Soil contamination of heavy metals in the Katedan Industrial Development Area, Hyderabad, India

Studies on quantitative soil contamination due to heavy metals were carried out in Katedan Industrial Development Area (KIDA), south of Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, India under the Indo-Norwegian Institutional Cooperation Programme. The study area falls under a semi-arid type of climate and consists of granites and pegmatite of igneous origin belonging to the Archaean age. There are about 300 industries dealing with dyeing, edible oil production, battery manufacturing, metal plating, chemicals, etc. Most of the industries discharge their untreated effluents either on open land or into ditches. Solid waste from industries is randomly dumped along roads and open grounds. Soil samples were collected throughout the industrial area and from downstream residential areas and were analysed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer for fourteen trace metals and ten major oxides. The analytical data shows very high concentrations of lead, chromium, nickel, zinc, arsenic and cadmium through out the industrial area. The random dumping of hazardous waste in the industrial area could be the main cause of the soil contamination spreading by rainwater and wind. In the residential areas the local dumping is expected to be the main source as it is difficult to foresee that rain and wind can transport the contaminants from the industrial area. If emission to air by the smokestacks is significant, this may contribute to considerable spreading of contaminants like As, Cd and Pb throughout the area. A comparison of the results with the Canadian Soil Quality Guidelines (SQGL) show that most of the industrial area is heavily contaminated by As, Pb and Zn and local areas by Cr, Cu and Ni. The residential area is also contaminated by As and some small areas by Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn. The Cd contamination is detected over large area but it is not exceeding the SQGL value. Natural background values of As and Cr exceed the SQGL values and contribute significantly to the contamination in the residential area. However, the availability is considerably less than anthropogenic contaminants and must therefore be assessed differently. The pre- and post-monsoon sampling over two hydrological cycles in 2002 and 2003 indicate that the As, Cd and Pb contaminants are more mobile and may expect to reach the groundwater. The other contaminants seem to be much more stable. The contamination is especially serious in the industrial area as it is housing a large permanent residing population. The study not only aims at determining the natural background levels of trace elements as a guide for future pollution monitoring but also focuses on the pollution vulnerability of the watershed. A plan of action for remediation is recommended.     

Fecal source tracking by antibiotic resistance analysis on a watershed exhibiting low resistance

The ongoing development of microbial source tracking has made it possible to identify contamination sources with varying accuracy, depending on the method used. The purpose of this study was to test the efficiency of the antibiotic resistance analysis (ARA) method under low resistance by tracking the fecal sources at Turkey Creek, Oklahoma exhibiting this condition. The resistance patterns of 772 water-isolates, tested with nine antibiotics, were analyzed by discriminant analysis (DA) utilizing a five-source library containing 2250 isolates. The library passed various representativeness tests; however, two of the pulled-sample tests suggested insufficient sampling. The resubstitution test of the library individual sources showed significant isolate misclassification with an average rate of correct classification (ARCC) of 58%. These misclassifications were explained by low antibiotic resistance (Wilcoxon test P < 0.0001). Seasonal DA of stream E. coli isolates for the pooled sources human/livestock/deer indicated that in fall, the human source dominated (P < 0.0001) at a rate of 56%, and that human and livestock respective contributions in winter (35 and 39%), spring (43 and 40%), and summer (37 and 35%) were similar. Deer scored lower (17–28%) than human and livestock at every season. The DA was revised using results from a misclassification analysis to provide a perspective of the effect caused by low antibiotic resistance and a more realistic determination of the fecal source rates at Turkey Creek. The revision increased livestock rates by 13–14% (0.04 ≤ P ≤ 0.06), and decreased human and deer by 6–7%. Negative misclassification into livestock was significant (0.04 ≤ P ≤ 0.06). Low antibiotic resistance showed the greatest effect in this category.     

