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Zhao B, O'Connor D, Huang Y, Hou R, Cai L, Jin Y, Wang P, Zhang H. An integrated framework for source apportionment and spatial distribution of mercury in agricultural soil near a primary ore mining site. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 353:141556. [PMID: 38412890 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.141556] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 02/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) is a global environmental concern that affects both humans and ecosystem. The comprehensive understanding of sources and dynamics is crucial for facilitating targeted and effective control strategies. Herein, a robust approach integrating Multivariate Statistics, Geostatistics, and Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) was employed to quantitatively elucidate the distribution and sources of Hg in agricultural lands. Results indicated elevated Hg concentrations in the land with 74.46% of soils, including 84.85% of topsoil, 69.70% of subsoil, and 67.31% of deepsoil, exceeding risk screening value. Geoaccumulation Index of Hg in soil surpassed level Ⅱ with more than 50% of Hg in the residual fraction regardless of the layer or location. The levels of Hg in surface water for irrigation exhibited a negative correlation with the distance from the mine and a positive correlation with that in sediment (R2>0.78, p < 0.01), suggesting the downstream migration and remobilization from sediment. Source apportion revealed that human activities as primary contributors despite high variability across locations and soil layers. Contributions to downstream soil Hg from Natural Background (NB), Primary Ore Mining (OM), Agricultural Practices (AP), and Wastewater Irrigation (WI) were 15.5%, 83.1%, 1.3%, and 0.1%, respectively. A reliable approach for source apportionment of Hg in soil was suggested, demonstrating potential applicability in the risk management of Hg-contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Zhao
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 510650, Guangzhou, China; School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China; Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Department of Environmental Sciences, 5003, N-1432 Ås, Norway.
| | - David O'Connor
- School of Real Estate and Land Management, Royal Agricultural University, Stroud Rd, Cirencester, GL7 6JS, United Kingdom
| | - Yao Huang
- Guangdong Key Laboratory of Integrated Agro-environmental Pollution Control and Management, Institute of Eco-environmental and Soil Sciences, Guangdong Academy of Sciences, 510650, Guangzhou, China
| | - Renjie Hou
- School of Water Conservancy and Civil Engineering, Northeast Agricultural University, 150030, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China
| | - Linying Cai
- Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 100012, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanliang Jin
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China
| | - Pei Wang
- College of Tropical Crops, Hainan University, Haikou, 570228, China
| | - Hao Zhang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China; Technical Centre for Soil, Agriculture and Rural Ecology and Environment, Ministry of Ecology and Environment, 100012, Beijing, China.
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2
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Kim YG, Kwon SY, Washburn SJ, Hong Y, Han SH, Lee M, Park JH. Environmental forensics approach to source investigation in a mercury contaminated river: Insights from mercury stable isotopes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 461:132559. [PMID: 37729710 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132559] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023]
Abstract
Environmental forensics approach was applied to assess the efficacy of mercury (Hg) stable isotopes for source screening and decision-making in the Hyeongsan River, South Korea. Four Hg contamination scenarios were identified- atmospheric Hg emissions from a steel manufacturing industry, upstream riverine Hg transport, and industrial Hg releases and historical landfill collapse from Gumu Creek. The absence of significant Hg isotope difference between the Hyeongsan River sediments (δ202Hg; -0.46 ± 0.17‰, Δ199Hg; -0.04 ± 0.06‰) and the Gumu Creek sediment (δ202Hg; -0.39 ± 0.26‰, Δ199Hg; -0.04 ± 0.03‰) confirm that Hg source is originated from Gumu Creek. The heterogeneous Hg distribution throughout Gumu Creek and statistically similar Hg isotope ratios between Gumu Creek and solid waste cores from the landfill suggests that the landfill collapse is the dominant source to the Hyeongsan-Gumu system. Present Hg releases is also possible given the elevated and matching Δ199Hg between some riverine sediments and wastewater sampled from the landfill. The ternary mixing model estimates that the landfill collapse and wastewater releases contribute 61 ± 25 % and 22 ± 11 %, and the regional background, reflecting terrestrial runoff using deep sediment cores, explain 17 ± 24 % of Hg to the riverine sediment. We suggest that Hg isotopes can be used for routine source screening in areas where Hg sources are unknown.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Gwang Kim
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-Ro, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon 21983, South Korea.
| | - Spencer J Washburn
- Geosyntec Consultants, Inc., 100 Washington Ave. S, Suite 1590, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA
| | - Yongseok Hong
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-Ro, Sejong City 30019, South Korea
| | - Seung Hee Han
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 123 Cheomdangwagi-Ro, Buk-Gu, Gwangju 61005, South Korea
| | - Mikyung Lee
- Water Environmental Engineering Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42 Hwangyeong-Ro, Seo-Gu, Incheon 22689, South Korea
| | - Ji Hyoung Park
- Water Environmental Engineering Research Division, National Institute of Environmental Research, 42 Hwangyeong-Ro, Seo-Gu, Incheon 22689, South Korea
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3
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Kim YG, Kwon SY, Washburn SJ, Brooks SC, Yoon JW, Besnard L. Reconsidering mercury sources and exposure pathways to bivalves: Insights from mercury stable isotopes. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 248:120843. [PMID: 37976947 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120843] [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: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Identifying mercury (Hg) sources and exposure pathways to bivalves, particularly in relation to sediment, is important for expanding the utility of bivalves as a monitoring organism for sediment quality. Here we use Hg isotope ratios to decipher Hg sources accumulated into bivalves by conducting field studies and in situ experiments. In the first part of this study, we characterized Hg isotope ratios in individual geochemical fractions of riverine sediment, contaminated by liquid Hg in South Korea (Hyeongsan River; HS). Asian clams (Corbicula fluminea) were then deployed at the contaminated sites to evaluate the isotopic turnover. Over the two-month period, the isotope ratios of the clams shifted toward the labile/exchangeable Hg pools (F1, F2 fractions) of the sediment. Conversely, in the control site where sediment Hg is low, we observed similar Hg isotope ratios between Asian clams and the samples of precipitation and dissolved phase of water column. In East Fork Poplar Creek, (Oak Ridge) U.S., Asian clams also displayed similar Hg isotope ratios with the dissolved phase of water column, which have undergone substantial in-stream processing or input from Hg-contaminated groundwater from the hyporheic zones and riparian tributary during high hydrologic flow seasons. Our study demonstrates that the dissolved Hg phases within the water column, whether originating via sediment diffusion or derived externally, act as the primary source and exposure pathways to bivalves. The results of our study also shed new light to the prior Hg isotope measurement in bivalves collected from estuarine, lake, and coastal systems, which showed significant isotopic deviation from bulk sediment. The fact that bivalves are sensitive to in situ and external dissolved Hg phases provides additional insight into the existing biomonitoring program, which uses bivalves as a bioindicator for sediment quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Young Gwang Kim
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-Ro, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon 21983, Republic of Korea.
| | - Spencer J Washburn
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States
| | - Scott C Brooks
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, 1 Bethel Valley Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, United States
| | - Ji Won Yoon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
| | - Lucien Besnard
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, Republic of Korea
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4
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Kumar Chaudhary D, Bajagain R, Seo D, Hong Y, Han S. Depth-dependent microbial communities potentially mediating mercury methylation and various geochemical processes in anthropogenically affected sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 237:116888. [PMID: 37586452 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.116888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2023] [Revised: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
Metal contamination and other geochemical alterations affect microbial composition and functional activities, disturbing natural biogeochemical cycles. Therefore, it is essential to understand the influences of multi-metal and geochemical interactions on microbial communities. This work investigated the distributions of total mercury (THg), methylmercury (MeHg), and trace metals in the anthropogenically affected sediment. The microbial communities and functional genes profiles were further determined to explore their association with Hg-methylation and geochemical features. The levels of THg and MeHg in sediment cores ranged between 10 and 40 mg/kg and 0.01-0.16 mg/kg, respectively, with an increasing trend toward bottom horizons. The major metals present at all depths were Al, Fe, Mn, and Zn. The enrichment and contamination indices confirmed that the trace metals were highly enriched in the anthropogenically affected sediment. Various functional genes were detected in all strata, indicating the presence of active microbial metabolic processes. The microbial community profiles revealed that the phyla Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Bathyarchaeota, and Euryarchaeota, and the genera Thauera, Woeseia, Methanomethylovorans, and Methanosarcina were the dominant microbes. Correlating major taxa with geochemical variables inferred that sediment geochemistry substantially affects microbial community and biogeochemical cycles. Furthermore, archaeal methanogens and the bacterial phyla Chloroflexi and Firmicutes may play crucial roles in enhancing MeHg levels. Overall, these findings shed new light on the microbial communities potentially involved in Hg-methylation process and other biogeochemical cycles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhiraj Kumar Chaudhary
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Rishikesh Bajagain
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - DongGyun Seo
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City, 30019, Republic of Korea
| | - Yongseok Hong
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University Sejong Campus, 2511 Sejong-ro, Sejong City, 30019, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seunghee Han
- School of Earth Sciences and Environmental Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju, 61005, Republic of Korea
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5
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Hu J, Zheng L, Liu S, Chen Y, Li C, Ni J, Chen Y, An S. Quantifying the impacts of coal mining activities on topsoil using Hg stable isotope: A case study of Guqiao mining area, Huainan City. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 335:122378. [PMID: 37586683 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122378] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 07/30/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
The Hg released from coal mining activities can endanger soil ecosystems and pose a risk to human health. Understanding the accumulation characteristics of mercury (Hg) in coal mining soil is important for effectively controlling Hg emissions and developing measures for the prevention and control of Hg contamination. To identify the potential sources of Hg in soils, the Hg concentration and isotopic composition characteristics of raw coal and different topsoil types from the areas surrounding a coal mine were determined in this study. The results showed that Hg in coal mainly exists mainly in the form of inorganic Hg, and Hg has experienced Hg2+ photoreduction prior to incorporating into coal. In addition, the composition of Hg isotopes differed significantly among different topsoil types, and the δ202Hg value of the farmland soil exhibited large negative excursions compared to the coal mining soil. The ternary mixed model further revealed the presence of substantial differences in potential Hg sources among the two regions, with the coal mining soil being greatly disturbed by anthropogenic activity, and the relative contributions of Hg from raw coal, coal gangue, and background soil to coal mining soil being 33.42%, 34.4%, and 32.19%, respectively. However, Hg from raw coal, coal gangue and background soil contributed 17.04%, 21.46%, and 61.51% of the Hg in the farmland soil, indicating that the accumulation of Hg in farmland soil was derived primarily from the background soil. Our study demonstrated that secondary pollution in soil caused by immense accumulation of solid waste (gangue) by mining activities offers a significant challenge to ecological security. These findings provide new insights into controlling soil Hg in mining areas and further highlight the urgency of strict protective measures for contaminated sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Hu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Liugen Zheng
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China.
