Comparison Of Element Concentrations Research Articles

Assessing the impact of ground ice degradation on high mountain lake environments (Lago Nero catchment, Swiss Alps)

In high mountain hydrosystems, glacial meltwater composition is potentially affected by the degradation of alpine permafrost terrains and ground ice bodies releasing atmospheric pollutants that have been stored in permafrost terrains for several decades. In this study we investigate the potential local permafrost distribution as well as the physical and chemical ground water characteristics of the periglacial environments of the Lago Nero (“Black Lake”) catchment, a high alpine basin located in the Southern Swiss Alps. Our approach combines in situ geological and geomorphological mapping, potential permafrost distribution modelling, a thermal monitoring of ground surface temperatures and the study of the meltwater chemistry of an intact rock glacier (active or inactive rock glacier, i.e. containing ice) and several perennial ice patches. The comparison of elemental concentrations between the periglacial terrains and the Lago Nero outflow unveiled the presence of atmospheric chemicals in the meltwater. Considering the temporal concordance between the recorded peak of sulphur deposition between 1965 and 1980 and the last identified period of positive glacier mass balance occurred in the region (1961–1985), we argue that the enhanced melting of ground ice related to the recent severe warming is nowadays releasing “legacy” pollutants that have been stored in the cryosphere for several decades.

Zero-waste approach in municipal solid waste incineration: Reuse of bottom ash to stabilize fly ash

Abstract In this paper a simple method for all waste recovery through municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) is presented. For the first time, MSWI fly ash (FA) is treated using MSWI bottom ash (BA), which is considered as a new urban mining source due to its pozzolanic characteristics. The proposed technology involves mixing these ashes with two other components: flue gas desulphurization residue and coal fly ash. Thermal annealing at a low temperature (120 °C for 4 h) can also be performed, to accelerate some reactions, but it is not necessary for stabilization. The efficacy of the process is demonstrated by the comparison of elemental concentrations in leaching solutions that are detected in the untreated ashes and the obtained stabilized materials, which show the reduced solubility of leachable Zn and Pb (with respect to the starting MSWI FA). The chemical, morphological, and structural characterization of the obtained materials makes it possible to propose and discuss a stabilization mechanism, which was attributed to carbonation and formation of calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H). In particular, for the stabilized sample, X-ray Diffraction analysis confirmed the formation of calcite, whereas the sample morphology shows some fibrils that may be due to amorphous C–S–H with a Ca/Si ratio that is slightly smaller than 1.5. Because the proposed method employs wastes produced at the same location, it is reasonable to conclude that the method may be directly applied to incinerator plants due to the simplification of the MSWI FA waste management strategy, which generally involves its transport and stabilization treatment before landfilling. Finally the saved carbon dioxide emissions and the economic benefits that are a result of the new urban mining proposed approach have been evaluated for Europe. In particular the avoid of MSWI FA landfilling was evaluated to save approximately 1.6 M€/day, and the saved carbon dioxide emissions introduced into the atmosphere is approximately 960 kt/year.

Comparison of elemental concentrations and decomposition characteristics of plant organic matters of <i>Carpinus tschonoskii</i> Maxim. in mountainous areas and urban green areas

Comparison of elemental concentrations and decomposition characteristics of plant organic matters of <i>Carpinus tschonoskii</i> Maxim. in mountainous areas and urban green areas

Comparison of Element Concentrations (Ba, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn) in the Bones and Teeth of Wild Ruminants from the West Carpathians and the Tian-Shan Mountains as Indicators of Air Pollution

Through analyzing the concentrations of selected heavy metals (Ba, Mn, Pb, Sr, Zn) in the bones and teeth of wild living and ecologically equivalent ruminants from the Tian-Shan (Capra sibirica and Ovis ammon polii) and the West Carpathians (Rupicapra rupicapra tatrica) we compared the environmental pollution levels of these two mountain ranges. The samples were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence. Significantly higher contents of Zn and Mn as well as a higher frequency of measurable occurrences of Mn, Ba, and Pb in samples from the West Carpathians confirmed the results of our previous study, that the West Carpathians are relatively more polluted by heavy metals than the Tian-Shan Mountains. The most probably contamination sources are mining and smelting as well as traffic emissions, which can reach remote mountain ranges through long distance atmospheric transport.

