Combined Pollution Index Research Articles

Study on the simulation of reservoir water environment and the optimization of ecological water replenishment effect: Taking Luhun Reservoir as an example

Abstract With global climate change and extreme weather events, water scarcity and environmental degradation are becoming increasingly prominent. Ecological replenishment is one important measure to enhance water quality in reservoirs. To address the severe pollution and ecological degradation problems of the Luhun Reservoir, this paper uses MIKE21 software to construct a coupled hydrodynamic-water quality model. Six recharge scenarios were designed to compare and explore the enhancement of reservoir water quality for these scenarios. The water quality status of these options was evaluated using the single-factor index method and the combined pollution index method. The results show that due to the ecological replenishment, the pollutant concentration leads the phenomenon of gradient diffusion to the center of the reservoir, and the average improvement rate of water quality is up to 40.22%. Schemes 2 and 5 have the lowest integrated pollution index. The most significant improvement in water quality was achieved at the same total recharge conditions, using 0.5 times the flow rate and two times the recharge time of the actual recharge project. The study results provide theoretical and technical support for the future management of the reservoir water environment.

HEAVY METALS CONTAMINATIONS IN SURFACE SOILS WITHIN BORI, RIVERS STATE, NIGERIA.

Heavy metal contaminations in surface soils within Bori were examined. The composite soil sample at 10 – 15cm depth was collected from each of the seven sampling locations including the control location using a stainless-steel hand auger. The soil samples were air-dried for 2 days, homogenized and sieved through a 2mm mesh to obtain uniform size. The soil samples were subjected to wet digestion method using nitric-perchloric acid. The digested samples were used for determination of concentrations of the heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Ni, Mn, Pb, Fe Cu and Zn) using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS). The mean concentrations of the heavy metals obtained ranged as follows: Pb (0.553 – 4.551 mg/kg), Cr (1.713 – 7.965 mg/kg), Cd (0.011 – 2.549 mg/kg), Mn (6.914 – 40.162 mg/kg), Ni (2.942 – 6.597 mg/kg), Zn (4.468 – 13.976 mg/kg) and Cu (1.90 – 11.503 mg/kg). The results were below the world average values except Fe (53.554 – 122.203mg/kg). The enrichment factor values ranged between 0.04 and 20.86 and showed low to moderate enrichment due to anthropogenic activities. The pollution load index (PLI) value was 1, the combined pollution index (CPI) values ranged between 0.39 and 1.73 and the metal pollution load index (MPL) value of 3.73 > 1 revealed pollution in urban surface soils of the study area. The high positive correlation result among the heavy metals in the sample soils of the study area suggested that they are of similar pollution sources. Based on the findings, the urban surface soils of the study area are contaminated with heavy metals. Therefore, there should be monitoring and environmental audit by relevant authorities to ensure adequate environmental quality of urban surface soils in the study area. Keywords: Heavy metals, contaminations, Bori, metal pollution load, combined pollution index.

Multivariate and Statistical Approaches for the Source Apportionment and Evaluation of Trace Elements Pollution at Mining Areas (Case study: Mehdi Abad Pb/Zn mine)

Mining activities are among the main sources of trace elements in the environment, which constitute a real concern worldwide, especially in developing countries. This study aimed to investigate the multivariate approaches such as Correlation Matrix and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) for the identification of probable sources of trace elements in the deposited dust near the Mehdi Abad Pb/Zn mine located in Mehriz, Yazd province, as well as the evaluation of dust contamination based on the Geo-accumulation Index (I geo), Nemerow Pollution Index (PI Nemerow), Improved Nemerow Index (IN), and Combined Pollution Index (CPI). In addition, an anthropogenic index was used to determine the sources of the elements. For this purpose, deposited dust was collected in nine sites using a marble dust collector (MDCO). Next, the chemical analysis of dust was determined using Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Statistics analysis was carried out using SPSS 22.0. The results showed that concentrations of zinc, thallium, silver, aluminium, arsenic, bismuth, calcium, cadmium, cerium, caesium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, hafnium, potassium, lutetium, manganese, sodium, phosphorus, antimony, scandium, and samarium in the deposited dust was higher than the background value. HCA identified two origins for the elements. The anthropogenic index confirmed the geogenic origin of elements in the deposited dust. Furthermore, CPI and PI Nemerow indices values showed that all sampling sites were in the heavily contaminated class. The results of IN Index showed that 56% of sampling sites were in the heavily contaminated class. The analysis of I geo, PI Nemerow, and IN indices showed that arsenic caused extreme contamination of the deposited dust at sampling sites.

