鄂尔多斯地区公路沿线土壤重金属形态与生物有效性

采用TessierA连续提取法对鄂尔多斯地区公路沿线土壤重金属（Pb、Zn、Cu、Ni、Cr）化学形态进行了测定。同时对土壤pH值、重金属含量和公路绿化植物重金属（Cd、Hg、Pb、Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、As和Se）含量进行了分析，对该区域重金属的生物有效性与潜在生态风险进行预测。结果表明：土壤重金属有效态占总量百分比的大小序列为Zn〉Pb〉Ni、Cr〉Cu，与重金属元素在绿化植物中含量大小序列Zn〉Cu〉Ni、Cr、As、Pb〉Cd〉Hg并非完全趋于一致。不同公路段土壤重金属与其不同形态存在较大的变幅。公路沿线表层土壤中重金属的有效态占其总量为G109（东胜-准格尔段）15．7％～46．1％，G210（达拉特-东胜段）8．0％-40．9％，G109（东胜-鄂托克段）9．1％～33．9％，而且以有机态和Fe—Mn氧化结合态的比例较大，为各元素有效态的主要形态特征。Cu在不同植物不同器官中的含量较高，可能在鄂尔多斯地区特定环境条件下随植物的蒸腾拉力、水分和营养盐运移的生理生态作用下使其在植物体中富集。土壤重金属Zn的有效态含量较高，而残渣态含量低，须特别注意其对区域生态系统的潜在影响。     

铜尾矿库剑叶金鸡菊根际尾矿和植株的重金属元素含量及相关性分析

以安徽省铜陵市杨山冲铜尾矿库复垦区(覆土复垦)和未复垦区生长的剑叶金鸡菊(Coreopsis lanceolata Linn.)为研究对象,对2个区域剑叶金鸡菊根际尾矿的基本理化性质和6种重金属元素含量进行了比较,并对2个区域剑叶金鸡菊不同器官的重金属元素含量及其转移系数和富集系数,以及Ca和总磷含量及其比值(R)进行了比较;在此基础上,对不同器官重金属元素含量与根际尾矿相应重金属元素含量以及相应器官Ca和总磷含量及R值进行了Pearson相关性分析。结果表明:2个区域的根际尾矿均偏碱性;复垦区根际尾矿的电导率及有机质、总碳、总氮、总磷、速效磷、速效钾、Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd含量均高于未复垦区;并且,2个区域根际尾矿的Cu、Zn、As和Cd含量均超过国家土壤二级标准。2个区域剑叶金鸡菊各器官的Cu、Zn和Mn含量均较高,而Pb、Cd和As含量较低;主根和须根的Cu和As含量以及茎叶的Cd和Zn含量均较高。与未复垦区相比,复垦区剑叶金鸡菊主根的Zn、Pb、Cd、Mn和As含量较高,而茎叶的重金属元素含量却较低。2个区域剑叶金鸡菊中Cd的转移系数最大,而Cu和As的转移系数分别为最小和未检出;并且,复垦区剑叶金鸡菊中Zn、Pb、Cd和Mn的转移系数显著(P0.05)低于未复垦区。2个区域剑叶金鸡菊不同器官重金属元素的富集系数大多较低。另外,复垦区剑叶金鸡菊主根的Ca和总磷含量以及须根和茎叶的总磷含量均高于未复垦区。相关性分析结果表明:剑叶金鸡菊主根和须根的Pb含量与根际尾矿的Pb含量分别呈显著和极显著(P0.01)正相关,茎叶的Cu和Zn含量与根际尾矿的相应重金属元素含量分别呈极显著和显著负相关;主根的Mn含量与Ca和总磷含量呈显著正相关;须根的Cd和As含量与Ca含量分别呈极显著和显著负相关,Mn含量与总磷含量呈显著负相关;茎叶的Cu、Zn和Cd含量与Ca含量以及Cu和Mn含量与R值均呈显著正相关,Mn含量与Ca含量呈极显著正相关。综合分析结果显示:剑叶金鸡菊对6种重金属元素均有一定的吸收和积累能力,属于多重金属耐性植物;并且,覆土复垦可显著降低重金属元素从剑叶金鸡菊根部向茎叶转移,建议将其作为Cu和As污染地植物固定修复的物种。     

