Trace metal fractionation in water and sediments of an urban river stretch

Abstract

In this study, the fractionation and ecotoxic potential of Cr, Ni, Cu and Pb in water and sediments of the river Yamuna (Delhi stretch) is presented. The river water is used for various purposes such as irrigation, industrial, domestic and drinking. The investigations suggest that the availability of metals in water follows the sequence Ni>Cr>Pb>Cu whereas a different pattern (Pb>Cu>Ni>Cr) is observed in sediments. Statistically significant spatial variations are indicated by two-way ANOVA in different geochemical forms of the metals and physicochemical parameters of water and sediments of the river Yamuna. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggests a similar source for all four metals probably from the sewage from municipal drains. PCA also indicates some independent sources of Cu and Pb. The hot spots were identified using hierarchical cluster analysis considering bioavailable forms of the metals in water and sediments as objects and the sampling sites as variables. Risk assessment code analysis indicates that metals generally pose medium to high risk at different sites. However, at a few locations either Ni or Pb cross the level of very high ecological risk.     

淮河安徽段水及沉积物中重金属的研究

对采集淮河安徽段水及沉积物样品,利用ICP-AES进行重金属分析,结果表明砷、铅、铬超标,在沉积物中的含量最多。研究区域的重金属开始富集于生物体内,已对水生态系统及水产品安全产生影响,应进一步加强检测工作,以便及时采取相应防治对策。     

Temporal distribution,source apportionment,and pollution assessment of metals in the sediments of Beas river,India

Metal pollution in the fluvial sediments of the rivers has become a severe problem throughout the world. Lower valleys with agricultural land are usually receiving diverse contaminants from various sources that are characterized by constant, bioaccumulative and harmful contaminants. One example is of the Beas river (India) which shows the distribution, contamination, and pollution status of metals in the sediments. In the present study, a cluster analysis and principal component analysis were conducted to assess the impact of anthropogenic activities in sediment metals. Results of contamination factor indicate that there is low contamination, whereas enrichment factor showed that 28.5% metals showed significant pollution during pre-monsoon season, 42.8% metals showed moderate to high pollution during post-monsoon season, and 42.8% metals showed moderate to extreme pollution during the winter season. Pollution index and modified pollution index showed that sediments in the winter season are slightly and critically polluted. The ecological risk factors indicate that 23.8% metals posed moderate to high ecological risk in the sediments.     

Geochemical distribution of heavy metals in sediments from sewage fed fish ponds from Kolkata Wetlands,India

Abstract

Kolkata wetlands are the largest sewage fed wetlands in the world. They have been used for aquaculture since 1960. Geochemical distribution of heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Ni and Al) has been studied in surface sediments using single and sequential extractions techniques. The metal concentrations in sediments were in the following order: Fe>Al> Mn>Zn>Cu> Pb>Cr> Ni, and the average concentrations were 29 μg g^?1, 54 μg g^?1, 328 μg g^?1, 32747 μg g^?1, 169 μg g^?1, 38 μg g^?1, 25 μg g^?1 and 23371 μg g^?1 dry weights for Cr, Cu, Mn, Fe, Zn, Pb, Ni and Al, respectively. Water-soluble percentages of the trace elements are quite low (<0.01–3.75%) but in the presence of chelating agents in the sediments increase the bioavailability of trace elements (2–58%). About 40% of trace elements are in the stable form as a residual fraction of the sediment and more than 50% (nonresidual fraction) metal contamination of the Kolkata wetland sediments were from anthropogenic inputs. The contamination risks of Cr, Mn, Zn, Pb, and Ni are high as their potential availabilities are 70.96%, 58.01%, 63.13%, 55.62%, and 52.15% respectively. The mean concentration of most of the heavy metals in sediments does not exceed the recommended reference values. Zinc and lead concentrations were greater than background level and Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines but lower than Probable Effect Level. Therefore a regular program for monitoring the distribution of heavy metals in water, sediments and biota should be imposed on sewage fed fish ponds of the Kolkata wetland ecosystem.     

