Passive Probennahme mit Keramikdosimetern: M?glichkeiten und Grenzen der Einsetzbarkeit

As a result of a railway-accident, the aquifer in Elsterwerda (southern Brandenburg, Germany) has become contaminated with unleaded fuel. To monitor groundwater quality at this site, several ceramic dosimeters were installed in selected observation wells. The adsorber material in the dosimeters was conditioned to sample benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene. The dosimeters were installed between two regularly scheduled groundwater sampling events. Active and passive sampling results showed considerable differences in concentration in some cases. In addition to the diameter of the observation well, the main reason for the difference was a high dependency of passive sampling on the hydraulic connection between the observation wells and the aquifer. As a result of the comparison of active and passive sampling as well as considering additional site investigation data related to the spatial spreading of the contamination, it was possible to determine the hydraulic connection between the well and aquifer for the investigated wells. Hence, the application of ceramic dosimeters at Elsterwerda was not only suitable to acquire depth-dependent concentrations, but also to obtain information on the physical and hydraulic condition of the observation wells. However, rather limited additional information can be gained from the application of ceramic dosimeters at sites where there is no a priori information on the hydraulic connection of a well or on the depth-dependent distribution of the contamination.     

Einsatz von Direct Push im Rahmen von Sanierungsuntersuchungen – Fallbeispiel Elsterwerda (Brandenburg)

Monitoring of ground water for remediation projects is usually done using conventional ground water sampling. However, vertical variations in hydrochemistry cannot be detected well with this approach and, as a result, can create serious problems. Such problems were observed at the Elsterwerda site in Brandenburg where a spill of about 470 t of unleaded gasoline contaminated the Quaternary aquifer in 1997. Despite the installation of an increasing number of monitoring wells during site remediation, evaluation of the spatial development of the plume was not possible. Direct Push ground water sampling was therefore used to obtain depth-dependent hydrochemistry information for the design of additional monitoring wells. A mobile gas chromatograph enabled an adaptive site investigation that allowed on-site determination of the appropriate depths and lengths of the screened intervals for small-diameter multichannel monitoring wells. The installation of these multichannel wells provided reproducible, depth dependent information on site hydrochemistry. The investigations at the Elsterwerda site demonstrated the power of direct push technology and showed that simple cleaning of the Direct Push rods and the use of a new sampling tube for each profile eliminates potential cross contamination.     

Mapping risk of cadmium and lead contamination to human health in soils of Central Iran

In order to map Cd and Pb contamination in the soils of the region of Isfahan, Central Iran, we performed indicator kriging on a set of 255 topsoil samples (0-20 cm) gathered irregularly from an area of 6800 km(2). The measured Cd concentrations exceeded the Swiss guide value in more than 80% of the samples whereas Pb concentrations exceeded the respective guide value only in 2% of the samples. Based on the simulated conditional distribution functions, the probability of exceeding the concentration of Cd and Pb from the specific threshold was computed. The results indicated that in most parts of the region the probability of contamination by Cd is very large (>0.95) whereas it is small (<0.5) for Pb. Based on a misclassification analysis, we chose the probability of 0.45 as optimum probability threshold to delineate the polluted from unpolluted areas for Cd. In addition, we performed a loss analysis to separate risks to human health from potential losses due to remediation costs. Based on this analysis a probability threshold of 0.8 was found to be the optimum threshold for the classification of polluted and unpolluted areas in the case of Cd. Health risks were found to be larger in the western parts of the region. Misclassification analysis was sufficient for risk mapping for Pb as its concentration did not reach risk levels for human health. A probability of 0.7 for Pb was found to be the optimum threshold for the delineation of polluted and unpolluted lands.     

