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Zong J, Zhang H, Li X, Bai X, Hu Y, Cui D, Wang Z, Zhang G. Process of mercury accumulation in urban strip river artificial wetland ecosystems: a case study of Changchun, a typical industrial city in Northeast China. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2024; 15:1392904. [PMID: 38766469 PMCID: PMC11099249 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2024.1392904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/19/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), as a global pollutant, is persistent, migratory, insidious, highly biotoxic and highly enriched, and is widely distributed in the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and lithosphere. Wetland ecosystems, as active mercury reservoirs, have become the most important sources and sinks of heavy metal mercury. Distinguished from natural wetlands, artificial wetlands located in urban sections of rivers face problems such as diverse urban pollution sources and complex spatial and temporal changes. Therefore, in this study, five intermittently distributed artificial wetlands were selected from the upstream to the downstream of the Changchun section of the Yitong River, a tributary of the Songhua River basin in the old industrial base of Northeast China. The mercury levels in the water bodies, sediments and plants of the artificial wetlands were collected and tested in four quarters from April 2023 to analyse the spatial and temporal distribution characteristics of total mercury. The results showed that the mercury levels in the water bodies, sediments and plants of the five wetlands showed a fluctuating trend with the river flow direction and had certain spatial and temporal distribution characteristics. This phenomenon was attributed to the sinking of external mercury pollution sources. In general, the wetland ecosystems showed a decreasing trend in the total Hg output of the downstream watershed. This may be due to the retention of particulate matter by aquatic plants in artificial wetlands to regular salvage of dead aquatic plants. At the same time urbanization and industrialization affect mercury levels in aquatic environments, so the risk of residential exposure needs to be looked at.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zong
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Hongjie Zhang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xuemei Li
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Xinyu Bai
- Jilin Province Expressway Group Operating Development Co., Ltd, Changchun, China
| | - Yufei Hu
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
| | - Dan Cui
- College of Languages and Cultures of Ningde Normal University, Ningde, China
| | - Zhaojun Wang
- School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Vegetation Restoration, Changchun, China
| | - Gang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Vegetation Ecology, Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
- Institute of Grassland Science, School of Life Sciences, Northeast Normal University, Changchun, China
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Dai L, Zhang B, Liao X, Wang L, Zhang Q, Tian S, Liang T, O'Connor D, Rinklebe J. Catchment land use effect on mercury concentrations in lake sediments: A high-resolution study of Qinghai Lake. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 916:170260. [PMID: 38253105 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2023] [Revised: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination in aquatic environments presents a significant ecological and human health concern. This study explored the relationship between catchment land use and Hg concentrations within Qinghai Lake sediment, the largest lake in China, situated on the Qinghai-Tibet plateau. The study entailed detailed mapping of Hg sediment concentrations and a subsequent environmental risk assessment. Considering the complex nature of the plateau landform and surface vegetation, the study area was delineated at a 100 km radius centered on Qinghai Lake, which was divided into 30 sectors to quantify relationships between land use and the sediment Hg concentration. The results revealed a mean sediment Hg concentration of 29.91 μg/kg, which was elevated above the background level. Kendall's correlation analysis revealed significant but weak associations between sediment Hg concentrations and three land use types: grassland (rangeland and trees) (rs = 0.27, p < 0.05), crops (rs = -0.37, p < 0.05), and bare ground (rs = -0.25, p < 0.1), suggesting that growing areas of grassland correlated with higher Hg levels in the lake sediment, in contrast to bare ground or crops area, which correlated with lower Hg concentrations. Multiple linear regression models also observed weak negative relationships between bare ground and crops with sediment Hg concentration. This research methodology enhances our understanding of the impact of land use on Hg accumulation in lake sediments and underscores the need for integrated watershed management strategies to mitigate Hg pollution in Qinghai Lake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijun Dai
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Bo Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Ecological Environment Bureau, Beijing 100161, China
| | - Xiaoyong Liao
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Lingqing Wang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Qian Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - Shuhan Tian
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Qingdao University, Qingdao 266021, China
| | - Tao Liang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographical Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
| | - David O'Connor
- School of Real Estate and Land Management, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Rd, Cirencester GL7 6JS, United Kingdom
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany
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3
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Vöröš D, Baizán PD, Slavíček K, Díaz-Somoano M, Geršlová E. Mercury occurrence and speciation in sediments from hard coal mining in Czechia. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132204. [PMID: 37541120 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 06/30/2023] [Accepted: 07/31/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
This study examines Hg distribution in stream sediments impacted by hard coal mining in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB), Czechia. By means of a comparative analysis, geological samples and samples from stream sediments were used to carry out a comprehensive assessment of the effects of anthropogenic activities on Hg distribution and speciation. Total Hg (THg), total organic and inorganic carbons (TOC and TIC), and total sulphur (TS) were measured in the samples to reveal a potential relationship. In addition, THg and TS species were discussed in order to elucidate their mobility pattern in the environment. The results have shown that there are no correlations between THg, TS, and TOC indicating overlapping Hg sources attributed to industrial processes. Geological samples, particularly coal and associated sedimentary rocks, contained lower Hg concentrations compared to a variety of stream sediments. The main Hg species identified in the samples was a stable β-HgS, which decreases its mobility in the riverine environment. It follows that Hg enrichment and speciation is linked to industrial processes, which are the main origin/cause for Hg enrichment and transformation. Minor proportions of HgO in some samples show Hg oxidation upon diagenesis, while HgCl2 is attributed to the chemical loads from the former coking plant.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Vöröš
- Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, AS CR, V Holešovičkách 41, 182 09 Prague 8, Czech Republic.
| | - Patricia Díaz Baizán
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Del Carbono, INCAR-CSIC, C/ Francisco Pintado Fe 26, Oviedo 33011, Spain
| | - Karel Slavíček
- Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Mercedes Díaz-Somoano
- Instituto de Ciencia y Tecnología Del Carbono, INCAR-CSIC, C/ Francisco Pintado Fe 26, Oviedo 33011, Spain
| | - Eva Geršlová
- Institute of Rock Structure and Mechanics, AS CR, V Holešovičkách 41, 182 09 Prague 8, Czech Republic; Department of Geological Sciences, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kotlarska 2, 611 37 Brno, Czech Republic
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Ye Y, Chen Y, Wu H, Fu Y, Sun Y, Wang X, Li P, Wu Z, Wang J, Yang Z, Zhou E. Investigations into ferroptosis in methylmercury-induced acute kidney injury in mice. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2023; 38:1372-1383. [PMID: 36880449 DOI: 10.1002/tox.23770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 02/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) is a highly poisonous form of mercury and a risk factor for kidney impairment in humans that currently has no effective means of therapy. Ferroptosis is a non-apoptotic metabolic cell death linked to numerous diseases. It is currently unknown whether ferroptosis takes part in MeHg-induced kidney damage. Here, we established a model of acute kidney injury (AKI) in mice by gavage with different doses of MeHg (0, 40, 80, 160 μmol/kg). Serological analysis revealed elevated levels of UA, UREA, and CREA; H&E staining showed variable degrees of renal tubule injury; qRT-PCR detection displayed increased expression of KIM-1 and NGAL in the groups with MeHg treatment, indicated that MeHg successfully induced AKI. Furthermore, MDA levels enhanced in renal tissues of mice with MeHg exposure whereas GSH levels decreased; ACSL4 and PTGS2 nucleic acid levels elevated while SLC7A11 levels reduced; transmission electron microscopy illustrated that the density of the mitochondrial membrane thickened and the ridge reduced considerably; protein levels for 4HNE and TfR1 improved since GPX4 levels declined, all these results implying the involvement of ferroptosis as a result of MeHg exposure. Additionally, the observed elevation in the protein levels of NLRP3, p-p65, p-p38, p-ERK1/2, and KEAP1 in tandem with downregulated Nrf2 expression levels indicate the involvement of the NF-κB/NLRP3/MAPK/Nrf2 pathways. All the above findings suggested that ferroptosis and the NF-κB/NLRP3/MAPK/Nrf2 pathways are implicated in MeHg-induced AKI, thereby providing a theoretical foundation and reference for future investigations into the prevention and treatment of MeHg-induced kidney injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingrong Ye
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yichun Chen
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Hanpeng Wu
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yiwu Fu
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Youpeng Sun
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xia Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Peixuan Li
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhikai Wu
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jingjing Wang
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengtao Yang
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ershun Zhou
- College of Life Sciences and Engineering, Foshan University, Foshan, Guangdong Province, People's Republic of China
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5
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Singh AD, Khanna K, Kour J, Dhiman S, Bhardwaj T, Devi K, Sharma N, Kumar P, Kapoor N, Sharma P, Arora P, Sharma A, Bhardwaj R. Critical review on biogeochemical dynamics of mercury (Hg) and its abatement strategies. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 319:137917. [PMID: 36706814 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.137917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is among the naturally occurring heavy metal with elemental, organic, and inorganic distributions in the environment. Being considered a global pollutant, high pools of Hg-emissions ranging from >6000 to 8000 Mg Hg/year get accumulated by the natural and anthropogenic activities in the atmosphere. These toxicants have high persistence, toxicity, and widespread contamination in the soil, water, and air resources. Hg accumulation inside the plant parts amplifies the traces of toxic elements in the linking food chains, leads to Hg exposure to humans, and acts as a potential genotoxic, neurotoxic and carcinogenic entity. However, excessive Hg levels are equally toxic to the plant system and severely disrupt the physiological and metabolic processes in plants. Thus, a plausible link between Hg-concentration and its biogeochemical behavior is highly imperative to analyze the plant-soil interactions. Therefore, it is requisite to bring these toxic contaminants in between the acceptable limits to safeguard the environment. Plants efficiently incorporate or absorb the bioavailable Hg from the soil thus a constructive understanding of Hg uptake, translocation/sequestration involving specific heavy metal transporters, and detoxification mechanisms are drawn. Whereas recent investigations in biological remediation of Hg provide insights into the potential associations between the plants and microbes. Furthermore, intense research on Hg-induced antioxidants, protein networks, metabolic mechanisms, and signaling pathways is required to understand these bioremediations techniques. This review sheds light on the mercury (Hg) sources, pollution, biogeochemical cycles, its uptake, translocation, and detoxification methods with respect to its molecular approaches in plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arun Dev Singh
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
| | - Kanika Khanna
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Jaspreet Kour
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Shalini Dhiman
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Tamanna Bhardwaj
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Kamini Devi
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Neerja Sharma
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Pardeep Kumar
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Nitika Kapoor
- P.G. Department of Botany, Hans Raj Mahila Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar, Punjab, India
| | - Priyanka Sharma
- School of Bioengineering Sciences and Research, MIT-ADT University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
| | - Priya Arora
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India
| | - Anket Sharma
- State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Silviculture, Zhejiang A&F University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Renu Bhardwaj
- Department of Botanical and Environmental Sciences, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjab, India.
