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Wang Z, Hua P, Zhang J, Krebs P. Bayesian-Based Approaches to Exploring the Long-Term Alteration in Trace Metals of Surface Water and Its Driving Forces. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:1658-1669. [PMID: 36594866 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.2c07210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Trace metal pollution poses a serious threat to the aquatic ecosystem. Therefore, characterizing the long-term environmental behavior of trace metals and their driving forces is essential for guiding water quality management. Based on a long-term data set from 1990 to 2019, this study systematically conducted the spatiotemporal trend assessment, influential factor analysis, and source apportionment of trace elements in the rivers of the German Elbe River basin. Results show that the mean concentrations of the given elements in the last 30 years were found in the order of Fe (1179.5 ± 1221 μg·L-1) ≫ Mn (209.6 ± 181.7 μg·L-1) ≫ Zn (52.5 ± 166.2 μg·L-1) ≫ Cu (5.3 ± 5.5 μg·L-1) > Ni (4.4 ± 8.3 μg·L-1) > Pb (3.3 ± 4.4 μg·L-1) > As (2.9 ± 2.3 μg·L-1) > Cr (1.8 ± 2.4 μg·L-1) ≫ Cd (0.3 ± 1.1 μg·L-1) > Hg (0.05 ± 0.12 μg·L-1). Wavelet analyses show that river flow regimes and flooding dominated the periodic variations in metal pollution. Bayesian network suggests that the hydrochemical factors (i.e., TOC, TP, TN, pH, and EC) chemically influenced the metal mobility between water and sediments. Furthermore, the source apportionment computed by the Bayesian multivariate receptor model shows that the given element contamination was typically attributed to the geogenic sources (17.5, 95% confidence interval: 13.1-17.6%), urban and industrial sources (22.1, 18.0-27.2%), arable soil erosion (24.2, 16.4-31.5%), and historical anthropogenic activities (35.2, 32.8-43.3%). The results provided herein reveal that both the hydrochemical influence on metal mobility and the chronic disturbance from anthropogenic activities caused the long-term variation in trace metal pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Wang
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062Dresden, Germany
| | - Pei Hua
- SCNU Environmental Research Institute, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution and Environmental Safety & MOE Key Laboratory of Theoretical Chemistry of Environment, South China Normal University, 510006Guangzhou, China
- School of Environment, South China Normal University, University Town, 510006Guangzhou, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Hydrology-Water Resources and Hydraulic Engineering, Yangtze Institute for Conservation and Development, Hohai University, 210098Nanjing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Desert and Oasis Ecology, Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 830011Urumqi, China
| | - Peter Krebs
- Institute of Urban and Industrial Water Management, Technische Universität Dresden, 01062Dresden, Germany
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Emmerton CA, Drevnick PE, Serbu JA, Cooke CA, Graydon JA, Reichert M, Evans MS, McMaster ME. Downstream Modification of Mercury in Diverse River Systems Underscores the Role of Local Conditions in Fish Bioaccumulation. Ecosystems 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-022-00745-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
AbstractFish consumption advisories for mercury (Hg) are common in rivers, highlighting connections between landscape sources of Hg and downstream fluvial ecosystems. Though watershed conditions can influence concentrations of Hg in smaller streams, how Hg changes downstream through larger rivers and how these changes associate with Hg concentrations in fish is not well understood. Here we present a continuum of concentrations and yields of total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) from small tributary systems draining diverse western Canadian headwater landscapes through to major transboundary rivers. We associate these downstream patterns with THg concentrations in tissues of resident fish in major rivers. Mean concentrations and yields of unfiltered THg from over 80 monitored tributaries and major rivers were highly variable in space ranging from 0.28 to 120 ng L−1 and 0.39 to 170 µg ha−1 d−1, respectively. Using spatial data and a hierarchical cluster analysis, we identified three broad categories of tributary catchment conditions. Linear mixed modeling analysis with water quality variables revealed significantly lower THg concentrations in tributaries draining cordillera-foothills (geometric mean: 0.76 ng L−1) regions relative to those draining forested (1.5 ng L−1) and agriculturalized landscapes (2.4 ng L−1), suggesting that sources and mobility of THg in soils and surface waters were different between landscapes. However, these concentration differences were not sustained downstream in major rivers as local sources and sinks of THg in river channels smoothed differences between landscape types. Extensive fish tissue monitoring in major rivers and ANCOVA analysis found that site-specific, river water THg and MeHg concentrations and local catchment conditions were stronger associates of THg concentrations in fish than broader trends in rivers within and across landscape classes. Consequently, site-specific, targeted monitoring of THg and MeHg concentrations in water and fish is a preferred study design when assessing regional-level patterns in fish tissue concentrations.
