Remediation of contaminated agricultural soils near a former Pb/Zn smelter in Austria: batch, pot and field experiments

Metal contaminated crops from contaminated soils are possible hazards for the food chain. The aim of this study was to find practical and cost-effective measures to reduce metal uptake in crops grown on metal contaminated soils near a former metal smelter in Austria. Metal-inefficient cultivars of crop plants commonly grown in the area were investigated in combination with in-situ soil amendments. A laboratory batch experiment using 15 potential amendments was used to select 5 amendments to treat contaminated soil in a pot study using two Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cultivars that differed in their ability to accumulate cadmium. Results from this experiment identified 3 of these amendments for use in a field trial. In the pot experiment a reduction in ammonium nitrate extractable Cd (<41%) and Pb (<49%) compared to the controls was measured, with a concurrent reduction of uptake into barley grain (Cd<62%, Pb<68%). In the field extractable fractions of Cd, Pb, and Zn were reduced by up to 96%, 99%, and 99%, respectively in amended soils.     

State of energy consumption and CO2 emission in Bangladesh

Carbon dioxide (CO2) is one of the most important gases in the atmosphere, and is necessary for sustaining life on Earth. It is also considered to be a major greenhouse gas contributing to global warming and climate change. In this article, energy consumption in Bangladesh is analyzed and estimates are made of CO2 emission from combustion of fossil fuel (coal, gas, petroleum products) for the period 1977 to 1995. International Panel for Climate Change guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories were used in estimating CO2 emission. An analysis of energy data shows that the consumption of fossil fuels in Bangladesh is growing by more than 5% per year. The proportion of natural gas in total energy consumption is increasing, while that of petroleum products and coal is decreasing. The estimated total CO2 release from all primary fossil fuels used in Bangladesh amounted to 5072 Gigagram (Gg) in 1977, and 14 423 Gg in 1995. The total amounts of CO2 released from petroleum products, natural gas, and coal in the period 1977-1995 were 83 026 Gg (50% of CO2 emission), 72 541 Gg (44% of CO2 emission), and 9545 Gg (6% CO2 emission), respectively. A trend in CO2 emission with projections to 2070 is generated. In 2070, total estimated CO2 emission will be 293 260 Gg with a current growth rate of 6.34% y . CO2 emission from fossil fuels is increasing. Petroleum products contribute the majority of CO2 emission load, and although the use of natural gas is increasing rapidly, its contribution to CO2 emission is less than that of petroleum products. The use of coal as well as CO2 emission from coal is expected to gradually decrease.     

Effects of ultraviolet radiation and contaminant-related stressors on arctic freshwater ecosystems

Climate change is likely to act as a multiple stressor, leading to cumulative and/or synergistic impacts on aquatic systems. Projected increases in temperature and corresponding alterations in precipitation regimes will enhance contaminant influxes to aquatic systems, and independently increase the susceptibility of aquatic organisms to contaminant exposure and effects. The consequences for the biota will in most cases be additive (cumulative) and multiplicative (synergistic). The overall result will be higher contaminant loads and biomagnification in aquatic ecosystems. Changes in stratospheric ozone and corresponding ultraviolet radiation regimes are also expected to produce cumulative and/or synergistic effects on aquatic ecosystem structure and function. Reduced ice cover is likely to have a much greater effect on underwater UV radiation exposure than the projected levels of stratospheric ozone depletion. A major increase in UV radiation levels will cause enhanced damage to organisms (biomolecular, cellular, and physiological damage, and alterations in species composition). Allocations of energy and resources by aquatic biota to UV radiation protection will increase, probably decreasing trophic-level productivity. Elemental fluxes will increase via photochemical pathways.     

Tributyltin partitioning in sediments: effect of aging

The effect of aging on the solid/pore-water partitioning and desorption behaviour of tributyltin (TBT) in sediments was examined. Three sediment samples with contrasting physical and chemical properties were spiked with 10 mg/kg TBT and aged under sterile conditions for periods of time ranging from 1 to 84 days. Aging had a negligible effect on partitioning and desorption behaviour in a sandy sample with very low organic carbon content (0.2% w/w). In contrast, for samples with larger amounts of organic carbon (2.6% and 4.8% w/w), aging caused substantial increases in TBT sorption. For these samples, apparent distribution coefficients (KD,app) obtained from sequential 2 h desorption experiments also exhibited a twofold increase between spiked sediments subjected to aging for 1 day and 84 days. This study demonstrates that aging effects may be an important aspect of TBT fate in contaminated sediments.     

Factors influencing arsenic accumulation by Pteris vittata: a comparative field study at two sites

This study compared the factors influencing arsenic (As) accumulation by Pteris vittata at two sites, one containing As along with Au mineralization and the other containing Hg/Tl mineralization. The soils above these two sites contained high As concentrations (26.8-2955 mg kg(-1)). Although the As concentration, pH, soil cation exchange capacity and plant biomass differed significantly between the two sites, no differences were observed in the As concentrations in the fronds and roots, or the translocation factors, of P. vittata, suggesting that this species has consistent As hyperaccumulation properties in the field. The As concentration in the fronds was positively related to phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), but negatively related to calcium (Ca), at one site. This suggested that P, K and Ca influenced As accumulation by P. vittata in the field.     

