The impact of a sewage treatment plant's effluent on sediment quality in a small bay in Lake Geneva (Switzerland–France). Part 1: Spatial distribution of contaminants and the potential for biological impacts

The purpose of this study was to assess the quality of bottom sediment collected in the Bay of Vidy (Lake Geneva, Switzerland) which receives sewage treatment plant discharges from the city of Lausanne and its surroundings. Thirty‐eight sediment samples were taken, forming a dense network. Samples of that portion of the sediment that has accumulated since phosphorus removal (via iron precipitation) was instituted at the plant in 1971 were analysed for heavy metals, nutrients and organic micropollutants and subjected to Microtox toxicity evaluation (organic extract). The distribution patterns of contaminants, as well as principal components analysis, demonstrated that the sewage treatment plant's effluent is the main source of local sediment contamination. This was not supported by the Microtox results. In close proximity to the outlet pipe of the sewage treatment plant, contaminants showed very high median concentrations for virtually all the parameters measured, at levels above those believed to elicit biological responses. A major environmental impact is clearly occurring in this coastal region of the lake and remediation of this situation is believed to be important in order to protect the Lake Geneva ecosystem.     

高浊度河口颗粒态重金属对泥沙运动的指示作用

作者根据1994年6月长江口、杭州湾的水质调查资料，分析了这类高浊度河口颗粒态重金属的分布规律。研究表明，在长江口和杭州湾内，悬沙和表层沉积物中Cu、Pb、Cd分布特征相似，尤其在杭州湾中部水域，二者重金属含量呈趋同的态势。细颗粒泥沙是颗粒态重金属的主要载体。在高浊度河口，动力沉积过程为控制颗粒态重金属分布和输移的主要因子，颗粒态重金属的分布对泥沙运动具有指示作用，悬沙和表层沉积物中重金属元素的分布反映了长江口泥沙向杭州湾输移的事实。     

River, reservoir and lake sediment contamination by heavy metals downstream from urban areas of Switzerland

This paper quantifies sediment contamination by heavy metals in four reservoirs and one lake located downstream from major urban areas in Switzerland. The waterbodies include the Wettingen Reservoir (located on the Limmat River downstream from Zürich), the Klingnau Reservoir (on the lower Aare River), the Wohlen Reservoir (downstream from Berne), the Verbois Reservoir (downstream from Geneva) and Vidy Bay (Lake Geneva, city of Lausanne). For all sediment cores and contaminants, a trend is observed from high contaminant values in the lower part of the cores, decreasing to lower concentrations in the upper part of the cores. However, for each site and each element, specific features are recognized. Applying the criteria of the Swiss ordinance on soil protection, all sediment cores must be classified as contaminated by one or more contaminants and at variable levels. From these data, it is concluded that: reservoirs and lakes located downstream from major urban centres in Switzerland have accumulated significant volumes of contaminated sediments in the past, representing the largest, but not the most intensely, contaminated sites on a national scale; the main environmental risk is remobilization of the contaminants and their return to the food chain, particularly by infiltration into the groundwater; and although the processes of remobilization are identified, the conditions of occurrence and the amplitude of the processes are still poorly known. Different options of reservoir and lake sediment management also are discussed and further research topics defined.     

Heavy metal pollution in a sewage-fed lake of Bhopal, (M. P.) India

Shahpura Lake receives untreated domestic sewage from residential areas in Bhopal city. Analysis of water, plankton, fish and sediment reveals that the lake is contaminated by certain heavy metals. The concentrations of some of these metals including iron and manganese were within acceptable limits, whereas others including chromium, nickel, zinc and lead were not within acceptable water quality limits. Metal concentrations in the sewage inlet drain and lake sediment were compared with published criteria. The comparison revealed that the metals in the sediment ranged from the ‘non‐polluted’ to the ‘heavy pollution’ categories. The reference dose was calculated by the adoption of the United States Environmental Protection Agency reference dose factor, and the result reveals that the local population is not exposed to undue health risks. Concentrations of heavy metals in the water increased during the second year of the study, indicating an increase in the pollution load on the system. This might increase the bioaccumulation levels in fish and increase the actual dose of metals to which the local population will be exposed.     

