Study of the Contents and Speciation of Heavy Metals in River sediments By Factor Analysis

Abstract

Heavy metals Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu, Ni and Co from two spanish river sediments have been determined by voltammetric techniques, along with % CaCO₃ and % organic matter, and the whole data set examined by means of Factor Analysis, finding a different behaviour of the metals in each river.

Heavy metal speciation in the sediments was carried out by using the Tessier's scheme: Zn and Pb were mainly associated to ‘reducible phases’, Cd and Cu bound to ‘organic matter and sulphides’, and Ni and Co were distributed between the above fractions. The ‘residual’ metals were used as pollution indicators from the rivers, finding a similar behaviour to other industrialized river systems.     

黔产市售绿茶重金属的含量特征及健康风险评估

为研究黔产市售绿茶中重金属的含量分布特征及健康风险,以五个生产加工地的黔产市售绿茶为研究对象,分析其9种重金属(Pb、Cr、Cd、Hg、Cu、Zn、Mn、Ni和As)含量,利用美国环境保护署(USEPA)推荐的健康风险评价模型进行人体重金属的健康风险评价。结果表明,五种茶叶中Cr、Cd、Pb、Hg、Cu和As含量均低于国家限量标准。黔产市售绿茶的重金属浸出率大小次序为Zn>Mn>Hg>As>Cd>Pb>Cr>Cu>Ni。健康风险评价结果表明,五个产地的绿茶中重金属通过饮茶途径所产生的健康危害个人年风险大小次序为Cd>As>Mn>Ni>Cr>Hg>Pb>Zn>Cu,茶叶中重金属通过饮茶途径所产生的个人健康危害年风险总和为4.33×10-6~5.73×10-6 a-1,均低于USEPA和ICRP推荐的最大可接受风险水平,表明重金属引起的健康危害极小,其对暴露人群造成的健康危害可忽略不计,绿茶中重金属均处于安全范围内。     

Assessment of the health of a river ecosystem due to the impact of pollution from industrial discharge using instrumental neutron activation analysis and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry

Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and neutron activation analysis (NAA) were employed in the determination of heavy metal concentrations in water, plant and sediment samples to assess the extent of heavy metal pollution in a river system which is located within an industrial zone. Elemental concentrations of As, Pb, Hg, Cr, Cu, Cd, Ni and Zn were measured in the samples. Statistical analysis was performed on the data obtained to look for trends in the pollution pattern of these elements on the river system. The trend in concentrations of heavy metals pollution in water samples is in the order of Zn > Cu > Ni > Cr > As > Pb > Hg > Cd, whereas in plants the order is Zn > Cr > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Hg > Cd and in sediments Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > As > Hg.     

Assessment of trace metals contamination in estuarine sediments using a sequential extraction technique and principal component analysis

Fractionation of the metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in sediments was performed for samples collected from eight locations in the Poxim river estuary of Sergipe State, northeast Brazil, using the 3-stage sequential extraction procedure proposed by the European Community Bureau of Reference (BCR). The extraction method was found to be satisfactory for analysis of certified reference material BCR-701, with recovery values ranging from 85% (Cu) to 117% (Cr). The detection limits obtained were 0.001 to 0.305 µg g^− 1. Zn exhibited greatest mobility and bioavailability, indicative of anthropogenic sources, while Cr was mainly found in the residual fraction and could be used as an indicator for the contribution from natural sources. Cd, Cu, Ni and Pb were associated with the oxidizable fraction, and Pb, Cr and Ni with the reducible fraction. Principal component analysis (PCA) clearly separated the metals into three groups: I (Zn); II (Pb); III (Cd, Cu, Cr and Ni). These groupings were mainly due to different distributions of the metals in the various fractions, in sediments from the different locations. Risk assessment code (RAC) analysis indicated that although the metals presented a moderate overall risk to the aquatic environment, nickel showed a low risk (RAC < 10%) at three sites, while zinc presented a high risk (RAC > 30%) at four other sites.     

Assessing spatial distribution,sources, and potential ecological risk of heavy metals in surface sediments of the Nansi Lake,Eastern China

