有重要意义。采用"梅花点法"和"四分法"采集得到成都绕城高速公路两侧表层土壤(0~20cm)样品24个,电感耦合等离子体质谱法(ICP-MS)测得土壤样品中铬(Cr)、镍(Ni)、铜(Cu)、锌(Zn)、砷(As)、镉(Cd)和铅(Pb)含量的平均值分别为46.81、192.48、28.24、111.79、4.74、2.79和51.68 mg/kg。讨论重金属分布特点,采用污染指数法对土壤重金属污染进行评价;应用美国环境保护局风险评价方法对成都绕城高速两侧土壤重金属通过直接摄入、皮肤接触和呼吸摄入3种途径进入人体的危害进行了风险计算和初步评价。结果表明:成都绕城高速公路两侧土壤未受到重金属污染(Ni除外),且7种重金属对人体均不存在明显健康风险。     

电感耦合等离子体—质谱法测定成人脏器样品中痕量稀土元素的研究

本文采用ＩＣＰ－ＭＳ法对成人脏器样品中痕量稀土元素进行了研究，选择了测定的最佳仪器参数，检查了测定中的各种干扰和影响；用铼（Ｒｅ）为内标元素补偿基体抑制效应和灵敏度的漂移。方法对稀土元素各分量的检出限为０．００５－０．０２６ｎｇ．ｍ１＾－１，标准回收率为９２．９－１１１．３％，精密度为０．９６－３．０７％。在严格分析质量控制的基础上用混合酸消解样品，不须分离富集，直接对成人的心、脾、肝、肾、肺肉中     

ICP-MS法测定水稻田表层土壤中重金属元素Zn、Cd、Pb、Cu、Cr、Mn的研究

报道了用ICP-MS法直接测定水稻田表层土壤中的重金属元素Zn、Cd、Pb、Cu、Cr、Mn含量的方法.土壤样品经HNO3-HF-HClO4彻底消化后,加入内标元素45Sc、115In、204Tl,采用内标法进行测定,有效地克服了基体效应、接口效应及仪器波动所产生的影响;通过优化仪器的工作参数,选择待测元素适当地测定同位素,有效克服了因质谱干扰所带来的影响.对污染土壤标准物质(编号GBW08305)进行测定,测定结果与标准值相吻合.该方法的加标回收率是98.0%～102.0%,相对标准偏差是2.2%～3.5%,具有线性范围宽、简单、快速、准确等特点.