Distribution,fractionation and risk assessment of mercury in surficial sediments of Nansi Lake,China

Nansi Lake is composed of four sub-lakes from north to south: Nanyang Lake, Dushan Lake, Zhaoyang Lake and Weishan Lake. An environmental pollution investigation was carried out to determine the fractionation, and pollution assessments of mercury (Hg) in surficial sediments from Nansi Lake. Results showed that the mean concentration of Hg was 3.1 times higher than its background value (0.015 mg kg^?1), and the high concentration of Hg which even reached up to five times than the background value in the part of Dushan Lake and Weishan Lake, which indicated that there are obvious spatial differences. The content of Hg was positively correlated with that of total organic carbon, and negatively correlated with that of pH and SiO₂ in surface sediments. An improved Tessier sequential extraction procedure was used to study the fractions of Hg in sediments. The results indicated that Hg existed primarily in the fraction of residual, which accounts for 58.4% of total mercury (THg), and the percentage of extractable Hg was only 1.93% of total mercury. High concentrations of mercury of non-residual phase were found in part lake area from the Nanyang Lake and the Weishan Lake, which indicating a higher potential ecological risk relative to the other lake areas. Based on the values of enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index, most part of Dushan Lake and Nanyang Lake and Weishan Lake were in a moderate pollution. And based on the fractionation of mercury, risk assessment code of Hg exhibited low risks to the environment in Nansi Lake.     

中国汞污染的来源、成因及控制技术路径分析

汞是一种能长期存在于环境且具有全球迁移性的污染物.汞污染防治是一个复杂的系统工程,涉及多部门、多领域、多行业,国家需要在政策、管理和技术等方面采取综合的战略措施推进汞污染防治.本文基于汞污染的环境和社会影响,分析了中国汞污染的来源、成因并评估了中国汞管理体系,结合中国参加全球汞公约谈判的特定背景,识别出汞污染防控的优先行业,包括汞的无意排放优先控制行业:燃煤、有色金属冶炼、汞矿开采和含汞废物处理;汞的有意使用优先控制行业:电石法聚氯乙烯生产,医疗产品、荧光灯和电池生产.本文也进一步提出了汞污染控制技术路径,包括构建汞风险管理和识别平台、完善汞管理体系、加强环境技术研发、推进绿色转型、保护环境和公众健康等.     

乌梁素海沉积物中重金属形态分布特征及污染状况评价

以乌梁素海沉积物中重金属为研究对象,对9个采样点的表层沉积物中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr、Hg和As7种重金属总量和各形态进行了测定;并采用潜在生态危害评价方法对重金属总量和各形态进行污染评价.结果表明,重金属总量中Hg在全湖的潜在生态危害参数Eir(Eir=215.04)处于高潜在生态风险,全湖生态风险性综合指数RI为294.60,虽然处于中潜在生态风险,但是其值接近较高潜在生态风险.不同形态重金属中除残渣态(B4)以外,(B1+B2+B3)3种重金属形态之和在全湖的潜在生态风险性综合指数RI为122.34,处于低潜在生态风险,其中重金属Hg(Eir=92.20)的污染最为突出,应引起高度重视.     

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.     

100年来东湖富营养化发生的沉积学记录

在210Pb计年的基础上,运用水生生物遗存、色素、有机碳同位素和磁化率分析了东湖钻孔沉积物中的生物与环境信息,重建了东湖100多年来湖泊营养与环境演化历史.研究发现东湖100多年来在人类活动不断增强的背景下,指示重金属污染的磁化率和指示湖泊富营养化的色素指标如蓝藻叶黄素(Myx)、颤藻黄素(Osc)快速上升,相应的水生生物如介形虫、腹足类、水生高等植物等表现明显的组合和变化阶段,同时有机碳同位素偏正与湖泊生产力升高和藻类繁盛有关.沉积记录表明东湖生态系统近代发生了深刻变化,湖泊营养演化自早至晚呈现四阶段性:贫营养阶段(1900-1966AD)色素水平低、拥有较丰富的水生高等植物和腹足类;中营养阶段(1966-1983AD)色素含量增高、水生高等植物和腹足类减少;富营养化阶段(1983-1989AD)色素含量快速增高、水生高等植物消失;超富营养化阶段(1989AD－至今)色素含量稳定居高、某些耐污染的介形类较繁盛.结果对于认识湖泊生态环境演化与人类活动的关系、以及如何治理湖泊环境具有现实的意义.     