| | - Sikui Liu
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Yeyu Chen
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Chang Li
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Jincheng Ni
- School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Anhui University, Anhui Province Engineering Laboratory for Mine Ecological Remediation, Hefei, 230601, Anhui, China
| | - Yongchun Chen
- National Engineering Laboratory of Coal Mine Ecological Environment Protection, Huainan, 232001, Anhui, China
| | - Shikai An
- National Engineering Laboratory of Coal Mine Ecological Environment Protection, Huainan, 232001, Anhui, China
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6
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Wang Z, Dai S, Cowan EA, Dietrich M, Schlesinger WH, Wu Q, Zhou M, Seramur KC, Das D, Vengosh A. Isotopic Signatures and Outputs of Lead from Coal Fly Ash Disposal in China, India, and the United States. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:12259-12269. [PMID: 37556313 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/11/2023]
Abstract
Despite extensive research and technology to reduce the atmospheric emission of Pb from burning coal for power generation, minimal attention has been paid to Pb associated with coal ash disposal in the environment. This study investigates the isotopic signatures and output rates of Pb in fly ash disposal in China, India, and the United States. Pairwise comparison between feed coal and fly ash samples collected from coal-fired power plants from each country shows that the Pb isotope composition of fly ash largely resembles that of feed coal, and its isotopic distinction allows for tracing the release of Pb from coal fly ash into the environment. Between 2000 and 2020, approx. 236, 56, and 46 Gg Pb from fly ash have been disposed in China, India, and the U.S., respectively, posing a significant environmental burden. A Bayesian Pb isotope mixing model shows that during the past 40 to 70 years, coal fly ash has contributed significantly higher Pb (∼26%) than leaded gasoline (∼7%) to Pb accumulation in the sediments of five freshwater lakes in North Carolina, U.S.A. This implies that the release of disposed coal fly ash Pb at local and regional scales can outweigh that of other anthropogenic Pb sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Shifeng Dai
- College of Geoscience and Survey Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Ellen A Cowan
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, United States
| | - Matthew Dietrich
- The Polis Center, IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202, United States
| | - William H Schlesinger
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Qingru Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Tsinghua University 100084 Beijing, China
| | - Mingxuan Zhou
- College of Geoscience and Survey Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Keith C Seramur
- Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Appalachian State University, Boone, North Carolina 28608, United States
| | - Debabrata Das
- Department of Geology, Panjab University, Chandigarh 160014, India
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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7
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Deonarine A, Schwartz GE, Ruhl LS. Environmental Impacts of Coal Combustion Residuals: Current Understanding and Future Perspectives. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1855-1869. [PMID: 36693217 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c06094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
On-site solid-waste impoundments, landfills, and receiving water bodies have served as long-term disposal sites for coal combustion residuals (CCRs) across the United States for decades and collectively contain billions of tons of CCR material. CCR components include fine particulate material, minerals, and trace elements such as mercury, arsenic, selenium, lead, etc., which can have deleterious effects on ecosystem functioning and public health. Effects on communities can occur through consumption of drinking water, fish, and other aquatic organisms. The structural failure of impoundments, water infiltration, leakage from impoundments due to poor construction and monitoring, and CCR effluent discharges to water bodies have in the past resulted in harmful environmental impacts. Moreover, the risks posed by CCRs are present to this day, as coal continues to account for 11% of the energy production in the United States. In this Critical Review, the legacy of CCR disposal and the concomitant risks posed to public health and ecosystems are assessed. The resiliency of CCR disposal sites in the context of increased frequency and intensity of storm events and other hazards, such as floods and earthquakes, is also evaluated. We discuss the current state of knowledge on the environmental fate of CCR-derived elements, as well as advances in and limitations of analytical tools, which can improve the current understanding of CCR environmental impacts in order to mitigate the associated risks. An assessment of the 2015 Coal Ash Final Rule is also presented, along with needs to improve monitoring of CCR disposal sites and regulatory enforcement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrika Deonarine
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, Texas Tech University, 911 Boston Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79401, United States
| | - Grace E Schwartz
- Department of Chemistry, Wofford College, Spartanburg, South Carolina 29303, United States
| | - Laura S Ruhl
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Arkansas Little Rock, Little Rock, Arkansas 72204, United States
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8
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McLagan DS, Schwab L, Wiederhold JG, Chen L, Pietrucha J, Kraemer SM, Biester H. Demystifying mercury geochemistry in contaminated soil-groundwater systems with complementary mercury stable isotope, concentration, and speciation analyses. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1406-1429. [PMID: 34981096 PMCID: PMC9491299 DOI: 10.1039/d1em00368b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Interpretation of mercury (Hg) geochemistry in environmental systems remains a challenge. This is largely associated with the inability to identify specific Hg transformation processes and species using established analytical methods in Hg geochemistry (total Hg and Hg speciation). In this study, we demonstrate the improved Hg geochemical interpretation, particularly related to process tracing, that can be achieved when Hg stable isotope analyses are complemented by a suite of more established methods and applied to both solid- (soil) and liquid-phases (groundwater) across two Hg2+-chloride (HgCl2) contaminated sites with distinct geological and physicochemical properties. This novel approach allowed us to identify processes such as Hg2+ (i.e., HgCl2) sorption to the solid-phase, Hg2+ speciation changes associated with changes in groundwater level and redox conditions (particularly in the upper aquifer and capillary fringe), Hg2+ reduction to Hg0, and dark abiotic redox equilibration between Hg0 and Hg(II). Hg stable isotope analyses play a critical role in our ability to distinguish, or trace, these in situ processes. While we caution against the non-critical use of Hg isotope data for source tracing in environmental systems, due to potentially variable source signatures and overprinting by transformation processes, our study demonstrates the benefits of combining multiple analytical approaches, including Hg isotope ratios as a process tracer, to obtain an improved picture of the enigmatic geochemical behavior and fate of Hg at contaminated legacy sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- D S McLagan
- Institute for Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
- Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, Toronto, M1C1A4, Canada
| | - L Schwab
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - J G Wiederhold
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - L Chen
- Institute for Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - J Pietrucha
- Institute for Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
| | - S M Kraemer
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, Centre for Microbiology and Environmental Systems Science, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - H Biester
- Institute for Geoecology, Technical University of Braunschweig, 38106 Braunschweig, Germany.