Chloride and total phosphorus budgets for Green Bay,Lake Michigan

Green Bay is an elongated freshwater embayment located in northwestern Lake Michigan. Due to its short residence time, the lower bay is heavily influenced by the Fox River's large nutrient load. The inner bay is classified as hypereutrophic and a well-defined trophic gradient is observed moving away from the Fox River towards Lake Michigan, where the bay is nearly oligotrophic. Recent chloride and total phosphorus loading estimates were used to update a chloride and total phosphorus mass-balance model for the bay for 1994–2008. The chloride model provided a means to estimate turbulent eddy diffusion within the bay and exhibited excellent agreement with observed data. The total phosphorus model agreement with observed data was generally good, with the exception of a large deviation in lower Green Bay during 1999–2004. The model was used to estimate the internal loadings necessary to account for the deviation in phosphorus concentrations. The source of the unexpected increase remains unclear, but we speculate significant internal loading due to wind-driven sediment resuspension and hypoxia-induced phosphorus diffusion was significant. These models allow needed reductions to be identified and sourced and also indicate the role internal loading may play in the Green Bay phosphorus budget.     

阳宗海表层沉积物中的重金属生态风险评估

对从阳宗海湖底表层采集的25组沉积物样品中的10种重金属质量比进行分析,结果表明,Ti、Mn、Zn、V、Cr、Cu、Ni、Co、Pb和As的质量比平均值均超过了当地土壤背景值。而重金属系统聚类分析表明,Zn、Cr、Pb、As高度相关,其污染主要由于人类活动造成;Ti、Mn、V、Cu、Ni、Co的分布特征相似,其污染原因以岩石风化等自然因素为主。单因子富集系数评价表明,阳宗海10种重金属均达到了中度富集程度,其中As、Cu、Cr富集程度较为突出。用Hakanson潜在生态风险指数法评价阳宗海表层沉积物中重金属的生态风险,结果表明,阳宗海表层沉积物中重金属的生态风险总体属轻微程度,阳宗海南岸局部区域达到中等生态风险程度。几种重金属对阳宗海生态风险的贡献由大到小依次为As、Cu、Co、Ni、Pb、Cr、V、Zn、Mn、Ti,其中,As是阳宗海最突出的生态风险因子。     

Modeling of sediment and heavy metal transport in Taihu Lake, China

With the current rapid economic growth, heavy metal pollution has become one of the key issues in the Taihu Lake. Although heavy metal pollution levels and distributions of the Taihu Lake have previously been described, an effective model to describe the transport process of heavy metals between the water column and sediment bed for this lake is not available. It is known that heavy metals in the water column can be related to the resuspension of sediment in the lake bed. In this study, we set up a coupled model of relating hydrodynamics, sediment and heavy metals based on Environmental Fluid Dynamics Code (EFDC), and applied it to Taihu Lake, China. For calibration and validation of the model, we employed two series of field sampling data taken all over Taihu Lake during April and July of 2009. The results show that the hydrodynamics simulations of the coupled model agree with the observations reasonably well and the sediment and heavy metal model shows similar variation trends during the simulation. Our results indicate that the model can be used for simulating the sediment and heavy metal transport process in the Taihu Lake and here we provide an effective tool for water quality management at small time scales.     

青狮潭水库底泥重金属污染特征及潜在生态风险

广西桂林青狮潭水库由东湖和西湖两部分组成,为了研究青狮潭水库底泥重金属污染分布特征及潜在生态风险,测定了青狮潭水库不同位置底泥中5种重金属(As,Cd,Cr,Hg,Pb)的含量,并通过地累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法评价了重金属的污染程度和潜在生态风险。结果表明:东湖底泥中As和Cd含量较西湖高,西湖Hg和Pb含量高于东湖;底泥中Cr主要来源于成土母质,船只通行是造成Pb污染的主要原因;东湖底泥中As和Cd可能主要来源于东江上游煤矿开采;西湖底泥中As,Cd,Hg与营养元素间存在显著相关性,其来源可能与周边农业活动和前期水库内网箱养鱼有关;根据地累积指数,重金属污染强度排序为Cd,As,Pb,Hg,Cr,Cd和As为主要污染元素;重金属潜在生态风险大小排序为Cd,Hg,As,Pb,Cr;东湖底泥重金属潜在生态风险强于西湖。     

The seasonal and spatial variations of labile copper, iron, manganese, lead and zinc sediment fractions in Lake Naivasha, Kenya

