Asbestos fibres introduce trace metals into streamwater and sediments

Based on a case study in the Sumas River, it is demonstrated that asbestos fibres, which were introduced by a massive landslide, have altered the water quality and sediment conditions in the downstream section of the river. Asbestos fibres, because of their small size, are readily transported and resuspended i in stream systems. Associated with the fibres are high quantities of Ni, Cr, Co and Mn which occur as contaminations and isomorphic substitutions in most asbestos materials. A direct link between discharge, asbestos fibre and Ni concentrations was demonstrated in the water. Trace metal values in the sediments decrease with distance from the point source but the concentrations 20 km downstream of the slide are still significantly higher than levels at a control station unaffected by the slide. Asbestos fibres leach in acid media, and Mg and trace metals are removed. The process and rates were illustrated on the basis of laboratory experiments using organic acids. Since the pH in the streamwater is decreasing from 8.4 to 7.1 in the downstream direction, trace metals release is of concern.     

Heavy metals in coastal wetland sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, China

Sediment quality in coastal wetlands of the Pearl River Estuary was concerned since the wetlands were used for land reclamation, aquaculture and wildlife protection, and meanwhile served as one of the main ultimate sinks for large amount of heavy metals discharged from the rapidly developing Pearl River Delta. Total concentrations of heavy metal, such as Zn, Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Cd, and their chemical speciation were investigated. Results showed that the sediments were significantly contaminated by Cd, Zn and Ni with concentration ranges of 2.79-4.65, 239.4-345.7 and 24.8-122.1mg/kg, respectively. A major portion (34.6-46.8%) of Pb, Cd, and Zn was strongly associated with exchangeable fractions, while Cu, Ni and Cr were predominantly associated with organic fractions, residual, and Fe-Mn oxide. Cd and Zn would be the main potential risk and the sediment quality is no longer meeting the demand of the current wetland utilization strategies.     

Fractionation and extractability of sulfur, iron and trace elements in sulfidic sediments

This study describes iron and sulfur fractionation, and the related extractability of selected trace elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in estuarine sediments. The sediments were sulfidic, with moderately high concentrations of pore-water sulfide (200-600 micromol l(-1)) and acid-volatile sulfide (AVS; 9.9-129 micromol g(-1)). Pyrite-S concentrations increased with depth, with 63-251 micromol g(-1) at site W1 and 312-669 micromol g(-1) at site W2. The degree of sulfidisation was generally high (>80%), indicating that Fe may be limiting pyrite accumulation. The ratios of AVS to pyrite-S increased with sediment depth, as expected for the pyritisation of solid-phase AVS. Cadmium, Pb and Zn extractability in 1M HCl indicated that these elements are not significantly sequestered during pyritisation, whereas sequestration may be important for As, Cu and possibly Ni. Extractability trends for Cr suggest that diagenesis in sulfidic sediments may enhance Cr reactivity. Overall, replacement of AVS by pyrite during diagenesis may enhance the reactivity of Cd, Cr, Pb and Zn, whereas As, Cu and possibly Ni may be rendered less reactive.     

Concentrations and spatial distribution of trace metals in mangrove sediments from the Brisbane River, Australia

Fifty surface sediment samples were collected from 12 transects through a mangrove woodland near the mouth of the Brisbane River, Australia. Samples were analyzed for 10 trace metals; measured concentrations (microg g(-1)) were: Cu 3.1-34.1; Pb 7.7-84.7; Zn 40.8-144.0; Ag nd-2.8; Cr 7.6-116.8; V 16.4-57.9; Mo 7.6-82.6; Ni 2.4-57.6; As nd-13.0; and Cd nd-2.0. Coefficients of variation ranged from 22-153%. Sediments were moderately contaminated, with Mo being enriched by up to thirty times background levels. Spatial variation was considerable, and canonical trend analysis showed concentrations of all metals but Ag and Cr tended to increase downshore, suggesting tidal deposition was important in determining metal concentrations. Silver and Cr concentrations appeared to be a consequence of contamination from landward point sources. An investigation of different random sampling intensities showed the spatial variation required that many samples be taken for a satisfactory assessment of metal burdens. Even so, mean values were not a good indication of the possible environmental effects of the metal contamination. Since metal concentrations increase downshore in inter-tidal environments, a more appropriate sampling strategy would be to take a downshore series of samples normal to the shoreline.     

