Risk assessment and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments from different water levels in a coastal wetland

The excessive accumulation of potentially toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in coastal wetlands is among the main factors threatening wetland ecosystems. However, the effects of water table depth (WTD) on the risk and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments remain unclear. Here, sediments from different WTD obtained from a typical coastal wetland were evaluated using a newly developed strategy based on chemical extraction methods coupled with high-resolution spectroscopy. Our findings indicated that the WTD of the coastal wetland fluctuates frequently and the average enrichment factor for Pb was categorized as minor, whereas Cd enrichment was categorized as moderate. High-resolution spectroscopy techniques also demonstrated that organic functional groups and partly inorganic compounds (e.g., Fe-O/Si-O) played a vital role in the binding of Pb and Cd to surface sediments. Additionally, mineral components rather than organic groups were mainly bound to these metals in the bottom sediments. Collectively, our findings provide key insights into the potential health effects and binding characteristics of potentially toxic metals in sediments, as well as their dynamic behavior under varying sediment depths at a microscale.     

Insights into multisource sludge distributed in the Yangtze River basin, China: Characteristics, correlation, treatment and disposal

Sludge is the by-product of wastewater treatment process. Multisource sludge can be defined as sludge from different sources. Based on the sludge properties of five typical cities in the Yangtze River basin, including Jiujiang, Wuhu, Lu'an, Zhenjiang and Wuhan, this study investigated and summarized the characteristic variations and distribution differences of multiple indicators and substances from municipal sludge, dredged sludge, and river and lake sediments. The results demonstrated pH of multisource sludge was relatively stable in the neutral range. Organic matter and water content among municipal sludge were high and varied considerably between different wastewater treatment plants. Dredged sludge had an obviously higher sand content and wider particle distribution, which could be considered for graded utilization depending on its size. The nutrients composition of river and lake sediments was usually stable and special, with lower nitrogen and phosphorus content but higher potassium levels. The sources of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in multisource sludge were correlated, generally much higher among municipal sludge than dredged sludge and river and lake sediments, which were the most important limitation for final land utilization. Despite various properties of multisource sludge, the final fate and destination have some overall similarities, which need to be supplemented and improved by standards and laws. The study provided a preliminary analysis of suitable technical routes for municipal sludge, dredged sludge, river and lake sediments based on their different characteristics respectively, which was of great significance for multisource sludge co-treatment and disposal in the future of China.     

Mobility and sulfidization of heavy metals in sediments of a shallow eutrophic lake, Lake Taihu, China

The technique of DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) using three diffusive gel thicknesses was applied to estimate the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments and porewater of Lake Taihu, China. The DGT results showed significantly positive correlations between Co, Pb, Cd and Mn, and Ni and Fe concentrations in porewater. Cu and Zn showed a significantly negative correlation with Mn, due to Cu combination with carbonates and Zn derived from agricultural pollution, respectively. The rank order of average concentrations of Co, Ni and Cd at each station was DGT_1.92 > DGT_0.78 > DGT_0.39, suggesting stronger resupply from sediments to porewater when using thicker diffusive gels. Comparing centrifugation and DGT measurements, Co, Ni and Cd are highly labile; Mn and Fe are moderately labile; and Cu, Zn and Pb are slightly labile. The variations of AVS concentrations in sediment cores indicate that metal sulfides in deeper layers are easily diffused into surface sediments.     

铅锌冶炼厂周边农田土壤、苕子与荠菜的重金属污染特征

在云南某铅锌矿冶炼厂周边农田,采集当地主要绿肥(苕子)与野菜(荠菜)的植株和根部土壤样品,测定重金属(Pb、Zn、Cu和Cd)的全量和DTPA提取的有效态质量比,并进行污染评价.结果表明:1)综合污染指数评价显示,铅锌冶炼厂周边农田土壤以重度和中度重金属污染为主,Cd质量比为GB 15618-1995《土壤环境质量标准》三级标准限值的1.94～8.30倍,污染程度最重,其次为Pb和Zn;2)荠菜植株Pb、Zn和Cd质量比的最大值、平均值均大于苕子;荠菜对Cd的富集系数大于1,对Pb、Zn和Cd的转移系数大于或接近1;3)苕子和荠菜地上部与土壤的Cd、Pb质量比,苕子地下部与土壤的Pb质量比,荠菜地上部与土壤的Zn质量比均呈显著或极显著正相关.研究表明:铅锌冶炼厂周边农田存在严重的重金属污染,Cd是主要污染因子;苕子和荠菜植株重金属质量比高,且荠菜对重金属的富集能力大于苕子.     

柠檬酸对重金属复合污染土壤的浸提效果研究

以浙江富阳某炼铜厂附近受Cd、Cu、Pb和Zn复合污染的土壤为研究对象,采用振荡、静置和超声3种不同浸提方式,通过研究柠檬酸在不同浸提方式下对重金属的去除效果,筛选出最佳柠檬酸浓度、处理时间及功率,并采用Tessier连续提取法分析浸提前后4种重金属形态变化.结果表明,柠檬酸对4种重金属均具有较好的去除效果,其中对Zn的去除效果最好,Cd的去除效果最差,而Cu和Pb的去除效果相当.Pb和Zn的去除率均随着柠檬酸浓度的增加而增加,但增幅随之减小,Cu的去除率则先增加后基本保持不变,而Cd的去除率变化不明显.综合考虑成本和浸提效果后,选用0.2 mol·L-1柠檬酸浸提2次为最优条件,最佳振荡时间和静置时间分别为4 h和24 h,最佳超声时间和功率分别为30 min和500 W.柠檬酸能够在很大程度上改变土壤中重金属的形态分布,主要去除以可交换态和碳酸盐结合态形式存在的Cd及以碳酸盐结合态和铁锰氧化物结合态形式存在的Cu、Pb和Zn.通过对比3种浸提方式,在同等去除效果的前提下,静置浸提相比振荡浸提需要更长的时间,而将超声波应用于重金属污染土壤淋洗,所需时间较少,因此,超声波辅助浸提土壤中重金属是可行的,具有良好的应用前景.     

