Accumulation of heavy metals with water quality parameters in Kızılırmak River Basin (Delice River) in Turkey

Aluminum in Bottom Sediments of the Lower Silesian Rivers Supplying Dam Reservoirs vs. Selected Chemical Parameters

The study was carried out on sediments collected from three rivers: Nysa Szalona, Strzegomka and Bystrzyca flowing in southwestern Poland. The content of Al in sediments and in bottom water was determined in relation to chemical conditions. The study was carried out in a four-year cycle, during spring and autumn. The aim of the study was to determine the level and accumulation of aluminum in sediments of rivers supplying dam reservoirs storing water for consumption. The sediments studied were mineral in nature, with neutral pH and moderate sulfate content. The level of Al and heavy metals in the sediments was the highest in the Nysa Szalona River and the lowest in the Strzegomka River, which was also evident in the concentration factor (CF). In terms of season, higher Al contents were recorded in sediments in autumn than in spring, which was also reflected in the concentration factor (CF). Along the course of the river, a gradual decrease in Al levels was observed in successive tributaries in the Nysa Szalona and Strzegomka Rivers, while there was no apparent regularity for the Bystrzyca. Against this background, a comparison of extreme sites below the springs and at the reservoir outlet shows that values were higher in the Nysa Szalona below the springs, and lower in the Strzegomka and Bystrzyca below the reservoir outlet. The general picture of Al and heavy metal loading of the studied sediments shows the lowest loading for the Strzegomka, only the enrichment factor (EF) was the lowest for the Nysa Szalona: metal pollution index (MPI)-S < B < NS, contamination factor (C_f)-S < B < NS, degree of contamination (DC)-S < NS < B, EF-NS < B < S, geoaccumulation index (I_geo)-S < B < NS, CF-S < NS < B. There was no effect of catchment size and river length on Al levels in sediments.

Field measurements on alluvial watercourses in light of numerical modeling: case studies on the Danube River

Adequate monitoring and data acquisition of proper hydraulic, sediment, and constituent parameters in alluvial watercourses have become crucial aspects of human interaction with the environment. Conducting well-organized, comprehensive, and meaningful field measurements on natural watercourses are of great importance when assessing its hydraulic, morphological, and ecological state. However, this paper presents a methodology for field measurements on alluvial watercourses in light of numerical modeling. The proposed methodology focuses on collecting field data sets to calibrate numerical models for flow, sediment, and heavy metal transport. The proposed approach targets the simultaneous measurement of hydraulic, sediment transport, and heavy metal transport parameters that are key for calibrating constants and exchange mechanisms in contemporary numerical models. Using the principles laid out in this paper, two sets of measurements were carried out on the Danube River, one on a reach near Mohács in Hungary and the other on a reach near Belgrade in Serbia. The first case study discusses the measurement and results of comprehensive hydraulic and sediment parameters. The second case study considers hydraulic and sediment measurements complemented with trace metal measurements for zinc, lead, and mercury. These measurements were used for calibrating numerical models for flow, sediment, and heavy metal transport, as a proof of concept. It has been demonstrated that the gathered data sets contain key parameters that are strongly linked through physical laws and are needed for calibration purposes, as well as parameters that can allow the newly calibrated coefficients to be confirmed through other measured phenomena. Therefore, the proposed methodology provides minimal data sets with detailed measurements for calibrating numerical models for flow, sediment, and heavy metal transport. Guidelines for future measurements that can suffice the increasing need for numerical modeling and monitoring of natural watercourses are also offered.

Purification and characterization of the carbonic anhydrase enzyme from horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) muscle and the impact of some metal ions and pesticides on enzyme activity

In this paper, the total carbonic anhydrase (CA) enzyme was purified from horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) muscle with a specific activity of 23,063.93 EU/mg, purification fold of 551.08, total activity of 1522.22 EU/mL and a yield of 18.50% using sulfanilamide affinity column chromatography. For obtaining the subunit molecular mass and enzyme purity, sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) for this part was performed and a single band was clearly recorded. The molecular mass of this enzyme was found approximately 35 kDa. The optimum temperature and pH values were obtained from Arrhenius plot. In addition, the inhibitory effects of different heavy metal ions (Fe²⁺, Cu²⁺, Co²⁺, Pb²⁺ Hg²⁺ and As³⁺) and some pesticides (thiram, clofentezine, propineb, deltamethrin, azoxystrobin and thiophanate) on horse mackerel (Trachurus trachurus) muscle tissue CA enzyme activities were investigated by utilizing esterase assay activity. The used metal ions and pesticides had IC₅₀ values in the range of 0.21-13.84 mM and 3.78-70.58 mM, respectively.

Heavy metal concentrations in water and soil along the Hun River, Liaoning, China

Water and soil samples were collected along the Hun River to study the concentrations of Cr, Cu and Zn during the dry season, medium season and wet season in 2013. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Zn in Hun River were 0.0010 to 0.1298, 0.0057 to 0.1533 and 0.0162 to 0.5004 mg/L, respectively. The concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Zn in soil from around the Dahuofang reservoir were 0.0033 to 0.2149, 0.0054 to 0.2218 and 0.0135 to 0.3544 mg/g, respectively. The results indicated that the concentrations of Cr, Cu and Zn in water from the Hun River and soil from around the Dahuofang reservoir were significantly different at different sample stations and seasons. The pollution indexes of Cr, Cu and Zn in water and soil along the Hun River were calculated using principal component analysis in order to enact future measures against heavy metal pollution. According to the pollution characteristics of heavy metals along the Hun River, a treatment strategy was formulated to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of heavy metal pollution along the Hun River.

