We aimed to assess the dynamics of pore water concentrations of Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Zn and their controlling factors (EH, pH, DOC, Fe, Mn, and SO42−) in a contaminated floodplain soil under different flood-dry-cycles. Two parallel undisturbed groundwater lysimeters (mean values presented) were used for long term (LT; 94 days) and short term (ST; 21 days) flood-dry-cycles. Reducing conditions under LT lead to low EH and pH, while DOC, Co, Fe, Mn, and Ni increased. Cadmium, Cu, Zn, and SO42− increased under oxidizing conditions during ST. Cobalt and Ni revealed a similar behavior which seem to governed by EH/pH, Mn, Fe, and DOC. Cadmium, Cu, and Zn reveal a similar fate; their dynamics were affected by EH/pH, DOC, and SO42−. Our findings suggest that a release of Cd, Cu, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni, and Zn under different flood-dry-cycles can assumed what might create potential environmental risks in using metal-enriched floodplain soils.

Northern peatlands are increasingly threatened by climate change and industrial activities. This study examined the impact of simulated droughts on pore water chemistry at six peatlands in Sudbury, Ontario, that differ in copper (Cu), nickel (Ni) and cobalt (Co) contamination, including a site that had been previously limed. All sites responded similarly to simulated drought: pore water pH declined significantly following the 30 day drought and the decline was greater following the 60 day drought treatment. The decline in pore water pH was due to increasing sulphate concentrations, whereas nitrate increased more in the 60 day drought treatment. Decreases in pH were accompanied by large increases in Ni and Co that greatly exceeded provincial water quality guidelines. In contrast, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations decreased significantly following drought, along with concentrations of Cu and Al, which are strongly complexed by organic acids.

In bacteria a metal may be defined as bioavailable if it crosses the cytoplasmic membrane to reach the cytoplasm. Once inside the cell, specific metal resistance systems may be triggered. In this research, specific metal resistance genes were used to estimate metal bioavailability in sediment microbial communities. Gene levels were measured by quantitative PCR and correlated to metals in sediments using five different protocols to estimate dissolved, particle-adsorbed and occluded metals. The best correlations were obtained with czcA (a Cd/Zn/Co efflux pump) and Cd/Zn adsorbed or occluded in particles. Only adsorbed Co was correlated to czcA levels. We concluded that the measurement of czcA gene levels by quantitative PCR is a promising tool which may complement the classical approaches used to estimate Cd/Zn/Co bioavailability in sediment compartments.

No studies document essential (calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium), trace (barium, boron, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, molybdenum, selenium, zinc) or toxic element (antimony, arsenic, cadmium, lead, mercury, thallium) concentrations in any members of the family Molidae, including the world’s largest bony fish, the ocean sunfish (Mola mola). Here, we analyzed 21 elements in the liver of one M. mola. These values were compared to liver concentrations in multiple species with spatial and dietary overlap. Concentrations of calcium (3339ppm wet weight) and iron (2311ppm wet weight) were extremely elevated in comparison to a number of other fish species, indicating that calcium and/or iron toxicity may have occurred in this animal. Concentrations of toxic elements were generally low, with the exception of cadmium (3.5ppm). This study represents the first report of essential, trace and toxic elements in this species.

The water column from Dakar coast and Saint Louis estuary in Senegal, West Africa, was sampled in order to measure the contamination level by trace metals. The speciation of metals in water allowed performing a distribution between dissolved and particulate trace metals. For the dissolved metals, the metallic concentration and repartition between the organic fraction and the inorganic fraction were performed. The results show that the pollution of the estuary was more serious than in Dakar coast for Co, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn; while, Cd and Cu were higher in Dakar coast. A strong affinity between metals and suspended particles has been revealed. Dissolved metals that have a tendency to form organic metal complexes are in decreasing order: Cd, Zn, Pb, Co=Cr=Mn, Cu and Ni. The results showed that the mobility of trace metals in estuary is controlled by dissolved organic carbon, while in coast it depends on chlorides.

