Environmental Contamination of Heavy Metals and Effects of Sediment Bacteria on Cadmium Speciation in the Vicinity of the Hwacheon Mine

2005 ◽  
Vol 277-279 ◽  
pp. 438-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sung Eun Lee ◽  
Jin Soo Lee ◽  
Hyo Taek Chon

In order to investigate the extent and degree of heavy metal contamination in soils and sediments influenced by past mining activities, and to estimate the effects of indigenous bacteria on Cd speciation and bioremoval efficiency in sediments according to the various environmental conditions, tailings, soils, waters and sediments were collected from the Hwacheon Au-Ag-Pb-Zn mine in Korea. Elevated levels of metals, i.e., 29 As mg/kg, 30 Cd mg/kg, 261 Cu mg/kg, 601 Pb mg/kg and 3128 Zn mg/kg were found in sediments. High concentrations of As and other heavy metals in soils, waters and sediments were found near the tailings piles. From the results of sequential extraction analyses with tailings and soils, a high proportion of Cd is present as non-residual fractions. This indicates that Cd is more mobile and bioavailable than Cu, Pb and Zn. For seasonal variation, the concentrations of As and other heavy metals were much more elevated in soils collected before rainy season than after rainy season. To estimate the bioremoval efficiency for Cd, bacteria which can adsorb Cd were isolated from sediments in this area. Microorganisms in sediments can alter the mobility of heavy metals and bacteria can leach heavy metals from sediments, adsorb them on their cell wall and accumulate them within an intracellular matrix. From the metal sorption tests with indigenous bacteria, the bioremoval efficiency of Cd in Cd single solution (10 ppm) was more than 90%. As well, the isolated bacterial strains exhibited a preferential metal sorption , i.e., Cd > Pb > Zn for single metal solutions and Pb > Cd > Zn for the mixed metal solutions. Therefore, the use of some microorganisms to remove heavy metals from contaminated sediments may represent an innovative purification process.

2019 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 1286-1296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joan Mwihaki Nyika ◽  
Ednah Kwamboka Onyari ◽  
Megersa Olumana Dinka ◽  
Shivani Bhardwaj Mishra

Heavy metal contamination in soils results from anthropogenic and lithologic factors and is a potential hazard to land and water resources. Sources of such pollution include landfills, domestic sewage, agricultural fertilisers and industries. In this work, soils from Roundhill landfill vicinity in South Africa were sampled and analyzed to determine the concentrations of particular heavy metals, namely As, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn. The main objectives of this work were to: quantify the concentration levels of heavy metals in the soil; determine the mobility of the heavy metals in the soil; and establish their origins and interrelationships. The soils were collected at various distances and depths from the landfill facility. The concentrations of heavy metals in the soil samples were analysed by ICP-MS and statistical analysis was carried out to establish their relationships and sources. From the analysis, some elements including Cr, Mn, Cu and Ni had measured concentrations beyond the threshold limits in most sampling sites irrespective of their distance and depth from the landfill vicinity. Conversely, some elements were observed to be immobile and had higher concentrations on the top soils closer to the landfill, such as As, Pb, Zn, Co and V. Iron (Fe) had high concentrations in all the sampling sites due to its natural occurrence in the parent rocks. In conclusion, the potential of soil quality deterioration due to heavy metal pollution in a landfill vicinity was observed. Furthermore, all heavy metals observed showed positive correlation to each other except for As and Co, indicating same origin.


1977 ◽  
Vol 34 (7) ◽  
pp. 899-906 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Van Loon ◽  
R. J. Beamish

High concentrations of zinc and other heavy metals were found in lakes in the immediate vicinity of the Flin Flon smelters. In a study of 31 lakes, 7 had Zn levels above 100 μg/ℓ, 6 had levels between 50 and 100 μg/ℓ, and the remainder had concentrations < 50 μg/ℓ. The accuracy and precision of the heavy metal chemical analyses were evaluated using intercomparisons with other laboratories and a standard reference water. A linear relationship was demonstrated between log10 concentration of Zn, Cu, and SO42− and log10 distance from the smelter, suggesting atmospheric fallout as the main source of these substances in the lakes. Fishes were more tolerant of these high zinc concentrations than would be expected on the basis of the responses of fish and other aquatic organisms to similar concentrations of zinc in some laboratory toxicity tests. Key words: heavy metals, zinc, atmospheric fallout, fish toxicity, lake contamination, chemical analysis, Flin Flon, Canada


Author(s):  
Harendra Kumar Sharma ◽  
Irfan Rashid Sofi ◽  
Khursheed Ahmad Wani

Heavy metal contamination in water is a serious concern to the environment and human health. High concentrations of heavy metals in the environment can be toxic to a variety of living species. Natural bio-absorbents are abundant and inexpensive and considered a waste if not managed properly. The role of bio-absorbents has been widely studied and has been utilized for the removal of heavy metals. The objective of the chapter is to search the database for different absorbents and their efficiency for the removal of heavy metals. Key words related to the study have been used to select different papers published by the researchers all over the world. A rigorous three-tier process has been utilized by the authors to select the papers from the database for the current study. This chapter has identified a few research gaps in the field of heavy metal removal by using different low cast absorbents that need to be taken into account in future research.


