Paleolimnological evidence for the long-range atmospheric transport of acidic pollutants and heavy metals into the Province of Quebec, eastern Canada

1983 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ouellet ◽  
H. G. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Anthropogenic Activity ◽  
Particulate Emissions ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Recent Sediments

The present study deals with the geochemical stratigraphic evolution of the recent sediments of 26 lakes located throughout the Province of Quebec, Canada. Although there is no major anthropogenic activity within the watersheds of many of these lakes, it is shown that Pb, Zn, Hg, and Cu levels in the most recent sediments of all lakes increased significantly from 1940 onwards. It is suggested that these increases are due to the increased burning of fossil fuels (particularly coal). The heavy-metal increases tend to be relatively high, especially for Pb, Hg, and Zn, in the sediments of lakes from areas close to the U.S.A.–Quebec boundary, while lakes in more remote areas show smaller increases in the strata laid down in the same time periods. Pb contents in the sediments show a sustained increase in all of the upper strata. However, the subsequent reduction in the stratigraphic concentration of Zn and Hg since 1960 in both an acidified system (Lake Tantare) and a non-acidified lake (Lake Laflamme) might be the result of the important decrease of the total particulate emissions to the atmosphere associated with new technology for coal-fired power plants and the use of cleaner energy sources.The increase in Al in the sediments of Lake Tantare since 1950 is attributed to the processes of surface water acidification of this watershed induced by the long-range atmospheric transport of SOx and NOx.Based on the sedimentary anthropogenic enrichment factor (SAEF) values for the remote sites there is no evidence in the present study for associating the origin of certain heavy metals in these lake sediments with alternative anthropogenic sources such as the Ni and Cu smelting complexes located in Sudbury (Ontario) and Rouyn–Noranda (Quebec). The major sources of heavy-metal deposition and acid precipitation are thus associated with the long-range transport of emissions from fossil fuel combustion originating in the heavily industrialized American Midwest region.

scholarly journals Environmental Risk Assessment of Petroleum Activities in Surface Sediments, Suez Gulf, Egypt

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 473
Author(s):  
Magda M. Abou El-Safa ◽  
Mohamed Gad ◽  
Ebrahem M. Eid ◽  
Ashwaq M. Alnemari ◽  
Mohammed H. Almarshadi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Surface Sediment ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Surf Zone ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Negative Relationship ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Suez Gulf

The present study focuses on the risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems by evaluating the current situation of heavy metals in seven locations (North Amer El Bahry, Amer, Bakr, Ras Gharib, July Water Floud, Ras Shokeir, and El Marageen) along the Suez Gulf coast that are well-known representative sites for petroleum activities in Egypt. One hundred and forty-six samples of surface sediments were carefully collected from twenty-seven profiles in the intertidal and surf zone. The hydrochemical parameters, such as pH and salinity (S‰), were measured during sample collection. The mineralogy study was carried out by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectra (ICP-MS). The ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed by applying the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). The mineralogical composition mainly comprised quartz, dolomites, calcite, and feldspars. The average concentrations of the detected heavy metals, in descending order, were Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Cd. A non-significant or negative relationship between the heavy metal concentration in the samples and their textural grain size characteristics was observed. The coastal surface sediment samples of the Suez Gulf contained lower concentrations of heavy metals than those published for other regions in the world with petroleum activities, except for Al, Mn, and Cr. The results for the CF, EF, and Igeo showed that Cd and Pb have severe enrichment in surface sediment and are derived from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn originate from natural sources. By comparison, the PLI and RI results indicate that the North Amer El Bahry and July Water Floud are considered polluted areas due to their petroleum activities. The continuous monitoring and assessment of pollutants in the Suez Gulf will aid in the protection of the environment and the sustainability of resources.