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Sun X, Zhang Q, Li M, Kandel K, Rawat B, Pandey A, Guo J, Kang S, Pant RR, Cong Z, Zhang F. Mercury variation and export in trans-Himalayan rivers: Insights from field observations in the Koshi River. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 738:139836. [PMID: 32526422 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2020] [Revised: 05/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Strengthening the research of riverine mercury (Hg) export is of great significance for understanding the regional and global Hg cycle, especially for the data lacking trans-Himalayan rivers. In this study, three systematic sampling campaigns were conducted in the Koshi River Basin (KRB) during the post-monsoon, pre-monsoon and monsoon seasons. Hg speciation and distribution of river water were analyzed among the different seasons for a total of 88 water samples. The total Hg (THg) concentration of surface water in the KRB ranged from 0.64 to 32.96 ng·L-1 with an average of 5.83 ± 6.19 ng·L-1 and decreased in the order of post-monsoon (8.79 ± 7.32 ng·L-1) > monsoon (6.68 ± 6.12 ng·L-1) > pre-monsoon (2.18 ± 1.29 ng·L-1). Particulate Hg (PHg) accounted for 63% of THg on average and had a positive correlation with THg among all the three sampling seasons, indicating that the differences in PHg concentration were likely one of the main factors leading to the seasonal and spatial variations in THg in the KRB surface water. The annual Hg exports and fluxes were estimated to be 339.04 kg and 3.88 μg·m-2·yr-1, respectively. Furthermore, Hg export from the KRB had significant seasonal variation and decreased in the order of monsoon (259.47 kg) > post-monsoon (61.18 kg) > winter (9.31 kg) > pre-monsoon (9.08 kg), and this pattern was mainly related to seasonal changes in river runoff. The annual Hg export is projected to increase in the future, especially in the post-monsoon season. Therefore, more attention should be paid to river runoff observations and riverine Hg research for water resources management in the Himalaya.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejun Sun
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Qianggong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Mingyue Li
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Kshitiz Kandel
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Bakhat Rawat
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Aastha Pandey
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Junming Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Shichang Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Ramesh Raj Pant
- Central Department of Environmental Science, Tribhuvan University, Nepal
| | - Zhiyuan Cong
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Fan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Tibetan Environment Changes and Land Surface Processes, Institute of Tibetan Plateau Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; CAS Center for Excellence in Tibetan Plateau Earth Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
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Perusini HB, Hammerschmidt CR. Temporal Variation of Mercury in Effluent from Two Municipal Wastewater-Treatment Plants in Southwest Ohio. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY 2020; 39:1027-1031. [PMID: 32077128 DOI: 10.1002/etc.4692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Revised: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 02/18/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater-treatment plants (WWTPs) are an important source of mercury (Hg) to surface waters, but little is known about temporal variability of efflux to aquatic systems. We found that Hg concentrations in effluent varied by about a factor of 2 on monthly, weekly, and hourly timescale comparisons. These results suggest that limited sampling can yield a representative concentration with reasonable uncertainty for purposes of estimating the environmental significance of Hg from WWTPs. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:1027-1031. © 2020 SETAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather B Perusini
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
| | - Chad R Hammerschmidt
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, USA