Accumulation of metals relevant for agricultural contamination in gills of European chub (Squalius cephalus)

The study of metal bioaccumulation in the gills of European chub (Squalius cephalus) was conducted in September 2009 at the medium-sized rural river Sutla, characterized by agricultural and municipal type of water contamination. The concentration ranges were established for the first time in the soluble, metabolically available fractions of chub gills for 12 metals, which are environmentally extremely relevant and yet only seldom studied, as follows in a decreasing order: K, 225-895 mg L(-1); Na, 78-366 mg L(-1); Ca, 19-62 mg L(-1); Mg, 13-47 mg L(-1); Rb, 164-1762 μg L(-1); Sr, 24-81 μg L(-1); Ba, 13-67 μg L(-1); Mo, 1.3-16 μg L(-1); Co, 0.7-2.7 μg L(-1); Li, 0.4-2.2 μg L(-1); Cs, 0.2-1.9 μg L(-1); and V, 0.1-1.8 μg L(-1). The concentrations of Fe (1.6-6.4 mg L(-1)) and Mn (16-69 μg L(-1)) were also determined and were in agreement with previous reports. By application of general linear modelling, the influence of different abiotic (metal exposure level) and biotic parameters (fish sex, age, size and condition) on metal bioaccumulation was tested. It was established that bioaccumulation of many metals in fish depended on various physiological conditions, wherein Ba could be singled out as metal exhibiting the strongest association with one of biotic parameters, being significantly higher in smaller fish. However, it was also undoubtedly demonstrated that the concentrations of three metals can be applied as reliable indicators of metal exposure even in the conditions of low or moderate water contamination, such as observed in the Sutla River, and those were nonessential elements Li and Cs and essential element Fe. The results of our study present an important contribution to maintenance of high ecological status of European freshwaters, through enrichment of knowledge on the bioaccumulation of various metals in gills of European chub as frequently applied bioindicator species in monitoring of water pollution.

Preliminary study on heavy metal concentrations of Anatolian Khramulya, Capoeta tinca (Heckel, 1843) from Çamlıgöze Dam Lake, Sivas, Turkey

The concentrations of heavy metals (Ag, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) were analyzed in muscle, skin and liver of Anatolian Khramulya, Capoeta tinca (Heckel, 1843) from Çamlıgöze Dam Lake located at Central Anatolian region of Turkey. The heavy metal analysis of samples was carried out by using a flame atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Ag, Cd, Co, Pb and Zn were found in all of the examined tissues. Cu and Ni were not determined in all tissues studied. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in all of the examined tissues of Capoeta tinca were as follows: Ag: 0.057 ± 0.038-0.120 ± 0.051, Cd: 0.020 ± 0.004-1.451 ± 0.879, Co: 0.127 ± 0.067-0.205 ± 0.086, Pb: 1.939 ± 0.477-2.604 ± 0.393 and Zn: 0.056 ± 0.014-0.530 ± 0.129 μg/g in Çamlıgöze Dam Lake. According to international criterias and Turkish regulation, heavy metal concentrations especially Cd and Pb in Çamlıgöze Dam Lake were found above the permissible levels for examined tissues of Capoeta tinca. Furthermore, frequent consumption of contaminated fish is able to offer a serious public health risk. Therefore, the concentrations of metals accumulated in the fish, which are commonly consumed by public, should be monitored periodically in Çamlıgöze Dam Lake.

Heavy metal contaminations in the groundwater of Brahmaputra flood plain: an assessment of water quality in Barpeta District, Assam (India)

A study was conducted to evaluate the heavy metal contamination status of groundwater in Brahmaputra flood plain Barpeta District, Assam, India. The Brahmaputra River flows from the southern part of the district and its many tributaries flow from north to south. Cd, Fe, Mn, Pb, and Zn are estimated by using atomic absorption spectrometer, Perkin Elmer AA 200. The quantity of heavy metals in drinking water should be checked time to time; as heavy metal accumulation will cause numerous problems to living being. Forty groundwater samples were collected mainly from tube wells from the flood plain area. As there is very little information available about the heavy metal contamination status in the heavily populated study area, the present work will help to be acquainted with the suitability of groundwater for drinking applications as well as it will enhance the database. The concentration of iron exceeds the WHO recommended levels of 0.3 mg/L in about 80% of the samples, manganese values exceed 0.4 mg/L in about 22.5% of the samples, and lead values also exceed limit in 22.5% of the samples. Cd is reported in only four sampling locations and three of them exceed the WHO permissible limit (0.003 mg/L). Zinc concentrations were found to be within the prescribed WHO limits. Therefore, pressing awareness is needed for the betterment of water quality; for the sake of safe drinking water. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using Special Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 16).