Heavy metal contamination of surface soil around Gebze industrial area, Turkey

An increase in heavy metal pollution in the soils of Gebze (Turkey) due to intense industrialization and urbanization has become a serious environmental problem. There are two large organized industrial zones in Gebze; the Gebze Organized Industrial Zone (GOIZ) and the Dilovas? Organized Industrial Zone (DOIZ). The region hosts several industrial facilities which are the main source for hazardous wastes which include paint, plastic, electric, metal, textile, wood, automotive supply industry, food, cosmetics, packing, machinery, and chemicals. Soil samples were collected from these two industrial zones and analyzed for their metal contents. Results of the analysis show that the soils are characterized by high concentrations of Cd, As, Pb, Zn, Mn, Cu, Cr and Hg. Since concentrations of other elements do not exceed the permissible levels, they are not evaluated. Concentrations are 0.05-176 mg/kg of Cd, 10-1161 mg/kg of Cr, 7.87-725 mg/kg of Cu, 1.50-65.60 mg/kg of As, 17.07-8469 mg/kg of Pb, 1.96-10,000 mg/kg of Mn, 29.5-10,000 mg/kg of Zn, and 9-2721 μg/kg of Hg. Application of factor, cluster and correlation analysis showed that heavy metal contamination in soils originates from industrial activities and heavy traffic which are of anthropogenic origin. Contaminations in soils were classified as geoaccumulation index, enrichment factor, contamination factor, and contamination degree. Integrated pollution index (IPI) values indicate that heavy metal pollution levels of soils collected from industrialization sites are greater than those from distal parts of industrialization. Spreading of hazardous wastes from industrial facilities in the study area via rain or wind is the main source of soil pollution. In addition, traffic-related metal pollution is also observed.     

57Fe Mössbauer spectroscopy of banded iron formations from eastern India

Samples of the mosses Hylocomium splendens and Pleurozium schreberi, collected in the summer of 1998, were used to study the atmospheric deposition of heavy metals and other toxic elements in the Chelyabinsk Region situated in the South Urals, one of the most heavily polluted industrial areas of the Russian Federation. Samples of natural soils were collected simultaneously with moss at the same 30 sites in order to investigate surface accumulation of heavy metals and to examine the correlation of elements in moss and soil samples in order to separate contributions from atmospheric deposition and from soil minerals. A total of 38 elements (Na, Mg, Al, K, Ca, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Rb, Sr, Zr, Mo, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th, U) in soil and 33 elements Na, Mg, Al, Cl, K, Ca, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, La, Ce, Sm, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, W, Au, Th, U) were determined by epithermal neutron activation analysis. The elements Cu, Cd and Pb (in moss samples only) were obtained by atomic absorption spectrometry. VARIMAX rotated principal component analysis was used to identify and characterize different pollution sources and to point out the most polluted areas.     

Metals and semi-metals in street soils of São Paulo city,Brazil

São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and South America with about 20 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area, more than nine million motor vehicles and intense industrial activity, which are responsible for increasing pollution in the region. Nevertheless, little is known concerning metal and semi-metal content in the soils of this metropolitan region. This type of information could be extremely useful as a fingerprint of environmental pollution. The present study determined the elements As, Ba, Co, Cr, Sb, and Zn concentrations in soils adjacent to avenues of highly dense traffic in São Paulo city to assess their levels and possible sources. The analytical technique employed was Instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results showed, except for Co, concentration levels higher than the reference values for soils of São Paulo, according to the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of São Paulo guidelines. When compared to similar studies in other cities around the world, São Paulo soils presented higher levels, probably due to its high density traffic and industrial activity. The concentrations obtained for As and Cr indicate anthropogenic origin. The high levels of the traffic-related elements Ba, Sb, and Zn in soils nearby high density traffic avenues indicate they may originate from vehicular exhausts.     

