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Méndez-López M, Jiménez-Morillo NT, Fonseca F, de Figueiredo T, Parente-Sendín A, Alonso-Vega F, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. Mercury mobilization in shrubland after a prescribed fire in NE Portugal: Insight on soil organic matter composition and different aggregate size. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 904:167532. [PMID: 37797758 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2023] [Revised: 09/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/07/2023]
Abstract
Soils constitute the major reservoir of mercury (Hg) in terrestrial ecosystems, whose stability may be threatened by wildfires. This research attempts to look at the effect of prescribed fire on the presence of Hg in a shrubland ecosystem from NE Portugal, delving into its relationship with soil aggregate size and the molecular composition of soil organic matter (SOM). During the prescribed fire, on average 347 mg Hg ha-1 were lost from the burnt aboveground biomass of shrubs and 263 mg Hg ha-1 from the combustion of the soil organic horizon. Overall, Hg concentration and pools in the mineral soil did not show significant changes due to burning, which highlights their role as long-term Hg reservoirs. The higher Hg concentrations found in smaller aggregates (<0.2 mm) compared to coarser ones (0.5-2 mm) are favored by the higher degree of organic matter decomposition (low C/N ratio), rather than by greater total organic C contents. The Hg-enriched finest fraction of soil (<0.2 mm) could be more prone to be mobilized by erosion, whose potential arrival to water bodies increases the environmental concern for the Hg present in fire-affected soils. The SOM quality (molecular composition) and the main organic families, analyzed by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy in combination with multivariate statistical analysis, significantly conditioned the retention/emission of Hg in the uppermost soil layers. Thus, before the fire, Hg was strongly linked to lipid and protein fractions, while Hg appeared to be linked to aromatic-like compounds in fire-affected SOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Méndez-López
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA), Universidade de Vigo, Campus Auga, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
| | - Nicasio Tomás Jiménez-Morillo
- Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla (IRNAS-CSIC), Avda. Reina Mercedes 10, 41012 Sevilla, Spain; Instituto Mediterrâneo para a Agricultura, Ambiente e Desenvolvimento (MED), University of Évora, Pólo da Mitra Apartado 94, 7006-554 Évora, Portugal
| | - Felicia Fonseca
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta. Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Tomás de Figueiredo
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta. Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - Andrea Parente-Sendín
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA), Universidade de Vigo, Campus Auga, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Flora Alonso-Vega
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA), Universidade de Vigo, Campus Auga, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Manuel Arias-Estévez
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA), Universidade de Vigo, Campus Auga, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Instituto de Agroecoloxía e Alimentación (IAA), Universidade de Vigo, Campus Auga, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
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Sa R, Wang Z, Xu Z, Zhao Q, Zhang Q, Zhang X. Distribution characteristics of mercury concentration and estimation of mercury pools in different age groups of Larix gmelinii forests of Daxing'an Mountain. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 338:122653. [PMID: 37778492 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122653] [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: 05/04/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
Forests are important sinks of atmospheric mercury. Quantifying mercury pools in forest ecosystem tissues are essential for understanding the global mercury cycle. To reveal the characteristics of Hg concentration and Hg pool distribution in natural forests at different ages, samples from the vegetation layer, organic horizons, coarse wood debris, and mineral soil layers were collected in young forest, middle forest, near-mature forest, and mature forest of Larix gmelinii forests at the Daxing'an Mountain. The results showed that there were differences in the absorption and accumulation of Hg by different tree species and tissues. In Larix gmelinii, the concentration of Hg followed the order of bark > branch > leaf > root > core, whereas in Betula platyphylla, the order was bark > leaf > branch > root > core. The mercury concentration in the organic horizons increased gradually with the decomposition process. There were no obvious regular patterns in the mercury concentrations of each tissue in different age groups Larix gmelinii forests. Furthermore, total biomass mercury pools (overstory, shrub layer, herb layer, moss layer, and coarse woody debris (CWD)) in the young, middle, near-mature, and mature forests of Larix gmelinii forests at Daxing'an Mountain were estimated to be 99.0 μg m-2,207 μg m-2,207 μg m-2 and 194 μg m-2, respectively. On ecosystem scale, total mercury pools were 16.9 mg m-2 (young), 27.5 mg m-2 (middle), 17.0 mg m-2 (near-mature), and 11.8 mg m-2(mature). The mineral soil mercury pool accounts for 94.0%-98.1% of the total ecosystem mercury pool, and its mercury pool proportion gradually decreased with the increase in forest age. These obtained results are quite valuable for further assessing the role of forest ecosystems in the atmospheric mercury cycle and estimating potential mercury emissions from biomass burning during forest wildfires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rula Sa
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China; Inner Mongolia Power (Group) Co., Ltd., Inner Mongolia Power Research Institute Branch, Hohhot, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, 010020, China
| | - Zhangwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