Habitat use by a Midwestern U.S.A. riverine fish assemblage: effects of season, water temperature and river discharge

The hypothesis that temperate stream fishes alter habitat use in response to changing water temperature and stream discharge was evaluated over a 1 year period in the Neosho River, Kansas, U.S.A. at two spatial scales. Winter patterns differed from those of all other seasons, with shallower water used less frequently, and low‐flow habitat more frequently, than at other times. Non‐random habitat use was more frequent at the point scale (4·5 m²) than at the larger reach scale (20–40 m), although patterns at both scales were similar. Relative to available habitats, assemblages used shallower, swifter‐flowing water as temperature increased, and shallower, slower‐flowing water as river discharge increased. River discharge had a stronger effect on assemblage habitat use than water temperature. Proportion of juveniles in the assemblage did not have a significant effect. This study suggests that many riverine fishes shift habitats in response to changing environmental conditions, and supports, at the assemblage level, the paradigm of lotic fishes switching from shallower, high‐velocity habitats in summer to deeper, low‐velocity habitats in winter, and of using shallower, low‐velocity habitats during periods of high discharge. Results also indicate that different species within temperate river fish assemblages show similar habitat use patterns at multiple scales in response to environmental gradients, but that non‐random use of available habitats is more frequent at small scales.     

Human hair colonizing fungi in water sediments of India

Out of 144 samples of water sediments, 183 isolates belonging to 9 genera and 22 species were isolated. Fifty-nine isolates of Acremonium, 26 of Chrysosporium indicum, 22 of Chrysosporium keratinophilum, 17 of Malbranchea sp. and 10 of Microsporum gypseum were recovered. Acremonium implicatum, Chrysosporium georgii, Chrysosporium xerophilum and Geomyces pannorum were reported for the first time from India. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

上海市崇明岛城镇河流沉积物重金属累积与环境风险

小城镇河流沉积物重金属累积状况间接指示了河流水环境质量现状,研究河流沉积物重金属累积水平与环境风险具有重要的现实意义.对上海市崇明岛崇南分区3个典型城镇(城桥镇、堡镇、陈家镇)河流沉积物重金属累积特征进行了研究.结果表明,3个城镇河流沉积物中Zn、Cr、Cu、Pb和Cd平均含量分别为：城桥镇103.1、79.2、39.0、29.7和0.300 mg·kg^-1;堡镇99.0、104.0、50.5、32.7和0.308 mg·kg^-1;陈家镇86.7、79.5、32.2、30.5和0.274 mg·kg^-1;崇南分区94.72、81.35、38.52、30.78和0.297 mg·kg^-1.用地累积指数法(I_geo)对沉积物重金属进行的环境风险评估结果为：崇明3个城镇河流沉积物重金属均为低-中等环境风险,其中3个城镇达到中等环境风险的概率为城桥镇>堡镇>陈家镇.     

The determination of heavy metals in water,suspended materials and sediments from Langat River,Malaysia

The distributions of heavy metals in the Langat River were studied for a period of six months between September 1984 and February 1985. Heavy metals such as arsenic, cadmium, cerium, cobalt, chromium, caesium, lanthanum, rubidium, antimony, scandium, thorium and zinc were determined in water, suspended materials and sediment samples from the Langat River by neutron activation and atomic absorption spectrometry. The concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, cerium, cobalt, scandium, antimony, and zinc were generally highest in the suspended materials, whereas the concentrations of chromium, rubidium and thorium were always highest in the sediments: Arsenic concentrations in the river were slightly higher than the natural concentration, while other elements were generally at their natural concentration levels. The use of arsenical herbicides in plantations along the river could be a source of arsenic pollution.     

有机物和重金属复合污染水体的修复植物筛选及修复性能

通过植物的采集、培育和选种,获得了海芋、合果芋、蜘蛛兰和密穗砖子苗等4种同时具备去碳、脱氮、除磷和积累重金属的高效修复植物,并对这些植物修复污染水体的性能进行了研究.结果表明,这4种植物均能有效地处理有机物和重金属复合污染水体.鲜重55-60g的植物,处理10LBOD₅、COD_Cr、TP、TN、Cu²⁺和Cr⁶⁺浓度分别为140、280、6,8、40、10和10mg·L^-1的模拟水样14d后,上述指标的去除率分别高达80%、72%、64%、53%、75%和68%以上,植物的促进作用分别为32%、27%、27%、28%、37%和19%以上.处理后水样的pH和DO分别为6.63～7.63和3.02～3.84mg·L^-1.     