Geochemistry of Holocene and late Pleistocene soils in the Rouge River and Scarborough Bluffs areas,South-Central Ontario,Canada

Concentrations of major, minor and trace elements were measured in four soil profiles from south-central Ontario. The mean concentration values reported are probably representative of elemental levels in soils formed from sediments reworked by lacustrine and fluvial processes and weathered over the last 12 000 years. The older soils in the sequence (R12, R15 and BRIM1) show declining Na, K, and Al, mainly from Ca dilution, especially in the lower horizons. Iron and Mg levels were not affected by the variations in the Ca concentrations. Arsenic, Br, and Sb concentrations did not increase appreciably in surface A horizons, indicating no measurable airfall influx of industrial pollutants. The relative increase in Mn/Al in the lower horizons of the older soils may be related to leaching by soil or ground water movement.     

The use of Tillandsia usneoides L. as bioindicator of air pollution in São Paulo, Brazil

Epiphytic bromeliadTillandsia usneoides was used as a biomonitor of metal atmospheric pollution in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The samples were collected from an unpolluted area and were exposed for 8 weeks in 10 sites of the city and in a control site. The data obtained showed that the control site presented lower concentration for most elements analyzed and the highest concentrations of Na, Cl, Br, K. The highest concentrations of Zn, Cu and V were observed in stations submitted to industrial and vehicular sources. The results obtained for rare earth elements, Al, Fe, Mg, Mn, Rb and Sc indicate mineral dust origin. The elements Ba, As and Sb presented higher values in stations near streets with heavy traffic.     

洛阳市蔬菜基地土壤中重金属含量抽样分析及评价

为了解洛阳市蔬菜基地土壤中重金属污染状况,对郊区白马寺镇蔬菜基地靠近公路、铁路、社区边和远离这些区域的菜地土壤抽样,采用原子吸收分光光度法测定了样品中的Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr 5种重金属元素含量,并根据国家土壤环境质量二级标准对检测结果进行单因子污染指数和综合污染指数评价。结果表明,土样中重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr的平均含量分别为37.09、106.09、50.10、0.56、16.13 mg.kg-1。其中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr含量均能达到清洁级,而Cd含量在靠近公路边、铁路边和社区边的抽样中明显高,接近或超出国家土壤环境质量二级标准值,在远离交通和社区的抽样中处于清洁级。由综合评价可知,在所采集的11个土壤样品中,4个样处于安全级水平,5个样处于警戒级水平,2个样处于轻度污染状态。可见,交通运输和社区生活是引起土壤重金属污染的重要因素。     

Levels, risk assessment and sources of PM10 fraction heavy metals in four types dust from a coal-based city

The concentrations of V, Cr, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Hg and Pb in PM₁₀ fraction of four types of dust in a coal-based city, Fushun were detected by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Results showed that most of the average concentrations for 11 metals in dust were higher than Chinese soil background values, especially for Cu, Zn, Hg, Cd and Pb with higher pollution index values. The re-suspended dust from residential and school building surfaces showed middle and high level of pollution by geoaccumulation index assessment which should raise attention as their potential health risk to local residenter and students. Six hotspots were found from spatial distribution analysis, locating at the northeast corner, central area close to mines, southwest area adjacent to an expressway, northeast area close to power plants, the city center and the industrial district reflecting the influence of agricultural activities, mining activities, vehicle emission, coal combustion and industrial activities. Correlation and principal component analysis showed accordant results indicating that vehicle emission, industrial activities, coal combustion and crustal materials were the main sources for heavy metals in PM₁₀ fraction of fugitive dust in Fushun.     

Study of seasonal variation and source characteristic of PM10 of Shanghai urban atmosphere using PIXE

This study is a one-year monitoring of the inhalable particulate matter (PM10) of Shanghai (from January 2006 to December 2006) to study PM10 pollution. Proton-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) was used to investigate the chemical elements in Shanghai PM10. The study finds seasonal variation in both mass concentration and of chemical elements in PM10. The results of the enrichment factor show that the chemical elements in the inhalable particles could be divided into two categories, soil elements from earth crust and anthropogenic pollution elements. The high enrichment factors suggest that anthropogenic activities were the dominant source for elements such as S, Cu, Cl, Zn, Pb and Br. Strong correlation of K, Ca, Fe and Ti, from factor analysis, indicates these elements coming from earth crust or soil, S, Zn and Pb from industrial pollution and/or traffic and Cl from coal combustion.     

