Assessment of Toxic Metal Contamination of Bottom Sediments in Water Bodies in Urban Areas

A study was carried out on 20 water bodies of the same origin in southern Poland. The study objectives included the assessment of toxic metal contamination in the bottom sediments of the water bodies in comparison with the geochemical background and sediments found in the substrate (i.e., vicinity) of the water bodies (i.e., the formations present in the surroundings of the water body itself), thus demonstrating the scale of anthropogenic enrichment of bottom sediments with toxic metals and assessing the cumulative impact on water bodies. The following amounts of toxic metals were found in the bottom sediments of the water bodies examined: 181.7–35200.0 ppm for zinc, 33.3–1648.8 ppm for lead, 1.8–359 ppm for cadmium, 14.0–271.5 ppm for copper, 45.3–167.5 ppm for chromium, and 12–128.5 ppm for nickel. Ratios of the values measured to the geochemical background were as follows: 0.7–135.9 (Zn), 0.6–53.0 (Pb), 0.7–143.6 (Cd), 0.9–18.1 (Cu), 5.0–18.6 (Cr), 1.1–11.7 (Ni).     

Heavy Metal Contents in Tissues of Dominant Species of the Benthos and in Bottom Sediments of Zolotoi Rog Bay, Sea of Japan

Data on heavy metal contents in polychaetes and free-living nematodes inhabiting the bottom sediments of Zolotoi Rog Bay near the port of Vladivostok are reported. Chronically high contents of heavy metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, and Cd) were found in the bottom sediments and in the infauna. The levels of some toxic elements in tissues of the polychaete Dorvillea (Schistomeringos) japonica inhabiting polluted sediments of Zolotoi Rog Bay were higher than in worms of this species from relatively clean areas of the Sea of Japan. Similar high concentrations of Fe were found in the polychaete Capitella capitata and the nematode Oncholaimium ramosum. The highest concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, and Cd were found in tissues of the free-living nematode O. ramosum. Chronic heavy pollution of the bottom sediments leads to a decrease in the biodiversity of the infauna and to specific metal-tolerant communities.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Davydkova, Fadeeva, Kovekovdova, Fadeev.     

Accumulation of Four Metals in Tissues of Corchorus olitorius and Possible Mechanisms of Their Tolerance

Corchorus olitorius plants treated by 5 μg cm⁻³ of Cd, Pb, Al or Cu in hydroponic culture accumulated in leaves 190, 150, 350 and 325 μg g⁻¹(d.m.) of these metals, respectively, after 6 d of exposure. Exposure of Corchorus plants to tested metals resulted in a sharp rise in content of amino acids in leaf tissues, however the magnitude of accumulation was different from one metal to another. Presence of sulphur in the growth medium significantly increased uptake of Cd and Pb and cysteine (cyst) was more effective than K₂SO₄. Similarly, addition of salicylic acid (SA) in the growth medium significantly enhanced the ability of Corchorus plants to accumulate all these metals. Growth of Corchorus plants was significantly reduced by treatment with any of the four metals except Cu and added cyst, K₂SO₄ or SA alleviated the growth retarding effect of metals. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Accumulation of Heavy Metals in Water,Sediments and Wetland Plants of Kizilirmak Delta (Samsun,Turkey)

In this study, concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Ni, Co, Zn, Cu, and Pb) were measured in water bodies including streams, bottom sediments and various wetland plants of K?z?l?rmak Delta. K?z?l?rmak Delta is one of the largest and the most important natural wetlands in Turkey and has been protected by Ramsar convention since 1993. The heavy metal concentrations in water were found lower than that of national standards for protected lakes and reserves. In bottom sediments and wetland plants, however, the accumulated amounts of different heavy metals varied in the following order: Fe>Mn>Zn>Ni>Co>Cu>Pb, and Fe>Mn>Zn>Ni>Co respectively. Heavy metal uptake of Hydrocharis morsus-ranae and Myriophyllum verticillatum plants among others were found far above the toxic levels and they might be used as bio-indicators and heavy metal accumulators in polluted natural areas.     

