Mercury distribution,speciation and potential ecological risk assessment in sediments from Lake Taihu,China

Abstract

Twenty-one surface sediments collected from seven surroundings areas of Lake Taihu in two different years were analyzed for total mercury (THg) concentrations, physicochemical characteristics and speciation using a sequential extraction method to assess spatial distribution, sources, and potential ecological risk. Surface sediments from Lake Taihu contained elevated levels of Hg in two sampling years with THg levels ranging from 77 to 346?ng/g (mean 145?ng/g) in October 2010 and ranging from 122 to 573?ng/g (mean 266?ng/g) in November 2012, respectively. The mean THg concentrations in all studied surface sediments exhibited an increasing trend over time. The oxidizable fraction (F3) and residual fraction (F4) were the predominant Hg species in sediments, while more mobile Hg phases of acid-soluble fraction (F1) and reducible fraction (F2) made up less than 0.5% THg. Significant relationships were found between total organic carbon (TOC) and THg and geochemical speciation indicating an important role for organic matter in affecting distribution, mobility, and bioavailability of Hg in sediments. As evidenced by Hakanson’s potential risk index the total ecological risk of Hg was low in the entire Lake Taihu in 2010 but considered moderate in Zhushan Bay, West Coast, and Meiliang Bay in 2012. These findings provide conservation managers with information needed to more effectively regulate the environment of Lake Taihu.     

Distribution and assessment of mercury (Hg) in surface sediments of Futian mangrove forest,China

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - To investigate the distribution of mercury (Hg) in Futian mangrove wetland, surface sediments from land to sea were collected, including Kandelia obovata,...     

深圳蛇口渔港沉积物重金属分布及潜在生态风险评价

沉积物重金属污染对水生生态系统具有潜在危害.渔港是海岸带水环境的重要组成部分.对取自深圳蛇口渔港的10个表层沉积物样品中的As、Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn等典型重金属元素进行了分析,探讨了其空间分布;运用地积累指数法(Igeo)和生态危害指数法(RI),评价了表层沉积物中重金属的富集程度和潜在生态风险,初步探讨了其污染来源.结果表明:(1)蛇口渔港海域沉积物重金属Cu的污染十分严重,Zn和Pb污染较严重,其浓度均为港内>港口>港外;(2)渔港内沉积物重金属的富集达重度污染程度,潜在生态危害风险强.其中,又以Cu的富集程度最高,潜在生态危害风险最强;(3)渔港内Cu的污染,可能与电子工业废水的排放,以及渔业特有的防附着生物涂料有关.     

太湖表层沉积物中多磷酸盐检出的环境意义

在氮限制型富营养化湖泊中,沉积多磷酸盐(Poly-P)可以用来示踪营养盐磷的输入和湖泊的富营养化过程。太湖是一个典型的磷限制型富营养化湖泊,通过对太湖表层沉积物中总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、氢氧化钠可提取磷(NaOH-P)以及Poly-P的提取分析,初步探讨了太湖营养盐磷输入的历史记录,并揭示了该湖Poly-P的主要来源和保存机制。太湖Poly-P的质量浓度较低,变化范围为0.004~0.065mg·g-1。NaOH-P占TP组成的22%,是太湖沉积物总磷的主要组成部分之一。结果显示,在湖泊水体藻类生物量较大和NaOH-P是沉积物TP重要组成部分的磷限制型湖泊中,Poly-P也是沉积物磷汇组成的一个重要部分,同时还是一个可以反映由人为磷输入增大导致湖泊富营养化程度加剧的敏感指标。     

淮河中下游底泥中PAHs的分布及其生态风险评价

通过使用气相色谱质谱仪(GC/MS)测定淮河中下游底泥中多环芳烃(PAHs)单体的含量,探讨其分布特征及进行污染物生态风险评价。结果表明:淮河中下游底泥中PAHs含量总平均值为293.8ng·g-1,变化范围较大,总体呈中游高下游低的趋势;PAHs的种类和环数分布及菲/蒽、荧蒽/芘比值显示何台渡口至新集乡段底泥中的PAHs主要来源于化石燃料的高温燃烧与裂解,而安淮村至小河头段主要来源于化石燃料的低中温不完全燃烧或天然成岩过程;对照有关底泥的生态风险评价标准,淮河中游平圩和洛河段可能具有生物负效应,而其它地区的潜在生态风险则很小。     