渝产独活中重金属含量分布特征及富集特性

对重庆独活种植地土壤及植株中重金属Cu、Pb、Cd、Hg和As进行含量检测、分析。结果表明独活种植地土壤及药材中重金属Cd含量超标。不同器官中重金属元素的含量分布规律不一致,Pb与Cd分布为根茎叶,Cu为茎根叶,Hg为茎叶根,As含量为叶根茎。独活根、茎对Cd的富集能力最强,富集系数大于1,其它元素富集系数均小于1。相关分析表明,土壤中Cu与茎、叶中Cu含量存在极显著相关性,茎和叶中Cu含量呈显著负相关,茎和根中Hg含量呈极显著正相关。     

海口城市土壤重金属污染特征与生态风险评估

对海口城市土壤重金属含量、空间分布特征与赋存形态进行了研究,并评估了其生态风险。结果表明,海口城市土壤重金属Hg、As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn的平均含量分别为0.073、3.82、0.25、26.7、92.4、52.5、29.1和84.1 mg·kg-1。与海口土壤背景值相比,海口城市土壤明显富集重金属Hg、As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb和Zn,受到一定程度重金属污染。Cr、Ni、Cu、Cd和Zn元素主要在郊区富集,Pb主要在路边绿化带中富集,Hg主要在生活区富集。海口城市土壤中Zn、As、Cr、Cu和Ni以残渣态为主,Hg主要以强有机态和残渣态存在,Pb主要以铁锰氧化态和残渣态存在,而Cd则主要以生物可利用态为主。生态风险评价结果显示,海口城市土壤重金属综合生态风险属于微弱水平,但Cd和Hg污染应引起重视。     

包头南海子湿地三种鹭鸟羽毛与环境中重金属含量的关系

于2016年7至10月采用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法(ICP-OES),测定了内蒙古包头南海子湿地繁殖期过后的白琵鹭(Platalea leucorodia)、苍鹭(Ardea cinerea)和夜鹭(Nycticorax nycticorax)3种鹭鸟初级飞羽及环境因子(水、土壤、食物)中As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn、Fe、Mn、Hg 10种重金属的含量,采用单因素方差分析方法比较了不同鹭鸟种类羽毛重金属含量差异,并通过生物富集系数及Pearson相关性检验分析了羽毛与环境因子间重金属含量之间的关系,以揭示包头南海子湿地环境中重金属污染现状及生物富集特征。结果表明:(1)被检测的10种重金属中,As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Pb、Zn、Hg 7种元素在湿地环境中均已超标,尤其土壤中Fe、Zn、Cu已达到重度污染的程度。(2)不同重金属元素在鹭鸟羽毛中的含量存在差异,其中Fe元素在白琵鹭羽毛中的含量水平最高(388.77 mg/kg),Cd元素在夜鹭羽毛中的含量最低(0.12 mg/kg)。在鹭鸟羽毛中重金属含量由高至低的顺序分别为,白琵鹭Fe、Zn、Mn、Cu、Hg、Cr、Ni、Pb、As、Cd,苍鹭Zn、Fe、Cu、Cr、Ni、As、Mn、Hg、Pb、Cd,夜鹭Zn、Fe、Mn、Cu、Ni、Pb、Hg、Cr、As、Cd。除Pb和Cd元素外,其他8种元素含量在3种鹭鸟羽毛中的含量种间差异显著。(3)相关分析表明,鹭鸟羽毛中的重金属含量与环境因子中的重金属含量显著相关且呈现富集特征,为此可作为监测当地环境污染的指示性材料。     

