scholarly journals Comparative geochemistry of three urban streams in Athens: Kifissos-Podoniftis-Pikrodafni

2017 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 910
Author(s):  
A. Argyraki ◽  
F. Paraskos ◽  
M. Marmara ◽  
K. Papadopoulou ◽  
A. Maglaropoulou

The geochemistry of three urban streams in Athens was analysed and compared on the basis of major elements and heavy metals content in water and active sediment. The studied streams of Kifissos, Podoniftis and Pikrodafni run through the Athens basin of a total area of 540 km2 but differ with respect to the origin of their headwaters i.e., Parnitha, Penteli and Hymettus mountains. The main aim of the study was to determine the geochemical signature of water and sediment within the Athens hydrological basin and evaluate the effect of natural and anthropogenic environment on these water courses. A total of 56 stream water samples were obtained and analysed for major anions, cations and heavy metals (Mn, Cr, Cu, Zn, Pb) as well as nitrate and phosphate concentrations. Active stream sediments were collected at 22 locations along the streams and were analysed for heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, Cr, Ni, Cd). Results indicated that rock weathering, rather than atmospheric or pollution influx is the dominant process affecting the major ion geochemistry of stream flow in the urban setting. However, Kifissos and Podoniftis waters had higher nitrate and phosphate concentrations indicating greater influence by anthropogenic activities. In general the quality characteristics of water and sediment in the study area were found to be in a good state regarding the studied parameters.

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-131
Author(s):  
V.I. Chukwuemeka ◽  
E.A. Jimoh ◽  
K.O. Olajide ◽  
Y.I. Auta ◽  
H.S. Auta ◽  
...  

The high contamination of aquatic systems with toxic heavy metals is of major concern since the elements are not biodegradable. Heavy metals often get into the water through runoff from farmlands and dumping of effluents from industries into the water bodies. The toxicity of these heavy metals can cause harmful and even lethal effects on the human health. The objective of this study was to investigate the level of Pb, Cu, Mn, and Fe in both surface water and sediment of Tagwai Lake. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry investigation was carried out on the collected and digested water and sediment samples to determine the extent of these heavy metals contamination in the water. The results showed that the average concentration of heavy metals ranked in the following order: Pb>Mn>Cu>Fe with higher concentration in sediment compared to the water. The correspondence of the mean concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediment of the Tagwai Lake with the WHO standard suggests that the mean concentration of Pb, Cu, and Fe lies within the standard range while Mn exceeds the standard range in both the water and sediments. We therefore advocate regular surveillance as a tool for monitoring impacts of anthropogenic activities in the lake to ensure safety of the general populace who depend on it for their livelihood. Keywords: spatio-temporal, heavy metals, sediments, Tagwai Lake


Author(s):  
G. Gkiatas ◽  
I. Kasapidis ◽  
P. Koutalakis ◽  
V. Iakovoglou ◽  
A. Savvopoulou ◽  
...  

Abstract Riparian ecosystems in urban environments are usually degraded. Their sustainable management can reduce water pollution, mitigate climate change while providing recreation opportunities. This study assessed the current condition of the streams/torrents and their riparian areas in the city of Drama in Greece. In addition, practices to improve their functionality and enhance community awareness were recommended. A spatial database of the wider urban setting including suburbs and rural areas (weather, land cover, soils, roads, protected areas, riparian areas, etc.) was developed within GIS. The datasets were then inputted in a hydrologic model to simulate the water balance and stream discharge in the main urban streams and torrents. Field measurements of stream water discharge, and vegetation and stream channel conditions were undertaken using two visual protocols. The results of the protocols indicate that most streams/torrents and their riparian areas are of low ecological quality. Nature-based solutions were recommended to improve their ecological quality. In addition, the implementation of eco-routes was recommended to enhance the awareness of their importance and to promote their sustainable management. Overall, the urban streams/torrents and riparian ecosystems of Drama are degraded and innovative management practices should be implemented to conserve them and feature their ecosystem services.