Ecological risk assessment of pesticide residues in Taihu Lake wetland, China

As a major ecosystem type, wetland provides invaluable ecological services. Environmental pollution, especially pesticides pollution should be paid more attention to keep wetlands healthy. Based on the risk quotient method, coupled with a probabilistic risk assessment model, this paper proposed a methodology suitable for ecological risk assessment of pesticide residues for wetland ecosystems. As an important industrializing and ecologically vulnerable area in China, the Taihu Lake wetland was chosen for the case study. The risks of eight pesticides in Taihu Lake wetland were assessed, as single substances and in mixtures. The assessment indicates that risks of the representative species are not significant. In general, the herbicide is found to be more toxic for algae, whereas insecticides pose more risks to zooplankton, insect and fish. For each pesticide in the wetland, the ecological risk it poses is acceptable. But the combined ecological risk posed by mixture can harm more than 10% of species of the wetland ecosystem, mainly dominated by dichlorvos, dimethoate and malathion contributions. These results imply that pesticide residues have been posing pressures on the ecosystem of the Taihu Lake wetland. It is recommended that proper countermeasures should be implemented to reduce the risks.     

山东南四湖摇蚊幼虫群落结构及其对富营养化过程的指示

2010年7月至2011年4月对南四湖摇蚊幼虫群落结构进行了季度调查.共采集到12种摇蚊幼虫,平均密度和生物量分别为(861±701)ind/m2和(6.39±5.12)g/m2.优势种红裸须摇蚊(Propsilocerusi akamusi)和羽摇蚊(Chironomusplumosus)的密度以及生物量分别占总密度和总生物量的97.1%和99.1%,但红裸须摇蚊的密度和生物量显著高于羽摇蚊,分别是羽摇蚊的18.5倍和10.7倍.从水平分布看,红裸须摇蚊在上级湖的密度明显高于下级湖,羽摇蚊则呈全湖性分布,但密度较低.与历史资料相比,南四湖摇蚊幼虫群落发生了显著变化,摇蚊幼虫的平均密度由20世纪80年代初期的88 ind/m2增加到目前的861 ind/m2,优势种由20世纪80年代的羽摇蚊演变为当前的红裸须摇蚊,并且红裸须摇蚊的密度显著升高,这表明南四湖的富营养化趋势加剧.     

Phosphorus release potential and pollution characteristics of sediment in downstream Nansi Lake, China

The research aimed to evaluate present and potential phosphorous pollution due to high sedimentary phosphorus load and release from sediment, when external phosphorus was reduced in downstream Nansi Lake. Pollution load of the sediment and overlying water was investigated. Kinetics and isotherms of adsorption/release of sedimentary phosphorus were studied to determine equilibrium phosphate concentration (EPC₀) and release potential. Kinetics of phosphorus adsorption on sediment and release from sediment were well described by both the pseudo-first-order rate equation and the pseudo-second-order rate equation, but more appropriate to the pseudo-second-order rate equation with the adsorption/release capacity more close to the measured values, suggesting that the processes were chemically rate controlled and dependent on adsorption capacity. Soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) sorption isotherms on sediment were best fitted by the modified Langmuir model indicating a monolayer adsorption. By comparing EPC₀ and SRP of water, the status (adsorption, releasing or in equilibrium) of sediment phosphorus could be determined. The sediments at site S1, S3, S4, S5, and S7 where the EPC₀s were greater than the SRPs, had a potential to release phosphorus into the water column. However, those sediments at S9, S10, and S12, where the EPC₀s were approximately equal to the SRPs, were in impermanent equilibrium with overlying water in status of phosphorus, the sediments can be likely to release phosphorus to the water column once the equilibrium was broken. Therefore, sedimentary phosphorus can be a secondary pollution source in downstream Nansi Lake.     

