Fractionation of heavy metals in shallow marine sediments from Jinzhou Bay, China

This work investigated the distribution and speciation of Cd, Cu, Pb, Fe and Mn in the shallow sediments of Jinzhou Bay, Northeast China, which has been heavily contaminated by nonferrous smelting activities. The concentrations of Cd, Cu and Pb in sediments were found to be 100, 13 and 7 times, respectively, being higher than the national guideline (GB 18668-2002). Sequential extraction test showed that 39%-61% of Cd were exchangeable fractions, indicating that Cd in the sediments posed a high risk to local...     

Modelling sulphate-enhanced cadmium uptake by Zea mays from nutrient solution under conditions of constant free Cd2+ ion activity

A controlled hydroponic experiment was undertaken to investigate Cd uptake in relation to the activity of Cd species in solution other than the free ion (Cd²⁺) by maintaining a constant Cd²⁺ activity under variable SO₄₂⁻ and Cl⁻ concentrations exposed to maize (Zea mays var. Cameron) plants. The objectives of these experiments were: (1) to distinguish and quantify the different uptake rates of free and inorganic-complexed Cd from nutrient solution, and (2) to model the uptake of Cd by maize with a Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) in a system which facilitates the close examination of root characteristics. Results of the current experiments suggest that, in addition to the free ion, CdSO₄⁰ complexes are important factors in determining Cd uptake in nutrient solution by maize plants. Higher nominal SO₄²⁻ concentrations in solution generally resulted in a greater Cd accumulation by maize plants than predicted by the Cd²⁺ activity. A better integration of the complete dataset for the 3 harvest times (6, 9 and 11 days after treatment) was achieved by including consideration of both the duration of Cd exposure and especially the root surface area to express Cd uptake. Similarly, the fit of the BLM was also improved when taking into account exposure time and expressing uptake in terms of root morphological parameters.     

Releases of phosphate fertilizer industry in the surrounding environment: Investigation on heavy metals and polonium-210 in soil

Distribution of Cu,Zn,Pb,Cr,Ni,Mn concentrations and the activity of polonium-210 in the surrounding area of a phosphate fertilizer industry located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea has been determined.Nineteen sampling sites were distributed around the industrial zone on a surface area of about 100,000 m2.Atomic absorption spectroscopy and Alpha spectroscopy were used to quantify the heavy elements and polonium-210,respectively.Investigation on a particle scale was conducted by TEM and SEM coupled to EDX and X-ray cartography to determine the nature of heavy elements carriers and their distribution.Heavy elements were mainly concentrated inside the particle size fraction 50 μm.Their levels decreased with distance increasing from the industry.According to the reference soil,enrichment factors were about 10,15,32 and 100 times for Zn,Pb,Cu,and Cr,respectively inside the particle size fraction 50 μm on the closest sites to the industry.The main contaminant sources were transport and storage of row materials and the free release of phosphogypsum waste.Heavy elements were entrapped inside agglomerates of sulfates,phosphates and iron oxihydroxides in a di used shape.Polonium-210 with an enrichment factor of about 56,showed the same behavior of the spatial distribution of the trace elements.     

Heavy metals in rice and garden vegetables and their potential health risks to inhabitants in the vicinity of an industrial zone in Jiangsu, China

Contamination of soil and agricultural products by heavy metals resulting from rapid industrial development has caused major concern. In this study, we investigated heavy metal (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Hg and Cd) concentrations in rice and garden vegetables, as well as in cultivated soils, in a rural-industrial developed region in southern Jiangsu, China, and estimated the potential health risks of metals to the inhabitants via consumption of locally produced rice and garden vegetables. A questionnaire-based survey on dietary consumption rates of foodstuffs showed that rice and vegetables accounted for 64% of total foodstuffs consumed, and over 60% of rice and vegetables were grown in the local region. Average concentrations of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb were 0.75, 2.64, 12.00, 0.014, 0.006 and 0.054 mg/kg dw (dry weight) in rice and were 0.67, 1.18, 4.34, 0.011, 0.002 and 0.058 mg/kg fw (fresh weight) in garden vegetables, respectively. These values were all below the maximum allowable concentration in food in China except for Cr in vegetables. Leafy vegetables had higher metal concentrations than solanaceae vegetables. Average daily intake of Cr, Cu, Zn, Cd, Hg and Pb through the consumption of rice and garden vegetables were 5.66, 16.90, 74.21, 0.10, 0.04 and 0.43 μg/(kg·day), respectively. Although Hazard Quotient values of individual metals were all lower than 1, when all six metal intakes via self-planted rice and garden vegetables were combined, the Hazard Index value was close to 1. Potential health risks from exposure to heavy metals in self-planted rice and garden vegetables need more attention.     

Metal chlorides loaded on activated carbon to capture elemental mercury

Activated carbon (AC) was considered to be an effective sorbent to control mercury in combustion systems. However, its capture capacity was low and it required a high carbon-to-mercury mass ratio. AC loaded with catalyst showed a high elemental mercury (Hg0) capture capacity due to large surface area of AC and high oxidization ability of catalyst. In this study, several metal chlorides and metal oxides were used to promote the sorption capacity of AC. As a result, metal chlorides were better than metal oxides loaded on AC to remove gaseous mercury. X-ray diffractometer (XRD), thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) and specific surface area by Brunauer- Emmett-Teller method (BET) analysis showed the main mechanisms: first, AC had an enormous surface area for loading enough MClx; second, Cl and MxOy were generated during pyrogenation of MClx; finally, there were lots of active elements such as Cl and MxOy which could react with elemental mercury and convert it to mercury oxide and mercury chloride. The HgO and HgCl2 might be released from AC’s porous structure by thermo regeneration. A catalytic chemisorption mechanism predominates the sorption process of elemental mercury. As Co and Mn were valence variable metal elements, their catalytic effect on Hg0 oxidization may accelerate both oxidation and halogenation of Hg0. The sorbents loaded with metal chlorides possessed a synergistic function of catalytic effect of valence variable metal and chlorine oxidation.     