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9
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Li ML, Kwon SY, Poulin BA, Tsui MTK, Motta LC, Cho M. Internal Dynamics and Metabolism of Mercury in Biota: A Review of Insights from Mercury Stable Isotopes. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2022; 56:9182-9195. [PMID: 35723432 PMCID: PMC9261262 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c08631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring mercury (Hg) levels in biota is considered an important objective for the effectiveness evaluation of the Minamata Convention. While many studies have characterized Hg levels in organisms at multiple spatiotemporal scales, concentration analyses alone often cannot provide sufficient information on the Hg exposure sources and internal processes occurring within biota. Here, we review the decadal scientific progress of using Hg isotopes to understand internal processes that modify the speciation, transport, and fate of Hg within biota. Mercury stable isotopes have emerged as a powerful tool for assessing Hg sources and biogeochemical processes in natural environments. A better understanding of the tissue location and internal mechanisms leading to Hg isotope change is key to assessing its use for biomonitoring. We synthesize the current understanding and uncertainties of internal processes leading to Hg isotope fractionation in a variety of biota, in a sequence of better to less studied organisms (i.e., birds, marine mammals, humans, fish, plankton, and invertebrates). This review discusses the opportunities and challenges of using certain forms of biota for Hg source monitoring and the need to further elucidate the physiological mechanisms that control the accumulation, distribution, and toxicity of Hg in biota by coupling new techniques with Hg stable isotopes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mi-Ling Li
- School
of Marine Science and Policy, University
of Delaware, 201 Robinson Hall, Newark, Delaware 19716, United
States
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division
of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro,
Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea
- Institute
for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-Ro, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon 21983, South Korea
| | - Brett A. Poulin
- Department
of Environmental Toxicology, University
of California Davis, One Shields Avenue, Davis, California 95616, United States
| | - Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui
- School
of Life Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Agrobiotechnology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, N.T., Hong Kong SAR 999077, China
| | - Laura C. Motta
- Department
of Chemistry, University at Buffalo, 359 Natural Sciences Complex, Buffalo, New York 14260-3000, United States
| | - Moonkyoung Cho
- Division
of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro,
Nam-Gu, Pohang 37673, South Korea
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10
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Zhang CH, Sears L, Myers JV, Brock GN, Sears CG, Zierold KM. Proximity to coal-fired power plants and neurobehavioral symptoms in children. JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE & ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY 2022; 32:124-134. [PMID: 34257388 PMCID: PMC8275639 DOI: 10.1038/s41370-021-00369-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coal-fired power plants are a major source of air pollution that can impact children's health. Limited research has explored if proximity to coal-fired power plants contributes to children's neurobehavioral disorders. OBJECTIVE This community-based study collected primary data to investigate the relationships of residential proximity to power plants and neurobehavioral problems in children. METHODS 235 participants aged 6-14 years who lived within 10 miles of two power plants were recruited. Exposure to particulate matter ≤10 μm (PM10) was measured in children's homes using personal modular impactors. Neurobehavioral symptoms were assessed using the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). Multiple regression models were performed to test the hypothesized associations between proximity/exposure and neurobehavioral symptoms. Geospatial statistical methods were used to map the spatial patterns of exposure and neurobehavioral symptoms. RESULTS A small proportion of the variations of neurobehavioral problems (social problems, affective problems, and anxiety problems) were explained by the regression models in which distance to power plants, traffic proximity, and neighborhood poverty was statistically associated with the neurobehavioral health outcomes. Statistically significant hot spots of participants who had elevated levels of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, anxiety, and social problems were observed in the vicinity of the two power plants. SIGNIFICANCE Results of this study suggest an adverse impact of proximity to power plants on children's neurobehavioral health. Although coal-fired power plants are being phased out in the US, health concern about exposure from coal ash storage facilities remains. Furthermore, other countries in the world are increasing coal use and generating millions of tons of pollutants and coal ash. Findings from this study can inform public health policies to reduce children's risk of neurobehavioral symptoms in relation to proximity to power plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlie H Zhang
- Department of Geography & Geosciences, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - Lonnie Sears
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA
| | - John V Myers
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Guy N Brock
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Center for Biostatistics, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Clara G Sears
- Department of Epidemiology, Brown University, Providence, RI, USA
| | - Kristina M Zierold
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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11
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Jung S, Kwon SY, Hong Y, Yin R, Motta LC. Isotope investigation of mercury sources in a creek impacted by multiple anthropogenic activities. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 282:130947. [PMID: 34119733 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.130947] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2021] [Revised: 05/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
To investigate mercury (Hg) sources responsible for contamination at Gumu Creek in South Korea, Hg concentration (THg) and Hg isotope ratios were measured in the soil and sediment of Gumu Creek and the samples from a hazardous waste landfill (HWL). The THg ranged between 0.29-327 mg kg-1 and 9.5-414 mg kg-1 in the soil and sediment, respectively, reflecting heterogeneous distribution and elevated levels across the entire Gumu Creek. Without the soil with the lowest THg (0.30 ± 0.01 mg kg-1, n = 3), the δ202Hg (-0.83 to -0.18‰) and Δ199Hg (-0.24 to 0.01‰) of the sediment and soil of Gumu Creek were within the ranges of the HWL samples (δ202Hg; -1.29 to -0.38‰, Δ199Hg; -0.31 to 0.01‰). The comparison with the literature reporting sediment Hg isotope ratios impacted by various anthropogenic Hg sources revealed a presence of diverse Hg sources at Gumu Creek, including commercial liquid Hg, phenyl-Hg, and fly ash, consistent with the types of waste deposited within the HWL. Using commercial liquid Hg, fly ash, and the soil with the lowest THg as end-members, the ternary mixing model yielded 25-88% and 12-57% contributions from commercial liquid Hg and fly ash to the Gumu Creek sediment, respectively. The results of our study suggest that Hg isotope ratios are an effective tool for screening potential Hg sources at sites where the distribution of Hg is heterogeneous and multiple anthropogenic activities exist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saebom Jung
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, 37673, South Korea; Institute for Convergence Research and Education in Advanced Technology, Yonsei University, 85 Songdogwahak-Ro, Yeonsu-Gu, Incheon, 21983, South Korea.
| | - Yongseok Hong
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Korea University, 2511 Sejong-Ro, Sejong City, 30019, South Korea
| | - Runsheng Yin
- State Key Laboratory of Ore Deposit Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 550081, Guiyang, China
| | - Laura C Motta
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, 77 Cheongam-Ro, Nam-Gu, Pohang, 37673, South Korea
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12
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Wang Z, Coyte RM, Cowan EA, Stapleton HM, Dwyer GS, Vengosh A. Evaluation and Integration of Geochemical Indicators for Detecting Trace Levels of Coal Fly Ash in Soils. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:10387-10397. [PMID: 34282893 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c01215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Coal combustion residuals (CCRs), in particular, coal fly ash, are one of the major industrial solid wastes in the U.S., and due to their high concentrations of toxic elements, they could pose environmental and human health risks. Yet detecting coal fly ash in the environment is challenging given its small particle size. Here, we explore the utility and sensitivity of using geochemical indicators (trace elements, Ra nuclides, and Pb stable isotopes), combined with physical observation by optical point counting, for detecting the presence of trace levels of coal fly ash particles in surface soils near two coal-fired power plants in North Carolina and Tennessee. Through experimental work, mixing models, and field data, we show that trace elements can serve as a first-order detection tool for fly ash presence in surface soils; however, the accuracy and sensitivity of detection is limited for cases with low fly ash proportion (i.e., <10%) in the soil, which requires the integration of more robust Ra and Pb isotopic tracers. This study revealed the presence of fly ash particles in surface soils from both the recreational and residential areas, which suggests the fugitive emission of fly ash from the nearby coal-fired power plants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Wang
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Rachel M Coyte
- 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
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Gary S Dwyer
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Avner Vengosh
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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13
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Ku P, Tsui MTK, Liu S, Corson KB, Williams AS, Monteverde MR, Woerndle GE, Hershey AE, Rublee PA. Examination of mercury contamination from a recent coal ash spill into the Dan River, North Carolina, United States. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2021; 208:111469. [PMID: 33091769 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2020.111469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2020] [Revised: 10/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Coal ash spills occasionally occur due to the accidental failure of surface impoundments, and toxic metal-laden ash can pose a serious health threat to adjacent aquatic ecosystems. Here, we performed an investigation into longitudinal variations of mercury (Hg) contamination in the Dan River (North Carolina, United States) about 17 and 29 months after a February 2014 coal ash spill incident, in which the reported Hg concentrations in the spilled coal ash (210 ng/g) were 1-2 orders of magnitude higher than the river sediments (2-61 ng/g). We examined total Hg (THg) and methyl Hg (MeHg) in sediments from 0 to 65 km downstream of the spill, and found that most of the variations of THg and MeHg in surface sediments (0-16 cm) could be well accounted by the organic matter content and appeared to be not contaminated by Hg derived from coal ash. In examining MeHg bioaccumulation in invertebrates (aquatic and riparian) and fish in the Dan River and fish in a reservoir downstream of Dan River, we found no evidence of elevated MeHg bioaccumulation due to the 2014 coal ash spill. Thus, we concluded that Hg contamination from the coal ash spill is largely absent in the Dan River for both surface sediments and biota within the first three years of spill (until 2017), even though the majority of coal ash may be buried deeper in the sediment in the river channel and/or the downstream reservoir. Alternatively, the Hg associated with the coal ash is largely not bioavailable for extensive microbial Hg methylation. The findings provide useful insights into remediation strategies for this incident and other coal ash spills.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peijia Ku
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA.
