Heavy metal content and speciation in groundwater of the Guadiamar river basin

This work presents the conclusions of a speciation study concerning Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu in groundwater from ten wells in the alluvial aquifers of the Guadiamar river, affected by Aznalcollar mine tailing spill (April 1998). The sampling campaign took place in January 2000, almost two years after the mining accident. Four metal fractions were determined: labile metal forms, H+ exchangeable metal forms, strongly inert forms (associated with organic and inorganic matter in solution), and forms associated with suspended matter. Total metal concentration in groundwater followed the trend Cd < Pb < Cu < Zn. The speciation study showed that Zn and Cd were present to a great extent in available forms (labile and H+ exchangeable), while Pb and Cu were found mostly in the less available forms (strongly inert). These results can illustrate the potential value of the speciation tool for the follow-up of spill-induced pollution in the area.     

洛阳城市污水处理厂污泥中重金属形态及潜在生态风险评价

分析了洛阳市3个污水处理厂脱水污泥中Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr和Pb的含量,采用BCR法研究了污泥中重金属的形态分布特征,并利用地累积指数法（Igeo）和潜在生态危害指数法（RI）评价污泥在农用过程中重金属的潜在生态风险。结果表明,涧西污泥中Cu、Zn和Ni含量超过了农用泥质A级标准的限值（CJ/T309-2009）,而新区污泥和瀍东污泥显示出良好的农用性质。污泥中Cu和Cr主要以可氧化态存在,Zn主要以酸溶态和可还原态存在,迁移性强,Ni含量分布相对比较均匀,Pb主要以残渣态存在。Igeo表明,污泥中Cu、Zn是潜在的污染元素。RI表明,Cu表现出高潜在生态风险;Zn的总含量虽高,但Zn的生物毒性响应因子低,对污泥的潜在风险贡献较低。     

Informal e-waste recycling: environmental risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in Mandoli industrial area,Delhi, India

Nowadays, e-waste is a major source of environmental problems and opportunities due to presence of hazardous elements and precious metals. This study was aimed to evaluate the pollution risk of heavy metal contamination by informal recycling of e-waste. Environmental risk assessment was determined using multivariate statistical analysis, index of geoaccumulation, enrichment factor, contamination factor, degree of contamination and pollution load index by analysing heavy metals in surface soils, plants and groundwater samples collected from and around informal recycling workshops in Mandoli industrial area, Delhi, India. Concentrations of heavy metals like As (17.08 mg/kg), Cd (1.29 mg/kg), Cu (115.50 mg/kg), Pb (2,645.31 mg/kg), Se (12.67 mg/kg) and Zn (776.84 mg/kg) were higher in surface soils of e-waste recycling areas compared to those in reference site. Level exceeded the values suggested by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). High accumulations of heavy metals were also observed in the native plant samples (Cynodon dactylon) of e-waste recycling areas. The groundwater samples collected form recycling area had high heavy metal concentrations as compared to permissible limit of Indian Standards and maximum allowable limit of WHO guidelines for drinking water. Multivariate analysis and risk assessment studies based on total metal content explains the clear-cut differences among sampling sites and a strong evidence of heavy metal pollution because of informal recycling of e-waste. This study put forward that prolonged informal recycling of e-waste may accumulate high concentration of heavy metals in surface soils, plants and groundwater, which will be a matter of concern for both environmental and occupational hazards. This warrants an immediate need of remedial measures to reduce the heavy metal contamination of e-waste recycling sites.     

Distribution and partitioning of phosphorus in solid waste and sediments from drainage canals in the industrial belt of Delhi, India

Phosphorus is an essential and often limiting nutrient in both marine and freshwater ecosystems. However, its oversupply is of great concern in many environments due to its role in eutrophication. The concentration and distribution of sediment bound phosphorus species not only record its input into the environment, but also suggest their possible sources. It is recognized that the features of phosphorus behaviour have not been extensively studied in urban environments. In this study, phosphorus in solid waste and sediments from drainage canals within the industrial belt of Delhi were fractionated into five operationally defined forms, i.e., exchangeable or loosely sorbed phosphorus (Exch-P), Fe-bound phosphorus (Fe-P), authigenic apatite, CaCO3-bound phosphorus and biogenic apatite (Acet-P), detrital apatite (Det-P) and organic-bound phosphorus (Org-P), in order to assess the potential bioavailability status in these systems.     

