Characteristics of the event mean concentration (EMC) from rainfall runoff on an urban highway

The purpose of this study was to investigate the characterization of the event mean concentration (EMC) of runoff during heavy precipitation events on highways. Highway runoff quality data were collected from the 7th highway, in South Korea during 2007-2009. The samples were analyzed for runoff quantity and quality parameters such as COD_cr, TSS, TPHs, TKN, NO₃, TP, PO₄ and six heavy metals, e.g., As, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn. Analysis of resulting hydrographs and pollutant graphs indicates that the peak of the pollutant concentrations in runoff occurs 20 min after the first rainfall runoff occurrence. The first flush effect depends on the preceding dry period and the rainfall intensity. The results of this study can be used as a reference for water quality management of urban highways.     

Deposition of Mn from automotive combustion of methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl beside the major highways in the greater Toronto area, Canada

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) has been used in Canada since 1976 as an antiknock agent in gasoline, completely replacing Pb in 1990. An early study of much higher Mn concentrations in gasoline showed that the combustion of MMT leads to the formation of inorganic manganese oxides, especially Mn3O4. Recent emission testing by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for Ethyl Corp. has shown that Mn is primarily emitted as a phosphate or sulfate along with minor amounts of oxides. The main objective of this research was to analyze the deposition of Mn from MMT to the terrestrial environment beside the major highways in the greater Toronto area (GTA), Canada. The results were compared with Pb and other trace elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, Na, and the Cl ion (water extractable) to study the behavior of Mn in soil. The study area was located near major Toronto highways 401 (urban) and 400 (rural), at 43 degrees 67' N and 79 degrees 37' W (latitude and longitude) (278,560 and 47,835 cars/day), respectively. Surface soil samples (0-5 cm depth) were collected at distances up to 40 m from the roadside. Parameters evaluated included total and available Mn and other trace elements, particle size, pH, organic content, and cation exchange capacity. Based on high traffic density along 401, higher Mn deposition was expected. No significant differences were found between the 401 and 400 Barrie (E(+1)) sites, attributable to the natural background levels of Mn or its contribution by other sources such as Mn-enriched road dust or naturally occurring crustal Mn. However, the 400 King City (E(+2)) site had significantly lower Mn levels than did the other three sites, 401 and 400 Barrie. This may be explained by the types of soil along the 401 and 400 sites. The King City site along 400 was found to be higher in sand content than were the 401 sites. A higher sand content could result in higher leaching of Mn to the bottom layer of the soil. Although MMT has been used continuously for approximately 25 years in Canada, its contribution to the terrestrial environment has been very low and has not significantly increased Mn levels along the highways, as demonstrated by this study.     

Highway increases concentrations of toxic metals in giant panda habitat

The Qinling panda subspecies (Ailuropoda melanoleuca qinlingensis) is highly endangered with fewer than 350 individuals inhabiting the Qinling Mountains. Previous studies have indicated that giant pandas are exposed to heavy metals, and a possible source is vehicle emission. The concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd, Hg, and As in soil samples collected from sites along a major highway bisecting the panda’s habitat were analyzed to investigate whether the highway was an important source of metal contamination. There were 11 sites along a 30-km stretch of the 108th National Highway, and at each site, soil samples were taken at four distances from the highway (0, 50, 100, and 300 m) and at three soil depths (0, 5, 10 cm). Concentrations of all metals except As exceeded background levels, and concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, Pb, and Cd decreased significantly with increasing distance from the highway. Geo-accumulation index indicated that topsoil next to the highway was moderately contaminated with Pb and Zn, whereas topsoil up to 300 m away from the highway was extremely contaminated with Cd. The potential ecological risk index demonstrated that this area was in a high degree of ecological hazards, which were also due to serious Cd contamination. And, the hazard quotient indicated that Cd, Pb, and Mn especially Cd could pose the health risk to giant pandas. Multivariate analyses demonstrated that the highway was the main source of Cd, Pb, and Zn and also put some influence on Mn. The study has confirmed that traffic does contaminate roadside soils and poses a potential threat to the health of pandas. This should not be ignored when the conservation and management of pandas is considered.     

