Magnetic properties and heavy metal pollution of soils in the vicinity of a cement plant,Xuzhou (China)

This study characterized the magnetic property and levels of heavy metals of the topsoils near a cement plant. The concentrations of five selected heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd) were measured on 32 topsoil samples (0–20 cm) collected near a cement plant via inductively coupled plasma/mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). The orders of enrichment factors (EF), on average, were Cd (7.3) > Cu (3) > Zn (2.9) > Pb (2.1), respectively. A self-organizing map (SOM) was applied to the concentrations of heavy metals for “correlation hunting”. Mineral magnetic concentration parameters, such as the specific magnetic susceptibility (χ), susceptibility of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (χ_ARM), saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM), together with interparametric ratios (such as IRM_− 100mT/SIRM, SIRM/χ, χ_ARM/SIRM) show that ferrimagnetic, superparamagnetic (SP) and multi-domain (MD) minerals dominated the soils. The results of correlation analysis indicate that copper showed a significant correlation with χ, χ_ARM and SIRM but such a relationship with χ, χ_ARM and SIRM was only weakly identified for Zn, Cd and Pb.     

Assessment of Metal Pollution in Water and Surface Sediments of the Seyhan River,Turkey, Using Different Indexes

The aim of this study was to assess the level of heavy metals (Al, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) contamination and enrichment in the surface sediments of the Seyhan River, which is the receiving water body of both treated and untreated municipal and industrial effluents as well as agricultural drainage waters generated within Adana, Turkey. Sediment and water samples were taken from six previously determined stations covering the downstream of the Seyhan dam during both wet and dry seasons and the samples were then analyzed for the heavy metals of concern. When both dry and wet seasons were considered, metal concentrations varied significantly within a broad range with Al, 7210–33 967 mg kg^?1 dw; Cr, 46–122 mg kg^?1 dw; Cu, 6–57 mg kg^?1 dw; Fe, 10 294–26 556 mg kg^?1 dw; Mn, 144–638 mg kg^?1 dw; Ni, 82–215 mg kg^?1 dw; Pb, 11–75 mg kg^?1 dw; Zn, 34–146 mg kg^?1 dw in the sediments while Cd was at non‐detectable levels for all stations. For both seasons combined, the enrichment factor (EF) and the geo‐accumulation index (I_geo) for the sediments in terms of the specified metals ranged from 0.56 to 10.36 and ?2.92 to 1.56, respectively, throughout the lower Seyhan River. The sediment quality guidelines (SQG) of US‐EPA suggested the sediments of the Seyhan River demonstrated “unpolluted to moderate pollution” of Cu, Pb, and Zn, “moderate to very strong pollution” of Cr and Ni. The water quality data, on the other hand, indicated very low levels of these metals suggesting that the metal content in the surface sediments were most probably originating from fine sediments transported along the river route instead of water/wastewater discharges with high metal content.     

Preparation,Characterization of a Novel Chelating Resin Functionalized with o‐Hydroxybenzamide and Its Application for Preconcentration of Trace Metal Ions

A stable extractor of metal ions was synthesized through azo linking of o‐hydroxybenzamide (HBAM) with Amberlite XAD‐4 (AXAD‐4) and was characterized by elemental analyses, IR spectral, and thermal studies. Its water regain value and hydrogen ion capacity were found to be 12.93 and 7.68 mmol g^?1, respectively. The optimum pH range (with the half‐loading time [min], t_1/2) for Cu(II), Cr(III), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) ions were 2.0–4.0 (5.5), 2.0–4.0 (7.0), 2.0–4.0 (8.0), 4.0–6.0 (9.0), 4.0–6.0 (12.0), and 2.0–4.0 (15.0), respectively. Comparison of breakthrough and overall capacities of the metals ascertains the high degree of column utilization (>70%). The overall sorption capacities for Cu(II), Cr(III), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) ions were found to be 0.29, 0.22, 0.20, 0.16, 0.13, and 0.11 mmol g^?1 with the corresponding preconcentration factor of 400, 380, 380, 360, 320, and 320, respectively. The limit of preconcentration was in the range of 5.0–6.3 ng mL^?1. The detection limit for Cu(II), Cr(III), Ni(II), Co(II), Zn(II), and Pb(II) were found to be 0.39, 0.49, 0.42, 0.59, 0.71, and 1.10 ng mL^?1, respectively. The AXAD‐4‐HBAM has been successfully applied for the analysis of natural water, multivitamin formulation, infant milk substitute, hydrogenated oil, urine, and fish.     

