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Yu Q, Ge X, Zheng H, Xing J, Duan L, Lv D, Ding D, Dong Z, Sun Y, Maximilian P, Xie D, Zhao Y, Zhao B, Wang S, Mulder J, Larssen T, Hao J. A probe into the acid deposition mitigation path in China over the last four decades and beyond. Natl Sci Rev 2024; 11:nwae007. [PMID: 38495813 PMCID: PMC10941815 DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwae007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 12/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
China currently has the highest acid deposition globally, yet research on its status, impacts, causes and controls is lacking. Here, we compiled data and calculated critical loads regarding acid deposition. The results showed that the abatement measures in China have achieved a sharp decline in the emissions of acidifying pollutants and a continuous recovery of precipitation pH, despite the drastic growth in the economy and energy consumption. However, the risk of ecological acidification and eutrophication showed no significant decrease. With similar emission reductions, the decline in areas at risk of acidification in China (7.0%) lags behind those in Europe (20%) or the USA (15%). This was because, unlike Europe and the USA, China's abatement strategies primarily target air quality improvement rather than mitigating ecological impacts. Given that the area with the risk of eutrophication induced by nitrogen deposition remained at 13% of the country even under the scenario of achieving the dual targets of air quality and carbon dioxide mitigation in 2035, we explored an enhanced ammonia abatement pathway. With a further 27% reduction in ammonia by 2035, China could largely eliminate the impacts of acid deposition. This research serves as a valuable reference for China's future acid deposition control and for other nations facing similar challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse and School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Xiaodong Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Haotian Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jia Xing
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dongwei Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Dian Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhaoxin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yisheng Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Posch Maximilian
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Danni Xie
- International Institute for Applied System Analysis (IIASA), Laxenburg A-2361, Austria
| | - Yu Zhao
- School of Land Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse and School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse and School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
| | - Jan Mulder
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Ås 5003, Norway
| | | | - Jiming Hao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control & Resource Reuse and School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China
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Xie D, Zhao B, Kang R, Ma X, Larssen T, Jin Z, Duan L. Delayed recovery of surface water chemistry from acidification in subtropical forest region of China. Sci Total Environ 2024; 912:169126. [PMID: 38070570 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.169126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 12/03/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2024]
Abstract
The three largest acid rain regions of current earth are located in northern and western Europe, eastern North America, and East Asia. Sulfur and nitrate concentrations in headwater streams in Europe and North America decreased as atmospheric sulfur and nitrogen deposition decreased, albeit with a considerable delay. However, how water chemistry responds to the declining sulfur and nitrogen deposition in China is unclear. The regional survey of surface water chemistry during 2010 and 2018 within the Sichuan Basin in southwestern China showed that the recovery of the surface water chemistry was delayed for at least 5 years owing to the release of previously deposited sulfur and nitrogen stored in the soil. After sulfur deposition declined from its peak value, the subregions of purplish soil with low sulfate adsorption capacity still exhibited a net sulfur release in 2010, but this release was no longer evident by 2018. The subregions with the red and yellow soils, which have a high sulfate adsorption capacity, operated as sulfur sinks during 2010 and 2018, indicating a continuous immobilization process through sulfate reduction despite a decrease in sulfur deposition. Additionally, this sulfate reduction countered the release of sulfate caused by sulfur desorption. There was a substantial nitrogen sink within the Sichuan Basin. Nitrogen leaching decreased slowly with the declined nitrogen deposition, except in regions where nitrogen deposition exceeded the critical threshold. Compared to temperate forest regions in Europe, the Sichuan Basin and its surrounding areas have experienced higher decline rates in the leaching of sulfur and nitrogen, highlighting that the subtropical forest region undergoes a faster restoration of surface water chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danni Xie
- School of Land Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China; SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ronghua Kang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Forest Ecology and Management, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Ma
- State Grid Xinyuan Company Ltd., Beijing 100052, China
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, Oslo 0579, Norway
| | - Zhangdong Jin
- School of Land Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710064, China; SKLLQG, Institute of Earth Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xi'an 710061, China.
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, China.
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3
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Zhang H, Wang W, Lin C, Feng X, Shi J, Jiang G, Larssen T. Decreasing mercury levels in consumer fish over the three decades of increasing mercury emissions in China. Eco Environ Health 2022; 1:46-52. [PMID: 38078199 PMCID: PMC10702889 DOI: 10.1016/j.eehl.2022.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2022] [Revised: 04/19/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2024]
Abstract
Fish consumption is the primary dietary route of human exposure to methylmercury. It has been well documented that elevated mercury concentration in fish in North America and Europe is linked to anthropogenic mercury emissions. China is the world's largest producer, consumer, and emitter of mercury, as well as the world's largest commercial fish producer and consumer. Although mercury pollution in fish in China is currently receiving much attention worldwide, its status remains largely unknown. Here, we conducted a meta-analysis on total mercury concentrations in marine and freshwater fish samples, covering 35,464 samples collected in China over the past 30 years. It is found that, opposite to the increasing emission and documented mercury contamination events, mercury levels in fish have gradually decreased in China over the past 30 years. The results were in sharp contrast to those found in North America and Europe. The mercury concentrations in fish were significantly anticorrelated with the fish catch and fish aquaculture and were inverse to trophic levels. Overfishing and the short lifecycle of aquaculture fish, both reducing the trophic level and the duration of mercury accumulation, were the most likely causes leading to the decline of mercury concentrations found in fish in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
| | - Wenxiong Wang
- School of Energy and Environment and State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution, City University of Hong Kong, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 999077, China
| | - Chejen Lin
- Center for Advances in Water and Air Quality, Lamar University, Beaumont, TX, USA
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550081, China
| | - Jianbo Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Source Apportionment and Control of Aquatic Pollution, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, 430074, China
| | - Guibin Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085, China
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Økernveien 94, 0579 Oslo, Norway
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4
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Lv D, Yu Q, Xie D, Zhang J, Ge X, Si G, Zhao B, Wang S, Larssen T, Duan L. Critical loads of headwater streams in China using SSWC model modified by comprehensive F-factor. Sci Total Environ 2022; 802:149780. [PMID: 34461478 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.149780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
In order to evaluate the potential risk of surface water acidification in regions with historically-elevated acid deposition and to measure the recovery of such ecosystems after policy changes, critical loads and their exceedances were estimated for 349 headwater streams across China using a modified SSWC model. Such a model considered the acid-neutralizing capacity derived from high base cation deposition and the robust retention of sulfate and nitrate. Results indicated that China's streams had higher critical loads (averaged at 4.7 keq·ha-1·yr-1) and were less sensitive to acid deposition as compared to Europe and North America. The proportion of surveyed streams with acid deposition exceeded critical load decreased from 40.4% in 2005 to 29.5% in 2018, indicating a significant decrease in risk of surface water acidification, and thus a benefit from the emission abatement in recent years. Nonetheless, a relatively high risk of acidification still existed in southeast China with lower critical loads and most critical load exceedances. More efforts should be put into implementing emission control policies in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongwei Lv
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Danni Xie
- School of Land Engineering, Chang'an University, Shaanxi 710064, PR China
| | - Jiawei Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Xiaodong Ge
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Gaoyue Si
- School of Agriculture and Biology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai 200240, PR China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Sources and Control of Air Pollution Complex, Beijing 100084, PR China.
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5
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Sun Y, Lin Y, Steindal EH, Jiang C, Yang S, Larssen T. How Can the Scope of a New Global Legally Binding Agreement on Plastic Pollution to Facilitate an Efficient Negotiation Be Clearly Defined? Environ Sci Technol 2021; 55:6527-6528. [PMID: 33906352 PMCID: PMC8277123 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.1c02033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yangzhao Sun
- Norwegian
Institute for Water Research Headquarter, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | - Yan Lin
- Norwegian
Institute for Water Research Headquarter, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | | | - Chao Jiang
- Norwegian
Institute for Water Research China Office, Beijing, 100040, China
| | - Sen Yang
- Norwegian
Institute for Water Research China Office, Beijing, 100040, China
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian
Institute for Water Research Headquarter, Oslo 0349, Norway
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Lin Y, Couture RM, Klein H, Ytre-Eide MA, Dyve JE, Lind OC, Bartnicki J, Nizzetto L, Butterfield D, Larssen T, Salbu B. Modelling Environmental Impacts of Cesium-137 Under a Hypothetical Release of Radioactive Waste. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 2019; 103:69-74. [PMID: 30937495 DOI: 10.1007/s00128-019-02601-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Waste tanks at the nuclear facility located at Sellafield, UK, represent a nuclear source which could release radionuclides to the atmosphere. A model chain which combines atmospheric transport, deposition as well as riverine transport to sea has been developed to predict the riverine activity concentrations of 137Cs. The source term was estimated to be 9 × 104 TBq of 137Cs, or 1% of the assumed total 137Cs inventory of the HAL (Highly Active Liquid) storage tanks. Air dispersion modelling predicted 137Cs deposition reaching 127 kBq m-2 at the Vikedal catchment in Western Norway. Thus, the riverine transport model predicted that the activity concentration of 137Cs in water at the river outlet could reach 9000 Bq m-3 in the aqueous phase and 1000 Bq kg-1 in solid phase at peak level. The lake and river reaches showed different transport patterns due to the buffering effects caused by dilution and slowing down of water velocity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway.