The study is conducted to investigate the spatial distribution, sources and ecological risk of seven heavy metals in surface sediments of Nansi Lake, Eastern China. A total of 29 samples were collected in surface sediments of Nansi Lake, and were analyzed for three nutrients (TN, TOC and TP), two major metals (Al and Fe), as well as seven trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn). The mean concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Zn, Fe and Al were 14.41, 0.22, 71.10, 30.1, 0.048, 29.14, 90.2, 30,816 and 70,653 mg kg^?1, respectively, and the mean contents of these metals were higher than the background values with the exception of Cu and Fe. The spatial distribution indicated that the contents of all seven heavy metals were characterized by relatively higher contents in the upper lake than the lower lake. The hotspots with high values of As, Cd and Hg were associated with the river mouths, and the hotspots of Pb were mainly located around the dam in the central part, while no significant associations were displayed between spatial distribution of Cr, Cu, Zn and the river mouths. The mean enrichment factor (EF) values of As, Cd, Hg and Pb were 2.03, 2.93, 3.21 and 2.18, respectively, showing their moderate enrichment, while Cr, Cu and Zn with mean EF values of 1.19, 0.89 and 1.01 were deficiency to minimal enrichment. Multivariate and geostatistical analyses suggested that PC1 controlled by Cr, Cu and Zn was a lithogenic component, and come from parent rocks leaching. PC2 including Cd and partially Hg represented the factor from industrial wastewater discharge. PC3 showed elevated loadings of As and partially Cd, and could be attributed to the agricultural practices. While PC4 including Pb and partially Hg, was dominated by coal combustion. The results of potential ecological risk suggested that sediment environment of Nansi Lake suffered from high ecological risk.     

Characterization and assessment of potential environmental risk of tailings stored in seven impoundments in the Aries river basin, Western Romania

Background

The objective of this study was to examine the potential environmental risk of tailings resulted after precious and base metal ores processing, stored in seven impoundments located in the Aries river basin, Romania. The tailings were characterized by mineralogical and elemental composition, contamination indices, acid rock drainage generation potential and water leachability of hazardous/priority hazardous metals and ions. Multivariate statistical methods were used for data interpretation.

Results

Tailings were found to be highly contaminated with several hazardous/priority hazardous metals (As, Cu, Cd, Pb), and pose potential contamination risk for soil, sediments, surface and groundwater. Two out of the seven studied impoundments does not satisfy the criteria required for inert wastes, shows acid rock drainage potential and thus can contaminate the surface and groundwater. Three impoundments were found to be highly contaminated with As, Pb and Cd, two with As and other two with Cu. The tailings impoundments were grouped based on the enrichment factor, geoaccumulation index, contamination factor and contamination degree of 7 hazardous/priority hazardous metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) considered typical for the studied tailings. Principal component analysis showed that 47% of the elemental variability was attributable to alkaline silicate rocks, 31% to acidic S-containing minerals, 12% to carbonate minerals and 5% to biogenic elements. Leachability of metals and ions was ascribed in proportion of 61% to silicates, 11% to acidic minerals and 6% to the organic matter. A variability of 18% was attributed to leachability of biogenic elements (Na, K, Cl^-, NO₃ ^-) with no potential environmental risk. Pattern recognition by agglomerative hierarchical clustering emphasized the grouping of impoundments in agreement with their contamination degree and acid rock drainage generation potential.

Conclusions

Tailings stored in the studied impoundments were found to be contaminated with some hazardous/ priority hazardous metals, fluoride and sulphate and thus presents different contamination risk for the environment. A long term monitoring program of these tailings impoundments and the expansion of the ecologization measures in the area is required.     

芝罘湾表层沉积物中重金属的分布特征及潜在生态危害评价

为了解芝罘湾沉积物中重金属的污染状况,于2009年7月采集了黄海芝罘湾16个站位的表层沉积物并测定了其中的重金属含量.芝罘湾的重金属污染程度较低,所有测定值均低于国家海洋沉积物Ⅰ类质量标准.Hg、Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Ni、Co、Mn 8种重金属的平均含量分别为0.02、12.3、8.67、0.13、32.8、11....     

Contamination assessment of heavy metal in surface sediments of the Wuding River, northern China

The heavy metal contents and the contamination levels of the surface sediments of the Wuding River, northern China, were investigated. Heavy metal concentration ranged in μg g⁻¹: 50.15–71.91 for Cr, 408.1–442.9 for Mn, 20.11–43.59 for Ni, 17.51–20.1 for Cu, 68.32–89.57 for Zn, 0.2–0.38 for Cd and 15.08–16.14 for Pb in the Wuding River sediments. The enrichment factor (EF) and the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) demonstrated that the sediments of the Wuding River had been polluted by Cd, Cr and Ni, which mainly originated from anthropogenic sources, whereas the sediments had not been polluted by Zn, Pb, Cu and Mn, which were derived from the crust. In addition, the assessment results of EF and Igeo suggested that the sediments of the Wuding River was “moderately” polluted by Cd and “unpolluted to moderately” polluted by Cr and Ni. The elevated urban sewage discharges and agriculture fertilizers usage in river basin are the anthropogenic sources of these heavy metals in river.     

