Trace elements, PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in New Zealand common dolphins (Delphinus sp.)

Trace elements, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticide levels were determined in tissues collected from stranded and bycaught common dolphins (Delphinus sp.) from New Zealand waters between 1999 and 2005. The concentrations of mercury (Hg), selenium (Se), chromium (Cr), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), tin (Sn), lead (Pb), arsenic (As) and silver (Ag) were determined in blubber, liver and kidney tissue. PCBs (45 congeners) and a range of OC pesticides including dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites DDE and DDD were determined in blubber samples. Cr and Ni were not detected in any of the samples and concentrations of Co, Sn and Pb were generally low. Concentrations of Hg ranged from 0.17 to 110 mg/kg wet weight. Organochlorine pesticides dieldrin, HCB, o,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE were present at the highest concentrations. Sum DDT concentrations in the blubber ranged from 17 to 337 and 654 to 4430 microg/kg wet weight in females and males, respectively. Similarly, Sigma45CB concentrations ranged from 49 to 386 and 268 to 1634 microg/kg wet weight in females and males, respectively. The mean transmission of SigmaDDTs and ICES7CBs between a genetically determined mother-offspring pair was calculated at 46% and 42%, respectively. Concentrations of organochlorine pesticides determined in the present study are within similar range to those reported for Hector's dolphins (Cephalorhyncus hectori) from inshore New Zealand waters.     

Heavy metals in soft tissues of Tursiops truncatus and Delphinus delphis from west Atlantic Ocean by X-ray spectrometry

In this work, the concentration of heavy metals in muscle, liver, fat tissue and skin is studied in 15 Delphinus delphis and two Tursiops truncatus dolphins, stranded along the Portuguese coast of the Atlantic Ocean. Sample collection was performed post-mortem and the tissues were kept frozen until analysed. Sample preparation included lyophilising and grounding in a Teflon mill to avoid contamination by metals. The obtained powder was prepared as pellets for each sample and analysed directly by X-ray fluorescence spectrometry. The concentrations of K, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Br, Rb, Sr, Hg and Pb were obtained. Significant differences between the muscle, the skin and the fat tissues were detected. Cobalt concentrations were similar in liver, skin and muscle. The levels of Ni, Rb and Sr are at the level of the detection limit and whenever measurable are rather constant in all the analysed tissues. The results show that the highest concentrations of Mn, Cu and Hg are always in liver tissues. Zinc and Se concentrations are higher in skin and Pb is present in very low concentrations in all the analysed tissues except in skin; Fe and As are enhanced in muscle and liver. In general, the two studied species did not seem to differ significantly in their heavy metals concentration in a given tissue.     

Concentrations of selected metals in honey consumed in Nigeria

The concentration of metals, cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), cobalt (Co), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) was measured in selected samples of honey in Nigeria with a view to providing information on the regional concentration profile of metals in these honeys. The honey samples were digested with a mixture of acids and analysed for metal concentrations using atomic absorption spectrophotometry. The concentrations of metals (mg kg^?1) in these honeys ranged from < 0.3 for Cd,<0.50–39.75 for Pb,<0.25–6.98 for Ni,<0.25–55.25 for Cr,<0.25–71.25 for Cu,<0.25–3.50 for Co,<5.0–163.15 for Fe,<11.0–31.75 for Mn and 1.0–31.0 for Zn. The concentrations of metals were relatively high but lower than their respective permissible limits in food except for Pb and Cu in some samples. The regional distribution patterns of metals indicated that honey samples from the Niger Delta region of Nigeria had higher mean concentrations of Ni, Cr, Co, Fe and Zn than honey samples from other regions. The honey samples from the northern region had higher mean concentrations of Pb and Cu.     

Trace element concentrations in skin of free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the southeast Atlantic coast