Heavy metal pollution of soils along North Shuna-Aqaba Highway, Jordan

Attention to heavy metal contamination associated with highways or motorways has risen in the last decades because of the associated health hazards and risks. The present study analysed the metal content in soil samples of one of the main highways along the western part of the Jordanian border, the North Shuna–Dead Sea–Aqaba Highway. The metals analysed were Pb, Zn, Cd, Co and Ni. In the samples collected, the recorded average concentrations were as follows: 40 ppm for Ni, 5 ppm for Cd, 79 ppm for Zn, 79 ppm for Pb, and 25 ppm for Co. The average concentrations of Cd, Pb, and Co are higher than the average natural background values of heavy metals. The geo-accumulation index of these metals in the soils under study indicated that they are uncontaminated with Ni, Zn, and Co and moderately contaminated with Cd and Pb. In all of the investigated locations, the study found that concentrations decreased with depth. The cluster statistical analyses and pollution load index were used to relate pollution to land use or highway conditions. Two main trends were identified: (i) higher concentrations were located near intersections close to the urban areas in the Jordan Valley, in association with junctions controlled by traffic lights and check points; and (ii) lower concentrations were found to the southwest in areas of mainly barren landscape close to the Dead Sea and Aqaba.     

Relationship between antecedent dry period and highway pollutant: conceptual models of buildup and removal processes

This paper investigated the highway stormwater quality at two Texas cities-Austin and College Station. Two highways with high average daily traffic were monitored using passive stormwater samplers for collecting first-flush runoff during a 16-month period. Detailed traffic and weather data were collected at College Station sites, but only weather data were obtained at Austin sites. A stepwise regression analysis on College Station data identifies the antecedent dry period (ADP) as the most significant predictor of pollutant concentration. Specifically, the College Station data show an unexpected result that pollutant event mean concentrations significantly decrease with increasing ADP for all analyzed pollutants. However, the runoff concentrations observed in Austin were not significantly correlated with ADP. The result from College Station data provides a different insight to the pollutant buildup and removal process on highways. Conceptual highway pollutant buildup and removal models are proposed for generating further discussion and research interest.     

Distribution and fractionation of phosphorus, cadmium, nickel, and lead in calcareous soils amended with composts

Composts improve organic carbon content and nutrients of calcareous soils but the accumulation and distribution of phosphorus and heavy metals among various fractions in soil may vary under the south Florida conditions. The accumulation of P, Cd, Ni, and Pb with depth and the distribution of water soluble, exchangeable, carbonate, Fe-Mn oxides, organic and residual forms of each element were investigated in soils amended with municipal solid waste (MSW) compost, co-compost and biosolids compost and inorganic fertilizer (as control). Total concentrations of P, Cd, Ni, and Pb were higher in the 0-22 cm soil layers and decreased considerably in the rock layers. These elements were in the decreasing order of P > Pb > Ni > Cd. Amounts of water soluble and exchangeable forms of P, Cd, Ni and Pb were negligible at 0-22 cm soil depths except for Cd in the 10-22 cm depth. Amending calcareous soil with either organic or inorganic amendments rendered phosphorus, nickle and lead in the residual form followed by Fe-Mn oxides form in the 0-10 and 10-22 cm soil layers. Cadmium was predominantly in the Fe-Mn oxides fraction followed by the residual and carbonate forms in both soil layers. A significant positive correlation was found between various organic carbon fractions and organic forms of P, Cd and Pb in the surface soil layer. Soil amended with MSW compost had higher concentration of Cd in the organic fraction whereas, co-compost and MSW compost amended soil had higher concentrations of organic Ni fraction in the 0-10 cm soil layer.     