Heavy metal pollution by long range atmospheric transport in natural soils of Southern Norway

1989 ◽  
Vol 45 (3-4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Eiliv Steinnes ◽  
Wenche Solberg ◽  
HeidiM. Petersen ◽  
ChristopherD. Wren
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Natural Soils ◽  
Southern Norway

Analysis on Pb, Cd, Cr, As, Mn Emission and Control Technology of Typical Industries

2012 ◽  
Vol 610-613 ◽  
pp. 1176-1187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tao Yue ◽  
Fan Wang ◽  
Bin Jie Han ◽  
Peng Lai Zuo ◽  
Fan Zhang
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Flue Gas ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Control Technology ◽  
Generator System ◽  
Lead And Zinc ◽  
Metal Contents ◽  
Industrial Boilers

The heavy metals including Pb, Cd, Cr, As and Mn emission characteristics of coal-fired power plant boilers, industrial boilers, lead and zinc smelters, cement kilns, and steel industries were studied in this paper. The removing effects of heavy metals by pollution control technology were analyzed. ICP-AES method was used to measure the contents of heavy metals in solid samples. In addition, M-29, the U.S. EPA isokinetic sampling method was used to sample heavy metals in the flue gas, and the sampled heavy metals were tested by ICP-AES-hydride generator system. For coal-fired boilers, heavy metal contents in descending order were Mn, Pb and Cd in the tested coal. The heavy metals’ emission concentrations of coal-fired industrial boilers were much higher than the heavy metals’ emission concentrations of power plants. For the lead and zinc smelters, Pb and its compounds in flue gas after cleaning can meet the emission standards. The heavy metal contents in the cement raw materials in descending order were Pb, Cr and Cd. For the sintering mixture, the heavy metal contents in descending order were Pb, Cr and Cd as well. The removal effects of heavy metals by existing pollutant control technologies in the various typical industries were also tested and analyzed in the paper. The research did in the paper made a scientific basis for controlling heavy metal emissions from typical industries.

Statistical Analysis of Heavy Metals in Bottom Sediments from the Tuo River in Suzhou City, China and its Implications for Source Identification

2012 ◽  
Vol 518-523 ◽  
pp. 1621-1624 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lin Hua Sun
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Statistical Analysis ◽  
Bottom Sediments ◽  
Source Identification ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Homogeneous Distribution ◽  
Principle Component ◽  
Suzhou City ◽  
The City

Heavy metal (Zn, V, Cr, Co, Cu and Pb) concentrations in bottom sediments from Tuo River in Suzhou City have been analyzed for determing their average levels and distribution concentrations, and statistical analysis (correlation, cluster and principle component) have been taken place for evaluating their lithogenic and/or anthropogenic sources. The results imply that the concentration of metals following the order Co>Zn>V>Cr>Cu>Pb with homogeneous distribution. The lithogenic metals (V, Cr and Co) are enriched out of the city, whereas the anthropogenic (industry and vehicle related) metals (Zn, V, Cu and Pb) are enriched in the city.

scholarly journals Springtime nitrogen oxides and tropospheric ozone in Svalbard: results from the measurement station network

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alena Dekhtyareva ◽  
Mark Hermanson ◽  
Anna Nikulina ◽  
Ove Hermansen ◽  
Tove Svendby ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitrogen Oxides ◽  
Long Range ◽  
Wind Direction ◽  
Tropospheric Ozone ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Atmospheric Stability ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. Svalbard is a remote and scarcely populated Arctic archipelago, and is considered to be mostly influenced by the long-range transported air pollution. However, there are also local emission sources such as coal and diesel power plants, snowmobiles and ships, but their influence on the background concentrations of trace gases have not been thoroughly assessed. This study is based on tropospheric ozone (O3) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) data collected in three main Svalbard settlements in spring 2017. In addition to these ground-based observations, radiosonde and O3 sondes soundings, ERA5 reanalysis and BrO satellite data have been applied in order to distinguish the impact of local and synoptic-scale conditions on the NOx and O3 chemistry. The measurement campaign was divided into several sub-periods based on the prevailing large-scale weather regimes.The local wind direction at the stations depended on the large-scale conditions, but was modified due to complex topography. The NOx concentration showed weak correlation for the different stations and depended strongly on the wind direction and atmospheric stability. On the contrary, the O3 concentration was highly correlated among the different measurement sites and was controlled by the long-range atmospheric transport to Svalbard. Lagrangian backward trajectories have been used to examine the origin and path of the air masses during the campaign.

scholarly journals HISTOPATHOLOGICAL CHANGES ON ETROPLUS MACULATUS (BLOCH, 1795) DUE TO ZINC EXPOSURE

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 221-228
Author(s):  
Archana Devi ◽  
S.Bijoy Nandan
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Management Strategies ◽  
Probit Analysis ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources ◽  
Fresh Water Fish ◽  
Vacuolar Degeneration ◽  
Liver And Kidney ◽  
Sublethal Concentrations