Tree species effect on the redistribution of soil metals

Phytostabilization of metals using trees is often promoted although the influence of different tree species on the mobilization of metals is not yet clear. Soil and biomass were sampled 33 years after planting four tree species (Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior, Acer pseudoplatanus, Populus 'Robusta') in a plot experiment on dredged sediment. Poplar took up high amounts of Cd and Zn and this was associated with increased Cd and Zn concentrations in the upper soil layer. The other species contained normal concentrations of Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb and Zn in their tissues. Oak acidified the soil more than the other species and caused a decrease in the concentration of metals in the upper soil layer. The pH under poplar was lower than expected and associated with high carbon concentrations in the top soil. This might be assigned to retardation of the litter decomposition due to elevated Cd and Zn concentrations in the litter.     

Effect of different types of elemental sulfur on bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated sediments

The application of two different types of elemental sulfur (S0) was studied to evaluate the efficiency on bioleaching of heavy metals from contaminated sediments. Bioleaching tests were performed in suspension and in the solid-bed with a heavy metal contaminated sediment using commercial sulfur powder (technical sulfur) or a microbially produced sulfur waste (biological sulfur) as substrate for the indigenous sulfur-oxidizing bacteria and thus as acid source. Generally, using biological sulfur during suspension leaching yielded in considerably better results than technical sulfur. The equilibrium in acidification, sulfur oxidation and metal solubilization was reached already after 10-14 d of leaching depending upon the amount of sulfur added. The metal removal after 28 d of leaching was higher when biological sulfur was used. The biological sulfur added was oxidized with high rate, and no residual S0 was detectable in the sediment samples after leaching. The observed effects are attributable to the hydrophilic properties of the biologically produced sulfur particles resulting in an increased bioavailability for the Acidithiobacilli. In column experiments only poor effects on the kinetics of the leaching parameters were observed replacing technical sulfur by biological sulfur, and the overall metal removal was almost the same for both types of S0. Therefore, under the conditions of solid-bed leaching the rate of sulfur oxidation and metal solubilization is more strongly affected by transport phenomena than by microbial conversion processes attributed to different physicochemical properties of the sulfur sources. The results indicate that the application of biological sulfur provides a suitable means for improving the efficiency of suspension leaching treatments by shortening the leaching time. Solid-bed leaching treatments may benefit from the reuse of biological sulfur by reducing the costs for material and operating.     

The effect of hydrological regime on the metal bioavailability for the wetland plant species Salix cinerea

The hydrological conditions on a site constitute one of the many factors that may affect the availability of potentially toxic trace metals for uptake by plants. Bioavailability of Cd, Mn and Zn in a contaminated dredged sediment-derived soil under different hydrological regimes was determined by measuring metal uptake by the wetland plant species Salix cinerea, both in field circumstances and in a greenhouse experiment. Longer submersion periods in the field caused lower Cd concentrations in leaves and bark. The wetland hydrological regime in the greenhouse experiment resulted in normal Cd and Zn concentrations in the leaves, while the upland hydrological regime resulted in elevated Cd and Zn concentrations in the leaves. Field observations and the greenhouse experiment suggest that a hydrological regime that creates or sustains a wetland is a potential management option that reduces metal bioavailability to willows. This would constitute a safe management option of metal-polluted, willow-dominated wetlands provided that wetland conditions can be maintained throughout the full growing season.     

