Spatial variability of metallic and organic contamination of anguilliform fish in New Caledonia

New Caledonia is one of the main hot spots of biodiversity on the planet. Large amounts of contaminants are discharged into the lagoon as a result of increasing anthropogenic activities such as intense mining, urbanization, and industrialization. Concentrations of 14 trace elements and 26 persistent organic pollutants (POPs: PCBs and pesticides) were measured in the muscles of two anguilliform fish species, over a coast to barrier reef gradient in two lagoon areas differently exposed to anthropic disturbances. This study emphasizes the high trace element contamination status of anguilliform fish and also highlights slight but perceptible organic pollution. The contamination extends throughout the lagoon, from coast to barrier reef, even in areas remote from emission points. High levels of trace elements, especially those linked to mining activities (i.e., Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, and Ni), were detected in coastal sites. Furthermore, the large dispersion of most POPs throughout the entire lagoon poses the question of their potential toxicity on marine organisms from numerous habitats. Our results underline the need for long-term monitoring of various contaminants over large spatial and time scales.     

Growing snails used as sentinels to evaluate terrestrial environment contamination by trace elements

Young garden snails (Helix aspersa) reared in standard conditions (aged two months, mean weight 4.6 +/- 0.5 g) set as sentinels in cages laid on the soil for four weeks, give data for biomonitoring the environmental impact of chemicals on soil ecosystems in the field. The survival and the growth of the snails are influenced by the nature of the biotope and the level of the pollutants. Assay of cadmium, copper, lead and zinc bioaccumulated in the tissues of the sentinel snails provides information on the bioavailability of metals in the environment. The encagement model, little used for terrestrial species, can be useful in monitoring (specific and global endpoints) metal pollution of the environment in reference to the trophic level of the primary consumers. Active biomonitoring is positively compared with the passive biomonitoring.     

Evaluation of environmental contamination by toxic trace elements in Kazakhstan based on reviews of available scientific data

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The environmental situation concerning pollution by (eco)toxic and persistent trace elements in Kazakhstan has been investigated by analytical reviews...     

Accumulation of metals,trace elements and semi-volatile organic compounds on exterior window surfaces in Baltimore

Organic films have been found to develop on window surfaces [Diamond et al., Environmental Science and Technology 34 (2000a) 2900]. The film contains organic compounds that are in dynamic equilibrium with the gas-phase in air, and organic and inorganic compounds and elements associated with deposited air particles. In this study, the exterior surfaces of windows were sampled in downtown and suburban Baltimore, Maryland. Higher concentrations of PCBs, PAH, metals and trace elements were found at downtown than a suburban site. PCBs in the films at downtown sites were dominated by penta and hexa homologue groups and PAH signatures resembled that of vehicle emissions. Twenty-six metals and trace elements were separated into two groups according to their enrichment factors (EF). Ag, Hg, Se, Sb and Zn had EF > 100, suggesting anthropogenic sources of these metals in the films; whereas Fe, Ca, Co, Cr and others had EF <10, suggesting a crustal origin. An unusual profile dominated by deca- and nona- PCBs and relatively higher concentrations of Ag, Hg and Zn may be attributable to emissions from a medical waste incinerator. Dry deposition fluxes of selected metals on windows were 1.4-94 times higher on windows with than without films, indicating that the film increases the dry deposition of particles and their associated chemicals. This implies that film development, which is associated with elevated VOC and SOC emissions to urban air, will increase film development that will, in turn, increase the accumulation of other atmospherically deposited constituents such as metals.     

Characterisation and analysis of persistent organic pollutants and major, minor and trace elements in Calabash chalk

Analysis of Calabash chalk has been done using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and pressurised fluid extraction (PFE) followed by gas chromatography (GC) with mass selective detection (MSD). It was found by XRD that the composition of Calabash chalk was an aluminium silicate hydroxide from the kaolin clay group with the possible formula Al(2)Si(2)O(5)(OH)(4). Multi-elemental analysis by EDXRF was able to quantify 22 elements in Calabash chalk including lead at a mean concentration of approximately 40 mg/kg. A range of persistent organic pollutants were identified and quantified in Calabash chalk including alpha lindane, endrin, endosulphan II and p,p'-DDD using PFE-GC-MSD.     

