Development of natural conditions in constructed wetlands: Biological and chemical changes

The main objectives of this study were to determine the biogeochemical changes taking place in wetlands constructed on coal mine spoil, and to determine the rate at which these constructed wetlands would develop the ecological characteristics of natural wetlands. In 1992 a multicell wetland was constructed. The cells were lined with two coal mine spoil types and one topsoil. In 1993, the cells were planted with cattail (Typha latifolia), maidencane (Panicum hemitomon), pickerelweed (Pontederia lanceolota), and soft stem bulrush (Scirpus validus). Pickerelweed spread most rapidly followed by maidencane and bulrush. Cattail did not establish uniformly but spread in an irregular manner. There was no difference in plant establishment between the topsoil or the two mine spoils. The pH of the most acidic spoil increased by more than one unit after flooding. Organic matter content fluctuated in all three substrates from year to year. The concentration of the nutrient and metal elements increased after flooding. Extractable Al, Fe, and Mn increased more than other elements. The data presented here indicate that, except for organic matter accumulation, these constructed wetlands have taken on the botanical and biogeochemical characteristics of natural wetlands within 3–4 years.     

Moss bags as indicators of trace element contamination in Pre-alpine streams

Abstract

Moss bags of the aquatic bryophyte Rhynchostegium riparioides (Hedw.) C.E.O. Jensen (=Platyhypnidium riparioides (Hedw.) Dixon) were transplanted into freshwaters of the Province of Belluno (NE Italy). This study was aimed at testing the bioaccumulation of trace elements in Pre-alpine Dolomitic streams, where this species does not grow naturally, and where analyses of water samples have never revealed trace element pollution. Mosses were collected after 13, 26 and 59 days of exposure. The concentrations of nine trace elements in the apical shoots were measured. Average concentrations reached in three control stations were adopted as background values, to calculate the contamination factor (CF). Transplants accumulated trace elements and discriminated between non- or scarcely contaminated waters (low CF) and polluted ones (high CF). Furthermore, two patterns of contamination were revealed by multivariate analysis: (I) metals (Cr, Cu, Ni) from galvanic industries, and (II) metals (Pb, Zn) from other industrial/domestic sources or mine sites.     

Phytoremediation of coal mine spoil dump through integrated biotechnological approach

Field experiment was conducted on mine spoil dump on an area of 10 ha, to restore the fertility and productivity of the coal mine spoil dump using integrated biotechnological approach. The approach involves use of effluent treatment plant sludge (ETP sludge), as an organic amendment, biofertilizers and mycorrihzal fungi along with suitable plant species. The results of the study indicated that amendment with effluent treatment plant sludge (ETP sludge), @ 50 ton/ha improved the physico-chemical properties of coal mine spoil. Due to biofertilizer inoculation different microbial groups such as Rhizobium, Azotobacter and VAM spores, which were practically absent in mine spoil improved greatly. Inoculation of biofertilizer and application of ETP sludge helped in reducing the toxicity of heavy metals such as chromium, zinc, copper, iron, manganese lead, nickel and cadmium, which were significantly reduced to 41%, 43%, 37%, 37%, 34%, 39%, 37% and 40%, respectively, due to the increased organic matter content in the ETP sludge and its alkaline pH (8.10-8.28), at which the metals gets immobilized and translocation of metals is arrested. Thus, amendment and biofertilizer application provided better supportive material for anchorage and growth of the plant on coal mine spoil dump.     

Leaching of Trace Elements from Biological Tissue by Formalin Fixation

In studies of trace elements in biological tissue, it is imperative that sample handling does not substantially change element concentrations. In many cases, fresh tissue is not available for study, but formalin-fixed tissue is. Formalin fixation has the potential to leach elements from the tissue, but few studies have been published in this area. The concentrations of 19 elements were determined by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry in formalin in which human and rat brain samples had been stored for different time durations ranging from weeks up to several years. Additional analysis was carried out in fixed brain samples. There was substantial leaching of elements from the tissue into the formalin, and the leaching varied considerably between different elements. For example, formalin concentrations of As, Cd, Mg, Rb, and Sb increased more than 100-fold upon long-term (years) storage, while for Ni and Cr, the leaching was negligible. The degree of leaching was strongly time-dependent. In conclusion, formalin fixation and storage of biological tissue has the potential to leach substantial fractions of several trace elements from the tissue. The potential of leaching must be critically considered when using formalin-fixed biological tissue in trace metal analysis.     