Scale and causes of lead contamination in Chinese tea

We investigated the scale and causes of Pb contamination in Chinese tea. Lead concentrations in 1,225 tea samples collected nationally between 1999 and 2001 varied from <0.2 to 97.9 mg kg(-1) dry weight (DW), with 32% of the samples exceeding the national maximum permissible concentration (MPC) of 2.0 mg kg(-1) DW and a significant difference between tea types. There was an increasing trend in tea Pb concentration from 1989 to 2000. Proximity to highway and surface dust contamination were found to cause elevated Pb concentrations in tea leaves. Furthermore, Pb concentration in tea leaves correlated significantly and positively with soil extractable Pb, and negatively with soil pH, suggesting that root uptake of Pb from soils also contributed to Pb accumulation in tea. Potential contributions to human Pb intake from drinking tea were small at the median or national MPC Pb values, but considerable at the highest concentration found in the study.     

Assessment of inorganic lead species and total organo-alkyllead in some Egyptian agricultural soils

This study was carried out to assess the amounts of (i) total Pb in soil, (ii) inorganic Pb species: exchangeable (EXCH), carbonate (CARB), easily reducible (EASR), moderately reducible (MODR), organic matter and sulfides (ORGS), and residual (RESD) bound Pb, and (iii) total organo-lead as alkyllead, in alluvial and lacustrine soils of the Nile delta, Egypt. Wide ranges of soil Pb were found in the alluvial (18.2-1850 microg g(-1)) and the lacustrine (39-1985 microg g(-1)) soils. The topsoil was highly enriched with Pb relative to the subsurface soils, especially in highly contaminated soils. There was no significant relationship between soil type and Pb content. Amounts of soil Pb greater than the background level (14 microg g(-1)) are due to Pb deposited from various anthropogenic activities. The partitioning of soil Pb into different species varied according to the intensity of contamination. It followed the sequence: RESD > ORGS > CARB > MODR > EASR in the slightly contaminated alluvial as well as lacustrine soils. In the highly contaminated soils, it followed the sequence: ORGS > MODR > CARB > EASR > RESD in the alluvial soils, and the sequence: ORGS > CARB > MODR > EASR > RESD in the lacustrine soils. There is high binding capacity of organic matter and sulfides to Pb, especially in the highly contaminated soils. The concentrations of total alkyllead in soils varied markedly and were related to both intensity of contamination and depth in the soil. The subsurface soil (15-30 cm) was highly enriched by alkyllead (means 224 and 353 ng g(-1) in the alluvial and lacustrine soils, respectively) relative to the surface and deeper soils. The proportion of total alkyllead as a percentage of total Pb in the soil was generally very low. It did not exceed 1.6% in the slightly contaminated soils, and 0.6% in the highly contaminated ones.     

Deposition of Mn from Automotive Combustion of Methylcyclopentadienyl Manganese Tricarbonyl beside the Major Highways in the Greater Toronto Area,Canada

ABSTRACT

Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) has been used in Canada since 1976 as an antiknock agent in gasoline, completely replacing Pb in 1990. An early study of much higher Mn concentrations in gasoline showed that the combustion of MMT leads to the formation of inorganic manganese oxides, especially Mn₃O₄. Recent emission testing by Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory for Ethyl Corp. has shown that Mn is primarily emitted as a phosphate or sulfate along with minor amounts of oxides. The main objective of this research was to analyze the deposition of Mn from MMT to the terrestrial environment beside the major highways in the greater Toronto area (GTA), Canada. The results were compared with Pb and other trace elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, Cu, Zn, Na, and the Cl^- ion (water extractable) to study the behavior of Mn in soil. The study area was located near major Toronto highways 401 (urban) and 400 (rural), at 43° 67′ N and 79° 37′ W (latitude and longitude) (278,560 and 47,835 cars/day), respectively. Surface soil samples (0–5 cm depth) were collected at distances up to 40 m from the roadside. Parameters evaluated included total and available Mn and other trace elements, particle size, pH, organic content, and cation exchange capacity.     