Hazard assessment of heavy metal contamination by the paper industry,north-eastern India

The spatial distribution and hazard assessment of heavy metals in the paper mill contaminated area of Jagiroad, Assam, India were investigated using statistics, geostatistics and geographic information system techniques. The amounts of Cr, Cd, Ni and Pb were determined from 188 samples collected within the contaminated area. Log-transformation was applied in order to achieve normality in the data-set. The ordinary kriging estimates of Cr, Cd, Ni and Pb maps showed that high concentrations of heavy metals were located in the low-lying areas like bils (lakes). Indicator kriged probability maps of soil Cr, Cd, Ni and Pb were prepared based on the concentrations to exceed the respective Food and Agriculture Organization maximum permissible limit (MPL) value of 100, 3, 30 and 50?mg/kg, respectively. It was seen that more than 80% of the studied area has a higher than 50% probability to exceed the MPL value of Ni. Smaller areas in the north and west side of the study area displayed a higher concentration than the MPL value of Pb. For Cr, only a small portion at the centre of the study area had a higher concentration than the MPL value. In an attempt to identify the source of heavy metals through multivariate analysis, it was concluded that Cr, Ni and Pb mainly originated from paper mill effluent and soil Cd was associated with natural concentration.     

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.     

Testing applicability of black poplar (Populus nigra L.) bark to heavy metal air pollution monitoring in urban and industrial regions

A comparative study of the capabilities of black poplar-tree (Populus nigra L.) bark as a biomonitor of atmospheric heavy-metal pollution is reported. Performance indicators (concentrations and enrichment factors) of heavy metal bioaccumulation of bark were compared to the corresponding indicators of epiphytic lichens Xanthoria parietina (L.) Th. Fr. and Physcia adscendens (Fr.) H. Oliver, collected simultaneously with bark samples within the Kiev urban-industrial conurbation. The concentrations of 40 minor and trace elements in the samples were measured by a combination of epithermal and instrumental neutron activation analysis (NAA) using a 10 MW nuclear research reactor WWR-M as the neutron source. Statistical analysis of the data was carried out using non-parametric tests. It was shown that for the majority of the elements determined a good correlation exists between their concentrations in bark and in the lichen species. The accumulation capability of the bark was found to be as effective as, and in some cases better, for both types of lichens. Based on the background levels and variations of the elemental concentration in black poplar-tree bark, threshold values for the enrichment factors were established. For a number of elements (As, Au, Ce, Co, Cr, Cu, La, Mn, Mo, Ni, Sb, Sm, Ti, Th, U, V, W) an interspecies calibration was performed. An optimized pre-irradiation treatment of the bark sample was employed which efficiently separated the most informative external layer from the deeper layers of the bark and thus minimized variations of the element concentrations. Results of this study support black poplar-tree bark as an alternative to epiphytic lichens for heavy metal air pollution monitoring in urban and industrial regions, where severe environmental conditions may result in scarcity or even lack of the indicator species.     

Spatial indoor radon distribution in Mexico City

We present a spatial analysis of residential radon concentrations in the Mexico City Metropolitan Area, which we intend to use to assign radon exposure in an ongoing case-control study. As part of a probabilistic household survey, carried out between May and June 1999, 501 dwellings were selected for indoor placement of solid state nuclear track detectors (LR 115) in a cup array over a period of approximately 90 days. As part of the sampling design, the city was grid partitioned into nine zones and a sample of dwellings was selected in each zone. All zones were simultaneously surveyed. The stratified sampling design allowed us to obtain radon geometric means, adjusted for household characteristics, week of detector placement and number of days of measurement for these zones. Additionally, adjusted geometric means were estimated for the 100 census tracts surveyed and this information was used to obtain a more detailed spatial distribution of residential radon levels through kriging interpolation and surface contouring. Radon levels depended on the room of placement, the floor level and the ventilation habits but not on building materials. Regarding the city zone, the highest adjusted geometric mean was found in the southwest (136 Bqm(-3)), where 46% of the households had an estimated radon level in excess of 200 Bqm(-3). In the rest of the city, the geometric mean concentration ranged between 41 and 98 Bqm(-3). A more detailed spatial distribution showed that, in general, most of the eastern and middle zones of the city had estimated radon geometric means below 74 Bqm(-3), while the western ones had geometric means above this concentration. Very high geometric means, exceeding 111 Bqm(-3) and even reaching 288 Bqm(-3), are estimated for some areas located in the southern and western zones of Mexico City. The obtained spatial distribution shows that the areas with very high estimated residential radon concentrations are close to inactive volcanic mountains. We believe that the geo-statistical techniques, we have used, offer reasonably good estimates of the average spatial residential radon distribution in Mexico City under average ventilation in homes. The use of this indirect approach for radon exposure measurement in epidemiological studies is an inexpensive alternative to direct radon exposure measurement but may be subject to non-differential misclassification error. The effect of such error on the detection of a real increase in lung cancer risk from indoor radon remains to be determined.     