| | - Zehua Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qingpeng Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Qiuliang Zhang
- Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, 010019, China; National Field Scientific Observation and Research Station of Greater Khingan Forest Ecosystem, Inner Mongolia, Genhe, 022350, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban and Regional Ecology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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Méndez-López M, Eimil-Fraga C, Alonso-Vega F, Rodríguez-Soalleiro R, Álvarez-Rodríguez E, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. Variation of Hg concentration and accumulation in the soil of maritime pine plantations along a coast-inland transect in SW Europe. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:116155. [PMID: 37196692 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 04/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
Climatic conditions have been shown as a major driver of the fate of Hg in forest ecosystems at a global scale, but less is known about climatic effects at shorter scales. This study assesses whether the concentration and pools of Hg in soils collected from seventeen Pinus pinaster stands describing a coastal-inland transect in SW Europe vary along a regional climatic gradient. In each stand, samples of the organic subhorizons (OL, OF + OH) and the mineral soil (up to 40 cm) were collected and some general physico-chemical properties and total Hg (THg) were analyzed. Total Hg was significantly higher in the OF + OH than in the OL subhorizons (98 and 38 μg kg-1, respectively), favored by a greater organic matter humification in the former. In the mineral soil, mean THg values decreased with depth, ranging from 96 μg kg-1 in the 0-5 cm layers to 54 μg kg-1 in the deepest layers (30-40 cm), respectively. The average Hg pool (PHg) was 0.30 mg m-2 in the organic horizons (92% accumulated in the OF + OH subhorizons), and 27.4 mg m-2 in the mineral soil. Changes in climatic factors, mainly precipitation, along the coast-inland transect resulted in a remarkable variation of THg in the OL subhorizons, consistent with their role as the first receiver of atmospheric Hg inputs. The high precipitation rate and the occurrence of fogs in coastal areas characterized by the oceanic influence would explain the higher THg found in the uppermost soil layers of pine stands located close to the coastline. The regional climate is key to the fate of mercury in forest ecosystems by influencing the plant growth and subsequent atmospheric Hg uptake, the atmospheric Hg transference to the soil surface (wet and dry deposition and litterfall) and the dynamics that determine net Hg accumulation in the forest floor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Méndez-López
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias. As Lagoas S/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental. Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004, Ourense, Spain.
| | - Cristina Eimil-Fraga
- Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Forestal Sostenible, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Rúa Benigno Ledo S/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Flora Alonso-Vega
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias. As Lagoas S/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental. Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - Roque Rodríguez-Soalleiro
- Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Forestal Sostenible, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela. Rúa Benigno Ledo S/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Esperanza Álvarez-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Edafología y Química Agrícola, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Benigno Ledo S/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain
| | - Manuel Arias-Estévez
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias. As Lagoas S/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental. Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004, Ourense, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias. As Lagoas S/n, 32004, Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental. Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004, Ourense, Spain
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Méndez-López M, Parente-Sendín A, Calvo-Portela N, Gómez-Armesto A, Eimil-Fraga C, Alonso-Vega F, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. Mercury in a birch forest in SW Europe: Deposition flux by litterfall and pools in aboveground tree biomass and soils. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 856:158937. [PMID: 36167130 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158937] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Atmospheric mercury (Hg) is largely assimilated by vegetation and subsequently transferred to the soil by litterfall, which highlights the role of forests as one of the largest global Hg sinks within terrestrial ecosystems. We assessed the pool of Hg in the aboveground biomass (leaves, wood, bark, branches and twigs), the Hg deposition flux through litterfall over two years (by sorting fallen biomass in leaves, twigs, reproductive structures and miscellaneous) and its accumulation in the soil profile in a deciduous forest dominated by Betula alba from SW Europe. The total Hg pool in the aboveground birch biomass was in the range 532-683 mg ha-1, showing the following distribution by plant tissues: well-developed leaves (171 mg ha-1) > twigs (160 mg ha-1) > bark (159 mg ha-1) > bole wood (145 mg ha-1) > fine branches (25 mg ha-1) > thick branches (24 mg ha-1) > newly sprouted leaves (20 mg ha-1). The total Hg deposition fluxes through litterfall were 15.4 and 11.7 μg m-2 yr-1 for the two years studied, with the greatest contribution coming from birch leaves (73 %). In the soil profile, the pool of Hg in the mineral soil (37.0 mg m-2) was an order of magnitude higher than in the organic horizons (1.0 mg m-2), mostly conditioned by parameters such as soil bulk density and thickness, total C and N contents and the presence of certain Al compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Méndez-López
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
| | - Andrea Parente-Sendín