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Ouyang W, Xu Y, Cao J, Gao X, Gao B, Hao Z, Lin C. Rainwater characteristics and interaction with atmospheric particle matter transportation analyzed by remote sensing around Beijing. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 651:532-540. [PMID: 30243172 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.09.120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 08/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/09/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Air pollution in Beijing has attracted much more attentions, and multiple regulations have been enacted since 2013. Based on the close link between the atmospheric particle matter concentration and the deposited load in rainwater, 336 rainwater samplings with seven parameters (pH, NH4+-N, NO3--N, P, S, Cu and Cd) at five-minute intervals in 2013 and 2014 were compared. The field monitoring and the temporal patterns analysis revealed a positive development of air quality. The lesser composition of coal in the energy consumption and the effective control of traffic emission were found. The average Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) value around the sampling point during the 7 sampling rainfall events in 2014 was 2.855, which was higher than that in 2013 (1.807). It reflected the washing effect of rain on atmospheric particulates and highlighted the urban non-point source pollution effected by atmospheric deposition. AOD was demonstrated to perform well in reflecting regional air quality. A trajectory analysis conducted by HYSPLIT model in conjunction with the spatial distribution of AOD in the Beijing-Tian-Hebei (BTH) region depicted paths of air pollutants from long-range transport. The dominant trace was to the south of region. Cities around BTH were provided with different emission-reducing targets. Both Inner Mongolia and Henan province were suggested to control agricultural emissions. Shanxi, Shandong and cities around Bohai Bay should supervise the energy consuming industries. Furthermore, NO3--N was introduced to be an indicator of effect of the regional joint prevention and control in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Ouyang
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China.
| | - Yi Xu
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Jiaqi Cao
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Xiang Gao
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Bing Gao
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Zengchao Hao
- College of Water Sciences, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
| | - Chunye Lin
- School of Environment, State Key Laboratory of Water Environment Simulation, Beijing Normal University, Beijing 100875, China
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Sonne AT, Rasmussen JJ, Höss S, Traunspurger W, Bjerg PL, McKnight US. Linking ecological health to co-occurring organic and inorganic chemical stressors in a groundwater-fed stream system. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2018; 642:1153-1162. [PMID: 30045497 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.06.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2018] [Revised: 06/09/2018] [Accepted: 06/10/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Freshwaters are among the most endangered ecosystems worldwide, due predominantly to excessive anthropogenic practices compromising the future provisioning of ecosystem services. Despite increased awareness of the role of multiple stressors in accounting for ecological degradation in mixed land-use stream systems, risk assessment approaches applicable in field settings are still required. This study provides a first indication for ecological consequences of the interaction of organic and inorganic chemical stressors, not typically evaluated together, which may provide a missing link enabling the reconnection of chemical and ecological findings. Specifically, impaired ecological conditions - represented by lower abundance of meiobenthic individuals - were observed in the hyporheic zone where a contaminant groundwater plume discharged to the stream. These zones were characterized by high xenobiotic organic concentrations, and strongly reduced groundwater (e.g. elevated dissolved iron and arsenic) linked to the dissolution of iron hydroxides (iron reduction) caused by the degradation of xenobiotic compounds in the plume. Further research is still needed to separate whether impact is driven by a combined effect of organic and inorganic stressors impacting the ecological communities, or whether the conditions - when present simultaneously - are responsible for enabling a specific chemical stressor's availability (e.g. trace metals), and thus toxicity, along the study stream. Regardless, these findings suggest that benthic meioinvertebrates are promising indicators for supporting biological assessments of stream systems to sufficiently represent impacts resulting from the co-occurrence of stressors in different stream compartments. Importantly, identification of the governing circumstances is crucial for revealing key patterns and impact drivers that may be needed in correctly prioritizing stressor impacts in these systems. This study further highlights the importance of stream-aquifer interfaces for investigating chemical stressor effects in multiple stressor systems. This will require holistic approaches for linking contaminant hydrogeology and eco(toxico)logy in order to positively influence the sustainable management of water resources globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Th Sonne
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jes J Rasmussen