Contribution of macroporosity to infiltration into a continuous corn no-tilled watershed: Implications for contaminant movement

Rainfall and runoff were measured for many years on small watersheds on 10–15% slopes in east-central Ohio. Surface runoff from watersheds used for corn (Zea mays L.) production was high with conventional tillage and very low with no-tillage. A 50-year storm produced 15 times more runoff from a plowed watershed than from a mulch-covered no-till watershed. Reduced runoff from the no-till surface resulted in increased percolation and enhanced the potential for transport of agricultural chemicals to the groundwater. The mulched surface of the no-till watershed also created a favorable environment for the deep burrowing earthworm, Lumbricus terrestris L., whose burrows can transmit water rapidly downward through the soil profile, thus contributing to the high infiltration rates.Open biopores and smaller structural pores were counted and measured to characterize the major flow paths of water movement in the no-till soil. Photos of horizontal surfaces at 2.5-, 7.5-, 15-, and 30 - cm depths and vertical faces of impregnated samples from the 1- and 5-cm depths were evaluated by image analysis. Number of pores was inversely proportional to pore diameter, however pores in the 0.05–1.0-mm diameter range accounted for less porosity than did those in the 1.0–5.0-mm range. The large pores were nearly vertical earthworm burrows and were continuously open from near the surface to the bedrock. Surface applications of lime increased subsoil pH in the no-till watershed but had little effect below the plow sole in the tilled watershed, suggesting that rapid movement of water in large pores can enhance chemical migration into the subsoil.     

Sequential extraction combined with isotope analysis as a tool for the investigation of lead mobilisation in soils: application to organic-rich soils in an upland catchment in Scotland

Sequential extraction (modified BCR procedure) combined with isotope analysis has been investigated as a tool for assessing mobilisation of lead into streams at an upland catchment in NE Scotland. The maximum lead concentrations (up to 110 mg kg(-1) in air-dried soil) occurred not at the surface but at about 10 cm depth. The lowest (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratios in any profile occurred, with one exception, at 2.5-5 cm depth. In the one exception, closest to the only road in the area, significantly lower (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratios in the surface soil together with much increased chloride concentrations (in comparison to other surface waters) indicated the possible mobilisation of roadside lead and transfer to the stream. The (206)Pb/(207)Pb ratios in extractable fractions tended at depth towards the ratio measured in the residual phase but the ratios in the oxidizable fraction increased to a value higher than that of the residual phase.     

Determination and evaluation of cadmium, lead and nickel in greenhouse soils of Almería (Spain)

This study determines total levels of three (Cd, Pb and Ni) potentially toxic trace elements in western Almería (Spain) greenhouse surface soil horizons using microwave digestion; it establishes the geochemical baseline concentration, and it investigates possible relationships between soil properties and elemental concentrations. The results show that the soil concentration of these heavy metals is lower than mentioned in the European and Spanish normative, but they are higher than those reported by other authors working on agricultural soils. The obtained geochemical baseline concentrations (mg kg(-1)) were: Cd 0.4-0.8, Pb 2.5-89.9 and Ni 16.1-30.7. Using the upper baseline criterion, 88% of greenhouse soils have relatively higher content of heavy metals because of their Cd, Pb and Ni concentration. Moreover, soil properties are related to heavy metals contents suggesting that among Cd, Pb and Ni have a similar origin and those total metal concentrations are controlled primarily by soil compositions.     

Integrated assessment of heavy metal (Pb, Zn, Cd) highway pollution: bioaccumulation in soil, Graminaceae and land snails

To assess the contamination induced by traffic at the vicinity of a highway (A31, France), several complementary studies were carried out on two sites, with different profiles and traffic intensity. Concentrations of zinc, lead and cadmium were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry in deposits, roadside soil and autochthonous plants (Graminaceae) gathered at the vicinity of the highway (1-320 m), and in the viscera of snails Helix aspersa, transferred as sentinel in the sites. According to the results obtained for different compartments, the highway induces a contamination on the surrounding environment, up to 320 m, but with the maximum contamination observed between 5 and 20 m: the concentrations measured in plants at the vicinity of the highway were 2.1 mg Pb kg(-1) DW, 0.06 mg Cd kg(-1) DW, 62 mg Zn kg(-1) DW and the concentrations measured in snails were 21.3 mg Pb kg(-1) DW, 5.7 mg Cd kg(-1) DW, 510.8 mg Zn kg(-1) DW. The levels measured decreased with increasing distance from the highway. Results of the three metals studied indicated that lead seems to be the best metal to evaluate road transport contamination.     

