Levels, Inventory, and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Wetland Ecosystem, Northeast China: Implications for Snow Cover Monitoring

Snow cover is a unique environmental medium in cold regions that can cause potential risks to the ecological environment, due to the release of pollutants that are stored in it. In this study, the Qixing River wetland, located in the Sanjiang Plain of China, was taken as the target research area. Heavy metals in snow cover, including Cu, Ni, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Zn were measured at 19 sampling sites. The results showed that the average concentrations of heavy metals were: Zn (103.46 ± 39.16) > Pb (13.08 ± 4.99) > Cr (11.97 ± 2.82) > Ni (9.55 ± 4.96) > Cu (6.19 ± 1.79) > Cd (0.55 ± 0.25) μg·L−1. Cr and Zn were between Class I and Class II in the “Environmental Quality Standards for Surface Water” of China (GB3838-2002). Pb in snow exceeded the upper limit of Class II, and was significantly higher than concentrations measured in water samples from the Qixing River wetland (p < 0.05), indicating that atmospheric deposition during winter was the major source of Pb. The water pollution index (WPI) indicated that 61.0% of samples could be considered of “clean” status, while the contribution of Zn, Pb, and Cr to WPI were 33.3%, 21.0%, and 19.3%, respectively. A preliminary evaluation of heavy metal inventory in snow cover showed that the residue level of Zn was the highest (2313.57 ± 1194.67 μg·m−2), while Cd was the lowest (13.91 ± 10.45 μg·m−2). The areas with high residues of heavy metals were all located near the buffer zone of the wetland (except for Zn), where snow depth tended to be greatest. Exposure analysis indicated that the risks to winter resident birds from snow ingestion was minimal, but it should be noted that the exposure risk was higher in birds with lower bodyweights. This study provides important information and scientific knowledge on the pollution characteristics and residue inventory of heavy metals in wetland ecosystems, while the results can also provide a monitoring method, reflecting atmospheric environmental quality at a local or regional scale.

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Identifying the regional-scale groundwater-surface water interaction on the Sanjiang Plain, Northeast China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research ◽

10.1007/s11356-015-4914-8 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (21) ◽

pp. 16951-16961 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

Xihua Wang ◽

Guangxin Zhang ◽

Y. Jun Xu ◽

Guangzhi Sun

Keyword(s):

Surface Water ◽

Northeast China ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Sanjiang Plain ◽

The Sanjiang Plain ◽

Water Interaction ◽

Groundwater Surface Water Interaction

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The increasing snow cover in the Amur River Basin from MODIS observations during 2000–2014

10.5194/tc-2016-72 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Xianwei Wang ◽

Yuan Zhu ◽

Yaning Chen ◽

Hailing Zheng ◽

Henan Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Snow Cover ◽

River Basin ◽

Air Temperature ◽

Sanjiang Plain ◽

Amur River Basin ◽

Amur River ◽

The Sanjiang Plain ◽

Snow Cover Extent ◽

The Amur River ◽

The Mean

Abstract. The study applies the improved cloud-free Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectral radiometer (MODIS) daily snow cover product (MODMYD_MC) to analyze the snow cover variations from snow Hydrologic Year (HY) HY2000 to HY2013 in the Amur River Basin (ARB), northeast Asia. The fractions of forest cover were 38 %, 63 % and 47 % in 2009 in China (the southern ARB), Russia (the northern ARB) and ARB, respectively. Forest demonstrates complex influences on the snow accumulation and melting processes and on optical satellite snow cover mapping. Validation results show that MODMYD_MC has a snow agreement of 88 % against in situ snow depth (SD) observations (SD≥4cm). The agreement is about 10 % lower at the forested stations than at the non-forested stations. Snow Cover Durations (SCD) from MODMYD_MC are 20 days shorter than ground observations (SD ≥ 1 cm) at the forested stations, while they are just 8 days shorter than ground observations (SD ≥ 1 cm) at the non-forested stations. Annual mean SCDs in the forested areas are 21 days shorter than those in the nearby farmland in the SanJiang Plain. SCD and Snow Cover Fraction (SCF) are negatively correlated with air temperature in ARB, especially in the snow melting season, when the mean air temperature in March and April can explain 86 % and 74 % of the mean SCF variations in China and Russia, respectively. From 1961 to 2015, the annual mean air temperature presented an increase trend by 0.33 ℃/decade in both China and Russia, while it had a decrease trend during the study period from HY2000 to HY2013. The decrease of air temperature resulted in an increase of snow cover although the increase of snow cover was not significant above the 90 % confidence level. SCD and SCF had larger increase rates in China than in Russia, and they were larger in the forested area than in the nearby farmland in similarly climatic settings in the SanJiang Plain. Air temperature began to increase again in 2014 and 2015, and the increasing air temperature in ARB projects a decrease of snow cover extent and periods in the coming years.

