scholarly journals Contamination of soil and street dust with lead and cadmium near a lead smelter at Arnhem, Netherlands.

1982 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 227-235
Author(s):  
M.G. Keizer ◽  
M. Hooghiemstra-Tielbeek ◽  
F.A.M. de Haan

An investigation was carried out into lead and cadmium pollution of soil and street dust in the vicinity of a secondary lead smelter in Arnhem, Netherlands. A significant correlation was found between the Pb content of the soil and the distance from the smelter. In the sampling area 1 km around the smelter the average Pb content was 370 mg/kg in the 0-5 cm soil layer and 256 mg/kg in the 5-20 cm soil layer. Mean Cd contents were 1.60 and 1.28 mg/kg, respectively. Correlation between the contents in both layers was low for Pb and high for Cd, owing to different solubilities of the metals. There was a weak relationship between the Pb and Cd contents of the soil, suggesting that only part of the metals originated from the same source. Mean heavy metal concentrations in street dust (fraction < 0.3 mm) were 761 mg Pb/kg and 3.81 mg Cd/kg. Correlation between both heavy metals in street dust was high, suggesting the same sources of pollution (mainly traffic). The most important sources of Pb and Cd pollution in the area were the lead smelter and traffic. (Abstract retrieved from CAB Abstracts by CABI’s permission)

2016 ◽  
Vol 5 (10) ◽  
pp. 4933
Author(s):  
Sabia Sultana ◽  
A. K. M. Nur Alam Siddiki ◽  
Md. Rokonujjaman ◽  
M. Niamul Naser ◽  
Abdus Salam ◽  
...  

The heavy metal concentration (e.g., Mn, Zn, Pb and Ni) were determined in soft tissues and shells of freshwater mussels (Lamellidens marginalis) at the various sites of Dhanmondi lake, Dhaka, Bangladesh between the period April, 2010 and March 2011. The heavy metal concentrations in shells and soft tissues of freshwater mussels were tended to vary significantly among sampling points and seasons in Dhanmondi Lake. Distribution of heavy metals in shell and soft tissue of Lamellidens marginalis followed the order Mn>Zn>Pb>Ni, respectively. According to the t-test, level of manganese, zinc and lead under investigation between shell and tissue showed statistically significant differences [Mn: t=-11.387; df=16; P=0.000; Zn: t=-2.590; df=16; P=0.020 and Pb: t=-2.8679; df=16; P=0.011].


BMJ Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. e039541
Author(s):  
Jun Ho Ji ◽  
Mi Hyeon Jin ◽  
Jung-Hun Kang ◽  
Soon Il Lee ◽  
Suee Lee ◽  
...  

ObjectivesTo investigate the associations between heavy metal exposure and serum ferritin levels, physical measurements and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).DesignA retrospective cohort study.SettingChangwon, the location of this study, is a Korean representative industrial city. Data were obtained from medical check-ups between 2002 and 2018.ParticipantsA total of 34 814 male subjects were included. Of them, 1035 subjects with lead exposure, 200 subjects with cadmium exposure and the 33 579 remaining were assigned to cohort A, cohort B and the control cohort, respectively. Data including personal history of alcohol and smoking, age, height, weight, the follow-up duration, haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), fasting blood sugar (FBS), ferritin levels, and lead and cadmium levels within 1 year after exposure were collected.Primary outcome measureIn subjects without diabetes, changes in FBS and HbA1c were analysed through repeated tests at intervals of 1 year or longer after the occupational exposure to heavy metals.ResultsIn Cohort A, DM was diagnosed in 33 subjects. There was a significant difference in lead concentrations between the subjects diagnosed with DM and those without DM during the follow-up period (3.94±2.92 mg/dL vs 2.81±2.03 mg/dL, p=0.002). Simple exposure to heavy metals (lead and cadmium) was not associated with DM in Cox regression models (lead exposure (HR) 1.01, 95% CI: 0.58 to 1.77, p 0.971; cadmium exposure HR 1.48, 95% CI: 0.61 to 3.55, p=0.385). Annual changes in FBS according to lead concentration at the beginning of exposure showed a positive correlation (r=0.072, p=0.032).ConclusionOur findings demonstrated that simple occupational exposure to heavy metals lead and cadmium was not associated with the incidence of DM. However, lead concentrations at the beginning of the exposure might be an indicator of DM and glucose elevations.


