Sampling method, storage and pretreatment of sediment affect AVS concentrations with consequences for bioassay responses

Sediment treatment and sediment storage may alter sediment toxicity, and consequently biotic response. Purpose of our study was to combine these three aspects (treatment-toxicity-biotic response) in one integrated approach. We used Acid Volatile Sulfide (AVS) concentrations as a proxy of the disturbance of the sediment. AVS and Simultaneously Extracted Metal (SEM) concentrations were compared to bioassay responses with the freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate Asellus aquaticus. Storage conditions and sediment treatment affected AVS but not SEM levels. AVS can be used as a proxy for sediment disturbance. The best way to pretreat the sediment for use in a bioassay in order to maintain initial AVS conditions was to sample the sediment with an Ekman grab, immediately store it in a jar without headspace, and freeze it as soon as possible. In a survey using seven different sediments, bioassay responses of A. aquaticus were correlated with SEM and AVS characteristics.     

Screening the phytoremediation potential of desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides Gray) growing on mine tailings in Arizona, USA

The metal concentrations in a copper mine tailings and desert broom (Baccharis sarothroides Gray) plants were investigated. The metal concentrations in plants, soil cover, and tailings were determined using ICP-OES. The concentration of copper, lead, molybdenum, chromium, zinc, arsenic, nickel, and cobalt in tailings was 526.4, 207.4, 89.1, 84.5, 51.7, 49.6, 39.7, and 35.6mgkg(-1), respectively. The concentration of all elements in soil cover was 10-15% higher than that of the tailings, except for molybdenum. The concentration of copper, lead, molybdenum, chromium, zinc, arsenic, nickel, and cobalt in roots was 818.3, 151.9, 73.9, 57.1, 40.1, 44.6, 96.8, and 26.7mgkg(-1) and 1214.1, 107.3, 105.8, 105.5, 55.2, 36.9, 30.9, and 10.9mgkg(-1) for shoots, respectively. Considering the translocation factor, enrichment coefficient, and the accumulation factor, desert broom could be a potential hyperaccumulator of Cu, Pb, Cr, Zn, As, and Ni.     

Spatial variations and temporal trends between 1994 and 2005 in polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and heavy metals in European eel (Anguilla anguilla L.) in Flanders, Belgium

In Flanders, the northern region of Belgium, European yellow eel muscle tissue was used as an indicator of environmental and potential human dietary exposure by hazardous chemicals of surface waters and sediments. Between 1994 and 2005, over 2800 eel captured at 365 stations were analysed for PCBs, pesticides and heavy metals. Contamination of eel in Flanders fell within the range of reported concentrations in other watersheds of Western Europe. A spatial analysis of the data demonstrated that the variation in pollutant concentration tended towards higher values. This was especially evident for PCBs, lindane, endrin, dieldrin and DDE. The concentration of almost all banned substances decreased significantly during the study period.     

Spatial distribution of metals in soils in Baltimore, Maryland: role of native parent material, proximity to major roads, housing age and screening guidelines

We investigated the spatial distribution of heavy metal above-background (anthropic) contents of Cd, Co, Cu, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Ti, V, and Zn in Baltimore City surface soils and related these levels to potential contaminating sources. Composite soil samples (0-10 cm depth) were digested using a nitric and hydrochloric extraction technique. Slightly more than 10% of plots exceeded United States Environmental Protection Agency screening guidelines for Pb. In a principal component analysis, the first component corresponded to Co, Cr, and Fe, which are constituents of local mafic rocks. The second component corresponded to Cu, Pb, and Zn which were significantly higher within than beyond a 100 m buffer of the major roads within the city; furthermore, Pb and Zn were higher in older residential lots.     