| | - Songnian Liu
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Kimber B Corson
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Ashley S Williams
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Matthew R Monteverde
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Glenn E Woerndle
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Anne E Hershey
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
| | - Parke A Rublee
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA
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14
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Janssen SE, Patnode KA, Pluta BR, Krabbenhoft DP. Insights into Mercury Source Identification and Bioaccumulation Using Stable Isotope Approaches in the Hannibal Pool of the Ohio River, USA. INTEGRATED ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT 2021; 17:233-242. [PMID: 32633881 PMCID: PMC8043245 DOI: 10.1002/ieam.4308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 02/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Mercury contamination in river systems due to historic and current Hg releases is a persistent concern for both wildlife and human health. In larger rivers, like the Ohio River, USA, it is difficult to directly link Hg discharges to bioaccumulation due to the existence of multiple industrial Hg sources as well as the varied dietary and migratory habits of biota. To better understand how industrial effluent influences the cycling and bioaccumulation of Hg within the Ohio River, Hg stable isotope analysis was applied to various nonbiological and biological media. High Hg concentrations in suspended particulate matter suggest this vector was the largest contributor of Hg to the water column, and distinct Hg source signatures were observed in effluent particulates from different industrial processes, such as chlor-alkali activity (δ202 Hg = -0.52‰) and coal power plant discharge (δ202 Hg = -1.39‰). Despite this distinction, average sediments (δ202 Hg = -1.00 ± 0.23‰) showed intermediate isotopic signatures that suggest the accumulation of a mixed Hg source driven by multiple industrial discharges. Biota in the system were shown to have a conserved range of δ202 Hg and estimation approaches related these signatures back to particulate matter within Hannibal Pool. Mussels were found to conserve Hg isotopes signatures independently of food web drivers and served as ideal water column indicators of bioaccumulated Hg sources. This study highlights the complexity of Hg cycling within an industrialized river and shows that an isotope tracer approach can provide insight to water column sources of Hg. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2021;17:233-242. Published 2020. This article is a US Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah E Janssen
- United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Middleton, Wisconsin
| | | | - Bruce R Pluta
- United States Environmental Protection Agency, Hazardous Site Cleanup Division, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David P Krabbenhoft
- United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, Middleton, Wisconsin
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Sommar J, Osterwalder S, Zhu W. Recent advances in understanding and measurement of Hg in the environment: Surface-atmosphere exchange of gaseous elemental mercury (Hg 0). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 721:137648. [PMID: 32182462 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137648] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
The atmosphere is the major transport pathway for distribution of mercury (Hg) globally. Gaseous elemental mercury (GEM, hereafter Hg0) is the predominant form in both anthropogenic and natural emissions. Evaluation of the efficacy of reductions in emissions set by the UN's Minamata Convention (UN-MC) is critically dependent on the knowledge of the dynamics of the global Hg cycle. Of these dynamics including e.g. red-ox reactions, methylation-demethylation and dry-wet deposition, poorly constrained atmosphere-surface Hg0 fluxes especially limit predictability of the timescales of its global biogeochemical cycle. This review focuses on Hg0 flux field observational studies, namely the theory, applications, strengths, and limitations of the various experimental methodologies applied to gauge the exchange flux and decipher active sub-processes. We present an in-depth review, a comprehensive literature synthesis, and methodological and instrumentation advances for terrestrial and marine Hg0 flux studies in recent years. In particular, we outline the theory of a wide range of measurement techniques and detail the operational protocols. Today, the most frequently used measurement techniques to determine the net Hg0 flux (>95% of the published flux data) are dynamic flux chambers for small-scale and micrometeorological approaches for large-scale measurements. Furthermore, top-down approaches based on Hg0 concentration measurements have been applied as tools to better constrain Hg emissions as an independent way to e.g. challenge emission inventories. This review is an up-dated, thoroughly revised edition of Sommar et al. 2013 (DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2012.671733). To the tabulation of >100 cited flux studies 1988-2009 given in the former publication, we have here listed corresponding studies published during the last decade with a few exceptions (2008-2019). During that decade, Hg stable isotope ratios of samples involved in atmosphere-terrestrial interaction is at hand and provide in combination with concentration and/or flux measurements novel constraints to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the bi-directional Hg0 flux. Recent efforts in the development of relaxed eddy accumulation and eddy covariance Hg0 flux methods bear the potential to facilitate long-term, ecosystem-scale flux measurements to reduce the prevailing large uncertainties in Hg0 flux estimates. Standardization of methods for Hg0 flux measurements is crucial to investigate how land-use change and how climate warming impact ecosystem-specific Hg0 sink-source characteristics and to validate frequently applied model parameterizations describing the regional and global scale Hg cycle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Sommar
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China.
| | - Stefan Osterwalder
- Institut des Géosciences de l'Environnement, Université Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, IRD, Grenoble INP, Grenoble, France
| | - Wei Zhu
- Department of Forest Ecology and Management, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, Sweden
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16
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Tsui MTK, Blum JD, Kwon SY. Review of stable mercury isotopes in ecology and biogeochemistry. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 716:135386. [PMID: 31839301 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 10/21/2019] [Accepted: 11/04/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Due to the advent of cold vapor-multicollector-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (CV-MC-ICP-MS) in the past two decades, many research groups studying mercury (Hg) biogeochemistry have integrated stable Hg isotopes into their research. Currently, >200 studies using this technique have been published and this has greatly enhanced our understanding of the Hg biogeochemical cycle beyond what Hg concentration and speciation analyses alone can provide. These studies are largely divided into two groups: (i) controlled experiments investigating fractionation of Hg isotopes and refining tools of isotopic analyses, and (ii) studies of natural variations of Hg isotopes. It is now known that Hg isotopes undergo both mass dependent fractionation (MDF; reported as the ratio of mass 202Hg to 198Hg) and mass independent fractionation (MIF), with MIF occurring at odd masses (199Hg, 201Hg) to a larger magnitude and at even masses (200Hg, 204Hg) to a much smaller magnitude. The two types of MIF are controlled by different photochemical processes. The range of isotopic variations of MDF, odd-MIF, and even-MIF are now well documented in a diverse set of environmental samples, and researchers are continuing to explore how the field of Hg isotope biogeochemistry can be further developed and taken to the next level of understanding. One application that has received considerable attention is the use of Hg isotopes to examine the environmental controls on the production and degradation of methylmercury (MeHg), the most toxic and bioaccumulative form of Hg. Since MeHg is efficiently assimilated and biomagnified along food chains, MeHg has the potential to be a robust ecological tracer. In this review, we give an updated overview of the field of Hg isotopes and focus on how Hg isotopes of MeHg can be used to address fundamental ecological questions, including energy transfer across ecosystem interfaces and as a tracer for animal movements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Tsz-Ki Tsui
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro, NC 27402, USA.
| | - Joel D Blum
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sae Yun Kwon
- Division of Environmental Science and Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang 37673, South Korea
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17
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Date Y, Masaki H, Aota A, Sasaki K, Namiki Y, Glass TR, Ohmura N. Simplified Mercury Extraction from Coal Fly Ash for Quantification of Total Mercury by ELISA-based Immunoassay. ANAL SCI 2020; 36:453-457. [PMID: 31839662 DOI: 10.2116/analsci.19p334] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A simplified two-step mercury extraction procedure enabled the selective and reproducible mercury recovery from actual coal fly ash (CFA). The optimized extraction procedure involving conventional enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based immunoassay allowed the ultra-sensitive quantification of total mercury content in CFA. The total mercury content of 41 CFA samples were successfully determined using the above-mentioned method, and the results were in agreement with those obtained by standard instrumental analysis (thermal decomposition atomic absorption spectrometry) within a 15% coefficient of variation. Our method for total mercury quantification is not only simple but suitable for management of the mercury content at coal-fired electric power plants and landfill sites, which deal with large amounts of waste CFA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yasumoto Date
- Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
| | - Hiroyuki Masaki
- Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
| | - Arata Aota
- Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
| | - Kazuhiro Sasaki
- Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
| | | | | | - Naoya Ohmura
- Environmental Science Research Laboratory, Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
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18
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Eckley CS, Gilmour CC, Janssen S, Luxton TP, Randall PM, Whalin L, Austin C. The assessment and remediation of mercury contaminated sites: A review of current approaches. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 707:136031. [PMID: 31869604 PMCID: PMC6980986 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.136031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/07/2019] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Remediation of mercury (Hg) contaminated sites has long relied on traditional approaches, such as removal and containment/capping. Here we review contemporary practices in the assessment and remediation of industrial-scale Hg contaminated sites and discuss recent advances. Significant improvements have been made in site assessment, including the use of XRF to rapidly identify the spatial extent of contamination, Hg stable isotope fractionation to identify sources and transformation processes, and solid-phase characterization (XAFS) to evaluate Hg forms. The understanding of Hg bioavailability for methylation has been improved by methods such as sequential chemical extractions and porewater measurements, including the use of diffuse gradient in thin-film (DGT) samplers. These approaches have shown varying success in identifying bioavailable Hg fractions and further study and field applications are needed. The downstream accumulation of methylmercury (MeHg) in biota is a concern at many contaminated sites. Identifying the variables limiting/controlling MeHg production-such as bioavailable inorganic Hg, organic carbon, and/or terminal electron acceptors (e.g. sulfate, iron) is critical. Mercury can be released from contaminated sites to the air and water, both of which are influenced by meteorological and hydrological conditions. Mercury mobilized from contaminated sites is predominantly bound to particles, highly correlated with total sediment solids (TSS), and elevated during stormflow. Remediation techniques to address Hg contamination can include the removal or containment of Hg contaminated materials, the application of amendments to reduce mobility and bioavailability, landscape/waterbody manipulations to reduce MeHg production, and food web manipulations through stocking or extirpation to reduce MeHg accumulated in desired species. These approaches often rely on knowledge of the Hg forms/speciation at the site, and utilize physical, chemical, thermal and biological methods to achieve remediation goals. Overall, the complexity of Hg cycling allows many different opportunities to reduce/mitigate impacts, which creates flexibility in determining suitable and logistically feasible remedies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris S Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, 1200 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101, USA.