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Noemi Calvo-Portela
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Antía Gómez-Armesto
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Cristina Eimil-Fraga
- Unidad de Gestión Ambiental y Forestal Sostenible, Escuela Politécnica Superior de Ingeniería, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Benigno Ledo s/n, 27002 Lugo, Spain
| | - Flora Alonso-Vega
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Manuel Arias-Estévez
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - Juan Carlos Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
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Štrbac S, Ranđelović D, Gajica G, Hukić E, Stojadinović S, Veselinović G, Orlić J, Tognetti R, Kašanin-Grubin M. Spatial distribution and source identification of heavy metals in European mountain beech forests soils. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 309:136662. [PMID: 36195127 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.136662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The main objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the concentration; (ii) characterize the distribution; (iii) determine the sources apportionment; (iv) estimate environmental and health risks of heavy metals in soil from mountain beech forest. A total of 76 soil samples from 20 pure beech forest stands from Bosnia and Herzegovina (BA), Bulgaria (BG), Check Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SL), and Spain (ES) were collected. The content of major elements was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The content of heavy metals was measured by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Heavy metals had a specific concentration range, which followed in soil samples from depth 0-40 cm the common order (low to high): Hg < Cd < As < Co < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn, and from depth 40-80 cm: Hg < Cd < As < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn. The grouping of the examined parameters according to rock types, soil types, and localities indicated the separation of carbonate rocks from other substrates, luvisol, and rendzina from other soil types, and samples from BA, SL, and IT from other localities. According to sources apportionment As, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are of geogenic origin, while the middle position of Cu and Hg indicates a combined contribution of both sources. Elements Cd and Hg indicated severe to extremely severe enrichment with a mean value of 24.3 and 70.6, respectively. Based on the determined values Ni, Cr, As and Cd do not pose a health risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Štrbac
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Dragana Ranđelović
- Institute for Technology of Nuclear and Other Mineral Raw Materials, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Gordana Gajica
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Emira Hukić
- Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo, 71000, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
| | - Sanja Stojadinović
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Gorica Veselinović
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Jovana Orlić
- Faculty of Chemistry, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Roberto Tognetti
- Dipartimento di Agricoltura, Ambiente e Alimenti, Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy; Centro di Ricerca per le Aree Interne e gli Appennini (ArIA), Università degli Studi del Molise, 86100, Campobasso, Italy; The EFI Project Centre on Mountain Forests (MOUNTFOR), San Michele a/Adige, Trento, Italy.
| | - Milica Kašanin-Grubin
- Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, University of Belgrade, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
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Méndez-López M, Gómez-Armesto A, Alonso-Vega F, Pontevedra-Pombal X, Fonseca F, de Figueiredo T, Arias-Estévez M, Nóvoa-Muñoz JC. The role of afforestation species as a driver of Hg accumulation in organic horizons of forest soils from a Mediterranean mountain area in SW Europe. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 827:154345. [PMID: 35257764 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.154345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Forest areas are a primary sink of atmospheric mercury (Hg) within terrestrial ecosystems, whereas forest vegetation plays a key role in atmospheric Hg transfer to soil horizons. This study assessed variations in total Hg contents (HgT) and accumulation (HgRes) in the soil organic horizons of a forest area in NE Portugal, where post-wildfire afforestation led to the substitution of the native deciduous species (Quercus pyrenaica) by fast-growing coniferous species (Pseudotsuga menziesii and Pinus nigra). The study also evaluated, for each species, the links between Hg contents and other biophilic elements of soil organic matter (C, N, S) present in organic subhorizons (OL, OF, OH). Mean HgT in the organic horizons of the different tree species follow the sequence: P. nigra (88 μg kg-1) < Q.pyrenaica (101 μg kg-1) <P. menziesii (141 μg kg-1). The highest HgRes for the entire organic horizon was found under P. menziesii (471 μg m-2), followed by P. nigra (253 μg m-2) and Q. pyrenaica (189 μg m-2). Among the organic subhorizons, values of HgT and HgRes follow the sequence OL < OF < OH, which is consistent with the degree of organic matter humification. Indeed, HgT and HgRes correlated significantly with the C/N and C/S ratios for all species and organic subhorizons, suggesting that the quality of organic matter may influence strongly the Hg fate in these forest soils. Soils from P. menziesii plots have shown an HgRes 2.5 times higher than in plots dominated by the native Q. pyrenaica. Hg accumulation in the organic horizons, promoted in the coniferous species, may increase the risk of Hg mobilization due to wildfires and forest management practices. Therefore, forest management plans should select cautiously the tree species for afforestation in order to minimize adverse environmental effects caused by changes in the biogeochemical cycle of contaminants such as Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Méndez-López
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain.
