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Frankel TE, Tyler E, Willmore C, Odhiambo BK, Giancarlo L. Assessing the presence, concentration, and impacts of trace element contamination in a Chesapeake Bay tributary adjacent to a coal ash landfill (Possum Point, VA). ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 339:122768. [PMID: 37858702 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122768] [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: 07/13/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/21/2023]
Abstract
Coal ash (CA) is an industrial waste product that has been shown to contain several neurotoxic constituents such as cadmium, selenium, mercury, lead, and arsenic. Contaminant-laced leachates enter the environment via seepage, runoff, permitted discharge, or accidental spills from CA storage ponds or landfills which may pose a risk to wildlife residing in receiving waterways. In this study, we assessed 1) the presence and concentration of thirteen trace elements (Al, Ca, Mg, Cr, Cd, As, Se, Pb, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, B) in surface water and sediment grab samples using ICP-OES, 2) the temporal variability of trace elements using Pb-210 dated sediment core samples, 3) differences in species diversity using environmental DNA (eDNA) analyses, and 4) the presence and concentration of trace metals in banded killifish (Fundulus diaphanus) epaxial muscle tissue collected from waterways surrounding the Possum Point Power Station (Stafford, VA). Results showed the highest concentrations of As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mg, Se, Zn, and B in Quantico Creek (QC) adjacent to the coal ash ponds and elevated average cadmium and zinc concentrations compared to both upstream and downstream locations along the Potomac River. Sediment core profiles and Pb-210 analyses showed historical enrichment of several trace elements in QC beginning after the commissioning of the power plant in 1948. When compared to upstream and downstream sites, species diversity was drastically reduced in Quantico Creek based on eDNA identification. Muscle tissues of banded killifish collected in Quantico Creek displayed increased Al, Cd, and Zn concentrations compared to upstream and downstream sites. Collectively, our results demonstrate the potential impacts of coal ash landfills on aquatic ecosystems and suggest that further research is needed to fully inform risk assessment and remediation efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- T E Frankel
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, USA.
| | - E Tyler
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, USA
| | - C Willmore
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, USA
| | - B K Odhiambo
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, USA
| | - L Giancarlo
- Department of Chemistry and Physics, University of Mary Washington, 1301 College Ave, Fredericksburg, VA, 22401, USA
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2
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Cai K, Zhao Y, Song Z, Luan W, Yang J, Hu L, Liu X, Lei G, Delgado AN. Fate of selenium in a Se-enriched region of North China: Translocation, bioaccumulation, source, and health benefits. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 231:115856. [PMID: 37068724 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
There are limited studies on the translocation and bioaccumulation of selenium (Se) in weak alkaline cultivated Se-enriched soil, and the sources and speciation of Se in wheat grains remain unclear. In this study, we measured the Se levels in soils, roots, stems, and wheat grains from Se-enriched cultivated land in Ci County, China, which has a high incidence of esophageal cancer. The Se levels in the roots were higher than those in the soils, indicating that wheat plants bioaccumulated high concentrations of Se from the soil (enrichment coefficient [EC] range from the soil to the root: 0.94-3.29). Redundancy analysis indicated that the bioaccumulated factor, translocation coefficient, and EC were mainly controlled by phosphorus, pH, and Fe2O3 (contribution rates: 37.5%, 19.5%, and 15.9%, respectively). Linear regression analysis revealed that the sources of Se in grains were mainly from the water-soluble fraction (R2 = 0.55, at p < 0.05), the weakly acidic fraction (R2 = 0.84, at p < 0.05), the reducible fraction (R2 = 0.84, at p < 0.05), and the oxidizable fraction (R2 = 0.70, at p < 0.05), as well as from atmospheric deposition (R2 = 0.37, at p < 0.01). There is a significant correlation between the Se from atmospheric deposition and the oxidizable fraction (R2 = 0.62, at p < 0.01) and the residual fraction (R2 = 0.33, at p < 0.01). The contribution of Se input flux from atmospheric deposition was 5.50 g/hm2 for one year. Furthermore, the average content of organic Se in wheat grains was 58.93%. The Se concentrations found in wheat grains were considered beneficial for human health based on a comparison with the Chinese Society of Nutrition standard and worldwide levels. The results of this study will increase the overall knowledge on the theme, which could help prevent and control the harmful effects of undesirable concentrations of Se on human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Cai
- Hebei Key Laboratory of Strategic Critical Mineral Resources, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, China; Institute of Geological Survey, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei, China
| | - Yan Zhao
- School of Resources and Environment Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei, 230009, Anhui, China
| | - Zefeng Song
- Institute of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei, China
| | - Wenlou Luan
- Institute of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Hebei GEO University, Shijiazhuang, 050031, Hebei, China
| | - Jian Yang
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Li Hu
- Hunan Sihuan Environmental Protection Technology Co., Ltd., Changsha, 410142, China
| | - Xin Liu
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China.
