Distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in river surface sediments of middle reach of Xijiang River basin,China

Xijiang River is the main surface water source in Guangxi province, South China. This study was carried out to investigate the distribution and potential ecological risks of seven heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Cd, Ni, and Cr) in surface sediments in Xijiang River basin. The results illustrated that the average concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, As, Ni, and Cr were 483.9, 207.5, 13.35, 23.50, 312.1, 28.75, and 50.62 mg/kg, respectively. Among them, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As were the major heave metals with concentration exceeding Class 3 threshold value of Chinese national standard. The result also showed samples with high ecological risk were mainly located in the upstream of Xijiang River basin as Diaojiang River, Hongshui River, Jincheng River, and Dahuan River. Based on the pollution risk assessment, the area manifested composite pollution of heavy metals in the sediments, signifying As, Pb, and Cd as the dominant heavy metals, and there were high ecological risk in sediments for these metals. According to correlation matrix and factor analysis (FA), the seven heavy metals were divided into three types/classes, Cd, as and Zn attributed by anthropogenic sources, natural sources corresponds for Ni and Cr while both natural and anthropogenic sources were attributed to Cu.     

The National Distribution Pattern and Factors Affecting Heavy Metals in Sediments of Water Systems in China

Heavy metal discharge has become one of the most serious environmental problems due to extensive industrialization. Sixty eight sediment samples from four wetlands were collected to analyze the regional factors affecting metal deposition. Meanwhile, a national sediment data collection based on relevant publications was developed covering the period from 2000 to 2016 to study the metal distribution in China. Principal metals assessed in this study are Cr, Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, and Ni. At regional scale, the accumulation of Pb and Cd is significantly higher in surface than in subsurface sediments. At the national scale, heavy metals tend to increase with the increase in precipitation from 600 to 1500 mm. Further, metal deposition in the main river basins in China shows an increase trend from northern to southern China, and follows the order of: Pearl River > Yangste River > Yellow River > Hai River and Liao River. Cluster analyses show that these river basins contribute a large proportion of heavy metals to coastal metal deposition, which follows the order of: South Sea > East Sea > Bohai Sea > Yellow Sea. In general, metal deposition in sediments of water systems increases from northern to southern China irrespective of in-land area or coastal seas.     

Metal concentrations in Sargassum algae from coastal waters of Nha Trang Bay (South China Sea)

The concentrations of metals, viz., Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, and Ni, were investigated in brown algae of the genus Sargassum collected in the coastal waters of Nha Trang Bay (South China Sea). Metal concentrations in algae growing in the zone of influence of the city of Nha Trang were higher than those in macrophytes collected to the south and north of the city. Similar levels of Cu and Fe concentrations were observed in macrophytes from the urbanized coastal areas of Nha Trang Bay and in algae from the Peter the Great Bay (Sea of Japan). This is suggestive of comparable metal inputs from the anthropogenic sources of the cities of Nha Trang and Vladivostok (Peter the Great Bay). However, the concentrations of Pb, Ni, and Cd in algae from the coastal waters of Nha Trang Bay were lower than in macrophytes from the inshore zone of Vladivostok. The high level of pollution of sea water with Zn compounds near Nha Trang was local. The metal levels in macrophytes from background areas reflect the geochemical features of the environment. Sargassum algae from Nha Trang Bay had lower concentrations of Zn, Cd, and Ni and higher concentrations of Mn than algae from Peter the Great Bay. The background concentrations of Cu, Pb, and Fe in macrophytes from both bays were virtually the same.     

Dust as a Nutrient Source for Fynbos Ecosystems,South Africa

Abstract Fynbos is the main vegetation of the Cape Floristic Region, a biodiversity hotspot that occurs in southwestern South Africa. A major question concerning the fynbos ecosystem is how it supports abundant and diverse vegetation on soils derived from nutrient-poor bedrock. In addition to marine aerosols (recycled sea salts), geochemical analyses reported here suggest that dust (aeolian) deposition represents a significant source of nutrients (for example, K, Ca and Zn) to the fynbos ecosystem. Headwater portions of the Boontjies River sub-catchment near the Cederberg Mountains support mountain fynbos communities that are entirely underlain by the Peninsula Formation, a quartz arenite with greater than 98 wt% SiO₂. Fynbos soils in these areas are composed of quartzose sand with 3–6 wt% kaolinitic clay and 1–2 wt% organic carbon. The minor amount of feldspar and mica minerals in the bedrock (0.5 wt% Al₂O₃) suggests an aeolian source for much of the clay minerals in the soil. The isotope composition of soluble Pb and Sr from fynbos vegetation and soils indicates a mixture of anthropogenic and terrigenous sources, most likely from washout of combusted petrol and dust from the arid interior particularly in association with Berg Wind events. Approximate mass balance calculations indicate that washout of aerosols provides an important source of nutrients such as Ca, K, P, Fe, Mn and Zn which the fynbos ecosystem is highly effective in retaining.     