Trace metal behaviour in the Conwy estuary,North Wales

The distribution of trace metals Zn, Ni, Mn, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cd and Cr between suspended particulate matter (SPM) and water in the Conwy estuary, North Wales, has been studied in three surveys in 1998. Dissolved Cu and Mn showed some monthly variations. Most of the dissolved trace metals displayed a negative association with salinity, indicating rivers as a major source of inputs for them. Particulate Zn, Mn and Fe showed a decreasing concentration seaward, whilst the levels of Ni, Cu, Cr and Pb increased with salinity. SPM concentration was the most important variable significantly related to trace metal concentrations in SPM, with an inverse relationship between the two parameters. This was explained by the relative enrichment of trace metals in fine particles at low SPM concentrations and relative depletion of trace metals in coarse particles at high SPM concentrations. Particulate Zn, Mn and Pb were dominated by the fraction available to acetic acid (non-detrital), whilst particulate Ni, Fe and Cr were dominated by the fraction available to nitric acid (detrital). The partition coefficient of trace metals between SPM and water declined with increasing SPM concentration, consistent with the so-called "particle concentration effect". Such a phenomenon may be explained by the presence of fine particles (including colloids) enriched with trace metals at low SPM concentrations, and the salinity-induced desorption.     

Combined glassification of EAF dust and incinerator fly ash

Stainless steelmaking dust contains large amount of heavy metals, such as Cr and Ni. If these hazardous materials are not treated properly, they will cause detrimental secondary contamination. Preliminary study on recycling stainless steelmaking dust employed the thermal molten technology. Glass-ceramics were formed by combination stainless steel dust and incinerator fly ash with the ratio of 1:9. The major phases were Augite, Akermanite, and Donathite. It was found that the glass-ceramics shows the best characteristic at 900 degrees C after 5 h of heat treatment. This product can be used as building materials or refractory materials.     

Multivariate statistical study of heavy metal enrichment in sediments of the Pearl River Estuary

The concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in the sediment cores of the Pearl River Estuary were studied. Based on Pearson correlation coefficients and principal component analysis results, Al was selected as the concentration normalizer for Pb, while Fe was used as the normalizing element for Co, Cu, Ni and Zn. In each profile, sections with metal concentrations exceeding the upper 95% prediction interval of the linear regression model were regarded as metal enrichment layers. The heavy metal accumulation mainly occurred at sites in the western shallow water areas and east channel, which reflected the hydraulic conditions and influence from riparian anthropogenic activities. Heavy metals in the enrichment sections were evaluated by a sequential extraction method for possible chemical forms in sediments. Since the residual, Fe/Mn oxides and organic/sulfide fractions were dominant geochemical phases in the enriched sections, the bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments was generally low. The 206Pb/207Pb ratios in the metal-enriched sediment sections also revealed the influence of anthropogenic sources. The spatial distribution of cumulative heavy metals in the sediments suggested that the Zn and Cu mainly originated from point sources, while the Pb probably came from non-point sources in the estuary.     

Modeling of flow and contaminant transport in coupled stream-aquifer systems

This paper describes an integrated approach for modeling flow and contaminant transport in hydraulically connected stream-aquifer systems. The code, FTSTREAM, extended the capabilities of the ground-water model, FTWORK, to incorporate chemical fate and transport in streams. Flow in the stream network is modeled as an unsteady, spatially varying flow, while transport modeling is based on a one-dimensional advection-dispersion equation. In addition to sorption and decay during transport in ground water, the model incorporates volatilization, settling and decay during transport in surface water. The interaction between surface water and ground water is accommodated by a leakage term and is implemented in the model using an iterative Picard-type procedure to ensure mass conservation across the interface between the two systems. The modeling approach is used to simulate contaminant transport in the Mad River, Ohio, which is hydraulically connected to a buried valley aquifer of sand and gravel outwash. The river is a receiving stream in the upstream part of the modeled area. Downstream, heavy pumping from a municipal well field causes the river to become a loosing stream. Induced infiltration from the river is responsible for a considerable portion of the well yield. The flow and transport model, developed for this study, simulates coupling between flow in the aquifer and the river. Hypothetical sources of contamination are introduced at selected locations in the upstream portion of the aquifer. The model is then used to simulate the expected transport in both the aquifer and the stream. A series of simulations elucidates the role of the river in facilitating the transport of the hypothetical contaminants in ground water and surface water. Effect of sorption, retardation and volatilization on contaminant transport is also examined for the case of the volatile organic compounds.     

Removal of biocide pentachlorophenol in water system by the spent mushroom compost of Pleurotus pulmonarius

Pentachlorophenol (PCP) has been widely used as a wood preservative since 1980s. Although it has been banned worldwide, residues of PCP are still commonly found. The spent compost of oyster mushroom Pleurotus pulmonarius (SMC) which was a degraded paddy straw-based substrate, contained 25% chitin. Five percentage of the SMC could remove 89.0 +/- 0.4% of 100 mg PCPl(-1) within 2 days at room temperature predominantly by biodegradation. The maximum removal capacity was 15.5 +/- 1.0 mg g(-1) SMC. The sorption kinetics of PCP by SMC can be described by the Freundlich monolayer model with a theoretical sorption capacity similar to that found for chitin. A PCP-degradative bacterium was isolated from the SMC. Yet, biodegradation was predominantly contributed by the immobilized ligninolytic enzymes secreted by the mushroom to the SMC. Degradation of PCP involves dechlorination, methylation, carboxylation and ring cleavage as verified by GC-MSD and ion chromatography. Thus, the SMC has a potential for treating PCP-contaminated water.