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6
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Bailon MX, Chaudhary DK, Jeon C, Ok YS, Hong Y. Impact of sulfur-impregnated biochar amendment on microbial communities and mercury methylation in contaminated sediment. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 438:129464. [PMID: 35999716 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2022] [Revised: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
S-impregnation of biochar through elemental S streaming is known to increase its sorption performance against Hg and methyl mercury (MeHg). However, the effects of %S-loading on biochar's mechanism and sorption capacities for MeHg, and its consequent impact when used as an amendment material for Hg-contaminated sediments, are poorly understood, and thus, were investigated in this work. Our results showed that a minimum sulfur loading of 1% was the most effective in reducing MeHg levels in sediments. At higher %S-loading (3-20%), the reduction in surface area, pore blockage due to unreacted sulfur particles, and presence of poorly bound sulfur species resulted in lowered effectiveness for MeHg control. Increasing S-functionalization during impregnation shifted the sorption process of MeHg from Hg-O to Hg-S in S-impregnated biochar (BCS). Our 60-day slurry experiment showed a significant reduction in pore water THg (40-70%) and MeHg (30-55%), as well as sediment MeHg (50-60%) in biochar-amended sediments. The reduction in the bioavailable Hg resulted in lowered Hg methylation, as supported by the suppression of both the Fe- and SO42--reduction activities in the amended sediments. The microbial community structure in BCS-amended sediments showed a shift towards sulfur-consuming, iron-reducing, thiosulfate-oxidizing, and sulfate-reducing bacterial populations. At the genus level, the overall relative abundance of principal Hg methylators was also lower in the BCS treatment than in the unamended sediments. This study highlights the application of BCS as a promising strategy for remediation of Hg-contaminated sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Xavier Bailon
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City 30019, South Korea; Department of Science and Technology - Philippines, Philippine Science High School - Central Luzon Campus, Lily Hill, Clark Freeport Zone, Mabalacat City, Pampanga 2010, Philippines
| | - Dhiraj Kumar Chaudhary
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City 30019, South Korea
| | - Cheolho Jeon
- Research Center for Materials Analysis, Korea Basic Science Institute, Daejeon, South Korea
| | - Yong Sik Ok
- Korea Biochar Research Center, APRU Sustainable Waste Management Program & Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Yongseok Hong
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City 30019, South Korea.
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Wang Y, Luo Z, Liu D, Li Y. Immobilization of mercury in tailings originating from the historical artisanal and small-scale gold mining using sodium polysulfide. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:56562-56578. [PMID: 35347614 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-022-19569-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A series of sodium polysulfides (SPSs) with different sulfur indexes was prepared as stabilizers to amend elemental mercury-contaminated artisanal small-scale gold mine (ASGM) tailings in Hubei, China, by controlling the molar ratio of sulfur and sodium sulfides as 1:1, 2:1, 3:1, and 4:1 during the synthesis. XRD, XPS, and laser Raman spectroscopy all suggested that the synthesized SPSs were a mixture of multiple polysulfides, sulfur, sodium sulfides, and sodium thiosulfate. Based on toxicity characteristic leaching procedure test (TCLP), mercury stabilization efficiency of SPSs was evaluated and proved to be more superior than sulfur, sodium sulfide, and also calcium polysulfide, with an optimal stabilization efficiency of 97.16% at SPS/THg = 1:2, SPSs pH = initial pH, and liquid-to-solid ratio = 20:7. A pseudo-second-order kinetic model was able to interpret the stabilization kinetics and demonstrated that mercury stabilization rate increased with the sulfur index in the SPSs, but excess SPSs were potentially to inhibit the precipitation of mercury. Speciation analysis results determined with sequential extraction indicated that the unstable mercury, elemental mercury, and organic-bound mercury fractions decreased respectively by up to 88.6%, 53.5%, and 26.3%. Pearson correlation analysis showed that the mercury stabilization in the mine tailings amended with SPSs mainly occurs from the precipitation of the elemental mercury, and the organic mercury fraction reduction was correlated with the decrease of the unstable mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Wang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Zhiqiang Luo
- Yangtze Ecology and Environment Co. Ltd, Wuhan, 430062, China
| | - Danqing Liu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China.
| | - Yilian Li
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
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Mohanavelu A, Shrivastava S, Naganna SR. Streambed pollution: A comprehensive review of its sources, eco-hydro-geo-chemical impacts, assessment, and mitigation strategies. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 300:134589. [PMID: 35421447 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Streambeds are an integral part of the river ecosystem. They provide habitat to a vast array of aquatic and benthic organisms as well as facilitate the bio-degradation and transformation of organic matter and vital nutrients. Increasing anthropogenic influence introduces multiple stressors to the stream networks resulting in pollution of streambeds, which in turn, have detrimental effects on the overall stream ecosystem health. There is a huge gap in the current understanding of streambed pollution and its impacts, and the widely practiced streambed pollution mitigation strategies lack a holistic approach. In this comprehensive review, we first synthesize the state-of-the-art knowledge of conventional and emerging forms of contaminants, their overall impacts on stream ecosystem functions, and present future directions to comprehend the problem of streambed pollution. We highlight that fine sediments and plastics (found especially in urban streambeds) are among the major physical pollutants causing streambed pollution and the chemical pollutants generally comprise hydrophobic compounds including various legacy contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB), dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), a wide range of pesticides and a variety of heavy metals. Moreover, in recent years, highly polar and hydrophilic emerging contaminants such as micro-plastics, pharmaceutical waste and personal care products have been identified in riverbeds and streambeds across the world. We stress that the impacts of streambed pollution have been largely studied with discipline-driven perspectives amongst which the ecological impacts have received a lot of attention in the past. To present a comprehensive outlook, this review also synthesizes and discusses most of the understudied hydrological, geomorphological and biochemical impacts of different forms of streambed pollution. Subsequently, we also present a global inventory by compiling information from the published literature to highlight the status of streambed pollution around the globe. In the end, we endorse the positive and negative aspects of the current impact assessment methodologies and also highlight various physical, chemical and biological remediation measures that could be undertaken to alleviate streambed pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aadhityaa Mohanavelu
- Department of Water Science and Engineering, UNESCO-IHE, Westvest 7, 2611, AX, Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Shivansh Shrivastava
- Environmental Hydrology and Water Resources Group, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Sujay Raghavendra Naganna
- Department of Civil Engineering, Siddaganga Institute of Technology, Tumakuru, 572 103, Karnataka, India
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9
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Windisch J, Plessl C, Christian C, Zechmeister T, Jirsa F. Unexpected pathways of mercury in an alkaline, biologically productive, saline lake: A mesocosm approach. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 427:128163. [PMID: 34979384 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.128163] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), as one of the most frequently and globally occurring pollutants, is of major public health concern. Aquatic environments are the key compartment for Hg methylation as well as for its consequent bioaccumulation and biomagnification. This mesocosm study investigated the differences in Hg turnover, Hg distribution and bioaccumulation in two contrasting waterbodies: Panozzalacke (PL), an "average", oligotrophic European freshwater body and Lake Neusiedl (LN), an alkaline, saline, eutrophic, biologically highly productive lake. Mesocosm experiments were carried out with either water, water and sediment, and finally water, sediment and the macrophyte Ceratophyllum demersum from the respective waterbody. Hg2+ was added to the water phase and the Hg distribution over time was monitored in the compartments air, water, suspended particles, sediment and plants. The results show a much faster Hg turnover in LN compared to PL. Most striking is the significantly higher mercury bioaccumulation in macrophytes from LN and the significantly lower sedimentation rates there. We conclude that the specific physico-chemical and biological conditions in LN, e.g., alkalinity, sulfate content, dissolved carbon and high amount of particulate matter, lead to a rapid conversion of incoming mercury, accelerating bioaccumulation and potentially leading to unexpected mercury biomagnification in this lake. This has implications for other comparable waterbodies around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jakob Windisch
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christof Plessl
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christiane Christian
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Franz Jirsa
- Institute of Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 42, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Zoology, University of Johannesburg, PO Box 524, Auckland Park, 2006 Johannesburg, South Africa.
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10
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Nair SS, DeRolph C, Peterson MJ, McManamay RA, Mathews T. Integrated watershed process model for evaluating mercury sources, transport, and future remediation scenarios in an industrially contaminated site. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 423:127049. [PMID: 34517300 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Revised: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
We used the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) as a framework to develop an empirical Hg flux model for Upper East Fork Poplar Creek (UEFPC), a Hg-contaminated watershed in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. By integrating long-term Hg monitoring data with simulated flow and suspended solid loads in a site-specific empirical Hg transport model, we (1) quantified the spatial, temporal, and flow regime controls on daily Hg flux (adjusted R2 = 0.82) and (2) made predictions about Hg flux under future climate, land use, and management scenarios. We found that 62.79% of the average daily Hg flux in the watershed is currently driven by base flow, whereas variability in Hg flux is driven by storm and extreme flow. We estimate an average annual Hg flux of 28.82 g day-1 leaving the watershed under baseline precipitation, with an estimated 43.73% reduction in daily Hg flux under drought conditions and a 296% increase in daily Hg flux in extreme precipitation scenarios. We estimated that a new mercury treatment facility would result in a 24.7% reduction in Hg flux under baseline conditions and a 33.4% reduction under extreme precipitation scenarios. The study demonstrated the merit of this approach, which can be replicated for sites where information on flow, suspended solids, and Hg concentrations is available.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christopher DeRolph
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Mark J Peterson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
| | - Ryan A McManamay
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76798, USA
| | - Teresa Mathews
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA.
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11
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Ni FJ, Bhavsar SP, Poirier D, Branfireun B, Petro S, Arts MT, Chong-Kit R, Mitchell CPJ, Arhonditsis GB. Impacts of water level fluctuations on mercury concentrations in hydropower reservoirs: A microcosm experiment. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 220:112354. [PMID: 34116335 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2021.112354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 05/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hydropower generation, a renewable source of electricity, has been linked to elevated methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in impoundments and aquatic biota. This study investigates the impact of water level fluctuations (WLF) on MeHg concentrations in water, sediment, and fish. Using a set of controlled microcosm experiments emulating the drawdown/refill dynamics and subsequent sediment exposure to air experienced in reservoirs, we demonstrate that less frequent WLFs, and/or increased exposure of sediment to air, can lead to elevated MeHg concentrations in sediment, and total mercury (THg) and MeHg concentrations in water. In examining the effects of WLF frequency (two-day, weekly, and monthly), the monthly treatment displayed the highest THg and MeHg water levels, while the weekly treatment was characterized by the highest MeHg levels in the sediment. Our work supports emerging evidence that longer duration between WLF creates a larger surface area of sediment exposed to air leading to conditions conducive to higher MeHg concentrations in sediments and water. In contrast, THg, MeHg, and fatty acid trends in fish were largely inconclusive characterized by similar among-treatment effects and minimal temporal variability over the course of our experiment. This result could partly be attributed to overall low mercury levels and simple "worm-forage fish" food web in our experiment. To elucidate the broader impacts of water fluctuations on aquatic chemistry and biota, other factors (e.g., longer WLF cycles, dissolved organic matter, temperature, more complex food webs) which modulate both methylation rates and food web dynamics must be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicity J Ni
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - Satyendra P Bhavsar
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada; Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada.
| | - David Poirier
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Brian Branfireun
- Department of Biology and Centre for Environment & Sustainability, Western University, London, Ontario N6A 3K7, Canada
| | - Steve Petro
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Michael T Arts
- Department of Chemistry & Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2K3, Canada
| | - Richard Chong-Kit
- Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation, and Parks, Toronto, Ontario M9P 3V6, Canada
| | - Carl P J Mitchell
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada
| | - George B Arhonditsis
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, Ontario M1C 1A4, Canada.