| | - A Gómez-Armesto
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - F Alonso-Vega
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - X Pontevedra-Pombal
- Departamento de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Bioloxía, Universidade de Santiago de Compostela, Rúa Lope Gómez de Marzoa s/n, 15786 Santiago de Compostela, Spain
| | - F Fonseca
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - T de Figueiredo
- Centro de Investigação de Montanha (CIMO), Instituto Politécnico de Bragança, Campus de Sta Apolónia, 5300-253 Bragança, Portugal
| | - M Arias-Estévez
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
| | - J C Nóvoa-Muñoz
- Universidade de Vigo, Departamento de Bioloxía Vexetal e Ciencia do Solo, Área de Edafoloxía e Química Agrícola, Facultade de Ciencias, As Lagoas s/n, 32004 Ourense, Spain; Campus da Auga, Universidade de Vigo, Laboratorio de Tecnoloxía e Diagnose Ambiental, Rúa Canella da Costa da Vela 12, 32004 Ourense, Spain
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Zhou W, Cao Y, Wang S, Huang Y, Zhou W, Bai Z. Deciphering the origin and controlling factors of mercury in reclaimed soils: a case study in Pingshuo opencast coalmine of China. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:40826-40838. [PMID: 35083688 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-18148-0] [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: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Considering the significant influence of mercury (Hg) contamination on the land reclamation inopencast coalmine, the spatial distribution patterns and ecological risks of Hg were investigated and the regulating factors of Hg mobility were determined in the South Dump of the Pingshuo opencast coalmine. The results show that the total Hg (HgT) contents of most soil samples (83.7%) vary from 6 to 50 μg kg-1, while the potential ecological risk index (EIHg) values of most samples (79.8%) are lower than 80, indicating that most reclaimed soils are in relatively good conditions and the soil samples at high to very high ecological risk are mainly collected near the backfilled coal gangue. Moreover, the kriging maps of the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) indicate that the uncontaminated areas (Igeo < 0) and Hg-contaminated areas (Igeo > 0) in topsoil (0-10 cm) are roughly divided by an "east-west arc" while the Hg-contaminated areas in other soil horizons are characterized by a "point distribution pattern". The slight Hg contamination in topsoil is mainly triggered by the atmospheric Hg deposition from the nearby coal-fired power plant, while the Hg contamination in other soil horizons should be attributed to the weathering and spontaneous combustion of coal gangue. On the other hand, Pearson's correlation analyses show that HgT contents were positively correlated with clay (r = 0.31, P < 0.01) and SOC (r = 0.53, P < 0.01) contents. This study can provide some insight for the land reclamation measures in the opencast coalmine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenxiang Zhou
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Yingui Cao
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China.
- Key Lab of Land Consolidation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China.
| | - Shufei Wang
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuhan Huang
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Zhou
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Land Consolidation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhongke Bai
- School of Land Science and Technology, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing, 100083, People's Republic of China
- Key Lab of Land Consolidation, Ministry of Natural Resources of the People's Republic of China, Beijing, 100035, People's Republic of China
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8
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The proximity of a highway increases CO 2 respiration in forest soil and decreases the stability of soil organic matter. Sci Rep 2021; 11:21605. [PMID: 34732785 PMCID: PMC8566509 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-00971-7] [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: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Roadways traverse many forest areas and they often have harmful effects on forest soils, including the modified stability of soil organic matter (SOM). Soil CO2 respiration is an important indicator of SOM biological stability. The aim of this study was to test the hypotheses that a roadway will (1) modify the composition of the cation exchange capacity of adjacent forest soils, and (2) significantly decrease the stability of SOM. Two study sites were established in Scots pine and Silver fir stands, located close to the S7 highway in central Poland, which was opened to traffic in 1984. From each site, samples were taken at 2, 12 and 22 m from the forest edge. Soil CO2 respiration was determined using closed chamber incubation with an alkali trap. We also conducted a comprehensive analysis of soil chemical properties. The stoichiometric ratios of chosen chemical parameters to total carbon (Ct) were calculated. In both sites, we observed increased soil pH and CO2 respiration in the vicinity of the highway, as well as increased ratios of exchangeable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and sodium (Na) to Ct. In the fir site, the humic and fulvic acids, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and aluminum (Al) to Ct ratio were depleted in close proximity to the highway. We suggest that the combined effect of Ca and Na ions, originating from winter de-icing, caused the depletion of Al and hydrogen (H) in the soil close to the forest edge and, therefore, resulted in lower SOM stability expressed as the decreased DOC and pyrophosphate-extractable carbon content, as well as the release of CO2. We conclude that the changes of SOM stability with distance were the effect of modification of ion-exchange relationships (particularly base cations versus Al3+ with H+) rather than forest stand species or intrinsic SOM properties (like functional groups, the recalcitrance of bindings etc.). Our work supports earlier studies, confirming the significant impact of Al and H on SOM stability.