Lake Naivasha is a freshwater lake with no surface outlet, lying within a closed basin of the Kenyan Rift Valley. It is perceived to be a lake undergoing anthropogenic stresses. This study is intended to determine the speciation of some selected heavy metals in the sediments of Lake Naivasha, as an indicator of potential pollution of the lake. Sediment and water sampling of the lake was conducted in March and May 2003, during the dry and wet seasons, respectively. Analyses of the speciation of heavy metals in sediment samples (<63 µm faction) were performed on sediment samples collected from five sites within the lake. The study results obtained indicated that influent Malewa River was not a source of labile copper (Cu), lead (Pb) or zinc, despite the river having the highest percentage clay content during the wet season (86%). Copper was highly distributed in the residual sediment fraction (average of 90%). Among the labile sediment factions, the highest quantity of Cu was in the oxidizable phase (3.58 and 2.30 µg g⁻¹ during the dry and wet season, respectively). Carbonate‐bound Cu was sparingly distributed during both the dry and the wet seasons, ranging between 0.74 and 1.81 µg g⁻¹. Iron was highly distributed in the oxidizable sediment phase, exhibiting concentrations ranging between 2.0 and 6.0 (×10³) µg g⁻¹. Relative to the other heavy metals, manganese was distributed in lower proportions in the residual sediment fraction. High concentrations of Pb were observed in the oxidizable phase from most of the sampling sites along the lake shore. Zinc was distributed largely in the oxidizable phase, being highest at sampling site SS, which was located near a municipal sewage input to the lake. The sediments collected at the sampling sites located in the deep portion of the lake exhibited the highest concentrations of labile heavy metals.     

竺山湖及太湖西沿岸北段的重金属分布特征及其生态风险评价

对竺山湖及太湖西沿岸北段底泥沉积物中6种重金属Cd、As、Cr、Hg、Pb和Cu的质量比进行分析,结果表明,底泥沉积物中Cd、As、Cr、Hg、Pb和Cu的平均质量比分别为1.23 mg/kg、10.28 mg/kg、82.98 mg/kg、0.074 mg/kg、35.27 mg/kg和33.9 mg/kg,分别是各自背景值的4.6倍、1.1倍、1.0倍、0.7倍、2.2倍和1.8倍;底泥沉积物中重金属的垂向分布特点是:随底泥沉积物深度的增加,重金属质量比逐渐降低,并在底泥沉积物50 cm深处表现出明显的重金属质量比降低拐点。利用潜在生态风险指数法对竺山湖及太湖西沿岸北段的重金属生态风险进行评价,结果表明,该区域重金属生态风险值范围为34～444,平均值为117,太湖西沿岸大浦口区域的生态风险较大,Cd是生态风险的主要贡献元素。建议对竺山湖以及太湖西沿岸区大浦口区域Cd的污染进行必要的疏浚控制,疏浚深度在底泥50 cm深处,以有效去除该区域的Cd污染。     

Spatial Distributions and Temporal Trends in Sediment Contamination in Lake St. Clair

The sediments of Lake St. Clair were surveyed in 2001 for a range of compound classes including metals (such as total mercury and lead), polychlorinated biphenyls, polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans, organochlorine pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and short- and medium- chain chlorinated paraffins, in order to evaluate the spatial distribution and temporal trends of contamination. Concentrations of contaminants were generally low compared to the lower Great Lakes (Erie and Ontario), and were typically below the Canadian Sediment Quality Probable Effect Level (PEL) guidelines. The only exceptions were for mercury and DDE, where concentrations exceeded their respective PEL at one of the thirty-four sites sampled. With the exception of mercury, it was difficult to interpret spatial trends in contaminant concentrations due to these low levels, although relatively elevated concentrations of several contaminants were found in L’Anse Creuse Bay and at the outflow of the Thames River. In the case of mercury, historically-contaminated sediments in the St. Clair River associated with chlor-alkali production appeared to contribute to loadings to Lake St. Clair. There have been substantial reductions in sediment contamination in Lake St. Clair over the past three decades, as determined through sediment core profiles as well as through comparison of current data to those from historical surveys conducted in the early 1970s. These results indicate that management actions to reduce contaminant loadings to Lake St. Clair have been generally successful.     

巢湖表层沉积物与环棱螺重金属分布特征及生态风险评价

以巢湖优势种淡水贝类——环棱螺与表层沉积物为研究对象,采用HNO_3-HF-HClO_4全消解法消解,然后使用电感耦合等离子体发射光谱仪(ICP-AES)对二者重金属(Cd,Cr,Cu和Pb)的总量分布进行研究,同时运用潜在生态风险指数法及单因子污染指数法与均方根综合指数评价二者重金属风险。结果表明:巢湖沉积物均已受到了一定程度的重金属Cd,Cr,Cu,Pb污染,其中以Cd的潜在生态风险最大,而环棱螺中则以Pb和Cr为高风险元素;重金属的分布特征和相关性分析显示,巢湖沉积物中的重金属来源具有相似性,而环棱螺对重金属的积累因多种环境因素的综合作用,使得环棱螺体内的重金属来源不同。因此,在未来的巢湖环境治理过程中,可着重考虑对重金属Cd,Cr,Pb的治理,同时应加大对贝类等生物监测措施的应用。     