| | - Cynthia C Gilmour
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd., Edgewater, MD 21037-0028, USA.
| | - Sarah Janssen
- USGS Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562, USA.
| | - Todd P Luxton
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Risk Management Research Laboratory, 26 West Martin Luther King Drive, Cincinnati, OH 45268, USA.
| | - Paul M Randall
- US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Lindsay Whalin
- San Francisco Bay Water Board, 1515 Clay St., Ste. 1400, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
| | - Carrie Austin
- San Francisco Bay Water Board, 1515 Clay St., Ste. 1400, Oakland, CA 94612, USA.
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19
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Huang S, Jiang R, Song Q, Zhang Y, Huang Q, Su B, Chen Y, Huo Y, Lin H. Study of mercury transport and transformation in mangrove forests using stable mercury isotopes. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 704:135928. [PMID: 31838299 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.135928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Mangrove forests are important wetland ecosystems that are a sink for mercury from tides, rivers and precipitation, and can also be sources of mercury production and export. Natural abundance mercury stable isotope ratios have been proven to be a useful tool to investigate mercury behavior in various ecosystems. In this study, mercury isotopic data were collected from seawater, sediments, air, and plant tissues in two mangrove forests in Guangxi and Fujian provinces, China, to study the transport and transformation of mercury in mangrove sediments. The mangroves were primarily subject to mercury inputs from external sources, such as anthropogenic activities, atmospheric deposition, and the surrounding seawater. An isotope mixing model based on mass independent fractionation (MIF) estimated that the mangrove wetland ecosystems accounted for <40% of the mercury in the surrounding seawater. The mercury in plant root tissues was derived mainly from sediments and enriched with light mercury isotopes. The exogenous mercury inputs from the fallen leaves were diluted by seawater, leading to a positive Δ199Hg offset between the fallen leaves and sediments. Unlike river and lake ecosystems, mangrove ecosystems are affected by tidal action, and the δ202Hg and Δ199Hg values of sediments were more negative than that of the surrounding seawater. The isotopic signature differences between these environmental samples were partially due to isotope fractionation driven by various physical and chemical processes (e.g., sorption, photoreduction, deposition, and absorption). These results contribute to a better understanding of the biogeochemical cycling of mercury in mangrove wetland ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyuan Huang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Ronggen Jiang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Qingyong Song
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yuanbiao Zhang
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China.
| | - Qi Huang
- Guangxi Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Binghuan Su
- Guangxi Shankou Mangrove Nature Reserve, Beihai 536000, China
| | - Yaojin Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Marine Environmental Science, Xiamen University, Xiamen 361102, China
| | - Yunlong Huo
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
| | - Hui Lin
- Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen 361005, China
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20
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Xiong X, Liu X, Yu IKM, Wang L, Zhou J, Sun X, Rinklebe J, Shaheen SM, Ok YS, Lin Z, Tsang DCW. Potentially toxic elements in solid waste streams: Fate and management approaches. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2019; 253:680-707. [PMID: 31330359 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2019.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2019] [Revised: 06/30/2019] [Accepted: 07/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Solid wastes containing potentially toxic elements (PTEs) are widely generated around the globe. Critical concerns have been raised over their impacts on human health and the environment, especially for the exposure to PTEs during the transfer and disposal of the wastes. It is important to devise highly-efficient and cost-effective treatment technologies for the removal or immobilisation of PTEs in solid wastes. However, there is an inadequate overview of the global flow of PTEs-contaminated solid wastes in terms of geographical distribution patterns, which is vital information for decision making in sustainable waste management. Moreover, in view of the scarcity of resources and the call for a circular economy, there is a pressing need to recover materials (e.g., precious metals and rare earth elements) from waste streams and this is a more sustainable and environmentally friendly practice compared with ore mining. Therefore, this article aims to give a thorough overview to the global flow of PTEs and the recovery of waste materials. This review first summarises PTEs content in various types of solid wastes; then, toxic metal(loid)s, radioactive elements, and rare earth elements are critically reviewed, with respect to their patterns of transport transformation and risks in the changing environment. Different treatments for the management of these contaminated solid wastes are discussed. Based on an improved understanding of the dynamics of metal(loid) fates and a review of existing management options, new scientific insights are provided for future research in the development of high-performance and sustainable treatment technologies for PTEs in solid wastes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinni Xiong
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xueming Liu
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Iris K M Yu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Green Chemistry Centre of Excellence, Department of Chemistry, University of York, York, YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
| | - Lei Wang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China; Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Sheffield, Sir Robert Hadfield Building, Mappin St, Sheffield S1 3JD, United Kingdom
| | - Jin Zhou
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xin Sun
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Jörg Rinklebe
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, Seoul 05006, Republic of Korea
| | - Sabry M Shaheen
- University of Wuppertal, School of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Institute of Foundation Engineering, Water- and Waste-Management, Soil- and Groundwater-Management, Pauluskirchstraße 7, 42285 Wuppertal, Germany; King Abdulaziz University, Faculty of Meteorology, Environment, and Arid Land Agriculture, Department of Arid Land Agriculture, 21589 Jeddah, Saudi Arabia; Department of Soil and Water Sciences, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Kafrelsheikh, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516, Egypt
| | - Yong Sik Ok
- Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Zhang Lin
- School of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Daniel C W Tsang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China.
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21
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Ogrinc N, Hintelmann H, Kotnik J, Horvat M, Pirrone N. Sources of mercury in deep-sea sediments of the Mediterranean Sea as revealed by mercury stable isotopes. Sci Rep 2019; 9:11626. [PMID: 31406135 PMCID: PMC6690899 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-48061-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2019] [Accepted: 07/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) and its stable isotope composition were used to determine the sources of Hg in deep-sea sediments of the Mediterranean Sea. Surface and down-core sediment δ202Hg values varied widely between -2.30 and +0.78‰, showed consistently positive values for mass independent fractionation of odd Hg isotopes (with average values of Δ199Hg = +0.10 ± 0.04‰ and Δ201Hg = +0.04 ± 0.02‰) and near-zero Δ200Hg values, indicating either multiple Hg sources or a combination of different Hg isotope fractionating processes before and after sediment deposition. Both mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation processes influence the isotopic composition of Hg in the Mediterranean Sea. Positive Δ199Hg values are likely the result of enhanced Hg2+ photoreduction in the Mediterranean water column before incorporation of Hg into sediments, while mass-dependent fractionation decreases δ202Hg values due to kinetic isotope fractionation during deposition and mobilization. An isotope mixing model based on mass-dependent and mass-independent fractionation (δ202Hg and Δ199Hg) suggests at least three primary Hg sources of atmospheric deposition in the surface sediments: urban, industrial and global precipitation-derived. Industry is the main source of Hg in Algerian and Western Basin surface sediments and at two sites in the Adriatic Sea, while the urban contribution is most prominent at the Strait of Otranto (MS3) and in Adriatic surface sediments. The contribution from precipitation ranged from 10% in Algerian to 37% in W Basin sediments. Overall, results suggest that atmospheric Hg deposition to Mediterranean surface sediments is dominated by gaseous elemental mercury (58 ± 11%) rather than wet deposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nives Ogrinc
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | | | - Jože Kotnik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Milena Horvat
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Nicola Pirrone
- CNR-Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Rome, Italy
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Reinfelder JR, Janssen SE. Tracking legacy mercury in the Hackensack River estuary using mercury stable isotopes. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2019; 375:121-129. [PMID: 31054529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2019.04.074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2018] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/21/2019] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Spatial redistribution of legacy mercury (Hg) contamination in the Hackensack River estuary (New Jersey, USA) was evaluated using mercury stable isotopes. Total Hg varied from 0.06 to 3.8 μg g-1 in sediment from the tidal Hackensack River and from 15 to 154 μg g-1 near historically contaminated sites in upper Berry's Creek, a tributary of the Hackensack River. δ202Hg values for total Hg from Berry's Creek and Hackensack River estuaries varied over a fairly narrow range (-0.44‰ to -0.21‰), but were highest for sediment from upper Berry's Creek. Isotope mixing plots show that residual legacy mercury from upper Berry's Creek is partially diluted by a low concentration and low δ202Hg pool of mercury associated with low organic matter content sediments similar to those in Newark Bay. Based on an isotope mixing model, we estimate that upper Berry's Creek contributes 21%-82% of the mercury in sediments in the Hackensack River estuary and its tidal tributaries, including upstream marsh habitats far from the primary source. Our results show that mercury stable isotopes can be used to track the redistribution of mercury in tidal ecosystems and highlight the potentially large areas which may be affected by legacy mercury contamination in estuaries.