| | - Raoul-Marie Couture
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, 0349, Oslo, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, Université Laval, Quebec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | - Heiko Klein
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Blindern, P.O. Box 43, 0313, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Martin Album Ytre-Eide
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Grini Naeringspark 13, 1361, Østerås, Norway
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Jan Erik Dyve
- Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Grini Naeringspark 13, 1361, Østerås, Norway
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Ole Christian Lind
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Jerzy Bartnicki
- Norwegian Meteorological Institute, Blindern, P.O. Box 43, 0313, Oslo, Norway
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Brit Salbu
- Faculty of Environmental Sciences and Natural Resource Management, Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
- Centre for Environmental Radioactivity (Centre of Excellence), Norwegian University of Life Sciences NMBU, P.O. Box 5003, 1432, Ås, Norway
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Zhang H, Nizzetto L, Feng X, Borgå K, Sommar J, Fu X, Zhang H, Zhang G, Larssen T. Assessing Air-Surface Exchange and Fate of Mercury in a Subtropical Forest Using a Novel Passive Exchange-Meter Device. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:4869-4879. [PMID: 30990312 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A novel passive exchange meter (EM) device was developed to assess air-surface exchange and leaching of Hg in a forest floor. Flux measurements were carried out in a subtropical forest ecosystem during a full year. Over 40% of the Hg fixed in fresh forest litter was remobilized in less than 60 days in warm and humid conditions as a response to rapid turnover of labile organic matter (OM). A two-block experiment including understory and clearing showed that losses of Hg covaried with seasonal conditions and was significantly affected by forest coverage. The process controlling the bulk loss of total Hg from the litter was volatilization, which typically represented 76-96% of the loss processes (Floss). The Floss ranges were 520-1370 and 165-942 ng m-2 d-1 in the understory and clearing, respectively. On a yearly basis, deposition of airborne Hg exceeded total losses by a factor of 2.5 in the clearing and 1.5 in the understory. The vegetation litter in this subtropical forest therefore represented a net sink of atmospheric Hg. This study provided a novel approach to Hg air-soil exchange measurements and further insights on the link between Hg remobilization and OM turnover along with its environmental drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research , NO-0349 Oslo , Norway
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment , Masaryk University , 601 77 Brno , Czech Republic
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change , Xi'an , 710061 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing , 100049 , China
| | - Katrine Borgå
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research , NO-0349 Oslo , Norway
- Department of Biosciences , University of Oslo , NO-0316 Oslo , Norway
| | - Jonas Sommar
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
| | - Xuewu Fu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change , Xi'an , 710061 , China
| | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry , Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , 99 Lincheng West Road , Guiyang , 550081 , China
- CAS Center for Excellence in Quaternary Science and Global Change , Xi'an , 710061 , China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry , Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Guangzhou , 510640 , China
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Posch M, Aherne J, Moldan F, Evans CD, Forsius M, Larssen T, Helliwell R, Cosby BJ. Dynamic Modeling and Target Loads of Sulfur and Nitrogen for Surface Waters in Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Environ Sci Technol 2019; 53:5062-5070. [PMID: 30924642 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.8b06356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The target load concept is an extension of the critical load concept of air pollution inputs to ecosystems. The advantage of target loads over critical loads is that one can define the deposition and the point in time (target year) when the critical (chemical) limit is no longer violated. This information on the timing of recovery requires dynamic modeling. Using a well-documented dynamic model, target loads for acidic deposition were determined for 848 surface waters across Finland, Norway, Sweden, and the United Kingdom for the target year 2050. In the majority of sites ( n = 675), the critical ANC-limit was predicted to be achieved by 2050; however, for 127 sites, target loads were determined. In addition, 46 sites were infeasible, i.e., even a reduction of anthropogenic deposition to zero would not achieve the limit by 2050. The average maximum target load for sulfur was 38% lower than the respective critical load across the study lakes ( n = 127). Target loads on a large regional scale can inform effects-based emission reduction policies; the current assessment suggests that reductions beyond the Gothenburg Protocol are required to ensure surface water recovery from acidification by 2050.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Posch
- International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) , 2361 Laxenburg , Austria
| | - Julian Aherne
- School of the Environment , Trent University , Ontario , Canada K9J 7B8
| | - Filip Moldan
- IVL Swedish Environmental Research Institute , 400 14 Gothenburg , Sweden
| | - Chris D Evans
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology , Bangor LL57 2UW , United Kingdom
| | - Martin Forsius
- Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) , 00251 Helsinki , Finland
| | | | - Rachel Helliwell
- The James Hutton Institute , Craigiebuckler, Aberdeen AB15 8QH , United Kingdom
| | - B Jack Cosby
- Centre for Ecology & Hydrology , Bangor LL57 2UW , United Kingdom
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Xu X, Gu C, Feng X, Qiu G, Shang L, Xu Z, Lu Q, Xiao D, Wang H, Lin Y, Larssen T. Weir building: A potential cost-effective method for reducing mercury leaching from abandoned mining tailings. Sci Total Environ 2019; 651:171-178. [PMID: 30227287 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Revised: 09/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
To mitigate mercury (Hg) pollution and reduce Hg downstream transportation, a weir was designed by a river system that had been inflicted by leachate from the slagheap of the Yanwuping Hg mine in Wanshan Hg mining area. A whole year monitoring of Hg species was conducted, and the efficiency of Hg reduction by the weir application was evaluated. The Hg concentrations in the river water were significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry season. Waterflow was confirmed to be the main driving factor for Hg mobilization and transportation, and an episode study revealed that most Hg was released in times of storms. Increased monitoring and preventive maintenance measures need to be taken on barriers in advance of storms. A large proportion of the total Hg (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) is associated to particles. During the study period, approximately 412 g THg and 4.04 g total MeHg (TMeHg) were released from the YMM slagheap, of which 167 g THg and 1.15 g TMeHg were retained by the weir. Annually, 40.4% THg and 38.4% TMeHg was retained by the weir. Weir construction is considered as a potential cost-effective measure to mitigate Hg in river water and should be promoted and extended in the future after optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohang Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Chunhao Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Guangle Qiu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China
| | - Lihai Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China.
| | - Zhidong Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qinhui Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang 550081, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dean Xiao
- Guizhou Institute of Technology, Guiyang 550003, China
| | - Heng Wang
- Guizhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - Yan Lin
- College of Resources and Environment, Yangtze University, Wuhan 430100, China; Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
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10
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Braaten HFV, de Wit HA, Larssen T, Poste AE. Mercury in fish from Norwegian lakes: The complex influence of aqueous organic carbon. Sci Total Environ 2018; 627:341-348. [PMID: 29426157 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.01.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 01/24/2018] [Accepted: 01/24/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) concentrations in water and biota are often positively correlated to organic matter (OM), typically measured as total or dissolved organic carbon (TOC/DOC). However, recent evidence suggests that higher OM concentrations inhibit bioaccumulation of Hg. Here, we test how TOC impacts the Hg accumulation in fish in a synoptic study of Methyl-Hg (MeHg) in water and total Hg (THg) in perch (Perca fluviatilis) in 34 boreal lakes in southern Norway. We found that aqueous MeHg (r2 = 0.49, p < 0.0001) and THg (r2 = 0.69, p < 0.0001), and fish THg (r2 = 0.26, p < 0.01) were all positively related with TOC. However, we found declining MeHg bioaccumulation factors (BAFMeHg) for fish with increasing TOC concentrations. The significant correlation between fish THg concentrations and aqueous TOC suggests that elevated fish Hg levels in boreal regions are associated with humic lakes. The declining BAFMeHg with increasing TOC suggest that increased OM promotes increased aqueous Hg concentrations, but lowers relative MeHg bioaccumulation. A mechanistic understanding of the response from OM on BAFMeHg might be found in the metal-complexation properties of OM, where OM complexation of metals reduces their bioavailability. Hence, suggesting that MeHg bioaccumulation becomes less effective at higher TOC, which is particularly relevant when assessing potential responses of fish Hg to predicted future changes in OM inputs to boreal ecosystems. Increased browning of waters may affect fish Hg in opposite directions: an increase of food web exposure to aqueous Hg, and reduced bioavailability of Hg species. However, the negative relationship between BAFMeHg and TOC is challenging to interpret, and carries a great deal of uncertainty, since this relationship may be driven by the underlying correlation between TOC and MeHg (i.e. spurious correlations). Our results suggest that the trade-off between Hg exposure and accumulation will have important implications for the effects of lake browning on Hg transport, bioavailability, and trophodynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Heleen A de Wit
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Amanda E Poste
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
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11
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Harman C, Grung M, Djedjibegovic J, Marjanovic A, Fjeld E, Braaten HFV, Sober M, Larssen T, Ranneklev SB. The organic pollutant status of rivers in Bosnia and Herzegovina as determined by a combination of active and passive sampling methods. Environ Monit Assess 2018; 190:283. [PMID: 29656324 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-018-6667-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
There is an overall lack of data concerning the pollution status of Bosnia Herzegovina, which is confounded by fragmented national environmental management. The present study aimed to provide some initial data for concentrations of priority substances in two major Bosnian Rivers, using two types of passive sampler (PS) as well as by using high volume water sampling (HVWS). Overall, concentrations of most persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and legacy pesticides, were shown to be low. However, around the town of Doboj on the Bosna River, concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) breached European standards for several compounds and reached 67 ng L-1 for freely dissolved concentrations and 250 ng L-1 for total concentrations. In general, contamination was lower in the Neretva River compared to the Bosna, although for brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), results suggested an active source of PBDEs at one location based on the ratio of congeners 47 and 99. Direct comparisons between the different sampling techniques used are not straightforward, but similar patterns of PAH contamination were shown by HVWS and PS in the Bosna River. There are both scientific and practical considerations when choosing which type of sampling technique to apply, and this should be decided based on the goals of each individual study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Harman
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway.