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.     

Growth of Agropyron elongatum in a simulated nickel contaminated soil with lime stabilization

A greenhouse study was performed to evaluate the feasibility of using Agropyron elongatum and lime treatment for remediation of a simulated nickel (Ni) contaminated acidic soil. The acid soil was spiked with four levels of Ni, i.e., 0, 15, 50, and 100 mg Ni kg(-1) soil and the soil pH at each Ni level was adjusted to 4, 6 and 8 by liming with CaO. Addition of lime raised the soil pH and resulted in a decrease in concentrations of DTPA-extractable and water-soluble Ni in the soil, with a maximum reduction of 64 and 28 mg kg(-1), respectively at the highest level of Ni treatment as compared to the control without Ni treatment. In general, excessive Ni content in soil, especially at pH 4 inhibited the growth of Agropyron. Liming improved the growth condition and the highest dry weight yield of 12 g pot(-1) was obtained in soil spiked with 15 mg Ni kg(-1) at pH 6; and at the highest level of Ni, the dry weight yield increased from 0.48 to 5.96 g pot(-1) when the pH was increased from 4 to 6. However a further increase in pH to 8 did not improve plant yield because of the unavailability of nutrients at such a high pH. Nickel contents in plant were positively correlated to soil Ni contents at each respective pH level. Most of the Ni taken up by Agropyron was retained in the roots and the highest Ni uptake by plant was 3.9 mg pot(-1) in soil spiked with 100 mg Ni kg(-1) at pH 5.9, which was about 2.6% of total Ni added to the soil. This implies that Agropyron is not a hyperaccumulating species but is highly tolerant. Lime amendment together with the tolerant characteristic of Agropyron could provide a possible means to remediate Ni contaminated soils through phytostabilization.     

Assessing risk to human health from tropical leafy vegetables grown on contaminated urban soils

Fifteen tropical leafy vegetable types were sampled from farmers' gardens situated on nine contaminated sites used to grow vegetables for commercial or subsistence consumption in and around Kampala City, Uganda. Trace metal concentrations in soils were highly variable and originated from irrigation with wastewater, effluent discharge from industry and dumping of solid waste. Metal concentrations in the edible shoots of vegetables also differed greatly between, and within, sites. Gynandropsis gynandra consistently accumulated the highest Cd, Pb and Cu concentrations, while Amaranthus dubius accumulated the highest Zn concentration. Cadmium uptake from soils with contrasting sources and severity of contamination was consistently lowest in Cucurbita maxima and Vigna unguiculata, suggesting these species were most able to restrict Cd uptake from contaminated soil. Concentrations of Pb and Cr were consistently greater in unwashed, than in washed, vegetables, in marked contrast to Cd, Ni and Zn. The risk to human health, expressed as a ‘hazard quotient’ (HQ_M), was generally greatest for Cd, followed successively by Pb, Zn, Ni and Cu. Nevertheless, it was apparent that urban cultivation of leafy vegetables could be safely pursued on most sites, subject to site-specific assessment of soil metal burden, judicious choice of vegetable types and adoption of washing in clean water prior to cooking.     