Evaluation of trace elements contamination in cloud/fog water at an elevated mountain site in Northern China

Totally 117 cloud/fog water samples were collected at the summit of Mt. Tai (1534 m a.s.l.)—the highest mountain in the Northern China Plain. The results were investigated by a combination of techniques including back trajectory model, regional air quality and dust storm models, satellite observations and Principal Component Analysis. Elemental concentrations were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, with stringent quality control measures. Higher elemental concentrations were found at Mt. Tai compared with those reported by other overseas studies. The larger proportions and higher concentrations of toxic elements such as Pb and As in cloud/fog water compared with those in rainwater at Mt. Tai suggests higher potential hazards of cloud/fog water as a source of contamination in polluted areas to the ecosystem. Peak concentrations of trace elements were frequently observed during the onset of cloud/fog events when liquid water contents of cloud/fog water were usually low and large amount of pollutants were accumulated in the ambient air. Inverse relationship between elemental concentrations and liquid water contents were only found in the samples with high electrical conductivities and liquid water contents lower than 0.3 g m⁻³. Affected mainly by the emissions of steel industries and mining activities, air masses transported from south/southwest of Mt. Tai were frequently associated with higher elemental concentrations. The element Mn is attributed to play an important role in the acidity of cloud/fog water. The composition of cloud/fog water influenced by an Asian dust storm event was reported, which was seldom found in the literature.     

Assessment of the Mediterranean sediments contamination by persistent organic pollutants

A compilation of information about levels of selected persistent organic pollutants, namely polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroetane and its degradation products (DDTs) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), in Mediterranean sediments, including data published from 1971 to 2005, has been conducted in order to assess their main drivers and pressures in the environment. The application of mapping tools (GIS) and statistical instruments enabled the assessment of geographical and temporal trends. Chemical contamination mainly originates from land-based sources, and decreases significantly when moving off-shore. Contamination hot spots are generally located along the Northern coastline. The data for open sea sediments enabled the establishment of background levels of contamination for the region. A decreasing temporal trend in concentrations was found, more evident in the case of DDTs probably due to a more efficient regulation of this chemical. Finally, some gaps in reliable data were also identified which were related to the lack of information in the southern and eastern parts of the Mediterranean as well as the variety of analytical methodologies used.     

Effect of organic amendments on the mobility of trace elements in phytoremediated techno-soils: role of the humic substances

The efficiency of aided phytostabilization using organic amendments such as ramial chipped wood (RCW) and composted sewage sludge (CSS) was studied on contaminated techno-soils, on nine experimental plots. The objective was to characterize the role of fulvic (FA) and humic acids (HA) on the mobilization of trace elements, specifically As, Cu, Mo, Pb and Zn. Results showed that the addition of CSS increased the total organic carbon and nitrogen content more than with RCW and as a result, the C/N ratio in the CSS soil was higher than in the RCW and non-amended (NE) soil, reflecting the high decomposition of soil organic matter in the CSS soil compared with the other soils. The RCW and CSS amendments increased the hydrogen index (HI) values and the oxygen index (OI) values compared with the NE soil, especially for the soil treated with CSS which contained more aliphatic than aromatic compounds. The addition of CSS to the techno-soil significantly increased the percentage of C _org associated with the HA fractions compared with the RCW and NE soils. The soil amended with CSS showed the highest E ₄/E ₆ ratio and the lowest E ₂/E ₃ ratio of FA. Zn and As were more abundant in the FA fraction than in the HA fraction, whereas Pb, Cu and Mo were more associated to HA than to FA in the treated and untreated soils, which may explain the difference in their mobility and availability.     

Major and trace elements in soils in the Central Pyrenees: high altitude soils as a cumulative record of background atmospheric contamination over SW Europe

Background, aim, and scope  

High mountain soils constitute a long-term cumulative record of atmospherically deposited trace elements from both natural and anthropogenic sources. The main aims of this study were to determine the level of major and trace metals (Al, Ti, Mn, Fe, and Zr) of lithologic origin and airborne contaminating trace elements (Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in soils in the Central Pyrenees as an indication of background contamination over SW Europe, to establish whether there is a spatial pattern of accumulation of trace elements in soils as a function of altitude, and to examine whether altitude-related physicochemical properties of soils affect the accumulation of major metals and trace elements.     

Major and trace elements in precipitation on Western Switzerland

Rain and snow samples from different sites, varying in altitude, in western Switzerland were taken from January 1990 to November 1991. The samples were collected with ultraclean material and analysed for the major elements Na, Cl, NO₃, SO₄, K, Si, Ca, Mg and the trace elements B, V, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe, Zn, Cu, Pb, Rb, Sr, and Ba content. A comparison with published data shows that the measured concentration and fluxes are typical for slightly contaminated rural European regions. Analysis of variance suggests that the region is fairly homogeneous for atmospheric deposition although the sites differ in altitude and human influence. Enrichment factors indicate that most of the elements are originating from seawater or continental crust and that the elements released by human activities are submitted to long-range transport. Temporal evolution in concentrations and differences between rain and snow composition could originate from the general atmospheric circulation.     