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Affiliation(s)
- John R Reinfelder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Rutgers University, 14 College Farm Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901 United States.
| | - Sarah E Janssen
- United States Geological Survey, Upper Midwest Water Science Center, 8505 Research Way, Middleton, WI 53562 United States
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Janssen S, Lepak R, Tate M, Ogorek J, DeWild J, Babiarz C, Hurley J, Krabbenhoft D. Rapid pre-concentration of mercury in solids and water for isotopic analysis. Anal Chim Acta 2019; 1054:95-103. [DOI: 10.1016/j.aca.2018.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 12/03/2018] [Accepted: 12/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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Stock BC, Jackson AL, Ward EJ, Parnell AC, Phillips DL, Semmens BX. Analyzing mixing systems using a new generation of Bayesian tracer mixing models. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5096. [PMID: 29942712 PMCID: PMC6015753 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 317] [Impact Index Per Article: 52.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The ongoing evolution of tracer mixing models has resulted in a confusing array of software tools that differ in terms of data inputs, model assumptions, and associated analytic products. Here we introduce MixSIAR, an inclusive, rich, and flexible Bayesian tracer (e.g., stable isotope) mixing model framework implemented as an open-source R package. Using MixSIAR as a foundation, we provide guidance for the implementation of mixing model analyses. We begin by outlining the practical differences between mixture data error structure formulations and relate these error structures to common mixing model study designs in ecology. Because Bayesian mixing models afford the option to specify informative priors on source proportion contributions, we outline methods for establishing prior distributions and discuss the influence of prior specification on model outputs. We also discuss the options available for source data inputs (raw data versus summary statistics) and provide guidance for combining sources. We then describe a key advantage of MixSIAR over previous mixing model software-the ability to include fixed and random effects as covariates explaining variability in mixture proportions and calculate relative support for multiple models via information criteria. We present a case study of Alligator mississippiensis diet partitioning to demonstrate the power of this approach. Finally, we conclude with a discussion of limitations to mixing model applications. Through MixSIAR, we have consolidated the disparate array of mixing model tools into a single platform, diversified the set of available parameterizations, and provided developers a platform upon which to continue improving mixing model analyses in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian C Stock
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Andrew L Jackson
- Department of Zoology, School of Natural Sciences, University of Dublin, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Eric J Ward
- Northwest Fisheries Science Center, National Marine Fisheries Service, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Andrew C Parnell
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, Insight Centre for Data Analytics, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | | | - Brice X Semmens
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
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Hsu-Kim H, Eckley CS, Achá D, Feng X, Gilmour CC, Jonsson S, Mitchell CPJ. Challenges and opportunities for managing aquatic mercury pollution in altered landscapes. AMBIO 2018; 47:141-169. [PMID: 29388127 PMCID: PMC5794684 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-1006-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The environmental cycling of mercury (Hg) can be affected by natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Of particular concern is how these disruptions increase mobilization of Hg from sites and alter the formation of monomethylmercury (MeHg), a bioaccumulative form of Hg for humans and wildlife. The scientific community has made significant advances in recent years in understanding the processes contributing to the risk of MeHg in the environment. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the scientific understanding of how Hg cycling in the aquatic environment is influenced by landscape perturbations at the local scale, perturbations that include watershed loadings, deforestation, reservoir and wetland creation, rice production, urbanization, mining and industrial point source pollution, and remediation. We focus on the major challenges associated with each type of alteration, as well as management opportunities that could lessen both MeHg levels in biota and exposure to humans. For example, our understanding of approximate response times to changes in Hg inputs from various sources or landscape alterations could lead to policies that prioritize the avoidance of certain activities in the most vulnerable systems and sequestration of Hg in deep soil and sediment pools. The remediation of Hg pollution from historical mining and other industries is shifting towards in situ technologies that could be less disruptive and less costly than conventional approaches. Contemporary artisanal gold mining has well-documented impacts with respect to Hg; however, significant social and political challenges remain in implementing effective policies to minimize Hg use. Much remains to be learned as we strive towards the meaningful application of our understanding for stakeholders, including communities living near Hg-polluted sites, environmental policy makers, and scientists and engineers tasked with developing watershed management solutions. Site-specific assessments of MeHg exposure risk will require new methods to predict the impacts of anthropogenic perturbations and an understanding of the complexity of Hg cycling at the local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heileen Hsu-Kim
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Chris S. Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, 1200 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| | - Dario Achá
- Unidad de Calidad Ambiental, Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, P.O. Box 10077, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002 China
| | - Cynthia C. Gilmour
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037-0028 USA
| | - Sofi Jonsson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl P. J. Mitchell
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4 Canada
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Feasibility study on the differentiation between engineered and natural nanoparticles based on the elemental ratios. KOREAN J CHEM ENG 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s11814-017-0223-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Yang Y, Chen B, Hower J, Schindler M, Winkler C, Brandt J, Di Giulio R, Ge J, Liu M, Fu Y, Zhang L, Chen Y, Priya S, Hochella MF. Discovery and ramifications of incidental Magnéli phase generation and release from industrial coal-burning. Nat Commun 2017; 8:194. [PMID: 28790379 PMCID: PMC5548795 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-00276-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2016] [Accepted: 06/19/2017] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Coal, as one of the most economic and abundant energy sources, remains the leading fuel for producing electricity worldwide. Yet, burning coal produces more global warming CO2 relative to all other fossil fuels, and it is a major contributor to atmospheric particulate matter known to have a deleterious respiratory and cardiovascular impact in humans, especially in China and India. Here we have discovered that burning coal also produces large quantities of otherwise rare Magnéli phases (Ti x O2x-1 with 4 ≤ x ≤ 9) from TiO2 minerals naturally present in coal. This provides a new tracer for tracking solid-state emissions worldwide from industrial coal-burning. In its first toxicity testing, we have also shown that nanoscale Magnéli phases have potential toxicity pathways that are not photoactive like TiO2 phases, but instead seem to be biologically active without photostimulation. In the future, these phases should be thoroughly tested for their toxicity in the human lung.Solid-state emissions from coal burning remain an environmental concern. Here, the authors have found that TiO2 minerals present in coal are converted into titanium suboxides during burning, and initial biotoxicity screening suggests that further testing is needed to look into human lung consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Yang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Bo Chen
- Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, 310 Durham Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - James Hower
- Center for Applied Energy Research, 2540 Research Park Drive, Lexington, KY, 40511, USA
| | - Michael Schindler
- Department of Earth Sciences, Laurentian University, Sudbury, ON, Canada, P3E 2C6
| | - Christopher Winkler
- Nanoscale Characterization and Fabrication Laboratory, Institute for Critical Technology and Applied Science, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Jessica Brandt
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Levine Science Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0328, USA
| | - Richard Di Giulio
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Levine Science Research Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, 27708-0328, USA
| | - Jianping Ge
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Green Chemistry and Chemical Processes, Department of Chemistry, East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Yuhao Fu
- Key Laboratory of Mobile Materials MOE, State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, and Department of Materials Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Lijun Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Mobile Materials MOE, State Key Laboratory of Superhard Materials, and Department of Materials Science, Jilin University, Changchun, 130012, China
| | - Yuru Chen
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science of the Ministry of Education, School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Shashank Priya
- Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems, 310 Durham Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA
| | - Michael F Hochella
- Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA, 24061, USA. .,Geosciences Group, Energy and Environment Directorate, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, 99352, USA.
