The effectiveness of the oxide-rich residue from bauxite refining (red mud) to remove inorganic Hg(II) from aqueous solutions was assessed. The aspects studied comprised the kinetics of the process (t = 1 min–24 h), the effect of pH (3.5–11.5), the interacting effect between salt concentration (0.01–1 M NaNO₃) and pH and the Hg(II) sorption isotherm. Hg leaching from spent red mud was evaluated using the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) method. The sorption of Hg(II) onto red mud was very fast, with most of Hg(II) (97.0–99.7 %) being removed from 0.5–50 μM Hg solutions in few minutes. The kinetic process was best described by Ho’s pseudo-second order equation, pointing to chemisorption as the rate controlling step. Hg(II) sorption efficiency was very high (% removal between 93.9 and 99.8 %) within all the studied pH range (3.5–11.5) and added Hg concentrations (5 and 50 μM), being optimal at pH 5–8 and decreasing slightly at both lowest and highest pH. The effect of background electrolyte concentration suggests specific sorption as the main interaction mechanism between Hg(II) and red mud, but the increasing non-sorbed Hg concentrations at low and high pH for higher electrolyte concentrations also revealed the contribution of an electrostatic component to the process. The sorption isotherm showed the characteristic shape of high affinity sorbents, and it was better described by the Redlich-Peterson and Freundlich equations, which are models that assume sorbent heterogeneity and involvement of more than one mechanism. The estimated Hg(II) sorption capacity from the Langmuir equation (q ₘ ~9 mmol/kg) was comparable to those of some inorganic commercial sorbents but lower than most bio- or specifically designed sorbents. The leachability of retained Hg(II) from spent red mud (0.02, 0.25 and 2.42 mmol Hg/kg sorbed concentration) was low (0.28, 1.15 and 2.23 μmol/kg, respectively) and accounted for 1.2, 0.5 and 0.1 % of previously sorbed Hg, indicating that Hg(II) is tightly bound by red mud once sorbed.

Bioavailability has been used as a key indicator in chemical risk assessment yet poorly quantified risk factor. Worldwide, the framework used to assess potentially contaminated sites is similar, and the decisions are based on threshold contaminant concentration. The uncertainty in the definition and measurement of bioavailability had limited its application to environment risk assessment and remediation. Last ten years have seen major developments in bioavailability research and acceptance. The use of bioavailability in the decision making process as one of the key variables has led to a gradual shift towards a more sophisticated risk-based approach. Now a days, many decision makers and regulatory organisations ‘more readily accept’ this concept. Bioavailability should be the underlying basis for risk assessment and setting remediation goals of those contaminated sites that pose risk to environmental and human health. This paper summarises the potential application of contaminant bioavailability and bioaccessibility to the assessment of sites affected by different contaminants, and the potential for this to be the underlying basis for sustainable risk assessment and remediation in Europe, North America and Australia over the coming decade.

Watershed-specific variables such as sediment particle size distribution, water depth, sedimentation rate, focusing factors, and catchment area to lake area ratio can affect the distribution of trace element contaminants to lakes. The aim of this study was to investigate sources of metals to three headwater lakes and to quantify effects of watershed-specific variables on spatial and temporal trends of trace elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, K, Ni, Pb, Rb, and Zn) in sediments and mercury (Hg) concentrations in fish. Surface sediment and water samples were used to characterize spatial patterns, while sediment cores were collected to portray temporal trends. Historical trends of Hg in northern pike (Esox lucius) were assessed in relation to paleolimnological trends of sediment Hg concentrations. Similarity in timing of sediment peak trace element concentrations for the lakes suggests large-scale, atmospheric sources. The lake with highest catchment area-to-lake area ratio was consistently associated with highest sediment elemental concentrations and displayed significant correlations between increased sediment Hg concentrations and decreased pike tissue concentrations over time. This suggests that catchment area-to-lake area ratio is an important factor influencing the concentration of atmospherically derived contaminants within lake sediments and their transfer through the food web.