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ЭКОЛОГО-ГЕОХИМИЧЕСКОЕ РАЙОНИРОВАНИЕ ТЕРРИТОРИИГ. БИРОБИДЖАНА ПО УРОВНЮ ЗАГРЯЗНЕНИЯ СНЕЖНОГО ПОКРОВА

10.33833/tig.2019.81.41.013 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

V.B. Kalmanova

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Snow Cover ◽

Urban Area ◽

Constructive Method ◽

Comparative Characteristic ◽

Ecological State ◽

Sources Of Pollution ◽

Mobile Sources ◽

Arcview Gis ◽

Very High

В статье представлены результаты исследования экологогеохимического состояния снежного покрова как индикатора качества атмосферного воздуха г. Биробиджана. Выявлены основные природные и антропогенные факторы, предопределяющие экологическое состояние городской территории в зимний период (климатические, планировочная структура, стационарные и мобильные источники загрязнения). Определено, что выбросы основных загрязнителей во время отопительного сезона превышает летний в 6,5 раз. Проведены геохимические исследования снежного покрова на 60 экспериментальных площадках, заложенных в различных функциональных зонах города. Выявлено значительное превышение тяжелых металлов над фоновым уровнем: железа до 60, марганца до 50, меди до 40, цинка до 20, никеля до 12, свинца до 10, кобальта до 6 раз. С 2003 по 2018 годы содержание химических элементов в снеге увеличилось в 2 раза за счет мобильных источников загрязнения, ТЭЦ, котельных. Проведена сравнительная характеристика накопления тяжелых металлов в снеге за 2003 и 2018 годы и установлен ранжированный ряд загрязняющих токсичных веществ. Разработана шкала оценки загрязнения депонирующих сред по суммарному показателю концентрации тяжелых металлов, согласно которой в Биробиджане выявлено 5 уровней загрязнения снежного покрова. В целом экологическое состояние урбанизированной территории признано неудовлетворительным (8 площади территории относится к очень высокому, 14 к высокому, 21 к выше среднему, 27 к среднему уровням загрязнения, 30 к относительно чистым районам города). По полученным результатам разработана карта в программе ArcView GIS Экологогеохимическое районирование территории г. Биробиджана по уровню загрязнения снежного покрова с выделением наиболее загрязненных участков (70 от общей площади города является загрязненной). По результатам проведенных исследований предложены конструктивные методы планирования урбанизированной территории с целью улучшения ее экологического состояния: проведение геомониторинга (контроль загрязнения снежного покрова и своевременный его вывоз на специально оборудованные полигоны). Snow cover is taken as an indicator of air quality using Birobidzhan, a middlesize city in the Russian Far East, as a case study. The main natural and manmade determinants influencing the ecological state of the urban area in winter are identified: climate, a planning structure, and the stationary and mobile sources of pollution. During the heating season the emission of major pollutants exceeds the summer level by 6.5 times. The geochemical study of snow cover was performed at 60 experimental sites in different functional urban areas. A significant excess of heavy metals over the regional background level was revealed: iron up to 60 times, manganese up to 50, copper up to 40, zinc up to 20 , nickel up to 12, lead up to 10, cobalt up to 6 times. From 2003 to 2018 the content of chemical elements in snow increased in 2 times due to the mobile sources of pollution, thermal power plants, and boilers. The comparative characteristic of accumulation of heavy metals in snow for 2003 and 2018 is carried out, and the ranked number of polluting toxic substances is established. The scale of pollution assessment in depositing environments was developed using the cumulative indicator of heavy metal concentration. Five levels of snow cover pollution are found in Birobidzhan: low, moderate, above moderate, high and very high. As a whole, the ecological state of the urban area is considered as unsatisfactory (8 of the area with a very high level of pollution, 14 with high, 21 above moderate, 27 a moderate level of pollution, 30 a relatively clean area). According to the results, a map was developed in the ArcView GIS program Ecological and geochemical zoning of Birobidzhan, using the level of the snow cover pollution with the allocation of the most polluted areas (70 of the total area of the city is polluted). According to the results, a constructive method of planning in an urban area is proposed in order to improve its environmental condition: geomonitoring as a control of pollution in snow cover and its prompt removal to specially equipped landfills.

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DISTRIBUTION OF HEAVY METALS IN SURFACE SEDIMENTS OFF YANGTZE RIVER ESTUARY AND ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ASSESSMENT

Marine Geology & Quaternary Geology ◽

10.3724/sp.j.1140.2013.06047 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 33 (6) ◽

pp. 47 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Beibei MI ◽

Xianhong LAN ◽

Zhixun ZHANG ◽

Shengfa LIU

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Quality Assessment ◽

Environmental Quality ◽

Yangtze River ◽

Surface Sediments ◽

River Estuary ◽

Yangtze River Estuary ◽

Environmental Quality Assessment

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Simulating Land-Use Changes and Predicting Maize Potential Yields in Northeast China for 2050

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18030938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (3) ◽

pp. 938

Author(s):