Health Effects of Air Quality Regulations in Delhi, India

This, the first systematic study, quantifies the health effects of air quality regulations in Delhi, which adopted radical measures to improve air quality, including, for example, the conversion of all commercial vehicles to compressed natural gas (CNG), and the closure of polluting industries in residential areas from 2000 to 2002. Air pollution data, collected at 113 sites (spread across Delhi and its neighboring areas) from July-December 2003, were used to compute exposure at the place of residence of 3,989 subjects. A socio-economic and respiratory health survey was administered in 1,576 households. This survey collected time-use, residence histories, demographic information, and direct measurements of lung function with subjects. The optimal interpolation methods were used to link air pollution and respiratory health data at the place of their residence. Resident histories, in combination with secondary data, were used to impute cumulative exposure prior to the air-quality interventions, and the effects of recent air quality measures on lung function were then evaluated. Three important findings emerge from the analysis. First, the interventions were associated with a significant improvement in respiratory health. Second, the effect of these interventions varied significantly by gender and income. Third, consistent with a causal interpretation of these results, effects were the strongest among those individuals who spend a disproportionate share of their time out-of-doors.     

Fenton氧化剩余污泥过程重金属迁移及其形态变化

采用Fenton氧化处理含重金属剩余污泥,通过BCR法测定并分析了污泥处理过程各重金属形态的变化,重点考察了pH、H2O2投加量、H2O2/Fe2+比、温度（T）和反应时间（t）5个因素对重金属迁移及形态变化的影响。结果表明,利用Fenton氧化处理剩余污泥,污泥重金属形态变化显著,且受到初始pH、H2O2投加量、H2O2/Fe2+比和温度的影响,但反应时间的影响较小。正交实验结果显示,Fenton氧化处理污泥的最佳条件为：初始pH1、H2O2投加量12 g·L-1、H2O2/Fe2+比10和温度50℃,此时污泥Cu、Mn和Zn 3种重金属的弱酸溶解态含量达到最高值,分别为72.66%、90.12%和87.51%。在最佳条件时,污泥上清液中Cu、Mn和Zn含量可分别从0.08、0.263和0.01 mg·L-1增加到15.08、17.49、32.74 mg·L-1。研究表明,Fenton氧化污泥过程提高了污泥中弱酸溶解态重金属含量,利于重金属从固相向液相转移,从而有效降低污泥饼中重金属含量,有利于污泥脱水后的进一步处理及其资源化。     

Heavy metal speciation and phytotoxic effects of three representative sewage sludges for agricultural uses

The environmental impact of sewage sludges depends on the availability and phytotoxicity of their heavy metal. The influence of representative sludges (dewatered anaerobic, pelletization, and composted sludge) on the availability of heavy metals, and their effects on seed germination were compared. The total heavy metal concentrations were below the maximum permitted for land-applied waste and the differences among them were small. The DTPA-extracted metal concentrations were rather different. The sequential extraction of the compost showed a slight increase in Cd and Cu availability, and a decrease in the availability of Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn. Pelletization increased the availability of Ni and slightly reduced that of Cr. The dewatering sludge led to greater availability of Cr and Mn but reduced the concentration of Cd. The three different sludges also affected seed germination and root elongation in different ways. The most serious adverse effects were caused by the dewatered sludge extract.     

Heavy metal speciation and mobility assessment of arid soils in the vicinity of Al Ain landfill, United Arab Emirates