Paddy soil — A suitable target for monitoring heavy metal pollution by magnetic proxies

A preliminary magnetic study around Meishan steel mill in Nanjing (SE China) was carried out combining geochemical analysis with scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to prove that paddy soil can be a suitable target for environmental study on heavy metal pollution. Magnetic background investigation showed a strong variation in this area due to different land uses and soil types. Magnetic susceptibilities (MS) measured on forest soils are much higher than in paddy fields, and values below 20 cm of the soil surface in forest with parent material of Xiashu loess are several times higher than in paddy soil with parent material of fluvisol. Measurements on vertical profiles show that paddy soil has a very low and stable magnetic background with mass-specific MS around 15 × 10^{− 8} m³ kg^{− 1}. A strong enhancement of MS values is found in the upper ~ 20 cm of paddy soil predominated by multidomain and pseudo single domain magnetite. However, relatively low S-ratios (0.57 to 0.85) reveal a significant contribution of imperfect anti-ferromagnetic minerals. Detailed research on a paddy soil core at site C719 near the steel mill indicates strong correlation between magnetic mineral concentration-related parameters (χ, ARM, SIRM) and heavy metal concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn. In addition, typical anthropogenic Fe-spherules are detected in top paddy soil by means of SEM, which indicates that the increase of susceptibility in upper soil is mainly caused by steel mill emission. Mapping of MS in paddy fields across the steel mill area shows a decrease of MS with the distance to the major emission zone. Positive correlation between χ and Zn is found by measuring surface soil samples around the steel mill. Because of low background and high homogeneity of the ~ 20 cm uppermost mixing layer paddy fields are especially suitable for magnetic surface mapping of heavy metal pollution.     

Assessment of arsenic and heavy metal pollution and ecological risk in inshore sediments of the Yellow River estuary,China

In order to investigate the pollution levels, sources and ecological risks of arsenic (As) and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd) in inshore sediments of the Yellow River estuary, the surface sediment in areas of inshore coastal waters were sampled in October 2014 as the flow-sediment regulation project (FSRP) was implemented for 13 years. Results showed that the concentrations of As and heavy metals in inshore sediments of the Yellow River estuary were in the order of Zn?>?Cr?>?Cu?>?Ni?>?Pb?>?As?>?Cd. Higher levels of As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb generally occurred in fine-grained sediments of the Yellow River estuary and the southeast region, which was consistent with the spatial distribution of clay. In contrast, higher concentrations of Cd were generally observed in northwest area of the Yellow River estuary and near the Qingshuigou estuary, which showed similarly spatial distribution with that of sand. The sediment quality guidelines (SQG_S) and geoaccumulation indices (I_geo) indicated that the inshore sediments were polluted by Cu, Cd, As, Pb and Zn, and, among them, Cd pollution was more serious. Ecological risk indices (E _r ⁱ ) demonstrated low risks for Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and As, and high potential toxicity by Cd. The integrated ecological risk index implied that 6.8% of stations presented moderate risk, 4.5% of stations exhibited disastrous risk, and 88.7% of stations demonstrated considerable risk. Principal component analysis indicated that Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb and As might originate from common pollution sources, while Cr and Cd might share another similar sources. With the continuous implementation of FSRP, As and heavy metal levels in inshore sediments of the Yellow River estuary could be classified as stage I (2002–2010) and stage II (2010–2014). In the stage I, As, Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn and Pb levels fluctuated but decreased significantly, whereas Cd concentrations showed little variation. In the stage II, As and heavy metal levels significantly increased although some little fluctuations occurred. The continuous accumulation of As and heavy metals (especially for Cd) in inshore sediments of the Yellow River estuary would occur again as the FSRP was implemented for 9 years (since 2010). The ecotoxicological risk of Cd, As, Ni and Cu in inshore sediments might be more serious since the accumulation of the four elements would be continuously occurred in future years. Next step, there will be long-term potential consequences for marine organism if effective measures are not taken to control the loadings of metal pollutants into estuary.     