The aim of this paper was to assess the influence of diet on the concentrations of total mercury (HgTOT) in the eggs of aquatic birds. Trophic level was determined using stable isotopes (δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C). Analysis was carried out on eggs (laid in 2010–2012) belonging to two species of terns nesting at the River Vistula outlet on the Gulf of Gdansk and on herring gulls nesting both in Gdynia harbour and on the Vistula dam in Wloclawek. The results show that seafood diet causes the highest load of mercury, that which is transferred into terns eggs. The amounts of accumulated mercury obtained were found to be different in the particular egg components with Hgₐₗbᵤₘₑₙ > Hgyₒₗₖ > Hgₘₑₘbᵣₐₙₑ > Hgₛₕₑₗₗ. In the herring gull eggs, three stages of embryo development with varying levels of mercury were determined. It was observed that mercury received from the albumen and yolk was most effectively removed when developing embryo into down.

Agriculture has significantly intensified in Northern China since the 1980s. This intensification has caused a series of simultaneous lake ecological environment problems in this area. However, little is known about the role of agricultural intensification in historical nutrient dynamics and lake eutrophication processes. The Yanghe reservoir, a typical artificial reservoir characterized by high-yield grain production in Northern China, has been suffering from serious eutrophication and water quality deterioration. This study evaluates the effect of agricultural intensification on nutrient retention and source in the sediments using ²¹⁰Pb and ¹³⁷Cs dating techniques combined with stable C and N isotopes (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N) and total organic carbon/total nitrogen, as well as total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and P fractions. Results suggested that agricultural intensification was keys to the accumulation of nutrients and was a source of organic matter (OM) and N in sediment for the past three decades. N and P pollution started in the 1980s and worsened from the 1990s. Good water quality status and steady sedimentary environment with low nutrient content (mean concentrations of TN and TP were 815 and 387 mg kg⁻¹, respectively) were observed before the 1980s. Sediment OM was primarily derived from aquatic plants, whereas N was primarily derived from soil erosion and aquatic plants. However, water quality began to deteriorate while sediment nutrient content began to increase after the 1980s, with values of 1186 mg kg⁻¹ for TN and 434 mg kg⁻¹ for TP in 1989. Sediment OM was primarily derived from C₃ (sweet potato) and aquatic plants, and the major sources of N were soil erosion, fertilizer, and sewage, which accompany the rapid development of agriculture in the watershed. Following the further growth of grain production and fertilizers, excessive external nutrient loading has resulted in dramatic water quality and ecosystem deterioration since 1990. The increasing rate of TN and TP contents was also augmented during these periods, reaching as high as 2624 and 846 mg kg⁻¹ in surface sediment, respectively. In addition, sources of OM and N in sediment were similar to those in the 1980s, but the contribution of aquatic organic N in sediment has continued to increase (aquatic organic N that accounts for TN increased from 14.5 % before the 1980s to 48 % in 2007). This condition could be attributed to the impact of frequent “water bloom” and recession of aquatic plant due to worsening water pollution.

The decrease of ice cover in the Arctic will lead to an increase of ship traffic in the upcoming decades. Consequently, oil pollution is expected. In this context, the goals of this study were to evaluate the biological impact of marine diesel contamination and, on this basis, to determine analytical tools of interest (biomarkers) for future biomonitoring of diesel spills. Using a 7-day contamination protocol, this study investigated biochemical modulations in the digestive gland of the Iceland scallop (Chlamys islandica). Incorporation of contaminants was verified assessing haemolymph metabolites. Results showed a response of glutathione-S-transferase to contamination suggesting detoxification processes and the suitability of such a tool for diesel spill biomonitoring. The lack of modulation of superoxide dismutase activity and lipid peroxidation suggests no oxidative stress and the unsuitability of these molecular tools for biomonitoring.

Neurotoxins β-N-methylamino-L-alanine (BMAA) and its isomer 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (DAB) have been reported previously in diverse strains of cyanobacteria. In this study, BMAA and DAB were analyzed for two strains of Microcystis aeruginosa incubated with four different levels of phosphate, nitrate, illumination, and temperature, respectively, in order to explore the effects of growth factors on toxin-producing ability of cyanobacteria. Both toxins were also screened in 17 cyanobacterial strains cultured with BG-11 medium and conventional illumination and temperature conditions, and in three field phytoplankton samples collected from different lakes in China. All samples were analyzed using a liquid chromatography-tandem quadrupole mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) system coupled with a hydrophilic interaction liquid chromatography (HILIC) column. Results showed that no BMAA was detected in any of the cyanobacterial strains grown under our laboratory culture conditions, or in any of the field samples. Production of DAB in M. aeruginosa was significantly enhanced by extreme concentrations of nutrient and physical factors. Various concentrations of DAB were also present in most cultured samples (13 of 17) of cyanobacteria and were not species specific. This is the first time to report the production of DAB in M. aeruginosa cultured under alterative conditions in laboratory. Occurrence of DAB in most of the strains examined here means that consideration should be given to the presence of this compound in freshwater environment in China.