Carbonaceous particles in the atmosphere and precipitation of the Nam Co region, central Tibet

A continuous air and precipitation sampling for carbonaceous particles was conducted in a field observatory beside Nam Co, Central Tibetan Plateau during July of 2006 through January of 2007. Organic carbon (OC) was the dominant composition of the carbonaceous particles both in the atmosphere (1660 ng/m³) and precipitation (476 ng/g) in this area, while the average elemental carbon (BC) concentrations in the atmosphere and precipitation were only 82 ng/m³ and 8 ng/g, respectively. Very high OC/BC ratio suggested local secondary organic carbon could be a dominant contribution to OC over the Nam Co region, while BC could be mainly originated from Southern Asia, as indicated by trajectory analysis and aerosol optical depth. Comparison between the BC concentrations measured in Lhasa, those at “Nepal Climate Observatory at Pyramid (NCO-P)” site on the southern slope of the Himalayas, and Nam Co suggested BC in the Nam Co region reflected a background with weak anthropogenic disturbances and the emissions from Lhasa might have little impact on the atmospheric environment here, while the pollutants from the Indo-Gangetic Basin of Southern Asia could be transported to the Nam Co region by both the summer monsoon and the westerly.     

废物水泥窑共处置产品中重金属释放量研究

通过模拟煅烧实验制取水泥熟料,并采用国标GB/T 17671-1999制取混凝土样品.选用EA NEN7371和EA NEN7375浸出方法,利用基于菲克扩散第二定律的一维扩散模型对废物水泥窑共处置产品（混凝土）中重金属长期累积释放量进行了研究.结果表明,混凝土中重金属的最大释放量低于总量;各种重金属在混凝土中的扩散系数不同,且Cr>As>Ni>Cd; Cr、As、Ni和Cd 30a的累积释放量分别为4.43、 0.46、 1.50和0.02 mg/kg,释放率（累积释放量/最大释放量）分别为27.0%、 18.0%、 3.0%和0.2%;扩散系数是影响重金属累积释放量的重要因素,且两者表现出较好的相关性;Cr和As的扩散系数较大（分别为1.15E-15 m²/s和6.42E-16 m²/s）,应重点控制其进入水泥窑处置过程的总量.     

两种生物沥滤-电动修复联合技术的比较

比较研究了生物沥滤和电动修复不同的结合方式对污泥中重金属处理效果的影响.在先进行生物沥滤4d之后用电动修复技术对污泥进行处理,试验结束之后污泥中的Cu含量为60.5mg·kg-1,Zn含量为170mg·kg-1;而采用同步生物沥滤和电动修复试验时,处理结束后污泥中Cu含量为122.8mg·kg-1,Zn含量为110mg·kg-1.利用2种修复技术处理污泥,污泥中重金属含量均达到我国污泥土地农田利用的标准,但先生物沥滤后电动修复可以减少能耗.     

厦门贝类养殖区重金属的含量分布特征与潜在生态危害评价

根据2005年4月和10月厦门贝类养殖区环境调查资料,着重对贝类养殖区海水、表层沉积物中重金属的含量分布进行分析,并对贝类养殖区的生态环境进行质量评价及潜在生态危害评价.结果表明:厦门贝类养殖区海水中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Hg、As的平均含量分别为1.06 μg/L,1.23 μg/L, 0.05 μg/L,6.28 μg/L,0.033 μg/L,1.01 μg/L;沉积物中Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Hg、As的平均含量分别为20.0×10-6,39.5×10-6,0.07×10-6,97.3×10-6,0.05×10-6,7.20×10-6.生态质量评价结果表明,贝类养殖区海水重金属的含量符合第二类海水水质标准要求,处于清洁水平.养殖区沉积物重金属的含量符合第一类海洋沉积物质量标准,属于较清洁水平.潜在生态危害评价结果,Hg、As和Cd的潜在生态危害系数大于Cu、Pb、Zn,表明和Hg、As、Cd的潜在危害大于Cu、Pb、Zn,但整个养殖区沉积物中重金属的潜在危害属于轻微,养殖环境良好.     

长江口颗粒态金属污染物时空分布规律分析

长江口金属污染物的输移转化受到多种因素作用的制约,其时空分布比较复杂.2006年洪、枯季长江口南槽和北槽调查研究表明:(1)悬沙中各种金属含量在长江口的沿程分布略有差异,除Cu、Cd沿程出现降低趋势外,其它金属均有"低-高-低"分布趋势,即在南槽、北槽最大浑浊带出现高值;而沉积物中颗粒态金属含量沿程分布较为复杂,沿程呈降低趋势,部分金属在南槽、北槽出现高值区;(2)颗粒态金属含量垂向分布十分明显,由表层悬沙至底泥逐渐减少;(3)悬沙中枯季金属含量明显高于洪季,在一个潮周期内急流时颗粒态金属含量小于憩流时金属含量.