2019 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-304
Author(s):  
Suny Akter ◽  
Zeenath Fardous ◽  
Jesmin Aktar ◽  
Md Abdur Rahman ◽  
Muhammed Alamgir Zaman Chowdhury ◽  
...  

Heavy metals are non-biodegradable substances which cause serious carcinogenic effects on animals and humans. As fish occupy top position of aquatic food chain, it is a major source of heavy metal contamination. The concentration of Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn, Fe, Cu, and Zn were 0.0156 - 0.1428, 0.163 - 8.53, 0.0924 - 0.4026, 9.38 - 65.9382, 0.0473 - 0.1981 and 0.1473 - 1.8148 ppm respectively for the fish samples of Cox’s Bazar region while 0.0191 - 0.1386, 0.8445 - 0.1743, 0.102 - 0.4625, 0.102 - 0.4675, 9.7269 - 60.5267, 0.3108 - 0.046 ppm for the fish samples of Saint Martin’s region. Comparatively high concentrations of heavy metals were found to be accumulated in Mola (Amblypharyngodon mola), Rupchanda (Stromateus chinensis) and Chhuri (Trichiurus lepturus). The order of heavy metal concentrations were Fe > Zn > Cr > Cu > Mn > Cd. The concentration of heavy metals varied from species to species and most of the metals were not significantly correlated, even some metals showed negative correlation among them. Concentration of Fe in some fishes (Mola, Rupchanda and Chhuri) was found higher than WHO guideline values, while other metals exhibited the value below the WHO standard. The results of this study will assist in acquiring information about the level of toxic metals in these regions and to improve the coastal management in these areas in future. Bangladesh J. Zool. 47(2): 293-304, 2019


Author(s):  
E.I Okoyeh ◽  
V.C Ahaneku ◽  
A Utom ◽  
I.E Udegbunam ◽  
G.E Egwuonwu

The investigation of the degree of trace heavy metals contamination in groundwater wells in Onitsha Southeast Nigeria, was carried out based on 20 preselected sample locations. The result of the analysis revealed water of relatively high acidity with pH ranging from 4.93 t0 6.94. The EC values for the analysed water samples ranged from 10.80 to 60.90u while TDS ranges from 20.00 to 410.00.Heavy metals in the form of Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), Chromium (Cr), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni), Zinc (Zn), Vanadium (V) and Copper (Cu) were analyzed for their concentration in the water samples of the area. The study revealed that the mean value of Fe (0.832000 ± 1.0626228ppm) and Cd (0.043750 ± 0.0181713ppm) exceeded the permissible limit for NSDWQ water quality standard as indicated by the high concentrations of Fe and Cd values observed in water samples of the study area. The concentrations of the heavy metals except Fe and Cd range from Ni (0.000 – 0.750),(Cu 0.00 - 0.105), (Zn 0.00 – 1.798), (Cr 0.002 – 0.046), (As 0.000 – 0.056) and (Va 0.000 - 0.008). The spatial distribution of the heavy metals in the area shows that the eastern part of the study area has relative high concentration of the heavy metals which is attributed to anthropogenic impacts.


2020 ◽  
Vol 99 (5) ◽  
pp. 478-482
Author(s):  
N. P. Setko ◽  
A. G. Setko ◽  
Ekaterina V. Bulycheva ◽  
A. V. Tyurin ◽  
E. Yu. Kalinina