| | - Merete Grung
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | | | | | - Eirik Fjeld
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Hans Fredrik Veiteberg Braaten
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Miroslav Sober
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sarajevo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Sissel Brit Ranneklev
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research (CIENS), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349, Oslo, Norway
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12
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Yu Q, Zhang T, Ma X, Kang R, Mulder J, Larssen T, Duan L. Monitoring Effect of SO 2 Emission Abatement on Recovery of Acidified Soil and Streamwater in Southwest China. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:9498-9506. [PMID: 28774175 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.7b01147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Following Europe and North America, East Asia has become a global hotspot of acid deposition, with very high deposition of both sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) occurring in large areas in southwest and southeast China. Great efforts have been made in reducing national emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2) since 2006 in China. However, the total emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) continued to increase until 2011. To evaluate the effects of SO2 and NOx emission abatement on acid deposition and acidification of soil and water, we monitored the chemical composition of throughfall, soil water, and streamwater from 2001 to 2013 in a small, forested catchment near Chongqing city in Southwestern China. The deposition of S decreased significantly, whereas N deposition increased in the recent years. This clearly showed the effect of SO2 abatement but not of NOx. Overall the rate of acid deposition was reduced. However, there was delay in the recovery of soil and surface water from acidification, probably due to desorption of previously stored sulfate (SO42-) and increase in nitrate (NO3-) leaching from soil. The average acid input by N transformations has greatly exceeded the H+ input directly by atmospheric deposition. The reversal of acidification with an increase in pH of soil water, requires additional abatement of emissions of both SO2 and NOx.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yu
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Ma
- State Grid Xingyuan Company Limited , Beijing 100761, China
| | - Ronghua Kang
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences , Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Jan Mulder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences , Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research , Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
- Collaborative Innovation Centre for Regional Environmental Quality, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
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13
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Yu Q, Zhang T, Cheng Z, Zhao B, Mulder J, Larssen T, Wang S, Duan L. Is surface water acidification a serious regional issue in China? Sci Total Environ 2017; 584-585:783-790. [PMID: 28161046 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2016] [Revised: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Acidic deposition used to cause severe surface water acidification in Europe and the North America, but no damage of surface water acidification was reported under continuous heavy acid deposition in China. We present the first detailed study on regional surface water acidification in southern and northeastern China based on a survey of 255 forested headwater streams, which were investigated during 2010-2015 to explore the status and mechanism of surface water acidification. South China has a subtropical climate with high acid deposition, whereas northeast China is located in a cold temperature zone with relatively low acid deposition. High pH and acid neutralizing capacity (ANC) were observed for almost all of the streams, indicating that surface water acidification may not be a serious regional issue in China both at present and in the future. In northeast China, where soil types are similar in low weathering rate to those in Northern Europe and North America, the ANC of surface waters was lower than that in South China, indicating a higher acid-sensitivity of the surface water. In comparison, the high pH and ANC of streams in southwest China resulted from high soil weathering and atmospheric calcium (Ca) deposition, despite elevated atmospheric acid inputs due to the high sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) deposition. Comparison of stream nitrate (NO3-) and sulfate (SO42-) concentrations with modeled N and S deposition showed significant N and possible S sinks in the catchments in south China, probably due to denitrification of NO3- in groundwater discharge zone and SO42- adsorption by acid soils respectively, which may also buffer the acidifying effect of S and N depositions. It seems that considerable NO3- leaching to stream waters does not occur in China unless N deposition is higher than 1.8keq·ha-1·yr-1 (2.50g N·m-2·yr-1) (or greater values in certain regions).
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Ting Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhenglin Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Jan Mulder
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Box 5003, NO-1432 Ås, Norway
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Regional Environmental Quality, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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14
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Lin Y, Wang S, Steindal EH, Zhang H, Zhong H, Tong Y, Wang Z, Braaten HFV, Wu Q, Larssen T. Minamata Convention on Mercury: Chinese progress and perspectives. Natl Sci Rev 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/nsr/nwx031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Norway
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, China
| | | | - Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Huan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, China
| | - Yindong Tong
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, China
| | - Zuguang Wang
- School of Environment & Natural Resources, Renmin University of China, China
| | | | - Qingru Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, China
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15
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Lin Y, Wang S, Steindal EH, Wang Z, Braaten HFV, Wu Q, Larssen T. A Holistic Perspective Is Needed To Ensure Success of Minamata Convention on Mercury. Environ Sci Technol 2017; 51:1070-1071. [PMID: 28111941 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b06309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, 0349, Norway
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing, 100084, China
| | | | - Zuguang Wang
- Renmin University of China , Beijing, 100872, China
| | | | - Qingru Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing, 100084, China
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16
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Duan L, Chen X, Ma X, Zhao B, Larssen T, Wang S, Ye Z. Atmospheric S and N deposition relates to increasing riverine transport of S and N in southwest China: Implications for soil acidification. Environ Pollut 2016; 218:1191-1199. [PMID: 27589892 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.08.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2016] [Revised: 08/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/28/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Following Europe and North America, East Asia has become a global hotspot for acid deposition, with very high deposition of both sulfur (S) and nitrogen (N) occurring in large areas of southwest and southeast China. This study shows that the outflow flux of sulfate (SO42-) in three major tributaries of the Upper Yangtze River in the Sichuan Basin in southwest China has been increasing over the last three decades, which implies the regional soil acidification caused by increasing sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Since 2005, the outflow of SO42- to the Upper Yangtze River from the Sichuan Basin has even reached the atmospheric SO2 emission from the basin. In contrast to S emissions, the rapid increase in nitrogen (N) emissions, including nitrogen oxides (NOx) and ammonia (NH3), have resulted in only a slight increase in nitrate (NO3-) concentrations in surface waters, indicating a large retention of N in the basin. Although N deposition currently contributes much less than S to soil acidification in this area, it is possible that catchments receiving a high input of N may be unable to retain a large fraction of the N deposition over long periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Regional Environmental Quality, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
| | - Xiao Chen
- Air Environmental Modeling and Pollution Controlling Key Laboratory of Sichuan Education Institutes, College of Resources and Environment, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
| | - Xiaoxiao Ma
- State Grid Xingyuan Company Limited, Beijing 100761, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China; Collaborative Innovation Centre for Regional Environmental Quality, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Zhixiang Ye
- Air Environmental Modeling and Pollution Controlling Key Laboratory of Sichuan Education Institutes, College of Resources and Environment, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu 610225, China
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17
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Abstract
Intentional use of mercury (Hg) is an important contributor to the release of Hg into the environment. This study presents the first inventory of material flow for intentional use of Hg in China. The total amount of Hg used in China increased from 803 ± 95 tons in 2005 to its peak level of 1272 ± 110 tons in 2011. Vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) production is the largest user of Hg, accounting for over 60% of the total demand. As regulations on Hg content in products are tightening globally against the background of the Minamata Convention, the total demand will decrease. Medical devices will likely still use a significant amount of Hg and become the second largest user of Hg if no proactive measures are taken. Significant knowledge gaps exist in China for catalyst recycling sector. Although more than half of the Hg used is recycled, this sector has not drawn enough attention. There are also more than 200 tons of Hg that had unknown fates in 2011; very little information exists related to this issue. Among the final environmental fates, landfill is the largest receiver of Hg, followed by air, water, and soil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, 0349, Norway
| | - Shuxiao Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
| | - Qingru Wu
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China
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18
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Nizzetto L, Butterfield D, Futter M, Lin Y, Allan I, Larssen T. Assessment of contaminant fate in catchments using a novel integrated hydrobiogeochemical-multimedia fate model. Sci Total Environ 2016; 544:553-563. [PMID: 26674684 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2015.11.087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 11/18/2015] [Accepted: 11/18/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Models for pollution exposure assessment typically adopt an overly simplistic representation of geography, climate and biogeochemical processes. This strategy is unsatisfactory when high temporal resolution simulations for sub-regional spatial domains are performed, in which parameters defining scenarios can vary interdependently in space and time. This is, for example, the case when assessing the influence of biogeochemical processing on contaminant fate. Here we present INCA-Contaminants, the Integrated Catchments model for Contaminants; a new model that simultaneously and realistically solves mass balances of water, carbon, sediments and contaminants in the soil-stream-sediment system of catchments and their river networks as a function of climate, land use/management and contaminant properties. When forced with realistic climate and contaminant input data, the model was able to predict polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) concentrations in multiple segments of a river network in a complex landscape. We analyzed model output sensitivity to a number of hydro-biogeochemical parameters. The rate of soil organic matter mineralization was the most sensitive parameter controlling PCBs levels in river water, supporting the hypothesis that organic matter turnover rates will influence re-mobilization of previously deposited PCBs which had accumulated in soil organic matrix. The model was also used to project the long term fate of PCB 101 under two climate scenarios. Catchment diffuse run-off and riverine transport were the major pathways of contaminant re-mobilization. Simulations show that during the next decade the investigated boreal catchment will shift from being a net atmospheric PCB sink to a net source for air and water, with future climate perturbation having little influence on this trend. Our results highlight the importance of using credible hydro-biogeochemical simulations when modeling the fate of hydrophobic contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, 62500 Brno, Czech Republic.
