scholarly journals Ecological Risk Assessment of Soil Heavy Metals and Pesticide Residues in Tea Plantations

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haifang He ◽  
Longqing Shi ◽  
Guang Yang ◽  
Minsheng You ◽  
Liette Vasseur
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Ecological Risk Assessment ◽  
Pesticide Residues ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
First Grade ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Pollution Indices ◽  
Tea Plantations

Tea plantations have used many synthetic chemicals to ensure performance and control of pests. This has led to increased contamination of soils and reduced tea growth. We assessed the levels of heavy metals, including Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn, Hg, As, and pesticide residues, such as HCHs, biphenyl chrysanthemum ester, methamidophos, imidacloprid, permethrin, in the soil of tea plantations of Taiwan, Tibet, Guangdong, and Fujian. The Potential Ecological Risk Index and the Nemerow comprehensive pollution index were used to analyze the data. The results showed that risk indices in Tibet, Guangdong and Fuzhou were considered as moderate ecological harm level. Ecological risk assessment index of Anxi organic and Anxi conventional tea gardens suggested a “low” risk level. The Nemerow comprehensive pollution indices for soil pesticide residues in the tea plantations of Taiwan, Tibet, Anxi organic and Anxi conventional were considered mild. Guangdong and Fuzhou had values suggesting “slight pollution” levels. According to National Soil Environmental Quality Standard (GB15618-1995), soil in tea plantations in Taiwan, Tibet, and Anxi conventional matched the national first grade of soil quality and those from Guangdong, Fuzhou, and Anxi organic tea garden matched the national second grade.

scholarly journals Heavy Metals Distribution, Sources, and Ecological Risk Assessment in Huixian Wetland, South China

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 431
Author(s):  
Liangliang Huang ◽  
Saeed Rad ◽  
Li Xu ◽  
Liangying Gui ◽  
Xiaohong Song ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
South China ◽  
Ecological Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Pollution Index ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Anthropogenic Sources

This research has focused on the source identification, concentration, and ecological risk assessment of eight heavy metals in the largest karst wetland (Huixian) of south China. Numerous samples from superficial soil and sediment within ten representative landuse types were collected and examined, and the results were analyzed using multiple methods. Single pollution index (Pi) results were underpinned by the Geoaccumulation index (Igeo) method, in which Cd was observed as the priority pollutant with the highest contamination degree in this area. As for the most polluted landuse type, via applying Nemerow’s synthetical contamination index (PN) and Potential ecological risk index (RI), the river and rape field posed the highest ecological risks, while moderate for the rest. To quantify the drivers of the contaminants, a principal component analysis (PCA) was carried out and weathering of the watershed’s parent carbonate rocks was found to be the main possible origin, followed by anthropogenic sources induced by agricultural fertilizer. Considering the impacts of these potentially toxic elements on public health, the results of this study are essential to take preventive actions for environmental protection and sustainable development in the region.

scholarly journals Identification of the Chemical Forms of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sewage Sludge as a Critical Element of Ecological Risk Assessment in Terms of Its Agricultural or Natural Use

2020 ◽  
Vol 17 (13) ◽  
pp. 4640 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malwina Tytła
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Ecological Risk Assessment ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Municipal Sewage Sludge ◽  
Critical Element ◽  
Chemical Forms

The present study aimed to demonstrate that identification of the chemical forms of heavy metals in sewage sludge produced in municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants (WWTPs) is a critical element of ecological risk assessment, especially in terms of its agricultural or natural use. The concentrations of seven heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn and Hg) were determined using inductively coupled plasma optical spectrometry (ICP-OES) and cold vapor atomic absorption spectrometry (CV-AAS). The chemical forms of heavy metals were analyzed in accordance with the sequential extraction method proposed by the Community Bureau of Reference (BCR). Sludge samples were collected at the five municipal WWTPs located in the largest industrial area in the country, i.e., the Upper Silesian Industrial Region (southern Poland, central Europe). The ecological risk was assessed by calculating the Potential Ecological Risk Factor (ER), Risk Index (RI), Risk Assessment Code (RAC), Individual Contamination Factor (ICF), Global Risk Index (GRI) as well as the author’s indices, i.e., Individual Ecological Risk (IER) and Global Ecological Risk (GER). To demonstrate the differences between the level of ecological risk posed by the different heavy metals, sludge samples were collected at two specific points of the processing line. Considering the chemical forms of heavy metals, the highest ecological risk was posed by Zn, Cd and Ni, while in the case of their total concentrations, by Cd and Hg. The obtained results confirm that quantitative determination of the total content of heavy metals in sewage sludge is not a sufficient criterion in assessment of the ecological risk that these elements pose to the natural environment and living organisms. Moreover, multivariate statistical analysis revealed a significant correlation between the concentrations of heavy metals, which indicates that they plausibly originate from the same source of pollution.

scholarly journals The Ecological Risk Assessment and the Chemical Speciation of Heavy Metals in Ash after the Incineration of Municipal Sewage Sludge

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (16) ◽  
pp. 6517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jolanta Latosińska ◽  
Przemysław Czapik
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Sewage Sludge ◽  
Soil Contamination ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Ecological Risk Assessment ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Soil Environment ◽  
Sewage Sludge Ash ◽  
Sludge Ash