Quantification and fractionation of mercury in soils from the Chatian mercury mining deposit,southwestern China

Contents of total Hg and Hg fraction, organic matter, pH, grain size and chemical composition were measured to investigate the pollution characteristics and binding behavior of Hg in soils collected from the Chatian Hg mining deposit (CMD), southwestern China. The average concentration of Hg concentration in the CMD soils was 155 and 1,315 times higher than that in control soils and Chinese soils, respectively, suggesting that the CMD soils were heavily contaminated by the element. The finding was confirmed by Müller geoaccumulation index assessment with 75% very seriously polluted, 6.25% highly to very highly polluted and 18.75% moderately to highly polluted. Hg sources in the region were natural and anthropogenic: in addition to the pedogenic process and original geochemical situation, human mining–refining activities have also seriously impacted the redistribution of Hg in soils, especially in paddy soils. Based on the BCR protocol, soil Hg was divided into exchangeable (EXC), amorphous Fe–Mn oxides (AFe–MnOX), organic-crystalline iron oxides (OM-CFe) and residual (RES) fraction. The average percentage of the four fractions in the CMD followed the trend: RES (85.77%) > OM-CFe (12.44%) > AFe–MnOX (0.93%) ≥ EXC (0.86%), suggesting that the majority proportion of soil Hg in the study area remained of residual form inside the soil mineral matrix. However, their concentrations and percentages significantly varied among different locations and land use types. Soil physico-chemical parameters were key factors affecting the presence of Hg fraction. Generally, Hg fraction concentrations were positively correlated with the sand contents and soil pH values, which was presumably due to the basic anthropogenic input of Hg-containing materials and their similarity to sand in physical characteristics. However, organic matter caused adsorption–fixation and reduction–volatilization to coexist, which had opposite effects on Hg concentrations in soil, consequently exhibiting its dual nature.     

Environmental contamination and risk assessment of mercury from a historic mercury mine located in southwestern China

A field survey of mercury pollution in environmental media and human hair samples obtained from residents living in the area surrounding the Chatian mercury mine (CMM) of southwestern China was conducted to evaluate the health risks of mercury to local residents. The results showed that mine waste, and tailings in particular, contained high levels of mercury and that the maximum mercury concentration was 88.50 μg g^?1. Elevated mercury levels were also found in local surface water, paddy soil, and paddy grain, which may cause severe health problems. The mercury concentration of hair samples from the inhabitants of the CMM exceeded 1.0 μg g^?1, which is the limit recommended by the US EPA. Mercury concentrations in paddy soil were positively correlated with mercury concentrations in paddy roots, stalks, and paddy grains, which suggested that paddy soil was the major source of mercury in paddy plant tissue. The average daily dose (ADD) of mercury for local adults and preschool children via oral exposure reached 0.241 and 0.624 μg kg^?1 body weight per day, respectively, which is approaching or exceeds the provisional tolerable daily intake. Among the three oral exposure routes, the greatest contributor to the ADD of mercury was the ingestion of rice grain. Open-stacked mine tailings have resulted in heavy mercury contamination in the surrounding soil, and the depth of appreciable soil mercury concentrations exceeded 100 cm.     

太湖北部湾多氯联苯分布特征及生态风险评价

采用GC-ECD联用检测技术分析了太湖北部贡湖大贡山(1号点)、小贡山(2号点)与梅梁湖马山(3号点)、拖山(4号点)不同季节10种PCB同系物(PCB28、52、101、112、118、138、153、155、180、198)的含量.其中含量最高的为三氯联苯PCB28与四氯联苯PCB52,占总量的50%～69%,其次分别为五氯联苯与六氯联苯,而PCB180与PCB198基本未检出.不同监测点表现出了季节变化,受"引江济太"调长江水人太湖的影响,贡湖中1号点与2号点监测点夏季PCB总量高于其它季节,而梅梁湖受周围生产及竺山湖大桥入污影响,3号点监测点不同季节PCBs总量变化不显著,4号点监测点春季高于冬季,夏季受高温影响,PCBs总量出现最小值.采用生态风险值与毒性当量法对沉积物中PCBs进行了风险评价.太湖北部湾底泥中PCBs总量较低,未对生态构成严重威胁,但由于这类物质的生态累积效应,其潜在危害仍不容忽视.     