- Department of Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, DK-8600 Silkeborg, Denmark
| | - Sebastian Höss
- Ecossa, Giselastrasse 6, 82319 Starnberg, Germany; University of Bielefeld, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Walter Traunspurger
- University of Bielefeld, Animal Ecology, Konsequenz 45, D-33615 Bielefeld, Germany
| | - Poul L Bjerg
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ursula S McKnight
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet, Building 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
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Hsu-Kim H, Eckley CS, Achá D, Feng X, Gilmour CC, Jonsson S, Mitchell CPJ. Challenges and opportunities for managing aquatic mercury pollution in altered landscapes. AMBIO 2018; 47:141-169. [PMID: 29388127 PMCID: PMC5794684 DOI: 10.1007/s13280-017-1006-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
The environmental cycling of mercury (Hg) can be affected by natural and anthropogenic perturbations. Of particular concern is how these disruptions increase mobilization of Hg from sites and alter the formation of monomethylmercury (MeHg), a bioaccumulative form of Hg for humans and wildlife. The scientific community has made significant advances in recent years in understanding the processes contributing to the risk of MeHg in the environment. The objective of this paper is to synthesize the scientific understanding of how Hg cycling in the aquatic environment is influenced by landscape perturbations at the local scale, perturbations that include watershed loadings, deforestation, reservoir and wetland creation, rice production, urbanization, mining and industrial point source pollution, and remediation. We focus on the major challenges associated with each type of alteration, as well as management opportunities that could lessen both MeHg levels in biota and exposure to humans. For example, our understanding of approximate response times to changes in Hg inputs from various sources or landscape alterations could lead to policies that prioritize the avoidance of certain activities in the most vulnerable systems and sequestration of Hg in deep soil and sediment pools. The remediation of Hg pollution from historical mining and other industries is shifting towards in situ technologies that could be less disruptive and less costly than conventional approaches. Contemporary artisanal gold mining has well-documented impacts with respect to Hg; however, significant social and political challenges remain in implementing effective policies to minimize Hg use. Much remains to be learned as we strive towards the meaningful application of our understanding for stakeholders, including communities living near Hg-polluted sites, environmental policy makers, and scientists and engineers tasked with developing watershed management solutions. Site-specific assessments of MeHg exposure risk will require new methods to predict the impacts of anthropogenic perturbations and an understanding of the complexity of Hg cycling at the local scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heileen Hsu-Kim
- Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, Duke University, 121 Hudson Hall, Box 90287, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Chris S. Eckley
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Region-10, 1200 6th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101 USA
| | - Dario Achá
- Unidad de Calidad Ambiental, Instituto de Ecología, Carrera de Biología, Universidad Mayor de San Andrés, P.O. Box 10077, La Paz, Bolivia
| | - Xinbin Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Geochemistry, Institute of Geochemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guiyang, 550002 China
| | - Cynthia C. Gilmour
- Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd, Edgewater, MD 21037-0028 USA
| | - Sofi Jonsson
- Department of Environmental Science and Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University, Svante Arrhenius väg 8, 11418 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Carl P. J. Mitchell
- Department of Physical and Environmental Sciences, University of Toronto Scarborough, 1265 Military Trail, Toronto, ON M1C 1A4 Canada
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McKee LJ, Bonnema A, David N, Davis JA, Franz A, Grace R, Greenfield BK, Gilbreath AN, Grosso C, Heim WA, Hunt JA, Leatherbarrow JE, Lowe S, Pearce SA, Ross JRM, Yee D. Long-term variation in concentrations and mass loads in a semi-arid watershed influenced by historic mercury mining and urban pollutant sources. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 605-606:482-497. [PMID: 28672237 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2016] [Revised: 04/26/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Urban watersheds are significantly anthropogenically-altered landscapes. Most previous studies cover relatively short periods, without addressing concentrations, loads, and yields in relation to annual climate fluctuations, and datasets on Ag, Se, PBDEs, and PCDD/Fs are rare. Intensive storm-focused sampling and continuous turbidity monitoring were employed to quantify pollution at two locations in the Guadalupe River (California, USA). At a downstream location, we determined loads of suspended sediment (SS) for 14yrs., mercury (HgT), PCBs, and total organic carbon (TOC) (8yrs), total methylmercury (MeHgT) (6yrs), nutrients, and trace elements including Ag and Se (3yrs), DDTs, chlordanes, dieldrin, and PBDEs (2yrs), and PCDD/Fs (1yr). At an upstream location, we determined loads of SS for 4yrs. and HgT, MeHgT, PCBs and PCDD/Fs for 1yr. These data were compared to previous studies, climatically adjusted, and used to critically assess the use of small datasets for estimating annual average conditions. Concentrations and yields in the Guadalupe River appear to be atypical for total phosphorus, DDTs, dieldrin, HgT, MeHgT, Cr, Ni, and possibly Se due to local conditions. Other pollutants appear to be similar to other urban systems. On average, wet season flow varied by 6.5-fold and flow-weighted mean (FWM) concentrations varied 4.4-fold, with an average 7.1-fold difference between minimum and maximum annual loads. Loads for an average runoff year for each pollutant were usually less than the best estimate of long-term average. The arithmetic average of multiple years of load data or a FWM concentration combined with mean annual flow was also usually below the best estimate of long-term average load. Mean annual loads using sampled years were also less than the best estimate of long-term average by a mean of 2.2-fold. Climatic adjustment techniques are needed for computing estimates of long-term average annual loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lester J McKee
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA.
| | - Autumn Bonnema
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, USA
| | - Nicole David
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Jay A Davis
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Amy Franz
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | | | | | - Alicia N Gilbreath
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Cristina Grosso
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Wesley A Heim
- Moss Landing Marine Laboratories, Moss Landing, California, USA
| | - Jennifer A Hunt
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Jon E Leatherbarrow
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Sarah Lowe
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Sarah A Pearce
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - John R M Ross
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
| | - Donald Yee
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, California 94804, USA
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Sonne AT, McKnight US, Rønde V, Bjerg PL. Assessing the chemical contamination dynamics in a mixed land use stream system. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 125:141-151. [PMID: 28843938 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/14/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Traditionally, the monitoring of streams for chemical and ecological status has been limited to surface water concentrations, where the dominant focus has been on general water quality and the risk for eutrophication. Mixed land use stream systems, comprising urban areas and agricultural production, are challenging to assess with multiple chemical stressors impacting stream corridors. New approaches are urgently needed for identifying relevant sources, pathways and potential impacts for implementation of suitable source management and remedial measures. We developed a method for risk assessing chemical stressors in these systems and applied the approach to a 16-km groundwater-fed stream corridor (Grindsted, Denmark). Three methods were combined: (i) in-stream contaminant mass discharge for source quantification, (ii) Toxic Units and (iii) environmental standards. An evaluation of the chemical quality of all three stream compartments - stream water, hyporheic zone, streambed sediment - made it possible to link chemical stressors to their respective sources and obtain new knowledge about source composition and origin. Moreover, toxic unit estimation and comparison to environmental standards revealed the stream water quality was substantially impaired by both geogenic and diffuse anthropogenic sources of metals along the entire corridor, while the streambed was less impacted. Quantification of the contaminant mass discharge originating from a former pharmaceutical factory revealed that several 100 kgs of chlorinated ethenes and pharmaceutical compounds discharge into the stream every year. The strongly reduced redox conditions in the plume result in high concentrations of dissolved iron and additionally release arsenic, generating the complex contaminant mixture found in the narrow discharge zone. The fingerprint of the plume was observed in the stream several km downgradient, while nutrients, inorganics and pesticides played a minor role for the stream health. The results emphasize that future investigations should include multiple compounds and stream compartments, and highlight the need for holistic approaches when risk assessing these dynamic systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Th Sonne
