EVALUATION OF CONTAMINATION BY POTENTIALLY TOXIC ELEMENTS (PTE) OF SEDIMENTS AROUND THE PETROLEUM TERMINAL PIPELINE “DUTOS E TERMINAIS DO CENTRO SUL (DTCS)”, SP, BRAZIL

The Petroleum Terminal Pipeline “Dutos e Terminais do Centro Sul (DTCS)” is one of the largest petroleum terminals in Brazil. To assess wastewater treatment efficiency of the DTCS and to evaluate the contamination by potentially toxic elements (PTE) of sediments, ten sampling points were studied near the riser output of the submarine outfall in the summer of 2005, 2006 and 2007, and ten sampling points were studied along the São Sebastião Channel (CSS). All data were above the standards required by the Brazilian salt water/brackish Water Directives (CONAMA Resolution 454/2012). However, the sediments near the submarine outfall were enriched by As and Cu, with concentrations exceeding the threshold effect level (TEL). In 2005 and 2006, the concentrations of Ba, Sr, Ni and Pb exceeded the values established by TEL in some places. Concentrations of As were 69 times higher than that measured in the background station. In 2007, all the analyzed metals almost doubled the concentrations of that found in 2005. High concentrations of PTE in the sediments, namely Ba and As, are a source of contamination that should be considered for the water quality management planning of the DTCS system. Avaliação da Contaminação por Elementos Químicos Potencialmente Tóxicos (PTE) dos Sedimentos da Região do Terminal Petrolífero “Dutos e Terminais do Centro Sul (DTCS)”, SP, Brasil ResumoO Terminal Petrolífero “Dutos e Terminais do Centro Sul (DTCS)”, SP, Brasil é um dos maiores terminais de petróleo do Brasil. Para avaliar a eficiência do tratamento de águas residuais do DTCS e estimar a contaminação por elementos potencialmente tóxicos (PTE) dos sedimentos, foram estudados dez pontos de amostragem perto da saída do ducto submarino no verão de 2005, 2006 e 2007 e dez pontos de amostragem ao longo do Canal de São Sebastião (CSS). Todos os dados estavam acima dos padrões exigidos pelas Diretrizes Brasileiras para Águas Salgadas/Salobras (Resolução CONAMA 454/2012). No entanto, os sedimentos perto do exutor submarino estavam enriquecidos por As e Cu, tendo as concentrações excedido o nível limiar de efeito (TEL; the threshold effect level). Em 2005 e 2006, as concentrações de Ba, Sr, Ni e Pb ultrapassaram os valores estabelecidos para o TEL. As concentrações de As foram 69 vezes superiores às medidas na estação de fundo. Em 2007, todos os PTE tinham quase duplicado as concentrações de 2005. As altas concentrações de PTE nos sedimentos, nomeadamente Ba e As, são uma fonte de contaminação que deve ser considerada no planejamento da gestão da qualidade da água do sistema DTCS. Palavras-chaves: Elementos Químicos Potencialmente Tóxicos. Sedimentos. Emissários Submarinos. Efluentes Petroquímicos.

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Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) in Soils and Bulbs of Elephant Garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.) Grown in Valdichiana, a Traditional Cultivation Area of Tuscany, Italy

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app11157023 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (15) ◽

pp. 7023

Author(s):

Vannini Andrea ◽

Martina Grattacaso ◽

Giulia Canali ◽

Francesco Nannoni ◽

Luigi Antonello Di Lella ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Inductively Coupled Plasma ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Daily Intake ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Time Data ◽

Allium Ampeloprasum ◽

Inductively Coupled ◽

Risk Indices ◽

High Concentrations

The aim of this study was to provide, for the first time, data on the concentration of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils and bulbs of elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.) cultivated in Valdichiana, a traditional agricultural area of Tuscany, Italy. Bulbs of elephant garlic and soil samples were collected in four cultivation fields and analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to determine the concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Sb, Tl, U, V, Zn. The concentrations of these PTEs in bulbs and cultivation soils were used to calculate geochemical, ecological and health risk indices. The results of this study suggest that, although bulbs of elephant garlic from the Valdichiana area may present slightly high concentrations of Cd, Ni and Pb, the associated health risk based on the daily intake is absolutely negligible. Cultivation soils had somewhat high Cu concentrations probably due to the diffuse use of Cu-based products in agriculture, but showed overall a very low ecological risk.