山区路侧土壤-油菜系统重金属来源及关联特征

以安顺市至龙天村部分路段位置为基准,选取不同坡度采集距路侧不同距离、高度的油菜及表层土壤样品,测试了各样品中Cu、Pb、Cd、Cr、Zn、Ni、Hg、As元素含量,分析了路侧油菜与土壤中重金属的可能来源、分布规律及表层土壤组成的差异。结果表明：道路截面灰尘有机质含量较高;油菜土壤质地粗细不一,侵入类型以砾石、生活垃圾为主;表层土Cd的Igeo值最高为6.94,属极重污染,Cr、Pb属轻污染;油菜重金属Cd、Cr主要来源地质背景,Pb、Zn、Ni主要受非点源污染源路线影响,Hg、As、Cu与地质背景和人为活动有关;油菜组织重金属含量最大值主要集中在路侧10m内,叶、茎、根中Cr、Cd超标极其严重,分别为：14.49、12.96、15.54倍,35.13、9.54、19.72倍;5m处油菜叶、茎、根对As、Hg、Cr、Pb、Zn、Ni、Cu的富集能力远高于10 m、30 m处。     

福建省耕地土壤重金属含量和可浸提性研究

测定了福建省6市、县耕地土壤中的Cu、Zn、Cd、Ni、Pb、Hg、As等7种重金属元素的全量和可浸提态含量,并对测定结果进行了数理统计。结果表明,福建省耕地土壤存在着不同程度的重金属污染,但依元素不同而不同,重金属可浸提态含量占全量的10.0?52.2 Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb、Ni的可浸提态含量与全量之间的相关达极显著水平,Zn、Cd、Pb、As等4元素含量之间存在着显著正相关,而Ni则只与Zn元素有极显著正相关,Cu和Hg与其它重金属元素的相关则均不显著。     

刺楸年轮中重金属含量动态变化及富集特性

为探索刺楸对受污染土壤重金属的富集和修复效应, 以南京栖霞山的乡土树种刺楸及其根际周边土壤为研究对象, 截取其根基部年轮盘及根际土壤样本, 采用ICP-AES法测定年轮及土壤样本中重金属(Cu、Cd、Cr、Mn、Ni、Pb、Zn)元素含量。结果表明: 栖霞山样地中的土壤受Mn、Pb和Zn污染最为严重, 存在Cu、Cd、Mn、Pb、Zn元素的高度复合污染, Cd、Cr、Cu、Ni、Zn在土壤和年轮中存在相关性, Mn和Pb则没有表现出明显的相关性; 刺楸修复受Cd、Mn、Pb、Zn污染的土壤效果并不显著, 更适用于Cr、Cu、Ni污染的土壤修复; 鉴于Cu元素含量变化特征, 刺楸也可以作为反映当地污染历史的记录载体; 刺楸年轮中的重金属元素之间存在交互作用, 其中Cd与Zn元素含量高度相关(r=0.984, p<0.01), 在刺楸年轮吸收重金属元素的过程中, Cu与Cd、Cr、Mn、Zn元素具有协同作用, Mn元素对其他元素有一定的拮抗作用。     

城市绿化树种香樟不同器官对土壤重金属的富集特征

为了了解不同土壤重金属浓度梯度及污染梯度下香樟不同器官的富集特征,测定了香樟树叶、树枝、树干和根际土壤中6种重金属元素(Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Mn、Ni)的含量.结果表明: 香樟地上部分重金属含量因器官、元素种类、根际土壤重金属浓度的不同而存在差异.香樟树叶和树枝重金属含量的大小顺序均为:Mn＞Zn＞Cu＞Cr＞Pb＞Ni,树干重金属含量为:Mn＞Zn＞Cr＞Pb＞Ni＞Cu.树叶对Mn的富集系数较高,为2.409;树干对Ni的富集系数较高,分别为树叶、树枝的8.6和17倍,且在不同土壤重金属浓度梯度下,香樟树干对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Ni的富集系数均明显高于其他器官.香樟地上部分器官对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Mn、Ni 6种重金属元素的综合富集能力大小顺序为:树叶＞树干＞树枝.随着土壤重金属污染等级的增加,香樟地上部分各器官的富集系数均逐渐降低.研究区域平均胸径为22 cm的单株香樟对重金属元素富集效能的大小顺序为:树叶＞树干＞树枝,其中树干对Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、Ni的积累量均显著高于树叶和树枝.表明香樟对6种重金属元素均有一定的富集能力,并且树干对Pb和Ni的富集效能明显,分别占地上部分总积累量的82.7%和91.9%,能很好地富集并稳固土壤中的Pb和Ni,可作为修复治理土壤重金属污染的备选树种.     