土壤剖面中粉煤灰垂向迁移的磁响应

对浙江省安吉县梅溪发电厂粉煤灰贮灰场附近的土壤短剖面进行环境磁学、元素含量及粒度研究.借助模糊聚类分析,分辨出粉煤灰原位堆积、富集、迁移深度及未受污染土壤特征.剖面上部0～14cm为粉煤灰的原位反映,多畴磁铁矿主导了该段样品磁性.其中11～14cm处磁性矿物和金属元素有所富集.14～21cm为粉煤灰在土壤中的迁移深度.迁移段土壤中亚铁磁性矿物及Pb、Zn等金属含量介于底部未污染土壤与上部粉煤灰原位堆积层之间.单畴斜交反铁磁性矿物及来源于上部粉煤灰的多畴磁铁矿共同主导了该段土壤的磁性特征.21cm以下土壤基本未受粉煤灰污染,单畴斜交反铁磁性矿物是其主要磁性矿物.指标聚类分析表明,亚铁磁性矿物主要赋存在粗粉砂中,单畴磁晶粒主要存在于细粉砂中.χ、ARM、SIRM与Cu、Mn、Pb、Zn呈显著相关.结合多元统计分析,磁参数可用于追踪、识别粉煤灰在土壤剖面中的垂向迁移.     

Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Dust‐Bound Trace Metal Elements around Kuhdasht Watershed Area in Iran

Dust, as a source of trace metal elements, affects the health of society. The spatial and temporal concentrations of dust‐bound trace metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Mn) in Kuhdasht watershed (456 km²), Lorestan Province, Iran, is investigated. Dust is collected using glass traps placed in ten research stations in the region. The spatial and temporal distribution of dust trace metals are plotted using ARC‐GIS. The highest and the lowest concentrations of Zn (9751150 mg kg^?1), Pb (46.352.9 mg kg^?1), and Cd (2.443.30 mg kg^?1) are obtained in winter, of Ni (98110 mg kg^?1) and Cu in autumn (16.053.5 mg kg^?1), and of Mn in summer (385505 mg kg^?1). The spatial concentrations of dust‐bound trace metals indicate all, except Cu, show a decreasing trend from the mountains toward the plains, similar to that of soil and of dust, except for Zn, which shows higher concentrations in dust than in soil. The potential sources of dust‐bound trace metals and their rate of contamination are also investigated using the enrichment and contamination factors. The major sources of Cd and Zn in the dust of watershed are due to anthropogenic activities or from activities outside the borders.     

Mineral magnetic variation of the Jingbian loess/paleosol sequence in the northern Loess Plateau of China: Implications for Quaternary development of Asian aridification and cooling

A high-resolution mineral magnetic investigation has been carried out on the Jingbian loess/paleosol sequence at the northern extremity of the Chinese Loess Plateau. Results show that the magnetic assemblage is dominated by large pseudo-single domain and multidomain-like magnetite with associated maghemite and hematite. Variations in the ratios of SIRM_100mT/SIRM, SIRM_100mT/SIRM_30mT and SIRM_100mT/SIRM_60mT (SIRM is the saturation isothermal remanent magnetization; SIRM_nmT represents the residual SIRM after an n mT alternating field demagnetization) have been used to document regional paleoclimate change in the Asian interior by correlating the mineral magnetic record with the composite δ¹⁸O record in deep-sea sediments. The long-term up-section decreasing trend in those ratios in both loess and paleosol units has been attributed to a long-term decrease in the relative contributions of eolian hematite during glacial extrema and of pedogenic hematite during interglacial extrema, respectively, which reveals a long-term decreasing trend in chemical weathering intensity in both glacial-stage source region (the Gobi and deserts in northwestern China) and interglacial-stage depositional area (the Loess Plateau region). We further relate this long-timescale variation to long-term increasing aridification and cooling, during both glacial extrema in the dust source region and interglacial extrema in the depositional area, over the Quaternary period. Changes in those ratios are most likely due to Quaternary aridification and cooling driven by ongoing global cooling, expansion of the Arctic ice-sheet, and progressive uplift of the Himalayan–Tibetan complex during this period.     