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9
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Woś B, Gruba P, Socha J, Pietrzykowski M. Biomonitoring of Mercury Contamination in Poland Based on Its Concentration in Scots Pine ( Pinus sylvestris L.) Foliage. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph181910366. [PMID: 34639665 PMCID: PMC8507935 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph181910366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This work evaluates current mercury (Hg) contamination in Poland, represented by the Hg concentrations in Scots pine foliage. Samples were collected over 295 investigation plots in monitoring grids throughout Poland, from pines aged between 12 and 147 years. Analyses were conducted with consideration of bioclimatic factors and soil properties. Concentrations in the pine foliage did not exceed the values characteristic of an ecosystem unaffected by industrial pollution, ranging from 0.0032 to 0.0252 mg kg−1 dry mass. However, pine stands located in western and central Poland, and in the northwest near the Baltic Sea, exhibited higher Hg concentrations in foliage than in eastern regions. Hg content in foliage depends on the mean temperature of the driest quarter, as well as on Hg content in soils. This indicates that the periods of drought observed in recent years in Poland may affect Hg concentrations in pine foliage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bartłomiej Woś
- Department of Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland; (P.G.); (M.P.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Piotr Gruba
- Department of Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland; (P.G.); (M.P.)
| | - Jarosław Socha
- Department of Forest Resources Management, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland;
| | - Marcin Pietrzykowski
- Department of Ecology and Silviculture, Faculty of Forestry, University of Agriculture in Krakow, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland; (P.G.); (M.P.)
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10
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Rodríguez Martin JA, Gutiérrez C, Escuer M, Martín-Dacal M, Ramos-Miras JJ, Roca-Perez L, Boluda R, Nanos N. Trends in soil mercury stock associated with pollution sources on a Mediterranean island (Majorca, Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 283:117397. [PMID: 34030063 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Hg is a global concern given its adverse effects on human health, food security and the environment, and it requiring actions to identify major local Hg sources and to evaluate pollution. Our study provides the first assessment of Hg stock trends on the entire Majorca surface, identifying major Hg sources by studying the spatiotemporal soil Hg variation at two successive times (2006 and 2016-17). The Hg soil concentration ranged from 14 to 258 μg kg-1 (mean 52 μg kg-1). Higher concentrations (over 100 μg kg-1) were found in two areas: (i) close to the Alcudia coal-fired power plant; (ii) in the city of La Palma. During the 11-year, the total Hg stock in Majorcan soil increased from 432.96 tons to 493.18 tones (14% increase). Based on a block kriging analysis, soil Hg enrichment due to power plant emissions was clearly detectable on a local scale (i.e. a shorter distance than 18 km from the power plant). Nonetheless, a significant island-wide Hg increase due to diffuse pollution was reported. This result could be extrapolated to other popular tourist destinations in the Mediterranean islands where tourism has increased in recent decades In short, more than 60 tons of Hg have accumulated on Majorca island in 11 years.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Antonio Rodríguez Martin
- Department of Environment, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria (INIA), ES, 28040, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Carmen Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, ICA- CSIC, Serrano, 114bis, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Miguel Escuer
- Instituto de Ciencias Agrarias, ICA- CSIC, Serrano, 114bis, 28006, Madrid, Spain.
| | - Marina Martín-Dacal
- Centro de Biotecnología y Genómica de Plantas (UPM-INIA), Parque Científico y Tecnológico, UPM Campus de Montegancedo, 28223, Madrid, Spain.
| | - José Joaquín Ramos-Miras
- Dpto. Didáctica Ciencias Sociales y Experimentales, Universidad de Córdoba, Avda. San Alberto Magno S/n, Córdoba, 14071, Spain.
| | - Luis Roca-Perez
- Dept. Biologia Vegetal, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés I Estellés S/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Rafael Boluda
- Dept. Biologia Vegetal, Facultat de Farmàcia, Universitat de València, Av. Vicent Andrés I Estellés S/n, 46100, Burjassot, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Nikos Nanos
- School of Forestry and Natural Environment, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 59 Moschounti Str., 55134, Foinikas-Thessaloniki, Greece.
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11
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Ballabio C, Jiskra M, Osterwalder S, Borrelli P, Montanarella L, Panagos P. A spatial assessment of mercury content in the European Union topsoil. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 769:144755. [PMID: 33736262 PMCID: PMC8024745 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Mapping of surface soil Hg concentrations, a priority pollutant, at continental scale is important in order to identify hotspots of soil Hg distribution (e.g. mining or industrial pollution) and identify factors that influence soil Hg concentrations (e.g. climate, soil properties, vegetation). Here we present soil Hg concentrations from the LUCAS topsoil (0-20 cm) survey including 21,591 samples from 26 European Union countries (one sample every ~200 km2). Deep Neural Network (DNN) learning models were used to map the European soil Hg distribution. DNN estimated a median Hg concentration of 38.3 μg kg-1 (2.6 to 84.7 μg kg-1) excluding contaminated sites. At continental scale, we found that soil Hg concentrations increased with latitude from south to north and with altitude. A GLMM revealed a correlation (R2 = 0.35) of soil Hg concentrations with vegetation activity, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and soil organic carbon content. This observation corroborates the importance of atmospheric Hg0 uptake by plants and the build-up of the soil Hg pool by litterfall over continental scales. The correlation of Hg concentrations with NDVI was amplified by higher soil organic matter content, known to stabilize Hg in soils through thiol bonds. We find a statistically significant relation between soil Hg levels and coal use in large power plants, proving that emissions from power plants are associated with higher mercury deposition in their proximity. In total 209 hotspots were identified, defined as the top percentile in Hg concentration (>422 μg kg-1). 87 sites (42% of all hotspots) were associated with known mining areas. The sources of the other hotspots could not be identified and may relate to unmined geogenic Hg or industrial pollution. The mapping effort in the framework of LUCAS can serve as a starting point to guide local and regional authorities in identifying Hg contamination hotspots in soils.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Martin Jiskra
- Environmental Geosciences, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, IGE, Grenoble, France.