江苏省典型区农田土壤及小麦中重金属含量与评价

为了研究江苏省典型区地震带农田土壤和小麦中重金属的污染,在具有代表性的农田采集收获期小麦及耕层土壤,分析和评价了土壤和小麦中重金属Cu、Pb、Cd、Ni、Cr、Hg、As和Zn的含量及污染程度。结果表明,土壤样品中Cd、Zn、Pb的含量均超过江苏省土壤背景值,Cr、Cu、Ni和As分别有25.64%、97.44%、92.31%和92.31%的土壤样品中超过江苏省土壤背景值,Hg的含量均在背景值以下;与国家土壤环境质量标准(GB15618—1995)中Ⅱ级标准相比,Cd的含量均超出标准限值,其它7种重金属元素含量均在标准限值以下。土壤中重金属相关分析表明,Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn、As具有相同的来源的可能性较大,而Hg与Cd、Cu、Cr、Ni、Pb、Zn、As的来源均不相同。以NY 861—2004为评价标准,小麦籽粒Pb、Cr、Hg、Ni、As样品超标率分别为100%、58.97%、33.33%、10.26%、2.56%,Cu、Zn和Cd没有样品超标,由此可见小麦籽粒中Pb的污染最为严重。采用单因子污染指数法、综合污染指数法和Hakanson潜在生态评价指数法以国家土壤环境质量标准(GB15618—1995)和江苏省土壤背景值为参比值,对农田土壤重金属污染进行评价,结果显示,从单项污染指数来看只有Cd达到重度污染水平,其它元素均在安全范围以内,从综合污染指数来看土壤重金属污染达到中度污染水平,从潜在生态评价指数法来看,研究区域表现为很强的生态危害,并以Cd为主要污染因子。     

南京市14种绿化树种对空气中重金属的累积能力

分析了南京化工厂（污染区）和江苏省林科院（对照区）不同绿化树种叶片重金属元素（Pb、Cd和Cu）的含量,揭示了14种绿化树种对3种重金属污染物的累积能力。结果表明,城市绿化树种对大气重金属污染物具有一定的吸收净化能力,并依重金属和树种的不同具有明显差异;同种植物对不同重金属的累积量也有很大差别,其中对Cu的累积量最高;采样区植物叶片重金属含量明显高于对照区;对Pb累积量高的树种有：杨树、广玉兰、女贞和紫叶李; Cd累积量高的树种为杨树;Cu累积量高的树种为构树;累积3种重金属综合能力最强的树种有杨树、构树、雪松、广玉兰、悬铃木、栾树。     

Heavy metal accumulation in frogs surrounding an e-waste dump site and human health risk assessment

Abstract

This study was performed heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, and Pb) in water, soil and frogs around an electronic-waste dump site. The bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of heavy metals in three frog species and potential human health risks were assessed. Heavy metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry. The Cd and Pb concentrations in water samples and As and Pb concentrations in soil samples from within the e-waste dump site exceeded the standards. The heavy metal concentrations in the muscles of three frog species were as follows: Cr?>?Pb?>?As?>?Cd, and there were no significant differences among frog species except in the case of Pb (p?<?0.05). Only the Cr concentrations exceeded the food quality standards. The relative order of the BAFs for heavy metals in frogs as a result of uptake from the water and soil was Cr?>?As?>?Pb?>?Cd and Cr?>?As?>?Cd?>?Pb, respectively, which indicated that the uptake from water was greater than that from the soil. The assessment of the health risk index and carcinogenic risk (CR) indicated potential human health effects from As, Cr, and Pb via the consumption of frogs.     