沈阳河水、地下水及沉积物中重金属的生态风险评价及来源辨析

对沈阳地区河流水体、沿岸地下水和表层沉积物中重金属进行了调查,并运用污染因子法及潜在生态风险指数法对污染程度进行评价。结果表明:河水中As的浓度为0.49～11.9μg.L-1,沈抚灌渠>蒲河>细河>浑河。Cd的浓度为0.01～0.66μg.L-1,细河>沈抚灌渠>浑河>蒲河。Zn浓度范围为1.0～115μg.L-1,最高浓度出现在沈抚灌渠。Pb、Cu、Cr平均浓度最高是在细河。浑河和蒲河河水中6种重金属的单因子污染指数及内梅罗指数都<1,未受污染;沈抚灌渠水中Zn和Cr的单因子污染指数和内梅罗指数都>1,为轻度污染;细河夏季内梅罗指数>1,为轻度污染。细河周边地区浅层地下水中Cd和Cr的污染较为严重,致使内梅罗指数都>1,甚至>2,污染水平为中等污染。深层地下水和水稻田水的所有污染指数均<1,未受污染。蒲河和浑河沉积物中6种重金属元素属低潜在生态风险。细河沉积物中Cd属较高潜在生态风险;Cu为中等潜在生态风险。污染来源大致分为3类:1)污水排放和固体废弃物;2)施用磷肥或粪肥;3)冶金、电镀和不锈钢产业的排放。     

Heavy metals contamination and accumulation in submerged macrophytes in an urban river in China

Deteriorating urban water quality has attracted considerable attention in China. We investigated the contamination levels and distribution of heavy metals (As, Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in Yuxi River water and sediments, and assessed the heavy metal accumulation capability of five species of submerged macrophytes: Vallisneria natans (Lour.) Hara, Potamogeton pectinatus L., Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle, Myriophyllum spicatum L., and Potamogeton crispus L. Samples were collected from upstream and downstream locations in different season. The results showed that the levels of heavy metals in the downstream areas were higher than in the upstream areas. Heavy metal concentrations in the river water during the dry seasons were higher than those during the rainy seasons, and the opposite results appeared in sediments and submerged macrophytes. In general, the river was slightly contaminated by heavy metals, and the concentrations of Pb and Ni in this river should serve as a warning, while Cd and Zn pollution in the sediments desperately needs to be removed. Furthermore, Potamogeton pectinatus L. showed a higher accumulation capacity for these metals among the five native submerged macrophytes and could be defined as a hyperaccumulator for Cd. Therefore, the potential use of native aquatic plants in contaminated rivers is worth further exploration.     

Transport of mercury by the Katun river,West Siberia

Some results of a 2-year study of mercury pollution of the Katun river (Siberia) are summarised. Measurements of water flow, sediment transport and mercury concentrations were made and used to calculate the amount of mercury transported by the river. The distribution of transport between water phase and suspended material is calculated. It is concluded that suspended sediments play the main role in this process. The significance of different fractions of suspended sediment is also discussed.     

Evaluation of three different types of nitrogen,heavy metals,and endocrine disruptors in water and sediments of Wenyu River

Concentrations of NO₃^?(nitrate), NO₂^?(nitrite), NH₄⁺(ammonia nitrogen), Mn, Fe, Ba, As, Se, Cd, Pb, Cr⁶⁺, estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), ethinylestradiol (EE2), estriol (E3), bisphenol A (BPA), nonylphenol (NP) and 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) had been estimated in water and sediments of Wenyu River. Using single factor, ecological risk assessment, geoaccumulation index, human health risk assessment and multivariate statistical analysis, we described the current situation of river contamination, human health risks of different age groups and possible sources of pollutants as well as their transformation characteristics. The results showed that main contaminants were NH₄⁺, NO₃^?, NO₂^?, EE2 and E3, E1 in water, while sediments have been slightly polluted by heavy metals, whose order of polluting degree is Zn>Cr⁶⁺>Cd>Cu. Residents in the study area are exposed to the risk, and EE2 made the greatest contribution to it. E1, As, and NO_3^- also affect negatively on the health of the residents, and NO_2^- only do harm to juveniles. Human activities and industrial production are main sources of contaminants, also they can transform into each other between water and sediments. Heavy metal ions can be easily precipitated by Ferric oxide or hydroxide, E2 and EE2 are also transformed into E3 in natural environment.     