| | - Dan Butterfield
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martyn Futter
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ian Allan
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NO-0349, Oslo, Norway
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Sharma BM, Bharat GK, Tayal S, Larssen T, Bečanová J, Karásková P, Whitehead PG, Futter MN, Butterfield D, Nizzetto L. Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in river and ground/drinking water of the Ganges River basin: Emissions and implications for human exposure. Environ Pollut 2016; 208:704-13. [PMID: 26561452 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2015] [Revised: 10/25/2015] [Accepted: 10/26/2015] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Many perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants. They have been widely used in production processes and daily-use products or may result from degradation of precursor compounds in products or the environment. India, with its developing industrialization and population moving from traditional to contemporary lifestyles, represents an interesting case study to investigate PFAS emission and exposure along steep environmental and socioeconomic gradients. This study assesses PFAS concentrations in river and groundwater (used in this region as drinking water) from several locations along the Ganges River and estimates direct emissions, specifically for PFOS and PFOA. 15 PFAS were frequently detected in the river with the highest concentrations observed for PFHxA (0.4-4.7 ng L(-1)) and PFBS (<MQL - 10.2 ng L(-1)) among PFCAs and PFSAs, respectively. Prevalence of short-chain PFAS indicates that the effects of PFOA and PFOS substitution are visible in environmental samples from India. The spatial pattern of C5-C7 PFCAs co-varied with that of PFOS suggesting similar emission drivers. PFDA and PFNA had much lower concentrations and covaried with PFOA especially in two hotspots downstream of Kanpur and Patna. PFOS and PFOA emissions to the river varied dramatically along the transect (0.20-190 and 0.03-150 g d(-1), respectively). PFOS emission pattern could be explained by the number of urban residents in the subcatchment (rather than total population). Per-capita emissions were lower than in many developed countries. In groundwater, PFBA (<MQL - 9.2 ng L(-1)) and PFBS (<MQL - 4.9 ng L(-1)) had the highest concentrations among PFCAs and PFSAs, respectively. Concentrations and trends in groundwater were generally similar to those observed in surface water suggesting the aquifer was contaminated by wastewater receiving river water. Daily PFAS exposure intakes through drinking water were below safety thresholds for oral non-cancer risk in all age groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brij Mohan Sharma
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India.
| | - Girija K Bharat
- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India
| | - Shresth Tayal
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India; The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
| | - Jitka Bečanová
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Pavlína Karásková
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Paul G Whitehead
- School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, United Kingdom
| | - Martyn N Futter
- Department of Aquatic Sciences and Assessment, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, SE-75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic.
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20
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Sharma BM, Nizzetto L, Bharat GK, Tayal S, Melymuk L, Sáňka O, Přibylová P, Audy O, Larssen T. Melting Himalayan glaciers contaminated by legacy atmospheric depositions are important sources of PCBs and high-molecular-weight PAHs for the Ganges floodplain during dry periods. Environ Pollut 2015; 206:588-596. [PMID: 26312740 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2015.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2015] [Revised: 08/06/2015] [Accepted: 08/09/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Melting glaciers are natural redistributors of legacy airborne pollutants, affecting exposure of pristine proglacial environments. Our data shows that melting Himalayan glaciers can be major contributors of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) for surface water in the Gangetic Plain during the dry season. Glacial emissions can exceed in some cases inputs from diffuse sources within the catchment. We analyzed air, deposition and river water in several sections along the Ganges River and its major headwaters. The predominant glacial origin of these contaminants in the Himalayan reach was demonstrated using air-water fugacity ratios and mass balance analysis. The proportion of meltwater emissions compared to pollutant discharge at downstream sections in the central part of the Gangetic Plain was between 2 and 200%. By remobilizing legacy pollutants from melting glaciers, climate change can enhance exposure levels over large and already heavily impacted regions of Northern India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brij Mohan Sharma
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070, India
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo, 0349, Norway; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic.
| | - Girija K Bharat
- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India
| | - Shresth Tayal
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070, India; The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, 110003, India
| | - Lisa Melymuk
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Sáňka
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Petra Přibylová
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Ondřej Audy
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno, 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo, 0349, Norway
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21
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Grung M, Lin Y, Zhang H, Steen AO, Huang J, Zhang G, Larssen T. Pesticide levels and environmental risk in aquatic environments in China--A review. Environ Int 2015; 81:87-97. [PMID: 25968893 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2015] [Revised: 04/28/2015] [Accepted: 04/29/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
China is one of the largest producers and consumers of pesticides in the world today. Along with the widespread use of pesticides and industrialization, there is a growing concern for water quality. The present review aims to provide an overview of studies on pesticides in aquatic environments in China. The levels in the water, sediment and biota were scored according to a detailed environmental classification system based on ecotoxicological effect, which is therefore a useful tool for assessing the risk these compounds pose to the aquatic ecosystem. Our review reveals that the most studied areas in China are the most populated and the most developed economically and that the most frequently studied pesticides are DDT and HCH. We show maps of where studies have been conducted and show the ecotoxicological risk the pesticides pose in each of the matrices. Our review pinpoints the need for biota samples to assess the risk. A large fraction of the results from the studies are given an environmental classification of "very bad" based on levels in biota. In general, the risk is higher for DDT than HCH. A few food web studies have also been conducted, and we encourage further study of this important information from this region. The review reveals that many of the most important agricultural provinces (e.g., Henan, Hubei and Hunan) with the largest pesticide use have been the subject of few studies on the environmental levels of pesticides. We consider this to be a major knowledge gap for understanding the status of pesticide contamination and related risk in China. Furthermore, there is also a lack of studies in remote Chinese environments, which is also an important knowledge gap. The compounds analyzed and reported in the studies represent a serious bias because a great deal of attention is given to DDT and HCH, whereas the organophosphate insecticides dominating current use are less frequently investigated. For the future, we point to the need for an organized monitoring plan designed according to the knowledge gaps in terms of geographical distribution, compounds included, and risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Merete Grung
- NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Gaustadalléen 21, 0342 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Yan Lin
- NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Gaustadalléen 21, 0342 Oslo, Norway
| | - Hua Zhang
- NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Gaustadalléen 21, 0342 Oslo, Norway
| | | | - Jun Huang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Gan Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute for Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, China
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- NIVA (Norwegian Institute for Water Research), Gaustadalléen 21, 0342 Oslo, Norway
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Esteban M, Schindler BK, Jiménez JA, Koch HM, Angerer J, Rosado M, Gómez S, Casteleyn L, Kolossa-Gehring M, Becker K, Bloemen L, Schoeters G, Den Hond E, Sepai O, Exley K, Horvat M, Knudsen LE, Joas A, Joas R, Aerts D, Biot P, Borošová D, Davidson F, Dumitrascu I, Fischer ME, Grander M, Janasik B, Jones K, Kašparová L, Larssen T, Naray M, Nielsen F, Hohenblum P, Pinto R, Pirard C, Plateel G, Tratnik JS, Wittsiepe J, Castaño A. Mercury analysis in hair: Comparability and quality assessment within the transnational COPHES/DEMOCOPHES project. Environ Res 2015; 141:24-30. [PMID: 25483984 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2014.11.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2014] [Revised: 10/21/2014] [Accepted: 11/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring (HBM) is an effective tool for assessing actual exposure to chemicals that takes into account all routes of intake. Although hair analysis is considered to be an optimal biomarker for assessing mercury exposure, the lack of harmonization as regards sampling and analytical procedures has often limited the comparison of data at national and international level. The European-funded projects COPHES and DEMOCOPHES developed and tested a harmonized European approach to Human Biomonitoring in response to the European Environment and Health Action Plan. Herein we describe the quality assurance program (QAP) for assessing mercury levels in hair samples from more than 1800 mother-child pairs recruited in 17 European countries. To ensure the comparability of the results, standard operating procedures (SOPs) for sampling and for mercury analysis were drafted and distributed to participating laboratories. Training sessions were organized for field workers and four external quality-assessment exercises (ICI/EQUAS), followed by the corresponding web conferences, were organized between March 2011 and February 2012. ICI/EQUAS used native hair samples at two mercury concentration ranges (0.20-0.71 and 0.80-1.63) per exercise. The results revealed relative standard deviations of 7.87-13.55% and 4.04-11.31% for the low and high mercury concentration ranges, respectively. A total of 16 out of 18 participating laboratories the QAP requirements and were allowed to analyze samples from the DEMOCOPHES pilot study. Web conferences after each ICI/EQUAS revealed this to be a new and effective tool for improving analytical performance and increasing capacity building. The procedure developed and tested in COPHES/DEMOCOPHES would be optimal for application on a global scale as regards implementation of the Minamata Convention on Mercury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Esteban
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain
| | - Birgit Karin Schindler
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance - Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Germany; PROOF-ACS GmbH, Hamburg, Germany
| | - José Antonio Jiménez
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain
| | - Holger Martin Koch
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance - Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Germany
| | - Jürgen Angerer
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance - Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Germany
| | - Montserrat Rosado
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain
| | - Silvia Gómez
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain
| | | | | | | | - Louis Bloemen
- Environmental Health Sciences International, The Netherlands
| | - Greet Schoeters
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Antwerp, Belgium; University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Elly Den Hond
- Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Environmental Risk and Health, Belgium
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Dominique Aerts
- Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Belgium
| | - Pierre Biot
- Federal Public Service Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment, Belgium
| | - Daniela Borošová
- Regional Authority of Public Health of the Slovak Republic, Slovakia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Miklos Naray
- Hungarian Institute of Occupational Health, Hungary
| | | | | | | | - Catherine Pirard
- CHU of Liege, Laboratory of Clinical, Forensic and Environmental Toxicology, Belgium
| | | | | | - Jürgen Wittsiepe
- Department of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance - Institute of the Ruhr-University Bochum (IPA), Germany
| | - Argelia Castaño
- Environmental Toxicology, Centro Nacional de Sanidad Ambiental (CNSA), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Spain.
