Pollution threats in the Mediterranean Sea: An overview

This overview summarises the present knowledge on major sources of pollution, which are of concern for the Mediterranean Sea. Eutrophication, red tides, organic loads, hydrocarbon spills, heavy metal contamination and their biological effects are described on the light of the ecological characteristics of the Mediterranean. In particular special attention is paid to the "new pollution" processes; i.e. , the introduction of novel substances with biological activity that might have synergetic effects with "classical pollutants". Different compartments and marine ecosystems are considered and compared. The degree of anthropogenic impact and its apparent trends are discussed. Possible monitoring plans and remedial actions for a sustainable management of coastal zones subjected to increasing pollution are also suggested.     

Metal speciation in sediments of polluted and non‐polluted lakes

A five‐step extraction procedure for metal speciation studies (copper, lead, nickel, manganese and zinc) was applied to the analysis of lake sediments characterised by different environmental features. A different partition of metals into the several metal forms was observed. Both the metal fraction sorbed or co‐precipitated on hydrous Mn‐oxides (especially lead and zinc) and that bound to organic matter (especially copper) are high in some samples. A prevalently anthropogenic origin of these metals may be hypothesised on the basis of existing knowledge of the equilibrium and change phenomena occurring among water, particulate and sediments. Conversely, the non‐solubilised forms of metals are abundant in the sediments of lakes that are certainly not polluted. The concentration of manganese is very high in the sediments of Antarctic lakes; sequential extractions show its lithogenic origin. In conclusion, a knowledge of the different types of metal associations in sediments and their percentage can facilitate understanding of both natural and anthropogenic metal enrichment of aquatic systems.     

Scalp hair metal analysis in the assessment of the occupational exposure of arc welders

Eleven metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cd, Co, Cr, Ni and Pb) were estimated in hair samples of metal arc welders and a control group with the same socioeconomic background. Nitric acid–perchloric acid wet digestion procedure was adopted for the estimation of endogenous metal contents by ICP-AE technique. The study exhibited the following increasing order of the metal concentrations: Cd??1, dry weight, respectively. On average, the levels of Mn, Ni, Pb and Fe were found to be 1.5–2.4 times higher in the hair of welders compared with controls. Besides age and exposure which were strongly correlated, Cu–Mg, Mn–Mg, Ca–Co and Cd–Zn also showed significantly positive correlations. The identification of metal sources, done by cluster and principal component analyses, revealed four factors: age and exposure; Cu, Mg, Mn and Fe; Ca and Co; Cd, Zn, Ni and Pb. High levels of Fe were found to have a depleting impact on Co levels. The arc welders were feared to accumulate heavy metals in their bodies due to long-term endogenous exposure.     

两性高分子螯合絮凝剂和氯化钙对羟基亚乙基二膦酸预镀铜废水的去除性能

以羟基亚乙基二膦酸(HEDP)预镀铜废水为处理对象,考察两性高分子螯合絮凝剂(ACPF)和CaCl2对其处理效果.结果表明,单独使用ACPF或CaCl2,用量大,残余Cu2+和COD浓度均不能达到电镀污染物排放标准(GB21900—2008);将ACPF和CaCl2配合使用,Ca2+可与HEDP螯合生成HEDP—Ca沉淀,促进ACPF与Cu2+螯合;且Ca2+还可与废水中的酒石酸根离子形成溶解度很小的结晶,促进絮体的形成和沉降.因此,处理药剂的用量明显降低,Cu2+和COD残余浓度均能达标.适宜的处理条件为:弱碱或碱性条件下,ACPF投加量为3.0 g.L-1,CaCl2投加量为2.0 g.L-1,Cu2+和COD的去除率分别达99.74%和97.5%,残余浓度分别为0.335和25.27 mg.L-1.     

四乙烯五胺多(二硫代甲酸钠)的合成及其对重金属的去除性能

以四乙烯五胺(TEPA),NaOH和CS₂为原料,在无水乙醇中合成四乙烯五胺多(二硫代甲酸钠,TEPAMDT),采用红外光谱和紫外光谱对其结构进行表征,测定了其对游离和络合Cu2+及Ni2+废水的处理效果,通过扫描电镜和电子能谱考察了絮体的形貌和组成. 结果表明,处理游离Cu2+和Ni2+废水,TEPAMDT中n(CSS-)∶n(Cu2+)和n(CSS-)∶n(Ni2+)分别为1.94∶1和2.00∶1时,去除率分别达99.90%和99.80%以上;处理50 mg/L n(硫脲)∶n(Cu2+)和n(柠檬酸)∶n(Cu2+)均为1∶1的废水,当n(CSS-)∶n(Cu2+)分别为2.05∶1和2.12∶1时,去除率分别达99.98%和99.94%;处理50 mg/L n(硫脲)∶n(Ni2+)和n(柠檬酸)∶n(Ni2+)均为1∶1的废水,当n(CSS-)∶n(Ni2+)分别为2.10∶1和2.19∶1时,去除率分别达99.93%和99.91%. 絮凝和能谱分析结果表明,TEPAMDT中CSS-与Cu2+或Ni2+都按2∶1的化学计量比生成螯合物,TEPAMDT具有较宽的pH适用范围.      