骆马湖沉积物重金属及营养盐污染研究

利用137 Cs定年技术对骆马湖沉积物柱状样进行了定年,同时测定了沉积物中重金属和营养盐含量的垂直剖面与水平分布。结果显示:骆马湖沉积物的平均沉积速率为3.5mm/a;在垂向上,随着沉积物深度变浅,营养盐含量逐渐升高,而大部分金属元素含量保持稳定或减少,只有Cd和Pb含量明显升高;在平面上,大部分金属元素的含量峰值出现在湖心区域,而营养盐的含量峰值出现在西部和南部湖区。可见骆马湖受人为污染影响严重的主要是重金属中的Cd与Pb和营养盐,且湖心区域污染较重。     

Assessment of sediment quality of a tropical lake using sediment quality standards

Sediments are often reservoirs of contaminants in aquatic waterbodies, and their quality can be an indicator of the health of their ecosystems. Heavy metal pollution in sediments is highly significant because of their persistent and bioaccumulative nature. In this regard, sediment quality guidelines (SQG) are useful for categorizing sediment quality with respect to the contaminant level in them. An attempt was made in this study to assess the sediment quality of the Akkulam‐Veli (AV) Lake system on the basis of guidelines that incorporate assessment scales that differ in their approaches. Some link threshold levels of heavy metal concentrations on the basis of their likelihood to cause adverse effects, while others classify the sediment concentration ranges that correspond to the degrees of toxicity caused by them. The sediment quality of the study area was assessed by combining the available guidelines to formulate two new approaches in this study. Based on this approach, AV Lake is highly polluted with respect to chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni) and lead (Pb), while arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) are non‐polluting with a negligible potential for adverse effects.     

Heavy metals in sediments and uptake by burrowing mayflies in western Lake Erie basin

During the past two decades, burrowing Hexagenia mayflies have returned to the western basin of Lake Erie. Because of their importance as a prey resource for higher trophic levels and their extensive residence time in potentially contaminated sediment, Hexagenia may be a source of heavy metal transfer. To better understand the distribution and transfer of heavy metals in sediment and mayflies, sediment and mayfly nymphs were collected from 24 locations across the western basin of Lake Erie in May 2007. Following USEPA protocols, samples were analyzed for 16 elements using ICP-OES or ICP-MS. Metal concentrations in the sediments exceeded the Threshold Effect Level for at least one metal at all sample sites. Sediment heavy metal distribution profiles indicate metal concentrations are correlated with organic matter content, and the highest heavy metal concentrations were found in the central deeper region of the western basin where organic content in the sediments was greatest. Hexagenia were distributed throughout the western basin, with greatest density (1350/m²) within the Detroit River plume. The Cd and Zn levels in mayflies were on average approximately 4 and 2 times greater, respectively, than sediment levels, and the Cd concentrations in the sediments exceeded the Threshold Effect Level at 27 of 28 sites and exceeded the Probable Effect Level at 9 of 28 sites. Spatial representation of heavy metal concentrations in mayflies exhibited a similar pattern to the spatial distribution of heavy metals and organic matter in the sediments with higher concentrations of metals found in mayflies residing in the central deeper region of the western basin.     

Assessment of heavy metal contamination in coastal lake sediments associated with urbanization: Southern Kerala,India

The study of the spatiotemporal variation of heavy metals in lake sediments is of great importance because heavy metals can result in toxic effects on aquatic biota through bioaccumulation. This study was undertaken to evaluate the degree of heavy metal contamination in the lacustrine sediments and the corresponding environmental deterioration in a tropical, urban, coastal lake (Akkulam–Veli), located in Kerala, India. The spatiotemporal variations of the cadmium (Cd), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), manganese (Mn), nickel (Ni) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in the lake sediments, as well as various indices of anthropogenic contamination, including Contamination Factor (CF), Pollution Load Index and Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), were used to assess the degree of contamination. This study indicated contamination of the lake sediments with Cu, Pb and Zn. Urban domestic sewage and land run‐off are the major drivers of the heavy metal loads to the lake. During the pre‐monsoon, sediment contamination occurs in the upstream portion of Akkulam Lake because of a high clay content in the sediments. During the monsoon period, Akkulam Lake and the upstream portion of Veli Lake exhibit sediment contamination owing to high silt content. Domestic sewage is the main source of copper and zinc to the lake. Sewage bypass into the drains in the lake basin is largely responsible for the copper and zinc sediment contamination. High traffic levels and wastewater discharges from service stations/workshops are the main cause of the Pb loads entering the lake. Rubber particles of vehicle tires contain zinc and copper pigments that can accumulate on the surface of busy streets, entering the drains during rainfall events. Based on these study results, the accumulation of copper, zinc and lead in lake sediment can be controlled to a great extent by restricting the above‐noted activities. As the sediment content of lead, zinc and copper is confined to the clay fraction during the non‐rainy season and to the silt fraction during other seasons, lake restoration work should largely incorporate treating the clay and silt fractions, respectively, during both the non‐rainy season and rainy season.     