Evaluation of accuracy of water river Kuchurgan and Kuchurgan reservoir by complex of hydrochemical indicators for fishery requirements

The evaluation of the suitability of waters of the Kuchurgan and Kuchurgan reservoirs waters according to the complex of hydrochemical indicators according to the methodology of the Hydrochemical Institute (Kyiv, Ukraine) for the needs of the fish industry has been carried out. The dynamics of water quality in time and space have been studied. According to the calculations of the combined pollution index for the years 2003–2018, the water bodies of water of grades ІІІ–IV are dirty and very dirty. At this stage it can be concluded that the water of the Kuchurgan and Kuchurgan reservoirs is unsuitable for fishery use

Assessment of Bioavailability of Some Heavy Metals to Wheat and Faba Bean in Sahl El-Tina, Egypt

Accumulation of heavy metals viz., Mn, Zn, Cu, Ni, Pb, Co, Cd and Cr in soils and commonly grown crop plants (wheat and faba bean) was studied in the fields in Sahl El-Tina, located in the Northwestern Sinai Peninsula, Egypt. Irrigation water at different sites was slight to moderately saline with no sodium hazard. About 50% of irrigation water samples revealed salt combinations consisting of NaCl, MgCl2, MgSO4, CaSO4 and Ca(HCO3)2, thereby indicating marine salt pollution. The results also revealed that heavy metals in irrigation and drainage water were within the recommended levels. The total contents of Ni, Pb, Co and Cd in subsoil samples were higher than the levels in topsoil samples, suggesting strong evidence of indigenous supply. However, total contents of Mn, Zn, Cu and Cr in topsoil samples were higher than the levels in subsoil samples, implying anthropogenic source of contamination. The highest single-element pollution index value in soil was found for Cd, which ranged from 0.289 to 3.763, indicating low to high contamination levels. Except for Zn and Pb which showed low contamination level, other elements showed low to moderate contamination levels in soil. The combined pollution index ranged from 0.238 to 1.688, indicating low to moderate multi-element contamination levels in soil. Except for Zn and Cd, the levels of heavy metals in wheat and faba bean were greater than the permissible limits. The highest transfer coefficients of metals from soil to plant were found for Zn and Cd in wheat. On the other hand, the highest coefficients in faba bean were found for Pb, Cd, Zn and Cu. Faba bean showed the ability to accumulate heavy metals in higher amounts than wheat. It was evident that there is a multi-element pollution source for the growing crops in Sahl El-Tina that could be due to the anthropogenic activities in respect of some elements but inherently for others.

Assessment of toxic heavy metals concentrations in soils and wild and cultivated plant species in Limni abandoned copper mining site, Cyprus