Effects of heavy metal on uptake of mineral nutrition elements in plants have attracted widespread interest and been widely explored. This paper reports the translocation and accumulation behaviors of Ni in the organs of mature wheat plants by means of pot experiment using the sierozem collected from northwestern China as experimental soil. Effect of Ni on accumulation of Cu, Mn, Ca, and Mg is also demonstrated. It was found that influence of Ni on wheat plants differed greatly at different Ni levels. Ni content in the organs of wheat plants increased with the increase in Ni level, and the increasing rate decreased when the Ni level was higher than 400 mg/kg. Ni was mainly accumulated in the roots and less distributed in the shoots, shells, and grains. When the Ni level was lower than 400 mg/kg, the bioconcentration factor (BCF) of the roots was higher than 1, suggesting that Ni was taken in against a concentration gradient. The average translocation factor (TF) of wheat plants was 0.221, indicating the weak ability of wheat plants in translocating Ni toward the aboveground parts. Since Ni is readily accumulated in the grains of wheat plants at lower Ni level, concerns in health risks might be raised. Excess Ni in wheat plants could inhibit the transfer of Cu, Mn, and Mg to grains, leading to the accumulation of Ca, Mg, and Mn in the shoots and shells of wheat plants. The increase in Ni content can disturb the uptake and distribution of mineral nutrition elements in the organs of plants, resulting in the toxic effect of Ni on wheat plants. Results from this study provide a scientific support to prevent or control heavy metal pollution in an arid region.

This study was carried out to investigate the physicochemical properties of compost from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) inoculated with effective microorganisms (EM∙1™). The duration of microbial-assisted composting was shorter (∼7 days) than control samples (2 months) in a laboratory scale (2 kg) experiment. The temperature profile of EFB compost fluctuated between 26 and 52 °C without the presence of consistent thermophilic phase. The pH of compost changed from weak acidic (pH ∼5) to mild alkaline (pH ∼8) because of the formation of nitrogenous ions such as ammonium (NH₄ ⁺), nitrite (NO₂ ⁻), and nitrate (NO₃ ⁻) from organic substances during mineralization. The pH of the microbial-treated compost was less than 8.5 which is important to prevent the loss of nitrogen as ammonia gas in a strong alkaline condition. Similarly, carbon mineralization could be determined by measuring CO₂ emission. The microbial-treated compost could maintain longer period (∼13 days) of high CO₂ emission resulted from high microbial activity and reached the threshold value (120 mg CO₂-C kg⁻¹ day⁻¹) for compost maturity earlier (7 days). Microbial-treated compost slightly improved the content of minerals such as Mg, K, Ca, and B, as well as key metabolite, 5-aminolevulinic acid for plant growth at the maturity stage of compost.

This study aims to evaluate possible toxic effects of oil and other contaminants from oilfield-produced water from oil exploration and production, on seed germination, and seedling development of sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). In comparison, as treated by electroflocculation, oilfield-produced water, with lower oil and organic matter content, was also used. Electroflocculation treatment of oilfield-produced water achieved significant removals of chemical oxygen demand (COD) (94 %), oil and grease (O&G) (96 %), color (97 %), and turbidity (99 %). Different O&G, COD, and salt levels of untreated and treated oilfield-produced water did not influence germination process and seedling biomass production. Normal seedlings percentage and vigor tended to decrease more intensely in O&G and COD levels, higher than 337.5 mg L⁻¹ and 1321 mg O₂ L⁻¹, respectively, using untreated oilfield-produced water. These results indicate that this industrial effluent must be treated, in order to not affect adversely seedling development. This way, electroflocculation treatment appears as an interesting alternative to removing oil and soluble organic matter in excess from oilfield-produced water improving sunflower’s seedling development and providing a friendly environmental destination for this wastewater, reducing its potential to harm water resources, soil, and biota.