Concentrations of trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, U, V, Zn) and total mercury (THg) were determined in skin samples collected from free-ranging bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) populations. Dolphins were captured in the estuarine waters of Charleston (CHS), South Carolina (n=74) and the Indian River Lagoon (IRL), Florida (n=75) during 2003, 2004 and 2005. A subset of the skin tissue samples were used to determine methylmercury (MeHg) levels in CHS (n=17) and IRL (n=8) bottlenose dolphins. Distributions of trace element concentrations by age (adult vs. juvenile), gender (male vs. female) and study area (CHS vs. IRL) were examined. In general, higher elemental skin concentrations were found in CHS adult males than those of IRL adult males, except for THg and MeHg. For CHS dolphins, adult females showed significantly higher THg levels than juvenile females while higher Mn levels were found in juvenile females. For IRL dolphins, adult males showed significantly higher As concentrations than that in juvenile males and females while higher Co and V levels were found in juvenile males than adult males. Of all elements measured in this study, significantly higher levels of Fe, Se and Zn concentrations in skin tissue of both dolphin populations were similar to other studies reported previously. Percentage of MeHg/THg in skin tissue of CHS and IRL dolphin was about 72% and 73%, respectively. Dietary levels of trace elements may play an important role in contributing to concentration differences for As, Co, Mn, Sb, Se, THg and Tl between CHS and IRL dolphins. Total Hg concentrations were significantly correlated with the age of CHS dolphins, while an inverse relationship was detected for Cu, Mn, Pb, U and Zn. The only significant correlation found between trace element concentration and IRL dolphins' age was Mn. Geographic differences in several trace element concentrations (As, Co, Mn, Sb, Se, THg and Tl) in skin tissue may be potentially useful to discriminate between dolphin populations and is a possibility that warrants further investigation.     

Subcellular and body distributions of 17 trace elements in the variegated scallop Chlamys varia from the French coast of the Bay of Biscay

Seventeen elements were analysed in the organs and tissues of the variegated scallop Chlamys varia, from the Atlantic coast of France. Concentration levels were determined in scallops of different sizes sampled in contaminated (La Rochelle Bay) and clean (Re Island) sites. Greater concentrations of Ag, Al, Ce, Cr, La, Mo, Nd, Ti, and V were found in the digestive gland while As, Cd, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were the highest in the kidneys. In the digestive gland, most of the metals were found in the insoluble fraction while As, Co, Cd, Mo, Ni, and V appeared to be mostly bound to soluble compounds. Among tissues, the adductor muscle always displayed the lowest trace element concentrations. According to size, Ag and Cd showed significantly higher concentrations in larger individuals, while Co and Zn were higher in the smallest ones. According to the sampling area, most of the metals, Ag, Al, Ce, Co, Cu, La, Mn, Nd, Pb, and Zn, showed significantly higher concentrations in La Rochelle Bay compared to the Re Island, reflecting differing inputs from industrial, domestic and harbour activities. However, Cr, Mo, Ni, Ti, and V concentrations did not display significant differences between sites and As and Cd were significantly higher at the Re Island. This study highlighted the ability of the variegated scallop C. varia to concentrate numerous trace elements to high levels, even those reported as poorly bioavailable for marine biota, such as rare earth elements.     

Concentrations of heavy metals and plant nutrients in water, sediments and aquatic macrophytes of anthropogenic lakes (former open cut brown coal mines) differing in stage of acidification.

Concentration of heavy metals (Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V and Zn) as well as macronutrients (N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S) were measured in water, bottom sediments and plants from anthropogenic lakes in West Poland. The collected plants were: Phragmites australis, Potamogeton natans, Iris pseudoacorus, Juncus effusus, Drepanocladus aduncus, Juncus bulbosus, Phalaris arundinacea, Carex remota and Calamagrostis epigeios. Two reference lakes were sampled for Nymphaea alba, Phragmites australis, Schoenoplectus lacustris, Typha angustifolia and Polygonum hydropiper. These plants contained elevated levels of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu and Mn, and part of the plants contained in addition elevated levels of Mn, Fe, Pb, Ni and Zn. Analyses of water indicated pollution with sulfates, Cd, Co, Ni. Zn, Pb and Cu, and bottom sediments indicated that some of the examined lakes were polluted with Cd, Co and Cr. Strong positive correlations were found between concentrations of Co in water and in plants and between Zn in sediments and plants, indicating the potential of plants for pollution monitoring for this metal. Heavy metal accumulation seemed to be directly associated with the exclusion of Ca and Mg.     

Kidney and liver levels of some major, minor and trace elements in two Ontario communities

The contents of Ag, As, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Se, Sr, Th, Ti and Zn in 143 autopsied liver and kidney specimens from two Ontario communities (Kingston and Ottawa) were determined using the techniques of inductively-coupled plasma--atomic emission spectrometry, and electrothermal atomization--atomic absorption spectrometry coupled with hydride evolution (As, Se), reduction--aeration (Hg), or solvent extraction (Pb). The majority of samples came from individuals older than 50 y. In general, the data for the various elements were independent of age or sex but showed some dependence on location for elements such as Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, Na, P, Se and Zn. Despite these differences the elemental values of the liver and kidney samples from both the communities were within the normal range.     

