The cadmium adsorption capacity of contaminated marine sediments from Hong Kong

The binding capacity of Cd to the sediment particles determines the potential of Cd release from the sediments. An experiment was performed to evaluate the adsorption of Cd by contaminated sediments collected from three different locations in Hong Kong, i.e. Kwun Tong, North Point and Nam Tam Wan, having different degrees of pollution. Langmuir and Freundlich equations were used to evaluate the adsorption of Cd by the sediments. Adsorption isotherms obtained from the Freudlich and Langmuir equations were generally linear and the adsorption of Cd by the sediments was significantly correlated with the adsorption maximum and binding energy constant of the Langmuir equation, and equilibrium partition constant of the Freundlich equation. All sediments had a high Cd adsorption capacity and the highly organic contaminated sediments from Kwun Tong had the highest adsorption capacity of 24,272 mg kg^‐1 at pH8. The adsorption of Cd for all sediments increased with a rise in pH of the equilibrium solution and the total organic carbon content of the sediments. Therefore, a change in the sediment chemical equilibrium is likely to reduce the binding capacity.     

Trace metals in fish,sediment and water from the south west coast of the Arabian sea,Pakistan

Concentrations of ten metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) in the edible muscle of Arius maculatus captured from eight different near‐shore and off‐shore sites off the south west coast of the Arabian Sea, Pakistan, were determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Relevant water and sediment samples from the sites were also analysed for the metals. Zinc showed the highest metal concentration (6.763 μg/g, wet weight) in the muscle of the fish, while Mn and Hg showed lowest level (0.019 μg/g, wet weight). Of all the metals investigated, largest scatter (measured as σ) was observed for Zn (σ = 2.058 /μg/g) in fish muscle, for Fe and Mn in sediment (σ = 27481 and 44.50 μg/g) and for As in water (σ = 0.270 μg/L). The metal distribution data pertaining to water, fish and sediment were examined on the basis of simple metal correlations. The statistical study revealed that Ni, Cr, Pb and Cu had significant positive correlations (r > 0.830 at ρ = 0.01). The finding substantiated a trace metal concentration gradient in the area, thereby indicating that the local marine environment is contaminated by anthropogenic sources.     

Heavy metal accumulation in algae and sediments of the Black Sea coast of Turkey

The paper reports heavy metal accumulation in algae collected at four stations and in sediments at three stations on the Black Sea coast of Turkey. The metals analysed are Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Sb and Zn. The metal content of algae increased generally (with some exceptions) from 1991 till 1993 in ?ile and Sinop. In the sediments Sb in ?ile, As in Riva, Fe, Zn in Sinop are high. According to these findings the metal pollution increased in Turkish area of the Black Sea during the years investigated.     

洱海表层沉积物与鱼体中四溴双酚A的环境暴露水平

应用UPLC-MS-MS,对洱海表层沉积物和5种鱼类(白鲢、鲤鱼、鲫鱼、白条鱼和太湖短吻银鱼)样品中TBBPA(四溴双酚A)的质量分数进行了测定. 结果表明,洱海表层沉积物中w(TBBPA) (以干质量计,下同)为21.06~52.72ng/g,平均值为37.72ng/g,呈西部、南部和北部湖区明显高于中部和东部湖区的分布特征,其分布受所处区域的经济发展水平和生活生产状态等影响. 白鲢、鲤鱼、鲫鱼、白条鱼和太湖短吻银鱼肌肉中w(TBBPA)平均值分别为13.53、8.20、8.86、7.55和10.87ng/g,w(TBBPA)与鱼的体长度特征无关,可能与鱼类的食性、所处营养级有关. 在鱼体的内脏器官中,肾脏中w(TBBPA)最高,平均值为7.64ng/g;其次为鳃和肝脏,分别为7.07和5.68ng/g;卵巢和精巢中没有检测到TBBPA的存在. 与国内其他地区相比,洱海表层沉积物中w(TBBPA)呈较低水平,鱼体中w(TBBPA)为中等水平.      

洱海表层沉积物碱性磷酸酶活性时空变化

研究了2010—2011年洱海表层沉积物中碱性磷酸酶活性的时空变化,并探讨了沉积物及水体理化因子对碱性磷酸酶活性的影响.结果表明:①洱海表层沉积物中碱性磷酸酶活性为45.63～144.67μmol/(g·h),空间分布总体呈北部＞南部＞中部,受外源污染物输入影响较大的区域,其沉积物中w(TN)、w(TP)较高,碱性磷酸酶活性也较高;②洱海表层沉积物中碱性磷酸酶活性呈明显的季节性变化特征,秋季(11月)<冬季(2月)<春季(5月)<夏季(8月),并且西部沿岸区域的季节性变化差异显著;③碱性磷酸酶活性与沉积物中w(OM)、w(TN)、w(OP)、w(TP)、m(C)/m(N)及水体ρ(OP)、ρ(TN)和ρ(COD_Mn)呈显著正相关. 沉积物及水体的理化因子是影响其碱性磷酸酶活性的重要内因,而外源污染物输入则是重要外因.      