| | - Pasquale Borrelli
- Università degli Studi di Pavia, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Pavia, Italy.
| | | | - Panos Panagos
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy.
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12
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Gruba P, Kania M, Kupka D, Pietrzykowski M. Sequestration of Mercury in Soils under Scots Pine and Silver Fir Stands Located in the Proximity to a Roadway. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18094569. [PMID: 33925789 PMCID: PMC8123428 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18094569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 04/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Forest soils are the main source of mercury (Hg) in stream water. Stocks of Hg in forest soils are related to several factors, including forest species composition. In this study, the potential source of Hg pollution was a relatively new roadway traversing forested areas. We compared Hg accumulation in soils of two coniferous species: Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). The experimental plots were located near the S7 expressway in Central Poland. The stands differed in the length of time they had been exposed to Hg, because different parts of the roadway were built and opened to traffic at different times. We analyzed 480 soil samples from organic horizons (O) and the top 10 cm of mineral soil (A) sampled from six plots. The overall average Hg concentrations (irrespective of forest stand, n = 240) was 0.225 mg kg−1 in the O horizons and 0.075 mg kg−1 in the mineral horizons. The Hg concentration in the O horizons was more than three times greater in fir stands than that in pine stands. The average Hg:C ratios in the O and A horizons were 1.0 and 2.3 mg Hg kg−1 C, respectively. Our data does not clearly show the effect of road on Hg accumulation near the road. The concentrations of Hg in investigated soils adjacent to the roadway were only slightly higher than ranges reported for unpolluted areas, and no clearly affected by the vicinity of roadway. In contrast to the other reports, our data indicate a significant impact of tree species on Hg concentrations in both the O and A horizons. Moreover, the average Hg:C ratio was strongly dependent on the tree species.
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13
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Shahid M, Khalid S, Bibi I, Bundschuh J, Khan Niazi N, Dumat C. A critical review of mercury speciation, bioavailability, toxicity and detoxification in soil-plant environment: Ecotoxicology and health risk assessment. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 711:134749. [PMID: 32000322 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.134749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 09/29/2019] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Environmental contamination by a non-essential and non-beneficial, although potentially toxic mercury (Hg), is becoming a great threat to the living organisms at a global scale. Owing to its various uses in numerous industrial processes, high amount of Hg is released into different environmental compartments. Environmental Hg contamination can result in food chain contamination, especially due to its accumulation in edible plant parts. Consumption of Hg-rich food is a key source of Hg exposure to humans. Since Hg does not possess any identified biological role and has genotoxic and carcinogenic potential, it is critical to monitor its biogeochemical behavior in the soil-plant system and its influence in terms of possible food chain contamination and human exposure. This review traces a plausible link among Hg levels, its chemical speciation and phytoavailability in soil, accumulation in plants, phytotoxicity and detoxification of Hg inside the plant. The role of different enzymatic (peroxidase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (glutathione, phytochelatins, proline and ascorbic acid) antioxidants has also been elucidated with respect to enhanced generation of reactive radicles and resulting oxidative stress. The review also outlines Hg build-up in edible plant tissues and associated health risks. The biogeochemical role of Hg in the soil-plant system and associated health risks have been described with well summarized and up-to-date data in 12 tables and 4 figures. We believe that this comprehensive review article and meta-analysis of Hg data can be greatly valuable for scientists, researchers, policymakers and graduate-level students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan.