Distribution and relationships of selected trace metals in molluscs and associated sediments from the Gulf of Aden, Yemen

Concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Co, Cr, Mn and Fe in the soft tissue of Turbo coronatus, Acanthopleura haddoni, Ostrea cucullata and Pitar sp., as well as in associated surface sediments (bulk and bioavailable metal concentrations) from the Gulf of Aden, Yemen, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry method. Large differences between size-classes of molluscs in metal concentrations were recorded. Significant spatial differences in metal concentrations in both the soft tissue of the molluscs and associated sediments studied were mostly identified. Statistically significant correlations (p<0.01) between concentrations of selected metals were observed. A slope of the linear regression is significantly higher than unity for Fe (9.91) and Cd (3.45) in A. haddoni and for Ni (4.15) in T. coronatus, suggesting that the bioavailability of these metals is disproportionally increased with a degree of enrichment of the sediments in Fe, Cd and Ni, respectively. A slope constant approximating to unity (1.14) for Cu in A. haddoni relative to its concentration in sediment extract implies that bioavailability of this metal proportionally increased with growing concentrations of its labile forms in the associated sediment. The degree of contamination of Gulf of Aden waters by the metals studied is discussed and the potential ability of molluscs, especially A. haddoni and T. coronatus, as biomonitors of metallic pollutants is postulated.     

Mobility of radium and trace metals in sediments of the Winterbeek: Application of sequential extraction and DGT techniques

For several decades, phosphate ores containing ²²⁶Ra as well as several trace metals have been processed in Belgium to produce calcium phosphate for use in cattle food. The waste water is discharged in two small rivers, the Laak and the Winterbeek.In this study, the levels of ²²⁶Ra and trace metals in surface water and sediments of the Winterbeek were investigated and the mobility of these compounds was assessed using DGT (Diffusive Gradient in Thin Films) and sequential extraction techniques.The concentrations of ²²⁶Ra and trace metals in water and sediment indicate a decreasing trend in inputs to the Winterbeek.The mobility of ²²⁶Ra, assessed by DGT, is related to the reductive mobilization of Fe. The sequential extraction technique shows that at some stations an important fraction of ²²⁶Ra is found to labile sediment phases.Diffusive ²²⁶Ra sediment fluxes, are however, relatively small and have only a minor contribution to the water column concentration of ²²⁶Ra.     

The fate of estrogenic hormones in an engineered treatment wetland with dense macrophytes.

Recently, the estrogenic hormones 17beta-estradiol (E2) and 17alpha-ethinyl estradiol (EE2) have been detected in municipal wastewater effluent and surface waters at concentrations sufficient to cause feminization of male fish. To evaluate the fate of steroid hormones in an engineered treatment wetland, lithium chloride, E2, and EE2 were added to a treatment wetland test cell. Comparison of hormone and tracer data indicated that 36% of the E2 and 41% of the EE2 were removed during the cell's 84-h hydraulic retention time (HRT). The observed attenuation was most likely the result of sorption to hydrophobic surfaces in the wetland coupled with biotransformation. Sorption was indicated by the retardation of the hormones relative to the conservative tracer. Biotransformation was indicated by elevated concentrations of the E2 metabolite, estrone. It may be possible to improve the removal efficiency by increasing the HRT or the density of plant materials.     

Spatial and temporal variations of trace metals in bottom sediments of Peter the Great Bay, the Sea of Japan

New data on trace metal distribution in bottom sediments of Peter the Great Bay (the Sea of Japan) are presented. Much higher concentrations were detected near the most likely anthropogenic sources of trace metal inputs (waste water discharges from Vladivostok and Nakhodka, and the Vladivostok coastal landfill). Sediments in these contaminated areas were up to 700 ppm in Zn, 530 ppm in Pb, 7 ppm in Cd and 3 ppm in Hg. River runoff is of minor importance as a metal source in the investigated areas. The spatial distribution of trace metals outside the areas directly influenced by sewage discharges is regulated by natural processes such as sediment sorting by grain size. Based on radiometric dating of sediment cores, increases in the trace metal content of bottom sediments near Vladivostok begun in approximately 1945.     

