Thallium in the environment: A critical review focused on natural waters, soils, sediments and airborne particles

Belzile, Nelson; Chen, Yu Wei

doi:10.1016/j.apgeochem.2017.06.013

Cited by 172 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 201 publications

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“…Geochemical distributions, sources, and environmental effects of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils have gained significant attention over several years 1 – 5 . The soils in alluvial or flood plain have been intensively used for agriculture because of their generally high fertility 6 , and the alluvial plains have also undergone industrialization and urbanization for a long time in view of their topography and transportation condition.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of parent material on distributions of potentially toxic elements in soils from Pearl River Delta in South China

Hou

Yang

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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Assessing the impacts of parent material on distributions of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soils has significant consequences in the apportionment of their sources. In this study, geochemical distributions and sources of PTEs in the soils developed in quaternary sediments and granite plutons of Pearl River Delta (PRD), South China, were investigated. The results indicate that there are systematic differences between the concentrations of oxides and PTEs in the soils developed in these two parent materials. The parent material predominantly determines the element distributions in the soils. The PTEs of the deep soils developed in quaternary sediments originated mainly from mafic, felsic, and carbonate sources materials as well as polymetallic deposits. For the deep soils developed in granite plutons, the element associations are governed mainly by their geochemical affinities and behaviors and the mineral compositions of granite plutons. Anthropogenic activities impact the features of the PTEs in the surface soils of PRD. However, superimposed regional-scale pollution was found to not hide the effect of the parent material on the distribution of PTEs in the surface soils.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impacts of parent material on distributions of potentially toxic elements in soils from Pearl River Delta in South China

Hou

Yang

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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“…Fluctuations of pH value and moreover changes in oxidation-reduction conditions facilitated mobility of Fe, Mn, and other red-ox sensitive elements. Some of them are well known as elements toxic to humans (e.g., Pb, Hg, Ni, As, Cd, Cr, Sb, Tl, or U) (Borgmann et al 1998; Kazantzis 2000; Bagchi et al 2002; WHO 2011; Riyaz et al 2013; Belzile and Chen 2017; Lukaszewski et al 2018; Pavoni et al 2018). Some of the investigated elements are not considered severely toxic to humans, but they are still toxic to organisms living in a water environment (e.g., Zn, Cu, B, Ag, Co) (Hogstrand and Wood 1998; Marr et al 1998; De Schamphelaere et al 2007; Ebrahimpour et al 2010; Brix et al 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Selected trace elements and metals in groundwater within Permian sediments near Olkusz (Zn-Pb ore mining region, S Poland)

Postawa

Motyka

2018

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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The extensive mining of Zn-Pb ores in the Olkusz region resulted in significant changes of both water table level and chemical composition of water in all aquifers in the area. This was caused by intensive dewatering of mining excavations and development of a thick aeration zone reaching 150 m in a central part of the area. That created favorable conditions for oxidation of metal sulfides occurring in the ore-bearing dolomites (Middle Triassic) and started the process of forming readily soluble hydroxysulphates which then migrated to lower aquifers, including the Permian. As a result of those processes, various metals and other elements toxic to the water environment appeared in leaks observed in mine galleries. Changes in concentrations of selected elements (Fe, Mn, Zn, Pb, Cu, Ba, Ni, Co, As, Cr, Hg, Tl, Ag, Cd, B) in mine waters over the period of the last nearly 50 years were described. Water samples were collected from exploratory boreholes, piezometers, and wells located in investigated area inflows and seepages occurring in shafts and drifts excavated in Permian conglomerates. Mean concentrations of metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Hg, Tl) and other toxic elements were surprisingly low; Pb, 3.94 μg/L; Cd, 0.2 μg/L; Cr, up to 2.26 μg/L; Hg, 0.25 μg/L; Tl, 3.59 μg/L; and As, 6.31 μg/L. However, the observed concentrations varied significantly over time, reaching respectively up to 190 μg Pb/L, 60 μg Cd/L, 15.6 μg Cr/L, 2.67 μg Hg/L, 81.3 μg Tl/L, and 155 μg As/L.

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“…Tl belongs to Group 13 of the periodic table of the elements sitting, and it can exist in aqueous solutions mainly in two oxidation states, Tl(III) and Tl(I) [11]. Tl(III) usually exists in water such as lake water or marsh water, which is rich in colloids and organic matter [12].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Removal of Trace Thallium from Industrial Wastewater by Fe0-Electrocoagulation

Yang

et al. 2020

Water

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As thallium (Tl) is a highly toxic heavy metal, there are compulsory environmental regulations in many countries on minimizing its release. This research investigated the treatment of real industrial wastewater with low Tl(I) concentration by Fe0-electrocoagulation (Fe0-EC) in a batch aeration-forced pump cycle reactor. The effects of pH (7–12), current density (8.3–33.3 mA/cm2), dissolved oxygen (DO) in wastewater, and initial Tl(I) concentration (66–165 µg/L) on Tl(I) removal efficiency were investigated. The removal efficiency of Tl(I) is pH-dependent, to be exact, it increases significantly with pH rising from 8 to 11. Initial pH of influent and DO concentration were the key operation parameters which strongly affect Tl(I) removal. After the water sample with initial Tl(I) concentration of 115 µg/L was treated for 12 min by a single-step process at pH of 11 and current density of 16.7 mA/cm2, the residual Tl(I) concentration was decreased to beneath the emission limit in China (2 µg/L) with a low energy consumption of 0.82 kWh/m3. By prolonging the operation time, the concentration was further reduced to 0.5 µg/L or even lower. The main composition of the flocculent sludges is iron oxyhydroxide, yet its crystal structure varies dependent on pH value which may result in different Tl(I) removal efficiency. Feroxyhyte nanosheets generate in situ by Fe0-EC, which contributes to the rapid and effective removal of Tl(I), while the speedy oxidation under DO-enriched conditions benefits the feroxyhyte formation. The mechanism of Tl(I) removal by Fe0-EC is attributed to the combination of electrostatic attraction and the formation of inner-sphere complexes. As shown in the technical and mechanical studies, Fe0-EC technology is an effective method for low Tl concentration removal from wastewater.

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Thallium in the environment: A critical review focused on natural waters, soils, sediments and airborne particles

Cited by 172 publications

References 201 publications

Impacts of parent material on distributions of potentially toxic elements in soils from Pearl River Delta in South China

Impacts of parent material on distributions of potentially toxic elements in soils from Pearl River Delta in South China

Selected trace elements and metals in groundwater within Permian sediments near Olkusz (Zn-Pb ore mining region, S Poland)

Removal of Trace Thallium from Industrial Wastewater by Fe0-Electrocoagulation

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