The contamination of the aquatic systems with heavy metals from natural and anthropogenic sources has become a global problem which poses serious threats to ecosystems and natural communities. Heavy metals get bio concentrated in organisms that may cause health problems in humans via the food chain. The heavy metal zinc causes most serious environmental contaminations and effects due to its rampant use. In this study sublethal effects of the heavy metal, zinc on the histopathological parameters in fresh water fish, Etroplus maculatus was investigated. The 96 hour LC50 value of zinc was determined by Probit analysis, that was found to be 12.4 mg/L. The liver and kidney samples were collected from fish was exposed to sublethal concentrations of zinc on 14th and 28thdays.The structural deformities observed in the liver tissue showed swelling of hepatocytes, vacuolar degeneration, necrosis, nuclear hypertrophy and cirrhosis with acute haemorrhage where as, kidney showed degenerated renal capsule and renal tubule, edema, necrosis and haemorrhage in the interstetium. The histpathological changes become prominent as the days and concentration of exposure increases. The study thus establishes that zinc is harmful to Etroplus maculatus even in sublethal concentrations and effective management strategies are to be evolved and implemented to protect our water bodies and the organisms from problems of heavy metal pollution.

scholarly journals Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution of the Snow Cover of the Severodvinsk Industrial District (Russia, the Arkhangelsk Region).

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Yu. Yakovlev ◽  
A.S. Druzhinina ◽  
E.N. Zykova ◽  
S.B. Zykov ◽  
N.L. Ivanchenko
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Snow Cover ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Solid Phase ◽  
Thermal Power ◽  
Industrial District ◽  
Arkhangelsk Region

Abstract In the present work, the content of heavy metals in soluble and insoluble forms of snow was investigated, as well as in waters from wells near the Severodvinsk industrial centre (Russia, the Arkhangelsk region). The content of heavy metals (Al, Fe, Ti, Mn, Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Co, V, As, and Cd) in the melt snow filtrate and solid residue was measured using the ICP-MS method. On the territory of the city, there are high concentrations of metals, high values ​​of electrical conductivity and low pH values ​​in objects most susceptible to anthropogenic pollution. It was determined that in urban conditions the share of the solid-phase component increases, which indicates an increase in dust fallout. Statistical analysis showed that most of the metals in the snow cover are linked with each other by a strong correlation (r> 0.9), and also made it possible to identify sources of pollution, namely thermal power plants and shipbuilding enterprises. The calculation of various indices for assessing the snow quality and natural waters determined the level of heavy metal pollution in the Severodvinsk industrial district as extremely high and dangerous for public health. The radiation parameters of water from wells were studied and a satisfactory radioecological characterisation of the research area was established.

scholarly journals Topsoil Magnetic Susceptibility and Heavy Metal Contamination: A Case Study in Al-Muthanna Province, Iraq

2020 ◽  
pp. 371-381
Author(s):  
Nawrass Ameen
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Magnetic Properties ◽  
Magnetic Susceptibility ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Oil Refinery ◽  
Cement Plant ◽  
Rapid Urbanization

     Due to rapid urbanization and industrialization that occurred in Al- Muthanna province in southeastern Iraq during the last decade, pollutants such as heavy metals were emitted into the environment and became a serious threat to human health. Environmental pollution could be caused by different types of pollutants, which come from different sources.      This study aims to assess the environmental magnetism efficiency for heavy metal pollution assessment using the magnetic susceptibility technique which became a more rapid and cost-effective compared to conventional methods. Increasing heavy metal contents in soils causes an increase in the magnetic mineral concentration. The study area is located in Al- Muthanna province, southeast of Iraq, and contains three cement plants, an oil refinery, bricks factories, and power plants. Fifty topsoil and subsoil samples (0-50 cm depth) were collected from five sites; Al-Jinoob cement plant (one site), Samawa oil refinery (two sites) and Al- Muthanna cement plant (two sites). In this study, magnetic properties of samples in vertical sections and levels of heavy metal elements; of selected samples from regions with different geological settings were compared. The heavy metals analysis included chromium (Cu), iron (Fe), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), Arsenic (As) and lead (Pb), which could give indications of heavy metal pollution in soil. The highest magnetic susceptibility value (65.23 x10-8 m3kg-1) was recorded in Al-Muthanna cement plant (TSL-4) and the highest Cu concentration (602.57 ppm) was also recorded in Al-Muthanna cement plant (TSL-5-3). The results of magnetic properties show the dominance of coarse magnetite, which is supposed to have originated from pedogenic particles in natural soils, causing the positive correlation between magnetic susceptibility (χ) and anhysteretic remanent magnetisation (ARM). According to the results of frequency dependent susceptibility ratio (κfd%), the magnetic particles showed an admixture of multi-domain and pseudo-single domain behaviour. Magnetic susceptibility and heavy metal analyses results indicated emissions from nearby industrial plants. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) was carried out for heavy metal analyses which supported our results. Results of this study demonstrate the suitability of applying magnetic techniques for assessing environmental situations.  