Popular incineration of sewage sludge results in the increase in heavy metals content in ash. The knowledge of the total content of heavy metals in sewage sludge ash does not demonstrate a potential hazard. The toxicity of heavy metals in great measure depends on the form of their occurrence. The prevailing norms do not require the ecological risk assessment of the environmental burden with heavy metals for the choice of the method of the utilization of sewage sludge ash. The paper presents the research results on the mobility of heavy metals in sewage sludge ash after its incineration. The geo-accumulation index (IGAI), the potential ecological risk index (PERI) and the risk assessment code (RAC) were used for the evaluation of the potential soil contamination with heavy metals. The authors also suggested a new formula, which took into consideration more factors influencing the risk of the contamination of a water-soil environment with heavy metals—the water and soil environment risk index (WSERI). The calculated indices for sewage sludge ash indicate the risk of soil contamination with heavy metals.

scholarly journals Speciation Characteristics and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Municipal Sludge of Huainan, China

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (21) ◽  
pp. 6711
Author(s):  
Mu You ◽  
Yunhu Hu ◽  
Yule Yan ◽  
Jie Yao
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Municipal Sludge

In order to fully understand the morphological characteristics and pollution status of heavy metals in the dewatered sludge of Huainan Municipal sewage treatment plant, the physical and chemical properties were analyzed, and the content and occurrence forms of heavy metals (As, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni) in the sludge were studied using the geological accumulation method (Igeo), risk assessment coding method (RAC), and potential ecological risk index method to evaluate the ecological risk. The results showed that the municipal sludge in Huainan was rich in nutrients, with good prospects for agricultural utilization. There were differences in the morphological distributions of different heavy metals. The Igeo values for Ni, As, Cr, and Pb were below 0. The results of RAC indicated that the risk level of Cr in sludge was a low risk, and those of other heavy metals were moderate risks. The potential ecological risk of Cd had the highest potential ecological risk, and the other six metals were of low ecological risk. This conclusion can provide basic data and a theoretical reference for the comprehensive utilization of sludge in sewage treatment plants.

scholarly journals Assessment of Heavy Metal Pollution Levels in Sediments and of Ecological Risk by Quality Indices, Applying a Case Study: The Lower Danube River, Romania

Water ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (13) ◽  
pp. 1801
Author(s):  
Valentina Andreea Calmuc ◽  
Madalina Calmuc ◽  
Maxim Arseni ◽  
Catalina Maria Topa ◽  
Mihaela Timofti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Metal Pollution ◽  
Heavy Metal Pollution ◽  
Surface Sediments ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Potential Ecological Risk ◽  
Danube River ◽  
Pollution Indices

It is a well–known fact that heavy metal pollution in sediments causes serious problems not only in the Danube basin, but also in the large and small adjacent river streams. A suitable method for assessing the level of heavy metals and their toxicity in sediments is the calculation of pollution indices. The present research aims to assess heavy metal pollution in the Lower Danube surface sediments collected along the Danube course (between 180 and 60 km) up to the point where the Danube River flows into the Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve (a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – UNESCO, protected area). In addition, this monitored area is one of the largest European hydrographic basins. Five heavy metals (Cd, Ni, Zn, Pb, Cu) were analyzed in two different seasons, i.e., the autumn of 2018 and the spring of 2019, using the Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP– MS) technique. Our assessment of heavy metal pollution revealed two correlated aspects: 1. a determination of the potential risks of heavy metals in sediments by calculating the Potential Ecological Risk Index (RI), and 2. an evaluation of the influence of anthropogenic activities on the level of heavy metal contamination in the surface sediments, using three specific pollution indices, namely, the Geo–Accumulation Index (Igeo), the Contamination Factor (CF), and the Pollution Load Index (PLI). The results of this pioneering research activity in the region highlighted the presence of moderate metal (Ni and Cd) pollution and a low potential ecological risk for the aquatic environment.

scholarly journals Reforestation Impacted Soil Heavy Metal Fractionation and Related Risk Assessment in the Karst Area, Southwest China

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 891
Author(s):  
Qian Zhang ◽  
Guilin Han ◽  
Xingliang Xu
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Risk Assessment ◽  
Ecological Risk ◽  
Southwest China ◽  
Risk Index ◽  
Contamination Factor ◽  
Karst Area ◽  
Risk Assessment Code ◽  
Bcr Sequential Extraction ◽  
Soil Heavy Metals

Human agricultural activities have resulted in widespread land degradation and soil contamination in the karst areas. However, the effects of reforestation after agricultural abandonment on the mobility risks and contamination of heavy metals have been rarely reported. In the present study, six soil profiles were selected from cropland and abandoned cropland with reforestation in the Puding karst regions of Southwest China. The Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction method was used to evaluate the compositions of different chemical fractions of soil heavy metals, including Fe, Mn, Cr, Zn, Ni, and Cd. The total contents of Cr, Ni, Zn, Cd, and Mn in the croplands were significantly higher than those in the abandoned croplands. For all soils, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Fe were mainly concentrated in the residual fractions (>85%), whereas Mn and Cd were mostly observed in the non-residual fractions (>65%). The non-residual fractions of Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn in the croplands were higher than those in the abandoned croplands. These results indicated that the content and mobility of soil heavy metals decreased after reforestation. The individual contamination factor (ICF) and risk assessment code (RAC) showed that Cd contributed to considerable contamination of karst soils. The global contamination factor (GCF) and potential ecological risk index (RI) suggested low contamination and ecological risk of the investigated heavy metals in the croplands, moreover they can be further reduced after reforestation.

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