Fractional phosphate composition in sediments from a tropical river (Catatumbo River, Venezuela)

The distribution of phosphate species in the Catatumbo River, Venezuela, was studied using a sequential extraction scheme. Extraction was performed using 1.0 M NH₄Cl, 0.1 M Na₂S₂O₄–NaHCO₃, 1.0 M NaOH and 0.5 M HCl. Total phosphate was in the range between 121 and 581 g g^–1 D.W. About 64% of the total phosphate is inorganic and present the following composition: 1% NH₄Cl-P, 10% BD-P, 20% NaOH-P, 33% HCl-P; while org-P is 36%. The main form of P in sediment from the Catatumbo River is calcium bound-P, like apatite. The metal concentrations present in sediment are in the following order: Fe> Al > Ca > Mg > Mn. Relationships between P and Fe, Al and Ca were found. Cluster analysis showed that speciation is not dependent on the inorganic matrix of the sediments. Analysing the influence of NaOH concentration and duration of the extraction invalidated the use of NaOH as extracting agent in P-speciation.     

The effects of heavy metals on microbial biomass in sediments of Palestine Lake

Effects of metal contamination on microbial biomass in sediment samples from three areas in Palestine Lake (one area highly polluted with chromium, cadmium and zinc) were determined. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) concentrations, determined by the luciferin-luciferase bioluminescent technique, and microbial colony numbers on pour plates were used as biomass indicators. Plate counts showed a significant (P < 0.01) site effect with the highly contaminated area having an order of magnitude lower microbial population than the control area. ATP concentrations also indicated lower microbial biomass in contaminated sediments. The metal concentrations of the most contaminated area averaged 17,840 µg Zn/g, 4380 µg Cr/g and 585 µg Cd/g based on dry weight of sediments. A suppression of organic decomposition was evident in the impacted area; high metal levels and resultant low microbial biomass may have been causative.     

南四湖典型入湖河流沉积物重金属污染特征与风险评价研究

以南四湖两条典型入湖河流为研究对象,分别对湖东的泗河及湖西的东鱼河沉积物中9种重金属(Cr、Ni、Zn、Cu、Pb、Hg、Cd、As、Mn)含量进行分析,最后采用多种方法解析重金属的来源并对其污染特征和生态风险进行评价.结果表明,两条河流沉积物中重金属均存在一定程度的富集,尤其是Hg、Zn、Cd富集最严重.泗河沉积物中...     

Heavy metals in water,sediments and invertebrates from a metal-contaminated river free of organic pollution

A study was made of water, sediments and invertebrates in the R. Derwent, North-East England, at one site above and three sites below a stream bringing in high concentrations of Zn, Cd and Pb derived from an active fluorspar mine. The mean concentrations of these metals in filtrable water at the unpolluted site were 0.020, <0.0003, 0.005 mg l^-1, respectively, while those at the first polluted site were 0.29, 0.0006, 0.016 mg l^-1. The benthic macroinvertebrate fauna was dominated by insects; all taxa present at the unpolluted site were represented at one or more of the polluted sites. In almost all cases the elevated concentrations of metals in water and sediments at polluted sites were paralleled by higher concentrations in animals. Significant positive correlations were demonstrated between metal concentrations in certain taxa and those in their environment e.g. Ecdyonurus venosus and aqueous Pb. Mayflies tended to concentrate Zn, Cd and Pb to higher levels than other groups. Comparison of carnivorous species with other taxa revealed no indication of increased metal concentrations at higher trophic levels.     

Distribution in space and time of Cladocera (Crustacea) in the alluvial sediments of the river Rhône (France)

Two stations in a polluted section of the Rhône River downstream of Lyon (France) were investigated during a five month' period. The samples (101 water and sediment) were taken by the Bou-Rouch method at 20, 50 and 100 cm depth in the sediments and at three different distances from the waterline. Twenty-six Cladocera species, belonging to five families were found. Most of them are known to live in the Rhône River system, as well in the surface water as in the underflow. Their community structure and the time and space distribution are described and discussed in relationship with other macroinvertebrate taxa and with the oxygen content of the pumped water.

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Zusammenfassung Zwei Probennahmestellen in einem stark verschmutzten Flußabschnitt der Rhône unterhalb von Lyon (Frankreich) wurden über einen Zeitraum von fünf Monaten untersucht. Die Proben (10 l Wasser und Feinsedimente) wurden mit einer Bou-Rouch-Pumpe in 20, 50 and 100 cm Tiefe im Kiesschotterbett und in drei verschiedenen Entfernungen vom Rhôneufer entnommen. Sechsundzwanzig Cladoceren-Arten aus fünf Familien wurden gefunden. Ihre Faunenzusammensetzung und die räumliche und zeitliche Verteilung wurden beschrieben und im Vergleich zu anderen gefundenen Macroinvertebraten-Taxa und zum Sauerstoffgehalt des Interstitial-Wassers diskutiert.