scholarly journals Heavy Metal Pollutants in Snow and Ice from Roosevelt Island, Antarctica

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Andrea Tuohy
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
20Th Century ◽  
Atmospheric Transport ◽  
Ice Core ◽  
Anthropogenic Emissions ◽  
Industrial Emissions ◽  
Natural Sources ◽  
Metal Pollutants ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollutants

<p>Global industrialization has led to emissions of heavy metal pollutants that are transported to the most remote areas of the planet. Elevated concentrations of heavy metals are ecological toxins in soils, water, and air. Monitoring has only been implemented during the last few decades with anthropogenic emissions superimposed over natural sources. Furthermore, most monitoring programs generally target local sources of emissions near cities rather than large-scale impacts. Thus quantifying safe limits and controlling industrial emissions is complicated by a lack of knowledge about natural sources and variability on regional, hemispheric, and global scales. New baseline studies are needed to determine i) natural background concentrations of heavy metals, ii) contributions of anthropogenic emissions, and iii) the degree to which atmospheric transport affects background heavy metal concentrations. Due to the remoteness of Antarctica, ice cores can be used as sensitive recorders of background heavy metal atmospheric concentrations over thousands of years. This provides the opportunity to determine natural variability and contributions to the atmosphere on a hemispheric scale, as well as dating the onset of anthropogenic emissions.  This thesis presents a 2,300-year time-series record of six heavy metals from a new high-resolution coastal ice core from the Ross Sea region of Antarctica. Roosevelt Island is an ice dome located in the north-eastern Ross Ice Shelf, and a 763m deep ice core was collected over two field seasons as part of the Roosevelt Island Climate Evolution (RICE) project. In addition to 31 other trace elements, concentrations of iron, aluminium, manganese, lead, arsenic, and thallium were measured using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICPMS) in the RICE ice core, snow pit, and snow precipitation samples. Sample resolution over the 20th century is extremely high (~1.6 months per sample), with ~four-year resolution extending the record back to 2,300 years ago.  We use this record to first determine the representativeness of the RICE ice core to Southern Hemisphere atmospheric concentrations of heavy metals, and find that concentrations in snow precipitation are strongly linked to meridional air mass pathways from the South Pacific. Local deposition characteristics and heavy metal seasonality are also examined in the surface snow. The natural sources and variability of the six heavy metals are explored through the last ~2,000 years, and this provides the context for examining changes over the 20th century. We find that iron, aluminium, and manganese are strongly associated with crustal dust and do not exhibit source changes over the 20th century, though significant increases in concentration may be due to anthropogenically induced increases in atmospheric dust. Even when increased variability due to recent increased efficiency of atmospheric transport is taken into account, the change in source emission strength dominates the concentration increases in these elements recorded in the RICE ice core. Thallium concentrations do not increase over the 20th century, and are likely linked to local volcanism. Both lead and arsenic concentrations increase significantly over the 20th century, with the pattern in lead concentrations closely matching existing Antarctic records. These increases are linked to anthropogenic emissions, with peaks during the 1970s and 1980s up to 400% higher than pre-industrial concentrations – well outside the natural variability. However, the ice core record shows a decreasing trend in concentrations of these elements from the mid-1990s to the present. Arsenic concentrations return to within pre-industrial variability, and the timing of this trend coincides with increasing efforts of policy makers in Southern Hemisphere countries to regulate industrial emissions and to promote public awareness of heavy metal pollutants.</p>

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