Luoman Pu ◽

Jiuchun Yang ◽

Lingxue Yu ◽

Changsheng Xiong ◽

Fengqin Yan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Land Use ◽

Food Security ◽

Northeast China ◽

Land Use Changes ◽

Sanjiang Plain ◽

Potential Production ◽

Potential Yield ◽

The Sanjiang Plain ◽

Ecological Zones ◽

The Future

Crop potential yields in cropland are the essential reflection of the utilization of cropland resources. The changes of the quantity, quality, and spatial distribution of cropland will directly affect the crop potential yields, so it is very crucial to simulate future cropland distribution and predict crop potential yields to ensure the future food security. In the present study, the Cellular Automata (CA)-Markov model was employed to simulate land-use changes in Northeast China during 2015–2050. Then, the Global Agro-ecological Zones (GAEZ) model was used to predict maize potential yields in Northeast China in 2050, and the spatio-temporal changes of maize potential yields during 2015–2050 were explored. The results were the following. (1) The woodland and grassland decreased by 5.13 million ha and 1.74 million ha respectively in Northeast China from 2015 to 2050, which were mainly converted into unused land. Most of the dryland was converted to paddy field and built-up land. (2) In 2050, the total maize potential production and average potential yield in Northeast China were 218.09 million tonnes and 6880.59 kg/ha. Thirteen prefecture-level cities had maize potential production of more than 7 million tonnes, and 11 cities had maize potential yields of more than 8000 kg/ha. (3) During 2015–2050, the total maize potential production and average yield decreased by around 23 million tonnes and 700 kg/ha in Northeast China, respectively. (4) The maize potential production increased in 15 cities located in the plain areas over the 35 years. The potential yields increased in only nine cities, which were mainly located in the Sanjiang Plain and the southeastern regions. The results highlight the importance of coping with the future land-use changes actively, maintaining the balance of farmland occupation and compensation, improving the cropland quality, and ensuring food security in Northeast China.

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Farmland heavy metals can migrate to deep soil at a regional scale: A case study on a wastewater-irrigated area in China

Environmental Pollution ◽

10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116977 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 281 ◽

pp. 116977

Author(s):

Shushen Yang ◽

Wenzhao Feng ◽

Shiqin Wang ◽

Liang Chen ◽

Xin Zheng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Regional Scale ◽

Deep Soil ◽

Irrigated Area

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Microbial CO2 production from surface and subsurface soil as affected by temperature, moisture, and nitrogen fertilisation

Soil Research ◽

10.1071/sr07144 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 273 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Xiaobin Jin ◽

Shenmin Wang ◽

Yinkang Zhou

Keyword(s):

Soil Temperature ◽

Water Content ◽

Soil Water ◽

Soil Water Content ◽

Sanjiang Plain ◽

Co2 Production ◽

The Sanjiang Plain ◽

Subsurface Soil ◽

C Mineralisation ◽

Q10 Values

The Sanjiang Plain of north-east China is presently the second largest freshwater marsh in China. The drainage and use of marshes for agricultural fields occurred in the past 50 years, resulting in the increase in cultivated land from about 2.9 × 108 m2 in 1893 to 4.57 × 1010 m2 in 1994. Under human disturbance in the past half century, the environment in Sanjiang Plain has had significant change. We hypothesised that environmental factors such as soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil N levels affect the rates of soil organic C mineralisation and the nature of the controls on microbial CO2 production to change with depth through the soil profile in the freshwater marsh in the Sanjiang Plain. In a series of experiments, we measured the influence of soil temperature, soil water content, and nitrogen additions on soil microbial CO2 production rates. The results showed that Q10 values (the factor by which the CO2 production rate increases when the temperature is increased by 10°C) significantly increased with soil depth through the soil profile (P < 0.05). The average Q10 values for the surface soils were 2.7 (0–0.2 m), significantly lower than that (average Q10 values 3.3) for the subsurface samples (0.2–0.6 m) (P < 0.05), indicating that C mineralisation rates were more sensitive to temperature in subsurface soil horizons than in surface horizons. The maximum respiration rate was measured at 60% water hold capacity for each sample. The quadratic equation function adequately describes the relationship between soil respiration and soil water content, and the R2 values were > 0.80. The sensitivity of microbial CO2 production rate response to soil water content for surface soils (0–0.2 m) was slightly lower than for subsurface soils (0.2–0.6 m). The responses of actual soil respiration rates to nitrogen fertilisation were different for surface and subsurface soils. In the surface soils (0–0.2 m), the addition of N caused a slight decreased in respiration rates compared with the control, whereas, in the subsurface soils (0.2–0.6 m), the addition of N tended to increase microbial CO2 production rates, and the addition of 10 µg N/g soil treatment caused twice the increase in C mineralisation rates of the control. Our results suggested that the responses of microbial CO2 production to changes in soil moisture, soil temperature, and soil N levels varied with soil depth through the profile, and subsurface soil organic C was more sensitive to temperature increase and nitrogen inputs in the freshwater marsh of the Sanjiang Plain.

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