| | - Ge Lei
- College of the Environment and Ecology, Hunan Agricultural University, Changsha, 410128, China
| | - Avelino Núñez Delgado
- Department of Soil Science and Agricultural Chemistry, Univ. Santiago de Compostela, Engineering Polytechnic School, Campus Univ. S/n, 27002, Lugo, Spain
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3
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Yu H, Xuan C, Chen N, Zhang Q, Pan B. Reductive ethylenediamine group immobilized in hybrid Pd-based nanocomposite for efficiently sequestrating selenate. Sep Purif Technol 2023. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2023.123307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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4
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Wang Z, Cowan EA, Seramur KC, Dwyer GS, Wilson JC, Karcher R, Brachfeld S, Vengosh A. Legacy of Coal Combustion: Widespread Contamination of Lake Sediments and Implications for Chronic Risks to Aquatic Ecosystems. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:14723-14733. [PMID: 36190271 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c04717] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Elevated concentrations of toxic elements in coal ash pose human and ecological health risks upon release to the environment. Despite wide public concerns about water quality and human health risks from catastrophic coal ash spills and chronic leaking of coal ash ponds, coal ash disposal has only been partially regulated, and its impacts on aquatic sediment quality and ecological health have been overlooked. Here, we present a multiproxy approach of morphologic, magnetic, geochemical, and Sr isotopic analyses, revealing unmonitored coal ash releases over the past 40 to 70 years preserved in the sediment records of five freshwater lakes adjacent to coal-fired power plants across North Carolina. We detected significant sediment contamination and potential chronic ecological risks posed by the occurrence of hundreds of thousands of tons of coal ash solids mainly resulting from high-magnitude stormwater runoff/flooding and direct effluent discharge from coal ash disposal sites. The proximity of hundreds of disposal sites to natural waterways across the U.S. implies that such contamination is likely prevalent nationwide and expected to worsen with climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Ellen A Cowan
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, United States
| | - Keith C Seramur
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, United States
| | - Gary S Dwyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Jessie C Wilson
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, United States
| | - Randall Karcher
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, United States
| | - Stefanie Brachfeld
- Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, New Jersey 07043, United States
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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Bueno M, Duval B, Tessier E, Romero-Rama A, Kortazar L, Fernández LÁ, de Diego A, Amouroux D. Selenium distribution and speciation in waters of pristine alpine lakes from central-western Pyrenees (France-Spain). ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1430-1442. [PMID: 35080575 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00430a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
The speciation of both redox reactive and volatile selenium (Se) compounds, barely reported in pristine aquatic environments, has never been investigated in remote alpine lakes, considered as sensitive ecosystems to detect the effect of global change. This work presents an integrated investigation on Se distribution and speciation conducted in 20 high altitude pristine lakes from the central-western Pyrenees. Five seasonal sampling campaigns were carried out after snowmelt (June/July) and in early fall (October) for the period 2017-2019. Concentrations of total dissolved Se (TDSe) ranged from 7 to 78 ng L-1, with selenate being ubiquitously observed in most cases (median of 61% of TDSe). Selenite was only occasionally detected up to 4 ng L-1, therefore a fraction of TDSe was presumably in the forms of elemental Se(0) and/or selenides. Depth profiles obtained in different lakes showed the occurrence of such Se(-II, 0) pools in bottom hypoxic to anoxic waters. The production of volatile Se compounds presented a low median total concentration (TVSe) of 33 pg L-1 (range 3-120 pg L-1), mainly in the form of dimethylselenide in subsurface samples (median of 82% of TVSe). The Se concentration in lake waters was significantly correlated with the sulphate concentration (ρ = 0.93, p < 0.0001), demonstrating that it is influenced by erosion and dissolution of Se and S-enriched parent bedrocks. In addition, for Se depleted alpine lake-bedrock systems, long-range transport and wet atmospheric depositions represent a major source of Se for lake waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maïté Bueno
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physical-Chemistry for the Environment and Materials - IPREM, Pau, France.
| | - Bastien Duval
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physical-Chemistry for the Environment and Materials - IPREM, Pau, France.
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena Auzoa z/g, 48940 Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Emmanuel Tessier
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physical-Chemistry for the Environment and Materials - IPREM, Pau, France.
| | - Andrea Romero-Rama
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physical-Chemistry for the Environment and Materials - IPREM, Pau, France.
| | - Leire Kortazar
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena Auzoa z/g, 48940 Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Luís Ángel Fernández
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena Auzoa z/g, 48940 Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
- Plentziako Itsas Estazioa (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Pasealekua, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - Alberto de Diego
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Sarriena Auzoa z/g, 48940 Leioa, Basque Country, Spain
- Plentziako Itsas Estazioa (PIE), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Areatza Pasealekua, 48620 Plentzia, Basque Country, Spain
| | - David Amouroux
- Universite de Pau et des Pays de l'Adour, E2S UPPA, CNRS, Institute of Analytical Sciences and Physical-Chemistry for the Environment and Materials - IPREM, Pau, France.