Effects of Municipal Sewage Sludge Doses on the Chlorophyll Contents and Heavy Metal Concentration of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera)

The present study was conducted to assess the suitability of sewage sludge amendment (SSA) in soil for Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera (sugar beet) by evaluating the heavy metal accumulation and physiological responses of plants grown at a 10%, 25%, and 50% sewage sludge amendment rate. The sewage sludge amendment was modified by the physicochemical properties of soil, thus increasing the availability of heavy metals in the soil and consequently increasing accumulation in plant parts. Cd, Pb, Ni, and Cu concentrations in roots were significantly higher in plants grown at 25% as compared to 50% SSA; however, Cr and Zn concentration was higher at 50% than 25% SSA. The concentrations of heavy metal showed a trend of Zn > Ni > Cu > Cr > Pb > Cd in roots and Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd in leaves. The only instance in which the chlorophyll content did not increase after the sewage sludge treatments was 50%. There were approximately 1.12-fold differences between the control and 50% sewage sludge application for chlorophyll content. The sewage sludge amendment led to a significant increase in Pb, Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Ni concentrations of the soil. The heavy metal accumulation in the soil after the treatments did not exceed the limits for the land application of sewage sludge recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). The increased concentration of heavy metals in the soil due to the sewage sludge amendment led to increases in heavy metal uptake and the leaf and root concentrations of Ni, Zn, Cd, Cu, Cr, Pb, and Zn in plants as compared to those grown on unamended soil. More accumulation occurred in roots and leaves than in shoots for most of the heavy metals. The concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Pb were more than the permissible limits of national standards in the edible portion of sugar beet grown on different sewage sludge amendment ratios. The study concludes that the sewage sludge amendment in the soil for growing sugar beet may not be a good option due to risk of contamination of Cr, Pb, and Cd.     

贵州水银洞金矿紫茎泽兰重金属元素测定与分析

利用原子吸收法对贵州水银洞金矿紫茎泽兰及其基质中Cr、Pb、Zn、Cd、Hg和As含量进行了测定和分析。结果表明,贵州水银洞金矿废水处理区土壤Hg(12.575 mg·kg^-1)和As(501.374 mg·kg^-1)已严重超标,Hg和As的平均含量分别是国家土壤环境质量三级标准(GB15618-1995)的8.383倍和12.534倍,污染极为严重;紫茎泽兰对该矿区不同的重金属富集能力不同,尤其对该矿区Cr有较强的富集作用,具有一定的Cr污染修复潜力。紫茎泽兰对所测定的6种重金属元素的吸收转移能力有较大的差异,整个植株对Pb、Zn 和Cr具有很强的吸收转移能力。其茎、叶对不同的重金属元素的吸收转移能力也呈现出很大的差异,紫茎泽兰茎对Cr、Pb和Cd具有很强的吸收转移能力,而叶对Zn、Pb和Hg具有很强的吸收转移能力。除As外,紫茎泽兰对Cr、Pb、Zn、Cd和Hg都具有不同程度的耐受能力,对该矿区的生态恢复具有重要的作用。     

Source analysis and health risk of heavy metals in the different seasons from Taizihe River,China

Twenty five water samples were collected along the Taizihe River, the concentration and health risks of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Cd were detected and evaluated, and the pollution sources was analyzed through principal components analyses. The results indicated that the order of average concentration of heavy metals was follows: Pb > Cr > Cu > Zn and Cd. Among that, the concentrations of Zn, Cu and Cr were at the permissible levels, but Pb and Cd exceeded grade V standard at some sites. The concentrations of Zn and Cu in the wet season were significant higher than that in the dry season (p < 0.05), but the average concentrations of Pb, Cr and Cd were not significantly different in the two seasons (p > 0.05). The annual average risks of human health caused by Cd and Cr were 10⁻³/a and 10⁻⁴/a, respectively, which were higher than the recommended maximum acceptable risk level. The human health risk values of Zn, Pb and Cu were all concentrated at 10⁻⁸/a or 10⁻⁹/a levels, which did not exceed the recommended standard. On the whole, Cd and Cr were the main health risk pollutants of Taizihe River. Pollution sources of Pb was different from other heavy metals in wet and dry season, Cd and Cr were similar in the wet and dry season. The mainly pollution source of heavy metals was industry, especially mining, metal smelting and electroplating industry.     