Neutron activation analysis applied in sediment samples from the Guarapiranga Reservoir for metals and trace elements assessment

The Guarapiranga Reservoir is a very important aquatic system due to the fact that it is one of the main water reservoirs for South America’s largest city, São Paulo, Brazil. Guarapiranga basin is located within the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo and the reservoir itself is located in the Northern part of the basin occupying approximately 26 km². This reservoir is characterized by environmental impacts from urban invasion, industrial and sewage wastes, all of which seriously affect its water quality and, consequently, the sediment quality. Two collection campaigns were undertaken: April 2009 and June 2010. The samples were analyzed by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in order to determine the following elements: major (Fe, K and Na), trace (As, Ba, Br, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Rb, Sb, Sc, Ta, Tb, Th, U and Zn) and rare earths (Ce, Eu, La, Lu, Nd, Sm, Tb and Yb). The organic matter and granulometric distribution were also evaluated and multivariate analysis was applied to the results. The study of elemental ratios indicated that the amount of elements present in the Guarapiranga Reservoir is mainly of detrital origin.     

Geochemical profile of Chautauqua Lake sediments

Neutron activation analysis techniques were used to study sediments from Chautauqua Lake. The concentrations of Eu, Na, Mn, K, Br, As, Ga, La, Hf, Cs, Tb, Sc, Fe, Ta, Sb were determined and compared with similar data for the bedrock and soils surrounding the lake. The lake sediments are found to be enriched in Na, Mn, Br, As, Hf, Tb, Ta, and Sb relative to the surrounding source beds. High pairwise linear correlation coefficients (R～0.9) were found between the concentrations of antimony, cesium, and scandium. For many elements a relationship was indicated between their concentrations and the clay fraction of the sediment, possibly due to the higher cation exchange potential of the clay minerals.     

The application of INAA in a study of environment geochemistry on the Xizang (Tibet) Plateau,China

INAA as a routine analysis method has been used in a study of environment geochemistry on the Xizang (Tibet) Plateau in China, and 34 elements in soil samples were determined by INAA with both short and long irradiations. This paper presents some primary results from the study, including mean element concentrations in Tibetan soil, paterns of element distribution in soils developed from main types of parent materials on the plateau. The results confirm the expectation that soil formed in such cold and dry environment on the plateau retained the main geochemical characteristics of the parent materials. However, the results still imply the possible migration of some elements in different bio-climatic environments during the soil formation. The elements in the top soils, mainly the alkalis and alkaline earths, and also As, Br, etc., were enriched or depleted in varying degrees in proportion to their abundance in the parent materials.     

冶炼厂烟囱降尘农田土壤重金属含量及潜在生态风险评价

摘要：为了研究冶炼厂下风向烟囱降尘对农田土壤重金属污染影响程度,以济源市某一冶炼厂工业烟囱下风向降尘覆盖农田土壤为研究对象,依次对距离该厂烟囱大约为750m-3000m的7个农田研究区（P1-P7）土壤中重金属（Hg、As、Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn、Ni、Cr、）含量进行污染状况分析,采用了单项潜在生态风险指数法和综合潜在生态风险指数法对冶炼厂下风向烟囱降尘土壤中重金属的潜在生态风险进行评价。结果表明：在3 km2研究区域范围内,距离冶炼厂越近土壤重金属含量越高,Pb、Cd为重度污染,超过了《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准》（GB15618-2018）农用地土壤污染风险管制值的1.2倍,距离冶炼厂烟囱下风向P1区土壤中重金属As、Pb、Cd、Cu、Zn超过土壤环境质量农用地土壤风险筛选值,Cd 在浓度值均超过农用土壤污染风险管制值1.8倍,As元素平均浓度值超农用土壤污染风险管制值1.7倍,Pb、Cu和Zn污染较严重,Cd、Hg对综合指数（RI）贡献值较大分别为68.63和22.4。单项潜在生态风险指数评价结果显示Cd存在极严重的潜在生态风险,Pb、Cu存在较严重潜在生态风险,冶炼厂下风向土壤中综合潜在生态风险指数评价显示,冶炼厂下风向降尘土壤重金属具有较强的生态风险。     