Rock-magnetic properties of topsoils and urban dust from Morelia (>800,000 inhabitants), Mexico: Implications for anthropogenic pollution monitoring in Mexico’s medium size cities

In this work, we investigate the correlation between some magnetic parameters and the level of contamination by heavy metals in urban soils from Morelia city, western Mexico. The magnetic study was carried out on 98 urban soils samples belonging to distinct land uses. Most of analyzed samples contain ferrimagnetic minerals as the responsible for magnetization, most probably corresponding to the titanomagnetites/ titanomaghemites solid solutions. This is inferred from the susceptibility vs. temperature measurements and the isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) experiments. These measurements also indicate that most of samples are almost completely saturated before 300 mT. Additionally, the S_-200 values (S_-200 = IRM_-200/ SIRM, where IRM_-200= Back-field of 200 mT after magnetic saturation) are between 0.7 and 1.0, characteristic of low coercivity magnetic minerals. The averaged saturation isothermal remanent magnetization (SIRM) curves can be used as an indicator of pollution level, as these curves show different saturation values according to the level of contamination by heavy metals: Cu, Ni, Cr and Sr. These associations of (titano)magnetite with heavy metals were observed by Scanning Electron Microscope revealing some complex aggregates rather than commonly detected spherules.     

Heavy metal concentrations during storm events in a rehabilitated industrialized catchment

Water quality data collected on a fortnightly or monthly basis are inadequate for assessment and modelling of many water quality problems as storm event samples are underrepresented or missed. This paper examines the stormflow dynamics of heavy metals (Pb, Cu, Cd and Zn) in the Nant‐y‐Fendrod stream, South Wales, which has been affected by 250 years of metal smelting, followed by 35 years of landscape rehabilitation measures. For storm events of contrasting (very dry and very wet) antecedent conditions in May 2000 and February 2001, respectively, temporal changes in streamwater heavy metal concentrations above and below an in‐line flood detention lake are analysed. At the upstream site, peaks in total metal concentration were recorded on the rising limb for Pb (0·150 mg l^?1) and Cu (0·038 mg l^?1) but on the falling limb for Zn (1·660 mg l^?1) and Cd (0·006 mg l^?1) in the summer 2000 storm event, yielding clockwise and anticlockwise hysteretic loops respectively. In contrast, metal concentrations, although high throughout the winter storm event, were diluted somewhat during the storm peak itself. The Pb and Cu appear to be supplied by quickflow processes and transported in close association with fine sediment, whereas Zn and Cd are delivered to the channel and lake by slower subsurface seepage in dissolved form. In the winter 2001 event, antecedent soil moisture and shallow groundwater levels were anomalously high and seepage sources of dissolved metals dominated. Downstream of the lake, Pb and Cu levels and suspended sediment were high in the summer storm, but low in the winter storm, suggesting retention with deposition of fine sediment in the lake during the latter. In the winter storm, Zn and Cd levels were higher downstream than upstream of the lake, perhaps because of additional seepage inputs from the surrounding slopes, which failed to have an impact during summer. An understanding of the complex interplay of antecedent soil moisture and the dynamics of subsurface seepage pathways in relation to the three‐dimensional distribution of sources is important in modelling heavy metal fluxes and levels in contaminated urban catchments. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetic particles in indoor dust as marker of pollution emitted by different outside sources