A field survey of metal binding to metallothionein and other cytosolic ligands in liver of eels using an on-line isotope dilution method in combination with size exclusion (SE) high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS)

The effect of metal exposure on the accumulation and cytosolic speciation of metals in livers of wild populations of European eel with special emphasis on metallothioneins (MT) was studied. Four sampling sites in Flanders showing different degrees of heavy metal contamination were selected for this purpose. An on-line isotope dilution method in combination with size exclusion (SE) high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to Inductively Coupled Plasma time-of-flight Mass Spectrometry (ICP-TOFMS) was used to study the cytosolic speciation of the metals. The distribution of the metals Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn among cytosolic fractions displayed strong differences. The cytosolic concentration of Cd, Ni and Pb increased proportionally with the total liver levels. However, the cytosolic concentrations of Cu and Zn only increased above a certain liver tissue threshold level. Cd, Cu and Zn, but not Pb and Ni, were largely associated with the MT pool in correspondence with the environmental exposure and liver tissue concentrations. Most of the Pb and Ni and a considerable fraction of Cu and Zn, but not Cd, were associated to High Molecular Weight (HMW) fractions. The relative importance of the Cu and Zn in the HMW fraction decreased with increasing contamination levels while the MT pool became progressively more important. The close relationship between the cytosolic metal load and the total MT levels or the metals bound on the MT pool indicates that the metals, rather than other stress factors, are the major factor determining MT induction.     

新型磷基固化剂固化稳定化电镀工业污染黏土现场试验研究

针对某电镀工业重金属污染黏土固化稳定化修复工程开展了现场试验研究,分析养护1d、7d、28d后固化黏土的重金属浸出毒性、酸碱度(pH)、干密度(ρd)、贯入指数(DCPI)及回弹模量(EPFWD)等特性,并与水泥(PC)固化黏土进行比较,研究新型磷基固化剂SPC固化污染黏土的工程和环境特性。结果表明,SPC和PC能显著降低污染黏土重金属的浸出浓度,并满足地下水IV类质量标准(GB/T 14848-2017)的限制要求;相同龄期下SPC固化黏土的重金属浸出浓度低于PC固化黏土。SPC和PC能改善固化黏土的酸碱度,SPC固化黏土的pH值低于PC固化黏土;养护28d后,固化剂SPC和水泥固化黏土的pH分别为7.99和9.76。SPC和PC能显著提高污染黏土的强度和动态回弹模量,而SPC固化黏土的强度和动态回弹模量低于PC固化黏土。     

Accumulation of metals in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland treating domestic wastewater in Flanders, Belgium

This study assessed the accumulation of metals in a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland treating domestic wastewater of 350 PE after three years of operation. Metal concentrations in the influent wastewater, effluent, sediment, leaves, stems, and belowground biomass of Phragmites australis were analysed. Spatial variations were assessed by sampling at increasing distance from the inlet and at different positions across the width of the reed bed. All metals except Fe and Mn were efficiently removed in the CW, total metal concentrations in the effluent complied with basic environmental quality standards for surface water, and dissolved metal concentrations were often lower than analytical detection limits. Removal efficiencies varied between 49% for Ni and 93% for Al. Export of dissolved Mn and particulate Fe occurred, probably related to redox conditions in the sediment. After 3 years of operation, the sediment in the inlet area was significantly contaminated with Zn, Cu, and Cd, whereas Pb could form a contamination problem within the near future. The Cr and Ni levels in the sediment were low throughout the entire reed bed. At this stage of operation, the contamination problem was still situated within the inlet area and metal concentrations in the sediment decreased towards background values further along the treatment path. An exponential decrease of the metal mass in the sediment and belowground biomass was seen for all metals except Mn. Contrary to the other metals, Mn concentrations in the sediment increased with distance. For all metals, less than 2% of the mass removed from the wastewater after passage through the reed bed is accumulated in the aboveground reed biomass. The sediment acts as the primary sink for metals.     