Modelling vegetation greenness responses to climate variability in a Mediterranean terrestrial ecosystem

Accurate knowledge of the quality and environmental impact of the highway runoff in Pear River Delta, South China is required to assess this important non-point pollution source. This paper presents the quality characterization and environmental impact assessment of rainfall runoff from highways in urban and rural area of Guangzhou, the largest city of Pear River Delta over 1 year’s investigation. Multiple regression and Pearson correlation analysis were used to determine influence of the rainfall characteristics on water quality and correlations among the constituents in highway runoff. The results and analysis indicates that the runoff water is nearly neutral with low biodegradability. Oil and grease (O&G), suspended solids (SS) and heavy metals are the dominant pollutants in contrast to the low level of nutrient constituents in runoff. Quality of highway runoff at rural site is better than that of at urban site for most constituents. Depth and antecedent dry period are the main rainfall factors influencing quality of highway runoff. The correlation patterns among constituents in highway runoff at urban site are consistent with their dominant phases in water. Strong correlations (r ≥ 0.80) are found among chemical oxygen demand (COD), total phosphorus, Cu and Zn as well as conductivity, nitrate nitrogen and total nitrogen. O&G, COD, SS and Pb in highway runoff at urban site substantially exceed their concentrations in receiving water of Pear River. The soil directly discharged by highway runoff at rural site has contaminated seriously by heavy metals in surface layer accompanying with pH conversion from original acidic to alkaline at present.     

广西一个典型矿业镇环境中重金属污染分析

广西河池市是我国重要的有色金属基地.以该市一个典型的矿业镇作为研究对象,采集了该镇周围23个旱地土壤样品,并在镇里布设两个大气采样点采集了可吸入颗粒物(PM10)样品,运用ICP-MS分析了样品中20种金属元素的含量,采用地积指数法判定旱地土壤和可吸入颗粒物中污染元素及来源.结果表明,这些与人们生活密切的环境介质(旱地土,可吸入颗粒物)均受到了多种重金属元素的复合污染,其共同的污染元素有Cd、As、Sb、Pb、Xn、Cu,而其中致癌元素Cd和As污染最为突出.大气可吸入颗粒物与旱地土壤中各污染元素的污染强度排序相同,均为Cd＞As＞Sb＞Pb＞Zn＞Cu.经过现场调查和识别,污染源主要来自当地开放性运矿产生的扬尘所致.因此加强该地区矿石运输管理是保护该地区耕地和人群健康的需要.     

活性炭负载催化剂去除燃煤烟气中单质汞的研究

以贵州凯里褐煤进行燃烧实验,研究采用CoCl2(负载量20%)改性的活性炭去除烟气中的单质汞。颗粒态汞占烟气总汞的87%,而单质汞占气态汞的80.4%。改性活性炭吸附了气态汞中97%的单质汞,而吸收液只吸收了3%的单质汞。可见改性活性炭也能有效地吸附煤燃烧实验中的烟气汞。实验结果表明,煤中汞的释放率为59.5%,1kg的改性活性炭可以吸附208t煤所产生的烟气中的气态单质汞。     

复合式吸收器采样还原一体化冷原子吸收法测定大气中的汞

目的研制一种高效率采集大气中汞的吸收器.方法利用一种集大泡式与玻砂板式吸收器为一体的复合式吸收器采样,并使采样还原一体化冷原子吸收法测定大气中汞.结果平均吸收率为96%,变异系数在4%～12%之间.结论复合式吸收器采样吸收效率高,适合于大气中微量汞的测定.     

南京市冬季大气颗粒态汞的分布特征

采集了南京市2012年冬季4个功能区的PM2．5、PM10、TSP样品,对不同粒径大气颗粒物中的颗粒态汞测试。结果表明,南京冬季大气颗粒物TSP中汞的质量浓度为49．26 pg/m3～257．14 pg/m3,平均质量浓度为161．27 pg/m3;PM10中汞的质量浓度为44．82 pg/m3～228．29 pg/m3,平均质量浓度为147．38 pg/m3;PM2．5中汞的质量浓度为35．98 pg/m3～178．58 pg/m3,平均质量浓度为104．10 pg/m3。不同功能区大气颗粒态汞质量浓度的分布趋势为：交通综合区＞旅游区＞住宿综合区＞商业区。大气颗粒态汞60％以上存在于可吸入肺的PM2．5中,细颗粒物富集汞的能力比粗颗粒物强。     