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Pracheil BM, Marshall Adams S, Bevelhimer MS, Fortner AM, Greeley MS, Murphy CA, Mathews TJ, Peterson MJ. Relating fish health and reproductive metrics to contaminant bioaccumulation at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill site. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2016; 25:1136-1149. [PMID: 27154845 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-016-1668-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A 4.1 million m(3) coal ash release into the Emory and Clinch rivers in December 2008 at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant in east Tennessee, USA, prompted a long-term, large-scale biological monitoring effort to determine if there are chronic effects of this spill on resident biota. Because of the magnitude of the ash spill and the potential for exposure to coal ash-associated contaminants [e.g., selenium (Se), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg)] which are bioaccumulative and may present human and ecological risks, an integrative, bioindicator approach was used. Three species of fish were monitored-bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus), redear sunfish (L. microlophus), and largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides)-at ash-affected and reference sites annually for 5 years following the spill. On the same individual fish, contaminant burdens were measured in various tissues, blood chemistry parameters as metrics of fish health, and various condition and reproduction indices. A multivariate statistical approach was then used to evaluate relationships between contaminant bioaccumulation and fish metrics to assess the chronic, sub-lethal effects of exposure to the complex mixture of coal ash-associated contaminants at and around the ash spill site. This study suggests that while fish tissue concentrations of some ash-associated contaminants are elevated at the spill site, there was no consistent evidence of compromised fish health linked with the spill. Further, although relationships between elevated fillet burdens of ash-associated contaminants and some fish metrics were found, these relationships were not indicative of exposure to coal ash or spill sites. The present study adds to the weight of evidence from prior studies suggesting that fish populations have not incurred significant biological effects from spilled ash at this site: findings that are relevant to the current national discussions on the safe disposal of coal ash waste.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda M Pracheil
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA.
| | - S Marshall Adams
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Mark S Bevelhimer
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Allison M Fortner
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Mark S Greeley
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Cheryl A Murphy
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, 48824, USA
| | - Teresa J Mathews
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
| | - Mark J Peterson
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831, USA
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29
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Smith JG, Baker TF, Murphy CA, Jett RT. Spatial and temporal trends in contaminant concentrations in Hexagenia nymphs following a coal ash spill at the Tennessee Valley Authority's Kingston Fossil Plant. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2016; 35:1159-1171. [PMID: 26387560 DOI: 10.1002/etc.3253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2015] [Revised: 03/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/17/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A dike failure at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant in East Tennessee, United States, in December 2008, released approximately 4.1 million m(3) of coal ash into the Emory River. From 2009 through 2012, samples of mayfly nymphs (Hexagenia bilineata) were collected each spring from sites in the Emory, Clinch, and Tennessee Rivers upstream and downstream of the spill. Samples were analyzed for 17 metals. Concentrations of metals were generally highest the first 2 miles downstream of the spill, and then decreased with increasing distance from the spill. Arsenic, B, Ba, Be, Mo, Sb, Se, Sr, and V appeared to have strong ash signatures, whereas Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb appeared to be associated with ash and other sources. However, the concentrations for most of these contaminants were modest and are unlikely to cause widespread negative ecological effects. Trends in Hg, Cd, and Zn suggested little (Hg) or no (Cd, Zn) association with ash. Temporal trends suggested that concentrations of ash-related contaminants began to subside after 2010, but because of the limited time period of that analysis (4 yr), further monitoring is needed to verify this trend. The present study provides important information on the magnitude of contaminant exposure to aquatic receptors from a major coal ash spill, as well as spatial and temporal trends for transport of the associated contaminants in a large open watershed.
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Affiliation(s)
- John G Smith
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
| | - Tyler F Baker
- Tennessee Valley Authority, Chattanooga, Tennessee, USA
| | - Cheryl A Murphy
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan, USA
| | - R Trent Jett
- Environmental Sciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA
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30
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Donovan PM, Blum JD, Singer MB, Marvin-DiPasquale M, Tsui MTK. Isotopic Composition of Inorganic Mercury and Methylmercury Downstream of a Historical Gold Mining Region. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:1691-702. [PMID: 26789018 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b04413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We measured total mercury (THg) and monomethyl mercury (MMHg) concentrations and mercury (Hg) isotopic compositions in sediment and aquatic organisms from the Yuba River (California, USA) to identify Hg sources and biogeochemical transformations downstream of a historical gold mining region. Sediment THg concentrations and δ(202)Hg decreased from the upper Yuba Fan to the lower Yuba Fan and the Feather River. These results are consistent with the release of Hg during gold mining followed by downstream mixing and dilution. The Hg isotopic composition of Yuba Fan sediment (δ(202)Hg = -0.38 ± 0.17‰ and Δ(199)Hg = 0.04 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1 SD, n = 7) provides a fingerprint of inorganic Hg (IHg) that could be methylated locally or after transport downstream. The isotopic composition of MMHg in the Yuba River food web was estimated using biota with a range of %MMHg (the percent of THg present as MMHg) and compared to IHg in sediment, algae, and the food web. The estimated δ(202)Hg of MMHg prior to photodegradation (-1.29 to -1.07‰) was lower than that of IHg and we suggest this is due to mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) of up to -0.9‰ between IHg and MMHg. This result is in contrast to net positive MDF (+0.4 to +0.8‰) previously observed in lakes, estuaries, coastal oceans, and forests. We hypothesize that this unique relationship could be due to differences in the extent or pathway of biotic MMHg degradation in stream environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Donovan
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan , 1100 N. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Joel D Blum
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Michigan , 1100 N. University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
| | - Michael Bliss Singer
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of St Andrews , North Street, St Andrews, KY16 9AL U.K
- Earth Research Institute, University of California Santa Barbara , Santa Barbara, California 93106 United States
| | | | - Martin T K Tsui
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Greensboro , Greensboro, North Carolina 27402, United States
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Xu X, Oliff K, Xu T, Ripp S, Sayler G, Zhuang J. Microbial availability of mercury: effective detection and organic ligand effect using a whole-cell bioluminescent bioreporter. ECOTOXICOLOGY (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2015; 24:2200-2206. [PMID: 26419244 DOI: 10.1007/s10646-015-1553-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A luxCDABE-based genetically engineered bacterial bioreporter (Escherichia coli ARL1) was used to detect bioavailable ionic mercury (Hg(II)) and investigate the effects of humic acids and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on the bioavailability of mercury in E. c oli. Results showed that the E. c oli ARL1 bioreporter was sensitive to mercury, with a detection limit of Hg(II) of 0.5 µg/L and a linear dose/response relationship up to 2000 µg Hg(II)/L. Humic acids and EDTA decreased the Hg(II)-induced bioluminescent response of strain ARL1, suggesting that the two organic ligands reduced the bioavailability of Hg(II) via complexation with Hg(II). Compared with traditional chemical methods, the use of E. c oli ARL1 is a cost-effective, rapid, and reliable approach for measuring aqueous mercury at very low concentrations and thus has potential for applications in field in situ monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xianghua Xu
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Agricultural Meteorology, Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing, 210044, China
- The Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Kathryn Oliff
- The Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Tingting Xu
- The Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Steven Ripp
- The Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Gary Sayler
- The Center for Environmental Biotechnology, The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 37996, USA
| | - Jie Zhuang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Ecology and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016, China.
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Zheng W, Xie Z, Bergquist BA. Mercury Stable Isotopes in Ornithogenic Deposits As Tracers of Historical Cycling of Mercury in Ross Sea, Antarctica. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:7623-7632. [PMID: 26020587 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b00523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Production of methylmercury (MeHg) in ocean waters and its bioaccumulation in marine organisms are critical processes controlling the fate and toxicity of mercury (Hg). However, these processes are not well understood in the Antarctic, where high levels of MeHg are observed in the subsurface ocean (100-1000 m). We explored the use of Hg stable isotope compositions in historical and modern biological deposits as a new approach for discerning Hg sources and tracing MeHg cycling in the ocean and bioaccumulation in marine biota. We found similar mass independent isotope fractionation (MIF) of Hg between a sediment profile containing historical penguin and seal feces deposits from coastal Antarctica and modern penguin and seal feces, suggesting that penguin and seal feces were the dominant sources of Hg to the sediments at different time periods. Furthermore, sediments dominated by seal feces displayed a significantly lower MIF slope (Δ(199)Hg/Δ(201)Hg) than those dominated by penguin feces despite similar extents of MIF. Since seals forage at greater depths (>400 m) than penguins (<100 m), the high MIF values and lower Δ(199)Hg/Δ(201)Hg in seal feces suggest that a significant fraction of MeHg accumulated by seals was produced in situ in the subsurface ocean from residual inorganic Hg(II) that sank from the euphotic zone after partial photoreduction. Our results suggest that in situ Hg methylation can be an important source of MeHg for marine biota, and Hg isotope compositions in biological archives can be valuable tracers of MeHg cycling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wang Zheng
- †Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
| | - Zhouqing Xie
- ‡Institute of Polar Environment, School of Earth and Space Sciences, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui 230026, China
| | - Bridget A Bergquist
- †Department of Earth Sciences, University of Toronto, 22 Russell Street, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3B1, Canada