神府东胜煤田弃土弃渣体径流产沙过程的野外试验

采用野外模拟降雨试验方法,研究了神府东胜煤田开采造成的弃土弃渣体产流产沙规律及其减水减沙效益.结果表明： 随降雨强度的增大,弃土弃渣体产流的起始时间呈递减趋势,且差异达几倍至十几倍.弃渣体比弃土体更快到达稳定流速,平均流速大小为弃土体>沙多石少弃渣体>沙少石多弃渣体.弃土弃渣体产流6 min后的径流率达到稳定,与降雨强度呈显著相关.弃土弃渣体侵蚀主要发生在产流开始后的前6 min,弃土体产流后前6 min的平均含沙量是6 min后的0.43～4.27倍,弃渣体为1.43～54.93倍.弃土体和沙多石少弃渣体径流量与降雨强度呈线性函数关系,沙少石多弃渣体呈幂函数关系.弃土体和沙少石多弃渣体的次侵蚀量与降雨强度之间分别呈指数函数和幂函数相关.弃土体侵蚀量与径流量呈线性函数关系.在降雨强度为1.0和1.5 mm·min^-1条件下,弃渣体采用鱼鳞坑及植被防护的产流滞后降雨时间为24 min,减水效益为29.5%～52.9%,减沙效益为85.7%～97.9%.     

Statistical and multivariate statistical techniques to trace the sources and affecting factors of groundwater pollution in a rapidly growing city on the Chinese Loess Plateau

Abstract

Groundwater quality is defined by various water quality parameters. The aims of the research are to understand the relationships among different groundwater quality parameters and to trace the sources and affecting factors of groundwater pollution via statistical and multivariate statistical techniques. The 36 shallow groundwater samples collected from shallow pumping wells in Yan’an City were analyzed for various water quality parameters. Correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA), hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), and multivariable linear regressions (MLR) were jointly used in this study to explore the sources and affecting factors of groundwater pollution. The study reveals that the mineral dissolution/precipitation and anthropogenic input are the main sources of the physicochemical indices and trace elements in the groundwater. Groundwater chemistry is predominantly regulated by natural processes such as dissolution of carbonates, silicates, and evaporates and soil leaching, followed by human activities as the second factor. Climatic factors and land use types are also important in affecting groundwater chemistry. Cl^– is the greatest contributor to the overall groundwater quality revealed by the two regression models. The first model which has eight dependent variables is high in model reliability and stability, and is recommended for the overall groundwater quality prediction. The study is helpful for understanding groundwater quality variation in urban areas.     

Losses of Polyol through Leaching in Subarctic Lichens

Upon rewetting, lichens lose polyols through leaching. We quantified leaching losses for 21 species under simulated rainfall. Polyol concentrations in these lichens range from 1.0 to 8.8%, with a mean of 2.8%. Leaching losses range up to about 7.5 mg (polyol)/g (lichen dry weight) in a typical rain event. The rate of polyol leaching declines exponentially, becoming negligible within 1 hour of continuous rain. The response of polyol leaching rate to rainfall intensity and amount varies between species—six species showed no response, one had increased leaching with increased rainfall intensity, four had increased leaching with increased amount of rainfall, and one had decreased leaching with increased total amount of rainfall. Polyol leaching rates are positively correlated with polyol concentration for 20 species. Literature values of average daily growth rates for subarctic lichens are of the same order of magnitude as leaching rates, suggesting that polyol leaching is an important part of the carbon budget of lichens.     

Experimental Study of Mobility and Kinetic Characterization of Trace Elements in Contaminated Sediments from a River Basin in Northern Peru

In the Jequetepeque basin (Peru), gold extraction activity has been performed in the last decades, leading to a release of metals and metalloids into the environment. Sediment samples were taken in the vicinity of two mines and analyzed. Extraction of metals and metalloids from sediments was carried out using single extraction procedures, acidic (HNO₃), and complexation (EDTA) leaching, in order to determine the mobility of trace elements. Results indicated that acidic extraction at low pH values increased the leachability of trace elements. EDTA showed a higher bioavailability of metals in sediments than acidic extraction under similar pH conditions because of its greater leaching capacity. This is an important issue in view of risk assessment analysis. The highest extractability was observed for Cd in all sediments with up to 90% of extraction after 1 h. The mobility index analysis indicated that faster kinetic leachability of some trace elements leads to a higher mobility in sediments, especially those near the active gold extraction mine. The ecological risk assessment suggested that the four river sediments were at high and very high risk levels, indicating that sediment contamination is an issue of environmental concern in the Jequetepeque basin of northern Peru.     