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12
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Marziali L, Valsecchi L, Schiavon A, Mastroianni D, Viganò L. Vertical profiles of trace elements in a sediment core from the Lambro River (northern Italy): Historical trends and pollutant transport to the Adriatic Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 782:146766. [PMID: 33839650 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.146766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
River sediments generally act as a sink for trace elements but, when resuspended, they contribute to long-term downstream transport of contamination, which may finally reach the marine environment. This study analyzed these processes in a complex aquatic system that includes a contaminated tributary, the Lambro River (Northern Italy) and its recipient and main Italian watercourse, the Po River, with the prodelta in the Adriatic Sea. The study was conducted from a historical perspective which, covering the last 50 years, examined the main driving events such as the inputs of contaminants, the construction of WWTPs and the evolution of environmental legislation. The time trend of trace element contamination was analyzed in a sediment core collected in the Lambro River and dated 1962-2011. The highest enrichments were found for Hg, Zn, Cu, Pb and Cd, which showed similar trends, with EF maxima in the '60s-'90s (172, 56, 40, 28 and 21, respectively), following industrial and urban development, and a general decreasing pattern after the late '90s. Only in the 2000s the ecological risk associated with metal contamination showed mean PEC Quotients stably below 1. The results of a literature survey on sedimentary trace elements in the Po River and the prodelta for the last 50 years were then compared to the Lambro sediment core. A significant contribution to Cu, Zn, Pb, Hg and Cd contamination was proved to derive from Lambro sediment transport. In the prodelta, increasing Ni and Cr concentrations were also evidenced, likely as a result of enhanced soil erosion in the Po basin. This study highlights the key role of WWTPs, of lower-impact industrial processes and of environmental legislation in reducing contaminant inputs. It also emphasizes the active contribution of riverine sediment-bound contamination to long-distance marine sediment quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Marziali
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, I-20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Lucia Valsecchi
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, I-20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
| | - Alfredo Schiavon
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, I-20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy; IGB Leibniz-Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, Department of Ecohydrology, Müggelseedamm 310, 12587 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Domenico Mastroianni
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, Via Salaria km 29,300 - C.P. 10, 00015 Monterotondo St., RM, Italy.
| | - Luigi Viganò
- CNR-IRSA National Research Council-Water Research Institute, Via del Mulino 19, I-20861 Brugherio, MB, Italy.
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13
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Coppola F, Jiang W, Soares AMVM, Marques PAAP, Polese G, Pereira ME, Jiang Z, Freitas R. How efficient is graphene-based nanocomposite to adsorb Hg from seawater. A laboratory assay to assess the toxicological impacts induced by remediated water towards marine bivalves. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 277:130160. [PMID: 33794434 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2020] [Revised: 02/15/2021] [Accepted: 02/27/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Advanced investigations on the use of graphene based nanomaterials have highlighted the capacity of these materials for wastewater treatment. Research on this topic revealed the efficiency of the nanocomposite synthetized by graphene oxide functionalized with polyethyleneimine (GO-PEI) to adsorb mercury (Hg) from contaminated seawater. However, information on the environmental risks associated with these approaches are still lacking. The focus of this study was to evaluate the effects of Hg in contaminated seawater and seawater remediated by GO-PEI, using the species Ruditapes philippinarum, maintained at two different warming scenarios: control (17 °C) and increased (22 °C) temperatures. The results obtained showed that organisms exposed to non-contaminated and remediated seawaters at control temperature presented similar biological patterns, with no considerable differences expressed in terms of biochemical and histopathological alterations. Moreover, the present findings revealed increased toxicological effects in clams under remediated seawater at 22 °C in comparison to those subjected to the equivalent treatment at 17 °C. These results confirm the capability of GO-PEI to adsorb Hg from water with no noticeable toxic effects, although temperature could alter the responses of mussels to remediated seawater. These materials seem to be a promise eco-friendly approach to remediate wastewater, with low toxicity evidenced by remediated seawater and high regenerative capacity of this nanomaterial, keeping its high removal performance after successive sorption-desorption cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Coppola
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Weiwei Jiang
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, China
| | | | - Paula A A P Marques
- TEMA & Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Gianluca Polese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Italy
| | | | - Zengjie Jiang
- Yellow Sea Fisheries Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences, China.
| | - Rosa Freitas
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.
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14
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Coppola F, Soares AMVM, Figueira E, Pereira E, Marques PAAP, Polese G, Freitas R. The Influence of Temperature Increase on the Toxicity of Mercury Remediated Seawater Using the Nanomaterial Graphene Oxide on the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. NANOMATERIALS 2021; 11:nano11081978. [PMID: 34443810 PMCID: PMC8400667 DOI: 10.3390/nano11081978] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) has been increasing in waters, sediments, soils and air, as a result of natural events and anthropogenic activities. In aquatic environments, especially marine systems (estuaries and lagoons), Hg is easily bioavailable and accumulated by aquatic wildlife, namely bivalves, due to their lifestyle characteristics (sedentary and filter-feeding behavior). In recent years, different approaches have been developed with the objective of removing metal(loid)s from the water, including the employment of nanomaterials. However, coastal systems and marine organisms are not exclusively challenged by pollutants but also by climate changes such as progressive temperature increment. Therefore, the present study aimed to (i) evaluate the toxicity of remediated seawater, previously contaminated by Hg (50 mg/L) and decontaminated by the use of graphene-based nanomaterials (graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with polyethyleneimine, 10 mg/L), towards the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis; (ii) assess the influence of temperature on the toxicity of decontaminated seawater. For this, alterations observed in mussels’ metabolic capacity, oxidative and neurotoxic status, as well as histopathological injuries in gills and digestive tubules were measured. This study demonstrated that mussels exposed to Hg contaminated seawater presented higher impacts than organisms under remediated seawater. When comparing the impacts at 21 °C (present study) and 17 °C (previously published data), organisms exposed to remediated seawater at a higher temperature presented higher injuries than organisms at 17 °C. These results indicate that predicted warming conditions may negatively affect effective remediation processes, with the increasing of temperature being responsible for changes in organisms’ sensitivity to pollutants or increasing pollutants toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Coppola
- Department of Biology CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.C.); (A.M.V.M.S.); (E.F.)
| | - Amadeu M. V. M. Soares
- Department of Biology CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.C.); (A.M.V.M.S.); (E.F.)
| | - Etelvina Figueira
- Department of Biology CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.C.); (A.M.V.M.S.); (E.F.)
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Department of Chemistry LAQV-REQUIMTE, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Paula A. A. P. Marques
- Department of Mechanical Engineering TEMA, Universidade de Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal;
| | - Gianluca Polese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy;
| | - Rosa Freitas
- Department of Biology CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; (F.C.); (A.M.V.M.S.); (E.F.)
- Correspondence:
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15
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Gamboa-Herrera JA, Ríos-Reyes CA, Vargas-Fiallo LY. Mercury speciation in mine tailings amended with biochar: Effects on mercury bioavailability, methylation potential and mobility. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 760:143959. [PMID: 33348158 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Revised: 11/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Biochar is a low-cost and environmentally friendly amendment with strong ability for adsorption of mercury (Hg) from aqueous solutions, contaminated soils, and sediments. In the present study, six biochars were prepared from the pyrolysis of cocoa pod husk, sugarcane bagasse and banana pseudostem at 400 and 600 °C in order to use them as an organic amendment and to evaluate their capacities to reduce the bioavailability, methylation potential, and mobility of Hg present in mine tailings without environmental treatment. To quantify the effects of each variety of biochar, incubation experiments of soil were established by mixing mine tailings with 5% by weight of biochar for 90 days. Once the incubation time concluded, sequential extraction procedures were carried out to determine the fractionation of the Hg species. Speciation analysis results indicated that the remedial effects of biochar depended on the source of organic matter and pyrolysis temperature. The bioavailable and organic Hg fractions decreased respectively by up to 75 and 79%, indicating a methylation potential reduction. Immobile Hg fraction increased to 76% with respect to the control. Adsorption and stabilization to HgS from the soluble forms of Hg reduce the percentage of bioavailable Hg. The organic Hg fraction reduction was correlated with the decrease of the bioavailable Hg fraction and with direct adsorption processes in the biochar structure. Highly porous biochars developed at high temperature, with large contents of superficial polar functional groups (H/C), and high pH, electrical conductivity, ash percentage and cation exchange capacity values favor the stabilization and adsorption of Hg in mine tailings. In summary, the application of biochar could be an effective method for the remediation of Hg-contaminated mine tailings, transforming the Hg species into less toxic, soluble, reactive, and bioavailable forms.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Gamboa-Herrera
- Escuela de Geología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
| | - C A Ríos-Reyes
- Escuela de Geología, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia.
| | - L Y Vargas-Fiallo
- Escuela de Química, Universidad Industrial de Santander, Bucaramanga 680002, Colombia
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Guney M, Akimzhanova Z, Kumisbek A, Beisova K, Kismelyeva S, Satayeva A, Inglezakis V, Karaca F. Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Sites in Kazakhstan: Review of Current Cases and Site Remediation Responses. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:E8936. [PMID: 33271828 PMCID: PMC7730887 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238936] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) emissions from anthropogenic sources pose a global problem. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan's central and northern regions are among the most severely Hg-contaminated territories. This is due to two former acetaldehyde (in Temirtau) and chlor-alkali (in Pavlodar) plants, discharges from which during the second half of the 20th century were estimated over 2000 tons of elemental Hg. However, the exact quantities of Hg released through atmospheric emissions to the environment, controlled discharges to the nearby aquatic systems, leakages in the cell plant, and contaminated sludge are still unknown. The present review is the initiation of a comprehensive field investigation study on the current state of these contaminated sites. It aims to provide a critical review of published literature on Hg in soils, sediments, water, and biota of the impacted ecosystems (Nura and Irtysh rivers, and Lake Balkyldak and their surrounding areas). It furthermore compares these contamination episodes with selected similar international cases as well as reviews and recommends demercuration efforts. The findings indicate that the contamination around the acetaldehyde plant site was significant and mainly localized with the majority of Hg deposited in topsoils and riverbanks within 25 km from the discharge point. In the chlor-alkali plant site, Lake Balkyldak in North Kazakhstan is the most seriously contaminated receptor. The local population of both regions might still be exposed to Hg due to fish consumption illegally caught from local rivers and reservoirs. Since the present field data is limited mainly to investigations conducted before 2010 and given the persisting contamination and nature of Hg, a recent up-to-date environmental assessment for both sites is highly needed, particularly around formerly detected hotspots. Due to incomplete site remediation efforts, recommendations given by several researchers for the territories of the former chlor-alkali and acetaldehyde plant site include ex-situ soil washing, soil pulping with gravitational separation, ultrasound and transgenic algae for sediments, and electrokinetic recovery for the former and removal and/or confinement of contaminated silt deposits and soils for the latter. However, their efficiency first needs to be validated. Findings and lessons from these sites will be useful not only on the local scale but also are valuable resources for the assessment and management of similar contaminated sites around the globe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mert Guney
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Zhanel Akimzhanova
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Aiganym Kumisbek
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Kamila Beisova
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Symbat Kismelyeva
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Aliya Satayeva
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
| | - Vassilis Inglezakis
- Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XQ, UK;
| | - Ferhat Karaca
- The Environment & Resource Efficiency Cluster (EREC), Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan; (Z.A.); (A.K.); (K.B.); (S.K.); (A.S.); (F.K.)