Contents and Leachability of Heavy Metals (Pb,Cu, Sb,Zn, As) in Soil at the Pantex Firing Range,Amarillo, Texas

ABSTRACT

Pantex firing range soil samples were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Sb, Zn, and As. One hundred ninety-seven samples were collected from the firing range and vicinity area. There was a lack of knowledge about the distribution of Pb in the firing range, so a random sampling with proportional allocation was chosen. Concentration levels of Pb and Cu in the firing range were found to be in the range of 11-4675 and 13-359 mg/kg, respectively. Concentration levels of Sb were found to be in the range of 1-517 mg/kg. However, the Zn and As concentration levels were close to average soil background levels. The Sn concentration level was expected to be higher in the Pantex firing range soil samples. However, it was found to be below the neutron activation analysis (NAA) detection limit of 75 mg/kg.

Enrichment factor analysis showed that Pb and Sb were highly enriched in the firing range with average magnitudes of 55 and 90, respectively. Cu was enriched ~6 times more than the usual soil concentration levels. Tox-icity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) was carried out on size-fractionated homogeneous soil samples. The concentration levels of Pb in leachates were found to be ~12 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory concentration level of 5 mg/L. Sequential extraction (SE) was also performed to characterize Pb and other trace elements into five different fractions. The highest Pb fraction was found with organic matter in the soil.     

Contents and leachability of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Sb, Zn, As) in soil at the Pantex firing range, Amarillo, Texas.

Pantex firing range soil samples were analyzed for Pb, Cu, Sb, Zn, and As. One hundred ninety-seven samples were collected from the firing range and vicinity area. There was a lack of knowledge about the distribution of Pb in the firing range, so a random sampling with proportional allocation was chosen. Concentration levels of Pb and Cu in the firing range were found to be in the range of 11-4675 and 13-359 mg/kg, respectively. Concentration levels of Sb were found to be in the range of 1-517 mg/kg. However, the Zn and As concentration levels were close to average soil background levels. The Sn concentration level was expected to be higher in the Pantex firing range soil samples. However, it was found to be below the neutron activation analysis (NAA) detection limit of 75 mg/kg. Enrichment factor analysis showed that Pb and Sb were highly enriched in the firing range with average magnitudes of 55 and 90, respectively. Cu was enriched approximately 6 times more than the usual soil concentration levels. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) was carried out on size-fractionated homogeneous soil samples. The concentration levels of Pb in leachates were found to be approximately 12 times higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulatory concentration level of 5 mg/L. Sequential extraction (SE) was also performed to characterize Pb and other trace elements into five different fractions. The highest Pb fraction was found with organic matter in the soil.     

Stormwater quality benefits of a porous friction course and its effect on pollutant removal by roadside shoulders.

This project has two main objectives; the first is to documents the effect of a porous friction course overlay on the quality of highway stormwater runoff, and the second is to assess pollutant removal of a vegetated area along the side of a road from both conventional and porous pavements. The quantity and quality of stormwater runoff from a four-lane divided highway in the Austin, Texas, area was monitored before and after the installation of a porous friction course (PFC). Observed concentrations of suspended solids and pollutants associated with particulate material were much lower in the runoff from the PFC compared with runoff from the conventional asphalt surface. The vegetated highway shoulder reduced the concentrations of many stormwater constituents from the conventional asphalt surface; however, the concentrations of these constituents in runoff produced by the PFC were so low that the vegetated area produced no further reduction in concentration.     