Progress in remediation and revegetation of the barren Jales gold mine spoil after in situ treatments

A series of single extractions and short-term plant tests were performed in order to test a variety of inexpensive mineral amendments for the in situ inactivation of trace elements on the fine-grained spoil of the former gold mine of Jales, Portugal. Based on the results of these tests, mesocosms (lysimeters) were constructed and a small-scale semi-field trial was carried out since 1998. The long-term effect of steelshots (SS, iron grit), beringite (B), and municipal compost (C) as spoil amendments was investigated. Vegetation establishment on the treated spoils was successful with Holcus lanatus L. in year 1 and Pinus pinaster Ait. in year 2. Therefore, a detailed monitoring program was implemented for determining the sustainability of trace elements in situ inactivation by C (5%), CB (5% compost combined with 5% beringite), CSS (5% compost combined with 1% steelshots), and CBSS (5% compost combined with 5% beringite and 1% steelshots) treatments (all amendments are expressed by soil dry weight) and of the revegetation. After 3 years, revegetation was excellent in the CSS treatment, and successful for the CBSS. Volunteer plant species became established in treated spoils during year 2. In contrast, the trees planted on the C treated spoil declined from year 2 and some died. In year 3, the trees on the CB treatment started to decline. Arsenic and zinc exposure are suggested to explain the negative effects on pine growth. In agreement with results of single extractions, compost addition in the spoil increased long-term arsenic percolation. Lead leaching was also enhanced. The CBSS and CSS treatments were the most effective for limiting water-soluble As and decreasing long-term metal leaching.     

Trace Element Concentrations in Soil,Sediments, and Waters in the Vicinity of Geita Gold Mines and North Mara Gold Mines in Northwest Tanzania

The “Geita Gold Mine” (GGM) and “North Mara Gold Mines” (NMGM) have developed large quarries in the middle of fertile agricultural lands. Possible hazardous impact on the natural recourse has warranted a study on the trace element concentrations in soils, sediments, and natural waters. Generally, the study shows a great variation in type of elements and intensity of their spill to soils, sediments, and waters. We found indications of acid mine drainage (AMD) of trace metals near the GGM waste rock tailings, but the data are inconclusive. The environmental impact at NMGM was, on the other hand, more extensive. Severe trace element contamination of sediments and waters near one of the mining facilities managed by NMGM is connected to an accidental acid spill in 2009. However, we found strong indication that, in addition to the accident, leakage of alkaline wastewater into surface soils and free water took place from a large wastewater reservoir. We found very high concentrations, especially of As in sediments and water samples downside this reservoir. Water from several sites contained As concentration in the free water at more than one order of magnitude higher than the WHO drinking water recommendations. The chemical speciation of water samples indicated high fraction of Free Ion Activity (FIA) in several samples and the change in pH had a significant impact on the FIA. Due to extensive alkaline and acidic runoff from these sites, more information about hydrological transport routes and the chemical speciation of the free water is of great importance for assessing potential risk of these mines.     

Identifying sources of groundwater pollution using trace element signatures

A simple receptor modeling approach has been applied to groundwater pollution studies and has shown that maker trace elements can be used effectively in source identification and apportionment. Groundwater and source materials from one coal-fired and five oil-fired power plants, and one coal-tar deposit site have been analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis for more than 20 minor and trace elements. In one of the oil-fired power plants, trace element patterns indicated a leak from the hazardous waste surface impoundments owing to the failure of a hypolon liner. Also, the extent and spatial distribution of groundwater contamination have been determined in a coal-tar deposit site.     