赣江上游沉积物重金属空间分布及污染特征

为了解赣江上游表层沉积物重金属污染特征,采集赣江上游38个样品,采用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS,Agilent 8800)分析沉积物中重金属含量,结合内梅罗综合污染指数法、地累积指数法、主成分分析及沉积物质量基准等研究赣江上游沉积物中重金属污染程度,分析污染物可能的来源及评价其存在的生态风险。结果表明:赣江上游沉积物中W、Cr、Mn、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb等9种重金属的平均含量分别为12.30、4.40、999.84、9.72、293.81、47.66、2.85、1.34、63.68 mg·kg-1;除Cr和Cu外,其余7种重金属的平均值均超过江西省土壤背景值。内梅罗综合污染评价表明,赣江上游表层沉积物中47.37%的采样点呈严重污染,28.95%采样点污染明显,其中污染程度章水段>桃江段>贡江段;地积累指数法显示,Mn、As、W、Pb呈轻度污染,Cd和Hg呈中度或偏重度污染;主成分分析显示,As、W、Hg、Pb具有相似的污染源,Cr和Mn具有相似的污染源;沉积物质量基准分析表明,对底栖生物可能产生毒性效应的重金属主要是Cd和Hg,主要分布在章水段和桃江段。     

Sources of Heavy Metals in Surface Sediments and an Ecological Risk Assessment from Two Adjacent Plateau Reservoirs

The concentrations of heavy metals (mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu) and arsenic (As)) in surface water and sediments were investigated in two adjacent drinking water reservoirs (Hongfeng and Baihua Reservoirs) on the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau in Southwest China. Possible pollution sources were identified by spatial and statistical analyses. For both reservoirs, Cd was most likely from industrial activities, and As was from lithogenic sources. For the Hongfeng Reservoir, Pb, Cr and Cu might have originated from mixed sources (traffic pollution and residual effect of former industrial practices), and the sources of Hg included the inflows, which were different for the North (industrial activities) and South (lithogenic origin) Lakes, and atmospheric deposition resulting from coal combustion. For the Baihua Reservoir, the Hg, Cr and Cu were primarily derived from industrial activities, and the Pb originated from traffic pollution. The Hg in the Baihua Reservoir might also have been associated with coal combustion pollution. An analysis of ecological risk using sediment quality guidelines showed that there were moderate toxicological risks for sediment-dwelling organisms in both reservoirs, mainly from Hg and Cr. Ecological risk analysis using the Hakanson index suggested that there was a potential moderate to very high ecological risk to humans from fish in both reservoirs, mainly because of elevated levels of Hg and Cd. The upstream Hongfeng Reservoir acts as a buffer, but remains an important source of Cd, Cu and Pb and a moderately important source of Cr, for the downstream Baihua Reservoir. This study provides a replicable method for assessing aquatic ecosystem health in adjacent plateau reservoirs.     

Archaeal Diversity and Spatial Distribution in the Surface Sediment of the South China Sea

Archaea represent a significant portion of biomass in the marine sediments and may play an important role in global carbon cycle. However, the identity and composition of deep sea sediment Archaea are unclear. Here, we used the archaeal 16S rRNA gene primers to determine the diversity and community structure of Archaea from shallow water (<100 m) and deep water (>1500 m) sediments in the South China Sea. Phylogenetically the archaeal community is separated between the shallow- and deep sea sediments, with the former being dominated by the Thaumarchaeota and the latter by the Marine Benthic Group B, E and the South African GoldMine Euryarchaeotal Group as well as Thaumarchaeota. Sand content showed significant correlation with Thaumarchaeota, suggesting that the porous media may create an oxic environment that allowed these aerobic organisms to thrive in the surface sediments. The carbon isotope composition of total organic carbon was significantly correlated to the distribution of archaeal groups, suggesting that Archaea overall may be constrained by the availability or sources of organic carbon in the sediments of the South China Sea.     