Sub-tropical urban environment affecting content and composition of non-structural carbohydrates of Lolium multiflorum ssp. italicum cv. Lema

This study analyzed the relationship between environmental factors, especially air pollution and climatic conditions, and non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) in plants of Lolium multiflorum exposed during 10 consecutive periods of 28 days at a polluted site (Congonhas) and at a reference site in São Paulo city (Brazil). After exposure, NSC composition and leaf concentrations of Al, Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd were measured. The seasonal pattern of NSC accumulation was quite similar in both sites, but plants at Congonhas showed higher concentrations of these compounds, especially fructans of low and medium degree of polymerization. Regression analysis showed that NSC in plants growing at the polluted site were explained by variations on temperature and leaf concentration of Fe (positive effect), as well as relative humidity and particulate material (negative effect). NSC in the standardized grass culture, in addition to heavy metal accumulation, may indicate stressing conditions in a sub-tropical polluted environment.     

Impact of a smelter closedown on metal contents of wheat cultivated in the neighbourhood

BACKGROUND: The contamination of soils by heavy metals engenders important environmental and sanitary problems in Northern France where a smelter has been located for more than one hundred of years. It has been one of the most important Pb production sites in Europe until its closedown in March 2003. Ore smelting process generated considerable atmospheric emissions of dust. Despite an active environmental strategy, these emissions were still significant in 2002 with up to 17 tonnes of Pb, 32 tonnes of Zn and 1 tonne of Cd. Over the years, the generated deposits have led to an important contamination of the surrounding soils. Previous studies have shown pollutant transfers to plants, which can induce a risk for human and animal health. The objective of this study was to evaluate the consequences of the smelter closedown on the Cd and Pb contents of wheat (grain and straw) cultivated in the area. METHODS: Paired topsoil and vegetable samples were taken at harvest time at various distances to the smelter. The sample sites were chosen in order to represent a large range of soil metal contamination. Sampling was realised on several wheat harvests between 1997 and 2003. 25 samples were collected before the smelter closedown and 15 after. All ears of about 1 m long of two rows were manually picked and threshed in the lab. Similarly, straw was harvested at the same time. Total metal contents in soil and wheat samples were quantified. RESULTS: A negative correlation between metal concentrations in soil and the distance to the smelter was shown. The wheat grain and straw showed significant Cd and Pb contents. The straw had higher metal contents than the grain. During the smelter activity, the grain contents were up to 0.8 mg kg(-1) DM of Cd and 8 mg kg(-1) DM of Pb. For the straw, maximum contents were 5 mg kg(-1) DM of Cd and 114 mg kg(-1) DM of Pb. After the smelter closedown, we observed a very large decrease of Pb in the grain (82%) and in the straw (91%). A smaller decrease was observed for Cd in grain. Despite this improvement, 80% of the studied samples remained non-acceptable for human consumption, according to the European legislation values, due to a high Cd content. DISCUSSION: Results highlighted a difference in metal accumulation in the plant organs as well as a difference in metal uptake. The approach pointed out the importance of atmospheric fallout in the wheat contamination pathways for Pb. The smelter closedown has lead to a decrease of the Pb content in wheat. It is interesting to relate this finding with the lead blood levels in children living close to the smelter. CONCLUSIONS: Those results have confirmed the importance of dust fallout in the plant contamination pathways. Before the closedown, Pb measured in the plant was principally originating from the smelter dust emissions. It raised the question of the sanitary risks for humans and animals living in the surrounding a of the smelter. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In the literature, very few articles take the dust deposit as contamination pathways for crops into consideration. However, in highly contaminated sites, this pathway can be very important. Thus, it would be worthy studying the uptake of metal contaminants by plants through the foliar system.     