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Environmental Threats of Ancient Pb Mining and Metallurgical Activities in the Linares Mining District (Southern Spain)

Proceedings ◽

10.3390/proceedings2231459 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (23) ◽

pp. 1459

Author(s):

Carlos Boente ◽

Carlos Sierra ◽

Julián Martínez ◽

Eduardo Rodríguez-Valdés ◽

Elías Afif ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Mining District ◽

Land Uses ◽

Environmental Threats ◽

Industrial Sites ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Insight Into ◽

Metallurgical Activities

Former industrial sites are now dedicated to other land uses in the Linares mining district. Here we selected five residential/farming areas (squares of 1 km2 each) and sought to evaluate the levels of contamination by Potentially Toxic Elements (PTEs) of the soils, and also to offer an insight into the threat these pollutants may pose to human health or the environment by means of risk assessment. High concentrations especially of Pb, and also of As, Cd, Cu and Zn were found in quantities that are considerably bioavailable. Moreover, risk assessment revealed unacceptable concentrations for Pb and As in all the areas as well as for Cd and Cu in some squares.

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Spatial Mobility of U and Th in a U-enriched Area (Central Portugal)

Applied Sciences ◽

10.3390/app10217866 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (21) ◽

pp. 7866

Author(s):

Margarida Antunes ◽

António Santos ◽

Teresa Valente ◽

Teresa Albuquerque

Keyword(s):

Toxic Elements ◽

Mine Drainage ◽

Stream Sediments ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Uranium Mine ◽

Spatial Mobility ◽

Contamination Index ◽

Mine Dumps ◽

Central Portugal ◽

High Concentrations

Uranium and thorium are toxic in different environments. The exploitation of uranium mines and associated mine drainage leaching towards streams, sediments, and soils cause relevant pollution. The U-mine areas present high concentrations of potentially toxic elements with several consequences to ecosystems and human health. Physicochemical and potentially toxic elements of mine dumps, stream sediments, and soils from the Canto Lagar uranium mine area (Central Portugal) were analyzed. Stream sediments, soils, and mine dumps show a large range in the concentration values of Fe, U, As, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Th, suggesting geological and mine contributions. Most of the selected potential toxic elements from sediments present a low to moderate contamination degree, except for As, W, and U, which vary between high and very high contamination index. The soils must not be used in agricultural or residential activities due to contamination in As and U. This abandoned mine represents an environmental risk due to the spatial mobility and dispersion of potentially toxic elements from the dumps to the sediments and soils, as well as by surface runoff and wind.

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Effect Thresholds of Metals in Stream Sediments Based on In Situ Oligochaete Communities

Environments ◽

10.3390/environments7040031 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 7 (4) ◽

pp. 31 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Régis Vivien ◽

Carmen Casado-Martínez ◽

Michel Lafont ◽

Benoit J.D. Ferrari

Keyword(s):

Sediment Quality ◽

Threshold Effect ◽

Stream Sediments ◽

Chemical Pollution ◽

Probable Effect Level ◽

Threshold Effect Level ◽

Probable Effect ◽

Effect Level

Aquatic oligochaetes, comprising a large number of species showing various degrees of resistance to chemical pollution, are recognized as valuable bioindicators of sediments’ quality. In the Geneva area (Switzerland), oligochaete tools were previously tested for assessing the biological quality of stream sediments, and effect thresholds of combined metals (quotients) in sediments were defined. The aims of the present study were to update this previous work with new data acquired in different cantons of Switzerland and to establish effect thresholds on oligochaete communities for individual metals and for combined metals. The oligochaete metrics “Oligochaete index of sediment bioindication (IOBS)”, “oligochaete density” and “percentage of tubificids without hair setae” proved pertinent for assessing the effects of metals and organic matter in sediments. We established a threshold effect level (TELoligo) and probable effect level (PELoligo) for eight metals in sediments (Cr, Ni, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg and As) as well as a probable effect level for these metals combined (mPELoligo-Q). These thresholds could be used directly to screen for alteration of in situ communities restricted to sediments and/or for establishing sediment quality standards based on a combination of different biological and ecotoxicological tools.

