Heavy metal contamination in surface sediments of Yangtze River intertidal zone: An assessment from different indexes

Surface sediments (0-5 cm) from 59 stations within the Yangtze River intertidal zone (YRIZ) were sampled for metal contamination analysis in April and August 2005. The concentrations ranged (in mg kg⁻¹ dry weight): Al, 40,803-97,213; Fe, 20,538-49,627; Cd, 0.12-0.75; Cr, 36.9-173; Cu, 6.87-49.7; Mn, 413-1,112; Ni, 17.6-48.0; Pb, 18.3-44.1; and Zn, 47.6-154; respectively. Among the 59 sampling stations, enrichment factors (EF) indicate enrichment of Cd (52 stations), Cr (54 stations), Cu (5 stations), Ni (26 stations), Pb (5 stations) and Zn (5 stations). Geoaccumulation indexes (I_geo) also suggest individual metal contamination in localized areas. This study indicates that Cd, Cr and Ni enrichment in the YRIZ sediment is widespread whereas Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn enrichment is localized or nonexistent. Factor and cluster analyses indicate that Cd is associated with total organic carbon whereas Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn have a close association with Mn.     

潮汐循环影响下上覆水环境因子和氮营养盐的变化及其相关关系

潮汐循环对水体理化特征的短期影响是潮汐河口各种理化参数变化的一个重要原因。通过崇明东旺沙堤外低潮滩和东海农场低潮滩采样及环境因子分析，发现崇明东滩各环境因子之间（除浊度外）相关性较好，均呈宽 “U”型变化；东海农场各环境因子之间相关性较差，变化不一致，且盐度、电导率变化与崇明东滩变化相反；受潮汐循环影响，崇明东滩涨潮初期各形态氮有明显释放过程，而东海农场的近底层水体在涨潮初期NH4+ N急剧下降，NOX- N缓慢下降；无论是在崇明东滩还是在东海农场，营养盐浓度受环境因子的共同影响，整个潮汐循环过程中总无机氮（TIN）与盐度呈显著线性负相关，这与整个长江口近岸水体的营养盐负荷相一致，长江上游淡水带来的高负荷营养盐流经河口进入海洋。     

上海市郊中小河流夏季水污染特征研究

在夏季对上海郊区一典型的中、小河流河网水质进行监测 ,结果表明 :(1)河流水体普遍有很高的氮磷和有机负荷 ,其CODcr、总磷、总氮等指标均数倍于《地面水环境质量标准》中规定的V类水最大允许值 ,水体正处于严重的富营养化状态。位于集镇居民区和养殖场附近河流的污染更为严重。 (2 )受富营养化和河流底泥污染物释放的影响 ,河流水质还存在分层现象 ,尤其是水流滞缓、水深不足两米的小河流更为明显。主要表现为 :底层水氨氮 ,TRP(总反应态磷 )和SRP(溶解反应态磷 )的含量明显高于表层水 ;而表层水的 pH和DO高于底层水 ;同时 ,由于底层水处于厌氧的环境下 ,NO- 3-N、NO- 2 -N含量低于表层水。 (3)由于长期受纳污水、污物 ,中、小河流底泥有很高的氮磷累积 ,凯氏氮平均达 3.5 2 6 (N ,mg) / g ;总磷平均达 2 0 5 2 .2 5 0 (P ,mg) /kg。集镇居民区河流底泥总磷含量高达 5 813.838(P ,mg) /kg ;养殖场附近河流底泥凯氏氮高达 5 .96 4 (N ,mg) / g。底泥孔隙水中的NO- 3-N、NO- 2 -N含量很低 ;NH+4的含量是河流底层水的 3～ 2 4倍 ;SRP的含量约是河流底层水的 2～ 16倍。由于底泥有机污染重 ,耗氧量大 ,处于厌氧的环境 ,其交换态Fe2 +的含量很高     

Characterization and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon in sediments of Haihe River, Tianjin, China

In this study sediment samples were collected from 13 sites of Haihe River in Tianjin City, China, sixteen of priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs） listed in USEPA were analyzed by means of GC-MS. The total concentrations of PAH ranged from 774.81 to 255371.91 ng/g dw, and two to four rings of PAHs were dominant in sediment samples. Molecular ratios, such as phenanthrene/anthracene, fluoranthene/pyrene and low-molecular-weight PAH/high-molecular-weight PAH, were used to study the possible sources of pollution. It indicated a mixed pattern of parolytic and petrogenic inputs of PAHs in sediments in Haihe River. The petrogenic PAHs may be mainly derived from the leakage of refined products, e.g., gasoline, diesel fuel and fuel oil vehicle traffics or gas stations from urban area. The pyrolytic PAHs might be from the discharge of industrial wastewater and the emission of atmospheric particles from petrochemical factories. In addition, the levels of PAHs in the urban and industrial areas are far beyond the values reported from other rivers and marine systems reported. This situation may be due to polluted discharging from some petrochemical industrial manufactories and worse traffic conditions in Tianjin.     