- Environmental Science & Technology Group (ESTg), Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan 010000, Kazakhstan
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Chalkidis A, Jampaiah D, Aryana A, Wood CD, Hartley PG, Sabri YM, Bhargava SK. Mercury-bearing wastes: Sources, policies and treatment technologies for mercury recovery and safe disposal. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2020; 270:110945. [PMID: 32721358 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.110945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Due to the lenient environmental policies in developing economies, mercury-containing wastes are partly produced as a result of the employment of mercury in manufacturing and consumer products. Worldwide, the presence of mercury as an impurity in several industrial processes leads to significant amounts of contaminated waste. The Minamata Convention on Mercury dictates that mercury-containing wastes should be handled in an environmentally sound way according to the Basel Convention Technical Guidelines. Nevertheless, the management policies differ a great deal from one country to another because only a few deploy or can afford to deploy the required technology and facilities. In general, elemental mercury and mercury-bearing wastes should be stabilized and solidified before they are disposed of or permanently stored in specially engineered landfills and facilities, respectively. Prior to physicochemical treatment and depending on mercury's concentration, the contaminated waste may be thermally or chemically processed to reduce mercury's content to an acceptable level. The suitability of the treated waste for final disposal is then assessed by the application of standard leaching tests whose capacity to evaluate its long-term behavior is rather questionable. This review critically discusses the main methods employed for the recovery of mercury and the treatment of contaminated waste by analyzing representative examples from the industry. Furthermore, it gives a complete overview of all relevant issues by presenting the sources of mercury-bearing wastes, explaining the problems associated with the operation of conventional discharging facilities and providing an insight of the disposal policies adopted in selected geographical regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Chalkidis
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia; Energy Business Unit, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia
| | - Deshetti Jampaiah
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.
| | - Amir Aryana
- Energy Business Unit, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), North Ryde, NSW 1670, Australia
| | - Colin D Wood
- Australian Resources Research Centre, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Kensington, WA 6152, Australia; Curtin Oil and Gas Innovation Centre (CUOGIC), Curtin University, Kensington, WA 6152, Australia
| | - Patrick G Hartley
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia; Energy Business Unit, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), Clayton South, VIC 3169, Australia
| | - Ylias M Sabri
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia
| | - Suresh K Bhargava
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC 3001, Australia.
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18
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Biotransformation fate and sustainable mitigation of a potentially toxic element of mercury from environmental matrices. ARAB J CHEM 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.arabjc.2020.06.041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
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19
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Singh S, Kumar V. Mercury detoxification by absorption, mercuric ion reductase, and exopolysaccharides: a comprehensive study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2020; 27:27181-27201. [PMID: 31001776 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04974-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2019] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg), the environmental toxicant, is present in the soil, water, and air as it is substantially distributed throughout the environment. Being extremely toxic even at low concentration, its remediation is utterly important. Therefore, it is necessary to detoxify the contaminant within the acceptable limits before threatening the environment. Although various conventional methods are being used, irrespective of high cost, it produces intermediate toxic by-product too. Biological methods are eco-friendly, clean, greener, and safer for the remediation of heavy metals corresponding to the conventional remediation due to their economic and high-tech constraints. Bioremediation is now being used for Hg (II) removal, which involves biosorption and bioaccumulation mechanisms or both, also mercuric ion reductase, exopolysaccharide play significant role in detoxification of mercury by acting a potential instrument for the remediation of heavy metals. In this review paper, we shed light on problems caused by mercury pollution, mercury cycle, and its global scenario and detoxification approaches by biological methods and result found in the literature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shalini Singh
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826 004, India
| | - Vipin Kumar
- Laboratory of Applied Microbiology, Department of Environmental Science & Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad, Jharkhand, 826 004, India.
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20
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The Role of Temperature on the Impact of Remediated Water towards Marine Organisms. WATER 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/w12082148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Marine organisms are frequently exposed to pollutants, including trace metals, derived from natural and anthropogenic activities. In order to prevent environmental pollution, different approaches have been applied to remove pollutants from waste water and avoid their discharge into aquatic systems. However, organisms in their natural aquatic environments are also exposed to physico-chemical changes derived from climate change-related factors, including temperature increase. According to recent studies, warming has a negative impact on marine wildlife, with known effects on organisms physiological and biochemical performance. Recently, a material based on graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with polyethyleneimine (PEI) proved to be effective in the remediation of mercury (Hg) contaminated water. Nevertheless, no information is available on the toxic impacts of such remediated water towards aquatic systems, neither under actual nor predicted temperature conditions. For this, the present study assessed the toxicity of seawater, previously contaminated with Hg and remediated by GO-PEI, using the clam species Ruditapes philippinarum exposed to actual and a predicted temperature conditions. The results obtained demonstrated that seawater contaminated with Hg and/or Hg+GO-PEI induced higher toxicity in clams exposed to 17 and 22 °C compared to organisms exposed to remediated seawater at the same temperatures. Moreover, similar histological and biochemical results were observed between organisms exposed to control and remediated seawater, independently of the temperatures (17 and 21 °C), highlighting the potential use of GO-PEI to remediate Hg from seawater without significant toxicity issues to the selected marine species.
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21
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Lee JY, Hwang GW, Naganuma A, Satoh M. Methylmercury toxic mechanism related to protein degradation and chemokine transcription. Environ Health Prev Med 2020; 25:30. [PMID: 32680455 PMCID: PMC7469908 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-020-00868-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Methylmercury is an environmental pollutant that causes neurotoxicity. Recent studies have reported that the ubiquitin-proteasome system is involved in defense against methylmercury toxicity through the degradation of proteins synthesizing the pyruvate. Mitochondrial accumulation of pyruvate can enhance methylmercury toxicity. In addition, methylmercury exposure induces several immune-related chemokines, specifically in the brain, and may cause neurotoxicity. This summary highlights several molecular mechanisms of methylmercury-induced neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin-Yong Lee
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, 1-100 Kusumoto-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8650, Japan.
| | - Gi-Wook Hwang
- Laboratory of Environmental and Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Sendai, 981-8558, Japan.,Laboratory of Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Akira Naganuma
- Laboratory of Molecular and Biochemical Toxicology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8578, Japan
| | - Masahiko Satoh
- Laboratory of Pharmaceutical Health Sciences, School of Pharmacy, Aichi Gakuin University, 1-100 Kusumoto-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya, 464-8650, Japan
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22
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Ancora S, Rossi F, Borgese M, Pirrone C, Caliani I, Cappello S, Mancini G, Bianchi N, Leonzio C, Bernardini G, Gornati R. Assessing the Effect of Contaminated and Restored Marine Sediments in Different Experimental Mesocosms Using an Integrated Approach and Mytilus galloprovincialis as a Model. MARINE BIOTECHNOLOGY (NEW YORK, N.Y.) 2020; 22:411-422. [PMID: 32240431 DOI: 10.1007/s10126-020-09961-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The research presented here was conducted to ascertain the effectiveness of recovery technologies in remediating a compromised marine environment. The multidisciplinary approach aims to integrate traditional chemical-physical analysis and to assess the biological parameters of Mytilus galloprovincialis within different experimental mesocosms (W, G, and B). In particular, this system was designed to reproduce sediment resuspension in a marine environment, which is thought to be one cause of contaminant release. The study combined morphological and ultrastructural observations with DNA damage assessment and mRNA expression of those genes involved in cellular stress responses. The tissues of mussels maintained in the polluted mesocosm showed a higher accumulation of Pb and Hg than in those maintained in restored mesocosm. This observation correlates well with mRNA expression of MT10 and data on DNA damage. The outcome of the biological evaluation consolidates the chemical characterization and supports the concept that the remediation method should be evaluated at an early stage, both to analytically determine the reduction of toxic components and to assess its ultimate impact on the biological system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefania Ancora
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Federica Rossi
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Marina Borgese
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Cristina Pirrone
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Ilaria Caliani
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Simone Cappello
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology (IRBIM)-CNR of Messina, Via San Raineri 86, 98122, Messina, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Mancini
- Electric, Electronics and Computer Engineering Department, University of Catania, Viale Andrea Doria 6, 95125, Catania, Italy
| | - Nicola Bianchi
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Claudio Leonzio
- Department of Physical, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Siena, via Mattioli, 4, 53100, Siena, Italy
| | - Giovanni Bernardini
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy
| | - Rosalba Gornati
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Sciences, University of Insubria, Via Dunant 3, 21100, Varese, Italy.
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23
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Mao L, Liu X, Wang B, Lin C, Xin M, Zhang BT, Wu T, He M, Ouyang W. Occurrence and risk assessment of total mercury and methylmercury in surface seawater and sediments from the Jiaozhou Bay, Yellow Sea. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 714:136539. [PMID: 31981874 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2019] [Revised: 01/03/2020] [Accepted: 01/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The Jiaozhou Bay is a semi-enclosed bay located in the middle of the Yellow Sea. Effluents from wastewater treatment plants have been carried into the bay, which has significantly increased the deposition of mercury. The spatial distributions of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in dissolved state, in suspended matters of seawater and surface sediments at 26 locations inside the Jiaozhou Bay and five surrounding rivers in April 2018 were examined. The contents of THg and MeHg found along the eastern coast were higher than those found along the western coast, which indicated the impact of human activities (river input) on the Jiaozhou Bay. The partition coefficient (LogKd) was used to express the distribution relationships of THg and MeHg in suspended matters and dissolved state, and it was concluded that suspended matter was the main reservoir of mercury in Jiaozhou Bay seawater. The correlations between contents and physicochemical properties of seawater showed that THg and MeHg concentrations in seawater decreased with increasing salinity and pH. The effects of the mean grain diameter (MGD) and sediment organic matter (SOM) on the THg and MeHg in surface sediments were also discussed. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to obtain the factors determining the methylation proportion in the surface sediments, indicating that the combination of human activities and natural processes affected the degree of methylation in the sediments. The spatial distribution of THg, MeHg and MeHg% was suggested to be disturbed by the interaction of natural processes and human activities (river input) by the correlation analysis of the corresponding pollutant concentrations among seawater and. Although the concentrations of THg and MeHg in seawater and sediments of the Jiaozhou Bay did not exceed the Chinese regulatory standards, the pollution levels of THg and MeHg were comparable to those in other bays in the world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulu Mao
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xitao Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Baodong Wang
- The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Chunye Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Ming Xin
- The First Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Qingdao 266061, China
| | - Bo-Tao Zhang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Tingting Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Mengchang He
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Wei Ouyang
- State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, School of Environment, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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24
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Eckley CS, Gilmour CC, Janssen S, Luxton TP, Randall PM, Whalin L, Austin C. The assessment and remediation of mercury contaminated sites: A review of current approaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:136031. [PMID: 31869604 PMCID: PMC6980986 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Remediation of mercury (Hg) contaminated sites has long relied on traditional approaches, such as removal and containment/capping. Here we review contemporary practices in the assessment and remediation of industrial-scale Hg contaminated sites and discuss recent advances. Significant improvements have been made in site assessment, including the use of XRF to rapidly identify the spatial extent of contamination, Hg stable isotope fractionation to identify sources and transformation processes, and solid-phase characterization (XAFS) to evaluate Hg forms. The understanding of Hg bioavailability for methylation has been improved by methods such as sequential chemical extractions and porewater measurements, including the use of diffuse gradient in thin-film (DGT) samplers. These approaches have shown varying success in identifying bioavailable Hg fractions and further study and field applications are needed. The downstream accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in biota is a concern at many contaminated sites. Identifying the variables limiting/controlling MeHg production-such as bioavailable inorganic Hg, organic carbon, and/or terminal electron acceptors (e.g. sulfate, iron) is critical. Mercury can be released from contaminated sites to the air and water, both of which are influenced by meteorological and hydrological conditions. Mercury mobilized from contaminated sites is predominantly bound to particles, highly correlated with total sediment solids (TSS), and elevated during stormflow. Remediation techniques to address Hg contamination can include the removal or containment of Hg contaminated materials, the application of amendments to reduce mobility and bioavailability, landscape/waterbody manipulations to reduce MeHg production, and food web manipulations through stocking or extirpation to reduce MeHg accumulated in desired species. These approaches often rely on knowledge of the Hg forms/speciation at the site, and utilize physical, chemical, thermal and biological methods to achieve remediation goals. Overall, the complexity of Hg cycling allows many different opportunities to reduce/mitigate impacts, which creates flexibility in determining suitable and logistically feasible remedies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris S Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, 1200 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - Cynthia C Gilmour
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037-0028, USA.
| | - Sarah Janssen
- USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA.