Trace metals in Shatt al-Arab River,Iraq

The distribution of 10 trace metals Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn have been determined along the northern section of the Shatt al-Arab River, Iraq. Analyses were carried out, employing a flameless AAS instrument. The mean concentrations of the dissolved species were as follows (expressed in μg l^?1): 0.25 Cd, 0.9 Cu, 716 Fe, 1.3 Mn, 0.3 Pb, 0.2 V and 1.8 Zn. Mean concentrations of Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn in the particulate matter were 55.2, 6.0, 188, 77, 31 472, 1731, 3807, 93, 207 and 77 μg g^?1 respectively. In the exchangeable fraction of the sediment were 0.15, 5.5, 11.1, 11.9, 1625, 482, 42, 30.5, 25.7 and 6 μg g^?1, whereas in the residual were 0.025, 11.5, 96.1, 22, 5176, 258, 613, 3.9, 162 and 56.8 μg g^?1 respectively. Thus, the exchangeable trace metals represent the following mean percentage of the total; 75% Cd, 33% Co, 10% Cr, 34% Cu, 24% Fe, 63% Mn, 7% Ni, 74% Pb, 14% V and 23% Zn. The concentration of Ni and V were relatively high, this was attributed to the petroleum-rich deposits of the region. The concentrations observed for other metals were lower or equal to those reported for control sites except for Pb which was slightly higher. The data obtained were subjected to simple linear regression analysis and expressed in the form of correlation coefficients. It was found that the inter-elemental relationships are rather complex.     

Influence of liming on metal sequestration in lake sediments over recent decades

Sediment profiles from five limed and six reference softwater lakes included in Swedish monitoring programmes were subjected to multi-element analysis to investigate the influence of lime treatment since 1977 on the sequestration of metals in lake sediments. We hypothesised that liming causes increased sedimentation of elements for which the mobility is primarily controlled by pH, e.g. Al, Cd, Co, Ni and Zn, whereas elements that are less influenced by pH fluctuations, e.g. Hg and Pb, are not affected by lime treatment. Further, we introduce a normalisation of metal concentrations with respect to Cu concentration in order to separate the effects of lime treatment from those related to temporal trends in airborne metal deposition or short-term variations in environmental conditions. This approach is shown to emphasise the effect of liming on the sediment accumulation of metals, thus separating it from other sources of variability. We found that liming causes increased sequestration of Al, As, Cd, Co, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn, in the case of As and Co probably at least partly caused by an increased adsorption to Al, Fe and Mn oxyhydroxides. On the other hand, no influence of lime treatment could be demonstrated for Hg, Pb, Cr, V and P, despite an increase of pH by about two units.     

Variations in heavy metal concentrations in the moss species Abietinella abietina (Hedw.) Fleisch. according to sampling time,within site variability and increase in biomass

Concentrations of Al, As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mo, Ni, Pb, V and Zn were analysed in the moss Abietinella abietina (Hedw.) Fleisch. to estimate atmospheric heavy metal depositions. Samples were taken at five comparable sites within a radius of 25 m four times during the year 2000 (July 3rd, August 3rd, September 7th, October 3rd). The samples were taken by means of a PVC-tube (r=10 cm) and could therefore be related to aboveground growth and aerial deposition. The investigation showed significant differences between the various sampling times for concentrations of all heavy metals in total but not between concentrations of a single metal. For Cu, Hg, Mo, Pb and Zn temporal variation (=variation between the four times of sampling) was larger than spatial variation (=variation of concentrations between sub-samples at a single sampling time). Growth rates of the mosses differed significantly between sampling times, which reflects the low precipitation at the beginning of the season. Biomass increase, dust and precipitation influenced the metal concentrations. The calculation of deposition rates, which takes growth rates into account, showed significant differences between the various sampling times for Al, Cd, Cr, Cu and Ni, which is controversial to the results obtained from concentrations of these elements. Additionally, the calculation of atmospheric deposition rates showed a constant increase of metal depositions throughout the investigated period, which can not be seen by considering the concentrations only.     

Trace metals in the bones of scaup ducks (Aythya marila L.) wintering in Gdańsk Bay, Baltic Sea, 1982-83 and 1983-84

The concentrations of Fe, Zn, Mn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Co, Ni, Cr and Ag in 88 samples of various bones and five samples of trachea prepared from scaup ducks (Aythya marila L.) have been determined. With the exception of lead, no significant sex-related differences were observed for the concentration of metals. However, there were significant differences in the concentrations of most metals for different bones.     

