scholarly journals Accumulation of heavy metals in grape fruit, leaves, soil and water: A study of influential factors and evaluating ecological risks in Jaffna, Sri Lanka

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
pp. 100147
Author(s):  
Subramaniam Prabagar ◽  
Rathnayake Mudiyanselage Dharmadasa ◽  
Anantharasa Lintha ◽  
Suganja Thuraisingam ◽  
Jasotha Prabagar
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Zexing Kuang ◽  
Yangguang Gu ◽  
Yiyong Rao ◽  
Honghui Huang

The concentrations of heavy metals in sediments and marine organisms in Daya Bay were investigated, and the Monte Carlo method was used to analyze the uncertainty of the results of geo-accumulation characteristics and ecological and health risks. The mean concentrations of metal elements in sediments were in the following order: Zn > Cr > Cu > As > Cd > Hg, while those in marine organisms were Zn > Cu > As > Cr ≈ Cd > Hg. The geo-accumulation index (Igeo) indicated that the primary pollutant was Hg, with 5.46% moderately polluted, and 39.52% for unpolluted to moderately polluted. Potential ecological risks (RI) were between low and high risks, and the contributions of Hg, Cd, and As to ecological risks were 50.85%, 33.92%, and 11.47%, respectively. The total hazard coefficients (THQ) were less than 1, but on the basis of total carcinogenic risks (TCR), the probability of children and adults exceeded the unacceptable risk threshold of 22.27% and 11.19%, respectively. Sensitivity analysis results showed that the concentrations of carcinogenic elements contributed to risk in the order of As > Cd > Cr. Therefore, in order to effectively control heavy metals contamination in Daya Bay, it is necessary to strengthen the management of Hg, Cd, and As emissions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dongping Liu ◽  
Jian Wang ◽  
Huibin Yu ◽  
Hongjie Gao ◽  
Weining Xu

Abstract Background Heavy metal pollution of aquatic systems is a global issue that has received considerable attention. Canonical correlation analysis (CCA), principal component analysis (PCA), and potential ecological risk index (PERI) have been applied to heavy metal data to trace potential factors, identify regional differences, and evaluate ecological risks. Sediment cores of 200 cm in depth were taken using a drilling platform at 10 sampling sites along the Xihe River, an urban river located in western Shenyang City, China. Then they were divided into 10 layers (20 cm each layer). The concentrations of the As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn were measured for each layer. Eight heavy metals, namely Pb, Zn, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Hg, were measured for each layer in this study. Results The average concentrations of the As, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Zn were significantly higher than their background values in soils in the region, and mainly gathered at 0–120 cm in depth in the upstream, 0–60 cm in the midstream, and 0–20 cm downstream. This indicated that these heavy metals were derived from the upstream areas where a large quantity of effluents from the wastewater treatment plants enter the river. Ni, Pb, and Cr were close or slightly higher than their background values. The decreasing order of the average concentration of Cd was upstream > midstream > downstream, so were Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn. The highest concentration of As was midstream, followed by upstream and then downstream, which was different to Cd. The potential factors of heavy metal pollution were Cd, Cu, Hg, Zn, and As, especially Cd and Hg with the high ecological risks. The ecological risk levels of all heavy metals were much higher in the upstream than the midstream and downstream. Conclusions Industrial discharge was the dominant source for eight heavy metals in the surveyed area, and rural domestic sewage has a stronger influence on the Hg pollution than industrial pollutants. These findings indicate that effective management strategies for sewage discharge should be developed to protect the environmental quality of urban rivers.


2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Deshu Mamo Mekuria ◽  
Alemnew Berhanu Kassegne ◽  
Seyoum Leta Asfaw

Abstract Addis Ababa City’s river ecosystem is under extreme pressure as a result of inappropriate practices of dumping domestic and industrial wastes; thus, threatening its ability to maintain basic ecological, social and economic functions. Little Akaki River which drains through Addis Ababa City receives inorganic and organic pollutants from various anthropogenic sources. Most of inorganic pollutants such as toxic heavy metals released into the river are eventually adsorbed and settle in the sediment. The objective of this study was to evaluate the enrichment levels, pollution load and ecological risks of selected heavy metals (Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb) using various indices. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in Little Akaki River sediment were: Zn (78.96 ± 0.021–235.2 ± 0.001 mg/kg); Cr (2.19 ± 0.014–440.8 ± 0.003 mg/kg); Cd (2.09 ± 0.001–4.16 ± 0.0001 mg/kg) and Pb (30.92 ± 0.018–596.4 ± 0.066 mg/kg). Enrichment factor values indicated that sediments were moderate to significantly enriched with Zn and Cr; moderate to very highly enriched with Pb, and very highly enriched in all sampled sites with Cd. Geo-accumulation index and contamination factor values indicated that the sediments were moderate to very highly contaminated with toxic Cd and Pb. The decreasing order of pollution load index (PLI) in downstream was: (S9) > (S4) > (S8) > (S3) > (S6) > (S10) > (S5) > (S2) > (S7) > (S1). PLI and hierarchical cluster analysis revealed that the highest pollution load occurred in the lower course of the river (S9) which may be due to metals inputs from anthropogenic sources. The ecological risk (RI = 350.62) suggested that the contaminated Little Akaki River sediment can pose considerable ecological risks of pollution. The concentrations of Zn, Cr, Cd and Pb in Little Akaki River sediment surpassed eco-toxicological guideline limits of USEPA (threshold effect concentration) and CCME (Interim Sediment Quality Guidelines). Thus, the contaminated sediments can pose adverse biological effects on sediment dwelling organisms.