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Poste AE, Braaten HFV, de Wit HA, Sørensen K, Larssen T. Effects of photodemethylation on the methylmercury budget of boreal Norwegian lakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2015; 34:1213-23. [PMID: 25663582 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2014] [Revised: 01/07/2015] [Accepted: 01/30/2015] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in freshwater fish from southeastern Norway continue to increase, highlighting the need for a comprehensive understanding of MeHg sources, cycling, and degradation in the aquatic environment. The authors assessed the importance of photodemethylation in the MeHg budget of 4 Norwegian lakes. Photodemethylation rates were determined using incubation experiments with MeHg-spiked natural lake water. The authors determined full-spectrum exposure rates at all study sites and waveband-specific rates (photosynthetically active radiation, ultraviolet-A radiation, and ultraviolet-B radiation) at 1 clear-water (Sognsvann) and 1 humic (Langtjern) site. No significant differences in photodemethylation rates between the sites were found, and the authors' observed rates agreed with available literature for lake and wetland waters. The authors paired experimentally derived photodemethylation rates with lake-specific incident irradiation, light attenuation, and MeHg concentrations to estimate MeHg loss through photodemethylation for the study sites. For Langtjern, losses through photodemethylation equalled 27% of total annual inputs, highlighting the importance of photodemethylation in the MeHg budget. Furthermore, the authors assessed how changes in terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) exported to freshwaters and climate-driven reductions in ice cover duration may affect MeHg losses through photodemethylation. Results suggest that future increases in DOC may lead to higher aqueous MeHg concentrations in boreal lakes due to increased DOC-associated MeHg inputs paired with significant decreases in the loss of MeHg through photodemethylation due to increased light attenuation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Kai Sørensen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Oslo, Norway
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Braaten HFV, Fjeld E, Rognerud S, Lund E, Larssen T. Seasonal and year-to-year variation of mercury concentration in perch (Perca fluviatilis) in boreal lakes. Environ Toxicol Chem 2014; 33:2661-2670. [PMID: 25230721 DOI: 10.1002/etc.2733] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2014] [Revised: 06/25/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The authors examined the seasonal and year-to-year variations of mercury (Hg) concentrations in populations of perch (Perca fluviatilis) from 2 boreal freshwater lakes in southeast Norway. Fish Hg concentrations were determined seasonally (spring, summer, and autumn) over 3 yr (2010, 2011, and 2012) to test the hypothesis that there are substantial changes in fish Hg concentrations during the year (seasonal variation) as well as annually. Concentrations were significantly (p < 0.0001) different in the 2 study lakes, with mean seasonal concentrations varying from 0.24 mg/kg to 0.36 mg/kg and from 0.29 mg/kg to 0.37 mg/kg, respectively. The Hg concentrations of both perch populations showed significant year-to-year (p < 0.0001) and seasonal variation (p < 0.01). The changing fish Hg concentrations were 25% and 28% (2010-2011) and 17% and 0% (2011-2012) in the 2 lakes over the 3 yr, respectively. The results demonstrate how the significant year-to-year increase is, among other variables, related to changes in trophic position, shown through stable nitrogen (δ(15)N) isotope data. The seasonal variation is related to summer growth dilution. The results highlight the clear need for yearly studies of fish Hg concentrations, rather than the 3-yr cycle suggested by current European policy through the Water Framework Directive. The lack of yearly sampling may result in erroneous conclusions regarding fish Hg concentration time trends.
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Sharma BM, Bharat GK, Tayal S, Nizzetto L, Larssen T. The legal framework to manage chemical pollution in India and the lesson from the Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). Sci Total Environ 2014; 490:733-47. [PMID: 24907609 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.05.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2013] [Revised: 05/12/2014] [Accepted: 05/12/2014] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
India's rapid agro-economic growth has resulted into many environmental issues, especially related to chemical pollution. Environmental management and control of toxic chemicals have gained significant attention from policy makers, researchers, and enterprises in India. The present study reviews the policy and legal and non-regulatory schemes set in place in this country during the last decades to manage chemical risk and compares them with those in developed nations. India has a large and fragmented body of regulation to control and manage chemical pollution which appears to be ineffective in protecting environment and human health. The example of POPs contamination in India is proposed to support such a theory. Overlapping of jurisdictions and retrospectively approached environmental policy and risk management currently adopted in India are out of date and excluding Indian economy from the process of building and participating into new, environmentally-sustainable market spaces for chemical products. To address these issues, the introduction of a new integrated and scientifically-informed regulation and management scheme is recommended. Such scheme should acknowledge the principle of risk management rather than the current one based on risk acceptance. To this end, India should take advantage of the experience of recently introduced chemical management regulation in some developed nations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brij Mohan Sharma
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India.
| | - Girija K Bharat
- The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India
| | - Shresth Tayal
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, India; The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI), Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, India
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment (RECETOX), Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
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Sharma BM, Bharat GK, Tayal S, Nizzetto L, Cupr P, Larssen T. Environment and human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in India: a systematic review of recent and historical data. Environ Int 2014; 66:48-64. [PMID: 24525153 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2014.01.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Revised: 01/20/2014] [Accepted: 01/21/2014] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) have been used in a wide range of agricultural and industrial commodities, resulting in vigorous deterioration of environment and human health. A number of studies on the occurrence of POPs confirm their presence in various environmental compartments and human body. In order to deal with this global concern, India has recently prepared the National Implementation Plan (NIP) of the Stockholm Convention. Common beliefs point at India as a hot spot of POP contamination and human exposure; however no systematic analysis was ever performed so far considering all available past data on POP occurrence. This review aims to examine the distribution pattern of POPs in multicompartment environment and human samples, meta-analysis of time trends in exposure levels to environment and humans, and cross country comparison of POP contamination with China. Based on this review, it can be concluded that the Indian environment and human population are highly contaminated by DDTs and HCHs; however scarcity of data on other POPs makes it challenging to assess their nationwide human and environmental exposure. No evidence of a general decline in DDT and HCH residues in the environment and human body come out from the meta-analysis of time trend. While comparing contamination levels between India and China, tendency towards decline in POP contamination is visible in China, unlike India.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brij Mohan Sharma
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Delhi, India.
| | - Girija K Bharat
- The Energy and Resources Institute, Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, Delhi, India
| | - Shresth Tayal
- TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi 110070, Delhi, India; The Energy and Resources Institute, Darbari Seth Block, India Habitat Center, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003, Delhi, India
| | - Luca Nizzetto
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway; Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Pavel Cupr
- Research Centre for Toxic Compounds in the Environment, Masaryk University, Brno 62500, Czech Republic
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, Oslo 0349, Norway
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Zhang H, Feng X, Jiang C, Li Q, Liu Y, Gu C, Shang L, Li P, Lin Y, Larssen T. Understanding the paradox of selenium contamination in mercury mining areas: high soil content and low accumulation in rice. Environ Pollut 2014; 188:27-36. [PMID: 24531269 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2014.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2013] [Revised: 01/10/2014] [Accepted: 01/14/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Rice is an important source of Se for billions of people throughout the world. The Wanshan area can be categorized as a seleniferous region due to its high soil Se content, but the Se content in the rice in Wanshan is much lower than that from typical seleniferous regions with an equivalent soil Se level. To investigate why the Se bioaccumulation in Wanshan is low, we measured the soil Se speciation using a sequential partial dissolution technique. The results demonstrated that the bioavailable species only accounted for a small proportion of the total Se in the soils from Wanshan, a much lower quantity than that found in the seleniferous regions. The potential mechanisms may be associated with the existence of Hg contamination, which is likely related to the formation of an inert Hg-Se insoluble precipitate in soils in Wanshan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China; Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China.
| | - Chengxin Jiang
- Academy of Engineering Institute, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Qiuhua Li
- Key Laboratory for Information System of Mountainous Area and Protection of Ecological Environment of Guizhou Province, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang 550001, China
| | - Yi Liu
- Guizhou Academy of Geological Survey, Guiyang 55005, China
| | - Chunhao Gu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Lihai Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Ping Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 46 Guanshui Road, Guiyang 550002, China
| | - Yan Lin
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
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Braaten HFV, de Wit HA, Fjeld E, Rognerud S, Lydersen E, Larssen T. Environmental factors influencing mercury speciation in Subarctic and Boreal lakes. Sci Total Environ 2014; 476-477:336-45. [PMID: 24476974 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2014.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/07/2014] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental drivers of total mercury (TotHg) concentrations, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations, and MeHg fractions (a proxy for methylation potential, expressed as %MeHg) were assessed in a synoptic study of 51 lakes in southeast (Boreal) and northeast (Subarctic) Norway. Concentrations of TotHg and MeHg ranged between 0.5-6.6 ng/L and <0.02-0.70 ng/L, respectively. The lakes span wide ranges of explanatory environmental variables, including water chemistry, catchment characteristics, climate conditions, and atmospheric deposition of Hg, sulphur and nitrogen (N). Dissolved organic matter (DOM), measured as total organic carbon (TOC), was the variable most strongly correlated with TotHg (r(2)=0.76) and MeHg (r(2)=0.64) concentrations. Lakes in the Subarctic region had significantly lower TotHg and MeHg concentrations, and %MeHg than lakes in the Boreal region (p<0.01), implying a lower aquatic food web exposure of aqueous Hg species in Subarctic Norway than in the Boreal lakes. Statistical modelling (partial least squares) using data from the Boreal lakes produced models explaining 82%, 75% and 50% of the spatial variation of TotHg and MeHg concentrations and %MeHg, respectively. After TOC, the most significant explanatory variables were N availability, base cation status, and lake and catchment size. We conclude that a key process driving TotHg concentrations is DOM as a transport vector, while the role of DOM for MeHg and %MeHg is likely related to a combination of transport and DOM as a substrate for methylation. Also, negative correlations between MeHg, and catchment and lake size are consistent with in-lake and in-stream de-methylation processes. The statistical relationship suggests that N availability exerts a positive contribution on concentrations of MeHg and %MeHg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Fredrik V Braaten
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway; University of Oslo (UiO), Department of Chemistry, Sem Sælands vei 26, N-0371 Oslo, Norway.