| | - Todd P Luxton
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Paul M Randall
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Lindsay Whalin
- San Francisco Bay Water Board, 1515 Clay St., Ste. 1400, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
| | - Carrie Austin
- San Francisco Bay Water Board, 1515 Clay St., Ste. 1400, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
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25
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Pi K, Liu J, Van Cappellen P. A DNA-based biosensor for aqueous Hg(II): Performance under variable pH, temperature and competing ligand composition. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 385:121572. [PMID: 31727526 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 10/04/2019] [Accepted: 10/29/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a toxic metal posing major health risks to human beings and wildlife. The characterization of Hg fate and transport in aquatic environments is hindered by a lack of sensitive, selective and easily field-deployable analytical techniques. Here we assess the reliability and performance of a Hg2+ sensor based on the selective binding of Hg2+ to a thymine-rich DNA under environmentally-relevant conditions. Experimental results indicate that the interactions between the DNA and SYBR Green I, which produce the detection fluorescence signal, are significantly impacted by pH, metal ligands and natural dissolved organic matter (NDOM). These interferences are largely eliminated by immobilizing the DNA in a polyacrylamide hydrogel, although high concentrations of NDOM, such as fulvic acids, still affect the sensor's performance due to competitive binding of Hg2+. The binding of Hg2+ to NDOM, however, can be accounted for via equilibrium speciation calculations, which also yield the complexation constant for Hg2+ binding to the DNA in the hydrogel. The equilibrium calculations reproduce the results for the entire set of experimental conditions, from simple electrolyte solutions to complex aqueous compositions mimicking natural lake waters, and across large ranges of pH (3-10) and temperature (5-50 °C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Kunfu Pi
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada.
| | - Juewen Liu
- Department of Chemistry & Waterloo Institute for Nanotechnology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada
| | - Philippe Van Cappellen
- Ecohydrology Research Group, Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences & Water Institute, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1 Canada.
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26
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Coppola F, Bessa A, Henriques B, Russo T, Soares AMVM, Figueira E, Marques PAAP, Polese G, Di Cosmo A, Pereira E, Freitas R. Oxidative stress, metabolic and histopathological alterations in mussels exposed to remediated seawater by GO-PEI after contamination with mercury. Comp Biochem Physiol A Mol Integr Physiol 2020; 243:110674. [PMID: 32058044 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2020.110674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2020] [Accepted: 02/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The modern technology brought new engineering materials (e.g. nanostructured materials) with advantageous characteristics such as a high capacity to decontaminate water from pollutants (for example metal(loid)s). Among those innovative materials the synthesis of nanostructured materials (NSMs) based on graphene as graphene oxide (GO) functionalized with polyethyleneimine (GO-PEI) had a great success due to their metal removal capacity from water. However, research dedicated to environmental risks related to the application of these materials is still non-existent. To evaluate the impacts of such potential stressors, benthic species can be a good model as they are affected by several environmental constraints. Particularly, the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis has been identified by several authors as a bioindicator that responds quickly to environmental disturbances, with a wide spatial distribution and economic relevance. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the impacts caused in M. galloprovincialis by seawater previously contaminated by Hg and decontaminated using GO-PEI. For this, histopathological and biochemical alterations were examined. This study demonstrated that mussels exposed to the contaminant (Hg), the decontaminant (GO-PEI) and the combination of both (Hg + GO-PEI) presented an increment of histopathological, oxidative stress and metabolic alterations if compared to organisms under remediated seawater and control conditions The present findings highlight the possibility to remediate seawater with nanoparticles for environmental safety purposes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Coppola
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Ana Bessa
- TEMA & Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Bruno Henriques
- CESAM & LAQV-REQUIMTE & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Tania Russo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Italy
| | | | - Etelvina Figueira
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Paula A A P Marques
- TEMA & Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Gianluca Polese
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Italy
| | - Anna Di Cosmo
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126, Italy
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- CESAM & LAQV-REQUIMTE & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal
| | - Rosa Freitas
- CESAM & Department of Biology, University of Aveiro, 3810-193, Portugal.
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27
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Chalkidis A, Jampaiah D, Hartley PG, Sabri YM, Bhargava SK. Mercury in natural gas streams: A review of materials and processes for abatement and remediation. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 382:121036. [PMID: 31473516 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2019] [Revised: 08/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The role of natural gas in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions and advancing renewable energy resource integration is undoubtedly critical. With the progress of hydrocarbons exploration and production, the target zones become deeper and the possibility of mercury contamination increases. This impacts on the industry from health and safety risks, due to corrosion and contamination of equipment, to catalyst poisoning and toxicity through emissions to the environment. Especially mercury embrittlement, being a significant problem in LNG plants using aluminum cryogenic heat exchangers, has led to catastrophic plant incidents worldwide. The aim of this review is to critically discuss the conventional and alternative materials as well as the processes employed for mercury removal during gas processing. Moreover, comments on studies examining the geological occurrence of mercury species are included, the latest developments regarding the detection, sampling and measurement are presented and updated information with respect to mercury speciation and solubility is displayed. Clean up and passivation techniques as well as disposal methods for mercury-containing waste are also explained. Most importantly, the environmental as well as the health and safety implications are addressed, and areas that require further research are pinpointed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasios Chalkidis
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia; CSIRO Energy, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Deshetti Jampaiah
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia
| | - Patrick G Hartley
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia; CSIRO Energy, Private Bag 10, Clayton South, VIC, 3169, Australia
| | - Ylias M Sabri
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.
| | - Suresh K Bhargava
- Centre for Advanced Materials & Industrial Chemistry (CAMIC), School of Science, RMIT University, GPO Box 2476, Melbourne, VIC, 3001, Australia.
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28
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Johs A, Eller VA, Mehlhorn TL, Brooks SC, Harper DP, Mayes MA, Pierce EM, Peterson MJ. Dissolved organic matter reduces the effectiveness of sorbents for mercury removal. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 690:410-416. [PMID: 31299573 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) contamination of soils and sediments impacts numerous environments worldwide and constitutes a challenging remediation problem. In this study, we evaluate the impact of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the effectiveness of eight sorbent materials considered for Hg remediation in soils and sediments. The materials include both engineered and unmodified materials based on carbon, clays, mesoporous silica and a copper alloy. Initially, we investigated the kinetics of Hg(II) complexation with DOM for a series of Hg:DOM ratios. Steady-state Hg-DOM complexation occurred within 48 to 120 h, taking longer time at higher Hg:DOC (dissolved organic carbon) molar ratios. In subsequent equilibrium experiments, Hg(II) was equilibrated with DOM at a defined Hg:DOC molar ratio (2.4 · 10-6) for 170 h and used in batch experiments to determine the effect of DOM on Hg partition coefficients and sorption isotherms by comparing Hg(II) and Hg-DOM. Hg sorption capacities of all sorbents were severely limited in the presence of DOM as a competing ligand. Thiol-SAMMS®, SediMite™ and pine biochar were most effective in reducing Hg concentrations. While pine biochar and lignin-derived carbon processed at high temperatures released negligible amounts of anions into solution, leaching of sulfate and chloride was observed for most engineered sorbent materials. Sulfate may stimulate microbial communities harboring sulfate reducing bacteria, which are considered one of the primary drivers of microbial mercury methylation in the environment. The results highlight potential challenges arising from the application of sorbents for Hg remediation in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Johs
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA.
| | - Virginia A Eller
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Tonia L Mehlhorn
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Scott C Brooks
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - David P Harper
- Center for Renewable Carbon, University of Tennessee, 2506 Jacob Drive, Knoxville, TN 37996, USA
| | - Melanie A Mayes
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Eric M Pierce
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
| | - Mark J Peterson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830, USA
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29
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Singh DK, Lingaswamy B, Koduru TN, Nagu PP, Jogadhenu PSS. A putative merR family transcription factor Slr0701 regulates mercury inducible expression of MerA in the cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803. Microbiologyopen 2019; 8:e00838. [PMID: 31094100 PMCID: PMC6741143 DOI: 10.1002/mbo3.838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2018] [Revised: 02/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
In cyanobacteria, genes conferring mercury resistance are not organized as mer‐operon, unlike in other bacterial phyla. Synechocystis contains only a putative MerR regulator, Slr0701, and a mercury reductase, MerA, located aside from each other in the genome. The slr0701‐mutant showed reduction in photosynthetic activity and reduced tolerance to mercury compared to the wild‐type. The incubation of wild‐type cells with HgCl2 resulted in the upregulation of slr0701 and slr1849 genes whereas mercury‐induced expression was not observed in the slr0701‐mutant. Slr0701 binds to a conserved cis‐regulatory element located in the upstream of slr1849 and slr0701 ORFs. The same element was also identified in the upstream of other cyanobacterial homologs. Slr0701 binds to cis‐regulatory element with faster association and slower dissociation rates in the presence of HgCl2. Although these genes were constitutively expressed, the addition of HgCl2 enhanced their promoter activity suggesting that mercury‐bound Slr0701 triggers induced expression of these genes. The enhanced promoter activity could be attributed to the observed secondary structural changes in Slr0701 in the presence of HgCl2. For the first time, we demonstrated the mechanism of merA regulation in a cyanobacterium, Synechocystis. Although merA and merR genes are distantly located on the cyanobacterial genome and distinct from other bacterial mer‐operons, the transcriptional regulatory mechanism is conserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Kumar Singh
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Bantu Lingaswamy
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Tejaswi Naidu Koduru
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
| | - Prakash Prabhu Nagu
- Department of Biotechnology & Bioinformatics, School of Life Sciences, University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, India
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30
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Yuan P, Wang J, Pan Y, Shen B, Wu C. Review of biochar for the management of contaminated soil: Preparation, application and prospect. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 659:473-490. [PMID: 31096377 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.12.400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 139] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2018] [Revised: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
As a multi-beneficial amendment, biochar is reasonable and reliable to be employed as an amendment to implement soil remediation. An overview on the manufacture, applications for contaminated soil restoration and revegetation, as well as recommended aspects for future work has been accomplished. One of the objectives of this work presented herein was to determine the effect of feedstock and preparation conditions such as pyrolysis temperature, retention time, gas flow rate, additives on the biochar characteristics and application potentials. Besides, relevant modification or activation technologies have been discussed for the improvement of the biochar functions. The application of biochar could adjust the soil structure (surface area, pore size and distribution etc.), improve the soil physicochemical properties (pH, cation exchange capacity, water retention capacity etc.) and enhance the uptake of soil nutrients for plant growth; In addition, it also can be used to adsorb various contaminants (heavy metals, organic matters), modify the habit and function of microorganism and mitigate climate problem by changing the bioavailability of elements (C, N, K etc.) in soil. These results also provided the possibility to expend the application of biochar to modify the degraded soils in the saline-alkali soil and industrial regions, further increase the usable area of cultivated land. The future research directions could be suggested as long-term field trials, the evaluation of environmental risk and the optimization of biochar production. Moreover, the relevant mechanisms should be adequately considered for maximizing the all-around efficiency of biochar amendments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Yuan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Jianqiao Wang
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Yijun Pan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China
| | - Boxiong Shen
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Hebei University of Technology, Tianjin 300401, PR China.
| | - Chunfei Wu
- School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast, Northern Ireland BT7 1NN, United Kingdom
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31
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Schwartz GE, Sanders JP, McBurney AM, Brown SS, Ghosh U, Gilmour CC. Impact of dissolved organic matter on mercury and methylmercury sorption to activated carbon in soils: implications for remediation. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:485-496. [PMID: 30724289 DOI: 10.1039/c8em00469b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Activated carbon (AC) amendments have shown promise in reducing inorganic mercury (Hg(ii) complexes, "Hg") and methylmercury (MeHg) risk in contaminated soils. However, the effectiveness of AC in Hg and MeHg immobilization has varied among studies, suggesting that site biogeochemistry might dictate efficacy. In this study, we examined the effect of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on MeHg and Hg sorption to AC. We evaluated the impact of Suwannee River Humic Acid (SRHA) on sorption to AC directly using an isotherm approach and in a soil/AC mixture using slurry microcosms. Aqueous sorption coefficients to AC (log KAC) for Hg-SRHA and MeHg-SRHA complexes were one to two orders of magnitude lower (Hg-SRHA = 4.53, MeHgSRHA = 4.35) than those for chloride complexes (HgCl2 = 6.55, MeHgCl = 4.90) and more closely resembled the log KAC of SRHA (3.64). In anoxic, sulfidic soil slurries, the KAC for sulfide species appeared stronger than for chloride or SRHA species for both Hg and MeHg. AC significantly reduced porewater concentrations of both ambient MeHg and a fresh Me199Hg spike, and the addition of up to 60 mg L-1 SRHA did not reduce sorption to AC. The AC also reduced ambient Hg and 201Hg porewater concentrations, but as SRHA concentration increased, the magnitude of solid phase sorption decreased. Speciation modeling revealed that SRHA may have impacted Hg distribution to the solid phase by reducing HgS precipitation. This study highlights the need for site-specific evaluation of AC efficacy and the value in developing biogeochemical models of AC performance for Hg control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace E Schwartz
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037, USA.
