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Wilkinson A, Ariel E, van de Merwe J, Brodie J. Green Turtle (Chelonia mydas) Blood and Scute Trace Element Concentrations in the Northern Great Barrier Reef. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2023; 42:2375-2388. [PMID: 37477460 DOI: 10.1002/etc.5718] [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: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Marine turtles face numerous anthropogenic threats, including that of chemical contaminant exposure. The ecotoxicological impact of toxic metals is a global issue facing Chelonia mydas in coastal sites. Local investigation of C. mydas short-term blood metal profiles is an emerging field, while little research has been conducted on scute metal loads as potential indicators of long-term exposure. The aim of the present study was to investigate and describe C. mydas blood and scute metal profiles in coastal and offshore populations of the Great Barrier Reef. This was achieved by analyzing blood and scute material sampled from local C. mydas populations in five field sites, for a suite of ecologically relevant metals. By applying principal component analysis and comparing coastal sample data with those of reference intervals derived from the control site, insight was gleaned on local metal profiles of each population. Blood metal concentrations in turtles from coastal sites were typically elevated when compared with levels recorded in the offshore control population (Howick Island Group). Scute metal profiles were similar in Cockle Bay, Upstart Bay, and Edgecumbe Bay, all of which were distinct from that of Toolakea. Some elements were reported at similar concentrations in blood and scutes, but most were higher in scute samples, indicative of temporal accumulation. Coastal C. mydas populations may be at risk of toxic effects from metals such as Co, which was consistently found to be at concentrations magnitudes above region-specific reference intervals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2023;42:2375-2388. © 2023 The Authors. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam Wilkinson
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Ellen Ariel
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jason van de Merwe
- Australian Rivers Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jon Brodie
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
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Xu Z, Mi W, Mi N, Fan X, Tian Y, Zhou Y, Zhao YN. Heavy metal pollution characteristics and health risk assessment of dust fall related to industrial activities in desert steppes. PeerJ 2021; 9:e12430. [PMID: 34760398 PMCID: PMC8571961 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.12430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
China’s desert steppe is the transition zone between the grasslands in central China and the arid desert. Ecological security in this region has long been a subject of debate, both in the local and academic communities. Heavy metals and other pollutants are readily released during industrial production, combustion, and transportation, aggravating the vulnerability of the desert steppes. To understand the impact of industrial activiteis on the heavy metal content of dust fall in the desert steppe, a total of 37 dust fall samples were collected over 90 days. An inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometer (NexION 350X) was used to measure the concentration of heavy metals Cu, Cd, Cr, Pb, Mn, Co, and Zn in the dust. Using comprehensive pollution index and multivariate statistical analysis methods, we explored the characteristics and sources of heavy metal pollution. We also quantitatively assessed the carcinogenic risks of heavy metals resulting from dust reduction with the help of health risk assessment models. The heavy metals’ comprehensive pollution index values in the study area’s dust fall were ranked as follows: Zn > Cd > Pb > Mn > Cu > Co > Cr. Among these, Zn, Cd, and Pb were significant pollution factors in the study area, and were affected by industrial production and transportation. The high pollution index was concentrated in the north of the research industrial park and on both sides of a highway. The seven heavy metals’ total non-carcinogenic risk index (HI) values were ranked as follows: Mn > Co > Pb > Zn > Cr > Cu > Cd (only the HI of Mn was greater than one). Excluding Mn, the non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risk index values of the other six heavy metals were within acceptable ranges. Previous studies have also shown that industrial transportation and production have had a significant impact on the heavy metal content of dust fall in the desert steppe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Xu
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Wenbao Mi
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China.,School of Geography and Planning, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Nan Mi
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Xingang Fan
- West Development Research Center, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Ying Tian
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Yao Zhou
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Ya-Nan Zhao
- College of Agriculture, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, Ningxia, China