Sixty-four surface soil samples taken in the vicinity of Al Ain landfill were analysed for cadmium, chromium, copper, nickel, lead and zinc by inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy. Extraction techniques were used to establish the association of the total concentrations of the six metals in the soil samples with their contents in the exchangeable, carbonate, iron/manganese oxides, and residual fractions. In the investigated soils, the recorded concentrations were as follows: 0.043 mg kg^-1 for cadmium, 19.1 mg kg^-1 for chromium, 53.3 mg kg^-1 for copper, 60 mg kg^-1 for nickel, 13.7 mg kg^-1 for lead, and 117 mg kg^-1 for zinc. Cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead and zinc concentrations in the investigated soil samples reflect the natural background values in shale, whereas copper is slightly enriched. I-geo (geoaccumulation index) values of the metals in the soils under study indicate that they are uncontaminated with cadmium, chromium, nickel, lead and zinc, but contaminated to moderately contaminated with copper. Heavy metal contents in the sediments were found to be significantly influenced by different physico-chemical parameters. The effect of these parameters can be arranged in the following order: clay fraction > carbonate fraction > silt fraction > organic matter fractions. A sequential extraction procedure showed that the total concentrations of the heavy metals are largely bound to the residual phase (retained 71.4% of cadmium, 77.8% of chromium, 75% of copper, 47% of nickel, 62.8% of lead, and 75.8% of zinc). A likely sequence of mobility in the investigated soils is as follows: chromium > lead > nickel > cadmium > zinc > copper.     

Dry aerial fallout of organochlorine insecticide residues in Delhi, India

Monitoring of airborne dust in Delhi during May to July 1985 revealed residues of DDT varying from 1.3 to 7.14 ng mg(-1) (4.06-22.31 ng m(-2) day(-1)) with an average of 3.32 ng mg(-1) (10.38 ng m(-2) day(-1)), and HCH which ranged from 0.46 to 2.35 ng mg(-1) (1.44-7.34 ng m(-2) day(-1)) with a mean of 1.16 ng mg(-1) (3.63 ng m(-2) day(-1)). The concentration of total DDT was almost 3 times greater than that of HCH.     

Bioaccessibility and health risk of arsenic, mercury and other metals in urban street dusts from a mega-city, Nanjing, China

The oral bioaccessibility and the human health risks of As, Hg and other metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Cd, Cr, Mn, V and Fe) in urban street dusts from different land use districts in Nanjing (a mega-city), China were investigated. Both the total contents and the oral bioaccessibility estimated by the Simple Bioaccessibility Extraction Test (SBET) of the studied elements varied with street dusts from different land use districts. Cd, Zn, Mn, Pb, Hg and As showed high bioaccessibility. SBET-extractable contents of elements were significantly correlated with their total contents and the dust properties (pH, organic matter contents). The carcinogenic risk probability for As and Cr to children and adults were under the acceptable level (<1 × 10⁻⁴). Hazard Quotient values for single elements and Hazard Index values for all studied elements suggested potential non-carcinogenic health risk to children, but not to adults.     

Heavy metal levels in two biennial pine insects with sap-sucking and gall-forming life-styles

The concentrations of cadmium, copper, nickel and lead were studied in two biennial pine insects in relation to the deposition of heavy metals in the environment around the industrialised town of Harjavalta in southwestern Finland. Sap-sucking pine bark bugs, Aradus cinnamomeus (Heteroptera, Aradidae), and gall-forming pine resin gall moths, Petrova resinella (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) were collected on sample plots located at logarithmic distances along 9 km-long transects from the distinctive emission source. The responses of these insects representing different life-style were compared. Heavy metal concentrations in A. cinnamomeus were highest (Cd 17 microg g(-1), Cu 1900 microg g(-1), Ni 220 microg g(-1), Pb 32 microg g(-1)) in the vicinity of the factor complex, and lowest in the outermost zones. This trend followed a linear regression model. The pattern was less clear in P. resinella, the concentrations being only one-tenth of those recorded in A. cinnamomeus. Correlations between metal levels in A. cinnamomeus and previously examined Sphagnum moss bags proved to be highly significant in every case. The differences in the heavy metal concentrations of these two insect species, which occupy the same trophic position, would appear to be due to the differences in their feeding characteristics. Heavy metals accumulate in the posterior bulb of the midgut in the discontinuous alimentary system of A. cinnamomeus, while P. resinella is likely to secrete most of the metals into the walls of the galls. The almost total absence of these two insect species near the factory complex seems to be associated with the high concentrations of metals.     

Soil and street dust heavy metal concentrations in and around Cuenca, Ecuador

Lead, cadmium and zinc concentrations have been obtained in a total of 83 soil and dust samples in and around the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. Elevated heavy metal concentrations were observed in the city, with comparable Pb concentrations to those commonly found in European and North American cities. Lead concentrations were also elevated above the estimated regional background (less than 9 microg g(-1)) along a rural track used by about 100 vehicles per day. The extent of the contamination by Cd and Zn was restricted to the urban area.     