杭州湾湾口水体含沙量的时空分布

利用卫星遥感资料,结合现场实测数据,研究杭州湾湾口水体含沙量的时空分布,综合分析得出:杭州湾水体含沙量具有冬大夏小、高浓度悬沙广泛分布的特性,岛屿效应引起的局部高含沙是杭州湾岛屿群的共性。     

南昌市湖泊重金属源识别及污染特征风险评价

为了解南昌市湖泊重金属污染特征现状,论文以青山湖、象湖及前湖为研究对象,在分析湖泊水体及沉积物重金属Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb水平的基础上,采用因子分析、地质累积指数与综合潜在生态风险指数对湖泊重金属污染水平进行评价,并结合主成分分析等统计方法判别各研究水域重金属污染源。结果表明水域中Cr、Cd与Pb为主要重金属污染元素,前湖面临着最为严重的水体重金属污染。沉积物中Ni、Cu、Zn、Cd、Pb存在不同程度风险,各湖泊中沉积重金属风险程度从大到小均为Cd>Cu>Pb>Ni>Zn。前湖生态风险程度最大,其次是象湖。主成分分析表明湖泊重金属主要来源于交通运输与废水废气排放。因此为避免进一步污染,应合理规划交通,控制汽车尾气排放,提升污水治理水平。     

Lead in Lake Michigan and Green Bay surficial sediments

Sediment samples were collected in 1987–1990 from Green Bay and in 1994–1996 from Lake Michigan. Surficial sediments (0–1 cm) from both locations were analyzed for lead for the purpose of describing the horizontal variation of lead in 1994–1996 Lake Michigan and 1987–1990 Green Bay sediments, estimating lead fluxes to surficial sediments, and comparing results to earlier studies. With Lake Michigan concentrations ranging from below the method detection limit to 180 μg/g, the surficial sediments had mean and median lead concentrations of 70 μg/g and 64 μg/g, respectively. Lead concentrations in Green Bay surficial sediments were similar to those in Lake Michigan and ranged between the method detection limit and 160 μg/g. For the bay, mean and median concentrations were 58 and 59 μg/g, respectively. Surficial lead concentrations were highest in the Southern, Waukegan, and Grand Haven basins of Lake Michigan and in the central region of Green Bay in the vicinity of Chambers Island. For Lake Michigan and Green Bay, dated sediment cores illustrate the decline in lead concentrations during the last 30 and 10 years, respectively. Lead fluxes ranged between < 0.049 and 7.2 μg/cm²/yr for Green Bay and between 0.47 and 20 μg/cm²/yr for Lake Michigan. Lead fluxes to Lake Michigan were lower than those reported for 1972. These are the most comprehensive fluxes of lead to Lake Michigan and Green Bay surficial sediments reported to date.     

湖北鄂州城市湖泊底泥重金属空间分布特征与污染评价

以湖北省鄂州市某湖泊底泥重金属为研究对象,在调查和分析的基础上,采用地质累积指数和潜在生态危害指数对底泥中的重金属分布以及污染状况进行评价。结果表明:从柱状底泥纵向分布来看,该湖底泥重金属含量整体上呈现从上到下递减的变化趋势,上层底泥重金属含量最高;从空间分布上看,3个湖区重金属污染程度排序是西湖区域＞东湖区域＞中湖区域。地质累积指数评价结果显示该湖底泥重金属主要以无污染—中度污染为主,底泥中重金属污染程度的大小排序为Cd＞Zn＞Cu＞Pb＞Ni＞Cr＞Hg＞As;潜在生态危害指数法的评价结果显示底泥中As、Ni、Cu、Pb、Cr和Zn生态风险水平较低,Cd和Hg存在着不同程度的潜在生态风险,Cd的潜在生态风险最高。研究成果为该湖泊的污染调查和评价分析提供参考,并为湖泊后续的保护和水环境系统的可持续发展提供科学依据。