Mobility of Metallic Trace Elements in Surface Waters and Sediments: Case of the Nil Wadi (Jijel, North-East Algeria)

Author(s):  
Sihem Benessam ◽  
Taha-Hocine Debieche ◽  
Souad Amiour ◽  
Amal Chine ◽  
Smaïl Khelili
2021 ◽  
Vol 193 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Daouda Kouotou ◽  
Mohammed Ghalit ◽  
Julius Nsami Ndi ◽  
Luisa M. Pastrana Martinez ◽  
Meriam El Ouahabi ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Jamel Ayari ◽  
Maurizio Barbieri ◽  
Yannick Agnan ◽  
Ahmed Sellami ◽  
Ahmed Braham ◽  
...  

AbstractHigh-quality and accurate environmental investigations are essential for the evaluation of contamination and subsequent decision-making processes. A combination of environmental geochemical indices, multivariate analyses and geographic information system approach was successfully used to assess contamination status and source apportionment of trace elements (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, V and Zn) in surface stream sediments from the Oued Rarai basin in north-western Tunisia, containing various metal and metalloid ores. The contamination level reported in this study indicates a non-negligible potential ecological risk, mainly related to sediment transport along the river. Antimony (concentrations ranged from 0.02 to 297 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5), arsenic (from 0.5 to 1490 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5), lead (from 2.9 to 5150 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) mercury (from 0.05 to 54.4 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) and silver (from 0.05 to 9.4 mg kg−1 and Igeo > 5) showed the most crucial contamination. Besides, potential ecological risk index values were maximum for arsenic with a median of 302, indicating a very high to serious ecological risk (> 160). Results from correlation analysis and principal component analysis revealed three main geochemical associations related to lithologic, tectonic and anthropogenic sources. V, Cr and Cu mainly originated from natural bedrock and soil. Ag and Cd were more controlled by both natural and mining enrichments. Mercury and Pb were mostly influenced by the ancient ore-related activities at the Oued Rarai site and north-east–south-west trending faults. Finally, Sb, As, Ni and Zn were largely controlled by the siliciclastic continental Neogene sequences. Finally, the physical and chemical dynamics of the watershed system, lithological properties, mineralisation, tectonic settings and mobilisation of subsurface sediments largely controlled both concentrations and spatial patterns of trace elements in the study basin. These results need to be considered in the strategies of suitable environmental management at former and current mining sites in north-western Tunisia.


2013 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 12491-12527 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Guieu ◽  
F. Dulac ◽  
C. Ridame ◽  
P. Pondaven

Abstract. The main goal of the project DUNE was to estimate the impact of atmospheric deposition on an oligotrophic ecosystem based on mesocosm experiments simulating strong atmospheric inputs of Aeolian dust. Atmospheric deposition is now recognized as a significant source of macro- and micro-nutrients for the surface ocean, but the quantification of its role on the biological carbon pump is still poorly determined. We proposed in DUNE to investigate the role of atmospheric inputs on the functioning of an oligotrophic system particularly well adapted to this kind of study: the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean Sea – etymologically, sea surrounded by land – is submitted to atmospheric inputs that are very variable both in frequency and intensity. During the thermal stratification period, only atmospheric deposition is prone to fertilize Mediterranean surface waters which has become very oligotrophic due to the nutrient depletion (after the spring bloom). This paper describes the objectives of DUNE and the implementation plan of a series of mesocosms experiments during which either wet or dry and a succession of two wet deposition fluxes of 10 g m−2 of Saharan dust have been simulated. After the presentation of the main biogeochemical initial conditions of the site at the time of each experiment, a general overview of the papers published in this special issue is presented, including laboratory results on the solubility of trace elements in erodible soils in addition to results from the mesocosm experiments. Our mesocosm experiments aimed at being representative of real atmospheric deposition events onto the surface of oligotrophic marine waters and were an original attempt to consider the vertical dimension in the study of the fate of atmospheric deposition within surface waters. Results obtained can be more easily extrapolated to quantify budgets and parameterize processes such as particle migration through a "captured water column". The strong simulated dust deposition events were found to impact the dissolved concentrations of inorganic dissolved phosphorus, nitrogen, iron and other trace elements. In the case of Fe, adsorption on sinking particles yields a decrease in dissolved concentration unless binding ligands were produced following a former deposition input and associated fertilization. For the first time, a quantification of the C export induced by the aerosol addition was possible. Description and parameterization of biotic (heterotrophs and autotrophs, including diazotrophs) and abiotic processes (ballast effect due to lithogenic particles) after dust addition in sea surface water, result in a net particulate organic carbon export in part controlled by the "lithogenic carbon pump".


2020 ◽  
Vol 150 ◽  
pp. 15457-15468
Author(s):  
Péhégninon Junior Ophélie DJADE ◽  
Abou TRAORE ◽  
Koffi Jean Thiérry KOFFI ◽  
Keiba Noël KEUMEAN ◽  
Gbombélé SORO ◽  
...  