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32
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Green CS, Lewis PJ, Wozniak JR, Drevnick PE, Thies ML. A comparison of factors affecting the small-scale distribution of mercury from artisanal small-scale gold mining in a Zimbabwean stream system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 647:400-410. [PMID: 30086492 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.07.418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 07/30/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASGM) operations use mercury liberally in the gold extraction process and account for approximately one quarter of the anthropogenic mercury consumption worldwide. ASGM activities are concentrated in many impoverished and poorly regulated countries such as Zimbabwe, resulting in a number of negative impacts to health and the environment. To examine levels of mercury contamination in one such geographic locality, sediment and tailing samples were collected in a heavily mined watershed in southern Zimbabwe from May-June 2015. Samples were collected from multiple points within the stream system, as well as from around six stamp mills and a single industrial mine in the watershed. GPS point location data were taken for mining operations and sampling sites to examine the spatial patterns of mercury concentration. Data were first analyzed using linear regression and development of a MARS model, followed by application of an ANCOVA model to assess the relationship among mercury concentrations and percent organic material, distance downstream, and distance from potential contamination source. Mercury concentrations within the study area ranged from 6 to 1541 μg/kg dw (mean 142 μg/kg dw). Analyses of mercury concentrations indicated a positive relationship with percent organic material but a negative relationship with distance downstream and distance from potential contamination source. Results from this study help elucidate the relationship between gold production and the spatial scale of mercury contamination in aquatic ecosystems in Africa. These data may lead to a better understanding of the relationship between mercury use and community health, which may aid both the local and global communities in regulating mercury contamination of the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey S Green
- Raven Environmental Services, Inc., P.O. Box 6482, Huntsville, TX 77342, United States.
| | - Patrick J Lewis
- Sam Houston State University, 1900 Avenue I, Huntsville, TX 77340, United States
| | - Jeffery R Wozniak
- Sam Houston State University, 1900 Avenue I, Huntsville, TX 77340, United States
| | - Paul E Drevnick
- Alberta Environment and Parks, 2938 11 Street NE, Calgary, AB T2E 7L7, Canada
| | - Monte L Thies
- Sam Houston State University, 1900 Avenue I, Huntsville, TX 77340, United States
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Duvil R, Beutel MW, Fuhrmann B, Seelos M. Effect of oxygen, nitrate and aluminum addition on methylmercury efflux from mine-impacted reservoir sediment. WATER RESEARCH 2018; 144:740-751. [PMID: 30125853 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2018.07.071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2018] [Revised: 07/28/2018] [Accepted: 07/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Extensive contamination of aquatic ecosystems with mercury (Hg) has led to a growing interest in developing in situ management strategies to repress Hg bioaccumulation in aquatic biota in reservoirs. This study used experimental chamber incubations to assess the impact of three potential treatments, oxygen addition, nitrate addition and aluminum addition, to reduce the flux of toxic methylmercury (MeHg) from profundal reservoir sediment. The study sites, Almaden Lake and Guadalupe Reservoir, are located downstream of the historic New Almaden mining district in Santa Clara Valley, California, USA. In the first experiment (experiment 1), replicate chambers from both sites were incubated sequentially under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. At both sites, mean anaerobic fluxes of MeHg were higher than aerobic fluxes (Almaden: 11.0 vs. -2.3 ng/m2·d; Guadalupe: 22.3 vs 5.5 ng/m2·d), and anaerobic MeHg fluxes correlated with rates of sediment sulfate uptake, highlighting the linkage between MeHg production and microbial sulfate reduction. Under aerobic conditions, sediment from Guadalupe Reservoir released Hg(II), iron and sulfate, suggesting the oxidative dissolution of Hg-bearing sulfide minerals. A follow-up study at Almaden Lake (experiment 2) found that mean MeHg fluxes under aerobic conditions (5 ng/m2·d) and anoxic (nitrate-rich) conditions (1.7 ng/m2·d) were lower than anaerobic conditions (174 ng/m2·d), but aluminum addition had little effect (105 ng/m2·d) on MeHg flux. In both anaerobic and aluminum treated chambers, MeHg flux turned negative during the second half of the incubation, suggesting that highly reduced, sulfidic conditions lowered net methylation, possibly by enhancing demethylation or repressing Hg(II) bioavailability for methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ricardi Duvil
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA; United States Environmental Protection Agency Region 10, Drinking Water Unit, Seattle, WA, 98101, USA
| | - Marc W Beutel
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA.
| | - Byran Fuhrmann
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, University of California Merced, Merced, CA, 95343, USA
| | - Mark Seelos
- Santa Clara Valley Water District, San Jose, CA, 95118, USA
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Methylmercury in Industrial Harbor Sediments in Taiwan: First Observations on its Occurrence, Distribution, and Measurement. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15081765. [PMID: 30115885 PMCID: PMC6121623 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15081765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/15/2018] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The distribution of methylmercury (MeHg) and total mercury (T-Hg) in sediments of the estuaries and the basin in Kaohsiung Harbor (Taiwan) is studied. MeHg in the sediment samples was determined using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The certified reference material of sediments with respect to the method showed the recovery efficiency between 97.4 and 103.6% which confirmed the applicability of analysis method. The T-Hg and MeHg concentrations were between 149 to 9035 μg/kg and <0.31 to 17.7 μg/kg, respectively. The T-Hg and MeHg concentrations in the estuaries of Kaohsiung Harbor were relatively high. Results suggest that Hg in this studied area was likely contributed from the catchments of the rivers. The MeHg level was <0.01 to 2.66% of the T-Hg in the sediments. A positive correlation is obtained between MeHg, T-Hg, and total organic carbon in the sediments, whereas a negative correlation is observed between pH, oxidation-reduction potential, and MeHg concentration. The results further suggest that sediment characteristics contribute mainly to the distribution of MeHg.
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Petranich E, Covelli S, Acquavita A, Faganeli J, Horvat M, Contin M. Evaluation of mercury biogeochemical cycling at the sediment-water interface in anthropogenically modified lagoon environments. J Environ Sci (China) 2018; 68:5-23. [PMID: 29908744 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2017.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2017] [Revised: 11/08/2017] [Accepted: 11/10/2017] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
The Marano and Grado Lagoon is well known for being contaminated by mercury (Hg) from the Idrija mine (Slovenia) and the decommissioned chlor-alkali plant of Torviscosa (Italy). Experimental activities were conducted in a local fish farm to understand Hg cycling at the sediment-water interface. Both diffusive and benthic fluxes were estimated in terms of chemical and physical features. Mercury concentration in sediments (up to 6.81μg/g) showed a slight variability with depth, whereas the highest methylmercury (MeHg) values (up to 10ng/g) were detected in the first centimetres. MeHg seems to be produced and stored in the 2-3cm below the sediment-water interface, where sulphate reducing bacteria activity occurs and hypoxic-anoxic conditions become persistent for days. DMeHg in porewaters varied seasonally (from 0.1 and 17% of dissolved Hg (DHg)) with the highest concentrations in summer. DHg diffusive effluxes higher (up to 444ng/m2/day) than those reported in the open lagoon (~95ng/m2/day), whereas DMeHg showed influxes in the fish farm (up to -156ng/m2/day). The diurnal DHg and DMeHg benthic fluxes were found to be higher than the highest summer values previously reported for the natural lagoon environment. Bottom sediments, especially in anoxic conditions, seem to be a significant source of MeHg in the water column where it eventually accumulates. However, net fluxes considering the daily trend of DHg and DMeHg, indicated possible DMeHg degradation processes. Enhancing water dynamics in the fish farm could mitigate environmental conditions suitable for Hg methylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Petranich
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Via Licio Giorgieri 5, 34128 Trieste, Italy
| | - Stefano Covelli
- Dipartimento di Matematica e Geoscienze, Università degli Studi di Trieste, Via Weiss 2, 34128 Trieste, Italy; CoN.I.S.Ma. Consorzio Nazionale Interuniversitario per le Scienze del Mare, Piazzale Flaminio 9, 00196 Rome, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Acquavita
- Agenzia Regionale per la Protezione Ambientale del Friuli Venezia Giulia, ARPA FVG, Via Cairoli 14, 33057 Palmanova (Udine), Italy
| | | | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Marco Contin
- Dipartimento di Scienze Agro-Alimentari, Ambientali e Animali, Università di Udine, Via delle Scienze 206, 33100 Udine, Italy
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Liu P, Ptacek CJ, Elena KMA, Blowes DW, Gould WD, Finfrock YZ, Wang AO, Landis RC. Evaluation of mercury stabilization mechanisms by sulfurized biochars determined using X-ray absorption spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2018; 347:114-122. [PMID: 29304450 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2017.12.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The application of biochar to treat mercury (Hg) in the environment is being proposed on an increasing basis due to its widespread availability and cost effectiveness. However, the efficiency of Hg removal by biochars is variable due to differences in source material composition. In this study, a series of batch tests were conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of sulfurized biochars (calcium polysulfide and a dimercapto-related compound, respectively) for Hg removal; Hg-loaded biochars were then characterized using synchrotron-based techniques. Concentrations of Hg decreased by >99.5% in solutions containing the sulfurized biochars. Sulfur X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analyses indicate a polysulfur-like structure in polysulfide-sulfurized biochar and a thiol-like structure (shifted compared to dimercapto) in the dimercapto-sulfurized biochar. Micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) mapping and confocal X-ray micro-fluorescence imaging (CXMFI) analyses indicate Hg is distributed primarily on the edges of sulfurized biochar and throughout unmodified biochar particles. Hg extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analyses show Hg in enriched areas is bound to chlorine (Cl) in the unmodified biochar and to S in sulfurized biochars. These results indicate that Hg removal efficiency is enhanced after sulfurization through the formation of strong bonds (Hg-S) with S-functional groups in the sulfurized biochars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peng Liu
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, 388 Lumo Rd., Wuhan, Hubei, 430074, PR China; Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Carol J Ptacek
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada.