Heavy Metal Partitioning in Bottom Sediments of the Matanza-Riachuelo River and Main Tributary Streams

This study provides geochemical partitioning, potential bioavailability, and enrichment of Cd, Cu, Pb, and Zn in bottom sediments collected from the Matanza-Riachuelo River and its main tributary streams. A modified Tessier sequential extraction procedure, complemented with acid volatile sulfide (AVS) and simultaneous extracted metals (SEM) measurements, was applied to determine the partitioning of metals into four fractions (metals bound to amorphous sulfide, carbonate, and exchangeable), bound to Fe/Mn oxides (reducible), bound to organic matter/sulfide (oxidizable) and residual. Spatial and vertical distributions of metals were studied. The core sediments show a decreasing concentration of metals with depth. In top sediments, non-residual Cu was mainly associated with oxidizable phase, whereas Pb, Cd, and Zn were mainly associated with amorphous sulfide. Pb exhibited the highest enrichment in all sites. The ratio AVS/SEM was greater than one at sediment sections close to the water column, indicating that metals extracted with hydrochloric acid were mainly associated with the amorphous sulfide. The strong influence of amorphous sulfide in the retention of Cd, Pb, and Zn in anoxic sediments of Matanza-Riachuelo river system suggests that dredging and aeration could lead to the remobilization of metals from sediments to the water column, hence making the metals more available to the biota.     

Effects of Cadmium and Mixed Heavy Metals on Rice Growth in Liaoning,China

Joint effects of Cd and other heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn and As) on the growth and development of rice plants and the uptake of these heavy metals by rice were studied using the pot-culture method combined with chemical and statistical analyses. The results showed that the growth and development of rice plants were strongly influenced by the double-element combined pollution. There was an average decrease in the height of rice plants of 4.0–5.0 cm, and grain yield was decreased by 20.0–30.0%, compared with the control. The uptake of Cd by rice plants was promoted due to the interactions between Cd and the other heavy metals added to the soil. The Cd concentration in roots, stems/leaves and seeds increased 31.6–47.7, 16.7–61.5 and 19.6–78.6%, respectively. Due to interactions, uptake of Pb, Cu and Zn by roots and stems/leaves was inhibited, accumulation of Pb, Cu and Zn in seeds was increased, uptake of As by roots was promoted and uptake of As by stems/leaves was inhibited. In particular, the upward transporting ability of the heavy metals absorbed by rice plants was significantly increased.     

Changes in the Microelement Composition in Organs and Tissues of the Bivalve <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crenomytilus grayanus</Emphasis> Acclimatized in a Biotope with Long-Term Heavy Metal Contamination

This paper deals with changes in the Fe, Zn, Cu, Cd, Mn, Pb, and Ni concentration in the muscle, gonad, mantle, gills, digestive gland, and kidneys of Gray mussels transplanted from two sites differing in the extent of metal contamination to a biotope with the impact from anthropogenic conditions in the course of their acclimatization. The rate of metal accumulation depended on the initial element concentration in the mussel organs. An abrupt change in the metal concentration in the environment was followed by a disturbance in the microelement balance in some organs. The microelement metabolism was shown to depend on mussel preadaptation to a changeable environment.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Biologiya Morya, Kavun, Shulkin.     

Sources and Contamination of Heavy Metals in Sediments of Kabul River: The Role of Organic Matter in Metals Retention and Accumulation

In this study, sediment samples were collected from Kabul River (Pakistan) and analyzed for heavy metals including zinc (Zn), cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb). The physico-chemical characteristics were also determined which are known to influence the metal accumulation within the sediment matrix. Heavy metal concentrations (mg kg^?1, dry weight basis) in the sediment were in the order of Zn > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Heavy metal concentrations were found in moderately polluted category set by U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). However, Cr and Ni concentrations exceeded the screening levels at the sites where a larger volume of industrial effluents enter into Kabul River. Higher concentrations of almost all the tested metals were detected at locations of greater industrial and sewage entry points. Sediment organic matter (OM) exhibited strong correlation with Pb (R² = 0.80), Ni (R² = 0.67) and Zn (R² = 0.46), indicating that OM plays a significant role in metal retention and accumulation. The findings of this study showed that Kabul River is reasonably contaminated with selected heavy metals released from anthropogenic sources. In the study area, sewage discharge was the major source of heavy metals including Zn and Pb, which were observed at locations where sewage effluents enter into the river.     

