Cadmium and mercury in topsoils of Babagorogor watershed, western Iran: Distribution, relationship with soil characteristics and multivariate analysis of contamination sources

Ding

Science of The Total Environment

et al. 2018

Mining of minerals and precious elements leads to land degradation that need to be reclaimed using environmentally friendly and cost effective techniques. The present study investigated the potential effects of different organic amendments on cadmium (Cd) bioavailability in mining-degraded soil and its subsequent bioaccumulation in tomato and cucumber. The selected organic geosorbents (hard wood biochar (HWB), bagasse (BG), rice husk (RH), and maize comb waste (MCW)) were added at application rates of 3% and 5% to chromite mine-degraded soil containing Cd. Tomato and cucumber plants were then grown in the soil, and the roots, shoots, leaves, and fruits of each plant were analysed for Cd concentration, biomass production, and chlorophyll content. The results indicated that the different organic materials have variable effects on physiochemical characteristics of vegetables and Cd bioavailability. The biochar amendment significantly (P < 0.01) increased chlorophyll contents (20-40%) and biomass (40-63%), as did RH to a lesser extent (increase of 10-18% in chlorophyll content and 3-45% in biomass). Among the amendments, HWB was the most effective at reducing Cd bioavailability, wherein significant decreases were observed in Cd uptake by fruits of tomato (24-30%) and cucumber (36-54%). The higher application rate of 5% was found to be more effective for mitigation of Cd mobility and bioaccumulation in plants grown in mine degraded soil. The study results indicate that effective use of organic amendments, especially HWB, can significantly reduce Cd levels in vegetables, improve food quality, and reduce human-health risk while increasing biomass production.

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The influence of various organic amendments on the bioavailability and plant uptake of cadmium present in mine-degraded soil

Ding

Science of The Total Environment

et al. 2018

“…On a global scale, the mercury contamination issue is determined primarily by a complex geochemical cycle of this element (Li et al 2009;Rice et al 2014) which includes accumulation of naturally occurring mercury in the earth crust, its emission to the atmosphere (Beckers and Rinklebe 2017), deposition in soil and water, evaporation from these environments (Selin 2009) and consequent accumulation in soil substrates (AMAP/UNEP 2013). In biogeochemical cycle of mercury, soil has an essential part in distribution and accumulation of this element in different environments (Nezhad 2014; Kelepertzis and Argyraki 2015) thus serving as a key indicator of environmental contamination with mercury (Szymon Różański 2015). In soil, mercury is most commonly encountered in organic (Hg -C ) and inorganic (Hg 2+ ) forms (Lymberidi 2005;UNEP 2013), the presence of which affects the soil quality characteristics including natural soil profile and soil fertility values (Laker 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury soil contents and associated ecological and health risks in kindergartens and functional areas of the city of Vanadzor (Armenia)

Sahakyan

Tepanosyan

Melkonyan

et al. 2019

GES

Mercury is a widespread environmental pollutant becoming a crucial health concern as a result of natural and anthropogenic releases. Understanding Hg distribution pattern between different functional urban areas is needed for urban pollution control and health impact assessment. Therefore, in this paper urban soil Hg spatial distribution, pollution level evaluation, and mercury-induced health risks were studied, for different urban functional areas (355 samples) and kindergartens (18 samples) of Vanadzor. Geospatial mapping and the geostatistical analysis suggest that Hg concentration in the entire area of Vanadzor and its kindergartens has a natural origin, besides a certain anthropogenic impact on some urban sites. According to geoaccumulation index (Igeo), uncontaminated or moderately contaminated levels were detected only in 2 samples from industrial area and 5 samples from residential area, the remaining samples were classified as uncontaminated. In all kindergartens and the 22.15 sq.km of the city (270 samples) are characterized by low level potential ecological risk, whereas 3.85 sq.km (85 samples) correspond to moderate and for 1 sampling site high level of potential ecological risk. A non-carcinogenic health risk assessed for children and adults indicates health hazards neither in Vanadzor entire areas nor in kindergartens. The hazard index (HI) in each urban functional area is less than allowable level (HI <1) for children and adults. Obtained results are indicative and offer the ability for better management of urban soil and urban planning in terms of Hg pollution regulation in different functional areas.

Journal of Geochemical Exploration

“…Numerous studies have been reported on metals contaminations in different soils around Iran (e.g. Mirzaei et al, 2014;Karimi Nezhad et al, 2014;Yeganeh et al, 2013;Dayani and Mohammadi, 2010;Qishlaqi et al, 2009;KarimiNezhad et al, 2015). Further, several studies focused on metals contaminations in street and road dust (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Determination of heavy metals in surface soils around the brick kilns in an arid region, Iran

Ravankhah

Mirzaei

Masoum

2017

There is an increasing demand for the development of brick kilns area in Iran, which emit a considerable amount of pollutants to environment. The present study aimed to investigate the extent of soil contamination by heavy metals around the brick kiln area in Aran-o-Bidgol city. The correlation coefficients, analysis of variance, principal component analysis, cluster analysis, soil contamination indices and interpolation technique were utilized to investigate the soil contamination and pinpoint the possible sources of contamination. The Results showed the average concentration of all heavy metals were greater than background values and soils were contaminated by heavy metals to some extent. Results also indicated that copper, nickel and zinc had simultaneously emanated from anthropogenic including agricultural activities and urban emissions while the sources of cadmium and lead could mostly be attributed to different anthropogenic activities including brick kilns and related transportation. The distribution maps revealed that the brick kilns emissions had only affected the concentrations of cadmium and lead to some degree.