2021 ◽  
Vol 897 ◽  
pp. 109-115
Author(s):  
Sri Martini ◽  
Kiagus Ahmad Roni ◽  
Dian Kharismadewi ◽  
Erna Yuliwaty

This review article presents the usage of various animal bones such as chicken bone, fish bone, pig bone, camel bone, and cow bone as reliable biosorbent materials to remove heavy metals contained in contaminated water and wastewater. The sources and toxicity effects of heavy metal ions are also discussed properly. Then specific insights related to adsorption process and its influential factors along with the proven potentiality of selected biosorbents especially derived from animal bone are also explained. As the biosorbents are rich in particular organic and inorganic compounds and functional groups in nature, they play an important role in heavy metal removal from contaminated solutions. Overall, after conducting study reports on the literature, a brief conclusion can be drawn that animal bone waste has satisfactory efficacy as effective, efficient, and environmentally friendly sorbent material.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Lin ◽  
Kai Luo ◽  
Zilin Su ◽  
Yang Wu ◽  
Wei Xiao ◽  
...  

Abstract The urbanization is regarded as the major factor related to human activities that may interfere with the natural ecosystem. In this study, we have selected the wetland of East Dongting Lake as the research area. We have collected 180 soil samples (within the range of 0–20 cm, and 20cm-40cm), and we have measured the contents of their physicochemical properties (including salinity, pH value, soil particle composition, soil organic carbon, nitrate nitrogen and rapidly available phosphorus) as well as heavy metal elements (including As, Hg, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr). We have adopted the methods of multivariate statistical analysis and inverse distance weighted (IDW) interpolation, so as to to reveal the sources and distribution characteristics of heavy metal content in soil in the research area. By adopting the potential ecological risk index (PERI) method proposed by Hakanson, we intend to assess the PERI values of heavy metals. Our research findings have shown that: (1) 8 sorts of heavy metals have shown positive correlation with each other. As, Hg and Zn have shown a significantly positive correlation with SOC (P < 0.01); As, Ni, Cr and Zn have shown a significantly positive correlation with AP (P < 0.01); As and Pb have shown a significantly positive correlation with Clay (P < 0.01); whereas Hg and Zn have shown a significantly negative correlation with Silt (P < 0.01); As and Pb have shown a significantly negative correlation with Sand (P < 0.01). (2) During urbanization, the elements of Cd, Ni, As, Hg and Pb might be enriched due to agricultural and industrial activities, whereas the use of fertilizers and pesticides constitute one of the major factors contributing to the increase of Cd and Pb contents in soil. (3) Influenced by the varying land patterns and with exception to Cu, the Fe-normalized concentrations have shown significant variations among different types of land use (P < 0.05). Specifically, there is a significantly higher level of Cd, Zn, Pb and Hg contents in the agricultural land than other types of land use, whereas there is a slightly higher level of heavy metal content in the mudflats than that in the grassland. In addition, the content of heavy metals in woodland remains relatively stable, and with exception to As, the content of heavy metals in woodland is the lowest among the five types of land. (4) The average value of the comprehensive PERI in heavy metals amounts to 555.03, representing a strong degree of ecological risks. Specifically, the proportion of sampling points of Cd that have a high level of ecological risks amounts to 36.51%, which is the primary element contributing to heavy metal pollution in the region, especially in the agricultural land.


Author(s):  
Mojtaba Arjomandi ◽  
*Hamid Shirkhanloo

Heavy metals are vital and necessary in our daily lives. Moreover, if the amounts of heavy metals are more than the acceptable amounts (mentioned by WHO) in soil, water, and air, indeed, they cause a lot of diseases in human bodies. Therefore, monitoring and measuring the amounts of heavy metals that are arduous and difficult are so important. In this review paper, a lot of studies that have been carried out on the determination and quantification of heavy metals in human bodies, soil, and water are considered. Moreover, the effect of toxicity of each heavy metal on human health is assessed. According to WHO, EPA, NIOSH, ACGIH, and clinical chemistry, the determination of heavy metals such as Cd, Pb, Zn, Hg, Cu, Mn is very important in the human body and Environmental matrixes. 


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunanda Kodikara ◽  
Hossein Tiemoory ◽  
Mangala Chathura De Silva ◽  
Pathmasiri Ranasinghe ◽  
Sudarshana Somasiri ◽  
...  

Abstract Heavy metal (HM) pollution has become a serious threat to coastal aquatic ecosystems. This study, therefore, aimed at assessing the spatial distribution of selected heavy metals/metalloids including Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Lead (Pb), and Mercury (Hg) in surface sediment (0–15 cm) samples collected across Kalametiya Lagoon in southern Sri Lanka. Forty-one (41) grid points of the lagoon were sampled and the sediment samples were analyzed for HM content by using ICP-MS. A questionnaire survey was carried out to investigate the possible sources for HM pollution in Kalametiya Lagoon. Water pH and salinity showed significant variation across the lagoon. Overall mean value of pH and salinity were 6.68 ± 0.17 and 2.9 ± 2.2 PSU respectively. The spatial distribution of the heavy metals was not monotonic and showed a highly spatial variation. The kernel density maps of the measured heavy metals demarcated several different areas of the lagoon. The mean contents of As, Cd, Cr, Hg, and Pb were lower than that of threshold effect level (TEL) however, higher for Hg at the North Inlet. Nevertheless, it was still lower than potential effect level (PEL). Socio-economic interactions have dramatically reduced during the past two decades. Industrial sewage, river suspended sediments and agrochemicals such as fertilizers, pesticides were reportedly identified as the possible sources for heavy metal loads. Accumulation of toxic heavy metals can be minimized by detouring the water inflow to the lagoon.


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