Fractionation of heavy metals in contaminated soils surrounding non-ferrous metals smelting area in the North China Plain

Abstract

The accumulation of heavy metals in soil is a serious environmental problem. The risk of metals in soil is associated critically with their species. Operationally determined speciation analysis of Cr, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, Sb, Cd and Pb was carried out in the area of non-ferrous metals-smelting in the North China Plain, using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy after sequential chemical extraction. The average potential mobility fraction was calculated. The average potential mobility of the metals had the following order: Cd(44.7%) > Pb(29.6%) > Mn(14.8%) > Zn(12.5%) > Cu(5.9%) > Sb(5.0%) > Ni(2.1%) > Cr(0.8%). It is concluded that there is a distinct spatial heterogeneity in the concentration of heavy metals in the studied area. The results indicate that the polluting heavy metals, in particular Cd and Pb, have high potential mobility.     

Accumulation and translocation of heavy metals in the canola (Brassica napus L.)—soil system in Yangtze River Delta, China

Aims and methods

Concentrations of heavy metals such as Cd, As, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni in different tissues (seeds, roots and shoots) of the mature canola (Brassica napus L.) plants and in the associated rhizosphere soils from Yangtze River Delta (YRD) region of China, were determined to evaluate the heavy metals’ pollution in the soils and the canola seeds, and to discuss their accumulation and translocation characteristics in canola plants. At the same time, the phytoextraction potential of the canola plant for the above heavy metals was theoretically calculated and discussed on the basis of above measured data.

Results

The results showed that the concentration ranges of Cd, As, Hg, Pb, Cr, Cu, Zn and Ni in the rhizosphere soils were 0.115–0.481, 3.40–20.5, 0.069–0.682, 9.92–27.4, 46.8–86.6, 17.7–253.3, 65.2–511.7 and 16.0–37.8?mg?kg^?1, respectively. The concentrations of Cu, Zn and Hg at some sampling sites exceeded the 2nd grade threshods of Chinese national environmental quality standard for soils. The potential ecological risk of heavy metals in the canola rhizosphere soils decreased in the order of Zhejiang > Shanghai > Jiangsu provinces. The concentration ranges of above heavy metals in the canola seeds were 0.032–0.067, 0.002–0.005, 0.001–0.005, 0.053–0.165, 0.191–0.855, 3.01–13.20, 34.82–96.95 and 0.343–2.86?mg?kg^?1, respectively, with Cu and Zn at some sampling sites exceeding the permissible concentrations in foods of China. Heavy metals’ concentrations in canola seeds didn’t increase with their increasing concentrations in the rhizosphere soils. The bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of most heavy metals in the canola seeds decreased with their increasing concentrations in the associated rhizosphere soils. The average BCFs of heavy metals decreased in the order of Zn (0.488)>Cd (0.241)>Cu (0.145)>Ni (0.038)>Hg (0.021)>Pb (0.005)=Cr (0.005)>As (0.000) in the canola seeds, Cd (1.550)>Cu (0.595)>Zn (0.422)>Hg (0.138)>Ni (0.085)>Pb (0.080)>As (0.035)>Cr (0.031) in the roots, and Cd (0.846)>Zn (0.242)>Cu (0.205)>Hg (0.159)>Ni (0.031)>Pb (0.025)>As (0.012)>Cr (0.007) in the shoots, respectively. The accumulation capacity for most of the above heavy metals in the mature canola tissues was root > shoot > seed, with the exceptions of seed > root > shoot for Zn and shoot > root > seed for Hg. Except Hg from root to shoot and Zn from root to seed, translocation factors (TFs) of above heavy metals were lower than 1.0.

Conclusions

The concentrations, BCFs and TFs of above heavy metals in the canola tissues indicated that the investigated canola plants did not meet the criteria of hyperaccumulators for the above heavy metals. The phytoextracton potential of the studied canola plants for the above heavy metals from the polluted soils was very limited. It would take 920, 3,170 and 3,762?years (assuming two crops per year) to reduce the initial soil Zn, Cu and Hg concentrations, respectively, from the most polluted soil concentrations to the 2nd grade thresholds of Chinese national environmental quality standard for soils.     