Determination of trace metals in Nile River and ground water by differential pulse stripping voltammetry

The determination of trace metals in river water and ground water by DPSV is seriously disturbed by the presence of organic complexes. The influence of these substances can be eliminated by acidification of the samples with acids. Cd, Pb and Cu were determined at pH 1.1 (HNO₃ medium) and Zn, Cd, Pb and Cu at pH 2 (HCl medium), in both the Nile river and ground water. Zn was determined at pH 3.5 in HCl and pH 4.5 in HNO₃, after neutralizing the samples with NH₃/NH₄Cl buffer. Manganese could then be determined, after further addition of ammoniacal buffer solution up to pH 7.5 and 8.5. Ni and Co were determined in the adsorptive mode after formation of dimethylglyoximates at pH 9.2. The effect of pH on the stripping peaks of manganese was studied. Good agreement was observed between DPSV and AAS results for Zn, Cd, Pb, Cu and Mn, but the concentrations of Ni and Co were below the detection limits for AAS. Good agreement was obtained between DPSV results in HCl and HNO₃ for Ni and Co. The results indicate that decomposition of organic complexes by acidification with HNO₃ is better than in the case with HCl for Zn, Pb, Cu, Ni and Co, but HCl is better than HNO₃ for Cd and Mn.     

Selectivity assessment of a sequential extraction procedure for metal mobility characterization using model phases

This study considers the selectivity of the extractants used in a sequential extraction scheme for metals mobility assessment by analyzing individual mineral phases previously coprecipitated or sorbed with trace metals. The scheme evaluated was a modification of the Tessier et al. [A. Tessier, P.G.C. Campbell, M. Bisson, Anal. Chem. 51 (1979) 844] sequential procedure proposed by the authors. The phases studied were calcite, amorphous iron oxide, hausmannite, humic acid, kaolinite and illite. Selective extractions were obtained for As, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in metal-coprecipitated phases whereas NH(2)OH-HCl was not selective for the extraction of Hg and Cd coprecipitated in hausmannite and amorphous iron oxide, respectively. Otherwise, Cd, Hg, Ni and Zn sorbed on the different phases were released with MgCl(2) and NaOAc/HOAc, but stronger reagents were needed to release As, Cr, Cu and Pb.     

A review of heavy metal contaminations in urban soils, urban road dusts and agricultural soils from China

This paper reviews quite a few heavy metal contamination related studies in several cities from China over the past 10 years. The concentrations, sources, contamination levels, sample collection and analytical tools of heavy metals in urban soils, urban road dusts and agricultural soils were widely compared and discussed in this study. The results indicate that nearly all the concentrations of Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Hg and Cd are higher than their background values of soil in China. Among the cities, the contamination levels of the heavy metals vary in a large range. The geoaccumulation index shows that the contamination of Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd is widespread in urban soils and urban road dusts of the cities. Generally, the contamination levels of Cu, Pb, Zn and Cd are higher than that of Ni and Cr. Agricultural soils are also significantly influenced by Cd, Hg and Pb derived from anthropogenic activities. The integrated pollution index (IPI) indicates that the urban soils and urban road dusts of the developed cities and the industrial cities have higher contamination levels of the heavy metals. The comparison of the IPIs of heavy metals in urban soils and urban road dusts of Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou and Hongkong reveals that the contamination levels of the metals in urban road dusts are higher than that in urban soils in the cities. Moreover, the main sources of the metals in urban soils, urban road dusts and agricultural soils are also different.     

Metals in water and surface sediments from Henan reaches of the Yellow River, China

The concentrations of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined in the water and surface sediments from the Henan reaches of the Yellow River. Twenty-three sampling sites along the Yellow River and its tributaries were selected. Generally, metal concentrations were found to decrease in sequences of Zn > Cu > Pb > Cr > Ni > Cd in water and Zn > Cr > Pb > Ni > Cu > Cd in sediments. High levels of metal concentration were determined at a few stations of the river and its tributaries, such as Yiluo River, Si River and Qin River. The pollution of the Yellow River by Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn can be regarded as much higher compared to the background values, US EPA criteria (1999) and China water quality criteria (2002). For sediments, metal levels except Pb did not significantly exceed the average shale levels and backgrounds in several countries including China. Data analysis manifests that positive correlations were found between Cu, Ni and Zn in water, and Pb, Ni, Zn and Cr in sediments. The Pearson correlation coefficient analysis and Cluster analysis were provided to assess the possible contamination sources. The results indicate a general appearance of serious pollution along the banks of the Yellow River. The wastewaters discharged by the mine plants, smelter plants, power plants, battery plants, tannery plants, etc., and sewage inputs from the cities along the river banks may be the sources of metals.     

