Ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments from the Gorgan Bay, Caspian Sea

Kabaoğlu

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

In the present study, the concentration levels of heavy metals such as Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cr and Pb in sediment samples collected from 16 sampling locations in the Middle and Eastern Black Sea regions, Turkey was measured using energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (EDXRF). Various pollution parameters and methods, such as the enrichment factor (EF), geo-accumulation index (Igeo), contamination factor (CF), pollution load index (PLI), ecological risk index (RI), and geo-spatial distribution patterns were used to assess in detail the pollution status, ecological risks and sources of metals in sediment. The mean

Section: Sediment Sampling and Chemical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of ecological risk, source, and spatial distribution of some heavy metals in marine sediments in the Middle and Eastern Black Sea region, Turkey

Kabaoğlu

et al. 2021

Environ Sci Pollut Res

“…Heavy metal contamination is a source of concern in the environment, since the metals behave similarly to persistent harmful chemicals. The presence of heavy metals in sediments, which exceeds a permissible amount, will rapidly degrade the ecosystem balance, and deteriorate it [6,22,65]. Heavy metals can be absorbed directly from seawater or indirectly by food by bivalve animals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Environmental Risk Assessment of Petroleum Activities in Surface Sediments, Suez Gulf, Egypt

El-Safa

Gad

Eid

et al. 2021

JMSE

The present study focuses on the risk assessment of heavy metal contamination in aquatic ecosystems by evaluating the current situation of heavy metals in seven locations (North Amer El Bahry, Amer, Bakr, Ras Gharib, July Water Floud, Ras Shokeir, and El Marageen) along the Suez Gulf coast that are well-known representative sites for petroleum activities in Egypt. One hundred and forty-six samples of surface sediments were carefully collected from twenty-seven profiles in the intertidal and surf zone. The hydrochemical parameters, such as pH and salinity (S‰), were measured during sample collection. The mineralogy study was carried out by an X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and the concentrations of Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Cu, Co, Zn, Cd, and Pb were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectra (ICP-MS). The ecological risks of heavy metals were assessed by applying the contamination factor (CF), enrichment factor (EF), geoaccumulation index (Igeo), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (RI). The mineralogical composition mainly comprised quartz, dolomites, calcite, and feldspars. The average concentrations of the detected heavy metals, in descending order, were Al > Fe > Mn > Cr > Pb > Cu > Zn > Ni > Co > Cd. A non-significant or negative relationship between the heavy metal concentration in the samples and their textural grain size characteristics was observed. The coastal surface sediment samples of the Suez Gulf contained lower concentrations of heavy metals than those published for other regions in the world with petroleum activities, except for Al, Mn, and Cr. The results for the CF, EF, and Igeo showed that Cd and Pb have severe enrichment in surface sediment and are derived from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Mn, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn originate from natural sources. By comparison, the PLI and RI results indicate that the North Amer El Bahry and July Water Floud are considered polluted areas due to their petroleum activities. The continuous monitoring and assessment of pollutants in the Suez Gulf will aid in the protection of the environment and the sustainability of resources.

“…There are dozens of works devoted to assessing the level of soil pollution by heavy metals [14,[36][37][38][39][40][41][42][43][44]. In this study, five geochemical indices, the contamination factor (C f ), contamination degree (C d ), normalized enrichment factor (EF), pollution load index (PLI), and geoaccumulation index (I geo ) were applied to completely assess the level of soil contamination by heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cu) and their possible sources.…”

Section: Data Processingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Role of Gravitational Processes in the Migration of Heavy Metals in Soils of the Priolkhonye Mountain-Steppe Landscapes, Lake Baikal: Methodology of Research

et al. 2021

The study object of this work is the soils of the Priolkhonye mountain-steppe landscapes. This research is performed at the Priolkhonye test site. Annual monitoring for exogenous geological process activity is conducted there. This research aims to study the influence of gravitational geological processes (landslides) on the migration of heavy metals, which are introduced into soil as a result of human agricultural activity. A methodology for the geoecological monitoring of soils based on an assessment of their contamination level by anthropogenic heavy metals, and a transfer mechanism throughout whole migration path (field–landslide–coast) is proposed. The following steps were taken to solve this problem: isolating a fine-grained fraction (<100 μm); determining the Hg, Cd, Pb, and Cu concentrations using wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence and atomic absorption spectroscopies, as well as total organic carbon (TOC) content using UV-Vis spectrophotometry; computing various geochemical indices; and describing the migration path of these heavy metals and TOC. The monitoring results showed that these pollutants migrate to the coastal zone as a result of landslides activation. The soil contamination level is increased which can cause negative toxic effects in coastal ecosystems, and could rise to a dangerous level for humans. Thus, the observed changes in the indices and TOC values allow us to assess the geoecological state of the study area; namely, the periods of landslide activity and the supply of these pollutants to the coastal zone.