Heavy Metal Accumulation and Distribution in Organs of the Mussel Crenomytilus grayanus from Upwelling Areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan

The subcellular and cytosolic distribution of Zn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Mn, Cd, and Pb in the digestive gland and kidney of the mussel Crenomytilus grayanus from upwelling areas of the Sea of Okhotsk and the Sea of Japan was studied. Cd, Zn, Pb, and Ni have accumulated in the kidneys of mussels from these areas. When the concentrations of both essential and toxic metals in the mussel organs had increased significantly, their redistribution into the cytosol took place. Gel chromatography of cytosolic proteins in the kidneys of mussels sampled in the area with a strong stationary upwelling revealed metallothioneins. This is uncommon for bivalve mollusks from unpolluted areas. High molecular weight proteins act as preliminary ligands for Cd.     

Effect of Increasing Concentrations of Heavy Metals on the Growth of Barley and Wheat Seedlings

The tolerance to increasing doses of lead and cadmium salts on the growth and survival of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) seedlings were studied. Seedlings grown under controlled conditions were treated with dilute (0.001–0.005 mM) solutions of either lead nitrate or cadmium bromide for 1, 4, or 7 days. Subsequently, they were incubated for 7 days in solutions of the same compounds, but at sublethal or lethal concentrations (0.05–10 mM). Plant pretreatment with low concentrations of heavy metals induced an increase in their tolerance to the metals, because pretreated plants could tolerate heavy metals at high concentrations. It is concluded that plant tolerance to increasing concentrations of heavy metals is related to the activation of protective and adaptive processes in their tissues.     

Organochlorine,Organophosphoric and Organotin Contaminants,Aromatic and Aliphatic Hydrocarbons and Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Ports from the Polish Part of the Vistula Lagoon (Baltic Sea)

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic and petroleum hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, organochlorine and organophosphoric pesticides, tributyltin and metals were determined in sediments of the approach fairways to the main ports in the Polish part of the Vistula Lagoon and of the Elbl?g River. Analyzed sediments contained low concentrations of all contaminants, except petroleum hydrocarbons. The average petroleum hydrocarbons’ (PHCs) concentration was 630 mg kg^?1, indicating significant pollution with petroleum hydrocarbons. The highest concentrations of analyzed contaminants were identified in the vicinity of Elbl?g, part of the Vistula Lagoon under the most anthropogenic pressure.     

Assessment of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Urban Soil around Potash Industrial Site in the East of the Dead Sea and their Environmental Risks

The aim of this study was to assess the extent and severity of metal contamination of soils in the east of the Dead Sea, southwestern Jordan. This area was affected by a potash plant and intensive agricultural production. The samples were obtained at two depths, 0–10 cm and 10–20 cm, and were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for Cu, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cd, and Cr. Physicochemical parameters that are expected to affect the mobility of metals in the soil such as pH, TOM, CaCO₃, CEC, and conductivity were determined. The relatively high concentrations of metals in soils of the studied area were related to anthropogenic sources such as the potash industry, agricultural activities, and traffic emissions. The mean concentrations of the metals were of the order: C_Fe > C_Pb > C_Zn > C_Cr > C_Mn > C_Cu and C_Cd where C is the concentration of these metals in solution. Heavy metals such as Zn, Cd, and Pb showed higher concentrations in the area that is closer to the potash plant, while Cr concentration was low. These metals were concentrated in the soil surface and decreased in the lower part of soil due to their mobility, movement and physicochemical properties, and alkaline pH. Metals of anthropogenic origin, including Cd, Pb, and Zn, were highly enriched with respect to crustal composition. The non-clay minerals of the sand-sized fraction are composed mainly of quartz and calcite as major minerals, with dolomite and feldspar as minor minerals. Factor analysis revealed three groups of elements that differ in their distribution. The first of these components is unpolluted soil, which was distributed in the study area. The second is the polluted soil, which occurs mostly around the potash plant and Ghore El-Safi area. The third factor represents the physicochemical sources, and is not significant.     