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Vehari Campus, Vehari-61100, Pakistan
| | - Irshad Bibi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan
| | - Jochen Bundschuh
- UNESCO Chair on Groundwater Arsenic within the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, University of Southern Queensland, West Street, Toowoomba, Queensland 4350, Australia
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; School of Civil Engineering and Surveying, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia.
| | - Camille Dumat
- Centre d'Etude et de Recherche Travail Organisation Pouvoir (CERTOP), UMR5044, Université J. Jaurès - Toulouse II, 5 allée Machado A., 31058 Toulouse, cedex 9, France; Université de Toulouse, INP-ENSAT, Avenue de l'Agrobiopole, 31326 Auzeville-Tolosane, France; Association Réseau-Agriville (http://reseau-agriville.com/), France
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14
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Likus-Cieślik J, Socha J, Gruba P, Pietrzykowski M. The current state of environmental pollution with sulfur dioxide (SO 2) in Poland based on sulfur concentration in Scots pine needles. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2020; 258:113559. [PMID: 32005488 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113559] [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: 07/16/2019] [Revised: 10/30/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The current air pollution by SO2 due to anthropogenic pressure in Poland was assessed based on sulfur concentrations in pine needles (Pinus sylvestris L.). On 308 monitoring sample plots located in pine stands distributed across Poland, measurements were conducted in mineral soil layers (0-10 cm, 10-40 cm, 40-100 cm) and in the soil organic layer (+5-0 cm). Samples of Scots pine foliage (current-year needles) were then collected, and the sulfur concentration in these needles was determined. Based on these data, a map of the spatial variability of sulfur concentrations in pine needles was drawn. The mean sulfur concentration in the pine needles was 854.8 mg kg-1 in dry mass. Higher SO2 emissions were noted in regions influenced by industry, such as the Upper Silesia and regions under strong urban pressure. Sulfur concentrations in Scots pine needles were related to the stands' degrees of defoliation. A comparison of the current sulfur concentrations in pine needles from biomonitoring in 2015-2016 with those from previous biomonitoring (in 1983-1985, by Dmuchowski and Bytnerowicz (1995) showed that air quality has improved and SO2 emissions have decreased.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justyna Likus-Cieślik
- University of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland.
| | | | - Piotr Gruba
- University of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland
| | - Marcin Pietrzykowski
- University of Agriculture in Krakow, Faculty of Forestry, Department of Forest Ecology and Silviculture, al. 29 Listopada 46, 31-425 Krakow, Poland.
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15
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Xue W, Kwon SY, Grasby SE, Sunderland EM, Pan X, Sun R, Zhou T, Yan H, Yin R. Anthropogenic influences on mercury in Chinese soil and sediment revealed by relationships with total organic carbon. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 255:113186. [PMID: 31520907 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.113186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2019] [Revised: 08/24/2019] [Accepted: 09/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Rapid industrialization has led to high levels of mercury (Hg) releases from anthropogenic sources in China. When deposited to terrestrial ecosystems, Hg has a high affinity for natural organic carbon. This means that Hg concentrations will vary naturally as a function of the total organic carbon (TOC) content of different soils and sediment. Thus, Hg to TOC ratios in topsoil and surface sediment provides a useful normalized tracer of the anthropogenic impact on Hg contamination. We compiled literature-documented Hg and total organic carbon (TOC) data for topsoil (n = 957) and surface sediment (n = 1142) in China. Topsoil samples (n = 100) were also collected in this study to broaden the spatial coverage. We found large differences in Hg:TOC ratios among topsoil from background sites, agricultural and urban areas, and mining sites and surface sediment from fluvial, coastal, and marine environments. Specifically, a significant increase in Hg:TOC ratios occurred between soils from background sites (median: Hg:TOC = 21.1; Inter-Quartile Range (IQR): 9.67 to 40.7) and agricultural areas (median: 34.1; IQR: 22.1 to 58.7), urban areas (median: 62.1 ng g-1; IQR: 34.2 to 154) and mining sites (median: 2780; range: 181 to 43500). Urban and mining sites show the largest increase in Hg:TOC ratios, reflecting elevated anthropogenic Hg inputs in these areas. Fluvial sediment showed higher Hg:TOC ratios (median: 197; IQR: 109 to 389) than coastal (median: 88.3; IQR: 46.8 to 168) and marine sediment (median: 89.7; IQR: 53 to 138), indicating decreased anthropogenic Hg input from rivers to coastal and marine regions. Results of our study suggest Hg:TOC ratios are a useful normalized indicator of the influence of anthropogenic Hg releases on Hg enrichment in topsoil and surface sediment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science & Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam Gu, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Stephan E Grasby
- Geological Survey of Canada, Natural Resources Canada, Calgary, Alberta, T2L 2A7, Canada
| | - Elsie M Sunderland
- Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States
| | - Xin Pan
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Ruiyang Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Ting Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Haiyu Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China.
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China.