| | - Heleen A de Wit
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Eirik Fjeld
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Sigurd Rognerud
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
| | - Espen Lydersen
- Telemark University College (TUC), Post box 203, N-3901 Porsgrunn, Norway
| | - Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, N-0349 Oslo, Norway
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Zhang H, Feng X, Chan HM, Larssen T. New insights into traditional health risk assessments of mercury exposure: implications of selenium. Environ Sci Technol 2014; 48:1206-1212. [PMID: 24377354 DOI: 10.1021/es4051082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that selenium (Se) has a significant effect on mercury (Hg) toxicology; however, Hg exposure risk assessments usually consider only the amount of Hg present in the environment or in food. On the basis of the present understanding of mechanisms of interaction between Se and Hg, the physiology/toxicology of Se, and the toxicology of Hg, we propose a new criterion for Se/Hg exposure assessment. This criterion, which is based on Se-Hg interactions, considers not only the toxicological consequences of Hg exposure but also the benefits and/or adverse effects of Se intake, especially the adverse effects related to a Se deficiency/excess. According to an illustrative assessment based on the new criterion and nine existing criteria, large knowledge gaps in the traditional assessments of exposure to Hg and/or Se were found, including those that assessed the interactions between Hg and Se. These results suggest that future assessments of Hg exposure (or Se intake) should include both Se and Hg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA) , Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
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Zhang H, Yin RS, Feng XB, Sommar J, Anderson CWN, Sapkota A, Fu XW, Larssen T. Atmospheric mercury inputs in montane soils increase with elevation: evidence from mercury isotope signatures. Sci Rep 2013; 3:3322. [PMID: 24270081 PMCID: PMC3839031 DOI: 10.1038/srep03322] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2013] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The influence of topography on the biogeochemical cycle of mercury (Hg) has received relatively little attention. Here, we report the measurement of Hg species and their corresponding isotope composition in soil sampled along an elevational gradient transect on Mt. Leigong in subtropical southwestern China. The data are used to explain orography-related effects on the fate and behaviour of Hg species in montane environments. The total- and methyl-Hg concentrations in topsoil samples show a positive correlation with elevation. However, a negative elevation dependence was observed in the mass-dependent fractionation (MDF) and mass-independent fractionation (MIF) signatures of Hg isotopes. Both a MIF (Δ199Hg) binary mixing approach and the traditional inert element method indicate that the content of Hg derived from the atmosphere distinctly increases with altitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- 1] State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China [2] Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway [3]
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Duan L, Liu J, Xin Y, Larssen T. Air-pollution emission control in China: impacts on soil acidification recovery and constraints due to drought. Sci Total Environ 2013; 463-464:1031-1041. [PMID: 23891996 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.06.108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2012] [Revised: 04/01/2013] [Accepted: 06/26/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The Chinese government has established compulsory targets to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 8% and 10%, respectively, during 2010-2015. In this study, the effect of the policy was evaluated by predicting the recovery of acidified forest soil in Chongqing, an area severely impacted by acid rain in southwest China. Since precipitation has decreased significantly in this area in recent years, the impact of drought on soil acidification was also considered. A dynamic acidification model, MAGIC, was used to predict future trends in soil chemistry under different scenarios for deposition reduction as well as drought. We found that the current regulation of SO2 emission abatement did not significantly increase soil water pH values, the Ca2+ to Al3+ molar ratio (Ca/Al), or soil base saturation to the level of 2000 before 2050. NOx emission control would have less of an effect on acidification recovery, while emission reduction of particulate matter could offset the benefits of SO2 reduction by greatly decreasing the deposition of base cations, particularly Ca(2+). Continuous droughts in the future might also delay acidification recovery. Therefore, more stringent SO2 emission control should be implemented to facilitate the recovery of seriously acidified areas in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Duan
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
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Liu X, Ming LL, Nizzetto L, Borgå K, Larssen T, Zheng Q, Li J, Zhang G. Critical evaluation of a new passive exchange-meter for assessing multimedia fate of persistent organic pollutants at the air-soil interface. Environ Pollut 2013; 181:144-150. [PMID: 23856089 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2013.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2013] [Revised: 06/05/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
A new passive exchange meter (PEM) to measure inter-compartment fluxes of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at the interface between soil and the atmosphere is described. The PEM uses labeled reference compounds (RC) added in-situ to vegetation litter deployed in open cylinders designed to trap the vertical downward export of the RCs while allowing free exchange of POPs between litter and air. Fluxes of native compounds (bulk deposition, volatilization and downward export) are quantitatively tracked. One scope of the PEM is to investigate the influence of biogeochemical controls on contaminant re-mobilization. The PEM performance was tested in a subtropical forest by comparing measurements under dense canopy and in a canopy gap; conditions in which deposition and turn-over of organic matter (OM) occur at different rates. Significant differences in fate processes were successfully detected. Surprisingly, mobilization by leaching of more hydrophobic compounds was higher under canopy, possibly as a result of canopy mediated enhancement of OM degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Organic Geochemistry, Guangzhou Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academic of Sciences, Guangzhou 510640, China
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Wang S, Huang J, Yang Y, Hui Y, Ge Y, Larssen T, Yu G, Deng S, Wang B, Harman C. First report of a Chinese PFOS alternative overlooked for 30 years: its toxicity, persistence, and presence in the environment. Environ Sci Technol 2013; 47:10163-70. [PMID: 23952109 DOI: 10.1021/es401525n] [Citation(s) in RCA: 342] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
This is the first report on the environmental occurrence of a chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (locally called F-53B, C8ClF16O4SK). It has been widely applied as a mist suppressant by the chrome plating industry in China for decades but has evaded the attention of environmental research and regulation. In this study, F-53B was found in high concentrations (43-78 and 65-112 μg/L for the effluent and influent, respectively) in wastewater from the chrome plating industry in the city of Wenzhou, China. F-53B was not successfully removed by the wastewater treatments in place. Consequently, it was detected in surface water that receives the treated wastewater at similar levels to PFOS (ca. 10-50 ng/L) and the concentration decreased with the increasing distance from the wastewater discharge point along the river. Initial data presented here suggest that F-53B is moderately toxic (Zebrafish LC50-96 h 15.5 mg/L) and is as resistant to degradation as PFOS. While current usage is limited to the chrome plating industry, the increasing demand for PFOS alternatives in other sectors may result in expanded usage. Collectively, the results of this work call for future assessments on the effects of this overlooked contaminant and its presence and fate in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), School of Environment, POPs Research Centre, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, P.R. China
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Wang S, Huang J, Yang Y, Hui Y, Ge Y, Larssen T, Yu G, Deng S, Wang B, Harman C. First report of a Chinese PFOS alternative overlooked for 30 years: its toxicity, persistence, and presence in the environment. Environ Sci Technol 2013; 47:10117-28. [PMID: 23952109 DOI: 10.1021/es402455r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This is the first report on the environmental occurrence of a chlorinated polyfluorinated ether sulfonate (locally called F-53B, C8ClF16O4SK). It has been widely applied as a mist suppressant by the chrome plating industry in China for decades but has evaded the attention of environmental research and regulation. In this study, F-53B was found in high concentrations (43-78 and 65-112 μg/L for the effluent and influent, respectively) in wastewater from the chrome plating industry in the city of Wenzhou, China. F-53B was not successfully removed by the wastewater treatments in place. Consequently, it was detected in surface water that receives the treated wastewater at similar levels to PFOS (ca. 10-50 ng/L) and the concentration decreased with the increasing distance from the wastewater discharge point along the river. Initial data presented here suggest that F-53B is moderately toxic (Zebrafish LC50-96 h 15.5 mg/L) and is as resistant to degradation as PFOS. While current usage is limited to the chrome plating industry, the increasing demand for PFOS alternatives in other sectors may result in expanded usage. Collectively, the results of this work call for future assessments on the effects of this overlooked contaminant and its presence and fate in the environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Wang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control (SKJLESPC), School of Environment, POPs Research Centre, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, P.R. China
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Harman C, Grung M, Djedjibegovic J, Marjanovic A, Sober M, Sinanovic K, Fjeld E, Rognerud S, Ranneklev SB, Larssen T. Screening for Stockholm Convention persistent organic pollutants in the Bosna River (Bosnia and Herzogovina). Environ Monit Assess 2013; 185:1671-1683. [PMID: 22580747 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-012-2659-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2011] [Accepted: 04/23/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The Stockholm Convention, which aspires to manage persistent organic pollutants (POPs) at the international level, was recently ratified in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Despite this fact, there is in general a paucity of data regarding the levels of POPs in the environment in BiH. In the present study, screening for POPs was conducted in one of the country's major rivers, the Bosna. A two-pronged approach was applied using passive samplers to detect the freely dissolved and bioavailable concentrations in the water phase and sediment analysis to provide an integrated measure of historical contamination. At several places along the river, the concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were high and exhibited potential for both chronic and acute effects to biota. River water also showed elevated concentrations of PAH, up to 480 ng L(-1) near the city of Doboj, and diagnostic ratios suggested combustion sources for the contamination present in both types of sample. The levels of the other contaminants measured-polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers--were generally low in the water phase. However, PCBs and some OCPs were present in river sediments at levels which breach the international criteria and thus suggest potential for ecological damage. Additionally, the levels of heptachlor breached these criteria in many of the sites investigated. This study presents the first screening data for some of these Stockholm Convention relevant compounds in BiH and reveals both low concentrations of some chemical groups, but significant point sources and historic contamination for others.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Harman
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, NIVA, Oslo Centre for Interdisciplinary Environmental and Social Research, CIENS, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway.