Rates of Microbial Production and Oxidation of Methane in the Bottom Sediments and Water Column of the Black Sea

Rates of biogeochemical (microbial) processes of methane production and methane oxidation were determined in the bottom sediments and water column of the Black Sea. Aerobic bacterial oxidation of methane was confined to the upper 20–30 cm of Holocene bottom sediments of the shelf (0.7–259 ng C/(dm³ day)) and to oxygenated waters (0.2–45 ng C/(dm³ day)). In reduced sediments of the deep-sea zone and in the hydrogen sulfide–containing water column, considerable rates of anaerobic methane oxidation were recorded, comparable to or exceeding the rates of methane oxidation in oxygenated layers. From one-fourth to one-half of the methane formed in bottom sediments was oxidized immediately therein. The major part of the remaining methane was oxidized in the water column, and a smaller portion arrived in the atmosphere.     

Long-Term Variation of Polychaete Bioerosion of the Scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis from the Northwest Part of the Sea of Japan

The bioerosion of shells of the Japanese scallop Mizuhopecten yessoensis by endolithic organisms over the last few decades and millenia in areas close to the main sources of organic pollution in Peter the Great Bay was studied. It was established that the occurrence of Japanese scallop shells damaged by borers increased over 2500 years practically from 0 up to 96% in the northern part of the bay at Mys Peschany Cape, which is subject to the impact of the Pazdol'naya River drain. The bioerosion of the Japanese scallop shells has increased considerably over the last two decades in the coastal zone, near the center of the city of Vladivostok, at one of the main sources of the city's wastewater discharge. Thus, in 4-year old individuals 33.0 ± 2.9% of upper valves were eroded on average in 1982; in 1998 it was already 68.3 ± 6.4%. In Reinike strait, that is, at some distance from the mouth of Razdol'naya River and from the main discharge sources of polluted waters of Vladivostok, the shells of the Japanese scallop were eroded to a lesser extent than in the population from the coastal region near the city. However, a significant increase in the degree of bioerosion of the scallop shells was observed over one-and-a-half decades: in 1987 in 4-year scallops 2.3 ± 0.3% of the area of the upper valve was eroded on average, and in 1999 that parameter increased and became 32.6 ± 3.4%. In the western part of Peter the Great Bay near Furugelm Island, which is located 20 km away from the mouth of the Tumannaya River, the degree of bioerosion of scallop shells had also increased significantly over the last 30 years. The increase in the degree of bioerosion of the shell is connected to a gradual increase in the content of organic substances in the bottom sediments. This is a factor favorable for the development of bacteria and phytoplankton, which is a food source for polychaetes—the basic shell boring symbionts of the Japanese scallop.     

The Concentration and Partitioning of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments of the Maharlu Lake,SW Iran

In this study, an assessment is made of the environmental impacts of heavy metal concentration and fractionation in bed sediments of the saline Maharlu Lake, SW Iran. Total elemental analysis indicated that sediments were highly enriched in Pb and Cd. Sequential extraction analysis revealed that salt of the lake is probably highly contaminated with Cd, Pb, and Co. Due to the oxidizing conditions of the lake, the organic matter fraction of the elements was not significant. In all sediments, Cd, Pb, Co, Mn, and Zn were strongly associated with exchangeable plus carbonate fractions, with mean percentage of 76.4%, 65.3%, 56%, 40.9%, and 34.3%, respectively. On average, the percentage of Ni associated with the sum of the exchangeable and carbonate fractions was 19.8%. Cr, Fe, and Cu fractionation indicated that these metals are environmentally inert and immobile. Statistical relationships among metal fractions and sediment properties showed that Cd, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, and Mn were mainly from recent anthropogenic sources, while such sources were less important for Cr, Cu, and Fe. The latter metals represented natural geochemical levels.     

Distribution of metals during digestion by cutthroat trout fed benthic invertebrates contaminated in the Clark Fork River, Montana and the Coeur d'Alene River, Idaho, U.S.A., and fed artificially contaminated Artemia

The concentrations of essential amino acids in three, undigested invertebrate diets collected from the Clark Fork River (CFR) for cutthroat trout were similar to each other, but were c. 25–75% less than Artemia that were exposed to a mixture of arsenic, copper, cadmium, lead and zinc in the laboratory. The Artemia diet appeared less palatable and the texture, quantity and appearance of the intestinal contents differed between fish fed the Artemia and CFR diets. The Pb% in the fluid fraction of the intestinal contents was greater for the Artemia (29%) than for the CFR diets (10–17%), and the Cu% in the amino acid plus metal fraction of the intestinal contents was greater for the Artemia (78%) than for two of the three CFR diets (67% and 70%). Intestinal contents of fish fed invertebrate diets collected from various sites on the Coeur d'Alene River (CDA), Idaho, were similar in texture, quantity, and appearance. For fish fed the CDA diets, differences in the distribution of metals among fractions of the digestive fluids appeared to be related to concentrations of metals in the invertebrate diets. Pb% was lowest of all metals in the fluid portion of the intestinal contents. However, >80% of all metals in the hind gut were associated with the particulate fraction where they may still be available for uptake through pinocytosis.     