淮安市农产品中重金属及有机氯、有机磷农药残留量调查

淮安市环境监测中心站于1999年－2000年对淮安市农产品中重金属以及有机氯、有机磷农药残留量进行了调查。结果表明，粮食和蔬菜作物中，六六六的4种同分异构体只有γ－六六六能检出，检出率分别为24．0％和51．7％，都未超标；DDT的4种同分异要体均未检出；有机磷农药的检出率分别为5％和25％，其中蔬菜中敌敌畏含量出现个别超标现象，倍硫磷、乐果和杀螟松在粮食和蔬菜作物中的含量都不超标。重金属中金属“五毒”在粮食和蔬菜作物中，只有Cr和Pb能检出，Cd、Hg和As都未检出，Cu、Zn和Mn能检出，但不超标。提出，应严格按照农牧渔业部和卫生部颁发的《农药安全使用规定》用药，多使用高效低残留量的“绿色农药”；农业、环保和卫生部门必须加强合作，对蔬菜生产销售的全过程进行监督监测，以确保生产无公害蔬菜。     

渤海湾表层沉积物重金属污染状况及年际变化分析

根据2014～2018年渤海湾海洋生态环境沉积物质量业务化监测数据,对沉积物中Hg、Cu、Pb、Cd、Cr、Zn和As等7种重金属元素的含量及年际变化趋势进行了分析.通过单因子污染指数法、地累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法,评价了研究区近岸海域沉积物重金属污染状况和潜在生态风险程度.结果显示,符合一类标准的站位达92%以上,主要超标因子为Cd和Hg,这两种重金属含量的高值区一般分布在渤海湾南北两侧近岸地区,包括北侧天津港、黄骅港附近,南侧滨州、东营近岸.Hg、Cu、Pb、Cd、Cr、Zn和As等单个重金属含量年际变化有所不同,年平均单因子污染指数均不大于1,年平均地累积指数均小于0,表明研究海域沉积物质量状况良好,其中Cu单因子污染指数较大,近5年的平均值达到0.653;Cd地累积指数相对较大,对其监测工作值得重点关注.2014～2018年研究区域沉积物重金属的总潜在生态危害程度为轻微等级,仅Hg和Cd部分站位出现强和中等的生态危害程度,各类重金属元素对渤海湾海域生态构成潜在危害风险顺序为Cd>Hg>As>Pb>Cu>Cr>Zn;RI基本表现为先升高后...     

基于Monte-Carlo模拟的湖南省典型工厂周边农田土壤重金属区域潜在生态风险特征及来源解析

为探究湖南省典型工厂周边农田土壤重金属的污染特征、生态风险和来源,以氟化工厂、皮革工厂和电镀工厂为研究对象,分析其周边农田土壤中8种重金属的污染特征,利用地累积指数和潜在生态风险指数对重金属污染进行评估和风险评价,利用相关性分析、聚类分析和主成分分析对重金属污染来源进行解析,利用Monte-Carlo模型对于区域生态风险进行概率风险评估.结果表明,土壤中主要污染元素为Cd和Zn,其均值为背景值的4.46和2.73倍;3个典型工厂周边土壤中Zn处于轻度污染水平,氟化厂周边土壤中Cd处于偏中度污染水平;典型工厂周边土壤中重金属主要来自自然源、工业活动源（“三废”排放、矿产挖掘、金属冶炼等活动）和交通源.潜在生态风险评价结果表明,氟化厂周边土壤中重金属污染的生态风险处于高风险等级,皮革厂和电镀厂生态风险处于较高风险等级,Cd是主要贡献元素.Monte-Carlo概率生态风险评价结果降低了确定性评价的不确定性,可为区域实现精准风险管控提供科学依据.     

城市土壤和地表灰尘重金属污染研究进展与展望

随着城市化和工业化的不断推进,城市土壤和地表灰尘重金属污染日趋严重,对城市环境和人类健康构成威胁,已成为国内外城市环境研究的热点问题.从重金属污染水平及其时空特征、污染源解析方法、生态和健康风险这3个主要方面,对国内外城市土壤和地表灰尘重金属研究成果进行了梳理和归纳.分析了当前研究存在的不足,并对未来研究进行了展望,即研究土壤和地表灰尘重金属在不同条件下的相互影响机制,通过丰富验证方法加强重金属来源解析模型结果的可靠性研究,加强来源驱动下重金属化学形态差异和地表灰尘短期累积污染过程的研究,完善暴露参数并深入探究重金属的化学形态对其生态和健康风险的影响,以提高风险预测水平.