Fractionation and ecological risk assessment of trace metals in surface sediment from the Huaihe River,Anhui, China

Abstract

The Huaihe River has suffered increasing pressure from pollutants including metals from anthropogenic activities. In this study, enrichment and fractionation behavior of trace metals were analyzed in sediment samples obtained from fish spawning area of the Huaihe River (Anhui Section) to evaluate the potential ecological risk of trace metals to aquatic organisms. Geochemical indices including enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index as well as mean probable effect concentration quotient and risk assessment code were adopted to assess the contamination degree and potential ecological toxicity. Results showed that the total contents of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, As, and Hg in sediment were 23.1?±?6.4, 32.3?±?11.1, 76.8?±?14.2, 84.6?±?17.2, 0.2?±?0.1, 9.0?±?3.0, and 0.031?±?0.010?mg/kg, respectively. The indexes EF and I_geo revealed slight accumulation for Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, and As in some sampling sites. The result of Q_m-PEC demonstrated that trace metals in sediment were not toxic to aquatic organisms. Most trace metals appeared to mainly associate with the residual form suggesting lower mobility whereas Cd presented a relative higher exchangeable fraction indicating a great degree of bioavailability. The result of risk assessment code (RAC) evaluation revealed that Cd poses a medium ecological risk for aquatic organisms whereas most of the other trace metals pose low risks.     

Solid-phase distribution of heavy metals as affected by single reagent extraction in dredged sediment derived surface soils

ABSTRACT

EDTA is useful to assess mobile metal pools in polluted soils and sediments. There is a need to enhance our understanding of the significance of metal fractions released. The impact of single reagent extraction with 0.05 mol L^?1 EDTA on the solid phase distribution of trace metals in surface soils sampled from confined dredged sediment disposal sites was investigated. Not extracted and EDTA extracted soils were subjected to sequential extraction to fractionate the total contents into: (1) easily exchangeable and carbonate bound fraction; (2) reducible fraction; (3) oxidisable fraction; and (4) residual fraction. With EDTA, significant portions of metals associated with the acid extractable and reducible fractions were released. The oxidisable and residual fractions remained unaffected for most of the investigated metals except for the organic matter associated metals (Cu and Pb). A decrease in the residual fraction after EDTA-extraction for Cu and Pb was attributed to artifacts of the sequential extraction procedure.     

Predicting efficiency of different chemical extraction methods in risk assessment of trace metals in sediment of the Persian Gulf

Different chemical methods have been developed to evaluate the bioavailable fraction of the trace metals. Due to the lack of a universal method for analysis of the bioavailable metal fractions, due to the differences in sediment characteristics, it is necessary to validate an appropriate chemical method for assessing the available fraction of trace metals. For this propose, in this study, different chemical extraction methods including extraction with HCl and desorption test as a single reagent leaching test as well as geochemical fractions method have been evaluated. Bushehr coastal sediments in the Persian Gulf coasts have been selected for this purpose. To validate the efficacy of these methods, a gastropod species (Trochus erithreus), as a bioindicator, has been selected and monitored for trace metals of Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Mn²⁺, and Ni²⁺. According to the one-way ANOVA results, all partial extraction methods for all the trace metals (except for Mn²⁺) showed no significant variation, but linear correlation coefficients were between the results of the selective chemical extraction methods and concentrations of trace metals in organism tissues. It offered that selective extraction with HCl can be used as a simple method for measuring the bioavailable fraction of the metals 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.     

Complexation of trace metals with humic acids from soil,sediment and sewage

ABSTRACT

Metal—humate interactions in aqueous and terrestrial ecosystems control the speciation of trace metals and hence, their bioavailability and toxicity. The present study investigated the complexation interactions of copper, cadmium and lead, in their divalent states, with humic acids extracted from three different sources: the treated sewage from a treatment plant, Yamuna river bed sediment, and Yamuna river flood plain soil, all at Okhla, Delhi, employing ion selective electrode potentiometry. The conditional stability constants of the complexes were computed from Scatchard plots. The influences of the two important metal speciation factors, viz., pH and ionic strength of the reaction medium on the conditional stability constants were ascertained by investigating the reactions under three different pH: 5.0, 6.0 and 7.0 and three different ionic strengths: 0.01, 0.03 and 0.1. Stabilities of metal—humic acid (HA) complexes follow the order: Cu-HA > Pb-HA > Cd-HA for humic acids from any single source and are found to increase with a rise in pH and fall in a ionic strength of the medium. The humic acids extracted from the soil and the sediment emerged as stronger complexing agents, as compared to that extracted from sewage.     