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Ursula S McKnight
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vinni Rønde
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Poul L Bjerg
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Bygningstorvet 115, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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10
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Kerr JG, Cooke CA. Erosion of the Alberta badlands produces highly variable and elevated heavy metal concentrations in the Red Deer River, Alberta. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2017; 596-597:427-436. [PMID: 28448918 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.04.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2016] [Revised: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Erosion is important in the transport of heavy metals from terrestrial to fluvial environments. In this study, we investigated riverine heavy metal (Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb) dynamics in the Red Deer River (RDR) watershed at sites upstream (n=2) and downstream (n=7) of the Alberta badlands, an area of naturally high erosion. At sites draining the badlands, total water column Cd, Cu, Hg and Pb concentrations frequently exceeded guidelines for the protection of freshwater biota. Furthermore, peak concentrations of total Cd (9.8μgL-1), Cu (212μgL-1), Hg (649ngL-1) and Pb (361μgL-1) were higher than, or comparable to, values reported for rivers and streams heavily impacted by anthropogenic activities. Total suspended solids (TSS) explained a large proportion (r2=0.34-0.83) of the variation in total metal concentrations in the RDR and tributaries and metal fluxes were dominated by the particulate fraction (60-98%). Suspended sediment concentrations (Csed) and metal to aluminum ratios were generally not indicative of substantial sediment enrichment. Rather, the highly variable and elevated metal concentrations in the RDR watershed were a function of the high and variable suspended sediment fluxes which characterize the river system. While the impact of this on aquatic biota requires further investigation, we suggest erosion in the Alberta badlands may be contributing to Hg-based fish consumption advisories in the RDR. Importantly, this highlights a broader need for information on contaminant dynamics in watersheds subject to elevated rates of erosion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason G Kerr
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, 2938 11 St NE, Calgary T2E 7L7, AB, Canada.
| | - Colin A Cooke
- Alberta Environment and Parks, Environmental Monitoring and Science Division, 2938 11 St NE, Calgary T2E 7L7, AB, Canada
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Buck CS, Hammerschmidt CR, Bowman KL, Gill GA, Landing WM. Flux of Total Mercury and Methylmercury to the Northern Gulf of Mexico from U.S. Estuaries. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:13992-13999. [PMID: 26505206 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b03538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
To better understand the source of elevated methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in Gulf of Mexico (GOM) fish, we quantified fluxes of total Hg and MeHg from 11 rivers in the southeastern United States, including the 10 largest rivers discharging to the GOM. Filtered water and suspended particles were collected across estuarine salinity gradients in Spring and Fall 2012 to estimate fluxes from rivers to estuaries and from estuaries to coastal waters. Fluxes of total Hg and MeHg from rivers to estuaries varied as much as 100-fold among rivers. The Mississippi River accounted for 59% of the total Hg flux and 49% of the fluvial MeHg flux into GOM estuaries. While some estuaries were sources of Hg, the combined estimated fluxes of total Hg (~5200 mol y(-1)) and MeHg (~120 mol y(-1)) from the estuaries to the GOM were less than those from rivers to estuaries, suggesting an overall estuarine sink. Fluxes of total Hg from the estuaries to coastal waters of the northern GOM are approximately an order of magnitude less than from atmospheric deposition. However, fluxes from rivers are significant sources of MeHg to estuaries and coastal regions of the northern GOM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clifton S Buck
- Department of Marine Science, Skidaway Institute of Oceanography, University of Georgia , 10 Ocean Science Circle, Savannah, Georgia 31411, United States
| | - Chad R Hammerschmidt
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Wright State University , 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, Ohio 45435, United States
| | - Katlin L Bowman