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6
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Petrović M, Fiket Ž. Environmental damage caused by coal combustion residue disposal: A critical review of risk assessment methodologies. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 299:134410. [PMID: 35346741 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 03/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Coal combustion generates almost 40% of world's electricity. However, it also produces 1.1 billion tons of coal combustion residues (CCR) annually, half of which end up in landfills. Although current regulations require proper lining and monitoring programs, the ubiquitous old, abandoned landfills are often not lined nor included in these programs. In addition, the total number of coal ash disposal sites and their status in the world is unknown. Therefore, this article reviews the environmental damage caused by CCR and three commonly used risk assessment methodologies: leaching assessment, groundwater assessment, and toxicity testing. Leaching methods are usually the first step in coal ash risk assessment, however, a large number of methods with different parameters make a comparison of data difficult. Groundwater pollution is commonly detected near coal ash disposal sites, but other anthropogenic activities may also exist nearby. Therefore, multivariate statistical methods and isotope traces should be used to differentiate between different sources of pollution. So far, both stable (δ18O, δD, δ11B, δ34S, δ7Li) and radiogenic (87Sr/86Sr, 206Pb/207Pb) isotopes have been successfully used as coal ash pollution tracers. Coal ash also negatively affects biota, reduces the diversity of organisms, affects children's health, and increases the risk for developing various diseases. Toxicity studies are great for early screening of coal ash safety; however, they provide no insights into mechanisms causing the adverse effects. Future directions are also proposed, such as the development of new 'low-level' detection methods for coal ash pollution and sustainable and selective method for recovery of critical elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marija Petrović
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Željka Fiket
- Division for Marine and Environmental Research, Ruđer Bošković Institute, Bijenička Cesta 54, HR-10000, Zagreb, Croatia.
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7
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Tian X, Weng Q, Lyu T, Wang S, Wang H, Wu X, Zhuo Y. Selenium migration mechanism in wet FGD slurry: Experimental and DFT analysis. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127426. [PMID: 34673395 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127426] [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: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is one of the hazardous trace elements emitted from coal-fired power plants. The Se migration behavior in wet flue gas desulfurization (FGD) slurry is still unclear, and the species of Se in FGD gypsum remains controversial. In this research, the bubbling experiments using simulated slurry with/without gypsum crystallization process were conducted. The experimental results indicated that pure gypsum has poor capability to capture Se components, and only selenite could be trapped in gypsum during its crystal growth stage. Furthermore, the DFT calculation was conducted to provide the microscopic information of Se adsorption and substitution characteristics during gypsum crystallization process. The research findings of this study could help understand the mechanism of Se migration process in FGD slurry, and facilitate the development of effective Se emission control technologies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiongwei Tian
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Thermal Science and Power Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qiyu Weng
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Thermal Science and Power Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Tao Lyu
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Thermal Science and Power Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Shujuan Wang
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Thermal Science and Power Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Carbon Fixation of Saline-alkaline and Desert land, Beijing 100084, China; Shanxi Research Institute for Clean Energy, Tsinghua University, Taiyuan 030000, China
| | - Huiqing Wang
- Datang Yangcheng International Power Generation Co., Ltd, Jincheng 048000, China
| | - XuSheng Wu
- Datang Yangcheng International Power Generation Co., Ltd, Jincheng 048000, China
| | - Yuqun Zhuo
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Key Laboratory of Thermal Science and Power Engineering of the Ministry of Education, Department of Energy and Power Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Beijing Engineering Research Center for Ecological Restoration and Carbon Fixation of Saline-alkaline and Desert land, Beijing 100084, China; Shanxi Research Institute for Clean Energy, Tsinghua University, Taiyuan 030000, China
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8
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Pinto-Vidal FA, Carvalho CDS, Abdalla FC, Utsunomiya HSM, Salla RF, Jones-Costa M. Effects of lithium and selenium in the tail muscle of American bullfrog tadpoles (Lithobates catesbeianus) during premetamorphosis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2022; 29:1975-1984. [PMID: 34363154 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-15686-5] [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: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The amphibian populations have faced a drastic decline over the past decades. This decline has been associated with the presence of contaminants in the environment, among other environmental stressors. The present study tested the responses following the exposure to lithium (2.5 mg L-1) and selenium (10μg L-1), both isolated and as a mixture, on the metabolic status of the tail muscle of premetamorphic American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) through the assessment of the total protein content, mobilization of glucose and triglycerides, and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). The exposure followed a 21-day assay with two sampling periods (on the 7th and 21st day after the onset of exposure) to evaluate the effects over time. The group exposed to the mixture presented a statistically decreased LDH activity (P < 0.05) in both sampling periods. The presence of selenium elicited a statistically significant increase (P < 0.05) in the glucose mobilization after 7 days of exposure. After 21 days, the animals exposed to selenium presented levels of glucose mobilization comparable to the control group. The mobilization of glucose and triglycerides remained similar to the control group for the animals exposed to lithium and to the mixture in both periods of sampling (P > 0.05). The total protein content did not show any statistical difference in the treated groups throughout the experiment (P > 0.05). The presented results highlight the importance of the assessment of mixtures that can occur in the environment, since the combination of contaminants may elicit distinct toxicity compared with the effects triggered by the chemicals isolated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Augusto Pinto-Vidal
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Physiology Conservation (LaFisC), Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil.