A review of atmospheric mercury emissions,pollution and control in China

Mercury, as a global pollutant, has significant impacts on the environment and human health. The current state of atmospheric mercury emissions, pollution and control in China is comprehensively reviewed in this paper. With about 500-800 t of anthropogenic mercury emissions, China contributes 25%-40% to the global mercury emissions. The dominant mercury emission sources in China are coal combustion, non-ferrous metal smelting, cement production and iron and steel production. The mercury emissions from natural sources in China are equivalent to the anthropogenic mercury emissions. The atmospheric mercury concentration in China is about 2-10 times the background level of North Hemisphere. The mercury deposition fluxes in remote areas in China are usually in the range of 10-50μg·m^-2·yr^-1. To reduce mercury emissions, legislations have been enacted for power plants, non-ferrous metal smelters and waste incinerators. Currently mercury contented in the flue gas is mainly removed through existing air pollution control devices for sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particles. Dedicated mercury control technologies are required in the future to further mitigate the mercury emissions in China.     

洱海浮游桡足类群落结构对季节性休渔的响应

为了解洱海浮游桡足类群落结构的季节动态特征,于2009年2~11月对洱海浮游桡足类进行逐月采样.结果显示:洱海浮游桡足类生物量的季节性分布呈"双峰型",峰值分别出现在休渔期中期和捕鱼期中期.在休渔期中期,桡足类以杂食性的剑水蚤Mesocyclops dissimilis为优势种;在捕鱼期中期,则以滤食性的哲水蚤舌状叶镖水蚤为优势种.季节性休渔不仅导致鱼类对桡足类的捕食压力出现季节性变化,而且通过影响枝角类的群落结构,改变枝角类对桡足类的竞争压力.在相对较低的捕食压力和较大的食物竞争压力影响下,桡足类以杂食性的剑水蚤为优势类群;在相对较大的捕食压力和较低的食物竞争压力下,以滤食性的哲水蚤为优势类群.     

Assessment on contaminations in sediments of an intake and the inflow canals in Taihu Lake,China

As the second largest freshwater lake in China, Taihu Lake provides water supply to approximately 32 million inhabitants around the lake. However, dramatically increased pollution has threatened the safety of drinking water supply in recent years. In the present study, we investigated the contaminations of nutrients and heavy metals in the sediments of an intake and inflow canals in Gonghu Bay, Taihu Lake. Moreover, we also examined the impact of human activities on spatial distribution characteristics of contaminations. Our results showed that the intake presented relatively lower concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen compared with inflow canals. However, the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb in the sediments of the intake exceeded the lowest effect level (LEL) values, indicating a potential risk to drinking water resource. In addition, the concentrations of Ni in the sediments of Tianji Canal and Jinshu Canal exceeded the severe effect level (SEL) value. More importantly, the concentrations of Cu in the sediments of Tianji Canal exceeded three times of the SEL value. Multivariate statistical analysis confirmed that the domestic sewage primarily contributed to the nutrient accumulation, and the leakage of electronic trash dominated the enrichment of metals in the sediments. Taken together, more effort should be made to ensure the security of water resources in Taihu Lake, especially for the treatment of domestic sewage and industrial wastewater.     

Spatial distribution of phosphorus forms in sediments with different distances to the estuary of the Dianchi Lake,China

Effects of human activity on the distribution of phosphorus (P) forms were investigated for the sediments and porewaters in Daqinghe Estuary of Dianchi Lake, China. The concentrations of total P (TP), inorganic-P (I-P),and organic-P (Org-P), and the ratio of iron-bound P (Fe-P)/calcium-bound P (Ca-P) in the sediments decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. This is probably due to the flocculant materials, e.g., ferric and aluminous salts, usually being added in the wastewater treatment processes. The concentration of ammonia in the sediment porewaters significantly decreased with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. Both concentrations of total nitrogen and nitrogen in the sediment porewaters decreased to some content with the increasing distance from the sampling site to the estuary. However, the concentrations of nitrate, dissolved total P (DTP), and TP did not have strong relationship with the distances from the sampling sites to the estuary. Pollution load and water quantity also had an important influence on the concentrations of P in sediments and its interstitial water in estuary sedimentary area.     

