Ex situ remediation of contaminated sediments using mineral additives: assessment of pollutant bioavailability with the Microtox solid phase test

The aim of this work is to assess the potential ecotoxicological effects of contaminated sediments treated with mineral additives. The Microtox solid phase test was used to evaluate the effect of mineral additives on the toxicity of sediment suspensions. Four Mediterranean port sediments were studied after dredging and bioremediation: Sample A from navy harbor, sample B from commercial port and samples C and D from pleasure ports. Sediment samples were stabilized with three mineral additives: hematite, zero-valent iron and zeolite. Results show that all studied mineral additives can act as stabilizer agent in highly contaminated sediments (A and C) by decreasing dissolved metal concentrations and sediment toxicity level. On the contrary, for the less contaminated samples (B and D) hematite and zeolite can provoke toxic effect towards Vibrio fischeri since additive particles can favor bacteria retention and decrease bioluminescence emission.     

Assessment of DDT and mercury levels in fish and sediments in the Iriri River,Brazil: Distribution and ecological risk

Abstract

In order to assess the risk of exposure of human populations to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and mercury, muscles of five fish species were analysed, along with the surface sediment of 14 Iriri River sampling sites. The fish specimens were sacrificed by the spinal section, prior to sex identification, body weight determination and total length. Considering the fish specimens studied, 11% of them showed concentrations of mercury higher than the maximum established by the World Health Organization for safe human consumption. A positive correlation between fish body weight and mercury concentration was observed, besides a positive correlation between the fish size and Hg concentration. Significant differences (P?<?0.05) were found between mean concentrations of DDT and metabolites among species of fish studied. In the Plagioscion squamossissimus species, the highest concentration of total DDT (151.4?ng/g) was found, while in Eugerres Brasilianus species, the lowest. However, the DDT levels in fish muscle of studied species are below the maximum set by FAO-Alimentarius CODEX. In the sediments, total DDT ranged from 11.58?ng/g to 48.4?ng/g, which is associated with the historical DDT use in the Amazon. According to sediment quality guidelines, these levels have a moderate toxic effect in almost all of the studied region.     

三垟湿地沉积物-间隙水-上覆水界面磷形态研究

沉积物与上覆水间营养物质交换,成为导致水体发生富营养化的首要化学变迁过程.分别在三垟湿地的柑橘林(S1)、景观用地(S2)和生活用地(S3)取样,研究了沉积物-间隙水-上覆水界面磷形态以及相互关系.结果表明:(1)沉积物TP增加时,间隙水PO3-4和可溶性总磷(TDP)也增加.要削减磷在上覆水中的含量,控制间隙水PO3-4或TDP是一良策.(2)随着沉积物铁磷、铝磷的增加,间隙水PO3-4也增加.在三垟湿地沉积物中,铁磷和铝磷含量都可作为间隙水PO34-含量的指示.(3)S1、S2和S3的沉积物活性磷、间隙水TDP和上覆水TDP存在明显的浓度梯度,沉积物活性磷＞间隙水TDP＞上覆水TDP.说明在三垟湿地中,沉积物活性磷是磷释放的关键因子,而沉积物-间隙水界面则是磷释放的关键界面.     

北运河表层沉积物对重金属Cu、Pb、Zn的吸附

首先分析了北运河6个采样点表层沉积物中重金属含量及相关基本特征。通过实验室模拟实验,利用分配系数Kd评价沉积物对重金属Cu、Pb、Zn的吸附特性,进一步考察了水体pH变化和有机质对重金属在北运河沉积物上吸附的影响。结果表明,沉积物中重金属的含量顺序为Zn>Cu>Pb,去除有机质后,沉积物对重金属的吸附能力显著降低,但各采样点中的重金属含量,沉积物对重金属吸附能力,以及沉积物中的有机质含量并没有明显相关性,这可能是因为不同采样点中有机质种类与结构不同导致的。总之,北运河沉积物对Pb有很强的吸附能力,其次是Cu和Zn,而且,Cu、Zn、Pb的吸附量随着pH的升高逐渐增大,水体pH值对于Zn的吸附影响更大。     

曝气和pH对城市污染河道底泥氮形态的影响

以城市重污染河道表层沉积物为研究对象,采用模拟实验方法,探讨了不同曝气方式(水曝气和泥曝气)、上覆水初始pH(自然状态pH=7和pH=11)对城市污染河道底泥氮形态的影响。结果表明:采用水曝气+pH11方式对城市重污染河道上覆水、间隙水中总氮去除率分别为70.03%和44.66%;泥曝气+pH7方式对上覆水、间隙水、底泥中氨氮去除率分别为94.31%、84.07%和68.29%;底泥pH与上覆水总氮浓度呈正相关(p<0.05);泥曝气+pH11方式使底泥含水率、烧失率明显升高,继而影响各形态氮在泥水系统中的赋存,其中底泥吸附态氨氮含量与底泥含水率呈显著负相关(p<0.01),间隙水可溶态氨氮浓度与底泥烧失率显著正相关(p<0.01)。     

Bioanalytical characterisation of multiple endocrine- and dioxin-like activities in sediments from reference and impacted small rivers

