Trace-element distributions in fish otoliths: natural markers of life histories, environmental conditions and exposure to tailings effluence

2008 ◽  
Vol 72 (2) ◽  
pp. 593-605 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Halden ◽  
L. A. Friedrich

AbstractOtoliths, the earbones of teleost (bony) fish, are constructed from alternating layers of aragonite and protein. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry and proton-induced X-ray emission are used to obtain spatially well-resolved trace element line-scans that show trace-element concentrations are correlated with the annular structure. Zoned Sr and Zn signatures are common whereas other elements such as Cu, Pb, Li and Cs can be related to the proximity of mineral deposits. Aragonite in otoliths can incorporate a wide range of trace elements at the low-ppm level including alkali- and alkaline-earth elements and base metals; Se has also been detected in proximity to coal mines. These trace elements, in combination with the annular structures, are an important archive for recording information on environments occupied by fish, environmental change and exposure to pollutants.

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e10082
Author(s):  
Jamin G. Wieringa ◽  
Juliet Nagel ◽  
David M. Nelson ◽  
Bryan C. Carstens ◽  
H. Lisle Gibbs

The expansion of the wind energy industry has had benefits in terms of increased renewable energy production but has also led to increased mortality of migratory bats due to interactions with wind turbines. A key question that could guide bat-related management activities is identifying the geographic origin of bats killed at wind-energy facilities. Generating this information requires developing new methods for identifying the geographic sources of individual bats. Here we explore the viability of assigning geographic origin using trace element analyses of fur to infer the summer molting location of eastern red bats (Lasiurus borealis). Our approach is based on the idea that the concentration of trace elements in bat fur is related through the food chain to the amount of trace elements present in the soil, which varies across large geographic scales. Specifically, we used inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry to determine the concentration of fourteen trace elements in fur of 126 known-origin eastern red bats to generate a basemap for assignment throughout the range of this species in eastern North America. We then compared this map to publicly available soil trace element concentrations for the U.S. and Canada, used a probabilistic framework to generate likelihood-of-origin maps for each bat, and assessed how well trace element profiles predicted the origins of these individuals. Overall, our results suggest that trace elements allow successful assignment of individual bats 80% of the time while reducing probable locations in half. Our study supports the use of trace elements to identify the geographic origin of eastern red and perhaps other migratory bats, particularly when combined with data from other biomarkers such as genetic and stable isotope data.


Geology ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 48 (11) ◽  
pp. 1126-1130
Author(s):  
R. Verberne ◽  
S.M. Reddy ◽  
D.W. Saxey ◽  
D. Fougerouse ◽  
W.D.A. Rickard ◽  
...  

Abstract The geochemical analysis of trace elements in rutile (e.g., Pb, U, and Zr) is routinely used to extract information on the nature and timing of geological events. However, the mobility of trace elements can affect age and temperature determinations, with the controlling mechanisms for mobility still debated. To further this debate, we use laser-ablation–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry and atom probe tomography to characterize the micro- to nanoscale distribution of trace elements in rutile sourced from the Capricorn orogen, Western Australia. At the >20 µm scale, there is no significant trace-element variation in single grains, and a concordant U-Pb crystallization age of 1872 ± 6 Ma (2σ) shows no evidence of isotopic disturbance. At the nanoscale, clusters as much as 20 nm in size and enriched in trace elements (Al, Cr, Pb, and V) are observed. The 207Pb/206Pb ratio of 0.176 ± 0.040 (2σ) obtained from clusters indicates that they formed after crystallization, potentially during regional metamorphism. We interpret the clusters to have formed by the entrapment of mobile trace elements in transient sites of radiation damage during upper amphibolite facies metamorphism. The entrapment would affect the activation energy for volume diffusion of elements present in the cluster. The low number and density of clusters provides constraints on the time over which clusters formed, indicating that peak metamorphic temperatures are short-lived, <10 m.y. events. Our results indicate that the use of trace elements to estimate volume diffusion in rutile is more complex than assuming a homogeneous medium.