Organic biogeochemistry of groundwater at a mountain coal mine

Measurements of dissolved organic matter (DOM), humic and fulvic acids, carbohydrates, tannins + lignins, phenols and amino acids were made in the groundwater permeating Reclamation site 2 at the Canmore Coal Mine (Alberta, Canada). Estimates of the number of bacteria present in the groundwater were also made using plate and direct count techniques. Temperature, pH, Eh, and oxygen content of the groundwater were measured on two occasions. DOM was very low in concentration (av. 1.62 mg/liter) and consisted principally of fulvic acid. Humic acids formed about 20% of DOM, carbohydrates 6%, tannins + lignins 4%, and trace compounds (phenols, amino acids, and proteins) 2%. Seasonal variations were observed, with tannins + lignins and carbohydrates reaching their highest concentration in the summer, and humic and fulvic acids, and DOM peaking in the winter. The organic composition of the groundwater upstream of the reclamation site did not differ significantly from groundwater sampled from within the reclamation site. Differences were observed, however, between ground and surface waters draining the site. No correlation between concentration and depth was observed. Large numbers of bacteria were found in groundwater using both plate count and direct count methods. Populations were only modestly correlated with the concentrations of organic compounds (r<0.9). Heterotrophic bacteria must have been dependent upon organic matter (both as DOM and as insoluble organic matter in the spoil) for growth, however. The groundwater bacteria studied appeared to be characterized by slow growth under adverse geological conditions with only low concentrations of labile organic compounds present.     

Human health risk assessment of trace elements in shallow groundwater of the Linhuan coal-mining district,Northern Anhui Province,China

Enrichment of trace elements in groundwater poses considerable risks to human health. The concentrations of seven trace elements (Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb) in 34 samples of shallow groundwater from the study area were estimated. We assessed the concentrations of the trace elements and health risks with statistical analysis and the US Environment Protection Agency (USEPA) model. The results showed that the mean concentrations of trace elements decreased as follows: Mn > Zn > Ni > Cr > Cu > Cd > Pb. Apart from Mn at one sampling point, the concentrations of all trace elements were below the guideline values of the World Health Organization for drinking water. Correlation and cluster analysis indicated that the trace elements fell into groups, with Ni and Cu in one group, and Mn, Zn, and Cd in another, which suggested that the trace elements grouped together had similar sources. The total non-carcinogenic risk values ranged from 8.52 × 10^?4 to 1.27 × 10^?1. The total carcinogenic risk caused by Cr and Cd averaged 1.62 × 10^?6, which exceeded the acceptable level of 1 × 10^?6 recommended by the USEPA. The carcinogenic risk of Cr accounted for 75.93% of R_total.     

Symbiotic soil fungi enhance ecosystem resilience to climate change

Substantial amounts of nutrients are lost from soils through leaching. These losses can be environmentally damaging, causing groundwater eutrophication and also comprise an economic burden in terms of lost agricultural production. More intense precipitation events caused by climate change will likely aggravate this problem. So far it is unresolved to which extent soil biota can make ecosystems more resilient to climate change and reduce nutrient leaching losses when rainfall intensity increases. In this study, we focused on arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, common soil fungi that form symbiotic associations with most land plants and which increase plant nutrient uptake. We hypothesized that AM fungi mitigate nutrient losses following intensive precipitation events (higher amount of precipitation and rain events frequency). To test this, we manipulated the presence of AM fungi in model grassland communities subjected to two rainfall scenarios: moderate and high rainfall intensity. The total amount of nutrients lost through leaching increased substantially with higher rainfall intensity. The presence of AM fungi reduced phosphorus losses by 50% under both rainfall scenarios and nitrogen losses by 40% under high rainfall intensity. Thus, the presence of AM fungi enhanced the nutrient interception ability of soils, and AM fungi reduced the nutrient leaching risk when rainfall intensity increases. These findings are especially relevant in areas with high rainfall intensity (e.g., such as the tropics) and for ecosystems that will experience increased rainfall due to climate change. Overall, this work demonstrates that soil biota such as AM fungi can enhance ecosystem resilience and reduce the negative impact of increased precipitation on nutrient losses.     

Evaluation of metal contamination and risk assessment to human health in a coal mine region of India: A case study of the North Karanpura coalfield

The present study aimed to evaluate metal contamination level in coal mine water of the North Karanpura coalfields and assess the possible health risk due to the intake of untreated mine water. Fourteen coal mine water samples were collected from the study area and analyzed for Al, As, Ba, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Se, and Zn using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The heavy metal pollution index (HPI) was used to calculate metal pollution level in the coal mine water. The hazard quotient (HQ) and hazard index (HI) were estimated for health risk to child and adult by using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) methods. The concentrations of Al, Fe, Mn, and Ni in coal mine water were exceeding the acceptable as well as the maximum permissible limits specified for drinking and domestic uses. The HPI values were below the critical pollution index level of 100 except at one location. The estimated HQ and HI values for adult and children were greater than the standard limits in nearly half of the water samples. High HQ and HI values suggest that suitable treatment of coal mine water will require before its utilization in domestic and drinking purposes.     