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Fry KL, Wheeler CA, Gillings MM, Flegal AR, Taylor MP. Anthropogenic contamination of residential environments from smelter As, Cu and Pb emissions: Implications for human health. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 262:114235. [PMID: 32146362 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114235] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2019] [Revised: 02/16/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Communities in low-income and middle-income countries (LMIC) are disproportionally affected by industrial pollution compared to more developed nations. This study evaluates the dispersal and associated health risk of contaminant-laden soil and dust at a copper (Cu) smelter in Tsumeb, Namibia. It is Africa's only smelter capable of treating complex Cu ores that contain high arsenic (As) contents (<1%). The analyses focused on the primary trace elements associated with ore processing at the smelter: As, Cu, and lead (Pb). Portable X-Ray fluorescence spectrometry (pXRF) of trace elements in soils (n = 83) and surface dust wipes (n = 80) showed that elemental contamination was spatially associated with proximity to smelter operations. Soil concentrations were below US EPA soil guidelines. Dust wipe values were elevated relative to sites distal from the facility and similar to those at other international smelter locations (As = 1012 μg/m2 (95% CI 687-1337); Cu = 1838 μg/m2 (95% CI 1191-2485); Pb = 1624 μg/m2 (95% CI 862-2385)). Source apportionment for Pb contamination was assessed using Pb isotopic compositions (PbIC) of dust wipes (n = 22). These data revealed that the PbIC of 73% (n = 16/22) of these wipes corresponded to the PbIC of smelter slag and tailings, indicating contribution from industrial emissions to ongoing exposure risk. Modeling of carcinogenic risk showed that dust ingestion was the most important pathway, followed by inhalation, for both adults and children. Dermal contact to trace elements in dust was also determined to pose a carcinogenic risk for children, but not adults. Consequently, contemporary smelter operations remain an ongoing health risk to the surrounding community, in spite of recent efforts to improve emissions from the operations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kara L Fry
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Cassandra Anne Wheeler
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Max M Gillings
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - A Russell Flegal
- Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, WIGS, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, United States
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, North Ryde, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia.
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Atmospheric Trace Metal Deposition from Natural and Anthropogenic Sources in Western Australia. ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos11050474] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Aerosols from Western Australia supply micronutrient trace elements including Fe into the western shelf of Australia and further afield into the Southern and Indian Oceans. However, regional observations of atmospheric trace metal deposition are limited. Here, we applied a series of leaching experiments followed by total analysis of bulk aerosol samples to a unique time-series of aerosol samples collected in Western Australia to determine atmospheric concentrations and solubilities of Fe and V, Mn, Co, Zn, and Pb. Positive matrix factorisation analysis indicated that mineral dust, biomass burning particulates, sea salt, and industrial emissions were the major types of aerosols. Overall, natural sources dominated Fe deposition. Higher atmospheric concentrations of mineral dust (sixfold) and biomass burning emissions were observed in warmer compared to cooler months. The fraction of labile Fe (0.6–6.0%) was lower than that reported for other regions of Australia. Bushfire emissions are a temporary source of labile Fe and may cause a peak in the delivery of its more easily available forms to the ocean. Increased labile Fe deposition may result in higher ocean productivity in regions where Fe is limiting, and the effect of aerosol deposition on ocean productivity in this region requires further study.
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Abstract
Aerosols deposited into the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) contain iron (Fe) and other trace metals, which may act as micronutrients or as toxins to this sensitive marine ecosystem. In this paper, we quantified the atmospheric deposition of Fe and investigated aerosol sources in Mission Beach (Queensland) next to the GBR. Leaching experiments were applied to distinguish pools of Fe with regard to its solubility. The labile Fe concentration in aerosols was 2.3–10.6 ng m−3, which is equivalent to 4.9%–11.4% of total Fe and was linked to combustion and biomass burning processes, while total Fe was dominated by crustal sources. A one-day precipitation event provided more soluble iron than the average dry deposition flux, 0.165 and 0.143 μmol m−2 day−1, respectively. Scanning Electron Microscopy indicated that alumina-silicates were the main carriers of total Fe and samples affected by combustion emissions were accompanied by regular round-shaped carbonaceous particulates. Collected aerosols contained significant amounts of Cd, Co, Cu, Mo, Mn, Pb, V, and Zn, which were mostly (47.5%–96.7%) in the labile form. In this study, we provide the first field data on the atmospheric delivery of Fe and other trace metals to the GBR and propose that this is an important delivery mechanism to this region.