Statistics of spatial average in a random two-state medium

A one-dimensional medium consisting of two alternating states is first studied. The occurrences of the states as well as the respective durations are assumed random according to a renewal process. The occurrence model is then extended to a two-dimensional medium by using appropriate two-dimensional variance function for the discrete random field. The properties associated with the two states could be drastically different; they are also subject to uncertainties and spatial variation. A random variable or a random field could be used to model each material property. Satisfactory performance of a system associated with such medium could depend on the spatial averageover some domain within the medium, whose statistics are derived. These statistics would serve as inputs to reliability evaluation including the determination of exceedance probability of a given threshold by some local spatial average property. The effect of the shape of the rectangular averaging domain is studied by varying its aspect ratio. Results could be readily extrapolated to a three-dimensional medium by modifying the corresponding variance functions. Examples of two-state systems in engineering are cited that could apply the results of the proposed model. It could also be used to study the effect on the performance reliability due to possible presence of an anomalous state embedded within an otherwise statistically homogenous medium.     

Localised remobilization of metals in a marine sediment

Trace metals and Fe and Mn were measured at vertical spatial resolutions of 2.5 and 5 mm in the top 35 cm of the profundal sediment of a Scottish sea-loch using DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) technique. DGT probes lower adjacent metal concentrations in pore waters and induce a flux of metal from the solid phase to porewater. The concentrations of metals in porewaters at the interface of the probe were measured during its deployment in a box core. These measurements reflect porewater concentrations of metals and their rates of resupply from the local solid phase of a very small volume (25 microl) of sediment. There was pronounced horizontal and vertical structure in the interfacial concentrations. Horizontal variations were shown by results from adjacent DGT assemblies being markedly different in detail, while vertical structure was measured directly by the DGT-depth profiles. Iron and Mn varied systematically with depth, with both broad and detailed features of Co aligning with those of Mn. There was, however, evidence of additional localised sources of Co that were apparently unrelated to the redox behaviour that Mn typifies, but associated with the remobilization of Ni, possibly from mineral dissolution. Arsenic(III) was remobilized in well-defined zones. Detailed correspondence of As(II) with some Fe features suggest that its release is mechanistically-related to iron oxide dissolution, but the 3 orders of magnitude higher concentrations of Fe may sometimes obscure the association. These results demonstrate that, within sediments, metals may be released in discrete locations that are not measured by conventional porewater sampling techniques due to their horizontal averaging.     

Lead and zinc in the Wallsend Burn, an urban catchment in Tyneside, UK

This paper examines lead and zinc concentrations in topsoils and stream sediments of public access areas in an urban catchment in Tyneside, UK. It examines the extent and severity of metal contamination, explores spatial patterns in relation to urban and industrial development, and makes inferences about potential metal mobility. Total and acetic-acid extractable lead and zinc concentrations, organic content and pH were determined on 121 topsoil and 22 stream sediment samples using standard laboratory procedures. Using the lowest trigger thresholds for total lead and zinc, almost 75% and 91%, respectively, of topsoil samples were classified as contaminated; proportions were rather lower for acetic acid extractable metals. Similarly, approximately 45% and 95% of stream sediment samples were contaminated with lead and zinc, respectively. The spatial distribution of metal concentrations was characterized by a hotspot pattern, with highest values in central and southern parts of the catchment where there is a long urban and industrial history. The potential mobility of zinc is considerably greater than that of lead in both topsoils and stream sediments, and for both metals is slightly higher in the stream sediments than in the topsoils; both of these differences are statistically significant (P < 0.05). The implications of the findings in this paper for assessment and monitoring of metal contaminated areas are explored.     