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Baseline Study of Trace Element Concentrations in Sediments of the Intertidal Zone of Amazonian Oceanic Beaches

Frontiers in Marine Science ◽

10.3389/fmars.2021.671390 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 ◽

Author(s):

Jéssica C. E. Vilhena ◽

Ana Amorim ◽

Lourenço Ribeiro ◽

Bernardo Duarte ◽

Maíra Pombo

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Trace Element ◽

Ecological Risk ◽

Risk Index ◽

Sediment Quality ◽

Contamination Factor ◽

Probable Effect Level ◽

Threshold Effect Level ◽

Sampling Points ◽

Effect Level

Analyzing the presence and quantifying trace elements is of paramount importance to understand natural environmental processes and monitor the degree of anthropogenic disturbance to mitigate impacts already caused. Here, we aimed to establish a baseline of the trace elements profile and concentrations in sandy sediments of intertidal areas of three Amazonian beaches (Brazil). For each beach, sediments were collected from three different sectors (south, center, and north) and five shoreline distance levels (from the high- to the low-water mark), totalizing 15 samples per beach. The concentration of the different trace elements (Mg, Al, P, S, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Br, Rb, Sr, Y, Zr, Cd, Sn, I, Hg, and Pb) was determined by Total reflection X-ray Fluorescence spectrometry. Sediment was also characterized for its grain size, organic matter, and pH. To assess possible enrichment due to anthropogenic activities we compared trace element levels with the values for the Earth’s crust and calculated pollution indexes: geoaccumulation index (Igeo), ecological risk index (RI), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), and sediment quality guideline (SQG), threshold effects level (TEL) and probable effects level (PEL). Individual trace metal concentrations did not vary significantly between beaches, sectors, or sample levels, evidencing a homogeneity of trace elements composition and concentrations across this environment. Igeo indicated 62.2% of the sampling stations uncontaminated, 20.0% from uncontaminated to moderately contaminated, and 4.44% (two sampling stations) strongly contaminated, the same two areas classified as high ecological risk by RI. Most of the sampling points presented low CF. Cadmium and Hg were the only elements that showed moderate to very high values of CF. According to the SQGs, 77.7 and 8.8% of the sampling points presented values above the moderate threshold effect level (SQG-TEL) and probable effect level (SQG-PEL), respectively. All points were classified as non-polluted according to the PLI. Our results show that the three beaches present safe levels of almost of the elements demonstrating the good state of preservation. Most of the indexes classified the sampling points as non-polluted, except for Cd and Hg in a few specific sampling points.

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Distribution, Enrichment and Transport of Trace Metals in Sediments from the Dagu River Estuary in the Jiaozhou Bay, Qingdao, China

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min9090545 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (9) ◽

pp. 545 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jinqing Liu ◽

Ping Yin ◽

Xiaoying Chen ◽

Ke Cao

Keyword(s):

River Runoff ◽

Marine Organism ◽

Jiaozhou Bay ◽

River Estuary ◽

Threshold Effect ◽

Entire Study ◽

River Bank ◽

Probable Effect Level ◽

Threshold Effect Level ◽

Effect Level

26 river bank sediments and 15 estuary seafloor sediments were sampled from the Dagu River and the estuary of Northwestern Jiaozhou Bay to determine contaminations of heavy metals and metalloids (Cu, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cd, Hg and As). The trace metal contents in sediment from the estuary area were much higher than those of the river. Correlation analysis showed that except for Pb, the metals were mainly controlled by the grain size, and enriched by adsorption of aluminosilicate minerals, Fe/Mn oxides and organic matter in river and estuary sediments. In addition to Cu in some stations, the metals met the requirements of the marine organism and humans for the quality of the marine environment. The concentrations of Cu, Pb, Cr, Hg and As were between the threshold effect level (TEL) and probable effect level (PEL), indicating those metals might have occasional adverse effects. Results of Enrichment Factor values revealed that the entire study area was enriched in Pb and Hg, at moderate environmental risk, but the estuary was more significant. Pb and Hg contaminations in this area were mainly from coal combustion and automobile emissions. River runoff and atmospheric deposition dominated the metals distribution and enrichment in the study area. Contaminants in sediments entering the estuary were further transported to the south and east under the river runoff and reciprocating current in the Jiaozhou Bay.