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 414-426
Author(s):  
A.O. Adekiya ◽  
A.P. Oloruntoba ◽  
S.O. Ojeniyi ◽  
B.S. Ewulo

Abstract The study investigated the level of heavy metal contamination in plants {maize (Zea mays) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)} from thirty soil samples of three locations (Epe, Igun and Ijana) in the Ilesha gold mining area, Osun State, Nigeria. Total concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were determined using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Spatial variations were observed for all metals across the locations which was adduced to pH and the clay contents of the soils of each location. The results showed that heavy metals are more concentrated in the areas that are closer to the mining site and the concentrations in soil and plants (maize and tomato) decreased with increasing perpendicular distance from the mining site, indicating that the gold mine was the main sources of pollution. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in plants (tomato and maize) samples were considered to be contaminated as As, Cd and Pb respectively ranged from 0.6 - 2.04 mg kg-1, 0.8 - 5.2 mg kg-1, 0.8 - 3.04 mg kg-1 for tomato and respectively 0.60 - 2.00 mg kg-1, 1.50 - 4.60 mg kg-1 and 0.90 - 2.50 mg kg-1 for maize. These levels exceeded the maximum permissible limits set by FAO/WHO for vegetables. In conclusion, monitoring of crops for toxic heavy metals is essential for food safety in Nigeria.


2002 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 285-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. MÄNTYLAHTI ◽  
P. LAAKSO

Increasing concentrations of arsenic and heavy metals in agricultural soils are becoming a growing problem in industrialized countries. These harmful elements represent the basis of a range of problems in the food chain, and are a potential hazard for animal and human health. It is therefore important to gauge their absolute and relative concentrations in soils that are used for crop production. In this study the arsenic and heavy metal concentrations in 274 mineral soil samples and 38 organogenic soil samples taken from South Savo province in 2000 were determined using the aqua regia extraction technique. The soil samples were collected from 23 farms.The elements analyzed were arsenic, cadmium, chromium, copper, mercury, nickel, lead and zinc. The median concentrations in the mineral soils were:As 2.90 mg kg –1, Cd 0.084 mg kg –1, Cr 17.0 mg kg –1, Cu 13.0 mg kg –1, Hg 0.060 mg kg –1, Ni 5.4 mg kg –1, Pb 7.7 mg kg –1, Zn 36.5 mg kg –1. The corresponding values in the organogenic soils were:As 2.80 mg kg –1, Cd 0.265 mg kg –1, Cr 15.0 mg kg –1, Cu 29.0 mg kg –1, Hg 0.200 mg kg –1, Ni 5.9 mg kg –1, Pb 11.0 mg kg –1, Zn 25.5 mg kg –1. The results indicated that cadmium and mercury concentrations in the mineral and organogenic soils differed. Some of the arsenic, cadmium and mercury concentrations exceeded the normative values but did not exceed limit values. Most of the agricultural fields in South Savo province contained only small amounts of arsenic and heavy metals and could be classified as “Clean Soil”. A draft for the target values of arsenic and heavy metal concentrations in “Clean Soil” is presented.;


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 98-109
Author(s):  
Witriani Marvinatur Ihsan ◽  
Ratnawulan Ratnawulan