Comparison of elemental concentration in near-surface late Holocene sediments and precipitation regimes of the Yucatán Peninsula (Mexico): a preliminary study

Paleoclimate research in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico has mainly involved fossil pollen preserved in sedimentary archives whilst geochemistry has received limited attention. In this study, we compared concentrations of K, Ti, Fe, Ca and Sr in 35 near-surface late Holocene sediments collected from different permanent and seasonal water bodies across the peninsula with mean annual precipitation of 600-1600 mm in order to explore the relationship between concentrations of inorganic elements and precipitation. The calcareous provenance has a diluting effect and sediments have less K, Ti and Fe (associated with clastics) and more Ca and Sr (associated with carbonate and evaporite) compared to the Upper Continental Crust. Individual elements and ratios of K/Ca, Ti/Ca and Fe/Ca in samples with minimal clastics did not show any relationship with precipitation. Average values of elemental ratios in sediments with more clastics increase as the mean annual precipitation increases. However, the sampling protocol and presence of most of the sampled water bodies being in a single precipitation cluster (i.e. 1200-1400 mm/year) did not allow a complete evaluation of the potential correlation between precipitation and elemental ratios. Considering that the concentration of Ti is low in sediments of the limestone-rich Yucatán Peninsula and Fe is mobile in anoxic depositional environments, the K/Ca ratio can be used as a preliminary proxy to evaluate precipitation in sedimentary records.

Measurement uncertainty from physical sample preparation of moss samples: Estimation of mechanical cleaning vs. rinsing

Next to sampling, the physical sample preparation step is a second large source of uncertainty. To assess the level of uncertainty from sampling, sample preparation and analysis of moss material, 27 combined and duplicate samples of moss species Pleurozium schreberi (Brid.) Mitt were collected and prepared for analysis using two different treatment methods After sampling had been done, samples were dried at an ambient temperature and then each primary and duplicate sample was divided into two sub-samples for preparation. The first sub-sample was manually cleaned whereas the second one was triple rinsed with deionized water and left to dry. Subsequently, the samples were milled and digested in a close microwave system with 8mL of HNO3 (1:1) and 1mL of 30% H2O2. In all samples Cu, Fe and Zn were determined using GFAAS and FAAS techniques. Each sample was analyzed twice. Sampling, sample preparation and analytical uncertainty were calculated using ANOVA, RANOVA, modified RANOVA and range statistics methods. Sampling and sample preparation uncertainty varied from 3.8 to 19.8% and from 3.6 to 11.2%, respectively. For all the elements examined analytical uncertainty was below 1.1%. The comparison of element concentrations in manually cleaned and rinsed samples showed that rinsed samples were enriched in Cu and Zn, as opposed to manually cleaned that in turn displayed raised levels of Fe. However, except for Zn, these differences were not statistically significant.

Characterization of Toxic Elements on Phytoremediation of Scirpusmucronatus Enriched with Bacteria using ICP-MS Technique

Investigating various bacteriato promotea plant's phytoremediation capacityis essential for environmental health. In this study, Brevundimonasdiminuta(bacteria 5) and Alcaligenesfaecalis(bacteria 60) were examined for their ability to increasethe phytoremediation capacity of Scirpusmucronatusin soil contaminated with100 ppmlead. After 1 and 42 days of contamination with the lead and inoculated with the bacteria,the Scirpusmucronatuswas cut crosswise into fivesections of the same size from root to shoot, and theelemental concentrations in each piece were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.To evaluate statistical differences in the elemental concentration between our findings, one-way ANOVA test was used. Comparison of elemental concentrations in all samples were demonstrated which there were statistically significant differences between all elemental concentrations except Ba, Mn and Mo with p- values of 0.000, 0.013, and 0.003 respectively (for other elements, p>0.05). Moreover, Pearson's correlation test was proved the elements values found in bacteria 5 and bacteria 60 were strongly correlated to the results in control sample (R>0.3). The results showedthatbacteriumincreased the heavy metal uptake from the lead- contaminated soil.