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.     

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.     

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,...     

Molybdenum background and pollution levels in the Taipu River,China

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Pollution of river sediments by industrial molybdenum (Mo) is a potential threat to human and ecosystem health, yet the lack of a geochemical background level for...     

Using the past to contextualize anthropogenic impacts on the present and future distribution of an endemic Caribbean mammal

Island species are difficult to conserve because they face the synergy of climate change, invasive species, deforestation, and increasing human population densities in areas where land mass is shrinking. The Caribbean island of Hispaniola presents particular challenges because of geopolitical complexities that span 2 countries and hinder coordinated management of species across the island. We employed species distribution modeling to evaluate the impacts of climatic change and anthropogenic activities on the distribution of an endemic mammal of conservation concern, the Hispaniolan solenodon (Solenodon paradoxus). We aggregated occurrence points for this poorly known species for the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the present (1975–2016) based on museum collections, online biodiversity databases, and new field surveys. We quantified degree of overlap between periods and scenarios with Schoener's D. Through a conservation paleobiology lens, we found that over time humans played an increasing role in shaping the distribution of S. paradoxus, thus, providing a foundation for developing conservation strategies on appropriate spatiotemporal scales. Human population density was the single most important predictor of S. paradoxus occurrence. Densities >166 people/km² corresponded to a near-zero probability of occurrence. Models that accounted for climate but not anthropogenic variables falsely identified suitable habitat in Haiti, where on-the-ground surveys confirm habitat is unavailable. Climate-only models also significantly overestimated the potential for habitat connectivity between isolated populations. Our work highlights that alternative fates for S. paradoxus in the Anthropocene exist across the political border between the Dominican Republic and Haiti due to the fundamentally different economic and political realities of each country. Relationships in the fossil record confirm that Hispaniola's sociopolitical boundary is not biologically significant but instead represents one imposed on the island's fauna in the past 500 years by colonial activity. Our approach reveals how a paleontological perspective can contribute to concrete management insights.     

东湖、汤逊湖和梁子湖沉积物磷形态及pH对磷释放的影响

文章采用淡水沉积物中磷形态标准测试程序(SMT)研究了东湖、汤逊湖和梁子湖沉积物中磷的形态分布,并比较了不同pH条件下沉积物磷释放特征的差异性。结果表明:东湖沉积物总磷质量分数最高,平均值1.232 mg.g-1,其次为汤逊湖(0.762mg.g-1),梁子湖沉积物总磷质量分数最低(0.572 mg.g-1);3个湖泊上覆水总磷质量浓度也表现出类似的变化规律,线性相关性分析显示上覆水中总磷质量浓度与沉积物总磷质量分数显著正相关。东湖和梁子湖沉积物总磷中无机磷和有机磷所占比例较接近,汤逊湖无机磷所占比例远低于有机磷。不同湖泊之间磷形态的分布并没有一定的规律性,湖泊的地理分布以及人为因素可能是造成磷形态差异的主要因素。当pH为2.0~7.0时,3个湖泊沉积物中溶解性活性磷(SRP)释放量均呈先增加后减小的趋势;当pH为7.0~12.0时,SRP释放量呈增加趋势。相关分析结果表明,SRP的释放与有机质的质量分数无显著相关性。方差分析结果显示3个湖泊沉积物在黏粒和粉粒组成上均没有显著差异(P>0.1),表明实验样品的粒径组成不是造成各个湖泊间磷释放差异的原因。不同pH条件下,SRP释放量与沉积物总磷质量分数显著正相关;酸性环境下,SRP释放量与酸式磷(HCl-P)的相关性优于碱式磷(NaOH-P),碱性环境下则刚好相反。     

Exposure of the urban population to mercury in Changchun city, Northeast China

An assessment of exposure to mercury in Changchun city has been undertaken. We estimated Hg exposure to members of the general population based on currently available information and our research. We also studied the Hg concentrations in scalp hair of adults. Adults have an estimated intake of all Hg species via all routes of 6.780 μg day⁻¹ (excluding dental amalgam), which equates to an absorbed dose of 1.718 μg day⁻¹. Fish consumption was the most important exposure route (12% of intake, 43% of absorbed dose). Furthermore, air, cereals and vegetables were important exposure routes, and these exposure were estimated for absorbed dosed at 0.296, 0.209 and 0.318 μg day⁻¹, respectively. The mean Hg concentration in hair was 0.448 μg g⁻¹ (range 0.092–10.463 μg g⁻¹). Hg concentration in the hair of males was 0.422 μg g⁻¹ (0.105–2.665 μg g⁻¹), and was 0.474 μg g⁻¹(0.092–10.463 μg g⁻1) in the hair of females. Neither place of residence nor age had any significant effect on hair Hg concentrations.     