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Résumé Deux stations dans une zone polluée du Rhône en aval de Lyon (France) ont été étudiées pendant une période de cinq mois. Les échantillons (10 l d'eau et de sédiment) ont été pris avec la méthode selon Bou et Rouch à des profondeurs de 20, 50 et 100 cm dans les sédiments et à trois distances différentes du bord de l'eau. Vingt-six espèces de Cladocères appartenant à cinq familles ont été trouvées. La plupart d'entre elles sont déjà connues dans l'hydrosystème du Rhône, aussi bien en surface que dans le sous-écoulement. Leur structure de peuplement et leur distribution spatio-temporelle sont décrites et discutées en relation avec les autres taxons de macroinvertébrés trouvés trouvés et avec la concentration en oxygène de l'eau interstitielle.

     

Heavy metals in Lake George, Uganda, with relation to metal concentrations in tissues of common fish species

The northern end of Lake George, Uganda, and its associated wetlands receive localized metal pollution from a former copper mine and tailings left after metal extraction. The aim of this study was to determine (i) whether the heavy metals are a threat to the biology of the major commercial fish species and (ii) whether consumption of the fish threatens human health. Concentrations of copper, zinc, cobalt and nickel in detrital sediments, plankton, and five fish species from sites in Lake George, the Kazinga Channel and Lake Edward (which are inter-connected) were determined using atomic absorption spectroscopy. The detrital sediments of Hamukungu Bay, Lake George, had average concentrations (g/g dry weight) of 96.3 zinc, 270.4 copper, 57.4 cobalt and 42.8 nickel. There were no significant differences between the Hamukungu Bay and the North Lake George site of Bushatu: both receive inflows from the mining activities. Concentrations of copper and zinc were significantly higher than background values from unpolluted freshwater ecosystems. Plankton samples showed a metal concentration gradient consistent with a gradient from the source of pollution in northern Lake George, along the Kazinga Channel to Lake Edward. The liver tissues of fish had markedly higher concentrations of copper and zinc than flesh. Concentrations of cobalt and nickel were relatively low. The highest mean concentrations of metals in liver tissue occurred in Oreochromis leucostictus (189.0 g/g Cu) and Bagrus docmac (187.5 g/g Zn) whilst the lowest occurred in Oreochromis niloticus (15.3 g/g and 78.2 g/g dry weight copper and zinc, respectively). However, O. niloticus contained the highest concentrations of cobalt (11.2 g/g) and nickel (3.8 g/g). Liver Somatic Indices (LSI) of the fish species from the different sites indicated a reduction of LSI in those fish from the most contaminated zones of northern Lake George compared with all other sites. This suggests there could be anatomical and physiological abnormalities linked to the heavy metal pollution. The flesh had only low concentrations of metals; well within international guidelines for consumption. A person would have to consume 9 kg of fresh flesh of Clarias sp. and 65 kg of O. leucostictus daily to exceed the WHO recommended intake for copper, and even more for other metals. This implies that currently metal pollution in Lake George presents an ecological rather than a human health concern.     

Heavy metals in surface sediments of lakes in Guangzhou public parks in China and their relations with anthropogenic activities and urbanization

This study aimed to investigate the pollution of heavy metals in the sediments of park lakes in Guangzhou, which is a large city with rapid urbanization, industrialization, and dense population in South China. Thirty-two surface sediment samples were collected from seven lakes in different districts of this city. The concentrations and distributions of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb were measured to assess the level of enrichment and toxicity in the sediments. The enrichment factor showed that Pb and Zn showed severe enrichment in all lakes except for the Dafu Shan Forest Park (DFS), and the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) showed that all lakes were polluted with Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, and Zn in different levels. The results of risk assessment indicated that the DFS located in the suburbs represented moderate risks; however, other lakes in the city central represented high or very high risks. Moreover, Cd had the primary contribution to the risk of the sediments' environment in urban lakes. Multivariate statistical analyses are carried out to explore the correlativity between heavy metals and human development indices. This study indicated that the levels of heavy metals' contamination and ecological risk of urban lakes in Guangzhou have a close relationship with anthropogenic activities.