Heavy Metal Distribution in Valley Sediments in Wadi Al-Karak Catchment Area, South Jordan

Valley sediments samples collected from the major and minor valleys of Al-Karak catchment area (southern Jordan) were leached with hot dilute HCl and analysed for their heavy metals content. The results of leachable metal concentrations indicated the absence of anomalous values for metal occurrences. However, appreciable contamination of the sediments with Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cr was observed. Using an index of pollution the extent of contamination was better delineated. The geographical distribution of the samples showed higher Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd and Cr concentrations mainly around heavily inhabited areas indicating an anthropogenic source of contamination. Lithological influence indicated from the anomalies of Fe and Mn was found to be very low.     

Environmental Assessment of Aromatic Hydrocarbons-Contaminated Sediments of the Mexican Salina Cruz Bay

Concentrations of total aromatic hydrocarbons and extractable organic matter in the water column and sediment were determined in samples collected in the course of the last 20 years from the Salina Cruz Harbor, México, to assess the degree of organic contamination. In sediments, organic compounds accumulate in shallow areas mostly associated with extractable organic matter and fine fractions. Calculated geocumulation index and enrichment factors suggest that contamination could be derived from anthropogenic activities attributed to harbor and ship scrapping activities, as well as transboundary source. Concentration of total aromatic hydrocarbons (as chrysene equivalents) ranged from 0.01 to 534 μg l⁻¹ in water, and from 0.10 to 2,160 μg g⁻¹ in sediments. Total aromatic concentration of 5 μg g⁻¹ is proposed as background concentration.     

Assessment of the Quality Characteristics of Two Lakes (Koronia and Volvi) of N. Greece

Quality parameters from 17 sampling stations from Lake Koronia and 18 from Lake Volvi were determined during sampling period of one year. Physicochemical parameters (pH, conductivity, DO) did not show remarkable differences neither between sampling sites nor between sampling periods. Nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorus compounds) were higher in lake Koronia than in Volvi showing relatively small temporal and spatial variations. As far as heavy metals in sediments, lake Koronia is considerably more polluted than Volvi lake especially with the metals Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb and Cd. The mean total concentrations of metals in lake Koronia decrease in the order Mn > Zn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Fe > Cd. The mean total concentrations of metals in lake Volvi decrease in the order Mn > Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Fe $>$ Cd.     

重污染感潮河道底泥释放特征及其控制技术研究

以珠江三角洲城市重污染感潮河道为对象,研究了底泥污染物(重金属、有机物和营养盐)在静态、潮汐作用影响及人工曝气扰动下的释放特征.在此基础上,采用曝气充氧、重金属化学固定、激活底泥土著微生物等联合技术对底泥释放进行控制,研究其控制效果.结果表明:①感潮作用加速了底泥污染物的释放,与静态释放相比,Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、COD、NH 4-N和TP的平均释放速率提高了1～4倍,释放量增加了0.3～1.8倍;底泥平均耗氧速率提高了1.28倍.②人工曝气扰动使底泥污染物局部急剧释放,并使泥水界面由弱碱性变成弱酸性;在有氧环境,NH 4-N、TP的释放得到有效抑制.③投加石灰调节pH至8～9,上覆水体Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr的去除率达到85%～98%,同时还可去除92%的TP和86%的浊度;在微碱性好氧条件下,Cu、Zn、Pb和Cr的释放量稳定在300μg·L-1以下.④底泥土著微生物层对水体及底泥污染物有良好的降解作用,通过间歇曝气COD、NH 4-N、TP去除率分别可达到85%、92%和71%;但微生物层具有较高的耗氧速率,达到45g·m-2·d-1.     

Microbially Mediated Redox Cycling at the Oxic–Anoxic Boundary in Sediments: Comparison of Animal and Plants Habitats

Microorganisms are responsible for the bulk of transformations that occur in surficial sediments. They are most active at redox boundaries where they can benefit from access to various oxidants and reductants generated during redox cycling events. To illustrate the dynamics of microbially mediated processes, especially those involving sulfur and metal cycles, processes were compared in habitats either bioturbated by a capitellid worm or inhabited by a salt marsh grass. The presence of macrofauna and macroflora greatly altered the three-dimensional array of redox gradients in sediments, but the type and form of reductants and oxidants provided varied greatly; clastic sedimentary infauna subducted solid phase organic material and iron oxides, whereas plant roots released dissolved organic matter and oxygen. These differences resulted in a bioturbated system that exhibited a rapid sulfur cycle (residence time of minutes), but a slower iron cycle (days), whereas vegetation caused a slow sulfur cycle and rapid iron cycle. Alteration of sediments by higher life forms also greatly affected the composition and relative abundances of sedimentary bacteria, even on short time scales. Although redox cycling at interfaces can be somewhat predictable, variations in response to biological and physical perturbations demonstrated wide differences in the dynamics of redox-mediated processes.