The suitability of a rootless Bromeliad species (Tillandsia usneoides) as biomonitor of airborne trace elements in urban areas of the Mediterranean basin was evaluated. The study was performed at five sites of the city of Pisa (Tuscany, Central Italy) differing for land use, anthropogenic activities and/or proximity to emission sources. The elements investigated were Al, As, B, Ba, Bi, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, V and Zn. Unwashed and washed samples, collected after 36 days of exposure (May–June 2011), were analyzed by ICP–MS. Results showed significant differences among sampling sites for several elements. Concentrations of Al, Ba, Bi, Cd, Co, Cu, Pb, Sb and Zn were the highest in urban/traffic and/or suburban/traffic areas. Some of these elements e.g. Ba, Cu, Sb and Zn are commonly considered as traffic–related elements. In the industrial site, the main elements found were Mg, Sr and Zn. Iron, Mn, Na and V concentrations were much higher in rural/remote areas. Enrichment factors highlighted that T. usneoides showed: high resistance/tolerance to heavy metal toxicity, specificity, capability to well–definitely represent a sampling site, quantitative response to pollutant exposure. The results indicated that T. usneoides reflects the intrinsic characteristics of each sampling area and allows tracing back differences related to the various emission sources by factor analysis.

Trace metals (Ag, Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cs, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr, Tl, U, V and Zn) in PM10 were measured at 10 different sites in the surrounding areas of Tummalapalle Uranium Mining (India). The PM10 samples were collected on glass fiber/EPM 2000 filter using high volume air samplers in 10 different sampling sites during November–2010 to February–2012. Trace metals in PM10 were analyzed using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometer (ICP–MS). The observed trace metal concentrations varied from 0.01 to 2 640ng/m3. It was found that metals associated with crustal sources like Al and Fe were in higher concentrations. The elements Tl, U, Cs and Co were found to be in very low concentrations. Obtained trace metal data in PM10 were subjected to statistical analyses using correlation matrices and factor analysis to examine the interrelationship between the investigated trace elements and possible source identification of the elements. Enrichment factors of trace metals were also determined to determine the anthropogenic contribution to ambient PM10. The daily intake of analyzed trace metals by the adult population in the surrounding of Tummalapalle Uranium mining (30km radial distance) was estimated and it was found to be in the range of 1 to 13 401ng/day through the inhalation route.

Urban fugitive dust samples were collected to determine the chemical profiles of fugitive dust over Xi'an. Seventy eight samples were collected and divided into categories of paved road dust, construction dust, cement dust, and soil dust. Eighteen elements, including Na, Mg, Al, Si, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Ba, and Pb, and eight water–soluble inorganic ions, including Na+, Mg2−, Ca2−, NH4−, F−, Cl−, NO3− and SO42−, were measured. The most abundant elements in these urban dust samples were Al, Si, Ca, and Fe. Al, Si, K, and Ti and showed strong positive correlations with each other, indicating they are typical dust trace elements. In contrast, elements of Ca, Zn, As, and Pb had negative correlations to crustal elements. Si/Al, K/Al, Ti/Al, Mn/Al, and Fe/Al ratios varied insignificantly among these four samples types; these ratios are similar to the properties of loess, desert, and Gobi soil dust reported in previous studies. A significantly higher Ca/Al ratio was dominant in the chemical profile of the cement samples. In addition, high Pb/Al and Zn/Al ratios were detected in comparison with those in the Gobi soil, desert soil, and loess soil samples, which indicated that Pb/Al and Zn/Al ratios can be considered as markers of urban dust. To t a l water–soluble ions occupied only a small fraction (<5%) in the urban fugitive soil samples indicating that most of the materials in the fugitive dust were insoluble. Ca2+ and SO42− were the most abundant ions in all samples. Most of the Ca and K in the fugitive soil samples were in insoluble phases, which differ significantly in comparison with combustion sources. A strong correlation was observed between Ca2+ and estimated CO32− levels indicating that most of Ca2+ was in the form of CaCO3 rather than other calcium minerals in Xi’an fugitive dust.

Trace element concentrations in surface intertidal sediments were analyzed to assess the level of contamination along the western side of Moreton Bay (Australia). The environmental risks posed by metals were evaluated using sediment quality guidelines, the Risk Assessment Code (RAC) and enrichment relative to background levels. Chromium, Ni, and Cu are the main contributors to sediment pollution. Sediments are also enriched in Zn, Cd and Pb by 1.5–3 times the regional background. Zinc, Cd and Co may pose high to very high risk to the aquatic biota due to their potential bioavailability, while Ni, As, Cu, Pb and Cr may pose medium risk at some of the investigated sites. Results emphasize the importance of using different methods for the assessment of sediment pollution at an estuarine site.

Magnetic expanded graphite (MEG) was prepared using the blended calcination method under a nitrogen atmosphere. MEG was characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetization (VSM). Results show that the cobalt ferrite nanoparticles were uniformly and efficiently deposited on expanded graphite (EG). The saturation magnetization reached 55.05emug−1, and the adsorption capacity of MEG under the optimal condition was 35.72gg−1 for crude oil.