Author(s):  
Olaonipekun Oyebanjo ◽  
Georges-Ivo Ekosse ◽  
John Odiyo

The deliberate consumption of earthly materials is a universally recognised habit with health benefits and risks to those that practice it. Thirteen (13) samples comprising of six (6) Cretaceous and seven (7) Paleogene/Neogene geophagic kaolinitic materials, respectively, were collected and analysed for trace element concentrations (V, Cr, Co, Ni, Zn, Pb, and Fe), and possible risk on consumers’ health. The trace element compositions were obtained using laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICPMS) and X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) analytical methods. Based on their average concentrations, Fe > V > Cr > Ni > Zn > Pb > Cu > Co and Fe > V > Cr > Zn > Cu > Pb > Ni > Co for the Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene geophagic clays, respectively. Iron concentrations were significantly higher in Paleogene/Neogene geophagic clays than in Cretaceous geophagic clays. The nutritional value of Cu and Zn were lower whereas, Cr and Fe were higher than the recommended dietary intake. The index of geoaccumulation (0 < Igeo ≤ 1) showed that the geophagic materials were uncontaminated to moderately contaminated by the trace elements. The overall hazard indices (HI) for non-carcinogenic effects showed that the geophagic clays pose threat to children (HI > 1) and no threat to adults (HI < 1) health. However, the carcinogenic risk indices (CRI) for Cr, Ni, and Pb were within acceptable cancer risks (10−6 < CRI < 10−4) for children and adults. Hence, based on the trace element s HI and CRI, this study concluded that the consumption of Cretaceous and Paleogene/Neogene geophagic kaolinitic clays poses no risks to adult health but children might suffer health risk if the geophagic clays are not beneficiated before ingestion.


2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luke L. George ◽  
Nigel J. Cook ◽  
Bryony B. P. Crowe ◽  
Cristiana L. Ciobanu

ABSTRACTConcentration data are reported for 18 trace elements in chalcopyrite from a suite of 53 samples from 15 different ore deposits obtained by laser-ablation inductively-coupled plasma-mass spectrometry. Chalcopyrite is demonstrated to host a wide range of trace elements including Mn, Co, Zn, Ga, Se, Ag, Cd, In, Sn, Sb, Hg, Tl, Pb and Bi. The concentration of some of these elements can be high (hundreds to thousands of ppm) but most are typically tens to hundreds of ppm. The ability of chalcopyrite to host trace elements generally increases in the absence of other co-crystallizing sulfides. In deposits in which the sulfide assemblage recrystallized during syn-metamorphic deformation, the concentrations of Sn and Ga in chalcopyrite will generally increase in the presence of co-recrystallizing sphalerite and/or galena, suggesting that chalcopyrite is the preferred host at higher temperatures and/or pressures. Trace-element concentrations in chalcopyrite typically show little variation at the sample scale, yet there is potential for significant variation between samples from any individual deposit. The Zn:Cd ratio in chalcopyrite shows some evidence of a systematic variation across the dataset, which depends, at least in part, on temperature of crystallization. Under constant physiochemical conditions the Cd:Zn ratios in co-crystallizing chalcopyrite and sphalerite are typically approximately equal. Any distinct difference in the Cd:Zn ratios in the two minerals, and/or a non-constant Cd:Zn ratio in chalcopyrite, may be an indication of varying physiochemical conditions during crystallization.Chalcopyrite is generally a poor host for most elements considered harmful or unwanted in the smelting of Cu, suggesting it is rarely a significant contributor to the overall content of such elements in copper concentrates. The exceptions are Se and Hg which may be sufficiently enriched in chalcopyrite to exceed statutory limits and thus incur monetary penalties from a smelter.


2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaare Lund Rasmussen ◽  
George R. Milner ◽  
Thomas Delbey ◽  
Lilian Skytte ◽  
Niels Lynnerup ◽  
...  