Dust-mediated loading of trace and major elements to Wasatch Mountain snowpack

Depth-integrated snow columns were collected at 12 sites across the central Wasatch Mountains, Utah, during March and April 2010 to determine concentrations of trace elements, major anions and cations, and pH. Sample collection was conducted at or near maximum snow accumulation prior to the onset of melt, and included spring dust events driven by southerly pre-frontal winds. Snow samples were melted in the laboratory and subsampled for analyses on filtered (0.45μm) and unfiltered fractions. All measured elements (Al, As, Ba, Ca, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Li, Mg, Mn, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Sr, Ti, Tl, U, V, and Zn) and major anions (Cl, NO3, and SO4) displayed significant increases in concentration (for example, factor of 2 to 5 increases for As, Cr, Hg, and Pb) between the six sites sampled in March (prior to dust events) and the six sites sampled in April (after dust events). Acid neutralizing capacity and pH were also elevated in April relative to March snowpack. Comparison of elemental concentration in the particulate (>0.45μm; difference between unfiltered and filtered concentration) and soluble (<0.45μm; filtered concentration) fractions shows that the concentration increase between March and April snowpack for the trace elements is primarily a result of association with dust particles >0.45μm. The results suggest that the majority of trace element loading to the Wasatch snowpack occurs via dust deposition. The major elements were primarily loaded in the <0.45μm fraction, suggesting deposition of soluble dust particles. The overall findings of this paper are similar to other studies regarding the role of dust on nutrient and trace element accumulation in soils and lake sediments, but to our knowledge this is the first study that compares trace element chemistry of seasonal snowpack before and after dust deposition events.

A comparison of metallic contents in lichen Pyxine subcinerea, its substratum and soil

Chromium, copper, cadmium, lead, nickel, iron and zinc contents of a lichen species (Pyxine subcinerea Stirton) and mango bark collected from 12 sites in Haridwar city (Uttarakhand) were compared with soil, sampled from beneath the tree from which lichens were collected. The metal contents in lichen, bark and soil ranged from 1,573 to 18,793, 256 to 590 and 684 to 801 μg g−1, respectively. This clearly indicates that lichens accumulated higher amounts of metal compared to bark or soil. Statistical analysis revealed that metal concentration in lichens did not show significant linear correlation with the bark or soil. Pearsons correlation coefficients revealed negative correlation of Pb (r = −0.2245) and Ni (r = −0.0480) content between lichen and soil, which indicate direct atmospheric input of metals from ambient environment. Quantification and comparison of elemental concentration in lichens, its substratum and soil can provide valuable information about air quality in the collection area.

Comparison of element concentrations in fir and rhododendron leaves and twigs along an altitudinal gradient

Concentrations of 23 elements (Ca, K, Mg, P, Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Zn, Ag, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Pb, Sb, Th, Tl, and V) in leaf and twig samples of a fir (Abies fabri) and a rhododendron (Rhododendron williamsianum) collected along an altitudinal gradient on Mount Gongga, China, are reported in the present study. Most of the macronutrients (K and P), micronutrients (Fe, Zn, Cu, Na, Ni, Mo, and Al), and trace elements (Pb, Tl, Ag, Cd, Ba, Co, V, Be, and Cr) are significantly enriched in fir when compared to rhododendron; however, Ca, Mg, Mn, Ba, and Cd are more enriched in rhododendron than in fir. Most of the elements in both plants are more significantly enriched in twigs than in leaves. The relationship between element concentration in plants and altitudinal gradient is nonlinear. Altitudes of 3,200 and 3,400 m are turning points for fir and rhododendron growth, respectively. Concentrations of all trace elements in the two plants along the altitudinal gradient are well below the toxic level in plants. No known industrial sources of the elements investigated exist in the Mount Gongga area, China. Element concentrations in the present study are higher than those found in mosses collected from the same area, indicating that the area is not contaminated. The element concentrations that we observed in plant samples were due to soil uptake. The pronounced differences between the two species are due to the different uptake characteristics of fir and rhododendron.