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Otter RR, McKinney D, Brown B, Lainer S, Monroe W, Hubbs D, Read B. Bioaccumulation of metals in three freshwater mussel species exposed in situ during and after dredging at a coal ash spill site (Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant). ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2015; 187:334. [PMID: 25957195 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4578-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
On December 22, 2008, a dike containing coal fly ash at the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston Fossil Plant (TN, USA) failed, and within months, dredging operations began to remove ash-contaminated sediments. The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in the bioaccumulation of metals in three mussel species during and after dredging operations. Mussels were caged for approximately 1 year during dredging and after, and then mussel condition index values and As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Ni, Se, Hg, U, Fe, Mg, Al, Sb, Ba, Be, Co, Cu, Mn, Mo, Ag, Sr, Tl, V, and Zn concentrations in soft tissue were determined via inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometery. Overall, the differences observed in metal bioaccumulation and mussel health suggest that mussels in the immediate downstream area of the dredging site may have been impacted, as evidenced by a significant decrease in mussel condition index values, but that this impact did not result in increased tissue concentrations of metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan R Otter
- Department of Biology, Middle Tennessee State University, Box 60, Murfreesboro, TN, 37132, USA,
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Wiederhold JG, Skyllberg U, Drott A, Jiskra M, Jonsson S, Björn E, Bourdon B, Kretzschmar R. Mercury isotope signatures in contaminated sediments as a tracer for local industrial pollution sources. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:177-185. [PMID: 25437501 DOI: 10.1021/es5044358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation (MIF) may cause characteristic isotope signatures of different mercury (Hg) sources and help understand transformation processes at contaminated sites. Here, we present Hg isotope data of sediments collected near industrial pollution sources in Sweden contaminated with elemental liquid Hg (mainly chlor-alkali industry) or phenyl-Hg (paper industry). The sediments exhibited a wide range of total Hg concentrations from 0.86 to 99 μg g(-1), consisting dominantly of organically-bound Hg and smaller amounts of sulfide-bound Hg. The three phenyl-Hg sites showed very similar Hg isotope signatures (MDF δ(202)Hg: -0.2‰ to -0.5‰; MIF Δ(199)Hg: -0.05‰ to -0.10‰). In contrast, the four sites contaminated with elemental Hg displayed much greater variations (δ(202)Hg: -2.1‰ to 0.6‰; Δ(199)Hg: -0.19‰ to 0.03‰) but with distinct ranges for the different sites. Sequential extractions revealed that sulfide-bound Hg was in some samples up to 1‰ heavier in δ(202)Hg than organically-bound Hg. The selectivity of the sequential extraction was tested on standard materials prepared with enriched Hg isotopes, which also allowed assessing isotope exchange between different Hg pools. Our results demonstrate that different industrial pollution sources can be distinguished on the basis of Hg isotope signatures, which may additionally record fractionation processes between different Hg pools in the sediments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jan G Wiederhold
- Soil Chemistry Group, Institute of Biogeochemistry and Pollutant Dynamics, ETH Zurich , CH-8092 Zurich, Switzerland
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Bevelhimer MS, Adams SM, Fortner AM, Greeley MS, Brandt CC. Using ordination and clustering techniques to assess multimetric fish health response following a coal ash spill. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2014; 33:1903-1913. [PMID: 24764206 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2014] [Revised: 11/22/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The effect of coal ash exposure on fish health in freshwater communities is largely unknown. Given the large number of possible pathways of effects (e.g., toxicological effect of exposure to multiple metals, physical effects from ash exposure, and food web effects), measurement of only a few health metrics is not likely to give a complete picture. The authors measured a suite of 20 health metrics from 1100+ fish collected from 5 sites (3 affected and 2 reference) near a coal ash spill in east Tennessee over a 4.5-yr period. The metrics represented a wide range of physiological and energetic responses and were evaluated simultaneously using 2 multivariate techniques. Results from both hierarchical clustering and canonical discriminant analyses suggested that for most species × season combinations, the suite of fish health indicators varied more among years than between spill and reference sites within a year. In a few cases, spill sites from early years in the investigation stood alone or clustered together separate from reference sites and later year spill sites. Outlier groups of fish with relatively unique health profiles were most often from spill sites, suggesting that some response to the ash exposure may have occurred. Results from the 2 multivariate methods suggest that any change in the health status of fish at the spill sites was small and appears to have diminished since the first 2 to 3 yr after the spill.
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Gondikas AP, von der Kammer F, Reed RB, Wagner S, Ranville JF, Hofmann T. Release of TiO2 nanoparticles from sunscreens into surface waters: a one-year survey at the old Danube recreational Lake. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:5415-5422. [PMID: 24689731 DOI: 10.1021/es405596y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 207] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Monitoring data are necessary for the future production of engineered nanomaterials and the development of regulations for nanomaterials. Therefore, it is necessary to develop methods that reliably detect and quantify nanomaterials in real-world systems at expectedly low concentrations. In this work we tested several methodological approaches to detect titanium dioxide nanomaterials released from sunscreen products into the Old Danube Lake (Vienna, Austria), which is heavily used for recreational activities like bathing and water sports during the summer season. During a 12-month period suspended particulate matter (SPM) was collected from the lake and analyzed using a combination of complementary techniques. By sampling at a location approximately 50 m from the nearest bathing area and at one meter depth from the water surface, we focused on the potentially mobile fraction of the released nanoparticles. We were able to identify titanium dioxide nanoparticles stemming from sunscreens in the suspended matter of the lake using electron microscopy. Bulk analysis of SPM clearly shows an increase of Ti-containing particles during the summer season. These analyses, however, are not able to distinguish sunscreen nanoparticles from natural Ti-bearing nanoparticles. Therefore, Elemental ratios of Ti with Al, V, Ga, Y, Nb, Eu, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Ta as determined by ICPMS and ICPOES, in combination with single particle ICPMS analysis were applied to establish local background values. The observed mild increase of Ti elemental ratios, compared to spring background values indicates that the residence time of released nanomaterials in the water column is rather short. Overall, the advantages and disadvantages of the methods used to detect and characterize the nanomaterials are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas P Gondikas
- Department of Environmental Geosciences, University of Vienna , Vienna, Austria
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Donovan PM, Blum JD, Demers JD, Gu B, Brooks SC, Peryam J. Identification of multiple mercury sources to stream sediments near Oak Ridge, TN, USA. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2014; 48:3666-74. [PMID: 24588770 DOI: 10.1021/es4046549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
Sediments were analyzed for total Hg concentration (THg) and isotopic composition from streams and rivers in the vicinity of the Y-12 National Security Complex (Y12) in Oak Ridge, TN (USA). In the stream directly draining Y12, where industrial releases of mercury (Hg) have been documented, high THg (3.26 to 60.1 μg/g) sediments had a distinct Hg isotopic composition (δ(202)Hg of 0.02 ± 0.15‰ and Δ(199)Hg of -0.07 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 12) compared to sediments from relatively uncontaminated streams in the region (δ(202)Hg = -1.40 ± 0.06‰ and Δ(199)Hg of -0.26 ± 0.03‰; mean ± 1SD, n = 6). Additionally, several streams that are nearby but do not drain Y12 had sediments with intermediate THg (0.06 to 0.21 μg/g) and anomalous δ(202)Hg (as low as -5.07‰). We suggest that the low δ(202)Hg values in these sediments provide evidence for the contribution of an additional Hg source to sediments, possibly derived from atmospheric deposition. In sediments directly downstream of Y12 this third Hg source is not discernible, and the Hg isotopic composition can be largely explained by the mixing of low THg sediments with high THg sediments contaminated by Y12 discharges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick M Donovan
- University of Michigan , Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, 1100 North University Avenue, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109, United States
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Lemly AD, Skorupa JP. Response to comments on "wildlife and the coal waste policy debate: proposed rules for coal waste disposal ignore lessons from 45 years of wildlife poisoning". ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:11367-11368. [PMID: 23998346 DOI: 10.1021/es403359z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A Dennis Lemly
- USDA-Forest Service , Southern Research Station, Piedmont Aquatic Research Laboratory, Department of Biology, Wake Forest University , Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27109, United States
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Deonarine A, Bartov G, Johnson TM, Ruhl L, Vengosh A, Hsu-Kim H. Environmental impacts of the Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill. 2. Effect of coal ash on methylmercury in historically contaminated river sediments. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2013; 47:2100-2108. [PMID: 23249246 DOI: 10.1021/es303639d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
The Tennessee Valley Authority Kingston coal ash spill in December 2008 deposited approximately 4.1 million m(3) of fly ash and bottom ash into the Emory and Clinch River system (Harriman, Tennessee, U.S.A.). The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of the ash on surface water and sediment quality over an eighteen month period after the spill, with a specific focus on mercury and methylmercury in sediments. Our results indicated that surface water quality was not impaired with respect to total mercury concentrations. However, in the sediments of the Emory River near the coal ash spill, total mercury concentrations were 3- to 4-times greater than sediments several miles upstream of the ash spill. Similarly, methylmercury content in the Emory and Clinch River sediments near the ash spill were slightly elevated (up to a factor of 3) at certain locations compared to upstream sediments. Up to 2% of the total mercury in sediments containing coal ash was present as methylmercury. Mercury isotope composition and sediment geochemical data suggested that elevated methylmercury concentrations occurred in regions where native sediments were mixed with coal ash (e.g., less than 28% as coal ash in the Emory River). This coal ash may have provided substrates (such as sulfate) that stimulated biomethylation of mercury. The production of methylmercury in these areas is a concern because this neurotoxic organomercury compound can be highly bioaccumulative. Future risk assessments of coal ash spills should consider not only the leaching potential of mercury from the wastes but also the potential for methylmercury production in receiving waters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amrika Deonarine
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, 121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, USA
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