In the South Coastal Forest area, West Sumatra, a luminous mushroom with the species Neonothopanus Sp. This research was conducted with the aim of seeing the effect of heavy metals on the bioluminescence reaction of luminous mushrooms. Starting from the effect of heavy metal concentrations on the intensity and inhibition coefficient of luminous mushroom biolumination. From the measurement results, the maximum intensity value of luminous mushrooms is 499.6 au occurring at a wavelength of 505 nm. At a wavelength of 505 nm, visible light is produced in green. The results obtained are in accordance with observations, because the light emitted by the glowing mushroom is green. If the concentration of heavy metals is greater, the intensity of the bioluminescent fungus (Neonothopanus sp) will decrease. The type of heavy metal affects the intensity of the fungus biolumination. The greatest decrease in intensity occurred in copper (Cu) and iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb). If the heavy metal concentration is greater, the inhibition coefficient will be smaller. The greatest inhibition coefficient due to the presence of heavy metals occurs in copper (Cu) then iron (Fe), zinc (Zn) and the smallest is lead (Pb).


2005 ◽  
pp. 55-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ratko Kadovic ◽  
Olivera Kosanin ◽  
Snezana Belanovic ◽  
Milan Knezevic

During the last decades, forest ecosystems have been strongly exposed to the effect of different harmful pollutants, especially from the atmosphere. Harmful substances from the air, in addition to the direct effect on forest trees, also deposit in the soil, and have an adverse effect on soil chemistry and pedogenetic processes. The results of previous studies in Serbia (Kadovic, Knezevic, 2002, 2004) show some specificities regarding the accumulation and migration of heavy metals in the soil. The highest concentrations were found in the layers of forest litter and in the surface organo-mineral horizons. This paper presents the results of the study of heavy metal contents (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Cd, Pb, Ni and Cr) in the organic horizon (forest litter) of beech forests in Serbia. The study of the heavy metal content in the organic horizon (forest litter) is very significant primarily in the aim of monitoring the trend of their migration through the soil profile and the effect on the soil properties and genesis. The soil quality in beech forests in Serbia was assessed within the Project ICP Forest, Level I, by the methodology UN/ECE-EC, 2000.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (27) ◽  
pp. 200911
Author(s):  
Aung Zaw Tun ◽  
Pokkate Wongsasuluk ◽  
Wattasit Siriwong

Background. Artisanal and small-scale mining activities are widely practiced globally. Concentrations of heavy metals associated with gold, such as copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) can increase in the environment as a result of mining activities, leading to environmental pollution and pose toxicity risks to humans and animals. Objectives. The aim of the present study was to investigate soil concentrations of toxic heavy metals in placer small-scale gold mining operations in Myanmar. Methods. Soil samples were collected from three placer small-scale gold mining sites: Site A located in the Hmawbon public protected forest, Site B and Site C, situated in the Nant-Kyin reserved forest around Nar Nant Htun village. At each site, soil samples were collected from four gold mining stages (ore processing, sluicing, panning, and amalgamation). Atomic absorption spectroscopy was utilized to examine the concentrations of As, Cd, Pb, and Hg. Results. The highest heavy metal concentrations were generally found in the amalgamation stages across all the gold mining sites. Across the three mining sites, the maximum heavy metal concentrations in the amalgamation stage were 22.170 mg.kg−1 for As, 3.070 mg.kg−1 for Cd, 77.440 mg.kg−1 for Hg, and 210.000 mg.kg−1 for Pb. Conclusions. The present study examined the concentrations of As, Cd, Hg and Pb in the soil of several small-scale gold mining sites in Banmauk Township, Myanmar. The results demonstrated the presence of high concentrations of heavy metals in the soil of the gold mining sites. Miners in this area work without proper personal protective equipment, and frequent exposure to heavy metals in the soil may cause adverse health effects. The present study provides baseline data for future risk assessment studies of heavy metal contamination in gold mines. Competing Interests. The authors declare no competing financial interests


Water ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 1840 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Huang ◽  
Hongwei Fang ◽  
Ke Ni ◽  
Wenjun Yang ◽  
Weihua Zhao ◽  
...  