Statistical evaluation of stream sediment geochemistry in interpreting the river catchment of high-grade metamorphic terrains

Stream sediment geochemistry is extensively used in mineral exploration and environmental studies. However, quantitative assessments of the effectiveness of stream sediment geochemistry for describing upstream lithologies are rare, especially in high-grade metamorphic terrains. This study statistically evaluates whether stream sediment geochemistry can aid in recognizing variations in upstream geology in several high-grade metamorphic lithotectonic units having different metamorphic and tectonic histories, including the Highland Complex, Vijayan Complex, Wanni Complex, and Kadugannawa Complex of Sri Lanka. For this study, concentrations of 21 elements were measured in 2080 stream sediment samples collected from the Walawe River, Maha Oya, Gala Oya basins located on above lithotectonic units and Uma Oya, Belihul Oya, Badulu Oya basins situated adjacent to each other on the Highland Complex. These rivers flow across dry, intermediate and wet zones of Sri Lanka, with river courses having both slope (> 20°) and flat (< 20°) areas. Elemental concentrations, averaged over each river basin, show patterns of enrichment and depletion which may relate to localized mineralization conditions, local lithological changes, anthropogenic activities and environmental factors such as local variations in climate and morphology among river basins. Comparison of element concentrations in sediments from the four different lithotectonic units shows that enrichment – depletion patterns can be partly related to rock geochemistry of the associated lithotectonic unit. However, climate and basin morphology also seem to play an important role. Results of Kruskal–Wallis H tests show that both major and trace element levels in sediments from the four different lithotectonic units, as well as from adjacent Uma Oya, Badulu Oya and Belihul Oya basins, are significantly different. Discriminant function analysis appropriately classifies sediments into the four different lithotectonic units with an accuracy of 91.9%. This method also classifies sediments into river basins which share common lithology being situated adjacent to each other in the same lithotectonic unit with an accuracy of 89.5%. This strongly suggests that stream sediment geochemistry is capable of describing the upstream regional scale as well as local scale lithological changes at a great accuracy in complex high-grade metamorphic terrains. In both cases use of channel slope and basin climatic zone as additional variables does not significantly increase overall or individual accuracy in classification.

Geckos as indicators of mining pollution

Catastrophic collapse of a mine tailings dam released several million cubic meters of toxic mud and acidic water into the Guadiamar River valley, southern Spain, in 1998. Remediation efforts removed most of the sludge from the floodplain, but contamination persists. Clean-up activities also produced clouds of aerosolized materials that further contaminated the surrounding landscape. Whole-body concentrations of 21 elements in the Moorish wall gecko, Tarentola mauritanica, a common inhabitant of both rural and urban areas, were compared among seven locations. Locations spanned an expected contamination gradient and included a rural and an urban non-mine-affected location, two mine-affected towns, and three locations on the contaminated floodplain. Multivariate analyses of whole-body concentrations identified pollutants that increased across the expected contamination gradient, a trend particularly evident for As, Pb, and Cd. Additionally, higher contaminant concentrations occurred in prey items eaten by geckos from mine-affected areas. Comparison of element concentrations in tails and whole bodies suggests that tail clips are a viable nondestructive index of contaminant accumulation. Our results indicate that areas polluted by the mine continue to experience contamination of the terrestrial food chain. Where abundant, geckos represent useful taxa to study the bioavailability of some hazardous pollutants.