| | - Krista M A Elena
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - David W Blowes
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - W Douglas Gould
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Y Zou Finfrock
- Science Division, Canadian Light Source Inc., 44 Innovation Boulevard, Saskatoon, SK, S7N 2V3, Canada; CLS@APS Sector 20, Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 S. Cass Avenue, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - Alana O Wang
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Waterloo, 200 University Ave. W., Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada
| | - Richard C Landis
- I. Du Pont de Nemours and Company, 974 Centre Road, Wilmington, DE 19805, USA
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Selin H, Keane SE, Wang S, Selin NE, Davis K, Bally D. Linking science and policy to support the implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury. AMBIO 2018; 47:198-215. [PMID: 29388129 PMCID: PMC5794682 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-1003-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The Minamata Convention on Mercury, with its objective to protect human health and the environment from the dangers of mercury (Hg), entered into force in 2017. The Convention outlines a life-cycle approach to the production, use, emissions, releases, handling, and disposal of Hg. As it moves into the implementation phase, scientific work and information are critically needed to support decision-making and management. This paper synthesizes existing knowledge and examines three areas in which researchers across the natural sciences, engineering, and social sciences can mobilize and disseminate knowledge in support of Hg abatement and the realization of the Convention's objective: (1) uses, emissions, and releases; (2) support, awareness raising, and education; and (3) impacts and effectiveness. The paper ends with a discussion of the future of Hg science and policy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henrik Selin
- Frederick S Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, 154 Bay State Road, Boston, MA 02215 USA
| | - Susan Egan Keane
- Natural Resources Defense Council, 1152 15th St, NW, Suite 300, Washington, DC 20005 USA
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084 China
| | - Noelle E. Selin
- Institute for Data, Systems, and Society, and Department of Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 77 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02139 USA
| | - Kenneth Davis
- United Nations Environment Programme, Chemicals and Health Branch, International Environment House I, 11-13 chemin des Anemones, 1219 Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Dominique Bally
- African Center for Environmental Health, BP 826, Cidex 03 Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire
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Hsu-Kim H, Eckley CS, Achá D, Feng X, Gilmour CC, Jonsson S, Mitchell CPJ. Challenges and opportunities for managing aquatic mercury pollution in altered landscapes. AMBIO 2018; 47:141-169. [PMID: 29388127 PMCID: PMC5794684 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-1006-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The environmental cycling of mercury (Hg) can be affected by natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Of particular concern is how these disruptions increase mobilization of Hg from sites and alter the formation of monomethylmercury (MeHg), a bioaccumulative form of Hg for humans and wildlife. The scientific community has made significant advances in recent years in understanding the processes contributing to the risk of MeHg in the environment. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the scientific understanding of how Hg cycling in the aquatic environment is influenced by landscape perturbations at the local scale, perturbations that include watershed loadings, deforestation, reservoir and wetland creation, rice production, urbanization, mining and industrial point source pollution, and remediation. We focus on the major challenges associated with each type of alteration, as well as management opportunities that could lessen both MeHg levels in biota and exposure to humans. For example, our understanding of approximate response times to changes in Hg inputs from various sources or landscape alterations could lead to policies that prioritize the avoidance of certain activities in the most vulnerable systems and sequestration of Hg in deep soil and sediment pools. The remediation of Hg pollution from historical mining and other industries is shifting towards in situ technologies that could be less disruptive and less costly than conventional approaches. Contemporary artisanal gold mining has well-documented impacts with respect to Hg; however, significant social and political challenges remain in implementing effective policies to minimize Hg use. Much remains to be learned as we strive towards the meaningful application of our understanding for stakeholders, including communities living near Hg-polluted sites, environmental policy makers, and scientists and engineers tasked with developing watershed management solutions. Site-specific assessments of MeHg exposure risk will require new methods to predict the impacts of anthropogenic perturbations and an understanding of the complexity of Hg cycling at the local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heileen Hsu-Kim
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Chris S. Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, 1200 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| | - Dario Achá
- Unidad de Calidad Ambiental, Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, P.O. Box 10077, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002 China
| | - Cynthia C. Gilmour
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037-0028 USA
| | - Sofi Jonsson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl P. J. Mitchell
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4 Canada
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Wang M, Zhu Y, Cheng L, Andserson B, Zhao X, Wang D, Ding A. Review on utilization of biochar for metal-contaminated soil and sediment remediation. J Environ Sci (China) 2018; 63:156-173. [PMID: 29406100 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2017.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2017] [Revised: 08/04/2017] [Accepted: 08/07/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Biochar is a carbon-neutral or even carbon-negative material produced through thermal decomposition of plant- and animal-based biomass under oxygen-limited conditions. Recently, there has been an increasing interest in the application of biochar as an adsorbent, soil ameliorant and climate mitigation approach in many types of applications. Metal-contaminated soil remediation using biochar has been intensively investigated in small-scale and pilot-scale trials with obtained beneficial results and multifaceted effects. But so far, the study and application of biochar in contaminated sediment management has been very limited, and this is also a worldwide problem. Nonetheless, there is reason to believe that the same multiple benefits can also be realized with these sediments due to similar mechanisms for stabilizing contaminants. This paper provides a review on current biochar properties and its use as a sorbent/amendment for metal-contaminated soil/sediment remediation and its effect on plant growth, fauna habits as well as microorganism communities. In addition, the use of biochar as a potential strategy for contaminated sediment management is also discussed, especially as regards in-situ planning. Finally, we highlight the possibility of biochar application as an effective amendment and propose further research directions to ensure the safe and sustainable use of biochar as an amendment for remediation of contaminated soil and sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingming Wang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Yi Zhu
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Lirong Cheng
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bruce Andserson
- Department of Civil Engineering, Queen's University, Kingston K7L3N6, Canada
| | - Xiaohui Zhao
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Dayang Wang
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Aizhong Ding
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
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Coppola F, Almeida Â, Henriques B, Soares AMVM, Figueira E, Pereira E, Freitas R. Biochemical impacts of Hg in Mytilus galloprovincialis under present and predicted warming scenarios. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 601-602:1129-1138. [PMID: 28599369 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Revised: 05/21/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The interest in the consequences of climate change on the physiological and biochemical functioning of marine organisms is increasing, but the indirect and interactive effects resulting from warming on bioconcentration and responsiveness to pollutants are still poorly explored, particularly in terms of cellular responses. The present study investigated the impacts of Hg in Mytilus galloprovincialis under control (17°C) and warming (21°C) conditions, assessing mussels Hg bioconcentration capacity, metabolic and oxidative status after 14 and 28days of exposure. Results obtained showed greater impacts in mussels exposed for 28days in comparison to 14days of exposure. Furthermore, our findings revealed that the increase in temperature from 17 to 21°C reduced the bioconcentration of Hg by M. galloprovincialis, which may explain higher mortality rates at 17°C in comparison to 21°C. Lower Hg concentration at 21°C in mussels tissue may result from valves closure for longer periods, identified by reduced energy reserves consumption at higher temperature, which in turn might also contributed to higher oxidative stress in organisms exposed to this condition. The highest LPO levels observed in mussels exposed to higher temperatures alone indicate that warming conditions will greatly affect M. galloprovincialis. Furthermore, the present study showed that the impacts induced by the combination of Hg and warming were similar to the ones caused by increased temperature acting alone, mainly due to increased antioxidant defenses in organisms under combined effects of Hg and warming, suggesting that warming was the factor that mostly contributed to oxidative stress in mussels. Although higher mortality was observed in individuals exposed to 17°C and Hg compared to organisms exposed to Hg at 21°C, the oxidative stress induced at higher temperature may generate negative consequences on mussels reproductive and feeding capacity, growth and, consequently, on population maintenance and dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Coppola
- Biology Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Ângela Almeida
- Biology Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Bruno Henriques
- Chemistry Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal; CIIMAR, Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research , Rua dos Bragas 289, 4050-123 Porto, Portugal
| | | | - Etelvina Figueira
- Biology Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Eduarda Pereira
- Chemistry Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Rosa Freitas
- Biology Department & CESAM, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
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Ndungu K, Beylich BA, Staalstrøm A, Øxnevad S, Berge JA, Braaten HFV, Schaanning M, Bergstrøm R. Petroleum oil and mercury pollution from shipwrecks in Norwegian coastal waters. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 593-594:624-633. [PMID: 28363177 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.03.213] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 03/21/2017] [Accepted: 03/22/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Worldwide there are tens of thousands of sunken shipwrecks lying on the coastal seabed. These potentially polluting wrecks (PPW) are estimated to hold 3-25milliont of oil. Other hazardous cargo in PPW includes ordnance, chemicals and radioactive waste. Here, we present and discuss studies on mercury (Hg) and oil pollution in coastal marine sediment caused by two of the >2100 documented PPW in Norwegian marine waters. The German World War II (WWII) submarine (U-864) lies at about 150m below the sea surface, near the Norwegian North Sea island of Fedje. The submarine is estimated to have been carrying 67t of elemental Hg, some of which has leaked on to surrounding sediment. The total Hg concentration in bottom surface sediment within a 200m radius of the wreckage decreases from 100g/kgd.w. at the wreckage hotspot to about 1mg/kgd.w. at 100m from the hotspot. The second wreck is a German WWII cargo ship (Nordvard), that lies at a depth of ca. 30m near the Norwegian harbor of Moss. Oil leakage from Nordvard has contaminated the bottom coastal sediment with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The findings from this study provide useful insight to coastal administration authorities involved in assessing and remediating wreck-borne pollution from any of the tens of thousands of sunken shipwrecks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kuria Ndungu
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), NO-0349 Oslo, Norway.
| | | | - André Staalstrøm
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sigurd Øxnevad
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - John A Berge
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), NO-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Rune Bergstrøm
- Norwegian Coastal Administration, NO-3187 Horten, Norway
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Ozkan EY, Buyukisik HB, Kontas A, Turkdogan M. A survey of metal concentrations in marine sediment cores in the vicinity of an old mercury-mining area in Karaburun, Aegean Sea. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:13823-13836. [PMID: 28405925 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8792-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2016] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to assess the historical trends of metal concentrations in coastal sediments in the vicinity of an inactive mining area, find background values and contamination levels of metals around the Karaburun peninsula, and then search for other sources of mercury in marine sediment cores using multivariate statistical analysis and report the potential ecological risks from that metal contamination. Surface sediment samples were taken from seven stations. Water depths were less than 20 m (coastal area) at stations KB07 and KB08. The depths at stations KB01, KB02, and KB03 were between 20 and 40 m, and stations KB05 and KB06 were more than 40 m (open area). In surface sediments at depths between 20 and 40 m, Mo, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Co, Fe, Cd, Ti, Zr, Sn, As, Y, and Hg levels revealed higher contamination factors (Cf) compared to those of the coastal and open areas. Also, sediment samples were taken for historical records at stations KB01 and KB02 for 2012. Metal concentrations of Cu, Zn, Ni, Co, As, Sb, Cr, Ba, Ti, Al, and Hg in the sediment core samples were significantly higher during the Holocene (~5700 BC to 2000 B.C.) and Medieval Warm periods (~1000 A.D. to 1400 A.D.) and tended to decrease towards the Little Ice Age (2200 B.C. to the birth of Jesus Christ). Background concentration of Hg in sediment was found as 1.67 μg/g around the Karaburun peninsula. Average EF values higher than 20 were identified for As, Hg, Sb, and Ca. Ni and Hg levels were found above the PEL values. It was determined that the accumulation effect of Hg coming from the mafic rocks due to erosion in the marine environment was higher than that of Hg coming from the mine. The factor analyses showed an association between Hg, Ni, and Co. This reveals the importance of the contribution of mafic rocks reaching the marine environment by wave erosion. According to the factor analyses, high concentrations of Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Sb, Ba, Ti, and Zr were detected in the lithogenic sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ebru Yesim Ozkan
- Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Fisheries Faculty, 35100, Izmir, Turkey.