西南山地煤矿区耕地土壤-农作物重金属富集及健康风险评价

为了解西南某典型山地煤矿区周边农田土壤、农作物重金属的富集情况及对当地人群健康的影响程度,采集矿区周边农田土壤样品和对应的农作物样品,测定重金属Cr、Mn、Zn、As、Pb的含量。运用Nemero指数法、潜在风险指数法对土壤重金属的污染程度进行评价;采用靶标危害系数法(THQ)评价农作物重金属对人体的健康风险。结果显示,Cr、Mn、Zn、As、Pb分别是背景值的1.81、1.90、2.89、1.30、0.86倍,处于轻度污染级别,轻微危害程度。农作物重金属Cr、Pb和As含量的超标情况较严重,Zn的含量超标相对较小。各农作物富集的重金属对人体的健康风险大小为：高粱>玉米>白菜>葱>辣椒。农作物重金属对儿童健康的危害均达到了慢性中毒;对成人健康的影响,高粱处于慢性中毒,其它农作物重金属处于产生较大影响的危害程度。农作物重金属与土壤重金属的相关性分析表明,农作物重金属的含量与土壤重金属全量并无线性关系;各重金属在农作物中的转移能力不同;Pb,As在农作物中的转移能力较大,而Cr相对较小。鉴于矿区重金属的富集情况,应尽快采取修复治理措施,为保证当地人群健康,建议当地居民不再食用和种植富集重金属严重的高粱、玉米农作物。     

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.     

Environmental cadmium, lead and nickel contamination: possible relationship between soil and vegetable content

Summary The cadmium, lead and nickel content of soils of four agricultural areas exposed to different degrees of environmental pollution and vegetables grown there were measured by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). In order to ascertain the possible relationship between the heavy metal content of soils (total and extractable) and of vegetables grown in them, the correlation between the two was calculated. The highest correlation values between metal content of soil and vegetables are these corresponding to nickel: the total metal content in soils and leaves-stems are linear (p<0.01). The extractable metal content of soils and leaves-stems are linear (p<0.1). Therefore, soil seems to be the main contributor to nickel content of plants (leaves-stems). In the case of cadmium a statistically significant linear correlation (p<0.01) was observed between total metal content in soil and in leaves-stems and a negative one between extractable metal content of soils and that of roots-bulbs. For lead a negative correlation was found between extractable metal content of soils and leaves-stems. In any case, the lead content of soils is not the main factor that influences the lead content of vegetables. Anthropogenic and environmental factors play a more important role than the lead in soils in the lead content of vegetables.     

土壤重金属污染评价指标的研究进展

土壤重金属污染评价指标主要有：土壤重金属总含量，有效含量，土壤酶活性以及植物中毒临界含量等。由于受重金属污染的土壤中往往伴有多种重金属元素以及元素之间的交互作用，使得临界值的确定更为复杂，目前评价土壤重金属复合污染的方法主要是综合指数法。     

Rapid assessment of the impact of microwave heating coupled with UV-C radiation on the degradation of PAHs from contaminated soil using FTIR and multivariate analysis