中国沿海海鞘的物种多样性

至今,中国海已经记录了66种海鞘。其中,渤海有5种,黄海21种,东海24种,南海53种。种类分布从北往南逐渐递增,柄瘤海鞘在黄海、渤海数量很大(8100个/m²),但往南分布,未发现超过罗源湾。皱瘤海鞘在南海数量很大(2225个/m²),往北也未发现超过罗源湾。玻璃海鞘和乳突皮海鞘在全国沿海都有分布。     

南海岛屿种子植物区系地理的研究

本文通过实地考察,广泛收集前人的研究资料,概述了南海岛屿地区的自然条件和植被,对南海岛屿种子植物的区系组成、特点、分布区类型、特有现象和替代现象等进行了较详细的分析,并与邻近植物区系进行了比较研究。同时,根据区内植物分布的特点和自然条件特征划分为５个植物区系小区,最后对南海岛屿地区植物区系的起源与演化进行了讨论。     

长江三峡库区江段沉积物的重金属污染特征

测定了三峡库区江段沉积物中２１个元素的含量,比例比配统计分析指出,重庆至涪陵江段的沉积物样品间无明显相关,涪陵至巴陵段的沉积物间在９０％置信水平上显著相关;沉积物中钙、镁、锶、钡、铁、钴、镍、镉、锰、锌、铝、钒、镧、钇、钛等元素间在９０％置信水平上有显著相关,伸砷、镉、铜、汞、铜、磷等元素间以及它们与上述元素间无显著相关,这表明涪陵以上江段的沉积物因受重庆和长春污染影响大,样品间的相似性小,而涪陵     

Assessment of Heavy Metals Pollution in Sediments of the Korbevačka River in Southeastern Serbia

The Korbeva?ka River is located in the southeastern part of Serbia. This river is a main recipient of all kinds of pollutants from the Pb?Zn mine “Grot.” Sediments from the Korbeva?ka River were studied to determine the distribution of the metals along the river, assess the quality of sediment, and find the degree of contamination. The concentration of iron, manganese, nickel, copper, zinc, cadmium, lead, mercury, arsenic, chromium, and barium were determined. River sediments were collected and analyzed for heavy metal concentration using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The degree of pollution in the sediments of the Korbeva?ka River has been evaluated based on Canadian sediment quality guidelines, enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (I_geo) and pollution load index (PLI). Inter-metal associations have been evaluated by Pearson correlation coefficients (r). The results indicated that: (1) sediments have been polluted with Pb, Cd, Zn, and Cu and have high anthropogenic influences; (2) the calculation of geo-accumulation index suggests that the Korbeva?ka River sediments have background concentrations of Fe, Cr, and Ni (I_geo < 1); (3) the co-precipitation (inclusion, occlusion, and adsorption) of heavy metals (except As and Ba) with Mn and Fe geochemical phases.     

湘西河流表层沉积物重金属污染特征及其潜在生态毒性风险

花垣河和峒河是湘西地区受到锰矿和铅锌矿生产影响严重的两条河流。通过表层沉积物采样分析了Cd、Pb、Cu、Ni、Cr、Zn和Mn的总量,根据BCR连续提取程序分析沉积物样品中重金属的地球化学赋存形态,采用内梅罗指数法和地积累指数法评价了沉积物重金属污染特征,根据重金属的富集程度探讨了重金属污染来源,采用淡水生态系统沉积物质量基准(SQGs,TEL/PEL)和毒性单位评价了花垣河和峒河沉积物中重金属元素的生态毒性风险。结果表明,花垣河和峒河绝大多数位点的表层沉积物中Cd、Pb、Cu、Ni、Cr、Zn和Mn的总量高于参照点,形成严重的复合污染,花垣河沉积物中重金属的污染水平明显高于峒河,但沿程变化规律不明显,而峒河沉积物中重金属的沿程变化较有规律,即上游含量低,中下游含量较高。两条河流表层沉积物中富集程度居前列的均为Cd、Pb、Zn和Mn。花垣河和峒河沉积物重金属污染主要来源于矿业生产所产生废渣和废水的点排放。在花垣河和峒河的大多数位点,Cd、Pb和Mn的形态具有共同特征,其生物可利用态均较大程度地超过生物不可利用态,而且Mn和Cd的生物可直接利用态所占比例远高于其它重金属,而Cu和Cr的生物可直接利用态所占比例很低。花垣河沉积物中Cd、Pb和Zn在所有位点极大地超过PEL,在峒河中下游,Cd、Pb、Ni和Zn超过PEL,具有较大的潜在生物毒性。除上游S1位点外,花垣河的其余各位点都具有明显的急性毒性,峒河中下游各位点具有明显的急性毒性,这些河段需要重点治理。     