| | - Hasan Baha Buyukisik
- Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Fisheries Faculty, 35100, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Aynur Kontas
- Dokuz Eylul University Institute of Marine Sciences and Technology, 35340, Izmir, Turkey
| | - Mert Turkdogan
- Department of Hydrobiology, Ege University, Fisheries Faculty, 35100, Izmir, Turkey
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Eckley CS, Luxton TP, Goetz J, McKernan J. Water-level fluctuations influence sediment porewater chemistry and methylmercury production in a flood-control reservoir. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2017; 222:32-41. [PMID: 28104341 PMCID: PMC6498431 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2016] [Revised: 12/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2017] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Reservoirs typically have elevated fish mercury (Hg) levels compared to natural lakes and rivers. A unique feature of reservoirs is water-level management which can result in sediment exposure to the air. The objective of this study is to identify how reservoir water-level fluctuations impact Hg cycling, particularly the formation of the more toxic and bioaccumulative methylmercury (MeHg). Total-Hg (THg), MeHg, stable isotope methylation rates and several ancillary parameters were measured in reservoir sediments (including some in porewater and overlying water) that are seasonally and permanently inundated. The results showed that sediment and porewater MeHg concentrations were over 3-times higher in areas experiencing water-level fluctuations compared to permanently inundated sediments. Analysis of the data suggest that the enhanced breakdown of organic matter in sediments experiencing water-level fluctuations has a two-fold effect on stimulating Hg methylation: 1) it increases the partitioning of inorganic Hg from the solid phase into the porewater phase (lower log Kd values) where it is more bioavailable for methylation; and 2) it increases dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the porewater which can stimulate the microbial community that can methylate Hg. Sulfate concentrations and cycling were enhanced in the seasonally inundated sediments and may have also contributed to increased MeHg production. Overall, our results suggest that reservoir management actions can have an impact on the sediment-porewater characteristics that affect MeHg production. Such findings are also relevant to natural water systems that experience wetting and drying cycles, such as floodplains and ombrotrophic wetlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris S Eckley
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10. 1200, 6th Ave Seattle, WA 98101, USA
| | - Todd P Luxton
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Jennifer Goetz
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
| | - John McKernan
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA
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Falciglia PP, Malarbì D, Greco V, Vagliasindi FG. Surfactant and MGDA enhanced – Electrokinetic treatment for the simultaneous removal of mercury and PAHs from marine sediments. Sep Purif Technol 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2016.11.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Palanques A, Lopez L, Guillén J, Puig P, Masqué P. Decline of trace metal pollution in the bottom sediments of the Barcelona City continental shelf (NW Mediterranean). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 579:755-767. [PMID: 27887822 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2016] [Revised: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 11/05/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of trace metal pollution on the Barcelona city continental shelf during the last few decades was studied by analyzing the historical records of trace metals in sediment cores and surface sediment samples taken at the same locations in 1987 and in 2008. Polluted surface samples taken in 1987 reached enrichment factors of up to 490 for Hg, about 40 for Pb and Cd, and about 17 for Zn, Cr and Cu. The data show a decline of up to one order of magnitude in the trace metal content of surface sediments during the last few decades, with maximum enrichment factors of between 20 and 30 for Hg and Cd and between 5 and 12 for Zn, Cr, Pb and Cu. Although present-day pollution is still significant, it is evident that environmental regulations that are in place, including the operation since 1979 of wastewater treatment plants built in the Besòs River watershed, have drastically reduced the pollution levels in this highly populated and industrialized Mediterranean area. However, water discharge during heavy rain events exceeds the treatment capacity of the existing facilities, leading to the maintenance of still high levels of metals in sediments of the Barcelona city shelf.
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Affiliation(s)
- Albert Palanques
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
| | - Laura Lopez
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Jorge Guillén
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Pere Puig
- Institute of Marine Sciences (CSIC), Passeig Maritim de la Barceloneta, 37-49, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Pere Masqué
- Departament de Física and Institut de Ciència i Tecnologia Ambientals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra 08193, Spain; School of Science, Centre for Marine Ecosystems Research, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup, WA 6027, Australia; The University of Western Australia Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia
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Falciglia PP, Malarbì D, Vagliasindi FG. Removal of mercury from marine sediments by the combined application of a biodegradable non-ionic surfactant and complexing agent in enhanced-electrokinetic treatment. Electrochim Acta 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2016.11.142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Fleck JA, Marvin-DiPasquale M, Eagles-Smith CA, Ackerman JT, Lutz MA, Tate M, Alpers CN, Hall BD, Krabbenhoft DP, Eckley CS. Mercury and methylmercury in aquatic sediment across western North America. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:727-738. [PMID: 27130329 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2015] [Revised: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 03/07/2016] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Large-scale assessments are valuable in identifying primary factors controlling total mercury (THg) and monomethyl mercury (MeHg) concentrations, and distribution in aquatic ecosystems. Bed sediment THg and MeHg concentrations were compiled for >16,000 samples collected from aquatic habitats throughout the West between 1965 and 2013. The influence of aquatic feature type (canals, estuaries, lakes, and streams), and environmental setting (agriculture, forest, open-water, range, wetland, and urban) on THg and MeHg concentrations was examined. THg concentrations were highest in lake (29.3±6.5μgkg(-1)) and canal (28.6±6.9μgkg(-1)) sites, and lowest in stream (20.7±4.6μgkg(-1)) and estuarine (23.6±5.6μgkg(-1)) sites, which was partially a result of differences in grain size related to hydrologic gradients. By environmental setting, open-water (36.8±2.2μgkg(-1)) and forested (32.0±2.7μgkg(-1)) sites generally had the highest THg concentrations, followed by wetland sites (28.9±1.7μgkg(-1)), rangeland (25.5±1.5μgkg(-1)), agriculture (23.4±2.0μgkg(-1)), and urban (22.7±2.1μgkg(-1)) sites. MeHg concentrations also were highest in lakes (0.55±0.05μgkg(-1)) and canals (0.54±0.11μgkg(-1)), but, in contrast to THg, MeHg concentrations were lowest in open-water sites (0.22±0.03μgkg(-1)). The median percent MeHg (relative to THg) for the western region was 0.7%, indicating an overall low methylation efficiency; however, a significant subset of data (n>100) had percentages that represent elevated methylation efficiency (>6%). MeHg concentrations were weakly correlated with THg (r(2)=0.25) across western North America. Overall, these results highlight the large spatial variability in sediment THg and MeHg concentrations throughout western North America and underscore the important roles that landscape and land-use characteristics have on the MeHg cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob A Fleck
- United States Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J St., Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA.
| | | | - Collin A Eagles-Smith
- United States Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center, Corvallis, OR, USA
| | - Joshua T Ackerman
- United States Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Dixon Field Station, 800 Business Park Drive, Suite D, Dixon, CA 95620, USA
| | - Michelle A Lutz
- United States Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Michael Tate
- United States Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Charles N Alpers
- United States Geological Survey, California Water Science Center, 6000 J St., Placer Hall, Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
| | - Britt D Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, Canada
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- United States Geological Survey, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA
| | - Chris S Eckley
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1200 6th Ave, St. 900, OEA-095, Seattle, WA 98101, USA
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Monteiro CE, Cesário R, O'Driscoll NJ, Nogueira M, Válega M, Caetano M, Canário J. Seasonal variation of methylmercury in sediment cores from the Tagus Estuary (Portugal). MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2016; 104:162-170. [PMID: 26851871 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2015] [Revised: 01/22/2016] [Accepted: 01/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal and spatial variations of dissolved and particulate methylmercury were evaluated for the first time in sediment cores from the Tagus Estuary. Results showed the highest MeHg concentrations in summer months indicating that the "seasonally" methylation process occurs not only at the topmost layers of the sediments but also in the deeper layers of the sediment column. The proportion of MeHg (up to 92%) in some of our pore water samples was higher than values reported in the literature for other estuaries suggesting that the sedimentary environment in the Tagus tends to favour Hg methylation. This work points to the importance of seasonal variation of the MeHg production in sediment cores. In physically dominated estuaries this enhances seasonal MeHg production in deeper sediments that can have serious ecological impacts due to resuspension or advection processes under extreme events by the increase of MeHg transported to the water column.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Eduardo Monteiro
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-006, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Rute Cesário
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal; Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-006, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Nelson J O'Driscoll
- Department of Earth and Environmental Science, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia, Canada
| | - Marta Nogueira
- Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-006, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Mónica Válega
- Departamento de Química, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Miguel Caetano
- Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera, Rua Alfredo Magalhães Ramalho 6, 1495-006, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - João Canário
- Centro de Química Estrutural, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais 1, 1049-001, Lisboa, Portugal.
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Velez C, Galvão P, Longo R, Malm O, Soares AMVM, Figueira E, Freitas R. Ruditapes philippinarum and Ruditapes decussatus under Hg environmental contamination. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2015; 22:11890-11904. [PMID: 25869429 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-015-4397-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The native species Ruditapes decussatus and the invasive species Ruditapes philippinarum have an important ecological role and socio-economic value, from the Atlantic and Mediterranean to the Indo-Pacific region. In the aquatic environment, they are subjected to the presence of different contaminants, such as mercury (Hg) and its methylated form, methylmercury (MeHg). However, few studies have assessed the impacts of Hg on bivalves under environmental conditions, and little is known on bivalve oxidative stress patterns due to Hg contamination. Therefore, this study aims to assess the Hg contamination in sediments as well as the concentration of Hg and MeHg in R. decussatus and R. philippinarum, and to identify the detoxification strategies of both species living in sympatry, in an aquatic system with historical Hg contamination. The risk to human health due to the consumption of clams was also evaluated. The results obtained demonstrated that total Hg concentration found in sediments from the most contaminated area was higher than the maximum levels established by Sediment Quality Guidelines. This study further revealed that the total Hg and MeHg accumulation in both species was strongly correlated with the total Hg contamination of the sediments. Nonetheless, the THg concentration in both species was lower than maximum permissible limits (MPLs) of THg defined by international organizations. R. decussatus and R. philippinarum showed an increase in lipid peroxidation levels along with the increase of THg accumulation by clams. Nevertheless, for both species, no clear trend was obtained regarding the activity of antioxidant (superoxide dismutase, catalase) and biotransformation (glutathione S-transferase) enzymes and metallothioneins with the increase of THg in clams. Overall, the present work demonstrated that both species can be used as sentinel species of contamination and that the consumption of these clams does not constitute a risk for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cátia Velez
- Departamento de Biologia & CESAM, Universidade de Aveiro, Campus Universitário de Santiago, 3810-193, Aveiro, Portugal
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Chakraborty P, Babu PVR. Environmental controls on the speciation and distribution of mercury in surface sediments of a tropical estuary, India. MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN 2015; 95:350-357. [PMID: 25935803 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.02.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2014] [Revised: 02/22/2015] [Accepted: 02/25/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Distribution and speciation of mercury (Hg) in the sediments from a tropical estuary (Godavari estuary) was influenced by the changing physico-chemical parameters of the overlying water column. The sediments from the upstream and downstream of the estuary were uncontaminated but the sediments from the middle of the estuary were contaminated by Hg. The concentrations of Hg became considerably less during the monsoon and post monsoon period. Total Hg concentrations and its speciation (at the middle of the estuary) were dependent on the salinity of the overlying water column. However, salinity had little or no effect on Hg association with organic phases in the sediments at downstream. Increasing pH of the overlying water column corresponded with an increase in the total Hg content in the sediments. Total organic carbon in the sediments played an important role in controlling Hg partitioning in the system. Uncomplexed Hg binding ligands were available in the sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Parthasarathi Chakraborty
- Geological Oceanography Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India.
| | - P V Raghunadh Babu
- Geological Oceanography Division, National Institute of Oceanography, Dona Paula, Goa 403004, India
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