In this study, surface sediment samples were taken from the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) in June 2015 to estimate the spatial distribution and potential risk of Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, Cr, and Ni (34 sites from the mainstream and 9 sites from the major tributaries), and correlations with environmental variables were analyzed (e.g., median sediment size, water depth, turbidity, dissolved oxygen of the bottom water samples, and total organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus of the surface sediment samples). Results show that the heavy metal concentrations in the sediments have increased over the last few decades, especially for Cd and Pb; and the sites in the downstream area, e.g., Badong (BD) and Wushan (WS), have had greater increments of heavy metal concentrations. The sampling sites from S6 to S12-WS are identified as hot spots for heavy metal distribution and have relatively high heavy metal concentrations, and there are also high values for the sites affected by urban cities (e.g., the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Cr and Ni for the site S12-WS). Overall, the heavy metal concentrations increased slightly along the mainstream due to pollutants discharged along the Yangtze River and sediment sorting in the reservoir, and the values in the mainstream were greater than those in the tributaries. Meanwhile, the heavy metal concentrations were generally positively correlated with water depth (especially for Ni), while negatively correlated with dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and median sediment size. These environmental variables have a great impact on the partition of heavy metals between the sediment and overlying water. According to the risk assessment, the heavy metals in the surface sediments of TGR give a low to moderate level of pollution.


2020 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 68-80
Author(s):  
Tamara Zalewska ◽  
Paulina Brzeska-Roszczyk ◽  
Beata Danowska ◽  
Mariusz Pełechaty

AbstractThe paper presents the first data on the concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Zn, Cu, Ni, Cr, Mn) and 137Cs and their contamination ratios (CR) in the most abundant species of macrophytes in the Vistula Lagoon. No significant differences in the concentrations of heavy metals and 137Cs between macrophyte taxa or the influence of rivers flowing into the Vistula Lagoon on heavy metal concentrations in the area were found. The concentrations of heavy metals in macrophyte taxa varied in the following ranges: Cd – 0.1–0.7 mg kg−1 d.w.; Pb – 0.5–5.0 mg kg-1 d.w.; Zn – 29–390 mg kg-1 d.w.; Cu – 2.5–8.3 mg kg-1 d.w.; Ni – 0.4–6.8 mg kg−1 d.w.; Cr – 0.5–2.8 mg kg−1 d.w.; Mn – 380–8500 mg kg−1 d.w. Since the 1990s, a decline or stable state of heavy metal concentrations in bottom sediments has been observed, reflecting changes in the environment of the Vistula Lagoon. The linear sedimentation rate in the Vistula Lagoon was 3.3 mm y−1. The results presented in the paper can serve as a baseline for assessing changes in the environmental status of the Vistula Lagoon, which may occur as a result of future investments, including building a new navigable canal through the Vistula Spit.


2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Muyun Sun ◽  
Kaiyuan He ◽  
Shi Shu

Despite the extensive attention paid to the transport of heavy metals in sludge landfills, the processes of transporting these pollutants from a landfill to the underground environment are quite complicated and subject to significant uncertainty. In this study, the transport of typical heavy metal pollutants in a sludge landfill through saturated and unsaturated soil zones during rainfall was investigated via numerical modeling. The objectives of the study are to evaluate the heavy metal pollution risk from a sludge landfill under rainfall infiltration conditions and to propose several management suggestions. The results indicate that, during rainfall, heavy metal concentrations at the top of the unsaturated sludge layer decrease rapidly, but they decrease more gradually at the bottom of the layer. The maximum concentration appears in vertical distribution and decreases gradually through the saturated zone. Nickel is the first heavy metal pollutant to break through the low-permeability natural silt barrier. The transport parameters not only influence the simulated time for heavy metal pollutants to break through the silt layer and cause underground environmental pollution but also affect the extent to which the heavy metal pollutants in pore water exceed the guidelines. On the basis of these results, for dredged sludge with heavy metal concentrations significantly exceeding the standard, the concentration of heavy metals in pore water should be reduced before the sludge is landfilled, and a covering layer should be established on the sludge surface to control rainfall infiltration.


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