Cd—Pb复合胁迫对革叶耳蕨和黑足鳞毛蕨保护酶活性的影响

本试验研究了鳞毛蕨科两种植物革叶耳蕨（Polystichum neolobatum）和黑足鳞毛蕨（Dryopteris fuscipes）在不同浓度Cd-Pb复合胁迫下保护酶活性的变化。结果表明,革叶耳蕨POD、SOD、CAT活性与处理浓度呈正相关趋势,即随着处理浓度升高,酶活性明显升高;黑足鳞毛蕨POD、SOD及CAT活性表现出在高浓度（600＋1200 mg/kg）处理下受抑制,而在低、中浓度（200＋400 mg/kg、400＋800 mg/kg）处理下表现为促进作用。     

Effects of EDTA and EDDS on Heavy Metal Activation and Accumulation of Metals by Soybean in Alkaline Soil

The application of chelating agents for phytoextraction has demonstrated that it is an efficient method to activate heavy metals in polluted soil. We conducted pot experiments using soybean, which has been considered an indicator plant, to study the effects of EDTA and EDDS on heavy metals’ activation, and on the soybean. The study results indicated that EDDS decreased the chlorophyll content of the leaves and increased the malondialdehyde (MDA) content of the soybean. EDTA also decreased the chlorophyll content of the leaves. EDDS had a strong influence on activating Cu (2583-8900-fold) and Zn. The addition of 5 mmol kg^?1 of EDDS markedly increased the uptake of metals. Compared with the control, EDDS increased the Cu uptake (100-205-fold). EDTA greatly increased the activation of heavy metals; it also increased Cu uptake in a concentration-dependent manner. EDTA also increased the biological concentration factor (BCF) and the transfer factor (TF) in a concentration-dependent manner. The BCF and the TF reached maximum levels when 5 mmol kg^?1 EDDS was applied to the pots.     

Cd-Pb复合胁迫对革叶耳蕨和黑足鳞毛蕨保护酶活性的影响

本试验研究了鳞毛蕨科两种植物革叶耳蕨(Polystichum neolobatum)和黑足鳞毛蕨(Dryopteris fuscipes)在不同浓度Cd-Pb复合胁迫下保护酶活性的变化。结果表明,革叶耳蕨POD、SOD、CAT活性与处理浓度呈正相关趋势,即随着处理浓度升高,酶活性明显升高;黑足鳞毛蕨POD、SOD及CAT活性表现出在高浓度(600+1200 mg/kg)处理下受抑制,而在低、中浓度(200+400 mg/kg、400+800 mg/kg)处理下表现为促进作用。     

The Effect of Sediment Type and pH-Adjustment on the Porewater Chemistry of Copper- and Zinc-Spiked Sediments

The spiking of metals into sediments lowers pH, raises the oxidative state, and exacerbates the partitioning of Fe, Mn, and spiked metal to the porewater. This study reports the geochemical response of three sediments of varying metal-binding capacity to Cu-/Zn-additions and the influence of pH-adjustment on the major metal-partitioning processes. The increase in redox potential and porewater metal concentrations observed in metal-spiked sediment was minimized by sediment neutralization to pH 7 irrespective of sediment type. In the presence of minimal sulfide concentrations, porewater metal concentrations suggested a greater affinity of copper for organic carbon than zinc, which was thought more dependent on iron oxyhydroxide phases. The amount of iron in the porewater of metal-spiked pH adjusted sediment was, in turn, affected by the type and concentration of spiked metal in the porewater. Increasing porewater concentrations of copper and zinc corresponded to decreasing and increasing porewater iron concentrations, respectively. Porewater copper appeared to act as a toxicant of Fe(III) reducing bacteria, while porewater zinc is thought to have had a stimulatory effect. The present study provides further insight on geochemical changes occurring to metal-spiked sediments and their implications for the interpretation of toxicity tests.