Assessment of elemental distribution and trace element contamination in surficial wetland sediments, Southern Tibetan Plateau

In order to analyze and evaluate different trace metals on surface water of the Changjiang River, concentrations of dissolved trace metals (Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Sc, Al, Zn, Pb, Cd, Se, As, Cr, and Hg), major elements(Ca and Mg), and nutrient(NO $_{3}^{-})$ were measured. Samples were taken at 76 positions along Changjiang River in flood and dry seasons during 2007?C2008. Spatial distributions identified two main large zones mainly influenced by mineral erosion (sites 1?C22) and anthropogenic action (sites 23?C76), respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were used to identify the variance distinguishing the origin of water. Four significant components were extracted by PCA, explaining 74.91% of total variable. Cu, Ni, Fe, Co, Sc, Al, Ca, and Mg were mainly associated with the weathering and erosion of various rocks and minerals, while an anthropogenic source was identified for Cd and As. Although erosion was one source of Pb and Zn, they were also input by atmospheric deposition and industrial pollutions. NO $_{3}^{-}$ and Se were mainly associated with agriculture activities. However, Hg and Cr showed different sources. CA confirmed and completed the results obtained by PCA, classifying the data into two large groups representing different areas. Group 1 referred to the upper reaches which represented samples mainly corresponding to natural background areas. Group 2 referred to the middle and lower reaches including samples under anthropogenic influence. Meanwhile, group 2 was subdivided into three new groups, representing agricultural, industrial, and various artificial pollution sources, respectively.     

Elemental composition of Tibetan Plateau top soils and its effect on evaluating atmospheric pollution transport

The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is an ideal place for monitoring the atmospheric environment of low to mid latitudes. In total 54 soil samples from the western TP were analyzed for major and trace elements. Results indicate that concentrations of some typical “pollution” elements (such as As) are naturally high here, which may cause incorrect evaluation for the source region of these elements, especially when upper continental crust values are used to calculate enrichment factors. Because only particles <20 μm are transportable as long distances, elemental concentrations of this fraction of the TP soils are more reliable for the future aerosol related studies over the TP. In addition, REE compositions of the TP soils are unusual, highly characteristic and can be used as an effective index for identifying dust aerosol from the TP.     

Distribution and variation of mercury in frozen soils of a high-altitude permafrost region on the northeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is home to the largest permafrost bodies at low- and mid-latitudes, yet little is known about the distribution and variation...     

Evaluation of passive sampling of gaseous mercury using different sorbing materials

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Atmospheric mercury monitoring is essential because of its potential human health and ecological impacts. Current automated monitoring systems include...     

Impact of climate fluctuations on deposition of DDT and hexachlorocyclohexane in mountain glaciers: Evidence from ice core records

How do climate fluctuations affect DDT and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) distribution in the global scale? In this study, the interactions between climate variations and depositions of DDT and HCH in ice cores from Mt. Everest (the Tibetan Plateau), Mt. Muztagata (the eastern Pamirs) and the Rocky Mountains were investigated. All data regarding DDT/HCH deposition were obtained from the published results. Concentrations of DDT and HCH in an ice core from Mt. Everest were associated with the El Nino-Southern Oscillation. Concentrations of DDT in an ice core from Mt. Muztagata were significantly correlated with the Siberia High pattern. Concentrations of HCH in an ice core from Snow Dome of the Rocky Mountains responded to the North Atlantic Oscillation. These associations suggested that there are some linkages between climate variations and the global distribution of persistent organic pollutants.     