The potential relation between outdoor pollutants and the quality of indoor air was evaluated. A case study was carried out in the small town of Zyrardow situated south-west of Warsaw, Poland. The indoor dust from 20 apartments from several parts of the town that are anticipated to be exposed to various levels of pollution was investigated: a mildly polluted area (suburban), a heating plant area, a post-industrial area and the city center. For evaluation of indoor dust several magnetic parameters (mass-specific magnetic susceptibility χ, its temperature dependence, anhysteretic remanent magnetization, hysteresis loop parameters) were applied. Analysis of magnetic properties was supplemented by analysis of chemical elements: Cd, Cu, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Depending on the location of apartments, large variations in concentration, mineralogy and grain-size of magnetic particles were detected. The thermomagnetic analysis revealed magnetite as a primary magnetic phase. In indoor dust, the Curie temperature of ~760°C and soft hysteresis loops with relatively low coercivity values of ~1.5-5 mT are an attribute of metallic iron. The dust collected from apartments located near the local heating plant area, in contaminated post-industrial and suburban areas contains mainly magnetite and only a small amount of metallic iron. Mass-specific magnetic susceptibility is in the range from 40 to 200 × 10^-8 m³kg^-1 and linearly correlates with concentration of individual heavy metals: Ni, Cr, Co and Zn. Magnetic fraction of dust from the city center mainly consists of magnetite and variable amounts of metallic iron. Magnetic susceptibility shows linear correlations with concentration of Fe and concentration of individual heavy metals (Zn, Ni and Co) considered as traffic-related. The study demonstrates that metallic iron present in indoor dust is a potential marker of trafficrelated sources and it makes it possible to use magnetic methods as a tool for evaluation of traffic-related impact on indoor air levels.     

A mass balance approach to quantifying Pb storage and fluxes in an upland catchment of the Peak District,north‐central England

A mass balance model of the main Pb stores and fluxes for a typical organic‐rich upland catchment in the Peak District, UK, has been produced. The model, based on the Howden reservoir catchment, reveals that the majority of Pb in the catchment is stored within the soil (approximately 8·63 t km^?2). Soil Pb levels are extremely high and can only be explained as the result of centuries of atmospheric Pb deposition from surrounding urban–industrial conurbations, and mining and smelting activity within the Peak District National Park. The atmospheric Pb flux onto the Howden catchment is approximately 107 kg a^?1. The aquatic Pb flux is estimated at between 29·9 and 71·7 kg a^?1; thus, at present, catchment soils are acting as a sink for Pb pollution. The Howden reservoir acts as a secondary store for Pb eroded and leached from catchment soils, with approximately 80% re‐deposited in its sediments. It is estimated that 2·3% of the catchment soil Pb pool has been retained in the reservoir sediments over its 91 year lifespan. Although the catchment is currently acting as a Pb sink, the rate of change in the soil Pb pool is very small. Future change in climate or deposition chemistry could, however, transform catchment soils into a significant source of Pb to the aquatic environment and water supply. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Magnetic susceptibility and heavy-metal contamination in topsoils along the Izmit Gulf coastal area and IZAYTAS (Turkey)

The study on topsoil contamination due to heavy metals was carried out by using the Magnetic susceptibility (MS) measurements in Izmit industrial city, northern Turkey. We attempted to investigate correlations between the concentration of selected heavy metals and the MS from 41 sample sites around Izmit Gulf. These investigations let us quantify and standardize the MS method, which may have consequences for long term monitoring of anthropogenic pollution, especially in urban areas. The MS surfer contour map based on the topsoil measurements was compiled with a randomly ranged distance density. The soil samples collected throughout the industrial areas, the parks, road sides and residential areas were also analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. Heavy metals Cu, Ni, Cr and Pb show strong correlations with MS, while Zn and Co show a weak correlation with MS. Moreover, the Tomlinson pollution load index (PLI) shows insignificant correlation with the MS.The MS was examined vertically (0–30 cm) with respect to anthropogenic and/or lithogenic influences at the fourteen sample sites. The maximum values were mostly observed in depths of 2–5 cm and the MS values on the depth profiles vary between 10 × 10^? 8 m³ kg^? 1 and 203 × 10^? 8 m³ kg^? 1. The study revealed that MS is an inexpensive, fast and non-destructive method for the detection and mapping of contaminated soils.     