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Caracterização preliminar da carga de metais traços transportadas pelo Canal Santa Bárbara destinando ao Canal São Gonçalo, Pelotas (RS) Brasil

Natural Resources (ISSN 2237-9290) ◽

10.6008/ess2237-9290.2013.002.0035 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 40

Author(s):

John Felipe da Cruz Garcia ◽

Clarice Tessmann ◽

Pedro José Sanches Filho ◽

Nathaly Nunes da Rosa ◽

Lucineia Volter Nunes

Keyword(s):

Threshold Effect ◽

Santa Barbara ◽

Threshold Effect Level ◽

Effect Level

O presente trabalho determinou os teores dos metais cromo (Cr), chumbo (Pb) e zinco (Zn) em amostras de sedimento transportadas do canal Santa Bárbara para o do canal São Gonçalo. As amostras de sedimentos secas sofreram digestão com a água régia e o ácido perclórico, sendo seus extratos analisados por espectrofotometria de absorção em chama. O s resultados revelaram níveis de Chumbo de 108,8 mg kg-1±8,9% mg kg-1 Valor acima do qual efeito adverso à vida aquática é esperado. Também foram quantificado Cr e o Zn estando o Cr acima do TEL - threshold effect level.

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Transfer of heavy metals to plants in technosols remediated with calcareous residues.

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-6154 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Carmen Pérez-Sirvent ◽

Maria Jose Martinez-Sanchez ◽

Salvadora Martinez-Lopez ◽

Ines Agudo ◽

Jaime Bech

Keyword(s):

Contaminated Soil ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Low Cost ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Mining Operations ◽

Limestone Filler ◽

Transfer Factors ◽

Reference Soil ◽

Vegetable Soil ◽

High Concentrations

When dealing with restoration and remediation projects of zones contaminated by waste and activities derived from mining operations, all the aspects that affect the neighbouring areas dedicated to the cultivation of vegetables are especially relevant, and should be carefully considered. According to previous studies carried out, the areas of mining influence affect to a very different extent the bordering areas depending not only of the characteristics of the soil but also of the type of mining activity that was developed, and so of the primary mineralogy involved, and even of the particular type of vegetable that is being cultivated. The diversity and complexity of these factors suggest the convenient of studying the process by clarifying the mechanisms of transfer of potentially toxic elements from the soil to the biotic environment, with the soil-plant-biotic chain sequence.In this work an experimental study was carried out with this purpose making use of experiments carried out at the greenhouse scale in order to find a model that could clarify the processes that could take place in restored soils.&#160;Construction and demolition residues (CDRs) as well as other residues containing high concentrations in limestone filler were used to prepare technosols, and the transfer factors (TF) and bioconcentration factors (BCF) of potentially toxic elements were measured for the selected plant species (chard and broccoli). In this way, in addition to the soil remediation, benefit can be obtained of the re-valorization of such type of &#160;easily available, low cost residues. For the realization of the tests in the greenhouse, four technosols were prepared and experiments were planned in duplicate, which constituted eight experimental units, each one containing 21 large pots disposed in such a way that leachates were poured in the same storing tank. &#160;The technosols were prepared as follows:<ul><li>Vegetable soil or reference soil. (T1)</li> <li>Contaminated soil: 50% reference soil + 50% mine residue (T2).</li> <li>Amended Land 1: 75% contaminated soil + 25% CDR (T3).</li> <li>Amended soil 2: 75% contaminated soil + 25% Limestone filler (T4).</li> </ul>&#160;A statistical study was carried out to evaluate the relationships between the levels of potentially toxic elements (Pb and Cd) found in rhizospheres and root contents and the levels present in the technosols prepared. Conclusions could be obtained as regards &#160;the mobility of &#160;these elements, the characteristics of the technosols and the type of cultivation. The data allows a model to be outlined that could be translated at a higher scale for an effective remediation of large zones.&#160;&#160;