Contrasting two methods for determining trace metal partitioning in oxidized lake sediments

A simultaneous (SIM) sediment extraction procedure for low carbonate sediments, which partitions sediment-bound trace metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Cd) into easily reducible (associated with Mn oxides), reducible (associated with Fe oxides) and alkaline extracted (bound to organic) metal is presented. The SIM method was compared to the sequential (SEQ) extraction procedure of Tessier et al. (1979). Both methods showed good agreement for the partitioning of Zn and Cd among the easily reducible, reducible and organic components of sediment. Both methods also showed the same general distribution of Mn, Fe and Cu among the three sediment components, however concentrations of metals recovered by the two methods differed; less Mn and Fe and more Cu was recovered from sediments by the SEQ vs. the SIM procedure. Less recovery of Mn is in part attributed to the loss of this metal in the `in between' reagent rinses required in the SEQ procedure. Greater recovery of Cu by the SEQ vs. the SIM method may be due to the pretreatment of sediment with strong reducing agents prior to the step used for liberating organically bound metals. Advantages of a SIM over the SEQ include rapid sample processing time (i.e. the treatment of 40 samples per day vs. 40 samples in three days), plus minimal sample manipulation. Hence, for partitioning metals into easily reducible, reducible and organic sediment components in sediments low in carbonate, we recommend the use of a SIM extraction over that of a SEQ procedure.     

Quantitative speciation of heavy metals in soil and crops of agricultural fields of Islamabad,Pakistan

Abstract

Two root crops: carrot (Daucus carota) and spring onion (Allium fistulosum) and soil samples were selected from the agricultural fields located near Islamabad, Pakistan to determine their elemental content. Field soil speciation of the two crops was also carried out to analyse the correlation of the elements in field crop and soil. Concentrations of selected elements were evaluated in the leaf, stem, root and flowering part of the crops using flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The results showed that elements are mostly concentrated in soil rather than crop parts following the sequence Zn>Cu>Pb>Ni>Cr>Cd. Furthermore, soil speciation showed that Ni and Cr are more prevalent in the Fe–Mn oxide fraction, Zn and Cd as the carbonate bound fraction and Cu is found in the organic bound form. However, concentrations of Pb are similar across the carbonate, Fe–Mn oxide and organic bound fractions. The highest average concentration of Zn is found as the carbonate bound fraction (2.09 ± 0.005 mg kg^?1) and Cu as the organic bound (1.51 ± 0.029 mg kg^?1) in soil samples taken from the agricultural field of Daucus carota.     

Evaluation of trace metals in sediment,water, and fish (Mugil cephalus) of the central Black Sea coast of Turkey

In this study, concentrations of trace metals such as As, Cd, Cu, Cr, Fe, Pb, Ni, Sn, Se, and Zn were determined in sediments, water, and a kind of fish (Mugil cephalus) of the central Black Sea coasts by employing Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and microwave digestion technique. Gill, muscle, liver, and other tissues were analyzed separately for each sample. The accuracy of the results were checked by using a certified reference material (DORM-4). In water samples, the metal determined at highest concentrations was Cu (1645.44 µg/L). In sediment samples, the metal determined at highest concentrations was Fe (12223.50 mg/kg). The levels of trace metals found in the different parts of the fish were: Zn in muscle tissue (30393.28 mg/kg), Sn in gill tissue (5140.08 mg/kg), and Cu in liver tissue (289.31 mg/kg). These results were also compared with various relevant guidelines and literature.     