Introduction. Changes in the body of children and adolescents aimed at adapting to environmental factors are determined by genetic polymorphism in xenobiotic biotransformation genes, determining the degree of susceptibility of the child’s body to pollutants, which is the basis of modern personalized preventive medicine when managing risks to the health of the child population under the influence of environmental factors. Material and methods. Trace elements, including heavy metals, lead and cadmium, were determined in the hair of 256 practically healthy teenagers by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Depending on the level of content of the latter, two groups of adolescents were formed to determine six genes of the cytochrome P-450 family. Group 1 consisted of adolescents whose cadmium lead content exceeded the average Russian indices. The second group included adolescents whose heavy metals were above the level of average Russian standards. Results. Studies have shown that in adolescents of the 1st group, compared with the data of adolescents of the 2nd group, an increase in the number of carriers of two mutant alleles at the locus rs 1048943 (gene CYP1A1) is 3.08 times, rs 464621 (gene CYP1A1) is 1. 8 times; locus rs 2069522 (CYP1A2 gene) 3.63 times; locus rs 1799853 (CYP2C9 * 2 gene) 4.5 times; locus rs 1057910 (gene CYP2C9 * 3) 3.8 times and locus rs 2279343 (gene CYP2B6) 4.25 times. Moreover, carriers of two normal alleles in adolescents of the first group at the locus rs 1048943 (gene CYP1A1) were 5.14 times; locus rs 2279343 (CYP2B6 gene) was 6.5 fold less than among adolescents of the 2nd group; and at the locus rs 464621 (gene CYP1A1), rs 2069522 (gene CYP1A2), rs 1799853 (gene CYP2C9 * 2), rs 1057910 (gene CYP2C9 * 3) there were no carriers of normal homozygotes. Conclusion. Group 1 adolescents with heavy metal contamination of the body are carriers significantly in a greater number of pathological mutations in the genes of the cytochrome P-450 detoxification system in comparison with data from group 2 adolescents.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2 (91) ◽  
pp. 17-21
Author(s):  
S. H. Korsun ◽  
N. I. Dovbash

The aim of the study was to establish changes in the physico-chemical and agrochemical characteristics of gray forest large-clay loamy soil, depending on the contamination of ecotopes by heavy metals. Methods. Field, laboratory, mathematical and statistical. Results. The results of the study of the soil of areas with an over-dimensioned content of heavy metals and the transformation of agrochemical characteristics of gray forest soil in the cultivation of corn for grain. It was established that under conditions of systematic application of mineral fertilizers in agrocenoses, an increase in the lead concentration to 100 mg/kg, cadmium to 2,0, zinc to 50 mg/kg in gray forest soil did not result in a decrease in the amount available forms of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium by plants, compared with the natural background. Concentration of lead in the amount of 1000 mg/kg, cadmium – 20, zinc – 500 mg/kg marked an increase in exchange and hydrolytic acidity and loss of humus.


Author(s):  
Sangeetha Annam ◽  
Anshu Singla

Abstract: Soil is a major and important natural resource, which not only supports human life but also furnish commodities for ecological and economic growth. Ecological risk has posed a serious threat to the ecosystem by the degradation of soil. The high-stress level of heavy metals like chromium, copper, cadmium, etc. produce ecological risks which include: decrease in the fertility of the soil; reduction in crop yield & degradation of metabolism of living beings, and hence ecological health. The ecological risk associated, demands the assessment of heavy metal stress levels in soils. As the rate of stress level of heavy metals is exponentially increasing in recent times, it is apparent to assess or predict heavy metal contamination in soil. The assessment will help the concerned authorities to take corrective as well as preventive measures to enhance the ecological and hence economic growth. This study reviews the efficient assessment models to predict soil heavy metal contamination.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 333-347
Author(s):  
Shahid Sher ◽  
Abdul Ghani ◽  
Sikandar Sultan ◽  
Abdul Rehman

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (14) ◽  
pp. 6592
Author(s):  
Ana Moldovan ◽  
Maria-Alexandra Hoaghia ◽  
Anamaria Iulia Török ◽  
Marius Roman ◽  
Ionut Cornel Mirea ◽  
...  

This study aims to investigate the quality and vulnerability of surface water (Aries River catchment) in order to identify the impact of past mining activities. For this purpose, the pollution and water quality indices, Piper and Durov plots, as well vulnerability modeling maps were used. The obtained results indicate that the water samples were contaminated with As, Fe, Mn, Pb and have relatively high concentrations of SO42−, HCO3−, TDS, Ca, K, Mg and high values for the electrical conductivity. Possible sources of the high content of chemicals could be the natural processes or the inputs of the mine drainage. Generally, according to the pollution indices, which were correlated to high concentrations of heavy metals, especially with Pb, Fe and Mn, the water samples were characterized by heavy metals pollution. The water quality index classified the studied water samples into five different classes of quality, namely: unsuitable for drinking, poor, medium, good and excellent quality. Similarly, medium, high and very high vulnerability classes were observed. The Durov and Piper plots classified the waters into Mg-HCO3− and Ca-Cl− types. The past and present mining activities clearly change the water chemistry and alter the quality of the Aries River, with the water requiring specific treatments before use.


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