Biological effects of contaminated bottom sediments of water bodies in Central and South Vietnam on aquatic organisms

The levels of metal content and toxicity have been determined in bottom sediments of water bodies in Central and South Vietnam. It is found that the concentration of metals (As, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, and Zn) exceed the value of the abundance of elements in the Earth’s crust, which may be associated with geochemical features of the province. Acute toxicity of water-extracted sediment elutriate for Ceriodaphnia and whole (native) sediments for chironomid larvae is not recorded in any investigated water bodies. An increase in the relative abundance of Chironomus riparius larvae with deformations of mouthpart structures compared to the control was observed for most of the water bodies. This index reaches the value in the Khe River (Cân Th? city). Antenna anomalies prevailed in pathomorphological disorders.     

中国的手斧

越来越多的考古发现表明:中国不缺少手斧,东亚、南亚其他地区也不缺少手斧;手斧在这里某些旧石器初期工业中扮演着一个不容忽视的角色;这类工业的工具组合和欧非手斧文化有许多相似之处。上述发现逐步填平东西方文化上的“鸿沟”,表明两大地区的文化交流早在旧石器初期可能已经存在。     

中国南方海域鲎的种类和分布

The northern sea area of the South China Sea is situated between 107.5°～122.5°East longitude and 17°～25° North latitude with high temperature and a large quantity of rainfall which belongs to the oceanic climate of the torrid zone and subtropical zone. From September, 1994 to June, 1998,during the research on the species of Horseshoe crab within the scope between the south from North gulf and the north to Xiamen, choosing Xiamen, Shantou, Wuchuan, Donghaidao and Qishui as fixed positions and irregularly going to Xuwen and Suixi in Guangdong province and Fangcheng in Guangxi province, we found that there was only Tachypleus tridentatus in the northern sea area of the South China Sea and the sea area from Wuchuan to Xiamen, and found that there were two species of horseshoe crab which were Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda in the southern area to East Sea Island, referring to East Sea Island, Qishui, Xuwen, Suixi and Fangcheng, most of which were Tachypleus tridentatus, and found a great number of larvae of Tachypleus tridentatus including zooids with different sizes from 7cm bodily length to mature. In Minan we found not only big colonies of adult Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda , but also a great number of larvae of Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda with different body size from 7cm body length to maturity. All these show that the northern sea area of the South China Sea is the area where both Tachypleus tridentatus and Carcinoscorpius rotundicauda distribute and reproduce. On January 1st, 1998 at the town of Qishui in Leizhou, we found an adult male Horseshoe crab and majority of its eggs was immature, while the eggs with above 4mm diameters were only 0.87 percent but the eggs with below 1.0mm diameter was 58 percent(1 160 pills). It shows that Qishui is a place where Tachyplers tridentatus survive in the winter.     

Community shift of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria along an anthropogenic pollution gradient from the Pearl River Delta to the South China Sea

The phylogenetic diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing beta-proteobacteria (beta-AOB) was analyzed along an anthropogenic pollution gradient from the coastal Pearl River Delta to the South China Sea using the ammonia monooxygenase subunit A (amoA) gene. Along the gradient from coastal to the open ocean, the phylogenetic diversity of the dominant genus changed from Nitrosomonas to Nitrosospira, indicating the niche specificity by these two genera as both salinity and anthropogenic influence were major factors involved. The diversity of bacterial amoA gene was also variable along the gradient, with the highest in the deep-sea sediments, followed by the marshes sediments and the lowest in the coastal areas. Within the Nitrosomonas-related clade, four distinct lineages were identified including a putative new one (A5-16) from the different sites over the large geographical area. In the Nitrosospira-related clade, the habitat-specific lineages to the deep-sea and coastal sediments were identified. This study also provides strong support that Nitrosomonas genus, especially Nitrosomonas oligotropha lineage (6a) could be a potential bio-indicator species for pollution or freshwater/wastewater input into coastal environments. A suite of statistical analyses used showed that water depth and temperature were major factors shaping the community structure of beta-AOB in this study area.     