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Pavilion D29, 625 00, Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Cleoni Dos Santos Carvalho
- Postgraduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Microbiology (LaBioM), Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
| | - Fábio Camargo Abdalla
- Postgraduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
- Laboratory of Structural and Functional Biology (LaBEF), Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
| | | | - Raquel Fernanda Salla
- Laboratory of Natural History of Brazilian Amphibians (LaHNAB), State University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
| | - Monica Jones-Costa
- Department of Biology, Laboratory of Physiology Conservation (LaFisC), Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
- Postgraduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring, Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, Brazil
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Magnetic Fly Ash as a Chronological Marker in Post-Settlement Alluvial and Lacustrine Sediment: Examples from North Carolina and Illinois. MINERALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/min11050476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fly ash consists of mainly silt-size spherules that form during high-temperature coal combustion, such as in steam locomotives and coal-burning power plants. In the eastern USA, fly ash was distributed across the landscape atmospherically beginning in the late 19th century, peaking in the mid-20th century, and decreasing sharply with implementation of late 20th century particulate pollution controls. Although atmospheric deposition is limited today, fly ash particles continue to be resedimented into alluvial and lacustrine deposits from upland soil erosion and failure of fly ash storage ponds. Magnetic fly ash is easily extracted and identified microscopically, allowing for a simple and reproducible method for identifying post-1850 CE (Common Era) alluvium and lacustrine sediment. In the North Carolina Piedmont, magnetic fly ash was identified within the upper 50 cm at each of eight alluvial sites and one former milldam site. Extracted fly ash spherules have a magnetite or maghemite composition, with substitutions of Al, Si, Ca, and Ti, and range from 3–125 µm in diameter (mainly 10–45 µm). Based on the presence of fly ash, post-1850 alluvial deposits are 15–45 cm thick in central North Carolina river valleys (<0.5 km wide), ~60% thinner than in central Illinois valleys of similar width. Slower sedimentation rates in North Carolina watersheds are likely a result of a less agricultural land and less erodible (more clayey) soils. Artificial reservoirs (Lake Decatur, IL) and milldams (Betty’s Mill, NC), provide chronological tests for the fly ash method and high-resolution records of anthropogenic change. In cores of Lake Decatur sediments, changes in fly ash content appear related to decadal-scale variations in annual rainfall (and runoff), calcite precipitation, land-use changes, and/or lake history, superimposed on longer-term trends in particulate pollution.
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10
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Pinto-Vidal FA, Carvalho CDS, Abdalla FC, Ceschi-Bertoli L, Moraes Utsunomiya HS, Henrique da Silva R, Salla RF, Jones-Costa M. Metabolic, immunologic, and histopathologic responses on premetamorphic American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) following exposure to lithium and selenium. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 270:116086. [PMID: 33248831 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2020.116086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The presence of chemicals and the destruction of freshwater habitats have been addressed as one of the reasons for the decline in the amphibians' populations worldwide. Considering the threat that these animals have been suffering in tropical regions, the present study tested if the Brazilian legislation, concerning the permissive levels of lithium and selenium in water bodies and effluents, warrants the protection of aquatic life. To do so, we assessed the metabolic, immunologic, and histopathologic alterations in liver samples of American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus), at the premetamorphic stage, through biomarkers indicative of general energetic status, i.e., glucose, lipid, and protein metabolism using biochemical and histochemical approaches. The immunologic responses were assessed by the quantification of melanomacrophage centres (MMCs); the histopathologic evaluation of the liver sections was also performed. The assay was carried out over 21 days with two periods of sampling (after 7 and 21 days) to assess the effects of exposure over time. The animals were exposed to the considered safe levels of lithium (2.5 mg L-1) and selenium (10 μg L-1), both, isolated and mixed. The exposed animals showed alterations in glucose and lipid metabolism throughout the experiment. The intense presence of MMCs and histopathological responses are compatible with hepatotoxicity. The toxicity expressed by the employed animal model indicates that the Brazilian environmental legislation for the protection of aquatic life needs to be updated. With this study, we intend to provide data for better environmental policies and bring attention to sublethal effects triggered by the presence of contaminants in the aquatic environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felipe Augusto Pinto-Vidal
- Laboratory of Physiology Conservation (LaFisC) - Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil; RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 753/5, Pavilion A29, 625 00 Brno, Czech Republic; Postgraduate Program of Biotechnology and Environmental Monitoring (PPGBMA) - Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Cleoni Dos Santos Carvalho
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Microbiology (LaBioM) - Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Fábio Camargo Abdalla
- Laboratory of Structural and Functional Biology (LaBEF) - Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Letícia Ceschi-Bertoli
- Laboratory of Structural and Functional Biology (LaBEF) - Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | - Raquel Fernanda Salla
- Laboratory of Natural History of Brazilian Amphibians (LaHNAB) - State University of Campinas, Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Monica Jones-Costa
- Laboratory of Physiology Conservation (LaFisC) - Federal University of São Carlos, Sorocaba, São Paulo, Brazil.