Inorganic arsenic and trace elements in Ghanaian grain staples

A total of 549 samples of rice, maize, wheat, sorghum and millet were obtained from markets in Ghana, the EU, US and Asia. Analysis of the samples, originating from 21 countries in 5 continents, helped to establish global mean trace element concentrations in grains; thus placing the Ghanaian data within a global context. Ghanaian rice was generally low in potentially toxic elements, but high in essential nutrient elements. Arsenic concentrations in rice from US (0.22 mg/kg) and Thailand (0.15 mg/kg) were higher than in Ghanaian rice (0.11 mg/kg). Percentage inorganic arsenic content of the latter (83%) was, however, higher than for US (42%) and Thai rice (67%). Total arsenic concentration in Ghanaian maize, sorghum and millet samples (0.01 mg/kg) was an order of magnitude lower than in Ghanaian rice, indicating that a shift from rice-centric to multigrain diets could help reduce health risks posed by dietary exposure to inorganic As.     

金属元素对原子荧光法测定砷的干扰研究

系统研究了常见金属元素对原子荧光法测定砷的干扰,并研究了硫脲、抗坏血酸、硫脲-抗坏血酸(体积比为1∶1)、柠檬酸钠、乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)、硫氰化钾、铁氰化钾、酒石酸钾钠、1,10-邻菲罗琳等9种常用的掩蔽剂对干扰金属元素的掩蔽性能.结果表明:(1)镉、铁、锰在测试条件下对砷的测定没有干扰或干扰可以忽略;铅、锌对砷的测定产生正干扰;铜、镍、铬、钴对砷的测定产生负干扰.不小于砷50倍浓度的铅、锌对砷的测定产生正干扰;不小于砷10倍浓度的镍以及不小于砷100倍浓度的铜、铬、钴对砷的测定产生负干扰.(2)硫脲-抗坏血酸、硫氰化钾、铁氰化钾对铜、钴、铬、镍等产生的负干扰有较好的掩蔽效果;EDTA能有效消除铅、锌产生的正干扰.     

Accumulation of metallic elements by Amanita muscaria from rural lowland and industrial upland regions

ABSTRACT

This study was carried out on the accumulation and occurrence of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Rb, Sr and Zn in the mushroom Amanita muscaria and forest topsoil from two lowland sites in the Tuchola Pinewoods in the north-central region and an upland site in the ?wietokrzyskie Mountains in the south-central region of Poland. Topsoil from the upland location showed Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Hg, Na and Zn at significantly higher concentration levels (pseudo-total fraction and often also the labile or extractable fraction) than at both lowland locations, where topsoil was richer in Mg, and similar in Rb. Amanita muscaria from the upland region differed from individuals collected in the lowland sites by higher concentration levels of Cd, Cu, Hg and Mn in caps. This could be related to higher concentration levels of the metallic elements in topsoil in the upland region. On other side, A. muscaria from the upland site was poorer in Co and Fe in caps, and in Ca, Co, Fe and Sr in stipes. In spite of the differences in content of the geogenic metallic elements in topsoil between the lowland and upland locations, A. muscaria from both regions was able to regulate uptake and accumulation of Ag, Al, Ba, Ca, K, Mg, Na, Rb and Zn, which were at similar concentration levels in caps but not necessarily in stipes.     

Contamination by arsenic and other trace elements of tube-well water along the Mekong River in Lao PDR

Arsenic and other trace element concentrations were determined for tube-well water collected in the Lao PDR provinces of Attapeu, Bolikhamxai, Champasak, Savannakhet, Saravane, and Vientiane. Water samples, especially from floodplain areas of central and southern Laos, were significantly contaminated not only with As, but with B, Ba, Mn, U, and Fe as well. Total As concentrations ranged from <0.5 μg L⁻¹ to 278 μg L⁻¹, with over half exceeding the WHO guideline of 10 μg L⁻¹. 46% of samples, notably, were dominated by As(III). Samples from Vientiane, further north, were all acceptable except on pH, which was below drinking water limits. A principal component analysis found associations between general water characteristics, As, and other trace elements. Causes of elevated As concentrations in Lao tube wells were considered similar to those in other Mekong River countries, particularly Cambodia and Vietnam, where young alluvial aquifers give rise to reducing conditions.     