Objectif : Evaluer le niveau de contamination des eaux souterraines de Zouan-Hounien en élément traces métalliques (ETM). Méthodologie et résultats : Un total de soixante-douze (72) échantillons d’eaux souterraines ont été prélevés en raison de quarante-six échantillons d’eaux de puits (23 puits) et vingt-six échantillons d’eaux de forages (13 forages). Dans ces échantillons, des ETM tels que : Hg, Pb, Cd, As et Fe ont été dosés par spectrométrie d’absorption atomique. Les concentrations moyennes respectives de Fe, Pb, Hg, As et Cd sont de 2233,48 > 3,10 > 1,67 > 1,18 > 0,08 µg.L-1 dans les puits et de 2427,94 > 4,08 > , 2,36 > 1,76 > 0,08 µg.L-1 dans les forages. La valeur moyenne du degré de contamination (Dc) dans les puits et les forages est supérieure à 3, indiquant ainsi une forte contamination des eaux souterraines. Avec des valeurs moyennes de l’indice de pollution par les ETM (HPI) inférieures à la valeur seuil de 100, ces eaux restent faiblement polluées dans l’ensemble. Pourtant, deux puits et deux forages ont enregistré une forte pollution des eaux, avec des valeurs supérieures à 100. Conclusion : L’indice de pollution des eaux souterraines par les ETM appliqué aux eaux souterraines révèle que les eaux de puits et de forages sont de bonne qualité, à l’exception de deux puits et deux forages. Le mercure reste le principal élément qui contribue à la toxicité des eaux. Sa présence dans les eaux est due à l’effet des activités d’orpaillage ancien et actuel dans la zone. Une sensibilisation sur les impacts de l’orpaillage sur les ressources en eau est à mener au sein des orpailleurs afin de réduire l’utilisation du mercure. Une consommation prolongée de ces eaux peut entrainer des problèmes graves de santé publique. Mots clés : indices de pollution, eaux souterraines, ETM, orpaillage, Zouan-Hounien Assessment of pollution indices by metallic trace elements of groundwater resources in the mining area of the department of Zouan-Hounien, Côte d´Ivoire. Objective : Assess the level of contamination of Zouan-Hounien groundwater with metallic trace elements (ETM). Methodology and results: A total of seventy-two (72) groundwater samples were taken that is forty-six well water samples (23 wells) and twenty-six borehole water samples (13 wells). In these samples, ETMs such as: Hg, Pb, Cd, As and Fe were determined by atomic absorption spectrometry. The respective average concentrations of Fe, Pb, Hg, As and Cd are 2233.48> 3.10> 1.67> 1.18> 0.08 µg.L-1 in the wells and 2427.94> 4 , 08>, 2.36> 1.76> 0.08 µg.L-1 in boreholes. The average value of the degree of contamination (Dc) in wells and boreholes is greater than 3, thus indicating a strong contamination of groundwater. With average values of the ETM pollution index (HPI) below the threshold value of 100, these waters remain slightly polluted. However, two wells and two boreholes recorded heavy water pollution, with values greater than 100. The correlation matrix carried out between the ETM and the HPI reveals that Hg is the main element, which contributes to the toxicity of the water. Conclusion: The ETM pollution indices for groundwater applied to waters revealed that well and borehole water are of good quality, with the exception of two wells and two boreholes. However, mercury remains the main element that contributes to the toxicity of water. Its presence in the waters is due to the effect of old and current gold panning activities in the area. Thus, raising awareness of the impacts of gold panning on water resources is to be carried out among gold panners in order to reduce the use of mercury. Prolonged consumption of these waters can lead to serious public health problems. Keywords: pollution indices, groundwater, ETM, gold panning, Zouan-Hounien


2019 ◽  
Vol 20 (13) ◽  
pp. 3117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ewa Muszyńska ◽  
Mateusz Labudda

Heavy metals are an interesting group of trace elements (TEs). Some of them are minutely required for normal plant growth and development, while others have unknown biological actions. They may cause injury when they are applied in an elevated concentration, regardless of the importance for the plant functioning. On the other hand, their application may help to alleviate various abiotic stresses. In this review, both the deleterious and beneficial effects of metallic trace elements from their uptake by roots and leaves, through toxicity, up to the regulation of physiological and molecular mechanisms that are associated with plant protection against stress conditions have been briefly discussed. We have highlighted the involvement of metallic ions in mitigating oxidative stress by the activation of various antioxidant enzymes and emphasized the phenomenon of low-dose stimulation that is caused by non-essential, potentially poisonous elements called hormesis, which is recently one of the most studied issues. Finally, we have described the evolutionary consequences of long-term exposure to metallic elements, resulting in the development of unique assemblages of vegetation, classified as metallophytes, which constitute excellent model systems for research on metal accumulation and tolerance. Taken together, the paper can provide a novel insight into the toxicity concept, since both dose- and genotype-dependent response to the presence of metallic trace elements has been comprehensively explained.


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