Heavy metal accumulation by Nicotiana glauca Graham in a solid waste disposal site

Nicotiana glauca Graham, is the only perennial shrub growing in a solid waste contaminated site in the Negev desert of Israel. The concentration of heavy metals (Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd and Pb) in the upper soil layer was significantly higher (p<0.01) than in non-contaminated desert soil. In root and shoot of N. glauca, growing in the site, the concentration of Cu, Zn and Fe was significantly higher (p<0.05) than in plants of a non-contaminated site. In a controlled experiment, the concentrations of Zn and Cu in root of plants grown, in a mixture of contaminated and non-contaminated soil (1:1) was 9.5 and 4.7 higher than that of plants grown in non-contaminated soil, respectively. While Zn was accumulated in shoot of plants grown in contaminated soil (531 mgkg(-1)) in significantly higher concentration than in plants grown in non-contaminated soil (56 mgkg(-1)), no significant differences were found in Cu accumulation. Growth of N. glauca was inhibited on contaminated soil, but no other obvious stress symptoms were apparent. Therefore, long term experiments under controlled conditions are planned to study the mechanism of heavy metal tolerance and accumulation in N. glauca.     

Investigating the relationship between lead speciation and bioaccessibility of mining impacted soils and dusts

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Lead (Pb) bioaccessibility measurements have been the subject of much research in recent years, given the desire to develop a cost-effective and...     

Trace metal speciation and bioavailability in urban soils

Urban soils often contain concentrations of trace metals that exceed regulatory levels. However, the threat posed by trace metals to human health and the environment is thought to be dependent on their speciation in the soil solution rather than the total concentration. Three inactive railway yards in Montréal, Québec, were sampled to investigate the speciation and bioavailability of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn. Soil solutions were obtained by centrifuging saturated soil pastes. In the soil solutions, up to 59% of the dissolved Cd was in its free ionic form. For Cu, Pb and Zn, organic complexes were the predominant species. Over 40% of Ni was present as inorganic complexes if the solution pH exceeded 8.1. Multiple regression analyses showed that pH and total metals in soil were significantly correlated with the activities of free metal ions, except for Cd(2+), which only had a weak correlation with soil pH. Free, dissolved and total soil metals were tested for their ability to predict metal uptake by plants in the field. However, none of these metal pools were satisfactory predictors. The results indicated that in these urban soils, trace metals were mainly in stable forms and bioavailability was extremely low.     

Heavy metal pollution in vegetables grown in the vicinity of a multi-metal mining area in Gejiu,China: total concentrations,speciation analysis,and health risk

A field survey was conducted to investigate the present situation and health risk of arsenic (As), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in soils and vegetables in a multi-metal mining area, Gejiu, China. Furthermore, three vegetables (water spinach, potato, and summer squash) containing high metal concentrations were selected to further analyze metal speciation. The results showed that the average concentrations of five metals in soil exceeded the limiting values, and their bioavailable concentrations were significantly positively correlated to the total ones. Heavy metals in the edible parts of vegetables also exceeded the corresponding standards. The leaves of pakchoi, peppermint, and coriander had a strong metal-accumulative ability and they were not suitable for planting. Except the residue forms, the main forms of metals in the edible parts of three selected vegetables were ethanol-, NaCl-, and HAc-extractable fractions for As, Pb, and Cd, respectively; however, Cu was mainly presented as NaCl-extractable and Zn as HAc-extractable fractions. A high proportion of ethanol-extractable As showed that As bioactivity and toxic effects were the highest. Although the total and bioavailable Cd were high in soil, its speciation in vegetables was mainly presented as HAc-extractable fraction, which has a relatively low bioactivity. Lead and arsenic were imposing a serious threat on the local residents via vegetable consumption.     

Heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) contamination of vegetables in urban India: a case study in Varanasi

The contributions of heavy metals in selected vegetables through atmospheric deposition were quantified in an urban area of India. Deposition rate of Zn was recorded maximum followed by Cu, Cd and Pb. The concentrations of Zn and Cu were highest in Brassica oleracea, Cd in Abelmoschus esculentus and B. oleracea, while Pb was highest in Beta vulgaris. Heavy metal pollution index showed that B. oleracea was maximally contaminated with heavy metals followed by A. esculentus and then B. vulgaris. The results of washing showed that atmospheric deposition has contributed to the increased levels of heavy metals in vegetables. Both Cu and Cd posed health risk to local population via test vegetables consumption, whereas Pb posed the same only through B. oleracea. The study concludes that atmospheric depositions can elevate the levels of heavy metals in vegetables during marketing having potential health hazards to consumers.     

Monitoring leachate composition at a municipal landfill site in New Delhi, India

Most of the landfills in developing countries do not have any liner at the base, or a drainage layer or a proper top cover, which results in the potential problem of groundwater/surface water contamination due to the leachate. Hence, to decide whether the leachate is to be collected and treated, or may be allowed to discharge into the adjoining soil or public sewer or surface waterbody, it is essential to have an estimate of the amount of leachate and, more importantly, the composition and strength of the leachate and variation of leachate contaminants with time as the landfill site develops. In this paper, the experimental work carried out at one of the landfills in New Delhi, India, to ascertain the composition of leachate, and its effect on the groundwater in the existing situation is presented. The variation in the leachate composition with the age of deposition of solid waste has been studied. The study indicates that the leachate composition varies considerably with the age of deposition of the waste. It may be worthwhile to use different methods for the treatment of leachate from different parts of the landfill, if collected separately. It has also been concluded that since leachate contains high concentrations of organic and inorganic constituents, including heavy metals, liners must be used at the landfills. The presence of bore wells at landfill sites to draw groundwater threatens to contaminate the groundwater, and immediate remediation steps should be taken at all landfill sites that have groundwater bore wells.     

Heavy metal binding capacity (HMBC) of municipal solid waste landfill leachates

This research describes the use of a toxicity assay for the identification of metal toxicity, bioavailability and heavy metal binding capacity (HMBC) of municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill leachates. MetPLATE, an assay specific for heavy metal toxicity, was used to determine the HMBC of MSW leachates collected from 14 sites in Florida, with a wide range of chemical and physical characteristics. The leachates displayed a low toxicity which was attributed to the site-specific parameters, including, high concentrations of both organic and inorganic ligands. The HMBC test was undertaken to measure the effect of these site-specific parameters on metal toxicity. The potential for MSW leachate to bind and, thus, detoxify heavy metals was investigated with copper, zinc, and mercury. The HMBC values obtained ranged from 3 to 115, 5 to 93 and 4 to 101 for HMBC-Cu+2, HMBC-Zn+2, and HMBC-Hg+2, respectively. Additionally, the high strength leachates displayed the highest binding capacities, although the landfills sampled represented a wide range of characteristics. For comparison, the HMBC values reported with local lake water, Lake Alice and Lake Beverly, and a wastewater treatment plant effluent were all below 3. A partial fractionation of MSW leachate samples from sites 1, 5 and 8, was conducted to further investigate the influence of selected site-specific physico-chemical parameters on metal binding. The fractionation revealed that the HMBC of the leachate samples was heavily influenced by the concentration of solids, organics and hardness.     

Heavy metal pollution exerts reduction/adaptation in the diversity and enzyme expression profile of heterotrophic bacteria in Cochin estuary, India

Over the past three decades heavy metal pollution has increased substantially in Cochin estuary, south west coast of India. Here we studied the distribution, diversity and enzyme expression profile of culturable microbial population along a pollution gradient. The distribution of resistance against 5 mM concentration of Zn, Co, Ni and Cu was observed among 90-100% of bacterial isolates retrieved from highly polluted Eloor, whereas it was less than 40% in Vypin and Munambam. Similarly, there was a difference in the distribution and diversity of bacterial phyla with predominance of Proteobacteria in Eloor and Firmicutes in Munambam and Vypin. We observed that 75-100% of the organisms retrieved from Eloor had low levels of expression for hydrolytic enzyme. In conclusion, the heavy metal pollution in Cochin estuary brought in reduction/adaptation in the distribution, diversity and enzyme expression profile of bacteria, which may impart adverse impacts on ecosystem functioning.