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Natural Background Levels of Potentially Toxic Elements in Groundwater from a Former Asbestos Mine in Serpentinite (Balangero, North Italy)

Water ◽

10.3390/w13050735 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (5) ◽

pp. 735

Author(s):

Elisa Sacchi ◽

Massimo Bergamini ◽

Elisa Lazzari ◽

Arianna Musacchio ◽

Jordi-René Mor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Toxic Elements ◽

Statistical Evaluation ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Contaminated Site ◽

Natural Background ◽

Background Levels ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Definition Of ◽

Real Challenge

The definition of natural background levels (NBLs) for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in groundwater from mining environments is a real challenge, as anthropogenic activities boost water–rock interactions, further increasing the naturally high concentrations. This study illustrates the procedure followed to derive PTE concentration values that can be adopted as NBLs for the former Balangero asbestos mine, a “Contaminated Site of National Interest”. A full hydrogeochemical characterisation allowed for defining the dominant Mg-HCO3 facies, tending towards the Mg-SO4 facies with increasing mineralisation. PTE concentrations are high, and often exceed the groundwater quality thresholds for Cr VI, Ni, Mn and Fe (5, 20, 50 and 200 µg/L, respectively). The Italian guidelines for NBL assessment recommend using the median as a representative concentration for each monitoring station. However, this involves discarding half of the measurements and in particular the higher concentrations, thus resulting in too conservative estimates. Using instead all the available measurements and the recommended statistical evaluation, the derived NBLs were: Cr = 39.3, Cr VI = 38.1, Ni = 84, Mn = 71.36, Fe = 58.4, Zn = 232.2 µg/L. These values are compared to literature data from similar hydrogeochemical settings, to support the conclusion on their natural origin. Results highlight the need for a partial rethink of the guidelines for the assessment of NBLs in naturally enriched environmental settings.

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The Morphological and Functional Organization of Cattails Typha laxmannii Lepech. and Typha australis Schum. and Thonn. under Soil Pollution by Potentially Toxic Elements

Water ◽

10.3390/w13020227 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (2) ◽

pp. 227

Author(s):

Tatiana Minkina ◽

Grigoriy Fedorenko ◽

Dina Nevidomskaya ◽

Elizaveta Konstantinova ◽

Tatiana Pol’shina ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Soil Pollution ◽

Toxic Elements ◽

Functional Organization ◽

Potentially Toxic Elements ◽

Ultrastructural Changes ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Typha Australis ◽

Microscopic Studies ◽

High Concentrations ◽

High Level

The aim of this study is to investigate the adaptation of two species of cattail Typha australis Schum. and Thonn. and Typha laxmannii Lepech. based on analysis of the morphological and anatomical features of their vegetative and generative organs to soil pollution with potentially toxic elements (PTE) in the riparian zones of the sea edge of the Don River delta (Southern Russia). Both species of the cattail are able to accumulate high concentrations of Ni, Zn, Cd, Pb and can be used for phytoremediation of polluted territories. The pattern of PTE accumulation in hydrophytes has changed on polluted soils of coastal areas from roots/rhizomes > inflorescences > stems to roots/rhizomes > stems ≥ inflorescences. The comparative morphological and anatomical analysis showed a statistically significant effect of the environmental stress factor by the type of proliferation in T. australis, and species T. laxmannii was visually in a depressed, deformed state with mass manifestations of hypogenesis. These deformations should be considered, on one hand, as adaptive, but on the other, as pathological changes in the structure of the spikes of the cattails. Light-optical and electron microscopic studies have shown that the degree and nature of ultrastructural changes in cattails at the same level of soil pollution are different and most expressed in the assimilation tissue of leaves. However, these changes were destructive for T. australis, but for T. laxmannii, these indicated a high level of adaptation to the prolonged technogenic impact of PTE.

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