邕江南宁市区段表层沉积物典型抗生素污染特征

利用超声提取、固相萃取和HPLC-MS/MS分析方法对邕江南宁市区段沉积物典型抗生素污染进行研究,结果表明,大环内酯类、磺胺类和甲氧苄氨嘧啶10种抗生素中共检出9种,抗生素总浓度范围为1.08~30.84ng/g(均值5.84ng/g).大环内酯类抗生素检出率达100%,为邕江的主要抗生素污染物,平均含量为1.14ng/g,分布上呈现邕江下游>中游>上游的趋势;磺胺和甲氧苄氨嘧啶类抗生素检出率为43%.其中磺胺类抗生素平均含量低于0.06ng/g,甲氧苄氨嘧啶(TMP)平均含量为1.00ng/g,分布上则为上游>下游>中游.来源分析表明生活污水及医疗废水的排放是下游沉积物大环内酯类抗生素含量较高的主要原因,而畜禽和水产养殖则是上游磺胺和甲氧苄氨嘧啶污染的主要来源.总体来说,与国内外河流相比,邕江抗生素含量尚处于较低水平,但抗生素抗性基因污染不容忽视.     

Hydrocarbons contamination and microbial degradation in mangrove sediments of the Niger Delta region (Nigeria)

The distribution of aliphatic hydrocarbons and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and their degradability by bacteria in epipelic and benthic sediments from Qua Iboe Estuary mangrove ecosystem and associated creeks were investigated. The research findings revealed that total aliphatic hydrocarbons in sediments ranged from 16.82 mg·kg ^?1 to 210 mg kg ^?1, wheras total PAHs ranged from 6.30 to 35.55 mg·kg ^?1 dry weight of sediment. Low molecular mass (i.e. the 2–3-ring) PAHs were predominant in almost all the sampling points, whereas the higher molecular masses (4-, 5- and 6-ring PAHs) had the lowest concentrations. In general, the sediment samples ES ₂ (39.7%), ES ₃ (24.8%), BS ₁ (46.7%), BS ₂ (49.9%) and BS ₃ (44.2%) showed<50% contributions of Σ combustion–derived PAH (COMP-PAH) concentration to the Σ PAH concentrations, whereas ES ₁ (57%) contained>50% of COMP-PAHs. Our results have also shown that many mangrove bacteria have strong capacity to utilise Qua Iboe Light (QL) crude oil as the sole source of carbon and energy, while lower number of bacterial species including Bacillus sp., Micrococcus sp., Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Alcaligenes sp. and Flavobacterium sp. exhibited detectable PAHs degradability; and as such may serve as efficient degraders of QL crude oil contamination of mangrove ecosystem.     

Mercury distribution in the sediments of Ambarlı Port Area,Sea of Marmara (Turkey)

The purpose of this study is to investigate historical and current mercury (Hg) contamination in the surface and core sediments of the Ambarl? Port area. Textural parameters, total organic carbon (TOC), ²¹⁰Pb and total Hg (THg) contents were measured. Mercury contamination of the sediments was assessed on the basis of the enrichment factor (EF), anthropogenic factor (AF), index of geoaccumulation (Igeo) and corresponding sediment quality guidelines. Most surface sediment samples were also non-toxic with mercury concentrations below the effects range-low (ERL) value, but mercury levels at five stations were between ERL and effects range-median (ERM) values, where occasional adverse effects concerning risk analysis are expected. The EF and Igeo analysis showed that there was no significant mercury enrichment and contamination in the core sediment before the 1650s, but values increased from then onwards to 2009 (being especially accelerated in line with port activities from 1989), disclosing a serious ecotoxicological risk to sediment-inhabited marine organisms.     

Speciation of heavy metals in sediments from the Scheldt estuary,Belgium

A simple three-step sequential extraction procedure was applied to study the speciation of heavy metals in sediment from Scheldt estuary, and their relationship to sediment grain size and organic matter content. The sedimentary metal content was fractionated into carbonate and exchangeable, metals bound to organic matter and residual fractions. Sedimentary total metal content was also determined using an industrial microwave (ETHOS 900) HF/HNO₃ extraction method. The extracts were analysed for metals using inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry. The bioavailable fraction (exchangeable and metals bound to organic matter) comprised less than the other forms. Residue metals were the dominant form of metals in almost all studied sites. The average total metal content for the studied sites decreased in the order Fe>Cr>Cu>Co>Zn>Pb>Cd. Based on average values for the studied sites, the highest bioavailable metals in sediments were Cd (38%) from Westkapelle, Zn (17%) from Yerseke, Co (12%) from Domburg, Cr (9%) from Vlissingen, Fe and Pb each (2%) from Yerseke, and Cu (1%) from Domburg. Metal recovery was good, with<10% difference between the total metal recovered through the extractant steps and the total metal determined using HF/HNO₃ extract.     

The influence of solid matrices on arsenic toxicity to Corophium orientale

In marine ecosystems, benthic organisms are really important because they are the first step in the transfer of contaminants from environment to biota. To this end, this study focused on biological assays with the amphipod Corophium orientale exposed to two different molecules of arsenic: arsenate (As^V), the most abundant form in sediments, and dimethyl-arsinate (DMA), expected to be moderately toxic as an intermediate in the process of detoxification. The toxicity of arsenic compounds was measured after exposure to three different matrices: water, spiked natural sediment and inert spiked quartz sand. LC₅₀ values were calculated for each exposure, and the results confirmed the highest toxicity of As^V, in addition to underlining the importance of matrix of exposure. Water exposure was the matrix which presented the highest toxicity for inorganic arsenic (As^V LC₅₀=3.51 mg L^?1 vs DMA LC₅₀=54.65 mg L^?1), spiked natural sediment demonstrated its capability to chelate arsenate toxicity (As^V LC₅₀=34.27 mg kg^?1 vs. DMA LC₅₀=52.19 mg kg^?1) and spiked quartz sand presented intermediate values for As^V (LC₅₀=25.26 mg kg^?1), whereas for DMA a lower toxicity was registered (LC₅₀=872.35 mg kg^?1). This study can provide some useful data linked with chemical speciation of arsenic and exposure matrix, for improving the correct management of contaminated sediment.