Metals,trace elements,and organochlorine compounds in bottom sediment of Tuttle Creek Lake,Kansas, U.S.A.

Bottom-sediment cores were used to investigate the occurrence of 44 metals and trace elements, and 15 organochlorine compounds in Tuttle Creek Lake, a reservoir with an agricultural basin in northeast Kansas, U.S.A. On the basis of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sediment-quality guidelines, concentrations of Ag, As, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn frequently or typically exceeded the threshold-effects levels for toxic biological effects. Organochlorine compounds either were not detected or were detected at concentrations generally below the threshold-effects levels. Statistically significant positive depositional trends were determined for several elements. However, because the vertical profiles of element concentrations typically indicated a bimodal distribution and much of the variability could be attributable to analytical variance, the statistical trends may not represent actual trends. DDE concentrations reflected the history of DDT use. Substantial increases in grain corn and soybean production, irrigated land, and hog production in the basin have not had a discernible effect on sediment quality in the reservoir. Future research focused on small impoundments throughout the basin may enhance understanding of the effects of human activity on sediment quality within the Tuttle Creek Lake system and elsewhere.     

Trace Metal Fractionation by the Sequential Extraction Method in Sediments from the Lis River (Portugal)

The extractable contents of Zn, Pb, Cu, Cr, Mn, Ni, Fe and Al were evaluated in sediments from the Lis River (Portugal) using the three-step sequential extraction procedure described by Community Bureau of Reference (BCR, now the Standards, Measurement and Testing Programme) of the European Union. The distribution of trace metals among the exchangeable, water and acid soluble, reducible, oxidizable and residual fractions was determined. The highest metal concentrations were observed in samples collected at the most polluted river sites (animal husbandry, domestic, industrial and agricultural wastes). Pb, Cu, Cr, Ni, Fe and Al were found mainly associated with the residual and organic fractions. High concentrations of Zn and Mn were found in the exchangeable/acid soluble fraction.     

Food and feeding of three Citharinus species in Lake Kainji, Nigeria

This paper provides information on the food and feeding habits of three Citharinus species in Lake Kainji. A total number of 2357 specimens made up of 1628 Citharinus citharus , 705 C. distichodoides and 24 C, latus were examined. The majority of the fish caught by gill-netting had empty stomachs unlike those caught by cast-netting and electrofishing. The main food items were planktonic and epipelic blue-green and green algae. All the three species had similar feeding habits and also fed on the same items; their food varied with the seasons. Citharinus spp. have high gut length/standard length ratios which are adaptations to the microphagous and planktivorous feeding habits.     

Quick sequential procedure for speciation analysis of heavy metals in soils by supersonic extraction

Abstract

In order to improve the extraction efficiency and reduce the operation time, supersonic energy by means of supersonic bath was used to the modified Tessier sequential extraction for speciation analysis of heavy metals in soils. Extractable contents of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured by flame atomic absorption spectroscopy. The merit of the supersonic extraction (SE) applied to the modified Tessier, method is not only that the operation time for the first 4 fractions was reduced from ca 18 h to 8 h, comparing with conventional extraction (CE), but also the extraction efficiency was higher. There were no significant differences between the data obtained by the proposed method using supersonic extraction and the reference values of the standard reference materials of EES-2 and EES-3. The results for both of SE and CE in the soil samples were consistent. The extractable Cu, Ni and Zn in the sample No. 1 were mainly associated with the third fraction (Fe-Mn oxides fraction), and fourth fraction (organic matter fraction) in the sample No. 2. The extractable Fe and Mn were all mainly associated with the third fraction, and Pb the fourth fraction in both of the samples. The effects of varying concentrations of hydroxylamine hydrochloride on the extraction of metals were also studied.     