西安市道路灰尘磁学特征及其对环境的响应

西安市道路表面灰尘样品的环境磁学研究显示磁化率(χ)、非磁滞磁化率（χ_ARM）以及饱和等温剩磁（SIRM）均比较高,表明样品中磁性矿物含量较高.其中磁化率（χ）主要受人类活动强度影响,而非磁滞磁化率（χ_ARM）及饱和等温剩磁（SIRM）则由人为活动强度和磁性矿物种类共同决定.κ-T曲线以及等温剩磁（IRM）获得曲线显示样品中磁铁矿和磁赤铁矿等亚铁磁性矿物占主导,并可能含有少量的单质铁,其相对含量与人类活动种类有关：与单纯的交通排放及冶金活动相比,密集的人群流动可带来更多的单质铁矿物.磁畴图谱显示磁性矿物粒径变化不大,以准单畴及多畴颗粒等粗颗粒为主,明显大于成土作用形成的磁性颗粒.综合磁性矿物含量种类以及粒径可辨别污染及污染来源,提供污染监测的磁学手段,并初步进行污染来源划分.     

Content and distribution of trace metals in surface sediments from the northern Bering Sea,Chukchi Sea and adjacent Arctic areas

Concentrations of trace metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, V, Cd and Pb), total organic carbon (TOC), black carbon (BC) and their granulometry were examined in 25 surface sediment samples from the northern Bering Sea, Chukchi Sea and adjacent areas. Trace metal concentrations in the sediments varied from 21.06–168.21 mg kg⁻¹ for Zn, 8.91–46.94 mg kg⁻¹ for Cr, 2.69–49.39 mg kg⁻¹ for Cu, 32.46–185.54 mg kg⁻¹ for V, 0.09–0.92 mg kg⁻¹ for Cd, and 0.95–15.25 mg kg⁻¹ for Pb. The geoaccumulation index (I_geo) indicated that trace metal contamination (Zn and Cd) existed in some stations of the study area. The distribution of grain size plays an important role in influencing the distribution of trace metals (Zn, Cr, Cu, V, and Pb) in sediments from the Chukchi Sea and adjacent areas.     

Mangrove‐forest evolution in a sediment‐rich estuarine system: opportunists or agents of geomorphic change?

The majority of the world's mangrove forests occur on mostly mineral sediments of fluvial origin. Two perspectives exist on the biogeomorphic development of these forests, i.e. that mangroves are opportunistic, with forest development primarily driven by physical processes, or alternatively that biophysical feedbacks strongly influence sedimentation and resulting geomorphology. On the Firth of Thames coast, New Zealand, we evaluate these two possible scenarios for sediment accumulation and forest development using high‐resolution sedimentary records and a detailed chronology of mangrove‐forest (Avicennia marina) development since the 1950s. Cores were collected along a shore‐normal transect of known elevation relative to mean sea level (MSL). Activities for lead‐210 (²¹⁰Pb), caesium‐137 (¹³⁷Cs) and beryllium‐7 (⁷Be), and sediment properties were analysed, with ²¹⁰Pb sediment accumulation rates (SARs), compensated for deep subsidence (~8 mm yr^?1) used as a proxy for elevation gain. At least four phases of forest development since the 1950s are recognized. An old‐growth forest developed by the late‐1970s with more recent seaward forest expansion thereafter. Excess ²¹⁰Pb profiles from the old‐growth forest exhibit relatively low SARs near the top (7–12 mm yr^?1) and bottom (10–22 mm yr^?1) of cores, separated by an interval of higher SARs (33–100 mm yr^?1). A general trend of increasing SAR over time characterizes the recent forest. Biogeomorphic evolution of the system is more complex than simple mudflat accretion/progradation and mangrove‐forest expansion. Surface‐elevation gain in the old‐growth forest displays an asymptotic trajectory, with a secondary depocentre developing on the seaward mudflat from the mid‐1970s. Two‐ to ten‐fold increases in ²¹⁰Pb SARs are unambiguously large and occurred years to decades before seedling recruitment, demonstrating that mangroves do not measurably enhance sedimentation over annual to decadal timescales. This suggests that mangrove‐forest development is largely dependent on physical processes, with forests occupying mudflats once they reach a suitable elevation in the intertidal. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparative study on magnetic minerals of tidal flat deposits from different sediment sources in Jiangsu coast,Eastern China