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Jenssen MTS, Brantsæter AL, Haugen M, Meltzer HM, Larssen T, Kvalem HE, Birgisdottir BE, Thomassen Y, Ellingsen D, Alexander J, Knutsen HK. Dietary mercury exposure in a population with a wide range of fish consumption--self-capture of fish and regional differences are important determinants of mercury in blood. Sci Total Environ 2012; 439:220-9. [PMID: 23069934 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2012] [Revised: 08/31/2012] [Accepted: 09/11/2012] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Human, low level, chronic exposure to mercury (Hg) from fish is of concern because of potential neurodevelopmental and cardiovascular toxicity. The purpose of the study was to 1) measure total mercury (THg) in blood and estimate dietary exposure in a population group with a wide range of seafood consumption, 2) assess the intake and blood concentration in relation to tolerable intake values, 3) characterise dietary sources, and 4) to investigate the relationship between dietary THg with THg in blood (BTHg), including factors that can explain the variance in BTHg concentrations. The participants (n=184) filled in an extensive food frequency questionnaire which was combined with a database on THg concentrations in Norwegian food, and donated blood and urine. Median consumption of seafood was 65 g/day (range 4 to 341 g/day). The calculated mean dietary THg exposure was 0.35 (median 0.30) μg/kg body weight/week. Seafood contributed on average 95% to the exposure. The JECFA Provisional Tolerable Weekly Intake (PTWI) of 1.6 μg MeHg/kg bw/week was not exceeded by any of the participants. BTHg ranged from 0.6 to 30 μg/L, with a mean of 5.3 (median 4.0 μg/L). There was a strong relationship between total seafood consumption and BTHg concentrations (r=0.58 95%CI: 0.48, 0.67) and between estimated THg dietary exposure and BTHg (r=0.46 95%CI: 0.35, 0.57). Fish consumption, sex, catching >50% of their seafood themselves, and living in coastal municipalities were significant factors in linear regression models with lnBTHg. Including urinary Hg in the regression model increased the explained variance from 54% to 65%. In a toxicokinetic model, the calculated dietary intake appeared to moderately underestimate the measured BTHg among the participants with the highest BTHg. Only two of the participants had BTHg slightly above a value equivalent to the JECFA PTWI, but none of them were women in fertile age.
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Affiliation(s)
- M T S Jenssen
- The Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NIVA), Norway.
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Zhang H, Feng X, Zhu J, Sapkota A, Meng B, Yao H, Qin H, Larssen T. Selenium in soil inhibits mercury uptake and translocation in rice (Oryza sativa L.). Environ Sci Technol 2012; 46:10040-10046. [PMID: 22916794 DOI: 10.1021/es302245r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A great number of studies have confirmed that mercury-selenium (Hg-Se) antagonism is a widespread phenomenon in microorganisms, fish, poultry, humans, and other mammals. However, by comparison, little attention has been paid to plants. To investigate the influence of Se on the uptake and translocation of methylHg/inorganic Hg (MeHg/IHg) in the rice-soil system, we determined the levels of Se, IHg, and MeHg in different parts of rice plants (including the root, stem, leaf, husk, and grain (brown rice)) and corresponding soils of root zones collected from a Hg mined area, where Hg and Se co-occur due to historic Hg mining and retorting activities. The results showed that, in general, the Se levels were inversely related to the levels of both IHg and MeHg in the grains. In addition, a consistent reduction in translocation of both IHg and MeHg in the aerial shoots (i.e., the stem, leaf, husk, and grain) with increasing Se levels in the soils was observed. Furthermore, the Se levels were positively correlated with the IHg levels in the soils and the roots. These results suggest that Se may play an important role in limiting the bioaccessibility, absorption, and translocation/bioaccumulation of both IHg and MeHg in the aerial rice plant, which may be related to the formation of an Hg-Se insoluble complex in the rhizospheres and/or roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
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Djedjibegovic J, Larssen T, Skrbo A, Marjanović A, Sober M. Contents of cadmium, copper, mercury and lead in fish from the Neretva river (Bosnia and Herzegovina) determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Food Chem 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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Lin Y, Larssen T, Vogt RD, Feng X, Zhang H. Modelling transport and transformation of mercury fractions in heavily contaminated mountain streams by coupling a GIS-based hydrological model with a mercury chemistry model. Sci Total Environ 2011; 409:4596-4605. [PMID: 21855960 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.07.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2010] [Revised: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 07/15/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Many heavily polluted areas are located in remote regions that lack routine hydrologic monitoring. A modelling method that can produce scenarios of water chemistry trends for regions that lack hydrological data is therefore needed. The Wanshan mining area, in Guizhou province in south-western China, is such a region, as it is heavily polluted with mercury (Hg). In order to model Hg transport in a stream draining the Wanshan mining area, a Geographic Information System (GIS) hydrologic model (HEC-HMS) was coupled with a simulation model for Hg fractions in water (WASP Hg). Hydrological variations in the stream flow can thereby be simulated based on readily available precipitation data. The WASP 7 MERC Hg model was used for simulating variations in total Hg, dissolved Hg and methyl-Hg concentrations. The results of HEC-HMS modelling of flow show clear seasonal variation. Winter (Oct-Dec) constitutes the dry season with low flow, while the summer season (Jun-Aug) is rainy with high flow. 48% of total annual precipitation happens in the three summer months. The stream flows at the high flow events were several times higher than normal flow. The modelled total suspended solids and Hg concentrations were tested against monitoring data from two sampling campaigns conducted in September 2007 and August 2008. The model produced reasonable simulations for TSS, THg, DHg and MeHg, with relative errors generally around 10% for the modelled parameters. High flow events are the main contributors for release of both suspended particles and Hg. The three high flow events account for about 50% of annual discharge of THg. The annual total discharge of Hg was 8.8 kg Hg high up in the stream and 2.6 kg where the stream meets a large river 20 km downstream of the pollution source. Hence, about 70% of Hg is retained in the stream through sedimentation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, POB 1033, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
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Duan L, Ma X, Larssen T, Mulder J, Hao J. Response of surface water acidification in upper Yangtze River to SO2 emissions abatement in China. Environ Sci Technol 2011; 45:3275-3281. [PMID: 21449576 DOI: 10.1021/es1038672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Surface waters in Europe and North America are slowly recovering from acidification following major reductions in emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) since the 1980s. In contrast, regions affected by acid rain have been reported to be growing in China. Here we show that the rapid change in surface water chemistry in the 1990s in large areas in Southwestern China, specifically the tributary rivers of the Upper Yangtze River, caused by increasing SO(2) emissions, has leveled off. During the 1990s the sulfate (SO(4)(2-)) concentrations in river water increased rapidly and, on average, doubled in only eight years. Simultaneously, calcium (Ca(2+)) concentrations increased, while pH values decreased. In the following decade (2000s), SO(2) emissions stabilized, causing a subsequent stop to the increasing SO(4)(2-) concentrations and pH decline in river water. Although a rapid response to future reduction in SO(2) emissions can be expected, a rapid increase of nitrogen (N) emissions could lead to increases in N leaching and delay recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Duan
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University , Beijing 100084, China.
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Larssen T, Duan L, Mulder J. Deposition and leaching of sulfur, nitrogen and calcium in four forested catchments in China: implications for acidification. Environ Sci Technol 2011; 45:1192-1198. [PMID: 21250675 DOI: 10.1021/es103426p] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Here we present the first detailed study on fluxes of sulfur (S), nitrogen (N), and major cations in Chinese subtropical forest catchments. Data are from four study sites, differing in inputs of atmospheric pollutants and sensitivity to acidification. Results show important differences from most sites in North America and Europe. Dry deposition of S, N, and calcium (Ca) is considerably larger than wet deposition in most cases causing deposition fluxes ranging from moderate to very high, both for acidifying compounds (S deposition 1.5-10.5 kiloequivalents per hectare and year (keq ha(-1) yr(-1)); N deposition 0.4 to 2.5 keq ha(-1) yr(-1)) and for alkaline compounds (Ca deposition 0.8 to 5.7 keq ha(-1) yr(-1)). More than half of the input of acidity is neutralized by alkalinity associated with Ca deposition. Furthermore, the retention of incoming S and N is small in the soil root zone, but considerable in the deeper soils or riparian zone. Drainage water from the root zone of the soils at the two sites with the highest deposition show pronounced acidification. For the two sites with moderate deposition inputs, the root zones are retaining some of the incoming S and buffer some of the incoming acidity. The subsoils and the riparian zonesare strong sinks for N, S, and Ca. This is associated with substantial acid neutralization at all sites. These features are of major importance for the understanding of the long-term effects of acidification in China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalleen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway
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Lin Y, Larssen T, Vogt RD, Feng X, Zhang H. Transport and fate of mercury under different hydrologic regimes in polluted stream in mining area. J Environ Sci (China) 2011; 23:757-764. [PMID: 21790047 DOI: 10.1016/s1001-0742(10)60473-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Seepage from Hg mine wastes and calcines contains high concentrations of mercury (Hg). Hg pollution is a major environmental problem in areas with abandoned mercury mines and retorting units. This study evaluates factors, especially the hydrological and sedimentary variables, governing temporal and spatial variation in levels and state of mercury in streams impacted by Hg contaminated runoff. Samples were taken during different flow regimes in the Wanshan Hg mining area in Guizhou Province, China. In its headwaters the sampled streams/rivers pass by several mine wastes and calcines with high concentration of Hg. Seepage causes serious Hg contamination to the downstream area. Concentrations of Hg in water samples showed significant seasonal variations. Periods of higher flow showed high concentrations of total Hg (THg) in water due to more particles being re-suspended and transported. The concentrations of major anions (e.g., Cl-, F-, NO3- and SO4(2-)) were lower during higher flow due to dilution. Due to both sedimentation of particles and dilution from tributaries the concentration of THg decreased from 2100 ng/L to background levels (< 50 ng/L) within 10 km distance downstream. Sedimentation is the main reason for the fast decrease of the concentration, it accounts for 69% and 60% for higher flow and lower flow regimes respectively in the upper part of the stream. Speciation calculation of the dissolved Hg fraction (DHg) (using Visual MINTEQ) showed that Hg(OH)2 associated with dissolved organic matter is the main form of Hg in dissolved phase in surface waters in Wanshan (over 95%).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Lin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oslo, POB 1033, 0315 Oslo, Norway.