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11
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Zou R, Luo G, Fang C, Zhang H, Li Z, Hu H, Li X, Yao H. Modeling Study of Selenium Migration Behavior in Wet Flue Gas Desulfurization Spray Towers. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:16128-16137. [PMID: 33092341 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c04700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system is the core equipment for removing SO2 from coal-fired power plants, and it also has an important synergistic effect on the removal of selenium. However, the removal efficiency of Se across WFGD systems is not as expected, and it varies greatly in different coal-fired units (12.5-96%). In this study, a mathematical model was established to quantitatively describe the selenium migration behavior in WFGD spray towers, including the conversion of gaseous selenium to particulate selenium and the capture of gaseous SeO2 and particles by droplets. The calculation results show that the behavior of selenium in the spray tower can be divided into three stages: preparation, condensation, and removal. The condensation stage significantly affected the selenium distribution and its total removal efficiency. Furthermore, five factors which may affect the selenium behavior were investigated. Among them, the inlet particle size distribution and the droplet temperature had great impacts on the outlet selenium concentration, which may be the reason for the unstable selenium removal efficiencies. This study can help in understanding the migration process of selenium in WFGD spray towers and provide some guidance for the development of specific selenium control technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renjie Zou
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Guangqian Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Can Fang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Haoyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Zehua Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hongyun Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Xian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Hong Yao
- State Key Laboratory of Coal Combustion (SKLCC), School of Energy and Power Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
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12
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Wang H, Chen H, Chernick M, Li D, Ying GG, Yang J, Zheng N, Xie L, Hinton DE, Dong W. Selenomethionine exposure affects chondrogenic differentiation and bone formation in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2020; 387:121720. [PMID: 31812480 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.121720] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2019] [Revised: 11/07/2019] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Excess selenium entering the aquatic environment from anthropogenic activities has been associated with developmental abnormalities in fish including skeletal deformities of the head and spine. However, mechanisms of this developmental toxicity have not been well-characterized. In this study, Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) embryos were exposed to seleno-l-methionine (Se-Met) in a range of concentrations. Gene expression was evaluated for sex-determining region Y (SRY)-related box (Sox9a and Sox9b), runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and melatonin receptor (Mtr). Alterations in the length of Meckel's cartilage, tail curvature, and decreased calcification were observed in skeletal stains at 10- and 22-days post-fertilization (dpf). Embryonic exposure of Osterix-mCherry transgenic medaka resulted in fewer teeth. Sox9a and Sox9b were up-regulated, while Runx2 and Mtr were down-regulated by Se-Met prior to hatch. Whole mount in situ hybridization (WISH) localized gene expression to areas observed to be affected in vivo. In addition, Se-Met exposures of a Mtr morpholino (Mtr-MO) as well as Luzindole exposed embryos developed similar skeletal malformations, supporting involvement of Mtr. These findings demonstrate that Se-Met modulates expression of key genes involved in chondrogenic differentiation and bone formation during development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities/Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Toxicant Monitoring and Toxicology, Tongliao, 028000, China
| | - Hongxing Chen
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Melissa Chernick
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA
| | - Dan Li
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Guang-Guo Ying
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China
| | - Jingfeng Yang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities/Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Toxicant Monitoring and Toxicology, Tongliao, 028000, China
| | - Na Zheng
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA; Key Laboratory of Wetland Ecology and Environment, Northeast Institute of Geography and Agricultural Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130012, China
| | - Lingtian Xie
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, Guangzhou, 510006, China; School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, Guangzhou, 510006, China.
| | - David E Hinton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
| | - Wu Dong
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Inner Mongolia University for Nationalities/Inner Mongolia Key Laboratory of Toxicant Monitoring and Toxicology, Tongliao, 028000, China; Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708, USA.
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13
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Cianciolo TR, McLaughlin DL, Zipper CE, Timpano AJ, Soucek DJ, Whitmore KM, Schoenholtz SH. Selenium Bioaccumulation Across Trophic Levels and Along a Longitudinal Gradient in Headwater Streams. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2020; 39:692-704. [PMID: 31900941 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Revised: 09/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Toxic effects of selenium (Se) contamination in freshwaters have been well documented. However, study of Se contamination has focused on lentic and larger order lotic systems, whereas headwater streams have received little scrutiny. In central Appalachia, surface coal mining is a common Se source to headwater streams, thus providing a useful system to investigate Se bioaccumulation in headwater food chains and possible longitudinal patterns in Se concentrations. Toward that end, we assessed Se bioaccumulation in 2 reference and 4 mining-influenced headwater streams. At each stream, we sampled ecosystem media, including streamwater, particulate matter (sediment, biofilm, leaf detritus), benthic macroinvertebrates, salamanders, and fish, every 400 m along 1.2- and 1.6-km reaches. We compared media Se concentrations within and among streams and evaluated longitudinal trends in media Se concentrations. Selenium concentrations in sampled media were higher in mining-influenced streams compared with reference streams. We found the highest Se concentrations in benthic macroinvertebrates; however, salamanders and fish bioaccumulated Se to potentially harmful levels in mining-influenced streams. Only one stream demonstrated dilution of streamwater Se with distance downstream, and few longitudinal patterns in Se bioaccumulation occurred along our study reaches. Collectively, our results provide a field-based assessment of Se bioaccumulation in headwater food chains, from streamwater to fish, and highlight the need for future assessments of Se effects in headwater streams and receiving downstream waters. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:692-704. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas R Cianciolo
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Daniel L McLaughlin
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Carl E Zipper
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Anthony J Timpano
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - David J Soucek
- Illinois Natural History Survey, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Champaign, Illinois, USA
| | - Keridwen M Whitmore
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
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14
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Vengosh A, Cowan EA, Coyte RM, Kondash AJ, Wang Z, Brandt JE, Dwyer GS. Evidence for unmonitored coal ash spills in Sutton Lake, North Carolina: Implications for contamination of lake ecosystems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 686:1090-1103. [PMID: 31200305 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2019] [Revised: 05/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Coal combustion residuals (CCRs, also known as "coal ash") contain high concentrations of toxic and carcinogenic elements that can pose ecological and human health risks upon their release into the environment. About half of the CCRs that are generated annually in the U.S. are stored in coal ash impoundments and landfills, in most cases adjacent to coal plants and waterways. Leaking of coal ash ponds and CCR spills are major environmental concerns. One factor which may impact the safety of CCRs stored in impoundments and landfills is the storage area's predisposition to flooding. The southeastern U.S., in particular, has a large number of coal ash impoundments located in areas that are vulnerable to flooding. In order to test for the possible presence of CCR solids in lake sediments following Hurricane Florence, we analyzed the magnetic susceptibility, microscopic screening, trace element composition, and strontium isotope ratios of bottom sediments collected in 2015 and in 2018 from Sutton Lake in eastern North Carolina and compared them to a reference lake. The results suggest multiple, apparently previously unmonitored, CCR spills into Sutton Lake from adjacent CCR storage sites. The enrichment of metals in Sutton Lake sediments, particularly those with known ecological impact such as As, Se, Cu, Sb, Ni, Cd, V, and Tl, was similar to or even higher than those in stream sediments impacted by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) in Kingston, Tennessee, and the Dan River, North Carolina coal ash spills, and exceeded ecological screening standards for sediments. High levels of contaminants were also found in leachates extracted from Sutton Lake sediments and co-occurring pore water, reflecting their mobilization to the ambient environment. These findings highlight the risks of large-scale unmonitored spills of coal ash solids from storage facilities following major storm events and contamination of nearby water resources throughout the southeastern U.S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States.