Heavy Metals in Eight Edible Fish Species from Two Polluted Tributaries (Aik and Palkhu) of the River Chenab,Pakistan

Concentration of heavy metals (lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and copper (Cu)) was determined in the liver, gills, kidneys, and muscles of eight edible fish species (Channa punctata, Cirrhinus reba, Labeo rohita, Heteropneustes fossilis, Mystus cavasius, Oreochromis niloticus, Puntius sophore, and Wallago attu) from upstream and downstream zones of the Nullah Aik and Palkhu tributaries of the River Chenab located in the Sialkot district known for its tanning industries worldwide. The pattern of metal accumulation in studied organs was in the order: Cr > Pb > Cu > Cd. Liver showed greater metal accumulation, followed by gills, kidneys, and muscles. Accumulation of Pb and Cr was significantly different in organs between upstream and downstream zones. Accumulation was greater in fish species dwelling downstream, indicating impairment of ambient stream water due to untreated discharge of industrial and municipal effluents into studied streams. Highest concentration of Pb and Cr and lowest of Cd was detected in H. fossilis whereas Cu showed higher concentration and Cr lowest concentration in P. sophore. In contrast, lower concentration of Pb and Cu was recorded in M. cavasius, O. niloticus, and W. attu. Mean concentrations of Cd, Cr, and Cu were higher in pre-monsoon compared to post-monsoon season. Measured concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Cr in muscles of species such as C. punctata, W. attu, L. rohita, P. sophore, and O. niloticus were above permissible limits of heavy metals for human consumption, indicating potential health risks. Therefore, these fish species from studied locations should be avoided for human diet.     

Cadmium,chromium, and lead accumulation in aquatic plants and animals near a municipal landfill

This research was conducted to assess the contamination of heavy metals in the water, sediment, aquatic plants and animals around a municipal landfill. The heavy metals were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The concentrations of cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), and lead (Pb) in water and sediment were Not detected (ND), 0.05 ± 0.98, and 0.02 ± 0.01 mg/L; and 0.47 ± 0.23, 18.65 ± 11.39, and 5.36 ± 2.08 mg/kg, respectively. A total of 24 aquatic plants from 4 species were collected from the municipal landfill. Cd concentrations in all plant species were within the standard, while Cr and Pb exceeded the standard. Forty-four fish from 4 species, 29 freshwater snails from 3 species, 10 freshwater prawns from 1 species, and 9 freshwater crabs from 1 species were collected. Cd and Cr concentrations in 2 species of fish samples exceeded the standard and Pb concentration in all fish species exceeded the standard. Cd and Pb concentrations in all freshwater snails were within the standard, except Cr. Meanwhile, Cd and Pb in freshwater prawns and snails were within the standard, except Cr. Five species of frogs were collected. Cd and Cr concentrations in 2 species exceeded the standard. Pb concentrations in all frog species exceeded the standard. The pattern of metal accumulation was fish > frogs > freshwater snails > freshwater prawns = freshwater crab (Cd), freshwater prawn > frogs > freshwater crab = freshwater snail > fish (Cr), and freshwater prawn > fish > frogs > freshwater snail > freshwater crab (Pb).     

Assessment of heavy metal induced stress responses in pea (Pisum sativum L.)

Exposure of plants to heavy metals severely affects their growth and physiological processes. Nevertheless, different plants show variable responses to different heavy metals, generally in a concentration-dependent manner. In this study, phytotoxic effects of cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co) and lead (Pb) applied as chlorides at concentration 500, 750, 1000 and 1250 ppm were evaluated on seed germination, early seedling growth and dry biomass of pea (Pisum sativum L.). A lower concentration (500 ppm) of Pb promoted seed germination but declined other growth parameters. Higher concentration had a phytotoxic influence on the pea. Cd and Co severely affected germination and seedling growth of pea resulting in complete failure of germination and seedling growth at higher metal concentration. Tolerance index (TI) calculated for seed germination and dry biomass indicated that tested plant had zero tolerance to 1250 ppm of Cd as well as 750 ppm and higher concentrations of Co. The order of heavy metals for their phytotoxic effects was Co > Cd > Pb. The study suggests that P. sativum is relatively tolerant to Pb but highly sensitive to Co and Cd.