海螺沟冰川融水径流中汞与悬浮颗粒物的季节变化特征及其关系研究

为研究冰川融水径流中汞与悬浮颗粒物的变化及其相关关系,于2019年6月～2020年9月在青藏高原东南缘海螺沟冰川融水径流进行为期一年的连续定点采样,测试了样品中汞形态含量和悬浮颗粒物的数量、含量及粒径特征。分析表明,总汞的平均含量为6.96～10.78 ng/L,其中颗粒态汞为4.54～9.14 ng/L,溶解态汞为1.53～2.42 ng/L,与青藏高原及世界其他偏远地区河流汞含量相当。各形态汞与悬浮颗粒物不同特征在不同季节的相关关系差异显著,总汞和颗粒态汞含量与总悬浮颗粒物含量和数量在夏季消融盛期具有突出且一致的正相关关系,但在秋冬季并未显示出正相关,表明前人揭示的冰川补给河流中颗粒物控制汞含量变化的结论具有季节局限性。冰川径流中的汞受水文过程和汞的来源及其在水体中的转化等多因素影响,汞形态含量与悬浮颗粒物不同物理特征在不同季节的差异性可能反映了不同季节汞的来源和传输机制的差异。     

Chemical characteristics of soluble aerosols over the central Himalayas: insights into spatiotemporal variations and sources

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In order to investigate the spatial and temporal variations of aerosols and its soluble chemical compositions of the data gap zone in the central...     

Distribution and transportation of mercury from glacier to lake in the Qiangyong Glacier Basin, southern Tibetan Plateau, China

The Tibetan Plateau is home to the largest aggregate of glaciers outside the Polar Regions and is a source of fresh water to 1.4 billion people. Yet little is known about the transportation and cycling of Hg in high-elevation glacier basins on Tibetan Plateau. In this study, surface snow,glacier melting stream water and lake water samples were collected from the Qiangyong Glacier Basin. The spatiotemporal distribution and transportation of Hg from glacier to lake were investigated. Significant diurnal variations of dissolved Hg(DHg) concentrations were observed in the river water, with low concentrations in the morning(8:00 am–14:00 pm) and high concentrations in the afternoon(16:00 pm–20:00 pm). The DHg concentrations were exponentially correlated with runoff, which indicated that runoff was the dominant factor affecting DHg concentrations in the river water. Moreover, significant decreases of Hg were observed during transportation from glacier to lake. DHg adsorption onto particulates followed by the sedimentation of particulate-bound Hg(PHg) could be possible as an important Hg removal mechanism during the transportation process. Significant decreases in Hg concentrations were observed downstream of Xiao Qiangyong Lake, which indicated that the high-elevation lake system could significantly affect the distribution and transportation of Hg in the Qiangyong Glacier Basin.     

Total suspended particulate matter and toxic elements indoors during cooking with yak dung

Many herders in the Tibetan Plateau still inherit the traditional lifestyle, including living in tents and burning yak dung for fuel. This short correspondence reports a pilot study on indoor air quality in the nomadic tents in the Nam Co region, inland Tibetan Plateau. The results showed very high concentrations of total suspended particles (TSP), averaging at 4.45 mg m^?3 during the cooking/heating period (with daily value of 3.16 mg m^?3). Elevated concentrations of toxic element Cd, As and Pb were also found within the tents, averaging 3.16 μg m^?3, 35.00 μg m^?3, and 81.39 μg m^?3 for a day, respectively, which were not only far higher than those of WHO indoor air quality guidelines, but also more than 10⁴–10⁶ times higher than the outdoor air level in the Nam Co area. The study raises serious concerns over the health of Tibetan herders following their long-term exposure to the tent air.     

大气汞被动采样器研究进展

大气汞浓度监测日益受到重视,使用主动监测系统进行大气汞浓度监测需要持续电力供应,专业人员进行定期维护,且仪器普遍昂贵,因此不适宜在环境恶劣或基础设施落后的偏远地区进行,也难以进行大范围高密度布设。大气汞被动采样器由于造价便宜、不易受恶劣环境影响、采样过程中不需要人力及电力设施支持,可以在偏远地区实施无人值守监测,应用空间广泛。大气汞被动采样器在近年发展迅速,针对不同形态汞浓度监测有多种类型采样器。本文回顾已有大气汞被动采样器研究,针对各采样器的设计原理、采样效率及其在大气汞监测中的实际应用进行综述。