Metals contained and leached from rubber granulates used in synthetic turf areas

The aim of this study was to quantify metals contained in and leached from different types of rubber granulates used in synthetic turf areas. To investigate the total content of metals, ca 0.5 g of material was added with HNO₃, HF and HClO₄ and microwave digested with power increasing from 250 W to 600 W. Leachates were prepared by extraction of about 5.0 g of material at room temperature for 24 h in an acidic environment (pH 5). Leaching with deionized water was also performed for comparison. Aluminium, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Hg, Fe, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb, Se, Sn, Sr, Tl, V, W and Zn were quantified by high-resolution inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HR-ICP-MS) and ICP optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).Results indicated that the developed method was accurate and precise for the multi-element characterization of rubber granulates and leachates. The total amount and the amount leached during the acidic test varied from metal to metal and from granulate to granulate. The highest median values were found for Zn (10,229 mg/kg), Al (755 mg/kg), Mg (456 mg/kg), Fe (305 mg/kg), followed by Pb, Ba, Co, Cu and Sr. The other elements were present at few units of mg/kg. The highest leaching was observed for Zn (2300 μg/l) and Mg (2500 μg/l), followed by Fe, Sr, Al, Mn and Ba. Little As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Li, Mo, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sb and V leached, and Be, Hg, Se, Sn, Tl and W were below quantification limits. Data obtained were compared with the maximum tolerable amounts reported for similar materials, and only the concentration of Zn (total and leached) exceeded the expected values.     

A pilot study on the content and the release of Ni and other allergenic metals from cheap earrings available on the Italian market

The capability of alloys used in cheap jewellery to release metal ions on contact with the skin causing allergic contact dermatitis (ACD) is generally acknowledged. To reduce the diffusion of the Ni-induced ACD the Council Directive 94/27/EC [Council Directive 94/27/EC of 30 June 1994. Official Journal L 188, 22/07/1994, 1.] limited the total Ni content in alloys and its release rate in artificial sweat. In this work, three different aspects were explored: i) the frequency of skin sensitization to Ni-containing earrings in patients before and after the introduction of the Directive's limit; ii) metal composition of alloys by X-ray analysis; iii) metal leaching in artificial sweat followed by Sector Field Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) quantification. Well-known allergenic metals, as Ni, Cr and Co, and possible emergent allergens, as Al, Ag, Au, Cd, Cu, Fe, Ir, Mn, Pb, Pd, Pt, Rh, Sn, V and Zn, were studied. Results showed that the frequency of allergy due to earrings did not decrease after the introduction of the Ni limit: in 1994 and in 2005 patients positive to Ni patch tests were 54.3% and 53.5%, respectively. The earring components analyzed were Fe-based or alloys of Cu/Zn or Fe/Cr/Ni, plated with a thin film of precious metal (Ag, Au) which, in several cases, was combined with a Ni layer beneath. Five out of 10 items were not in compliance with the Ni Directive 94/27/EC having a total Ni content >0.05%. In three cases the release of Ni concentrations was higher than the safe sensitizing limit given by the above mentioned Regulation (i.e., <0.5 microg/cm(2)/week). The release of Cu and Zn was very variable among the different pieces (Cu: 0.134-30.9 microg/cm(2)/week; Zn: 0.141-160 microg/cm(2)/week); two objects released high amounts of Fe (358 and 586 microg/cm(2)/week) and one released considerable Mn (21 microg/cm(2)/week). Lead was released from 70% of the objects, while Ag, Al, Cd, Co, Cr and Sn from ca. 30% of the items and concentrations of these elements were well below 0.5 microg/cm(2)/week. Vanadium was released by only one item whereas Au, Ir, Pd, Pt and Rh were never leached.     

Trace metals and organochlorines in the bamboo shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum from the southern waters of Hong Kong, China