A comprehensive evaluation of organic contamination was performed in sediments sampled in two reference and three impacted small streams where endocrine disruptive (ED) effects in fish have been evidenced. The approach combined quantitative chemical analyses of more than 50 ED chemicals (EDCs) and a battery of in vitro bioassays allowing the quantification of receptor-mediated activities, namely estrogen (ER), androgen (AR), dioxin (AhR) and pregnane X (PXR) receptors. At the most impacted sites, chemical analyses showed the presence of natural estrogens, organochlorine pesticides, parabens, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (16 PAHs), bisphenol A and alkylphenols, while synthetic steroids, myco-estrogens and phyto-estrogens were not detected. Determination of toxic-equivalent amounts showed that 28-96% of estrogenic activities in bioassays (0.2-6.3 ng/g 17β-estradiol equivalents) were explained by 17β-estradiol and estrone. PAHs were major contributors (20-60%) to the total dioxin-like activities. Interestingly, high PXR and (anti)AR activities were detected; however, the targeted analysed compounds could not explain the measured biological activities. This study highlighted the presence of multiple organic EDCs in French river sediments subjected to mixed diffuse pollution, and argues for the need to further identify AR and PXR active compounds in the aquatic environment.     

Recovery of Sediment Characteristics in Moraine,Headwater Streams of Northern Minnesota After Forest Harvest1

Merten, Eric C., Nathaniel A. Hemstad, Randall K. Kolka, Raymond M. Newman, Elon S. Verry, and Bruce Vondracek, 2010. Recovery of Sediment Characteristics in Moraine, Headwater Streams of Northern Minnesota After Forest Harvest. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 46(4): 733-743. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752-1688.2010.00445.x Abstract: We investigated the recovery of sediment characteristics in four moraine, headwater streams in north-central Minnesota after forest harvest. We examined changes in fine sediment levels from 1997 (preharvest) to 2007 (10 years postharvest) at study plots with upland clear felling and riparian thinning, using canopy cover, proportion of unstable banks, surficial fine substrates, residual pool depth, and streambed depth of refusal as response variables. Basin-scale year effects were significant (p < 0.001) for all responses when evaluated by repeated-measures ANOVAs. Throughout the study area, unstable banks increased for several years postharvest, coinciding with an increase in windthrow and fine sediment. Increased unstable banks may have been caused by forest harvest equipment, increased windthrow and exposure of rootwads, or increased discharge and bank scour. Fine sediment in the channels did not recover by summer 2007, even though canopy cover and unstable banks had returned to 1997 levels. After several storm events in fall 2007, 10 years after the initial sediment input, fine sediment was flushed from the channels and returned to 1997 levels. Although our study design did not discern the source of the initial sediment inputs (e.g., forest harvest, road crossings, other natural causes), we have shown that moraine, headwater streams can require an extended period (up to 10 years) and enabling event (e.g., high storm flows) to recover from large inputs of fine sediment.     

藻类打捞对水体营养循环的影响及其生态效果研究

富营养化水体中的藻华是氮磷的富集器,太湖打捞藻样中的总氮、总磷、游离磷及有机物含量分别为98.87g/kg、3.25 g/kg、0.21 g/kg和95.65%。在底泥中沉降藻类的矿质化周期随着温度的升高而缩短;且其向上覆水中释放氮、磷的强度具有随水温升高而增强的趋势。但在水层厚/底泥比不同的区域,这种营养物释放强度又存在显著的差异。实验证明,藻类的打捞是一种人工延长食物链去除氮磷等污染物的有效方法。     

不同粒径泥沙理化特性对磷吸附过程的影响

以北京大兴南海子湖表层沉积物为研究对象,测试分析了0.147～0.246 mm(细砂)、0.074～0.147 mm(极细砂)、0.0385～0.0740 mm(粉粒)和<0.0385 mm(粉粒粘粒混合物)4种粒径泥沙对磷的吸附行为,并采用相关分析及逐步回归分析探讨不同粒径沉积物中有机质(OM)、Fe、Al、Ca、Mn和TP含量对磷吸附过程的影响。结果表明,二级动力学方程和Langmuir模型能较好地描述南海子不同粒径泥沙的吸附动力学及等温吸附过程(R2>0.90)。粒径对单位质量泥沙吸附磷量具有明显影响,粉粒粘粒混合物>粉粒>细砂>极细砂。总体上,泥沙有机质(OM)、TP、Fe、Al、Ca和Mn含量随粒径的减小而增大,且粘粒对其影响较大。不同粒径泥沙(OM)、Fe、Al、Ca和Mn含量之间存在极显著正相关关系(P<0.01),且均对单位质量泥沙最大吸附量(Xm)和饱和吸附量(Cse)具有正效应,其中Al含量对该参数的影响更为显著。这说明泥沙对磷的吸附行为可能受到粒径和化学成分的共同影响。     

改善环保疏浚底泥脱水干化效能的实验研究

采用以硫酸亚铁(FeSO4)为主要成分的复合脱水剂作为疏浚泥浆脱水剂(以下简称脱水剂),黄沙、炉渣、煤灰、石灰和粉煤灰分别作为疏浚底泥干化改良剂进行实验研究。结果表明,在脱水剂投加量为100 mg/L条件下,可以提高沉淀效率约20%;在投加脱水剂及5%石灰、粉煤灰、炉渣改良剂的条件下,底泥比阻值下降50%～70%;初期渗水速率提高6%～68%;与原泥相比,以黄沙、炉渣、煤灰为改良剂的底泥,经过4个月干化期后,承载力提高了30%～150%。本研究为疏浚底泥快速脱水干化提供了一种可行的技术途径。