Mine tailings represent a serious source of soil pollution with public health implications. The objectives of this study were: (1) to assess the level of toxic and heavy metal mobilization from the tailing spoil-heap of Limni abandoned mine at Cyprus and the extent of soil contamination to the surrounding area by using pollution indicators; (2) to investigate the uptake and accumulation of heavy metals by cultivated crops; and (3) to estimate the potential of native wild plant species grown in the studied area to be used in phytomanagement approaches. The tailing spoil heap exhibited significantly higher S, Zn, Cu and Pb concentrations compared to the ones found in control reference samples (RS). The lateral mobilization of Mg, S, Zn, Cu and Pb resulted to the contamination of the tailing surrounding areas with these metals. Moreover, Mn and Cu concentrations in the tailing and the surrounding areas exceeded the MPLs for agricultural soils. The severe to very severe pollution of the tailing surrounding sides with S, Zn and Cu was also evident by the calculated values of enrichment factor and geoaccumulation index. The values of combined pollution index also uncovered the extremely high pollution of the tailing and the moderate pollution of the surrounding sites with all analyzed elements. The concentration of Cd in fig, peanut and lemon fruits, as well as in the grains and straw of barley exceeded MPLs, highlighting the potential Cd-mediated hazardous effects from the consumption of these produces. The examination of heavy metal content in wild native plant species showed that Inula viscosa L. has the potential to be used for the phytostabilization of Cd and Pb, and Allium ampeloprasum L. for the phytostabilization of Pb. Overall, results suggest that the Limni mine tailing and its surrounding sites are highly polluted; thus agricultural activity in the studied area should be prohibited and phytomanagement should be urgently carried out.

Effects of anthropogenic activities on the heavy metal levels in the clams and sediments in a tropical river.

The present study aimed to assess the effects of anthropogenic activities on the heavy metal levels in the Langat River by transplantation of Corbicula javanica. In addition, potential ecological risk indexes (PERI) of heavy metals in the surface sediments of the river were also investigated. The correlation analysis revealed that eight metals (As, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in total soft tissue (TST) while five metals (As, Cd, Cr, Fe and Mn) in shell have positively and significantly correlation with respective metal concentration in sediment, indicating the clams is a good biomonitor of the metal levels. Based on clustering patterns, the discharge of dam impoundment, agricultural activities and urban domestic waste were identified as three major contributors of the metals in Pangsun, Semenyih and Dusun Tua, and Kajang, respectively. Various geochemical indexes for a single metal pollutant (geoaccumulation index (I geo), enrichment factors (EF), contamination factor (C f) and ecological risk (Er)) all agreed that Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn are not likely to cause adverse effect to the river ecosystem, but As and Pb could pose a potential ecological risk to the river ecosystem. All indexes (degree of contamination (C d), combined pollution index (CPI) and PERI) showed that overall metal concentrations in the tropical river are still within safe limit. River metal pollution was investigated. Anthropogenic activities were contributors of the metal pollution. Geochemical indexes showed that metals are within the safe limit.

A comparative study of metal contamination in soil using the borehole method.

The present study deals with possible contamination of the soil by metal ions which have been affecting the environment. The concentrations of metal ions in 14 borehole samples were studied using the ICP-OES standard method. The degree of contamination was determined on the basis of single element pollution index (SEPI), combined pollution index (CPI), soil enrichment factor (SEF), and geo-accumulation index (Igeo). Geo-accumulation indices and contamination factors indicated moderate to strong contaminations for eight boreholes (BL-1, BL-2, BL-6, BL-8, BL-9, BL-10, BL-12, and BL-13) while the rest were extremely contaminated. Among all the boreholes, BL-3 and BL-11 demonstrated the highest level of Cd(II) and Pb(II) which were found the most polluted sites. The level of metal contamination was also compared with other countries. The development, variation, and limitations regarding the regulations of soil and groundwater contamination can be provided as a helpful guidance for the risk assessment of metal ions in developing countries.

Risk assessment of trace element contamination in river sediments in Serbia using pollution indices and statistical methods: a pilot study