The bamboo shark Chiloscyllium plagiosum is an abundant benthic species along the shallow continental shelf of Southeast Asia. It is commonly taken by fishermen in China, India, Taiwan and Thailand for human consumption. This study measured trace metal and organochlorine concentrations in C. plagiosum collected from the southern waters of Hong Kong, China. Metals (Ag, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) were measured in three different tissues: dorsal muscle, spleen and liver. Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and chlorinated pesticides in the dorsal muscle were identified and quantified using gas chromatography. Metal concentrations varied among the three different tissues, with liver having higher levels of Ag and Cd, and spleen possessing higher levels of Cu and Mn. Both Ni and Pb in all tissues were below the detection limit. Tissue concentrations of Cr, Cu, Mn and Zn generally decreased with increasing body weight whilst no significant concentration-size relationship was found for other metals. In muscle tissues, total PCBs ranged from 1.056-4.771 ng/g (wet wt.) with a median of 1.801 ng/g, while total DDTs ranged from 0.602-23.55 ng/g with a median of 1.109 ng/g, in which p,p'-DDE was the predominant metabolite. Levels of total hexachlorohexanes and cyclodienes were low. The pesticide p,p'-DDT was the only compound found to be positively correlated with body weight, indicating temporal bioaccumulation of this compound. Zn concentrations in the muscle of C. plagiosum were comparatively higher than recorded in other shark species, however, concentrations of other metals and organochlorines were relatively low. C. plagiosum feeds primarily on polychaetes, shrimps and small fishes, and thus is unlikely to contain levels of contaminants of human health concern.     

Heavy metals in urban soils: a case study from the city of Palermo (Sicily), Italy

Concentrations of V, Mn, Cd, Zn, Ni, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, Hg and Sb were measured on 70 topsoil samples collected from green areas and parks in the city of Palermo (Sicily) in order to: (1) assess the distribution of these heavy metals in the urban environment; (2) discriminate natural and anthropic contributions; and (3) identify possible sources of pollution. Mineralogy, physico-chemical parameters, and major element contents of the topsoils were determined to highlight the influence of 'natural' features on the heavy metal concentrations and their distribution. Medians of Pb, Zn, Cu and Hg concentrations of the investigated urban soils are 202, 138, 63 and 0.68 mgkg(-1), respectively. These values are higher, in some case by different orders of size, than those of unpolluted soils in Sicily that average 44, 122, 34 and 0.07 mg kg(-1). An ensemble of basic and multivariate statistical analyses (cluster analysis and principal component analysis) was performed to reduce the multidimensional space of variables and samples, thus defining two sets of heavy metals as tracers of natural and anthropic influences. Results demonstrate that Pb, Zn, Cu, Sb and Hg can be inferred to be tracers of anthropic pollution, whereas Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, V and Cd were interpreted to be mainly inherited from parent materials. Maps of pollutant distribution were constructed for the whole urban area pointing to vehicle traffic as the main source of diffuse pollution and also showing the contribution of point sources of pollution to urban topsoils.     

Anthropogenic contamination and risk assessment of heavy metals in stream sediments influenced by acid mine drainage from a northeast coalfield,India

The total concentrations and chemical partitioning of heavy metals in streambed sediments, collected around the Jaintia Hills coal deposit of northeast India, were studied using pollution indices and multivariate techniques to evaluate the risk and contamination levels from heavy metals and their possible origins. Results show that sediments close to mining sites have low pH (<4), high organic carbon, and contain significant amounts of Fe-oxyhydroxide phases (mainly, goethite and schwertmannite), which implies direct impact of coal mine drainage. The average concentrations of Fe, Cu, Co, Cd, Cr, and Zn exceeded the World average, and in some cases, Cd, Cu, Ni, and Cr concentrations exceeded the threshold effects level, which suggests they will be toxic to aquatic biota. Contamination factors (CF) show that the sediments are low to highly contaminated with Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb, Fe, and Zn and low to moderately contaminated with Co, Cr and Ni. The pollution load index (PLI), degree of contamination index (C _deg) and Nemerow integrated pollution index (NIPI) show that the sediments are moderately to highly contaminated, with the extent of pollution greatest nearest to the collieries. The potential ecological risk index (RI) shows low to considerable ecological risk from heavy metals in the sediments, with Cd having the high potential of risk, which also agrees with the risk assessment code (RAC). Multivariate statistical analysis suggests that the concentrations of the heavy metals in stream sediments are strongly influenced by Fe-oxyhydroxide phases and organic carbon derived from anthropogenic sources, mainly coal mining activities. Although a significant proportion of the Cd, Mn, and Ni in the sediments are partitioned into exchangeable and organic fractions, a sizable amount of metals are also found in the Fe–Mn fraction, suggesting that Fe-oxyhydroxides play a dominant role in controlling metal mobility in these stream sediments.     