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Andrew SC, Taylor MP, Lundregan S, Lien S, Jensen H, Griffith SC. Signs of adaptation to trace metal contamination in a common urban bird. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 650:679-686. [PMID: 30212697 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2018] [Revised: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Metals and metalloids at elevated concentrations can be toxic to both humans and wildlife. In particular, lead exposure can act as a stressor to wildlife and cause negative effects on fitness. Any ability to adapt to stress caused by the negative effects of trace metal exposure would be beneficial for species living in contaminated environments. However, mechanisms for responding adaptively to metal contamination are not fully understood in free-living organisms. The Australian populations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) provides an excellent opportunity to study potential adaptation to environmental lead contamination because they have a commensal relationship with humans and are distributed broadly across Australian settlements including many long-term mining and smelting communities. To examine the potential for an evolutionary response to long-term lead exposure, we collected genomic SNP data using the house sparrow 200 K SNP array, from 11 localities across the Australian distribution including two mining sites (Broken Hill and Mount Isa, which are two genetically independent populations) that have well-established elevated levels of lead contamination as well as trace metals and metalloids. We contrast these known contaminated locations to other lesser-contaminated environments. Using an ecological association genome scan method to identify genomic differentiation associated with estimates of lead contamination we identified 60 outlier loci across three tests. A total of 39 genes were found to be physically linked (within 20 kbps) of all outliers in the house sparrow reference genome. The linked candidate genes included 12 genes relevant to lead exposure, such as two metal transporters that can transport metals including lead and zinc across cell membranes. These candidate genes provide targets for follow up experiments comparing resilience to lead exposure between populations exposed to varied levels of lead contamination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel C Andrew
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Sarah Lundregan
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Sigbjørn Lien
- Centre for Integrative Genetics (CIGENE), Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Henrik Jensen
- Centre for Biodiversity Dynamics, Department of Biology, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
| | - Simon C Griffith
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
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Peng T, O'Connor D, Zhao B, Jin Y, Zhang Y, Tian L, Zheng N, Li X, Hou D. Spatial distribution of lead contamination in soil and equipment dust at children's playgrounds in Beijing, China. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 245:363-370. [PMID: 30448506 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2018.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/03/2018] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Lead contamination is widespread across China, posing a serious public health concern. In quantifying child lead exposure, established health risk assessment (HRA) approaches often take into account residential soil lead levels. However, this may not constitute a significant exposure source for children in urban mainland China, where the population mainly dwell in high-rise buildings without back or front yards. In this setting, children's playgrounds may represent a more probable exposure source. The present study analyzed lead levels in settled dust on playground equipment and in surficial soils at 71 playgrounds in Beijing, China. Our results reveal that the average playground dust lead concentration was 80.5 mg/kg, more than twice the average soil lead concentration of 36.2 mg/kg. It was found that there are differences in statistical and spatial distributions for lead in playground dust and soils. Lead levels in equipment dust were largely consistent across Beijing, with elevated levels detected at locations in the main city area, the newly developed Tongzhou District, and the rural counties. Whereas average soil lead concentrations were higher at playgrounds in the main city area than other areas of Beijing. Statistical analysis suggests that the lead content in dust and soil may derive from different natural and anthropogenic sources. Equipment dust lead may be associated with long-distance atmospheric transportation and deposition. Whereas lead in soil is more likely to be associated with local traffic. This study also found that, in certain areas of Beijing, the risk of blood lead levels (BLLs) exceeding safe levels was up to 6 times higher when based on dust exposure than when based on playground soil exposure. The results of this study suggests that HRA undertaken for children in urban mainland China should pay closer attention to children's playgrounds as a lead exposure source, and, in particular, playground equipment dust.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianyue Peng
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - David O'Connor
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yuanliang Jin
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Yunhui Zhang
- Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1PZ, United Kingdom
| | - Li Tian
- School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Na Zheng
- Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, 130102, China
| | - Xiaoping Li
- Department of Environment Science and Engineering, Shaanxi Normal University, Xian, 710062, China
| | - Deyi Hou
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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Laidlaw MAS, Alankarage DH, Reichman SM, Taylor MP, Ball AS. Assessment of soil metal concentrations in residential and community vegetable gardens in Melbourne, Australia. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 199:303-311. [PMID: 29448198 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.02.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Revised: 01/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Gardening and urban food production is an increasingly popular activity, which can improve physical and mental health and provide low cost nutritious food. However, the legacy of contamination from industrial and diffuse sources may have rendered surface soils in some urban gardens to have metals value in excess of recommended guidelines for agricultural production. The objective of this study was to establish the presence and spatial extent of soil metal contamination in Melbourne's residential and inner city community gardens. A secondary objective was to assess whether soil lead (Pb) concentrations in residential vegetable gardens were associated with the age of the home or the presence or absence of paint. The results indicate that most samples in residential and community gardens were generally below the Australian residential guidelines for all tested metals except Pb. Mean soil Pb concentrations exceeded the Australian HIL-A residential guideline of 300 mg/kg in 8% of 13 community garden beds and 21% of the 136 residential vegetable gardens assessed. Mean and median soil Pb concentrations for residential vegetable gardens was 204 mg/kg and 104 mg/kg (range <4-3341 mg/kg), respectively. Mean and median soil Pb concentration for community vegetable garden beds was 102 mg/kg and 38 mg/kg (range = 17-578 mg/kg), respectively. Soil Pb concentrations were higher in homes with painted exteriors (p = 0.004); generally increased with age of the home (p = 0.000); and were higher beneath the household dripline than in vegetable garden beds (p = 0.040). In certain circumstances, the data indicates that elevated soil Pb concentrations could present a potential health hazard in a portion of inner-city residential vegetable gardens in Melbourne.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A S Laidlaw
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia.