POTASSIUM CONCENTRATION IS REDUCED IN CULTURED RABBIT TRACHEAL SMOOTH MUSCLE CELLS AFTER WITHDRAWAL OF SERUM

Comparison of elemental concentrations in growth-arrested airway smooth muscle cells with those in their proliferating counterpart showed that potassium (K+) was significantly reduced, whereas concentrations of other elements sodium (Na+), magnesium (Mg2+), phosphorus (P), and chlorine (Cl−) remained unchanged. Reduced K+concentration was associated with a change in the cells from a spindle shape to a flattened form.

Petrology and Geochemistry of Subbituminous Coals from the Red Deer River Valley, Alberta Plains, Canada

Coals and associated carbonaceous strata along the Red Deer River Valley in Alberta have a wide variation in boron concentrations (10–628 ppm). Boron concentrations decrease from bottom to top of the coal-bearing succession, closely reflecting changes in depositional environment conditions. These changes range from subaquatic deposition in the delta plain area and influence of brackish waters due to a marine transgression, to deposition in areas removed from any brackish water influence. There is good agreement between boron variation and depositional environment as interpreted from regional geology. However, the relation between boron and sulfur is not clear; samples with high boron concentrations are high in sulfur while low boron samples also have high sulfur. Compared to mean concentrations in world coals, some of the highest elemental concentrations measured in coals of this study are: As (38.0 ppm), Ba (2800 ppm), Cr (91.0 ppm), Mn (232 ppm), and V (209 ppm). There is a similarity in the vertical variation of the elements Th and Hf while bentonite layers are enriched in Ba and Sr, pointing to the presence of gorceixite. No enrichment of REEs was observed in the bentonite layers. A comparison of elemental concentration to world mean values for coab shows that the RDRV coals are elevated in As (up to 4×x), Cr (up to 12×), Mn (up to 4×), Mo (up to 12×), Th (up to 5×), V (up to 12×), and Zn (up to 5×). Compared to coals from the eastern Alberta Plains of similar rank, age, and depositional environment, the RDRV coals have higher or similar concentrations of all elements of environmental significance, with the exception of Be and Pb. When compared to coals of similar rank in the western Alberta plains deposited under freshwater conditions, the RDRV coals have higher concentration of As, B, Ba, Sb, and Sr, similar concentrations of Be, Co, Cu, Mn, Pb, Se, Th, and U, and lower concentrations of Ni.

Human hair identification by instrumental neutron activation analysis

Nondestructive neutron activation technique was used to analyze 17 elements (Al, As, Au, Ba, Br, Cl, Cu, Hg, I, K, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, Sr, V and Zn) in 75 human hair samples in 5 different locations, respectively, from 15 glassware workers. The analytical results were treated further statistically to find the elemental distribution among different human hairs and to identify the individual's hair. The identifying probability of one's hair by the comparison of elemental concentrations is found to be 104–106 times higher from the same person's than from any other person's. The standard deviation of the elemental concentrations of samples taken from 5 different locations of one person is about 5 times smaller than the standard deviation for individual's hair. These data support the possibility of using NAA of hair for human hair identification.

Quality assurance of environmental PIXE analysis in Prague

The paper describes calibration, laboratory Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) program, and environmental applications of the Prague PIXE system. To detect, correct, and prevent problems in the measurement process, an intercalibration between the Ion Beam Laboratory of the Czech Technical University and the Aerosol Group at the Lund Institute of Technology has been carried out. Seventy-eight rural fine fraction air particulate samples collected on Nuclepore filters were analyzed first in Lund and then in Prague. In case of the most abundant trace elements like S, K, Ca, Fe, Zn, the comparison of elemental concentrations measured by the two laboratories revealed small random error and bias, which stayed below 10% of magnitude. The limits of detection obtained in Prague and in Lund were comparable and differed only slightly at extremes of low and high Z. Further applications of PIXE in Prague in environmental science are mentioned including characterizations of trace elements in lichens by an external beam.