苏州地区水稻土重金属污染源解析及端元影响量化研究

利用国家土壤质量标准和当地背景值评价了苏州地区表层水稻土重金属(Pb、Cd、As、Hg、Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr)的污染(富集)状况.结果发现,苏州地区土壤Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Zn、Cu、Cr和Ni平均含量分别是0.23、0.23、9.14、35.36、103.36、35.75、77.12和33.18μg·g-1;除As外,其余7种重金属平均含量皆明显高于当地土壤背景值.通过与中国土壤环境质量标准(GB15618—1995)相比,发现苏州地区土壤中Cd和Hg是8种重金属中风险最高的.地质累积指数分析表明,苏州水稻土重金属Cd、Hg、Pb、Cu和Zn出现了污染,其中以Cd和Hg的污染程度最突出,约80%的土壤样品出现了Pb轻度污染.因子得分-多元回归法(PCS-MLR)估算表明,70%的土壤Cd来自与有色金属或磷有关的人为活动;土壤中约50%的Pb和72%的Hg源于大气沉降的贡献;土壤的Zn和Cu污染主要来自与有色金属或磷有关的人为活动,该端元对土壤Zn和Cu的影响率分别为53%和45%.     

石墨烯材料去除重金属及放射性核素的研究

石墨烯及其改性材料具有比表面积大、吸附能力强、抗辐射性能好、耐高温、耐酸碱等优点,近年来在去除重金属和放射性核素领域得到了广泛关注.本文简要介绍了石墨烯的合成及改性方法,综述了石墨烯材料去除水中重金属离子和放射性核素的研究进展,包括吸附容量、影响因素、吸附动力学、吸附热力学模型和吸附机理,分析了该研究领域目前存在的问题,探讨了今后的研究方向.     

Mobility and sulfidization of heavy metals in sediments of a shallow eutrophic lake,Lake Taihu,China

The technique of DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) using three diffusive gel thicknesses was applied to estimate the mobility and bioavailability of heavy metals in sediments and porewater of Lake Taihu, China. The DGT results showed significantly positive correlations between Co, Pb, Cd and Mn, and Ni and Fe concentrations in porewater. Cu and Zn showed a significantly negative correlation with Mn, due to Cu combination with carbonates and Zn derived from agricultural pollution, respectively. The rank order of average concentrations of Co, Ni and Cd at each station was DGT_1.92 > DGT_0.78 > DGT_0.39, suggesting stronger resupply from sediments to porewater when using thicker diffusive gels. Comparing centrifugation and DGT measurements, Co, Ni and Cd are highly labile; Mn and Fe are moderately labile; and Cu, Zn and Pb are slightly labile. The variations of AVS concentrations in sediment cores indicate that metal sulfides in deeper layers are easily diffused into surface sediments.     

Composition and source apportionment of dust fall around a natural lake

The aim of this study was to determine the source apportionment of dust fall around Lake Chini, Malaysia. Samples were collected monthly between December 2012 and March2013 at seven sampling stations located around Lake Chini. The samples were filtered to separate the dissolved and undissolved solids. The ionic compositions(NO-3, SO2-4, Cl-and NH+4) were determined using ion chromatography(IC) while major elements(K, Na, Ca and Mg) and trace metals(Zn, Fe, Al, Ni, Mn, Cr, Pb and Cd) were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). The results showed that the average concentration of total solids around Lake Chini was 93.49 ± 16.16 mg/(m2·day). SO2-4, Na and Zn dominated the dissolved portion of the dust fall. The enrichment factors(EF) revealed that the source of the trace metals and major elements in the rain water was anthropogenic, except for Fe. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis(HACA) classified the seven monitoring stations and 16 variables into five groups and three groups respectively. A coupled receptor model, principal component analysis multiple linear regression(PCA-MLR), revealed that the sources of dust fall in Lake Chini were dominated by agricultural and biomass burning(42%),followed by the earth's crust(28%), sea spray(16%) and a mixture of soil dust and vehicle emissions(14%).     

New insights into disruption of iron homeostasis by environmental pollutants

Among the numerous health conditions environmental pollutants can cause, chronic exposure to pollutants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and heavy metals has been shown to disturb a specific biological homeostatic process, the iron metabolism in human body. Disorders of iron metabolism are among the common diseases of humans and encompass a broad spectrum of diseases with different clinical manifestations, ranging from anemia to iron overload, and possibly to neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Hepcidin–ferroportin (FPN) signaling is one of the key mechanisms responsible for iron supply, utilization, recycling, and storage, and recent studies demonstrated that exposure to environmental pollutants including POPs and heavy metals could lead to disruption of the hepcidin–FPN axis along with disordered systemic iron homeostasis and diseases. This article introduces and highlights the accompanying review article by Drs. Xu and Liu in this journal, which elaborates in detail the adverse effects of environmental pollutants on iron metabolism, and the mechanisms responsible for these toxicological outcomes. It also points out the knowledge gaps still existing in this subject matter. Research that will fill these gaps will improve our understanding of the issue and provide useful information to prevent or treat diseases induced by environmental pollutants.