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16
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Effects of Long-Term Successive Rotations, Clear-Cutting and Stand Age of Prince Rupprecht’s larch (Larix Principis-Rupprechtii Mayr) on Soil Quality. FORESTS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/f10100932] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
A decline in soil quality is a major factor contributing to the degradation of forest ecological function. Vegetation plays a vital role in maintaining soil quality; however, the influence of plantation length on soil quality remains unclear. In this study, we collected soil samples in Northern China using a space-for-time substitution method. Soil were collected from control grassland; a clear-cutting site; 16-year-old (young, first, and second generation), 28-year-old (immature, first, and second generation), and 44-year-old (mature, first generation) Larix principis-rupprechtii Mayr stands in May, July, and September 2016. We measured soil physical and chemical properties, microbial communities, and enzymatic activities. We selected soil bulk density, non-capillary porosity, volume humidity, soil organic carbon and activity of polyphenol oxidase to calculate a soil quality index (SQI) for each site. Our data indicated that clear-cutting greatly decreased soil quality of Larix principis-rupprechtii forests but returning the harvesting residues to the forest floor could reduce the negative impact of clear-cutting on soil quality. The soil quality improved significantly by prolonging the cultivation cycle and it took about 39 years for the first-generation forest to restore soil quality to the level of the control plot. Our study confirms that SQI provides a comprehensive measurement of soil quality with the identification of a minimum data set. Comparing SQI with other soil quality indicators would help us to optimize the method for assessing soil quality.
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17
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Rodenhouse NL, Lowe WH, Gebauer RLE, McFarland KP, Bank MS. Mercury bioaccumulation in temperate forest food webs associated with headwater streams. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 665:1125-1134. [PMID: 30893744 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The soils and food webs associated with mid to high elevation, forested, headwater streams in northeastern North America are potential hotspots for mercury (Hg) methylation and bioaccumulation, but are not well studied. Our goals were to quantify total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) concentrations in soils and terrestrial food webs associated with headwater streams of northern hardwood forests to identify predictors of small-scale spatial variation in Hg bioaccumulation. We sampled soil characteristics that promote Hg methylation including pH, sulfur and calcium content, and organic matter. To assess spatial variation, we sampled at high (~700 m asl) and mid elevations (~500 m asl), both adjacent to (<1 m) and away from (>75 m) three replicate headwater streams in each of two watersheds of the White Mountains region, New Hampshire, USA. Soils of these forested watersheds differed significantly in pH and the content of calcium, sulfur, organic matter and THg. Conditions for methylation were more favorable in the upland forest sites compared to streamside sites. Significant bioaccumulation of THg occurred in all measured components of the food web, including insects, spiders, salamanders, and birds. Trophic position, as determined by δ15N, was the best predictor of both THg and MeHg bioaccumulation across the sampled taxa and was also a better predictor than spatial location. However, the degree of bioaccumulation at which MeHg significantly affects animal behavior, reproduction or survival is unknown for most taxa in terrestrial habitats, particularly for invertebrates. These findings show that Hg methylation and bioaccumulation is not limited to areas traditionally classified as wetlands or to areas with exceptionally high THg inputs, but that it is a widespread and important phenomenon in the moist deciduous forests of eastern North America.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Winsor H Lowe
- Division of Biological Sciences, University of Montana, Missoula, MT, USA
| | | | | | - Michael S Bank
- Department of Environmental Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA, USA; Institute of Marine Research, Postboks 1870, Nordnes 5817, Bergen, Norway
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18
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Zhang H, Nizzetto L, Feng X, Borgå K, Sommar J, Fu X, Zhang H, Zhang G, Larssen T. Assessing Air-Surface Exchange and Fate of Mercury in a Subtropical Forest Using a Novel Passive Exchange-Meter Device. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4869-4879. [PMID: 30990312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A novel passive exchange meter (EM) device was developed to assess air-surface exchange and leaching of Hg in a forest floor. Flux measurements were carried out in a subtropical forest ecosystem during a full year. Over 40% of the Hg fixed in fresh forest litter was remobilized in less than 60 days in warm and humid conditions as a response to rapid turnover of labile organic matter (OM). A two-block experiment including understory and clearing showed that losses of Hg covaried with seasonal conditions and was significantly affected by forest coverage. The process controlling the bulk loss of total Hg from the litter was volatilization, which typically represented 76-96% of the loss processes (Floss). The Floss ranges were 520-1370 and 165-942 ng m-2 d-1 in the understory and clearing, respectively. On a yearly basis, deposition of airborne Hg exceeded total losses by a factor of 2.5 in the clearing and 1.5 in the understory. The vegetation litter in this subtropical forest therefore represented a net sink of atmospheric Hg. This study provided a novel approach to Hg air-soil exchange measurements and further insights on the link between Hg remobilization and OM turnover along with its environmental drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research , NO-0349 Oslo , Norway
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment , Masaryk University , 601 77 Brno , Czech Republic
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change , Xi'an , 710061 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100049 , China
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research , NO-0349 Oslo , Norway
- Department of Biosciences , University of Oslo , NO-0316 Oslo , Norway
| | - Jonas Sommar
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
| | - Xuewu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change , Xi'an , 710061 , China
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change , Xi'an , 710061 , China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guangzhou , 510640 , China
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