成都市农业土壤重金属污染特征初步研究

对成都市农业土壤中七种重金属元素Pb、Hg、Cr、As、Cu、Zn和Cd进行了测定和研究,并进行了潜在生态风险评价。结果表明,成都市农业土壤重金属元素含量分别为:Pb 77.27mg/kg,Hg 0.31 mg/kg,Cr 59.50 mg/kg,As 11.27 mg/kg,Cu 42.52 mg/kg,Zn 227.00 mg/kg,Cd0.36 mg/kg;重金属潜在的生态危害因子表明,Hg和Cd达到中等生态危害程度,Pb、As、Cu、Zn、Cr达到轻微生态危害;多种重金属的生态系统的潜在生态风险指数(RI)表明,成都市农业土壤生态危害级别为中等生态危害。     

An Electrochemical Study of the Interactions Between Trace Metals and Humic Substances in Freshwaters by Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with a Thin Mercury Film Rotating Disk Electrode

An improved theoretical approach to Anodic Stripping Voltammetry with a Thin Mercury Film Rotating Disk Electrode for elucidating the nature of the interactions of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) with humic substances in model solutions of Laurentian fulvic acid, and of Pb(II), Cd(II), Zn(II) and Cu(II) in freshwaters, is presented. Conditional stability constants of Pb(II), Cd(II) and Zn(II) complexes decreased with the ionic potential (z²/r) and increased with softness of the metal ion, indicating strong affinity of soft, polarizable donor ligands on humic substances for softer metal ions, resulting in an appreciable covalent character in electrostatic bonding between the metals and humic substances.     

Effect of chloride on heavy metal mobility of harbour sediments

To evaluate the environmental impact of polluted sediments, several operationally defined sequential extraction procedures (SEPs) have been described. Salinity has long been recognised as an important variable determining the physicochemical behaviour of heavy metals in marine sediments. Thus, in the present paper, the modified BCR-SEP has been applied to harbour sediments in order to assess to what extent trace metal mobility (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) could be influenced by chloride content in sediments. For this, washed (W) and non-washed (NW) sediments were compared. The relative mobility order observed for the six trace metals studied was not seen to be influenced by the presence of chloride in the sediments, but an increase of mobility was observed for Cd and Zn (the most mobile metals) when chloride was present in the sediments. Characterisation of the sediments and of the pseudo-total metal contents by means of an aqua regia extraction was also assessed.     

Fractionation analysis of trace metals in humic substances of soils irrigated with wastewater in Central Mexico by particle induced X-ray emission

The Mezquital Valley in Central Mexico has received wastewater from Mexico City for nearly 100 years. Wastewater brings in organic matter and nutrients but also trace metals. Humic substances, the main components of organic soil matter, are responsible for retaining and regulating the mobility of trace metals in soils. In this study, humic substances were extracted from the soil and separated into distinct fractions (humic acids, fulvic acids and humins). The particle induced X-ray emission (PIXE) technique was applied to determine the metal content in bulk soil as well as in humic acids and fulvic acids not soluble in H₃PO₄. In order to assess whether the long-term input of organic matter and metals modifies the metal association with these humic substances, parcels irrigated for three time periods (5, 47 and 89 years) were selected for this study. It was observed that metals such as Zn and Cu are mainly associated with the humic acids. Fulvic acids retain mainly Cr while Pb is distributed among humic and fulvic acids. It was also observed that in general, metal retention by humic substances increases with irrigation time. Depth also affects metal association with the humic substances.     

Assessment of the metals contamination of the low Sebou sediments (Morocco)

The heavy metals contamination of the lower Sebou sediments was studied to determine the average degree of contamination and to assess the extent of anthropogenic contamination. The spatial and temporal distribution of these metals and the results of the contamination indices showed very serious metallic contamination principally of Cr, Pb and Hg. However accurate analysis of the situation in the river mouth was complicated by the fact that the metals could be moved by the tides and currents.     

北江干流沉积物重金属污染生态风险评价

通过北江干流水体沉积物重金属含量,研究其典型污染物的潜在生态风险。采集了北江干流韶关至清远段7份沉积物样品,经混酸消解后,以电感耦合等离子体质谱仪测定沉积物中重金属含量,并对沉积物重金属分布特征进行了分析。同时利用Hakanson的潜在生态危害指数（RI）评价模式,对北江干流沉积物重金属生态风险进行了评价。评价结果表明,北江干流沉积物中重金属综合生态危害程度均表现为很高级别,其生态危害因子Pb、Cd已成为北江干流突发性水污染事故潜在预警因子。     

Senio river ecosystem: characterization and distribution of inorganic species in water and sediments

Analytical results are reported for the determination of inorganic species in water and sediments sampled in the Senio river ecosystem. The species determined are Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Co, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Hg, F-, Cl-, Br, NO3-, SO4-, Na+, K+, Ca++, Mg++, NH4+ in integrated water, and Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, Co, Cr, Ni, Fe, Mn, Hg in sediments. For all the elements, in addition to detection limits, precision and accuracy are given: the former, expressed as relative standard deviation (sr), and the latter, expressed as relative error (e), were good, being in all cases lower than 6%. Limitedly to Cu, Pb, Cd and Zn a critical comparison with voltammetric measurements is also discussed.