2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Howcroft ◽  
Ian Cartwright ◽  
Uwe Morgenstern

Abstract. Understanding the timescales of water flow through catchments and the origins of stream water at different flow conditions is critical for understanding catchment behaviour and managing water resources. Here, tritium (3H) activities, major ion geochemistry and discharge data were used in conjunction with Lumped Parameter Models (LPMs) to investigate mean transit times (MTTs) and the stores of water in six headwater catchments of the Otway Ranges in southeast Australia. 3H activities of stream water ranged from 0.20 to 2.14 TU, which are far lower than those of modern local rainfall (2.4 to 3.2 TU). The 3H activities of the stream water are lowest during the low summer flows and increase with stream discharge. Calculated MTTs vary from approximately 7 to 234 years which, in many cases, exceed those reported for river systems globally. The MTT estimates, however, are subject to a number of uncertainties, including, uncertainties in the most appropriate LPM to use, aggregation errors, and uncertainty in the modern and bomb-pulse 3H activity of rainfall. These uncertainties locally result in uncertainties in MTTs of several years; however, they do not change the overall conclusions that the water in these streams has MTTs of several years to decades. There is discharge threshold of approximately 104 m3 day−1 in all catchments above which 3H activities do not increase appreciably above ~ 2.0 TU. The MTT of this 3H activity is approximately ten years, which implies that changes within the catchments, including drought, deforestation, land use and/or bush fire, would not be realised within the streams for at least a decade. A positive correlation exists between 3H activities and nitrate and sulphate concentrations within several of the catchments, which suggests that anthropogenic activities have increasingly impacted water quality at these locations over time.


Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (5) ◽  
pp. 614
Author(s):  
Muhammad Faisal ◽  
Zening Wu ◽  
Huiliang Wang ◽  
Zafar Hussain ◽  
Chenyang Shen

Heavy metals in road dust pose a significant threat to human health. This study investigated the concentrations, patterns, and sources of eight hazardous heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) in the street dust of Zhengzhou city of PR China. Fifty-eight samples of road dust were analyzed based on three methods of risk assessment, i.e., Geo-Accumulation Index (Igeo), Potential Ecological Risk Assessment (RI), and Nemerow Synthetic Pollution Index (PIN). The results exhibited higher concentrations of Hg and Cd 14 and 7 times higher than their background values, respectively. Igeo showed the risks of contamination in a range of unpolluted (Cr, Ni) to strongly polluted (Hg and Cd) categories. RI came up with the contamination ranges from low (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, and Pb) to extreme (Cd and Hg) risk of contamination. The risk of contamination based on PIN was from safe (Cu, As, and Pb) to seriously high (Cd and Hg). The results yielded by PIN indicated the extreme risk of Cd and Hg in the city. Positive Matrix Factorization was used to identify the sources of contamination. Factor 1 (vehicular exhaust), Factor 2 (coal combustion), Factor 3 (metal industry), and Factor 4 (anthropogenic activities), respectively, contributed 14.63%, 35.34%, 36.14%, and 13.87% of total heavy metal pollution. Metal’s presence in the dust is a direct health risk for humans and warrants immediate and effective pollution control and prevention measures in the city.


2013 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 65-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammad Modarres Sheikh ◽  
Mohammad Reza Rezaei ◽  
Mohammad Ali Nasseri

Plants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1461
Author(s):  
Roberto Braglia ◽  
Lorenza Rugnini ◽  
Sara Malizia ◽  
Francesco Scuderi ◽  
Enrico Luigi Redi ◽  
...  

Increasing levels of freshwater contaminants, mainly due to anthropogenic activities, have resulted in a great deal of interest in finding new eco-friendly, cost-effective and efficient methods for remediating polluted waters. The aim of this work was to assess the feasibility of using a green microalga Desmodesmus sp., a cyanobacterium Nostoc sp. and a hemicryptophyte Ampelodesmos mauritanicus to bioremediate a water polluted with an excess of nutrients (nitrogen and phosphorus) and heavy metals (copper and nickel). We immediately determined that Nostoc sp. was sensitive to metal toxicity, and thus Desmodesmus sp. was chosen for sequential tests with A. mauritanicus. First, A. mauritanicus plants were grown in the ‘polluted’ culture medium for seven days and were, then, substituted by Desmodesmus sp. for a further seven days (14 days in total). Heavy metals were shown to negatively affect both the growth rates and nutrient removal capacity. The sequential approach resulted in high metal removal rates in the single metal solutions up to 74% for Cu and 85% for Ni, while, in the bi-metal solutions, the removal rates were lower and showed a bias for Cu uptake. Single species controls showed better outcomes; however, further studies are necessary to investigate the behavior of new species.


2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 17-37
Author(s):  
Georgiana Grosu ◽  
◽  
Carmen Andreea Roba ◽  
Ramona Bălc ◽  
Maria Lucia Bizău-Cârstea ◽  
...  