To effectively manage potential environmental and human health impacts of contaminated river sediments, it is important that information about the source (anthropogenic vs geogenic), variability and environmental risks associated with the contamination are well understood. The present study was carried out to assess the source and severity of contamination and to undertake a risk assessment for selected elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, V and Zn) in river sediments in Serbia. The estimate of the anthropogenic component of contamination was derived by determining the total element content and the background values for elements in sediments, and the severity of pollution was assessed by calculating a number of pollution indices including the contamination factor, the enrichment factor, the index of geoaccumulation, the ecological risk factor, the potential ecological risk index, the pollution load index, the combined pollution index, the modified degree of contamination and the toxic unit factor. This analysis indicates that river sediments in Serbia are primarily polluted with Zn, Cu and Cd. The most contaminated river systems are the Ibar, Pek, West Morava and Great Morava rivers. Mining activities were found to have a significant influence on sediment. Multivariate analyses suggested anthropogenic origins for Pb, Zn, Cd, As, Ni and Cu, whilst Fe, V, Mn, Co and Cr appear to have a mixed origin (both lithogenic and anthropogenic sources). A geochemical approach, with a calculation of pollution indices and statistical methods, is recognised as useful for the risk management of trace elements in sediments around the world.

Assessment of heavy metals contamination in different crops grown in long-term sewage-irrigated areas of Kolkata, West Bengal, India.

The effects of sewage water on the accumulation of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni) in soils and commonly grown plants were evaluated by monitoring the fields along the water channel running some 30km eastward of Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The results revealed that the mean Cu, Cd, and Zn contents in sewage water were higher than the recommended level whereas mean concentration of Cd in the irrigated soil is several folds higher than the safe limit. The highest single element pollution index (SEPI) value was found for Cd which ranged from 2.93 to 6.03 with a mean of 5.32 indicating high contamination levels. The value of combined pollution index (CPI) ranged from 1.32 to 1.93 with an average of 1.67 for all the sites indicates that metal concentrations are above the hazard criteria and exhibit multi-element contamination. Furthermore, the results of enrichment factor (EF) indicated that the soils of the study area were highly enriched with metals such as Cd (452.04, extremely high enrichment) followed by Pb (17.32, significant to very high enrichment) > Zn (5.99, significant enrichment) > Cu (3.14, minimal to significant) > Ni (3.07, minimal to moderate). The concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Ni were above the permissible limit in all the crops and Colocasia and Amaranthus accumulate highest metal on the basis of overall metal uptake. The highest mean transfer coefficients (TCs) values for Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, and Ni were found for cauliflower (0.59), Colocasia (0.67), Amaranthus (0.93), Colocasia (1.02), and Amaranthus (1.09), respectively.

Sand Mining Impacts on Heavy Metal Concentrations in Two Important River Systems of Northern Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa

Sand mining of the bed, banks, riparian zone and floodplains of rivers are known to cause major morphological and hydrological changes that impact both on their functioning and on riverine habitats and biota. In this study, the impacts of sand mining on sediment textural characteristics and heavy metal concentrations of twelve metals (Al, As, Cr, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Ni, P, Ti, V and Zn) and three nutrients, Ca, Mg and P and their impacts for instream and riparian biota are presented for two important river systems, the Mvoti and the Mdloti Rivers of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. With the exception of Mn in the Mvoti system, the concentrations of all elements increased downstream of the sand mining operations. This is echoed by the Contamination Factor, Combined Pollution Index, and Pollution Load Index analyses. Enrichment Factor (EF) analysis indicates a slightly variable picture in that metals Pb and Ti for the Mvoti and Cu for the Mdloti as well as nutrients Ca and Mg for the Mvoti and Ca and P for the Mdloti decreased downstream of mining operations. Despite the variable EF, these results clearly highlight the importance of monitoring sediment geochemistry of sand mining operations, particularly for their potential hazardous impacts on downstream habitats.