The quantification and distribution of pollution Pb at a woodland in rural south central Ontario, Canada

Lead concentrations and Pb isotope ratios were measured in the forest floor, mineral soil and vegetation at a white pine and a sugar maple stand in a woodland in south central Ontario. Lead concentrations decreased and 206Pb/207Pb ratios increased with mineral soil depth reflecting the mixing of pollution and natural Pb sources. Lead concentrations and 206Pb/207Pb ratios at 20-30 cm depth were approximately 6-7 mg/kg and 1.31-1.32, respectively. Assuming an integrated 206Pb/207Pb ratio in deposition over time of 1.18, estimated from lichen measurements and published data for the region, approximately 65% of Pb in the surface (0-1 cm) mineral soil is from anthropogenic sources. Approximately 90% of pollution Pb is found in the 0-10 cm soil layer (Ah) and less than 3% of the pollution Pb is present in the forest biomass and mull-type forest floor combined. Despite low Pb concentrations in vegetation (<2.5 mg/kg), we estimate that between 65 and 100% of the Pb in vegetation and approximately 75% of the Pb in the forest floor is from pollution sources. In total, the pollution Pb burdens at the pine and maple stands are estimated to be 860 and 750 mg/m2, respectively.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls in forest soils: depth distribution as indicator of different fate

We determined 20 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 12 polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in Oi, Oe, and Oa horizons and at 0-5 and 15-20 cm mineral soil depth of 16 Norway spruce (Picea abies) stands in north Bavaria. The sum of PAH concentrations increased along the line Oi (mean+/-SD: 841+/-330 microg kg(-1))相似文献   

Lead contamination in tea garden soils and factors affecting its bioavailability

The consumption of heavy metals is detrimental to human health and most countries restrict the concentration of metals such as lead (Pb) in food and beverages. Recent tests have detected high Pb concentrations in certain commercial brands of tea leaves and this finding has raised concerns for both producers and consumers. To investigate what factors may be contributing to the increase in Pb accumulation in the tea leaves we collected tea leaves and soils from tea producing areas and analyzed them for Pb concentration, pH and organic matter content. The result showed the Pb concentration of 47% investigated tea leaves samples was beyond 2 mg kg(-1), the permissible levels given by China. The total Pb concentration in the surface and subsurface soil layers averaged 36.4 and 32.2 mg kg(-1), respectively which fall below of the 60 mg kg(-1) limit provided for organic tea gardens in China. The pH of the tea garden soils was severely acidic with the lowest pH of 3.37. Soils under older tea gardens tended to have a lower pH and a higher Pb bioavailability which was defined as the amount of lead extracted by CaCl2 solution than those under younger tea gardens. We found that the concentration of bioavailable Pb and the percentage of bioavailable Pb (bioavailable Pb relative to total Pb concentration) were positively correlated with soil H+ activity and soil organic matter content, and the organic matter accumulation contribute more effects on Pb bioavailability in these two factors. We conclude that soil acidification and organic matter accumulation could contribute to increasing Pb bioavailability in soil and that these could increase Pb uptake and accumulation in the tea leaves.     

Relationships between ambient geochemistry, watershed land-use and trace metal concentrations in aquatic invertebrates living in stormwater treatment ponds

Stormwater treatment ponds receive elevated levels of metals from urban runoff, but the effects of these pollutants on organisms residing in the ponds are unknown. We investigated the accumulation of Cu, Zn, and Pb by macroinvertebrates collected from stormwater treatment ponds in Maryland serving commercial, highway, residential and open-space watersheds, and determined whether watershed land-use classification influences metal concentrations in macroinvertebrates, sediments, and water. Three types of invertebrate samples were analyzed--molluscs, odonates, and composite. Zn concentrations in odonates from ponds draining watersheds with commercial development (mean = 113.82 micrograms g-1) were significantly higher than concentrations in the other land-use categories. Similarly, Cu levels in odonates from commercial ponds (mean = 27.12 micrograms g-1) were significantly higher than from highway (mean = 20.23 micrograms g-1) and open space (mean = 17.79 micrograms g-1) ponds. However, metal concentrations in sediments and water did not differ significantly among land-uses. The results suggest that despite the high variation in ambient metal concentrations within each land-use category, macroinvertebrates in ponds serving commercial watersheds accumulate higher levels of Cu and Zn. The levels of Cu, Zn, and Pb in invertebrates from all ponds were less than dietary concentrations considered toxic to fish.