The present study was conducted in the proximity of a contaminated site from Cluj-Napoca city (Cluj County, Romania), where metal processing activities have been carried out for decades. Metal content and physico-chemical parameters were analyzed in soil, water and sediment samples, while organic matter (OM) and total organic carbon (TOC) was additionally analyzed for the soil samples. The sources of heavy metals were evaluated based on multivariate statistical analysis, while the soil and sediment contamination degree was assessed based on specific pollution indices. The calculated indices indicated a significant pollution with Cd and Pb, which may represent a risk if the area would become a residential area. Keywords: heavy metals, contaminated site, soil pollution indices, multivariate statistical analysis, Cluj-Napoca


Toxin Reviews ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Mir Mohammad Ali ◽  
Mohammad Lokman Ali ◽  
Md. Refat Jahan Rakib ◽  
Md. Saiful Islam ◽  
Ahasan Habib ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heide Stein ◽  
Hans Jürgen Hahn

<p>In this study, the temporal variability of the hydrological exchange between stream water (SW) and groundwater (GW), colmation, hyporheic invertebrate fauna, organic matter (OM) and physicochemical parameters were examined for the period of one year. Sampling and measuring were conducted monthly from May 2019 to April 2020 at the Guldenbach river, a second order stream in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. All hyporheic samples were extracted from a depth of 15 cm below stream bottom. Colmation was measured quantitatively in the same depth.</p><p>Following the biotic and abiotic patterns found, three temporal stages of different hydrological conditions can be described:</p><ul><li>1) Strong floods, in February and March 2020 caused hydromorphological alterations of the river bed, leading to a decolmation of the hyporheic zone, a wash out of OM and hyporheic fauna. Due to high GW tables the vertical hydrological gradient (VHG) was positive indicating upwelling GW.</li> <li>2) In the months of Mai to August 2019 and April 2020, precipitation and stream discharge were lowest. Predominantly exfiltrating conditions were observed, while the amount of fine sediments (clay and silt) increased as well as colmation. High densities of hyporheic fauna, dominated by fine sediment dwelling taxa, were assessed.</li> <li>3) From September 2019 to January 2020 stream discharge was low. The VHG became increasingly negative, indicating downwelling SW. In accordance, colmation increased continuously, while densities of hyporheic invertebrates decreased and sediment dwellers became more dominant.</li> </ul><p>Precipitation, discharge events and GW table were found to be the driving factors for the annual dynamics of the hydrological exchange as well as for colmation, fauna and hydrochemistry. Electric conductivity seems a suitable indicator for the origin of water with high values in months of low precipitation and lower values after extensive precipitation events, respectively. Hyporheic fauna displayed a significant seasonality and the community structure was correlated with colmation and changes in the VHG.</p><p>This pronounced seasonality seems to be typical of many streams and should be considered for the monitoring of sediments and hyporheic habitats: Seasons with lower stream discharge are probably the most critical periods for sediment conditions.</p><p>We assume that the basic patterns of the dynamics observed basically reflect the natural situation in the catchment. However, the strength of surface run-off and the amount of fine sediments are mainly the result of anthropogenic activities and land use in the catchment.</p><p>These findings underline the significance of dynamical processes for the assessment and implementation of the Water Framework Directive.</p>


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saeed Shanbehzadeh ◽  
Marzieh Vahid Dastjerdi ◽  
Akbar Hassanzadeh ◽  
Toba Kiyanizadeh

This study was carried out to examine heavy metals concentration in water and sediment of upstream and downstream of the entry of the sewage to the Tembi River, Iran. Samples were collected from upstream and downstream and were analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Ni, and Zn by atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The results indicated that the average concentration of the metals in water and sediment on downstream was more than that of upstream. The comparison of the mean concentrations of heavy metals in water of the Tembi River with drinking water standards and those in the water used for agriculture suggests that the mean concentration of Cu and Zn lies within the standard range for drinking water and the mean concentration of Mn, Zn, and Pb lies within the standard range of agricultural water. The highest average concentration on downstream for Pb in water and for Mn in sediment was 1.95 and 820.5 ppm, respectively. Also, the lowest average concentration on upstream was identified for Cd in water and sediment 0.07 and 10 ppm, respectively. With regard to the results, it gets clear that using the water for recreational purposes, washing, and fishing is detrimental to human health and the environment.


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