Distribution of trace elements in the tissues of benthic and pelagic fish from the Kerguelen Islands

New information on the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Hg and Zn in the liver, kidney and muscles of eight marine benthic and pelagic sub-Antarctic fish species are presented to determine the importance of these metals in the marine systems of the Kerguelen Islands. Compared to the reported metal concentrations in other Antarctic fish species, the present results are globally within the same range of concentrations, although Cd displayed a very high interspecific variability in liver and kidney. Indeed, the highest Cd concentrations in liver, ranging from 10.0 to 52.1 microg x g(-1) dry wt. but also the lowest Cd concentrations in muscles (<0.030 microg x g(-1) dry wt.) have been displayed by the pelagic Myctophidae Gymnoscopelus piabilis. Metal concentrations differences might be related to diet and feeding habits of benthic and pelagic fish species. However, Cd and Hg concentrations in the edible muscle are lower than the French limit values (相似文献   

A comparison of native and transplanted Fontinalis antipyretica Hedw. as biomonitors of water polluted with heavy metals

Native and transplanted mosses of the species Fontinalis antipyretica were studied to assess their capacity as biomonitors of heavy metals. Assays were carried out with transplanted mosses (sampled from an unpolluted control stream) exposed for 60 days to five streams polluted with heavy metals. At the same time, native mosses were collected from the exposure sites. Concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Al, Ba, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, V, and Zn were determined in the mosses (native and transplants), stream waters, and sediments of both exposure and control sites. The results showed that the transplanted mosses accumulated significantly more Al, Cr, Cu, Pb, V, and Zn than the native mosses. The concentrations of Co and Mn in all streams were significantly higher in the native mosses.     

Heavy metal pollution of soils affected by the Guadiamar toxic flood

Total heavy metal concentrations were determined in soil samples of seven selected areas along the Guadiamar river valley affected by the toxic flood, after removal of the deposited sludge. Mean total concentrations of nine elements (As, Au, Bi, Cd, Cu, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn) out of the 23 (As, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, In, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sc, Sn, Th, Tl, U, V, Y and Zn) analysed were higher in sludge-covered soils than in unaffected soils. Mean values of total As, Au, Pb, Sb, Tl and Zn in sludge-affected soils were higher than the upper limits for normal soils world-wide. Mean concentrations of Bi, Cd and Cu were within these ranges, although some individual values exceeded the upper limits. In all sampling areas, severe heavy metal pollution was observed in the superficial layers (0-20 cm) of most of the affected soils, which decreased downward in the soil profile. Generally, in soils with more than 25% of clay, concentration of heavy metals below the 20-cm depth decreased to values close to those of the background level of the Guadiamar valley soils, while in coarser soils, heavy metal pollution penetrated below this depth, being noticeable down to a depth of at least 50-80 cm.     

Concentrations of selected essential and non-essential elements in arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) and wolverines (Gulo gulo) from the Canadian Arctic

Arctic fox (Alopex lagopus) and wolverine (Gulo gulo) tissues were collected in the Canadian Arctic from 1998 to 2001 and analyzed for various essential and non-essential elements. Several elements (Ag, Al, As, B, Ba, Be, Co, Cr, Mo, Ni, Sb, Sn, Sr, Tl, U and V) were near or below the detection limits in >95% arctic fox and wolverine samples. Concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, total Hg (THg), Mn, Pb, Se and Zn were quantifiable in >50% of the samples analyzed and reported herein. Hepatic elemental concentrations were not significantly different among arctic foxes collected at Ulukhaqtuuq (Holman), NT (n=13) and Arviat, NU (n=50), but were significantly greater than concentrations found in wolverine liver from Kugluktuk (Coppermine), NU (n=12). The mean (+/-1 S.E.) concentrations of Cd in kidney were also significantly greater in arctic fox (1.08+/-0.19 microg g(-1) wet wt.) than wolverine (0.67+/-0.18 microg g(-1) wet wt.). However, mean hepatic Cu concentrations (Ulukhaqtuuq: 5.5+/-0.64; Arviat: 7.1+/-0.49 microg g(-1) wet wt.) in arctic foxes were significantly lower than in wolverines (32+/-3.3 microg g(-1) wet wt.). Hepatic total Hg (THg) concentrations in arctic fox from this study were not significantly different from specimens collected in 1973, suggesting that THg concentrations have not changed dramatically over the past 30 years. The mono-methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations in selected (n=10) arctic fox liver samples from Arviat (0.14+/-0.07 microg g(-1) wet wt.) comprised 14% of THg. While the molar concentrations of THg were correlated with Se in arctic foxes and wolverines, the hepatic Hg/Se molar ratios were consistently lower than unity; suggesting that Se-mediated detoxification pathways of Hg are not overwhelmed at current exposure.