高盐工业废水人工湿地处理中植物的筛选

通过人工湿地中试实验,考察了芦苇、睡莲、水葱、狭叶香蒲和宽叶香蒲水生植物单元对经生化处理的石油和精细化工工业区的工业废水中盐含量较高、氮磷营养盐含量较低和化学需氧量(COD)含量较高的废水中污染物的去除情况,研究了在植物不同生长阶段系统中COD的去除同盐度之间的关系,探讨了盐度差异对植物生长状况的影响,为确定人工湿地适合的进水盐度,达到有效去除高含盐量工业废水中有机污染物提供依据。结果表明,芦苇、睡莲和狭叶香蒲3种植物单元内高含盐量工业废水中污染物的净化效果较水葱和宽叶香蒲单元的净化效果好:前3种植物单元内COD、生化需氧量(BOD)和总磷(TP)的去除率大约在38%、55%和62%左右,而水葱和宽叶香蒲2种植物单元内COD、BOD和TP的去除率大约在30%、36%和52%左右;系统中各个单元内总氮(TN)去除率都在85%以上。在植物的不同生长阶段,人工湿地系统中氯离子浓度与COD浓度之间的相关性存在差异:植物生长初期,系统中氯离子浓度与系统中COD浓度之间无显著相关性,而在植物生长旺期和末期,两者则成正相关关系。因此,需根据植物的生长阶段调整人工湿地的进水盐度。     

Trace metals in different species of mollusca, water and sediments from Taiwan coastal area

Since October 1994, a long-term program of Asia/Pacific Mussel Watch: Taiwan Regional Studies has been carried out. The results indicate that trace metal contents in mollusca varied among 30 different species and the environments (water and sediments) along the Taiwan coast. The orders of bioaccumulation of trace metals in mollusca were: Cu (over 200 microg/g), Thais clavigera > Isognomon legumen > Clibanarius rivescens > Crassostrea gigas; Zn (over 700 microg/g), Moruta granulata > C. gigas > Asiatica cypraea arabica > T. clavigera; Cd (over 5 microg/g), Trochus hanleyanus > Acanthopleura japonica > Nerita albicilla > Patella flexuosa; Pb (over 2 microg/g), P. flexuosa > C. gigas > T. hanleyanus > T. clavigera > C. gigas > Capiyulum mitella; Ni (over 10 microg/g), Meretrix lusoria > Philine sp. > Littoraria scabra > Tridacna squamosa > T. hanleyanus; Cr (over 30 microg/g), Littoraria undulata > T. hanleyanus > N. albicilla > Nerita chamaelor > M. granulata; As (over 20 microg/g), Perna viridis > L. scabra; and Sn (over 5 microg/g), P. viridis > L. undulata> C. mitella> C. gigas. Their seasonal and regional variations as well as their correlation are evaluated and discussed.     

Influence of plants on the reduction of hexavalent chromium in wetland sediments

This work addresses the effect that plants (Typha latifolia and Carex lurida) have on the reduction of Cr(VI) in wetland sediments. Experiments were carried out using tubular microcosms, where chemical species were monitored along the longitudinal flow axis. Cr(VI) removal was enhanced by the presence of plants. This is explained by a decrease in the redox potential promoted by organic root exudates released by plants. Under these conditions sulfate reduction is enhanced, increasing the concentration of sulfide species in the sediment pore water, which reduce Cr(VI). Evapotranspiration induced by plants also contributed to enhance the reduction of Cr(VI) by concentrating all chemical species in the sediment pore water. Both exudates release and evapotranspiration have a diurnal component that affects Cr(VI) reduction. Concentration profiles were fitted to a kinetic model linking sulfide and Cr(VI) concentrations corrected for evapotranspiration. This expression captures both the longitudinal as well as the diurnal Cr(VI) concentration profiles.     

Occurrence and risk assessment of trace metals and metalloids in sediments and benthic invertebrates from Dianshan Lake,China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present study measured concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Sb, and Pb in surface sediments and two benthic invertebrate species (Anodonta...     