| | - Ellen A Cowan
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC 28608, United States
| | - Rachel M Coyte
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Andrew J Kondash
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Zhen Wang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Jessica E Brandt
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
| | - Gary S Dwyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States
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15
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Zhang R, Wu F, Giesy JP. Tissue-based assessment of hazard posed by mercury and selenium to wild fishes in two shallow Chinese lakes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:15989-15999. [PMID: 30963435 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-04504-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Total (all forms of inorganic and organic) concentrations of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) were measured in dorsal muscle and eggs of wild fishes from two shallow lakes in China: Tai Lake (Ch: Taihu; TL) and Baiyangdian Lake (BYDL). Hazard quotients (HQs) were calculated by dividing concentrations of Se or Hg in muscle or eggs of fishes by threshold concentrations for effects expressed as tissue residue toxicity reference values (TR-TRVs). Concentrations of Hg in whole bodies of fishes were estimated by concentrations in muscle. Based on concentrations of Hg in whole body, HQs for fishes in TL and BYDL were less than 1.0, which suggests little to moderate potential for effects on these fishes and unaccepted adverse effects of Hg are unexpected for adult fishes. HQs of Se in muscle of common carp from TL were closed to 1.0, and 27% of HQs based on concentrations of Hg in eggs of fishes from BYDL exceeded 1.0. Potential hazard due to Hg on common carp in TL and reproductive effects of Se on fishes from BYDL exhibited need for concern. Ratios of molar concentrations of Se to Hg were greater than 1.0. Thus, there might be some protective effects of Se on effects of Hg on fishes in TL and BYDL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruiqing Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Inner Mongolia University, Hohhot, 010021, Inner Mongolia, China.
| | - Fengchang Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
| | - John P Giesy
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences and Toxicology Centre, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Zoology Department and Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
- Department of Environmental Science, Baylor University, Waco, TX, USA
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16
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Sun X, Gingerich DB, Azevedo IL, Mauter MS. Trace Element Mass Flow Rates from U.S. Coal Fired Power Plants. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:5585-5595. [PMID: 31074623 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b01039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Trace elements (TEs) exit coal-fired power plants (CFPPs) via solid, liquid, and gaseous waste streams. Estimating the TE concentrations of these waste streams is essential to selecting pollution controls and estimating emission reduction benefits. This work introduces a generalizable mass balance model for estimating TE mass flow rates in CFPP waste streams and evaluates model accuracy for the U.S. coal fleet given current data constraints. We stochastically estimate, using a bootstrapping approach, the 2015 plant-level mass flow rates of Hg, Se, As, and Cl to solid, liquid, and gas phase waste streams by combining publicly available data for combusted coal TE concentrations with estimates of TE partitioning within installed air pollution control processes. When compared with measured and reported data on TE mass flow rates, this model generally overestimates masses by 30-50%, with larger errors for Hg. The partitioning estimates are consistent for Se, As, and Cl removal from flue gas, but tend to underestimate Hg removal. While our model is suitable for first-order estimates of TE mass flows, future work to improve model performance should focus on collecting and using new data on TE concentrations in the coal blend, where data quality is the weakest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaodi Sun
- Department of Engineering and Public Policy , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Daniel B Gingerich
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- National Energy Technology Laboratory , Department of Energy , 626 Cochrans Mill Road , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15236 , United States
| | - Inês L Azevedo
- Department of Engineering and Public Policy , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
| | - Meagan S Mauter
- Department of Engineering and Public Policy , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
- National Energy Technology Laboratory , Department of Energy , 626 Cochrans Mill Road , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15236 , United States
- Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation , Carnegie Mellon University , 5000 Forbes Ave. , Pittsburgh Pennsylvania 15213 , United States
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17
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Brandt JE, Simonin M, Di Giulio RT, Bernhardt ES. Beyond Selenium: Coal Combustion Residuals Lead to Multielement Enrichment in Receiving Lake Food Webs. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:4119-4127. [PMID: 30893998 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b00324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Effluents from coal-fired power plant ash ponds are a major source of environmental contamination, annually loading more than a million metric tons of pollutants to aquatic ecosystems in the United States alone. Though this waste stream is characterized by elevated concentrations of numerous inorganic constituents, decades of previous research effort have focused on the ecotoxicological consequences of a single stressor: selenium. In this study, we compared concentrations of 10 trace elements among three North Carolina reservoirs with varying burdens following decades of coal combustion residual (CCR) inputs. Along this pollution gradient, we examined (1) environmental compartment-specific trace element enrichment relative to reference lake levels and (2) differences in CCR accumulation patterns among abiotic and biotic compartments. We report significant multivariate differences between CCR-receiving and reference lakes for surface water, pore water, sediment, and fish tissues as well as differences in CCR accumulation among North Carolina resident fish species. Multiple-element enrichment across receiving lake compartments additionally highlighted that CCR pollution is a mixtures contamination issue. Our results inform the ongoing discussion about effective regulation of impaired water bodies and identify important questions that might guide the monitoring of these systems as they recover.