Abstract Variation in the trace element chemistry of cortical bone microstructure is delineated for interred and non-interred human femora. This was done to investigate the range of element concentrations that might occur within single bones, specifically the original laminar bone and later osteons, and its potential for investigating chemical life histories. To do so, femora were chosen from individuals who experienced quite different ways of life over the past two millennia. The distributions of Sr, Ba, Cu, and Pb, mostly in partial (early) and complete (late) osteons, in cross-sections of proximal femora were characterized through Laser Ablation Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry. Absolute calibrations of these data were obtained using solution Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry on adjacent dissolved bulk samples. Chemical life histories were approximated by classifying bone microstructure into four categories: laminar bone and 1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation osteons. This four-part sequence, on average, charts the temporal dimension of an individual’s life. Consistent with recent studies of medieval bones, Sr and Ba are thought to be mainly responsive to diet, presumably related to the consumption of mostly locally produced food, while Cu and Pb do the same for heavy metal exposure often attributable to social status or occupation. No systematic differences in these elements were found between interred and non-interred individuals. The effect of diagenesis on interpretations of life histories based on archaeological bone, therefore, are minimized by plotting element concentrations across cortical bone cross-sections.


2006 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
pp. 25-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dirk Frei ◽  
Julie A. Hollis ◽  
Axel Gerdes ◽  
Dan Harlov ◽  
Christine Karlsson ◽  
...  

Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) was developed in 1985 and the first commercial laser ablation systems were introduced in the mid 1990s. Since then, LA-ICP-MS has become an important analytical tool in the earth sciences. Initially, the main interest for geologists was in its ability to quantitatively determine the contents of a wide range of elements in many minerals at very low concentrations (a few ppm and below) with relatively high spatial resolution (spot diameters of typically 30–100 μm). The potential of LA-ICP-MS for rapid in situ U–Th–Pb geochronology was already realised in the early to mid 1990s. However, the full potential of LA-ICP-MS as the low-cost alternative to ion-microprobe techniques for highly precise and accurate in situ U–Th–Pb age dating was not realised until the relatively recent advances in laser technologies and the introduction of magnetic sectorfield ICP-MS (SF-ICPMS) instruments. In March 2005, the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland (GEUS) commissioned a new laser ablation magnetic sectorfield inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-SF-ICP-MS) facility employing a ThermoFinnigan Element2 high resolution magnetic sectorfield ICP-MS and a Merchantek New Wave 213 nm UV laser ablation system. The new GEUS LA-SF-ICP-MS facility is widely used on Survey research projects in Denmark and Greenland, as well as in collaborative research and contract projects conducted with partners from academia and industry worldwide. Here, we present examples from some of the these ongoing studies that highlight the application of the new facility for advanced geochronological and trace element in situ microanalysis of geomaterials. The application of LASF-ICP-MS based in situ zircon geochronology to regional studies addressing the Archaean geology of southern West Greenland is presented by Hollis et al. (2006, this volume).


Author(s):  
Ümit Şengül ◽  
Rıdvan İlgün

There are hundreds of years old wild sweet chestnut trees grown among alder, hornbeam, and pine etc. trees in natural forest of Giresun/TURKEY. In this study, trace element contents of chestnuts collected from chestnut trees in these natural forests were investigated. For this purpose, A total of eight elements, manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cobalt (Co), selenium (Se) and lead (Pb) were determined by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) in chestnut samples collected from ten chestnut trees. The content of trace elements was determined separately in fruit, bark and pellicle parts of chestnut. In chestnut fruit samples, highest concentration values in mg kg-1 of Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Se, Co and Pb are: 88.29, 72.96, 27.76 8.25, 7.81, 2.28, 0.056 and 0.043 respectively. Chestnut bark has been shown the highest values as Mn 176.01, Fe 96.55, Zn 26.97, Ni 4.33, Cu 8.91, Se 3.08, Co 0.089 and Pb 0.058 mg kg-1. The highest concentrations of trace elements in chestnut pellicle are found as Mn 176.26, Fe 92.98, Zn 60.06, Ni 5.79, Cu 11.4, Se 3.29, Co 0.135 and Pb 0.095 mg kg-1. These results suggest that natural chestnuts grown in the Giresun region are quite rich nutrients in terms of trace element contents.


2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-49 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dominic Hare ◽  
David Bishop ◽  
Christine Austin ◽  
Philip Doble

Trace elements play a key role in a wide range of biological processes. A full understanding of those processes requires a knowledge not only of the genomics and proteomics of the organism, but also the distribution and concentration of trace elements. A new application of inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) provides the capability to directly visualize trace elements in soft tissue, offering the promise of improved diagnosis and monitoring of disease.


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