| | - Dileepa H Alankarage
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Suzie M Reichman
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
| | - Mark Patrick Taylor
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia
| | - Andrew S Ball
- Centre for Environmental Sustainability and Remediation, RMIT University, PO Box 71, Bundoora, Victoria 3083, Australia
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Gredilla A, Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo S, Gomez-Nubla L, Carrero JA, de Leão FB, Madariaga JM, Silva LFO. Are children playgrounds safe play areas? Inorganic analysis and lead isotope ratios for contamination assessment in recreational (Brazilian) parks. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2017; 24:24333-24345. [PMID: 28889400 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-9831-6] [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: 03/13/2017] [Accepted: 07/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
In city playgrounds, there is a potential risk of harming children's health by contamination coming from anthropogenic activities. With the aim to determinate the sources and the risk of hazardous elements, soil samples were collected in 19 selected playgrounds of different urban and rural areas from the Rio Grande do Sul state (Brazil). The concentration of 23 metals and metalloids and lead isotopic ratios were determined by ICP-MS. The methodology proposed here, firstly, classified the parks according to the average metal content by means of the NWACs (Normalized-and-Weighted Average Concentrations) and assess the contamination risk determining the Contamination Factors (CFs). Finally, statistical tools (correlation analysis and principal component analysis) were used to identify the most important contamination sources. The statistical tools used, together with lead isotopic composition analysis of the samples, revealed that coal combustion is the main source of contamination in the area. Vegetation was identified as a barrier for the contamination coming from the city. Nonetheless, some of the soils present a possible toxicological risk for humans. In fact, Cr, Sb, and Pb concentrations were higher than the Residential Intervention Values (VIRs) defined by the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of São Paulo, also in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainara Gredilla
- Department of Applied Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, 2018, San Sebastian, Basque Country, Spain.
| | - Silvia Fdez-Ortiz de Vallejuelo
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain.
| | - Leticia Gomez-Nubla
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Jose Antonio Carrero
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Felipe B de Leão
- Research Group in Environmental Management and Sustainability, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Universidad De la Costa, Calle 58, No. 55-56, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia
| | - Juan Manuel Madariaga
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country, UPV/EHU, P.O. Box 644, 48080, Bilbao, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Luis F O Silva
- Research Group in Environmental Management and Sustainability, Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Universidad De la Costa, Calle 58, No. 55-56, 080002, Barranquilla, Atlantico, Colombia
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Yu S, Hong B, Ma J, Chen Y, Xi X, Gao J, Hu X, Xu X, Sun Y. Surface sediment quality relative to port activities: A contaminant-spectrum assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 596-597:342-350. [PMID: 28441574 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 04/11/2017] [Accepted: 04/11/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Ports are facing increasing environmental concerns with their importance to the global economy. Numerous studies indicated sediment quality deterioration in ports; however, the deterioration is not discriminated for each port activity. This study investigated a spectrum of contaminants (metals and organic pollutants) in surface sediments at 20 sampling points in Port Ningbo, China, one of the top five world ports by volume. The spectrum of contaminants (metals and organic pollutants) was quantified following marine sediment quality guidelines of China and USA and surface sediment quality was assessed according to thresholds of the two guidelines. Coupling a categorical matrix of port activities with the matrix of sedimentary contaminants revealed that contaminants were highly associated with the port operations. Ship repair posed a severe chemical risk to sediment. Operations of crude oil and coal loadings were two top activities related to organic pollutants in sediments while port operations of ore and container loadings discharged metals. Among the 20 sampling points, Cu, Zn, Pb, and DDT and its metabolites were the priority contaminants influencing sediment quality. Overall, surface sediments in Port Ningbo had relatively low environmental risks but ship repair is an environmental concern that must be addressed. This study provides a practical approach for port activity-related quality assessment of surface sediments in ports that could be applicable in many world sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Yu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
| | - Bing Hong
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 10010, China
| | - Jun Ma
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Yongshan Chen
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xiuping Xi
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Jingbo Gao
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xiuqin Hu
- Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China
| | - Xiangrong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Guangzhou 510301, China
| | - Yuxin Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Applied Marine Biology, Guangzhou 510301, China
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11
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Dean JR, Elom NI, Entwistle JA. Use of simulated epithelial lung fluid in assessing the human health risk of Pb in urban street dust. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 579:387-395. [PMID: 27887829 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 11/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
In many urban contexts, non-dietary Pb exposure from street dusts may add to the overall exposure burden, and the presence of high total Pb content is well documented in urban street dust from across the globe. Given the increasing recognition of the potential adverse health effects from both the quantity and the chemical and physical composition of the inhaled fraction, and the recognition that it is the soluble fraction rather than the total element content that has more direct links to health effects, attention has focused in this study on the human health risks via this exposure pathway. In order to investigate the environmental exposure to Pb from the inhalation of urban street dusts, a newly developed in vitro simulated epithelium lung fluid (SELF) has been applied to the <10μm fraction of urban street dusts. In this context, 21 urban street dust samples, across five UK cities, were selected based on their high pseudo-total Pb content. The work revealed that inhalation bioaccessibility, and hence inhalation dose, varied across the cities but was generally found to be low (<10%). Indeed, the lung bioaccessibility was far lower (% lung bioaccessibility ranged from 1.2 to 8.8) than is currently applied in two of the most commonly employed risk assessment models i.e. the Integrated Exposure Uptake Biokinetic model (IEUBK, USA) and the Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment model (CLEA, UK). The estimated inhalation dose (for adults) calculated from the PM10 bioaccessibility ranged from 7ngkg-1BWday-1 (Edinburgh) to 1.3ngkg-1BWday-1 (Liverpool). The results indicate a low potential inhalation bioaccessibility for Pb in these urban street dust samples when modelled using the neutral pH conditions of the SELF.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Dean
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK.
| | - Nwabueze I Elom
- Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
| | - Jane A Entwistle
- Department of Geography, Northumbria University, Ellison Building, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE1 8ST, UK
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12
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Gulson B, Korsch M, Bradshaw A. Impact of Dust from Ore Processing Facilities on Rain Water Collection Tanks in a Tropical Environment--The Obvious Source "Ain't Necessarily So". INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2016; 13:243. [PMID: 26907319 PMCID: PMC4772263 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph13020243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2015] [Revised: 02/01/2016] [Accepted: 02/05/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Concerns have been expressed that dust from the minerals processing facilities at Karumba Queensland Australia have resulted in elevated lead (Pb) concentrations in rain water tanks. The ores derived from the Century mine some 304 km from the port. High precision Pb isotopic measurements on environmental samples have been undertaken to evaluate the source of Pb in rainwaters and acid digests from roof wipes and gutter wipes. There does not appear to be any relationship between sample location and the processing facility but samples from the area subject to the prevailing winds show the highest contribution of Century Pb. All gutter wipes (82 to 1270 µg Pb/wipe) have contributions of Century ore ranging from 87% to 96%. The contribution of Century ore to five roof wipes (22 to 88 µg Pb/wipe) ranges from 89% to 97% and in the other two samples there is a mix of Century and Broken Hill Pb. Three of the seven rainwater have contributions of Century ore Pb ranging from 33% to 75%. Two of the other four rainwater samples have the highest water Pb concentrations of 88 and 100 µg/L and their isotopic data show Broken Hill Pb contributions ranging from 77% to 80%. The source of the Broken Hill Pb is probably from the galvanized roofing material and/or brass fittings in the rainwater tanks. The discrimination between various sources is only detectable using high precision (204)Pb-based isotopic ratios and not the now common inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS ) data presentations of the higher abundance isotopes (208)Pb, (207)Pb and (206)Pb. Isotopic results for the waters demonstrate that apportioning blame where there is an obvious point source may not always be the correct conclusion. Nevertheless the isotopic data for the gutter wipes indicates that there was widespread contamination from the processing facilities throughout the town.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian Gulson
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Energy Flagship, Sydney, NSW 1670, Australia.
| | - Michael Korsch
- Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Energy Flagship, Sydney, NSW 1670, Australia.
| | - Anthony Bradshaw
- Environmental Services & Regulation, Queensland Department of Environment & Heritage Protection, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
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