Assessment of agricultural soil contamination by potentially toxic metals dispersed from improperly disposed tailings, Kombat mine, Namibia

The Kombat tailings dam, surrounded by agricultural lands, has been exposed to water and wind erosion over a long period of time. The objectives of this research were: (1) to characterize the tailings and the surrounding agricultural soils with respect to the mineral and trace element composition; (2) to determine the degree of soil pollution using soil contamination indicators; (3) to assess the environmental risk of polluted agricultural soil; and (4) to identify dominant type (mechanical and/or chemical) and dominant agent (water and/or wind) of metal dispersion from the tailings. A sequential extraction procedure was used to determine binding mechanisms involved in the retention of metals in tailings and soils under the influence of tailings, which indicate the trace metals bioavailability, the threat to groundwater pollution, as well as the dominant type of dispersion. Among seven analysed elements, copper and lead showed significantly high concentrations in tailings, especially in dry season (up to 9086mg/kg and 5589mg/kg, respectively). As a consequence, adjacent arable soils have high concentrations of Cu and Pb (up to 150mg/kg and 164mg/kg, respectively). Enrichment factors for lead and copper reveal severe contamination, while geoaccumulation indices disclose moderate to strong contamination by both elements. The combined pollution index points out high contamination. The main binding phase for Cu and Pb is the reducible fraction (oxides, hydroxides, oxyhydroxides). Similar metal distributions in the sequential extraction fractions of tailings and soils support the assumption that wind and water disperse tailings predominantly by mechanical transport to the surrounding agricultural soil. Although agricultural soils are contaminated with Pb and Cu, these metals are relatively strongly bound to the soils and are of medium risk for their mobilisation after The Risk Assessment Code (up to 20% for Cu and up to 36% for Pb). Though rehabilitation of tailings dam, as well as limitation of certain crop use on polluted agricultural land, is recommended.

Heavy Metal Contaminations in Urban Soil within Baghdad City, Iraq

Soil samples were collected from three land use types within Baghdad urban areas. The samples analyzed for Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn indicated higher concentration of Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn in the industrial area, while higher concentration of Mn was observed in the residential areas. However, the concentration of Cd, Ni and Pb was higher than the calculated worldwide mean of unpolluted soil. For both roadside and open areas soils, industrial area exhibited high values of Cd, Ni and Pb. The highest Single Element Pollution Index (SEPI) for Cd, Ni and Pb in the industrial soils seems therefore to be that this type of soil is the most polluted in the city of Baghdad. The calculated Combined Pollution Index (CPI) for Cd, Ni and Pb ranged from 0.98 to 2.15 with a mean of 1.28 for the entire urban soil samples, with the highest values in the industrial area which suggest multi-element contamination and in some cases are recommended for treatment. Furthermore, significant to extremely high values of enrichment factors were recorded confirming an important role of anthropogenic pollution.

Assessment of the lead and zinc contents in natural soils and tailing ponds from the Cartagena-La Unión mining district, SE Spain

Seven tailing ponds and two natural areas (soils developed on ferruginous limestone and soils developed on laminated limestone) from a Pb/Zn mining district from southeast Spain were sampled and geochemically characterized. The objectives of this study were to: 1) evaluate the degree of pollution of the area using the enrichment factor, the geo-accumulation index and a combined pollution index; 2) determine the origin of Pb and Zn in the natural areas using sequential extraction procedures, since wind erosion may have transferred metals from bare tailing ponds to the natural soils; and 3) assess the potential environmental risk of the area. Results showed that the natural soils are highly polluted by Pb and Zn. Soils developed on ferruginous limestone are more polluted (mean 4737mgPbkg−1 and 4518mgZnkg−1) than soils formed from laminated limestone (mean 2347mgPbkg−1 and 1731mgZnkg−1), and the surface samples show more enrichment of metals than subsurface samples. Considering mineralogy, statistical analysis, concentration of heavy metals in the soil profiles and sequential extraction analysis of Pb and Zn we can conclude that the high levels of Pb and Zn in soils developed on laminated and ferruginous limestones may be both due to geogenic and anthropogenic origins. Due to the high concentrations of water-soluble Zn (e.g. 1463mgZnkg−1 in tailing pond 3) and available Pb and Zn in most of the tailing ponds (e.g. 2449mgZnkg−1 in tailing pond 3 and 5298mgPbkg−1 in tailing pond 4), it is recommended to carry out reclamation in order to reduce the Zn mobility and decrease the availability of Pb and Zn.