The budget of dissolved trace metals in Lake Biwa,Japan

A comprehensive study on the dynamics of dissolved elements (Mg, Al, Si, P, Ca, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, Zn, As, Sr, Y, W, and U) in Lake Biwa was carried out using a clean technique. Lake water samples (n = 523) were collected from six stations in the North Basin and three stations in the South Basin. River water samples (n = 178) were collected from 14 major rivers flowing into the North Basin. Rainwater samples (n = 89) were collected at Otsu. The river water was enriched with Mn, Al, Fe, P, and Zn and the rainwater was enriched with Zn, Al, Fe, and Mn compared to North Basin water during winter mixing. The residence times of dissolved species were estimated on the basis of input through the rivers and rain. The residence times for Ca, Mg, and Sr were about 8 years, the same as that for water. Mn, Al, Fe, and Zn showed the shortest residence times (0.05–0.19 year). A budget calculation suggested that more than 60% of the input of dissolved Si, P, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and Zn was scavenged and retained in the lake sediments and/or discharged as suspended particles.     

Speciation of trace metals in chromated-copper-arsenate contaminated sediment of Ogba River

Abstract

The impact of storm water run-off from a location of intensive application of CCA in wood treatment on the quality of sediment of the receiving water body was examined. Sediment samples were collected along Ogba River. Physico-chemical characteristics as well as total levels of As, Cr and Cu in sediment samples were determined. Physico-chemical analysis of composite sediment samples upstream and downstream showed pH of sediments to be neutral (6.95 upstream and 6.90 downstream). The sand content for downstream sediment was 90.52 and 87.52% for upstream sediment sample. Total levels of 3.3–14.9 mg kg^?1 As, 3.1–116.6 mg kg^?1 Cr, and 13.7–16.4mg kg^?1 Cu were obtained for downstream sediment samples and 2.2–2.3mg kg^?1 As, 8.1–13.1 mg kg^?1 Cr, and 6.0–7.4mg kg^?1 Cu were obtained for upstream samples. Sequential extraction procedure involving six steps was used to evaluate the partitioning of As, Cr and Cu in the sediments. The results showed that the bioavailable fraction of sediment 20 m downstream was 10%, 100% and 20% of the total levels of As, Cr and Cu respectively in the sediment.     

Total concentrations and fractionation of heavy metals in road-deposited sediments collected from different land use zones in a large city (Nanjing), China

Abstract

In order to investigate heavy metal contamination in an urban environment during urbanization and economic development, 35 road-deposited sediment samples were collected from seven different land-use zones (commercial, residential, traffic, scenic park, educational, industrial and peri-urban) in Nanjing, a large city in P.R. China. The ranges of total metal concentrations found were: 28.7–272 mg kg^?1 for Cu; 24.8–268 mg kg^?1 for Ni; 37.3–204 mg kg^?1 for Pb; 140–798 mg kg^?1 for Zn; 0.44–2.19mg kg^?1 for Cd; and 60.6–250 mg kg^?1 for Cr. Metal fractionation was carried out using a modified three-step European Bureau of References (BCR) sequential extraction procedure. Cadmium and Zn were found predominantly associated with the acid extractable fractions; Ni and Cr were dominant in the residual fraction; Pb was predominantly associated with the residual and reducible fractions; Cu was dominant in the oxidizable and residual metal fractions. Based on the sum of the acid-extractable, reducible, and oxidizable fractions, Cd, Zn and Pb are potentially the most toxic metals in the road-deposited sediment in Nanjing. No significant differences, except for Zn, were found in the metal fractionation pattern for Cu, Ni, Pb, Cd, and Cr in different land use zones.     

The fish fauna changes and the place of clupeids in Lake Kainji,Nigeria

The fish fauna changes and the place of the clupeids was examined. It was found that the conditions in the lake since impoundment have favoured the growth and development of these little sardines. The studies undertaken prior to impoundment and their continuation right from the time of the closure of Kainji Dam in August 1968 has made it possible for these changes to be followed sequentially.     