南沙海区晚第四纪浮游有孔虫演化及其古海洋学意义

通过对南沙海区17957和17958两柱状样中浮游有孔虫的研究,首次揭示了南海晚第四纪以来较长时间尺度上（0－800ka BP)存在δ18O 11期（约400ka BP)开始的粉红色Globigerinoides ruber大量出现和Globigerina rubescens较高相对丰度,δ18O 5e期（约120ka BP)的粉红色Gl9obigerinoides ruber 绝灭,Globoquadrina Conglomersata大量出现,Globorotalia truncatulinoides 左旋型分子绝对优势开始,和δ18O 4／5期界线附近（约80ka BP)的Globo quadrina conglomerata绝灭等三次浮游有孔虫演化事件,南沙与南海北部及西北太平洋等海区的浮游有孔虫演化事件对比 表明,南沙海区在400ka BP开始海水温跃层相对较深,至δ^18O 5e期时,受西北太平洋中层水加强的影响,南沙海水温跃层变浅,在δ^18O 5e至4／5期界线这段时期内与西北太平洋水体交换比较自由。     

Ecological Risk Assessment of Arsenic and Metals in Surface Sediments from Estuarine and Coastal Areas of the Southern Bohai Sea,China

Distribution and magnitude of arsenic and metals in surface sediments collected from the coastal and estuarine areas of the southern Bohai Sea, China, were investigated. Sediments from the estuarine and coastal areas of the Jie and Xiaoqing Rivers contained highest concentrations of arsenic, cadmium, copper, mercury, and zinc. Mean concentrations of Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, and Cd were higher than background concentrations determined for the areas. The magnitude of both enrichment factors (EF) and geoaccumulation indices (I_geo) suggested that pollution with As and metals was occurring along estuarine and coastal areas of the southern Bohai Sea. Risk analysis also suggested that concentrations of As and metals were sufficiently elevated as to cause adverse biological effects in the study area. According to the ecological risk index (RI) values, the upstream of the Jie River has a very high ecological risk for the waterbody. The data provided in this study are considered crucial for controlling and remediation of As and metals’ pollution of the southern Bohai Sea.     

Phytoremediation of Pb by Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh and Spatial Variation of Pb in the Batticaloa Lagoon,Sri Lanka During Driest Periods: A Field Study

Batticaloa Lagoon (Sri Lanka) is subjected to significant pollution as a result of anticipated unplanned development works since the cessation of a civil war in May, 2009. This paper presents the effectiveness of Avicennia marina(Forsk.) Vierh in the phytoremediation of Pb and the variation of Pb in sediments and water in the intertidal zone under drier weather conditions. Four pristine areas and 4 mangroves cut areas within the Manmunai North Divisional Secretariat Division / Batticaloa Municipal Council areas were investigated. Pb levels in the sediments and plants were negligible at all locations (i.e., below the method detection limit of the AAS for sediments and plants which is 0.25 mg/kg dry weight and 0.5 mg/kg dry weight, respectively). However, the water environment showed significant contamination (0.17–0.29 mg/L and 0.26–0.34 mg/L in pristine areas and cleared areas, respectively), hence Pb bioaccumulation is likely in fish and other biota. Avicennia marina is not effective to phytoremediate Pb under significant saline conditions.     

Environmental risk assessment of manganese and its associated heavy metals in a stream impacted by manganese mining in South China

In South China, high manganese content in the drinking water source influenced by upstream manganese mine drainage has become a major concern. To investigate the extent of metal pollution and environmental risk in upstream sediments and native aquatic macrophytes, a study was conducted on a manganese mining-impacted river named the Heishui River. The results indicated that streambed sediments collected were polluted by Mn and other metals with the highest contents of Mn 43349.4 mg kg^?1, Pb 128.6 mg kg^?1, Zn 502.9 mg kg^?1, and Cu 107.2 mg kg^?1. The level of Mn in all sediments was higher than the consensus-based Probable Effect Concentration, indicating that adverse effects on sediment-dwelling organisms were likely to occur frequently. Among the studied metals, Mn had the highest bioavailability and ecological risk, followed by Zn. Native aquatic macrophytes accumulate large amounts of the studied metals. A significantly positive correlation was found between exchangeable fractions of the studied metals in sediments and in aquatic macrophytes. The risk assessment code showed the following risk levels of metals in sediments in descending order: Mn > Zn > Cu > Pb. In conclusion, the river impacted by manganese mining drainage poses a high risk to both the local ecosystem and downstream drinking water.