Distribution of heavy metals in tidal flat sediments and their bioaccumulation in the crab Macrophthalmus japonicas in the coastal areas of Korea

Levels of heavy metal concentrations in crab, Macrophthalmus japonicas, and in surface sediments from tidal flats in the western and southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula were assessed in terms of metal pollution and bioaccumulation. Metal concentrations in tidal flat sediments varied considerably at various sites, mostly because of the high variability of pollutants commonly found in the area. Levels of some metals in the sediments exceeded the minimum concentration guidelines effects-range, leading to the expectation of adverse biological effects. The pollution index associated with different metals varied greatly and indicated that As, Cr, Cu and Pb contamination is relatively high in the coastal areas of Korea. The combined pollution index ranged from 0.49 to 2.88 and spatial distribution analysis indicated that runoff from an abandoned metal mine and from a variety of other industries are the main sources of metal pollution. Bulk metal concentrations in crabs showed no significant relationship with size but significant differences with sex: levels of most non-essential metals were significantly higher in females than in males, but levels of essential metals such as Cu and Zn showed no significant difference associated with sex. The concentrations of most metals in crabs were significantly positively related to those in sediments, indicating the usefulness of crabs as a bioindicator for metal pollution assessments in tidal flats. Bioaccumulation factors (BAF) were in the order of Cu>Cd>Zn>As>Ni>Pb>Cr and tended to be significantly inversely related to exposure concentrations. This indicates that other factors, besides BAF, also need to be taken into account when assessing the hazard potential of particular metals.

Spatial Distribution of Trace Metals in Sediments from Urban Streams of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia

Elevated environmental concentrations of metals are usually associated with the impact of urbanization. The present study is focused on metal contamination in urban sediments. A field survey was carried out to determine the distribution of four metals, i.e., cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn), in the coastal urban area of Semarang, Central Java, Indonesia. Sediment samples were collected from 101 grids of 2×2 km. To map the spatial distribution of these metals, concentrations of each metal were plotted against the corresponding grid coordinate. Cd was below the detection limit (<0.03 μg/g) in all samples, whereas concentrations of Pb, Zn, and Cu fell into a wide range. Frequency distributions of Pb, Zn, and Cu concentrations indicated a similar pattern, in which the major proportion of the sites had a low metal concentration. Some sites, however, had extremely high metal concentrations, Zn up to 1257 μg/g, Pb up to 2666 μg/g, and Cu up to 448 μg/g. The data were used to define background concentrations for sediments in coastal zones of Indonesia (“reference values”). The proposed reference values are 25.6 μg/g, 132.2 μg/g, and 40.7 μg/g, respectively, for Pb, Zn, and Cu. The degree of metal contamination of each individual site was classified according to the calculated value of a combined pollution index, W. Four categories of the degree of metal contamination were proposed, i.e., unpolluted, slightly polluted, polluted, and heavily polluted. Based on this classification, from 101 sites investigated in the greater Semarang area, 51 are unpolluted, 36 slightly polluted, 9 polluted, and 5 heavily polluted.

The Operational Forecasting Of Undesirable Pollution Levels Based On A Combined Pollution Index

Several air pollution indexes have been developed for control action and public information. The majority of these are based upon some combination of SO2 and particulate matter levels, since epidemiological studies indicate a relationship between severity of health effects and these constituents. The present paper describes the application of one such index, in conjunction with synoptic meteorological forecasting, to an operational program for forecasting pollution potential in the Sarnia, Ontario, petrochemical complex. The program was developed in conjunction with the Lambton Industrial Society. This system has operated for over 5 years with approximately a 70% accuracy of predicting adverse situations. The performance of this program indicates that meteorological forecasts can be used successfully to provide major sources with the advance information necessary to effect any additional control measures relevant to their individual operations.

A combined pollution index for measurement of total air pollution.

(1970). a combined pollution index for measurement of total air pollution. Journal of the Air Pollution Control Association: Vol. 20, No. 10, pp. 653-659.