Understanding the sources of sediments deposited in tidal flats is critical for reconstructing the evolution of coastal regions impacted by large rivers. Environmental magnetism can be an effective tool to track sediment sources and analyze the sediment properties. We evaluate several magnetic parameters from the tidal flat sediments along the Jiangsu coast. The results show that the sediments of Liandao Island have the lowest values of magnetic susceptibility (χ), anhysteretic remanent magnetization (ARM) and saturation isothermal remanence magnetization (SIRM). In addition to these, the values of χ, ARM and SIRM display a generally increasing trend from the north to the south along the Jiangsu coast. The strong relations between χ, ARM and SIRM show that the changes of magnetization of the tidal flat sediments mainly reflect the changes of concentration rather than those in grain sizes of magnetic particles. The main magnetic phase is magnetite, with a small amount of hematite. The strong relationship between χ and the 2-16 μm grain-size fraction suggests that magnetite is enriched in the finer silt fraction. The sediment sources is the main factor that influences the magnetic properties of the tidal flat sediments from the Jiangsu coast. Combined with the previous studies, the results indicate that the tidal flat sediments of Liandao Island were mainly derived from the nearshore rock weathering. The Yellow River is the dominant supplier for the north of Dafeng, while the Yangtze River is the dominant supplier for the south of Rudong. The coast between Dafeng and Rudong is a transition zone influenced by both rivers. This study provides a basis against which possible future variations in sediment composition resulting from catchment changes can be assessed.     

Trace metal levels in coastal sea water investigation of Danish waters

The concentration levels of Cd (25 ng l^?1), Cu (0.45 μg l^?1), Ni (0.48 μg l^?1), Fe (0.2–7.0 μg l^?1), Pb (40 ng l^?1) and Zn (0.80 μg l^?1) have been determined in the Danish Sounds and in the Kattegat. Different sampling techniques have been used and analyses have been carried out separately by two different investigators, both using freon-extraction followed by determination by atomic absorption spectrometry (a.a.s.). Except for iron, found mainly in the particulate phase, the metals are found predominantly in a dissolved and labile (extractable) form. The results are compared with trace metal levels found in the two main water masses entering the Kattegat—the North Sea and the Baltic Sea.     

福建三明地区被污染土壤的磁学性质及其环境意义

对福建三明某钢铁厂和火电厂附近的污染表土样品进行了多参数的岩石磁学测试分析,包括χ T曲线、磁滞回线、等温剩磁获得曲线等. 三明地区污染表土中的磁性矿物有磁铁矿、赤铁矿和磁黄铁矿. 样品中磁性矿物的平均粒度较粗,为较大的准单畴,甚至多畴,粒度明显大于成土作用所产生的磁性颗粒. 粗粒的磁铁矿颗粒是污染物的主要磁性组分. 虽然磁化率测量可以作为一种简单、快速而且廉价的检测污染土壤的方法,但同时辅以必要的岩石磁学测量将有利于提取更多的污染信息. 对于低磁化率的污染土壤,亚铁磁性硫化物的存在可以作为土壤可能被污染的证据之一.     

Biomonitoring of Heavy Metals Using the Bivalve Molluscs in Sunderban Mangrove Wetland,Northeast Coast of Bay of Bengal (India): Possible Risks to Human Health

The suitability of using four bivalve molluscs (Sanguinolaria acuminata, Anadara granosa, Meretrix meretrix, and Pelecyora trigona) in biomonitoring of heavy metals (Cu, Pb, Cd, Zn, and Hg) collected from intertidal regions of the Sunderban mangrove wetland, northeastern part of the Bay of Bengal, were evaluated. Both speciesdependent variability and temporal variations were pronounced. A high degree of organ specificity was evident in the bivalves where gill and mantle exhibited higher metal accumulation due to ion exchange property of the mucous layer covering these organs while shells represent very poor accumulation. Elevated values of Zn and Cu reflect high potential for biomagnification through marine food chain. Metal concentrations in different body size groups of the bivalves do not follow uniform trend. Correlation coefficient between different metal couplings as tested statistically revealed significant coupling for Pb–Zn, Pb–Cu, Zn–Cu, and Hg–Cu. Concentrations of all the metals in specific organs (visceral mass, mantle and gill) of the bivalves exceeded the safe levels according to the international standards for metals compiled by Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations and would be of great risk for human consumption. It is concluded that the mussel and clam are suitable biomonitors to employ in programs designed to assess changes in metal pollution in the Sunderban mangrove wetland.