Distribution of PAHs and trace metals in urban stormwater sediments: combination of density fractionation,mineralogy and microanalysis

Sediment management from stormwater infiltration basins represents a real environmental and economic issue for stakeholders due to the pollution load and important tonnages of these by-products. To reduce the sediment volumes to treat, organic and metal micropollutant-bearing phases should be identified. A combination of density fractionation procedure and microanalysis techniques was used to evaluate the distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) within variable density fractions for three urban stormwater basin sediments. The results confirm that PAHs are found in the lightest fractions (d?d??3) whereas trace metals are equally distributed within the light, intermediary, and highest fractions (d?d?d?d?>?2.8 g cm^?3) and are mostly in the 2.3?d??3 fraction. The characterization of the five fractions by global analyses and microanalysis techniques (XRD and MEB-EDX) allowed us to identify pollutant-bearing phases. PAHs are bound to the organic matter (OM) and trace metals to OM, clays, carbonates and dense particles. Moreover, the microanalysis study underlines that OM is the main constituent responsible for the aggregation, particularly for microaggregation. In terms of sediment management, it was shown that density fractionation is not suitable for trace metals but could be adapted to separate PAH-enriched phases.     

Natural attenuation in marine sediments: investigation of the effect of chloride concentration on the mobility of metals

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Metals can be mobilized from contaminated sediments under variable environmental conditions. This paper discusses the effects of specific ions of the...     

Distribution of PAHs in tissues of wetland plants and the surrounding sediments in the Chongming wetland, Shanghai, China

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentrations were determined in sediments and three types of wetland plants collected from the intertidal flats in the Chongming wetland. The concentration of total PAHs in sediments ranged from 38.7 to 136.2 ng g⁻¹. Surface sediment concentrations were higher in regions with plant cover than in bare regions. Rhizome-layer sediments (56.8-102.4 ng g⁻¹) contained less PAHs than surface sediments (0-5 cm). Concentrations of PAHs in plant tissues ranged from 51.9 to 181.2 ng g⁻¹, with highest concentrations in the leaves of Scirpus. Most of the PAHs in the leaves and other plant tissues were low molecular weight compounds (LMW, 2-4 rings), and a similar distribution pattern of PAHs in different types of plants was also observed. Source analysis indicated that plants and sediments both came from pyrogenic sources, but plants had additional petroleum contamination. The low ratio of benzo[a]anthracene over chrysene suggests that the wetland PAHs came mainly from long-distance atmospheric transportation. Significant bioaccumulation of PAHs from the sediments into plants was not observed for high molecular weight PAHs (HMW, 5-6 rings) in Chongming wetland. The small RCFs (root concentration factor from sediments) for HMW PAHs and large RCFs for LMW PAHs suggested that roots accumulated LMW PAHs selectively from sediments in Chongming wetland.     

The use of peat in the historical monitoring of trace metals in the atmosphere

The concentrations of lead, zinc, copper, manganese, cadmium and calcium have been measured in three peat bogs. The distribution of Pb, Zn, Mn and Ca are dependent on the position and fluctuations of the water table. They all become depleted in the waterlogged, anaerobic zone. Copper and cadmium are uniformly distributed and appear to be immobilised, probably by the formation of metal/organic complexes, and independent of the acid and redox conditions existing in the bogs. The use of the concentration profiles of the metal ions as a means of historical monitoring of trace metal contamination is complex for Pb, Zn, Mn and Ca but may be more straightforward for Cu and Cd.     

Effect of submergence-emergence sequence and organic matter or aluminosilicate amendment on metal uptake by woody wetland plant species from contaminated sediments

Site-specific hydrological conditions affect the availability of trace metals for vegetation. In a greenhouse experiment, the effect of submersion on the metal uptake by the wetland plant species Salix cinerea and Populus nigra grown on a contaminated dredged sediment-derived soil and on an uncontaminated soil was evaluated. An upland hydrological regime for the polluted sediment caused elevated Cd concentrations in leaves and cuttings for both species. Emergence and soil oxidation after initial submersion of a polluted sediment resulted in comparable foliar Cd and Zn concentrations for S. cinerea as for the constant upland treatment. The foliar Cd and Zn concentrations were clearly higher than for submerged soils after initial upland conditions. These results point at the importance of submergence-emergence sequence for plant metal availability. The addition of foliar-based organic matter or aluminosilicates to the polluted sediment-derived soil in upland conditions did not decrease Cd and Zn uptake by S. cinerea.