Soil burdens of persistent organic pollutants — Their levels, fate and risks: Part III. Quantification of the soil burdens and related health risks in the Czech Republic

A total number of 471 soil samples collected during the period of 1996-2006 from the agricultural and forest areas of the Czech Republic were analyzed for their content of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Spatial variability of the POP concentrations was assessed using an IDW spatial GIS model analysis. For every grid of the network, resulting modeled levels of contamination allowed for estimation of the total burden of POPs in soils. Potential risks associated with contaminated soils were assessed as well. Database of the old ecological burdens counting 3061 sampling sites was used to adjust the model and incorporate the risks of heavily contaminated sites. The high levels of health risks were only found at less than 1% of the area of interest. The IDW modeling proved to be a useful tool for screening of the health risks in the large areas with scarce monitoring data. Presented approach can be applied in the risk management, to support an efficient targeting of the risk reduction measures, or to improve a design of the national monitoring.     

Improvement of remote monitoring on water quality in a subtropical reservoir by incorporating grammatical evolution with parallel genetic algorithms into satellite imagery

Parallel GEGA was constructed by incorporating grammatical evolution (GE) into the parallel genetic algorithm (GA) to improve reservoir water quality monitoring based on remote sensing images. A cruise was conducted to ground-truth chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration longitudinally along the Feitsui Reservoir, the primary water supply for Taipei City in Taiwan. Empirical functions with multiple spectral parameters from the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) data were constructed. The GE, an evolutionary automatic programming type system, automatically discovers complex nonlinear mathematical relationships among observed Chl-a concentrations and remote-sensed imageries. A GA was used afterward with GE to optimize the appropriate function type. Various parallel subpopulations were processed to enhance search efficiency during the optimization procedure with GA. Compared with a traditional linear multiple regression (LMR), the performance of parallel GEGA was found to be better than that of the traditional LMR model with lower estimating errors.     

Heavy metals contamination in soils around tailing heaps with various degrees of weathering in Zimapán,Mexico

Dispersion of mine tailings is the main cause of heavy metal (HM) contamination in soils in Zimapán, Mexico; however, the extent of this problem has not been assessed. Therefore, the aims of this study were to determine the degree of contamination and to assess the influence of mine tailings with different degrees of weathering on the spatial distribution of HM in soils. Soil and mine tailing sampling was carried out. The HM concentration was determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry; spatial analysis and the size of the contaminated areas were calculated using GIS software; the mine tailings were characterized physically, chemically and mineralogically. The results suggest that all the tailing heaps have contributed to the HM dispersion. High HM concentrations were founded in soils around mine tailings (9402 mg kg^?1 Pb and 52 mg kg^?1 Cd). Surface area contaminated with Pb and Cd was estimated at 6.2 and 2.7 km², in urban soils, respectively.     

Evidence of the impact of ENSO events on temporal trends of hexachlorobenzene air concentrations over the Great Lakes

This study presents an evidence for association of the air concentrations of HCB measured in the Great Lakes region with the El Ni?o-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) during the 1990s. The measured HCB concentrations in the atmosphere collected by the Integrated Atmospheric Deposition Network (IADN) program in the Great Lakes during the 1990s show strong correlations with the Multivariate ENSO index (MEI) during winter (December-February) and spring (March-May) seasons. These correlations are stronger in the western upper Great Lakes than in the eastern portion of the Great Lakes ecosystem (lake Ontario), and correspond well to the spatial variability of the surface air temperature in North America during El Ni?o years. Departures of HCB air concentrations for each winter during 1992-1999 from that averaged over all winters of 1992-1999, i.e. the anomaly, also show the same temporal trend as that of the MEI during the same period. In the same time period, it has been reported that direct HCB emissions from application of HCB in agriculture, from industrial sources in North America and in the rest of the world have decreased substantially compared to those in the 1970s and could not by themselves account for observed HCB air concentrations around the Great Lakes since the 1990s. Interannual fluctuations of HCB concentrations are caused most likely by reemission due to volatilization of HCB from the soil contaminated from past use, followed by long-range transport associated with ENSO events. In addition to the high correlation (R(2)=0.61) between winter HCB air concentrations averaged over the Great Lakes region and the MEI the atmospheric circulation patterns associated with ENSO events are conducive to the long-range transport of HCB into the Great Lakes region.