Inorganic and methyl-mercury speciation in sediments of the Swarzędzkie Lake

Sediment samples were analysed for mercury and methylmercury content in different parts of the bottom sediment of Swarz ?dzkie Lake, which were influenced by different external pollution sources. The results of determination with two methods of mineralization using two separate media (HNO₃/H₂O₂ and HF) were compared. The accuracy of the studied methods was analysed using certified reference material IAEA 405 of river sediment. The recovery of mercury was satisfactory and ranged from 97.5 to 98.8%. Methylmercury compounds in the studied sediments were found in limited concentrations. Their concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 58.1 μg kg^?1, i.e. 1.0–7.4% of the total mercury content. The depth profile displayed high values of both total and methylmercury content at a depth of 10–20 cm, related to the heavy pollution of the lake in the 1980s. Canonical analysis displayed the relationship of both total mercury and methylmercury concentrations with organic matter and phosphorus content in bottom sediments.     

Sorption and desorption kinetics of diuron,fluometuron, prometryn and pyrithiobac sodium in soils

Abstract

The sorption and desorption characteristics of four herbicides (diuron, fluometuron, prometryn and pyrithiobac‐sodium) in three different cotton growing soils of Australia was investigated. Kinetics and equilibrium sorption and desorption isotherms were determined using the batch equilibrium technique. Sorption was rapid (> 80% in 2 h) and sorption equilibrium was achieved within a short period of time (ca 4 h) for all herbicides. Sorption isotherms of the four herbicides were described by Freundlich equation with an r² value > 0.98. The herbicide sorption as measured by the distribution coefficient (K_d) values ranged from 3.24 to 5.71 L/kg for diuron, 0.44 to 1.13 L/kg for fluometuron, 1.78 to 6.04 L/kg for prometryn and 0.22 to 0.59 L/kg for pyrithiobac‐sodium. Sorption of herbicides was higher in the Moree soil than in Narrabri and Wee Waa soils. When the K_d values were normalised to organic carbon content of the soils (K_oC), it suggested that the affinity of the herbicides to the organic carbon increased in the order: pyrithiobac‐sodium < fluometuron < prometryn < diuron. The desorption isotherms were also adequately described by the Freundlich equation. For desorption, all herbicides exhibited hysteresis and the hysteresis was stronger for highly sorbed herbicides (diuron and prometryn) than the weakly sorbed herbicides (fluometuron and pyrithiobac‐sodium). Hysteresis was also quantified as the percentage of sorbed herbicides which is not released during the desorption step ω = [n_ad / n_de ‐1] x 100). Soil type and initial concentration had significant effect on ω. The effect of sorption and desorption properties of these four herbicides on the off‐site transport to contaminate surface and groundwater are also discussed in this paper.     

Wellhead treatment costs for groundwater contaminated with pesticides: A preliminary analysis for pineapple in Hawaii

In Hawaii, trace concentrations of pesticides used in the production of pineapple were found in the groundwater supplies of Mililani Town in the Pearl Harbor Basin on the island of Oahu. Groundwater serves as the major source of drinking water and residents pay for wellhead treatment of the contaminated water, via their monthly water bill. The agricultural chemical users within the Pearl Harbor Basin do not include these wellhead treatment costs in their production costs. The agricultural industry benefits from using pesticides but does not pay the entire societal cost of using these chemicals. In this study we evaluate the specific financial cost of wellhead treatment, and not the economic value of groundwater. While wellhead treatment costs could conceivably be shared by several parties, this study focuses on the financial impact of the pineapple industry alone. This study factors annual wellhead treatment costs into annual pineapple production costs to measure the effect on annual financial return from pineapple production. Wellhead treatment costs are calculated from the existing granulated activated carbon (GAC) water treatment facility for Millilani Wells I and II. Pineapple production costs are estimated from previous cost of production studies. The inclusion of wellhead treatment costs produces different production-cost results, depending on the scale of analysis. At the local scale, the Mililani wellhead treatment costs can be factored into the production costs of the pineapple fields, which were probably responsible for contamination of the Mililani Wells, without causing a deficit in economic return. At the larger regional scale, however, the return from all of the pineapple grown in the Pearl Harbor Basin can not sustain the cost of wellhead treatmentfor the entire water supply of the basin. Recommendations point to the prevention of groundwater contamination as more cost-effective measure than wellhead treatment.