Geochemical speciation and risk assessment of metals in the river sediments from Dan River Drainage,China

This study investigates the partitioning of metals in surface sediments from the Dan River drainage basin, the source of drinking water for the South to North Water Transfer Project, China, to determine their bioavailability and associated levels of risk. Sediment samples were collected from 99 sites along the Dan River, and the concentration of each element fraction was determined using sequential extraction and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. The residual fraction was the major phase for most metals sampled. Among the non-residual fractions, greater proportions of Zn, Mn and Cd were transported in in the available phase, whereas Ba, Sb, Pb and As were mainly found in the reducible phase. The oxidisable phase was important for the transport of Ni, Co, Cr and Cu in sediments. This analysis of sediments from the Dan River basin indicates a very high risk of pollution from Cd, Co, Mn, Sb and Zn. Combined with the sediments with extremely high concentrations, the Dan, Laoguan and Yinhua rivers, which have been affected by ore-mining activities, pose a very high risk to the surrounding areas and should be the subject of future studies.     

山东省南四湖生态工程设计

以南水北调东线工程重点污染源控制点南四湖为例调查了湖区生态系统的现状,结果表明湖区污染状况较为严重,对南水北调水质安全造成威胁。为了保证调水工程顺利实施,设计切实可行的湖区生态系统恢复工程具有重要意义。依据现状调查结果,按照生态学和生态经济学的基本原理,以保证湿地生态系统结构与功能的完整性为主要目标,在对湖区进行重点规划的基础上,提出了重点地段生态工程建设的设计方案,并对方案的预期目标进行了讨论。     

Geochemical characteristics of surficial sediments in a tropical estuary, south-west India

Geochemical characteristics of surficial sediments in the Panangad region of Cochin estuary, the largest brackish-water humid ecosystem in the south-west coast of India, were analysed. Temporal variations in nutrient stoichiometry, seasonal characteristics of redox elements Fe and S, and the phosphorus geochemistry were employed for the purpose. The stoichiometric analysis pointed towards autochthonous origin of organic matter, possibility of nitrogen limitation, and allochthonous modification of redox conditions. Seasonal variations were not statistically significant for all the geochemical parameters, whereas significant spatial variations were observed with lower values at sandy stations, suggesting that the texture of the sediments is the main factor influencing the sediment geochemistry. Significant inter-relations between the geochemical parameters also suggest a common control mechanism. Based on these geochemical characteristics, the study region can be effectively categorized into two distinct zones, viz. (1) erosion and transportation and (2) deposition zones.     

Distribution of mercury in the sediments of some freshwater bodies in Ethiopia

Sediment samples were collected from Tinishu Akaki River (TAR), Lake Awassa, and Lake Ziway, Ethiopia for determination of mercury. The air-dried samples were analyzed for mercury with a differential atomic absorption spectrometer after thermal evaporation of bound mercury converting it to its atomic form. Certified reference materials (CRMs) of sediments and soils were used to validate the method. The recovery of mercury from CRMs and sediments was in the range of 95–100%. The limit of detection for the determination of mercury was 50?ng?kg^?1. The concentration of total mercury in the sediments varied from 3.9 to 110?µg?kg^?1 for TAR, 14 to 67?µg?kg^?1 for Lake Awassa, and 17 to 110?µg?kg^?1 for Lake Ziway. It was found that the total mercury concentrations in all samples were below the United States Environmental Protection Agency guideline of 200?µg?kg^?1.     