Vanadium contamination and the relation between vanadium and other elements in wild birds

There is little information on vanadium (V) contamination in wildlife. In the present study, the mean V contents in liver and kidney from 41 wild Japanese water birds were less than 3.69 and 8.11 microg/g dry wt, respectively. The V contents in the liver and kidney of the spotbill duck were more than two times higher than those of other species in Japan. Spotbill ducks obtained in a residential district had a strong correlation between the V contents in the kidneys and those in the livers (R=0.924), and also between V and Ti, Cd, and Li contents in the liver (R>0.8). These results suggest that V accumulation in wild birds reflects the degree of environmental contamination.     

Removal of volatile and semivolatile organic contamination from soil by air and steam flushing

A soil core, obtained from a contaminated field site, contaminated with a mixture of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds (VOC and SVOC) was subjected to air and steam flushing. Removal rates of volatile and semivolatile organic compounds were monitored during flushing. Air flushing removed a significant portion of the VOC present in the soil, but a significant decline in removal rate occurred due to decreasing VOC concentrations in the soil gas phase. Application of steam flushing after air flushing produced a significant increase in contaminant removal rate for the first 4 to 5 pore volumes of steam condensate. Subsequently, contaminant concentrations decreased slowly with additional pore volumes of steam flushing. The passage of a steam volume corresponding to 11 pore volumes of steam condensate reduced the total VOC concentration in the soil gas (at 20 degrees C) by a factor of 20 to 0.07 mg/l. The corresponding total SVOC concentration in the condensate declined from 11 to 3 mg/l. Declines in contaminant removal rates during both air and steam flushing indicated rate-limited removal consistent with the persistence of a residual organic phase, rate-limited desorption, or channeling. Pressure gradients were much higher for steam flushing than for air flushing. The magnitude of the pressure gradients encountered during steam flushing for this soil indicates that, in addition to rate-limited contaminant removal, the soil permeability (2.1 x 10(-9) cm2) would be a limiting factor in the effectiveness of steam flushing.     

Assessment of trace metal distribution and contamination in surface soils of Hong Kong

An intensive investigation was conducted to study the distribution of trace metals in surface soils of Hong Kong and to assess the soil environmental quality. From results of cluster analysis, and comparisons among soil types and areas, it is clearly shown that increases in trace metal concentrations in the soils were generally extensive and obvious in urban and orchard soils, less so in vegetable soils, whilst rural and forest soils were subjected to the least impact of anthropogenic sources of trace metals. However, some of the forest soils also contained elevated levels of As, Cu, and Pb. Urban soils in Hong Kong were heavily polluted by Pb from gasoline combustion. Agricultural soils, both orchard and vegetable soils, usually accumulated As, Cd, Cu, and Zn originating from applications of pesticides, animal manures, and fertilizers. In general, trace metal pollution in soils of the industrial areas and Pb pollution in the soils of the commercial and residential areas were obvious.     

母乳与牛乳中微量元素的比较

用ＩＣＰ－ＡＥＳ法对母乳和牛乳中Ｋ、Ｎａ、Ｃａ、Ｍｇ、Ｐ、Ｆｅ、Ａｌ、Ｚｎ、Ｓｒ、、Ｐｂ、Ｍｎ、Ｂａ和Ｃｕ等１３种元素含量进行了测定。结果发现母乳与牛乳的营养成分差异较大。研究了深入探讨微量元素在人体内重要的生理功能提供了有用的参考数据。     

Distribution and seasonal variability of trace elements in atmospheric particulate in the Venice Lagoon

Size distribution and selected element concentrations of atmospheric particulate matter (PM) were investigated in the Venice Lagoon, at three sites characterised by different anthropogenic influence. The PM₁₀ samples were collected in six size fractions (10-7.2, 7.2-3.0, 3.0-1.5, 1.5-0.95; 0.95-0.49 and <0.49 μm) with high volume cascade impactors, and the concentration of 17 elements (Al, As, Ca, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn) was determined by inductively coupled plasma quadrupole mass spectroscopy. More than 1 year of sampling activities allowed the examination of seasonal variability in size distribution of atmospheric particulates and element contents for each site.At all the stations, particles with an aerodynamic diameter <3 μm were predominant, thus accounting for more than 78% of the total aerosol mass concentration. The highest PM₁₀ concentrations for almost all elements were found at the site which is more influenced by industrial and urban emissions. Similarity in size distribution of elements at all sites allowed the identification of three main behavioural types: (a) elements found mainly within coarse particles (Ca, Mg, Na, Sr); (b) elements found mainly within fine particles (As, Cd, Ni, Pb, V) and (c) elements with several modes spread throughout the entire size range (Co, Cu, Fe, K, Zn, Mn).Factor Analysis was performed on aerosol data separately identified as fine and coarse types in order to examine the relationships between the inorganic elements and to identify their origin. Multivariate statistical analysis and assessment of similarity in the size distribution led to similar conclusions on the sources.