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Zhang H, Feng X, Larssen T, Qiu G, Vogt RD. In inland China, rice, rather than fish, is the major pathway for methylmercury exposure. Environ Health Perspect 2010; 118:1183-8. [PMID: 20378486 PMCID: PMC2944075 DOI: 10.1289/ehp.1001915] [Citation(s) in RCA: 312] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2010] [Accepted: 04/08/2010] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fish consumption is considered the primary pathway of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure for most people in the world. However, in the inland regions of China, most of the residents eat little fish, but they live in areas where a significant amount of mercury (Hg) is present in the environment. OBJECTIVES We assessed concentrations of total Hg and MeHg in samples of water, air, agricultural products, and other exposure media to determine the main exposure pathway of Hg in populations in inland China. METHODS We selected Guizhou Province for our study because it is highly contaminated with Hg and therefore is representative of other Hg-contaminated areas in China. We selected four study locations in Guizhou Province: three that represent typical environments with severe Hg pollution [due to Hg mining and smelting (Wanshan), traditional zinc smelting (recently closed; Weining), and heavy coal-based industry (Qingzhen)], and a village in a remote nature reserve (Leigong). RESULTS The probable daily intake (PDI) of MeHg for an adult population based on 60 kg body weight (bw) was considerably higher in Wanshan than in the other three locations. With an average PDI of 0.096 microg/kg bw/day (range, 0.015-0.45 microg/kg bw/day), approximately 34% of the inhabitants in Wanshan exceeded the reference dose of 0.1 microg/kg bw/day established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The PDI of MeHg for residents in the three other locations were all well below 0.1 microg/kg bw/day (averages from 0.017 to 0.023 microg/kg bw/day, with a maximum of 0.095 microg/kg bw/day). In all four areas, rice consumption accounted for 94-96% of the PDI of MeHg. CONCLUSION We found that rice consumption is by far the most important MeHg exposure route; however, most of the residents (except those in Hg-mining areas) have low PDIs of MeHg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
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Zhang H, Feng X, Larssen T, Qiu G, Vogt RD. In inland China, rice, rather than fish, is the major pathway for methylmercury exposure. Environ Health Perspect 2010. [PMID: 20378486 DOI: 10.2307/20749145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fish consumption is considered the primary pathway of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure for most people in the world. However, in the inland regions of China, most of the residents eat little fish, but they live in areas where a significant amount of mercury (Hg) is present in the environment. OBJECTIVES We assessed concentrations of total Hg and MeHg in samples of water, air, agricultural products, and other exposure media to determine the main exposure pathway of Hg in populations in inland China. METHODS We selected Guizhou Province for our study because it is highly contaminated with Hg and therefore is representative of other Hg-contaminated areas in China. We selected four study locations in Guizhou Province: three that represent typical environments with severe Hg pollution [due to Hg mining and smelting (Wanshan), traditional zinc smelting (recently closed; Weining), and heavy coal-based industry (Qingzhen)], and a village in a remote nature reserve (Leigong). RESULTS The probable daily intake (PDI) of MeHg for an adult population based on 60 kg body weight (bw) was considerably higher in Wanshan than in the other three locations. With an average PDI of 0.096 microg/kg bw/day (range, 0.015-0.45 microg/kg bw/day), approximately 34% of the inhabitants in Wanshan exceeded the reference dose of 0.1 microg/kg bw/day established by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The PDI of MeHg for residents in the three other locations were all well below 0.1 microg/kg bw/day (averages from 0.017 to 0.023 microg/kg bw/day, with a maximum of 0.095 microg/kg bw/day). In all four areas, rice consumption accounted for 94-96% of the PDI of MeHg. CONCLUSION We found that rice consumption is by far the most important MeHg exposure route; however, most of the residents (except those in Hg-mining areas) have low PDIs of MeHg.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, China
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Larssen T, Cosby BJ, Lund E, Wright RF. Modeling future acidification and fish populations in Norwegian surface waters. Environ Sci Technol 2010; 44:5345-51. [PMID: 20568744 DOI: 10.1021/es100792m] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Despite great progress made in the past 25 years, acid deposition continues to cause widespread damage to the environment in Europe and eastern North America. Legislation to limit emissions of sulfur and nitrogen compounds in Europe is now under revision. The most recent protocol was based in part on the critical loads concept. The new protocol may also take into consideration the time delays between dose and response inherent in natural ecosystems. Policy decisions to reduce adverse effects on ecosystems entail a trade-off: quick response will require deeper cuts in emissions and thus higher costs, whereas lower costs with lesser cuts in emissions will give slower response. Acidification of lakes and damage to fish populations in Norway is used as an example. Under current legislation for emission reductions, surface waters will continue to slowly recover, but for many decades lakes in about 18% of Norway will continue to have water quality insufficient to support healthy populations of brown trout and other indicator organisms. Additional emission reductions can speed up the rate and degree of recovery.
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Zhang H, Feng X, Larssen T, Shang L, Li P. Bioaccumulation of methylmercury versus inorganic mercury in rice (Oryza sativa L.) grain. Environ Sci Technol 2010; 44:4499-504. [PMID: 20476782 DOI: 10.1021/es903565t] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Mercury (Hg) bioaccumulation in aquatic food webs has been much studied, motivated from high Hg levels found in many fish species important for human consumption. Hg bioaccumulation in terrestrial food chains have received little attention and assumed to be of minor importance. However, recent studies showed that rice can be an important pathway of methylmercury (MeHg) exposure to inhabitants in Hg mining areas in China. In this study, 59 sampling sites (including 32 sites from "heavily polluted area", 19 from "less-impacted area" and 8 from "control sites") were selected in a Hg mining area in China and both inorganic Hg (IHg) and MeHg were determined in rice grain (brown rice) and soil samples to evaluate Hg bioaccumulation in rice grain. Bio-Accumulation Factors (BAFs) for IHg ranged from 0.00014 to 0.51 and from 0.71 to 50 for MeHg. BAFs for MeHg were on average more than 800 times higher than those for IHg (maximum: 40,000 times). This study, for the first time, showed that rice grain is an intensive bioaccumulator of MeHg, but not of IHg, which may be trapped by the roots.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002, China
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Djedjibegovic J, Marjanovic A, Sober M, Skrbo A, Sinanovic K, Larssen T, Grung M, Fjeld E, Rognerud S. Levels of persistent organic pollutants in the Neretva River (Bosnia and Herzegovina) determined by deployment of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMD). J Environ Sci Health B 2010; 45:128-136. [PMID: 20390942 DOI: 10.1080/03601230903472017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The main objective of this study was to determine levels of certain persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in Neretva River, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which is currently facing implementation of the Stockholm Convention on persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and environmental protection strategies. This is the very first report on the deployment of semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) in BiH. SPMDs were used for continuous 3-weeks sampling of POPs at three locations, covering 220 km long stream of the Neretva River. Water concentrations of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and polybrominated diphenylethers (PBDEs) were calculated using performance reference compounds (PRCs). The total OCP concentrations ranged from 40 to 140 pg L(-1) and most of compounds were detected only in lower course of the river. Total PAH ranged from 160 to 4000 pg L(-1) and show a clear spatial variation. Dominant PAHs were phenanthrene, fluoranthene, fluorene and acenaphthene. Total PCB ranged from undetectable to 120 pg L(-1). From the group of 15 PBDE congeners investigated, only PBDE-47 and PBDE-99 were detected. Since the concentrations of broad spectrum of POPs found in the Neretva River are quite low, future actions should be focused on preservation rather than on sanitation measures. Regular monitoring should anyhow be established.
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Abstract
Chinese reservoirs may behave differently with respect to Hg mobilization compared to the much studied cases in North America and Europe.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research NIVA, Gaustadalléen 21, 0349 Oslo, Norway.
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Abstract
We present input and output fluxes of total mercury (Hg(tot)) and methyl mercury (MeHg) based on throughfall, litterfall and stream water samples from 2004/2005 from a small forested catchment (Langtjern) in Norway. Hg(tot) input via throughfall and litterfall was estimated to 6.7 and 2.7 microg m(-2) yr(-1), respectively, which is considerably lower than previously reported from other boreal catchments in Scandinavia. A likely cause for the low input flux is the sparseness and low productivity of the forest in the Langtjern catchment, with less atmospheric scavenging and lower litterfall fluxes than previously studied sites. In addition there has been a general decrease in mercury (Hg) in the atmosphere on the northern hemisphere in the last decade. The estimated output flux of Hg(tot) with surface water was 2.5 microg m(-2) yr(-1), which is comparable to what has been reported elsewhere. The ratio of Hg(tot) output flux to input flux was 26%, which is considerably higher than reported from other sites. This illustrates that catchment properties have greater importance for surface water export of Hg than the current atmospheric input. The estimated total soil pool of Hg(tot) in the catchment was 17.4 mg m(-2). This corresponds to roughly 8000 years of the current surface water output flux and 2000 years of the current input flux.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thorjørn Larssen
- Norwegian Institute for Water Research, Gaustadalléen 21, Oslo, Norway.
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Larssen T, Høgåsen T, Cosby BJ. Impact of time series data on calibration and prediction uncertainty for a deterministic hydrogeochemical model. Ecol Modell 2007. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2007.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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