Physiological adaptations in the lichens Peltigera rufescens and Cladina arbuscula var. mitis, and the moss Racomitrium lanuginosum to copper-rich substrate

Two lichen species (Peltigera rufescens and Cladina arbuscula subsp. mitis) and one moss species (Racomitrium lanuginosum) growing on a copper mine heaps (probably 200–300 yr old) in the village of Špania dolina (Slovak Republic) were assessed for selected physiological parameters, including composition of assimilation pigments, chlorophyll a fluorescence, soluble proteins and free amino acid content. The lichen C. arbuscula subsp. mitis was collected also at a control locality where total copper concentration in the soil was approximately 3% that of the waste heaps. Concentrations of Al, Co, Cu, Ni, Sb and Zn were highest in thalli of Peltigera, while the moss Racomitrium contained the highest content of Fe and Pb. Thalli of Cladina contained less metals than the cyanolichen Peltigera, and except for Zn metal concentrations in Cladina from the control locality were lower than in thalli of the same species from copper mine heaps. Regardless of the species or locality, the composition of assimilation pigments and chlorophyll a fluorescence showed that the tested lichens and moss were in good physiological condition and adapted to increased copper levels in the soil. There were significantly different amounts of total free amino acids in Peltigera, Cladina and Racomitrium from the Cu-polluted field. However, differences in amount of free amino acids in control, as well as Cu-polluted thalli of Cladina were less pronounced.     

Source term characterisation using concentration trends and geochemical associations of Pb and Zn in river sediments in the vicinity of a disused mine site: Implications for contaminant metal dispersion processes

River sediment at a disused lead-zinc mine was analysed to provide an understanding of the chemical nature of the source term for contaminated sediment exported from the site. Changes in concentration and geochemical associations of Pb and Zn were measured using aqua regia digestion and the BCR sequential extraction procedure. Sediment in the immediate vicinity of the mine was highly contaminated with Pb (max. c. 11,000 mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (max. c. 30,000 mg kg⁻¹), but these values declined rapidly within 1 km of the mine due to dilution and hydraulic sorting. Lead fractionation changed from being predominantly in the reducible fraction to being in the acetic acid-extractable fraction, whereas Zn was predominantly in the residual fraction. This material is transported as fine sediment in the river system.     

Tissue accumulation of aluminium is not a predictor of toxicity in the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis

The amount of toxic metal accumulated by an organism is often taken as an indicator of potential toxicity. We investigated this relationship in the freshwater snail, Lymnaea stagnalis, exposed to 500 μg l⁻¹ Al over 30 days, either alone or in the presence of phosphate (500 μg l⁻¹ P) or a fulvic acid surrogate (FAS; 10 mg l⁻¹ C). Behavioural activity was assessed and tissue accumulation of Al quantified. Lability of Al within the water column was a good predictor of toxicity. FAS increased both Al lability and behavioural dysfunction, whereas phosphate reduced Al lability, and completely abolished Al-induced behavioural toxicity. Tissue accumulation of Al was not linked to toxicity. Higher levels of Al were accumulated in snails exposed to Al + P, compared to those exposed to Al alone, whereas FAS reduced Al accumulation. These findings demonstrate that the degree of tissue accumulation of a metal can be independent of toxicity.     

Water Quality and Metal Enrichment in Bed Sediments of the Rivers Kali and Hindon, India

Water-quality parameters and concentrations of various metals in bed sediments of the River Kali and the River Hindon in India were analysed to understand their behaviour in subtropical fluvial systems. Variations in the physico-chemical parameters of the river water and metal content in the bed sediments were recorded in four seasons of the year (post-monsoon, winter, summer and monsoon). Results show that water and sediments contain high cadmium (Cd) and Zinc (Zn). Total and soluble Cd and Zn profiles show that in summer, metals in the water phase exist predominantly in the bound form. Cd and Zn in bed sediments increase from the post-monsoon to the summer season. During and after the monsoon season, metal concentrations in sediments fall rapidly. Correlation coefficients of metals in sediments represent their common source and identical behaviour during transport.     

辽宁省大气可吸入颗粒物中重金属及多环芳烃污染特征研究

为全面了解辽宁省大气可吸入颗粒物污染状况,2004年在省内选取了5个城市进行分季节采样,并对颗粒物中重金属元素含量和美国优先控制的16种多环芳烃(PAHs)进行了定量研究。结果表明,大气PM10和PM2.5中重金属元素和PAHs污染较重,且冬季高于其它季节,重金属元素和PAHs主要富集在PM2.5及以下细小颗粒物中。