Fractionation of metals in the Sa1/2 sediment core from Lake Sarbsko (northern Poland) and its palaeolimnological implications

Abstract

This article documents and interprets stratigraphical changes in fractionation of Fe, Mn, Mg, K, Pb, Cu and Zn in the Sa1/2 sediment core from a coastal freshwater lake, Lake Sarbsko (northern Poland). The elements were sequentially extracted from the samples to distinguish five geochemical fractions: exchangeable, acid-extractable, reducible, oxidisable and residual. The analyses revealed substantial variations in geochemical partitioning of the elements and showed no correlation between the fractionation patterns and lithology of the sediments. In the sediments of Lake Sarbsko, iron is mainly bound to sulfides. Potassium occurs in its residual form. Magnesium and zinc are associated with carbonates and aluminosilicates, while copper occurs in compounds with organic matter and sulfides. Lead is found in connection with aluminosilicates and, to a lesser extent, with sulfides and organic matter. Manganese is partitioned between the oxidisable, acid-extractable, and exchangeable fractions. Heavy metals and potassium display the overall tendency to reduce the contents of their residual forms towards the top of the depositional sequence. Fe, Mn, Mg and Zn were found to be the most susceptible to post-sedimentary mobilisation.     

青海湖表层沉积物重金属富集特征及其来源

针对青海湖表层沉积物重金属分布特征,测定了湖区11个采样点99个样本表层(0～20 cm)沉积物中重金属Zn、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr和Fe的含量,采用地累积指数和潜在生态危害指数评价重金属富集状况,并运用相关分析和因子分析对重金属来源进行了初步探讨.结果表明,旅游区采样点151码头(1#)和江西沟码头(4#)的Zn和Cu元素及布哈河(5#)Cr为轻度污染,其他样点未受重金属污染,所有样点潜在生态危害均为轻微程度,以旅游区码头的潜在生态危害综合评价最高;沉积物中Cr、Fe和TOC存在显著相关性,且在因子1(内源因子)中占绝对负荷,其来源主要与沉积母质有关.此外,入湖河流也带入一定量的Cr元素;Pb和Zn与其他元素相关性较差,分别反映因子2(农业生产活动因子)和因子3(旅游交通排放因子)的迁移转化规律,其来源与人类活动有关;表层沉积物中Cu的积累与内源因子、农业和旅游排放因子均有关;Ni的分布特征主要受内源因子和旅游交通排放因子的影响.本研究表明,青海湖表层沉积物重金属污染及潜在生态危害较轻,其来源除内源因子外,还与湖区农业活动及旅游交通排放等人为因素有关.     

内蒙古荒漠草原放牧强度对风沙通量和沉积物粒径的影响

以内蒙古短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)草原为研究对象, 在放牧11年的样地布设BSNE集沙仪, 通过2013年4月到2015年4月4个采样期对短花针茅草原放牧强度与风沙通量的定量关系及风蚀物粒度特征进行了研究。结果表明: (1)放牧强度对风沙通量有显著影响(p < 0.05)。随着放牧强度增强, 风沙通量逐渐增加; 风沙通量对放牧强度的响应存在季节差异, 生长季的日平均风沙通量小于非生长季, 且生长季不同放牧强度间风沙通量差异较大, 其中重度放牧区风沙通量是对照区的5倍, 而非生长季不同放牧强度间风沙通量差异较小, 重度放牧区是对照区的1.7倍; (2)生长季不同高度风沙通量的自然对数和垂直高度之间存在较好的二项式拟合结果, 而非生长季风沙通量的垂直分布没有明显规律; 放牧强度间通量的垂直分布差异主要表现在0-50 cm高度; 在同样高度, 放牧强度大, 垂直通量也大; (3)风蚀沉积物中粒径≤250 μm颗粒富集度随垂直高度变化而变化; 风沙沉积物中, ≤250 μm的颗粒占沉积物总量的85%以上, 沉积物中粒径≤50 μm的颗粒有明显的富集作用, 且随垂直高度增加富集比逐渐增加; 粒径为125-250 μm和50-125 μm的颗粒表现为随垂直高度增加富集比降低的趋势, 且125-250 μm粒径的富集比显著小于50-125 μm颗粒的富集比; 荒漠草原放牧强度对风沙通量有不同程度的影响, 放牧强度越大, 风蚀越重, 风蚀作用强化了重度放牧对草地退化的影响作用。