Role of rural solid waste management in non-point source pollution control of Dianchi Lake catchments, China

In recent years, with control of the main municipal and industrial point pollution sources and implementation of cleaning for some inner pollution sources in the water body, the discharge of point source pollution decreased gradually, while non-point source pollution has become increasingly distressing in Dianchi Lake catchments. As one of the major targets in non-point source pollution control, an integrated solid waste controlling strategy combined with a technological solution and management system was proposed and implemented based on the waste disposal situation and characteristics of rural solid waste in the demonstration area. As the key technology in rural solid waste treatment, both centralized plant-scale composting and a dispersed farmer-operated waste treating system showed promise in rendering timely benefits in efficiency, large handling capacity, high quality of the end product, as well as good economic return. Problems encountered during multi-substrates co-composting such as pathogens, high moisture content, asynchronism in the decomposition of different substrates, and low quality of the end product can all be tackled. 92.5% of solid waste was collected in the demonstration area, while the treating and recycling ratio reached 87.9%, which prevented 32.2 t nitrogen and 3.9 t phosphorus per year from entering the water body of Dianchi Lake after implementation of the project.     

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.     

A model on the carbon cycling in Lake Taihu, China

A model of the carbon cycling in Lake Taihu was developed based on the previous developed model EcoTaihu Model, which couples the hydrology, the nutrient cycling and a number of biological processes. The carbon cycling model (abbreviated CCM) has in addition to the states variables of the EcoTaihu Model, the carbon in phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, macroplant, hydrogen carbonate carbon, carbonate carbon, dissolved carbon, abiotic organic carbon in water, organic carbon in sediment, soluble organic carbon in pore water, inorganic carbon in sediments, soluble inorganic carbon in pore water and pH. The calibration and validation of the CCM showed that the model results are in good accordance with the observations (from the period February17 to December. 5, 2003). It implies that the model can be used to assess the variation of the carbon dioxide flux at the water-air interface, and to find the pH value of the lake water as function of time. According to the model, the carbon dioxide flux at the water-air interface has clear, diurnal variations. Eutrophied water is a sink for the atmospheric carbon dioxide due to the phytosynthesis during the summer. Due to the terrestrial input of carbon to the lake, Lake Taihu is, however, a source of atmospheric carbon dioxide. The total annual flux is almost equal to the terrestrial input of carbon to the lake.     

Assessment of nutrients and heavy metals enrichment in surface sediments from Taihu Lake,a eutrophic shallow lake in China

Concentrations of the nutrients (TN and TP), phosphorus fractions and heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, Ti, V, Zn and Hg) in 40 surface sediment samples collected from Taihu Lake, a eutrophic shallow lake in China, were determined. The results showed that the northwest region of the lake possessed higher concentrations of TN and TP, as well as the similar spatial distribution trend in the water column. This should be related to excessive anthropogenic input from industrial effluents and domestic sewage in surrounding areas. Similarly, the concentrations of P fractions exhibited significant regularity. In addition, except for Sr showing low concentration, the rest of the heavy metals in the surface sediments had two- to four-folds of magnitude of the concentrations compared with the reference values in earth's crust. In the past decade, concentrations of heavy metals had undergone different levels of variations. Principal component analysis (PCA) and enrichment factors (EFs) of the compositional data aiming at heavy metals showed that Taihu Lake was slightly exposing to heavy metal contamination except Sr. High concentrations of heavy metals were ascribed to the discharge of untreated and partially treated industrial waste water via rivers. Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn positively correlated with each other (R = 0.78–0.92), that indicated they had analogous sources and/or kindred geochemistry characteristics. Differing from nutrients, randomness in the space indicated that heavy metals had a complex distribution.