The presence and fate of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment are receiving a great concern. In this study, three oil-contaminated soils (industrial area, Dukhan city, and artificial soils) were utilized to examine the effect of microwave (MW) heating and UV-C irradiation on the PAHs degradation. A rapid assessment of the impact was evaluated using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and multivariate analysis. The total organic matter values for the maximum PAHs reduction were evaluated based on the FTIR spectra of the contaminated soils followed with the principal component analysis (PCA). The results showed that the highest total organic carbon reduction was achieved for the industrial soil sample that required a high MW power and long MW exposure time. On the other hand, the Dukhan city soil sample, which has the lowest total organic carbon, required a high MW power and short MW exposure time followed by UV-C treatment for 20 min to reach the maximal FTIR transmittance reduction. The cluster analysis was also used to evaluate the impact of MW heating, and MW heating followed by UV-C irradiation on the degradation of PAHs. The PCA results of the industrial city sample showed that neither MW treatment (100% MW, 15 min exposure time) followed by UV-C treatment for 20 min nor 10 min is significantly different from the MW treatment (100% MW, 15 min exposure time). However, for the Dukhan sample, the UV-C treatment at 10 min after high MW power and long exposure time (100% MW, 15 min exposure time) was the most efficient treatment.     

Instrumental neutron activation analysis of water hyacinth as a bioindicator along the Nile river,Egypt

Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is known to accumulate elements from rivers and a good tool for water monitoring. To test the usefulness of such an aquatic plant as a bioindicator, we have determined the levels of Na, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, As, Rb, Zr, Sb, Cs, La, Ce, Nd, Sm, Eu, Tb, Yb, Hf, Ta, Th, and U in water hyacinth around industrial facilities and along the studied area by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Mo, Cd, and Pb were determined in upstream river water and effluent factories. Contamination factor, and pollution load index was calculated. The results show that higher concentrations as well as bioaccumulation factors of these elements were observed in water hyacinth samples around the industrial facilities. On the other hand a decrease in calcium concentration was observed as a result of the thermal pollution of Nile river water. The pollution load index for the studied area was estimated to be 4.2.     

泰安市城区土壤重金属污染特征及风险评价

为了解泰安市城区土壤重金属污染特征,对采集的30件土壤样品中6种重金属含量进行测定,利用单因子污染指数法、内梅罗综合污染指数法、地累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法开展污染状况评价。结果表明：土壤中As、Cd、Cu、Pb、Hg、Ni的平均含量分别为6.72、0.066、20.33、18.19、0.031和19.92 mg.kg^-1,其中As、Cd、Cu、Pb、Ni的平均含量均低于泰安市和山东省土壤背景值,Hg的平均含量略高于泰安市土壤背景值,变异系数大于0.6,其含量受人类活动影响较大,空间分布差异性较大;除Hg的单因子污染指数为1.03,严重污染、中度污染、轻微污染和无污染采样点数量占比分别为3%、7%、23%和67%,其他重金属单因子污染指数平均值小于1,为无污染状态;重金属内梅罗综合污染指数平均为1.58～1.64,整体属于轻污染水平;土壤重金属累积较轻,多数为无污染状态,Hg的最大地累积指数为1.29,达中等-强污染(3级);综合生态风险指数RI的范围为39.96～191.81,平均值为77.60,综合生态风险等级为轻微,为低生态风险区,Hg为引起风险的主要因子;Cu、Ni含量较低,富集主要受土壤母质和自然过程的控制;Pb、Cd、As主要来源于自然背景因素,部分受人类活动影响;Hg的污染来源于化肥、塑料地膜和含重金属的无机农药使用,受农业活动和居民生活影响较大。     

三峡库区重庆段几种土壤元素全量与其有效态含量的相关关系分析

利用重庆市沿江经济带地球化学调查所得土壤分析数据,研究了三峡库区重庆段土壤中元素的丰缺状况及其全量与有效态含量的相关关系。在进行相关关系分析时,主要考虑了不同土壤类型和土壤的pH值两个因素。结果表明,研究区B、Cu、Mn、Zn、K、Fe元素全量现状水平充足;N、P、Mo元素全量现状水平缺乏;有效态B、Mo、P、Zn含量缺乏;有效态Cu含量丰富;有效态Mn、N、Fe和速效K含量充足。元素有效态含量易受土壤类型和土壤的pH值影响,在很大程度上受土壤类型影响较大。在研究区的四类土壤类型中N、Mn元素全量与其有效态含量相关关系较好;P元素在石灰土和水稻土中其全量和有效态含量相关关系显著。