Response of mercury accumulation to anthropogenic pollution in the past 1000 years based on Lake Huguangyan sediments,Southern China

A new ²¹⁰Pb-dated record of Hg accumulation derived from a sediment core from a Hg-enriched area in Huguangyan Lake (HGY) in South China is presented. Based on synthetic analyses of multi-proxy records including chemical composition, total organic matter, and grain-size distribution in surface sediments and nearby soil samples, it is inferred that the influx of Hg into the lake is mainly a result of atmospheric deposition, with no or minor hydroclimate-induced lithogenic input from the catchment and limited adsorption effects of organic matter and clay. Significantly enhanced anthropogenic input of Hg started in the early 1900s. Since then, several anomalies of Hg accumulation have been the results of wars or intensified economic activities in China. HGY sediments provide a rare and reliable natural archive for detecting atmospheric Hg deposition, which is closely related to anthropogenic activities.

     

Distribution,enrichment, accumulation and potential ecological risks of mercury in the sediments of Kaohsiung Harbor,Taiwan

The distribution, enrichment, accumulation and potential ecological risks of mercury (Hg) in the surface sediments of Kaohsiung Harbor, Taiwan, were investigated. Sediment samples from 20 locations throughout Kaohsiung Harbor were collected quarterly from 2006 to 2011, and characterised for mercury, aluminium, water content, organic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, total grease and grain size. The results showed that Hg concentrations varied from 0.06–6.73 mg kg^?1 with an average of 0.54±0.71 mg kg^?1. The spatial distribution of Hg reveals that the Hg concentration is relatively higher in the river mouth regions, especially at the Love River and Canon River mouths from where it gradually diminishes toward the harbour entrance region. The results from the enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index analyses reveal that the sediments near the Love River and Canon River mouths experience severe enrichment and strong accumulation of Hg that originates from upstream sources of pollution. The assessment of biological effects indicates that concentrations of 92.5% Hg found in the sediment are higher than effects range low, implying that the harbour sediments may cause an adverse impact on aquatic lives. The results of a potential ecological risk index indicate that the sediment has higher to serious levels of ecological potential risks.     

Fractionation of heavy metals in surface sediments of Taihu Lake, East China

The BCR (European Communities Bureau of Reference) three-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to fractionate heavy metals in the sediment of Taihu Lake. For the determination of total metal concentration of the sediments, sample digestion was achieved by using HF/H2O2/HNO3 (2/1/1) acid mixture in a microwave-irradiated closed vessel system. The concentrations of Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, Cu and Pb in various extracts solutions were analyzed by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES). The results obtained from the BCR three-step sequential extraction indicated relatively high mobility of Zn, Cu, Pb and Ni in the sediments while Cd and Cr were poorly mobile. Enrichment of heavy metals was found in the sediments collected in the northern parts of Taihu Lake. In the sediments collected in the southern and western sides of the Lake, heavy metal concentrations were relatively low. The relationship between total organic carbon (TOC) and heavy metals concentrations in the sediments is discussed.     

Spatial distribution and ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments from a typical plateau lake wetland, China

Surface sediment (0-15 cm) samples were collected from 31 different grid points throughout the Yilong Lake in April 2004. Samples were subjected to a total digestion technique and analyzed for As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn in order to study spatial distribution characteristics based on Kriging method and assess their ecological risks posed by these heavy metals. Results showed that the mean concentrations of these heavy metals were lower than potential effect levels. Patches of higher heavy metal concentrations occurred in the inflow area of the Cheng River and northeast area nearby the road and railway. The higher concentrations of As and Cr also appeared in the east area (lake outlet), while the patches of lower concentrations were uniformly distributed at the southwest corner between Luosewan and Xiaoguoxi. The heavy metal loads such as As, Cd and Pb might come from the common sources due to industrial sewage and traffic pollution, while higher concentrations of Ni, Cr, and Zn in these sediments were dominated by parent rocks. However, Cu originated from both sources. Sediments with respect to As, Cd and Cu were grouped below the effect range low (ERL) at all sites, and with respect to Cr and Pb were grouped into the range from ERL to the effect range median (ERM) at more than 50% of sampling sites. The mean heavy metal toxic units in the Yilong Lake decreased following the order Pb > Cr > As > Ni > Zn > Cd > Cu, with higher contributions to the sum of toxic units of Pb, Cr and As.