Analysis of serum elements and the contaminations from devices used for serum preparation by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Two different samples of serum were prepared from a blood specimen by using two types of serum-separation tubes. Each serum sample was diluted by 100 times with deionized and sub-boiling distilled water. Thirty-six elements in the serum and exudate, from devices used for the serum preparation, were determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). From the comparison of elemental concentrations in two groups of 11 serum samples, it was found that the exudate from serum-separation tubes, as well as from disposable stainless steel needles, had serious effects on the elemental concentrations in the serum. Means for the concentrations of Li, Co, Ga, Cd, Sn, Sb, Ba, La, and Ce in the two serum groups were statistically different from each other. The concentrations of Cr, Mn, Fe, and Mo in both groups were apparently higher than those reported in the literature, suggesting contamination from the disposable stainless steel needle and spectral interferences due to molecular species produced in the argon plasma.

Freeze-Substitution and X-Ray Microprobe Analysis of Amine-Storage Organelles of Rat Platelets after Treatment with Reserpine

Freeze-substitution was successfully used to determine the elemental composition of the amine storage organelles of rat platelets after treatment with reserpine. Conventional electron microscopy of platelets fixed with glutaraldehyde and OsO4 revealed many empty vesicles indicating the liberation of 5-hydroxytryptamine from the amine storage organelles. However, the organelles were totally filled with an osmiophilic material in platelets freeze-substituted with OsO4-acetone. Freeze-substitution of platelets with pure acetone without OsO4 revealed also the presence of an electron-opaque material in the organelles. The emission spectra of X-ray generated by the spot analysis of the organelles exhibited Na-K alpha, Mg-K alpha, P-K alpha, K-K alpha, and Ca-K alpha. A semi-quantitative comparison of elemental concentrations in the amine storage organelles between reserpine-dosed rats and normal intact controls showed that K was significantly higher in controls, while the content of other elements was similar.

Exposure to trace elements of flamingos living in a biosphere reserve, the Camargue (France)

Recent research has shown that some adult flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus collected from the Camargue Biosphere Reserve had tissue metal concentrations considerably higher than the average for this species. As the range of these birds is large, the origin of the contamination was unknown. Blood and feather samples from nestling flamingos were therefore analysed for trace metals to determine the presence and origin of local contamination. A comparison of elemental concentration in the feathers of nestling and adult flamingos revealed higher concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Se in adults, and higher concentrations of Zn in juveniles. This was attributed to increased exposure to atmospheric pollutants of adults, and either differences in Zn requirements and metabolism between adults and juveniles, or a local contamination of the juveniles' food supply by Zn. Concentrations of Zn in serum were also very elevated compared with human standards. Cd, Cu, Zn and Se concentrations were analysed in outer (O) and inner (I) barbs (i.e. barbs that are, respectively, exposed or not exposed to external deposits) of greater coverts of nestling flamingos. A comparison of elemental concentrations in these two feather components indicates a local atmospheric contamination by Cd, Cu and Pb.

Comparison of elemental concentrations in the acinar cells of the human labial salivary gland

Two types of acinar cells were observed in human labial glands by conventional and analytical electron microscopic and light microscopic techniques. The predominant type contained large and prominent secretory granules that were strongly mucicarmine and PAS (with and without diastase) positive. The second type contained small, lacy, secretory granules, and these cells were faintly positive with these stains. The elemental contents of the two types of granules were measured by analytical electron microscopy using digital mapping and spot analysis applied to freeze-dried cryosections prepared from gland slices incubated in vitro under non-stimulated conditions. The large secretory granules had significantly higher Ca, S and Mg concentrations and significantly lower Cl and K concentrations than the small granules. The difference in elemental contents probably reflects differences in the content of secretory macromolecules. Specifically, the S content is thought to reflect the anionic properties of the secretory macromolecules, while the levels of divalent cations are thought to be determined by electroneutrality requirements for macromolecular folding and storage. No differences were found in nuclear or cytoplasmic elemental concentrations between the two cell types.