A field lysimeter study of heavy metal movement down the profile of soils with multiple metal pollution during chelate-enhanced phytoremediation

The agricultural soils near a copper smelter in southeast China were found to be highly contaminated with Cu, Pb, Zn, and Cd. Metal migration from the soil to groundwater presents an environmental risk that depends on the physicochemical properties of the contaminated soils. Soil solution samples were obtained using lysimeters from a loam soil with multiple metal pollutions over a period of about 1 yr. A field lysimeter study was also conducted to examine the potential use of (S, S')-ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid trisodium salt (EDDSNa3) in chelate-enhanced phytoremedation and to evaluate the leaching of heavy metals. The average heavy metal concentrations in the soil solution (without the addition of EDDS) were high (e.g., 0.15 mg Pb L(-1) at a 50-cm depth) compared to the upper limit for protection of groundwater in China, but varied during the sampling period. Cu concentrations were not correlated with pH or dissolved organic carbon (DOC), but Zn and Cd concentrations were related to soil solution pH. EDDS enhanced metal solubility in the soil, but plant metal uptake by Elsholtzia splendens Nakai did not increase accordingly. There may be an increasing risk of groundwater pollution by Cu and the EDDS enhanced phytoremediation technique needs to be carefully applied to minimize this side effect.     

Effects of trace element concentrations on culturing thermophiles

The majority of microorganisms in natural environments resist laboratory cultivation. Sometimes referred to as ‘unculturable’, many phylogenetic groups are known only by fragments of recovered DNA. As a result, the ecological significance of whole branches of the ‘tree of life’ remains a mystery; this is particularly true when regarding genetic material retrieved from extreme environments. Geochemically relevant media have been used to improve the success of culturing Archaea and Bacteria, but these efforts have focused primarily on optimizing pH, alkalinity, major ions, carbon sources, and electron acceptor–donor pairs. Here, we cultured thermophilic microorganisms from ‘Sylvan Spring’ (Yellowstone National Park, USA) on media employing different trace element solutions, including one that mimicked the source fluid of the inocula. The growth medium that best simulated trace elements found in ‘Sylvan Spring’ produced a more diverse and faster growing mixed culture than media containing highly elevated trace element concentrations. The elevated trace element medium produced fewer phylotypes and inhibited growth. Trace element concentrations appear to influence growth conditions in extreme environments. Incorporating geochemical data into cultivation attempts may improve culturing success.     

Impact of Simulated Acid Rain on Trace Metals and Aluminum Leaching in Latosol from Guangdong Province,China

Acid rain is one of the most serious ecological and environmental problems worldwide. This study investigated the impacts of simulated acid rain (SAR) upon leaching of trace metals and aluminum (Al) from a soil. Soil pot leaching experiments were performed to investigate the impacts of SAR at five different pH levels (or treatments) over a 34-day period upon the release of trace metals (i.e., Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Fe) and Al from the Latosol (acidic red soil). The concentrations of trace metals in the effluent increased as the SAR pH level decreased, and were highest at the SAR pH = 2.0. In general, the concentrations of Cu, Pb, Fe, and Al in the effluent increased with leaching time at the SAR pH = 2.0, whereas the concentrations of Zn, Fe, and Al in the effluent decreased with leaching time at the SAR pH ≥ 4.0. The increase in electrical conductivity (EC) with leaching time at five different SAR pH levels was primarily due to the concentrations of Al and Fe in the effluent. There were good linear correlations between the effluent Al concentrations and the effluent pH at the SAR pH = 2.0 (R² = 0.87) and pH = 3.0 (R² = 0.83). More soil trace metals and Al were activated and released into the soil solution as the SAR pH level decreased.     

热带山地雨林生态系统的水分生态效应——冠层淋溶、水化学贮滤

以小集水区定位测定方法,系统地测定了海南尖峰岭热带山地雨林更新林系统水文分量及水化学组成,分析比较了热带林生态系统降水化学含量及冠层的淋溶效应;其本实验区年降水量在１８２２．２ｍｍ～３２２５．８ｍｍ林冠层年均截留率为１４．３％,年径流系数在０．３３～０．７１之间,降水养分元素输入总量均值为８５．８１ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２,ａ．林层的淋溶效应使养分元素增加５７．０４ｋｇ／ｈｍ＾２,ａ。５～１０月是降水,不化