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18
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Naderi M, Ferrari MCO, Chivers DP, Niyogi S. Maternal Exposure to Dietary Selenium Causes Dopaminergic Hyperfunction and Cognitive Impairment in Zebrafish Offspring. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:13574-13583. [PMID: 30335985 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b04768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Maternal exposure to environmental contaminants is a predisposing factor for neurodevelopmental disorders with associated cognitive and social deficits in offspring. In this study, we investigated the effects of maternal exposure to selenium (Se), a contaminant of potential environmental concern in aquatic ecosystems, on cognitive performance and the underlying mechanisms in F1-generation adult zebrafish. Adult female zebrafish were exposed to different concentrations of dietary Se (3.5, 11.1, or 27.4 μg Se/g dry weight) for a period of 60 days. Fish were subsequently bred, and their offspring were collected and raised for 6 months on a normal diet. Maternal exposure to all concentrations of dietary Se induced learning impairment in F1-zebrafish tested in a latent learning task. The results also showed a hyperfunctioning dopaminergic system in fish exhibiting the learning deficit. The hyperfunction of the dopaminergic system was associated with enhanced oxidative stress and alterations in the mRNA abundance of several immediate early and late response genes in the zebrafish brain. Taken together, these results suggest that maternal exposure to dietary Se via alterations in the dopaminergic system leads to persistent neurobehavioral deficits in F1-generation adult zebrafish.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Naderi
- Department of Biology , University of Saskatchewan , 112 Science Place , Saskatoon , SK S7N 5E2 , Canada
| | - Maud C O Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences , University of Saskatchewan , 52 Campus Drive , Saskatoon , SK S7N 5B4 , Canada
| | - Douglas P Chivers
- Department of Biology , University of Saskatchewan , 112 Science Place , Saskatoon , SK S7N 5E2 , Canada
| | - Som Niyogi
- Department of Biology , University of Saskatchewan , 112 Science Place , Saskatoon , SK S7N 5E2 , Canada
- Toxicology Centre , University of Saskatchewan , 44 Campus Drive , Saskatoon , SK S7N 5B3 , Canada
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19
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Pokrovsky OS, Bueno M, Manasypov RM, Shirokova LS, Karlsson J, Amouroux D. Dissolved Organic Matter Controls Seasonal and Spatial Selenium Concentration Variability in Thaw Lakes across a Permafrost Gradient. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2018; 52:10254-10262. [PMID: 30148609 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b00918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Little is known about the sources and processing of selenium, an important toxicant and essential micronutrient, within boreal and sub-arctic environments. Upon climate warming and permafrost thaw, the behavior of Se in northern peatlands becomes an issue of major concern, because a sizable amount of Se can be emitted to the atmosphere from thawing soils and inland water surfaces and exported to downstream waters, thus impacting the Arctic biota. Working toward providing a first-order assessment of spatial and temporal variation of Se concentration in thermokarst waters of the largest frozen peatland in the world, we sampled thaw lakes and rivers across a 750-km latitudinal profile. This profile covered sporadic, discontinuous, and continuous permafrost regions of western Siberia Lowland (WSL), where we measured dissolved (<0.45 μm) Se concentration during spring (June), summer (August), and autumn (September). We found maximum Se concentration in the discontinuous permafrost zone. Considering all sampled lakes, Se exhibited linear relationship ( R2 = 0.7 to 0.9, p < 0.05, n ≈ 70) with dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration during summer and autumn. Across the permafrost gradient, the lakes in discontinuous permafrost regions demonstrated stronger relationship with DOC and UV-absorbance compared to lakes in sporadic/isolated and continuous permafrost zones. Both seasonal and spatial features of Se distribution in thermokarst lakes and ponds suggest that Se is mainly released during thawing of frozen peat. Mobilization and immobilization of Se within peat-lake-river watersheds likely occurs as organic and organo-Fe, Al colloids, probably associated with reduced and elemental Se forms. The increase of active layer thickness may enhance leaching of Se in the form of organic complexes with aromatic carbon from the deep horizons of the peat profile. Further, the northward shift of permafrost boundaries in WSL may sizably increase Se concentration in lakes of continuous permafrost zone.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oleg S Pokrovsky
- Geoscience and Environment Toulouse, UMR 5563 CNRS , University of Toulouse , 31400 Toulouse , France
| | - Maite Bueno
- CNRS/UNIV PAU & PAYS ADOUR , Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, UMR5254 , 64000 , Pau , France
| | - Rinat M Manasypov
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, IEPS , Russian Academy of Science , 16300 Arkhangelsk , Russia
- BIO-GEO-CLIM Laboratory , Tomsk State University , 634050 Tomsk , Russia
| | - Liudmila S Shirokova
- Geoscience and Environment Toulouse, UMR 5563 CNRS , University of Toulouse , 31400 Toulouse , France
- N. Laverov Federal Center for Integrated Arctic Research, IEPS , Russian Academy of Science , 16300 Arkhangelsk , Russia
| | - Jan Karlsson
- Climate Impacts Research Centre (CIRC), Department of Ecology and Environmental Science , Umeå University , 901 87 Umeå , Sweden
| | - David Amouroux
- CNRS/UNIV PAU & PAYS ADOUR , Institut des Sciences Analytiques et de Physico-Chimie pour l'Environnement et les Matériaux, UMR5254 , 64000 , Pau , France