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Wright State University , 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, Ohio 45435, United States
| | - Gary A Gill
- Marine Science Laboratory, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory , Sequim, Washington 98382, United States
| | - William M Landing
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Atmospheric Science, Florida State University , Tallahassee, Florida 32306, United States
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McKee LJ, Gilbreath AN. Concentrations and loads of suspended sediment and trace element pollutants in a small semi-arid urban tributary, San Francisco Bay, California. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2015; 187:499. [PMID: 26160738 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-015-4710-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2014] [Accepted: 06/26/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Water-quality policy documents throughout the world often identify urban stormwater as a large and controllable impact to sensitive ecosystems, yet there is often limited data to characterize concentrations and loads especially for rare and more difficult to quantify pollutants. In response, concentrations of suspended sediments and silver, mercury and selenium including speciation, and other trace elements were measured in dry and wet weather stormwater flow from a 100% urban watershed near San Francisco. Suspended sediment concentrations ranged between 1.4 and 2700 mg/L and varied with storm intensity. Turbidity was shown to correlate strongly with suspended sediments and most trace elements and was used as a surrogate with regression to estimate concentrations during unsampled periods and to compute loads. Mean suspended sediment yield was 31.5 t/km(2)/year. Total mercury ranged between 1.4 and 150 ng/L and was, on average, 92% particulate, 0.9% methylated, and 1.2% acid labile. Total mercury yield averaged 5.7 μg/m(2)/year. Total selenium ranged between non-detect and 2.9 μg/L and, on average, the total load (0.027 μg/m(2)/year) was 61% transported in dissolved phase. Selenate (Se(VI)) was the dominant species. Silver concentrations ranged between non-detect and 0.11 μg/L. Concentrations and loads of other trace elements were also highly variable and were generally similar to other urban systems with the exceptions of Ag and As (seldom reported) and Cr and Zn which exhibited concentrations and loads in the upper range of those reported elsewhere. Consistent with the semi-arid climatic setting, >95% of suspended sediment, 94% of total Hg, and 85-95 % of all other trace element loads were transported during storm flows with the exception of selenium which showed an inverse relationship between concentration and flow. Treatment of loads is made more challenging in arid climate settings due to low proportions of annual loads and greater dissolved phase during low flow conditions. This dataset fills an important local data gap for highly urban watersheds of San Francisco Bay. The field and interpretative methods, the uniqueness of the analyte list, and resulting information have general applicability for managing pollutant concentrations and loads in urban watersheds in other parts of the world and may have particularly useful application in more arid climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lester J McKee
- San Francisco Estuary Institute, 4911 Central Avenue, Richmond, CA, 94804, USA,
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Tabatchnick MD, Nogaro G, Hammerschmidt CR. Potential sources of methylmercury in tree foliage. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2012; 160:82-87. [PMID: 22035929 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2011.09.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2011] [Revised: 08/23/2011] [Accepted: 09/03/2011] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Litterfall is a major source of mercury (Hg) and toxic methylmercury (MeHg) to forest soils and influences exposures of wildlife in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. However, the origin of MeHg associated with tree foliage is largely unknown. We tested the hypothesis that leaf MeHg is influenced by root uptake and thereby related to MeHg levels in soils. Concentrations of MeHg and total Hg in deciduous and coniferous foliage were unrelated to those in soil at 30 urban and rural forested locations in southwest Ohio. In contrast, tree genera and trunk diameter were significant variables influencing Hg in leaves. The fraction of total Hg as MeHg averaged 0.4% and did not differ among tree genera. Given that uptake of atmospheric Hg(0) appears to be the dominant source of total Hg in foliage, we infer that MeHg is formed by in vivo transformation of Hg in proportion to the amount accumulated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa D Tabatchnick
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Highway, Dayton, OH 45435, USA
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