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20
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Johnson TKB, LePrevost CE, Kwak TJ, Cope WG. Selenium, Mercury, and Their Molar Ratio in Sportfish from Drinking Water Reservoirs. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15091864. [PMID: 30158428 PMCID: PMC6164800 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15091864] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulates in aquatic ecosystems and may pose a risk to humans who consume fish. Selenium (Se) has the ability to reduce Hg toxicity, but the current guidance for human consumption of fish is based on Hg concentration alone. The purpose of the present study was to examine the relationship between Se and Hg in freshwater sportfish, for which there is a paucity of existing data. We collected three species of fish from different trophic positions from two drinking water reservoirs in central North Carolina, USA, to assess Hg and Se concentrations in relation to fish total length and to compare two measures of the protective ability of Se, the Se:Hg molar ratio and Se health benefit value (HBVSe), to current guidance for Hg. According to the Se:Hg molar ratio, all of the low trophic position fish sampled and the middle trophic position fish sampled from one of the reservoirs were safe for consumption. The same number of fish were considered safe using the HBVSe. More fish were deemed unsafe when using the Se:Hg molar ratio and HBVSe than were considered unsafe when using the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Hg threshold. These findings suggest that the measures of Se protection may be unnecessarily conservative or that the USEPA Hg threshold may not be sufficiently protective of human health, especially the health of sensitive populations like pregnant or nursing mothers and young children. Future examination of the Se:Hg molar ratio and HBVSe from a variety of fish tissue samples would help refine the accuracy of these measures so that they may be appropriately utilized in ecological and human health risk assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara K B Johnson
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Catherine E LePrevost
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - Thomas J Kwak
- U.S. Geological Survey, North Carolina Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
| | - W Gregory Cope
- Department of Applied Ecology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27695, USA.
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21
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Shahid M, Niazi NK, Khalid S, Murtaza B, Bibi I, Rashid MI. A critical review of selenium biogeochemical behavior in soil-plant system with an inference to human health. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2018; 234:915-934. [PMID: 29253832 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2017.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 12/06/2017] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Selenium (Se) is an essential trace element for humans and animals, although controversial for different plant species. There exists a narrow line between essential, beneficial and toxic levels of Se to living organisms which greatly varies with Se speciation, as well as the type of living organisms. Therefore, it is crucial to monitor its solid- and solution-phase speciation, exposure levels and pathways to living organisms. Consumption of Se-laced food (cereals, vegetables, legumes and pulses) is the prime source of Se exposure to humans. Thus, it is imperative to assess the biogeochemical behavior of Se in soil-plant system with respect to applied levels and speciation, which ultimately affect Se status in humans. Based on available relevant literature, this review traces a plausible link among (i) Se levels, sources, speciation, bioavailability, and effect of soil chemical properties on selenium bioavailability/speciation in soil; (ii) role of different protein transporters in soil-root-shoot transfer of Se; and (iii) speciation, metabolism, phytotoxicity and detoxification of Se inside plants. The toxic and beneficial effects of Se to plants have been discussed with respect to speciation and toxic/deficient concentration of Se. We highlight the significance of various enzymatic (catalase, peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione peroxidase) and non-enzymatic (phytochelatins and glutathione) antioxidants which help combat Se-induced overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The review also delineates Se accumulation in edible plant parts from soils containing low or high Se levels; elucidates associated health disorders or risks due to the consumption of Se-deficient or Se-rich foods; discusses the potential role of Se in different human disorders/diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shahid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari 61100, Pakistan.
| | - Nabeel Khan Niazi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; MARUM and Department of Geosciences, University of Bremen, Bremen, D-28359, Germany; Southern Cross GeoScience, Southern Cross University, Lismore 2480, NSW, Australia.
| | - Sana Khalid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari 61100, Pakistan
| | - Behzad Murtaza
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari 61100, Pakistan
| | - Irshad Bibi
- Institute of Soil and Environmental Sciences, University of Agriculture Faisalabad, Faisalabad 38040, Pakistan; Southern Cross GeoScience, Southern Cross University, Lismore 2480, NSW, Australia
| | - Muhammad Imtiaz Rashid
- Department of Environmental Sciences, COMSATS Institute of Information Technology, Vehari 61100, Pakistan; Center of Excellence in Environmental Studies, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 21589, Saudi Arabia
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