Copper Concentrations In Sediments Research Articles

Sediment quality classification in freshwater lakes predicted by the history of treatment with copper-based aquatic algaecides.

Copper-based aquatic algaecides have been widely used in the management of aquatic macrophyte and harmful algal blooms for decades due to their effectiveness and low cost. However, repeated treatment of freshwater lakes results in the accumulation of copper in the sediment, which may adversely affect the ecosystem of the lakes through toxicity to benthic invertebrates and other organisms. Consequently, copper-based aquatic herbicides and algaecides have been frequently subjected to regulations aimed at preventing further ecological deterioration in treated waterbodies. Many states in the US are taking or considering taking an approach that limits or prohibits copper treatment in waterbodies. Freshwater lakes with extensive historical copper treatments typically have significantly higher concentrations of copper in the sediment than untreated lakes. However, the correlation between the extent of the treatments and level of copper accumulation in the sediment has not been quantitatively characterized. In the present study, between 2006 and 2017, copper concentrations were measured in the sediment from selected lakes in New York State with different histories of copper-based aquatic algaecide treatment. Analysis of these data confirmed findings from earlier studies conducted by New York State that lakes with histories of copper treatment have significantly higher copper concentrations in the sediment. It also demonstrated that sediment copper concentrations were significantly higher in the sublittoral zone than the littoral zone in treated lakes. Moreover, a positive correlation was detected between sediment copper concentrations and the total number of treatments with copper-based aquatic algaecide for both littoral and sublittoral zones (p-value = 7.94 × 10-8 and 3.1 × 10-13 , respectively). This relationship can be used as a screening tool for regulatory agencies to identify lakes with sediment copper levels possibly higher than the toxicity threshold for aquatic life. Consequently, additional ecological risk assessment may be required before allowing future treatment with copper-based aquatic algaecides. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;00:1-12. © 2024 SETAC.

Trace metal load of two urban wetlands with varied catchment activities in Ghana.

This study compared Lead (Pb), Chromium (Cr), Copper (Cu), Zinc (Zn), Mercury (Hg), Arsenic (As) and Cadmium (Cd) concentrations in sediment, water, and biota at Vaughan Dam which receives limited sewage effluent discharge from residential areas, and Korle Lagoon which receives industrial effluents, electronic waste, garages-spill oil and a host of others in addition to residential sewage effluent discharge. Samples were analyzed with Atomic Absorption Spectrometer. The results showed that concentrations of trace metals were generally higher in the sediment, water, and plants from the Korle Lagoon but only Cu in the sediment of Korle Lagoon showed a significantly high concentration. The similarities in the rank orders of the metal concentrations together with the dominance of Zn and Pb in most compartments of the wetlands indicated major differences did not exist in the contaminant input to the two wetlands except electronic waste recycling and disposal that resulted in significantly high copper concentrations in the sediment of Korle Lagoon. No evidence of biomagnification was determined along the food chains of the Vaughan Dam and the Korle Lagoon for all the metals studied.The Tilapia zilli from Vaughan Dam, the only biota that is regularly consumed from the wetlands, had Cr, Cu, Pb, Cd, Hg, and As concentrations above FAO/WHO permissible limits and therefore pose a health risk to consumers.

Pond Sediments Reveal the Increasing Importance of Road Runoff as a Source of Metal Contamination in Industrialized Urban Environments Downwind of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA).

Toxic levels of trace metals from human activities accumulate in natural environments, yet these metal mixtures are rarely characterized or quantified. Metal mixtures accumulate in historically industrial urban areas and change as economies shift. Previous research has often focused on the sources and fate of a specific element, which limits our understanding of metal contaminant interactions in our environment. Here, we reconstruct the history of metal contamination in a small pond downstream of an interstate highway and downwind of fossil fuel and metallurgical industries that have been active since the middle of the nineteenth century. Metal contamination histories were reconstructed from the sediment record using metal ratio mixing analysis to attribute the relative contributions of contamination sources. Cadmium, copper, and zinc concentrations in sediments accumulated since the construction of major road arteries in the 1930s and 40s are, respectively, 3.9, 2.4, and 6.6 times more concentrated than those during industry-dominated time periods. Shifts in elemental ratios suggest these changes in metal concentrations coincide with increased contributions from road and parking lot traffic, and to a lesser extent, from airborne sources. The metal mixture analysis demonstrates that in near-road environments, contributions from modern surface water pathways can obscure historical atmospheric industrial inputs.

Qualitative Assessment of Soil and Sediment Pollution with Some Heavy Metals: A Case Study of Duhok Valley in The Kurdistan Region of Iraq

The current study was conducted on the valley of Duhok and the agricultural lands irrigated from it, where three sites were identified for collecting samples quarterly from soil and sediment using clean plastic bags for the purpose of measuring lead, nickel, cobalt and copper. Pollution load index (PLI), Nemerow pollution index (PIN), Potential Ecological Risk (PER) and Geo-accumulation Index (Igeo) were also calculated according to the internationally approved methods. The results indicated that most of lead, nickel and copper concentrations in soils and sediments exceeded the limits allowed by WHO, reaching annual rates (96.758, 168.746 and 29.88) , (111.25, 219.65 and 48.162) mg.kg-1, respectively. This fluctuation in concentrations was reflected in the values of the studied indicators for both soil and sediment, where 50% and 58% of the studied specimen are of the polluted grade and the remnant are of the non-polluted grade according to the PLI values. So is the case with PIN where 58% of the soil specimen and 41.6% of the sediment samples were of the severe pollution grade, while 25% and 33.3% of the specimen were of the heavy pollution grade and the remnant were slightly pollution grade. The same applies to the results of the PER index values, where 50% and 41.67% of the specimen were from the Medium ecological risk category, and the rest were from the low ecological risk category, likewise for the (Igeo) values, 100% and 96% of the soil and sediment samples were from the Weakly polluted category.

The effect of a dam on the copper accumulation in estuarine sediment and associated nematodes in a Mekong estuary

Dam construction across the main flow of an estuary can greatly contribute to a high accumulation of inorganic contaminants. However, it remains unknown to what extend externally available heavy metals are incorporated into biota living in those contaminated environments. In this study, the heavy metal copper was investigated both in the sediment and in the tissues of nematodes taken from the subtidal zone in the Ba Lai estuary where a dam is present, and compared with samples from the dam-free Ham Luong estuary, both part of the Mekong Delta. Samples were taken in the dry season of 2017 in four stations in the Ba Lai estuary with two stations in the downstream part from the dam and two upstream. Similar locations with respect to the distance were sampled in the dam-free estuary. The internal copper concentration in nematodes was measured by applying micro X-ray fluorescence. The results showed that both internal and sediment copper concentrations were different between the two estuaries and among estuarine sections. The highest copper concentration in nematodes was found in the upstream section of Ba Lai estuary where the greatest accumulation of sedimentary copper was observed, while the dammed downstream part was lowest in internal copper accumulation. Moreover, there was more variation in the copper levels between the two sections within the dammed estuary compared to those in Ham Luong. These observations might point to the contribution of the Ba Lai dam to the increase of copper contaminants in the benthic environment leading to accumulation in nematodes.

Analysis of Lead and Copper Concentrations in Mangrove Clams (Geloina erosa) and Sediments in The North Coast of Bengkalis Island

This research was conducted in February-April 2021 by taking samples of mangrove clams (Geloina erosa) and sediment from Selat Baru and Teluk Pambang coastal area in Bantan District, Bengkalis Regency, Riau Province. The purpose of this study was to determine the concentration of heavy metals, namely Pb and Cu, in sediment and mangrove clams that are abundant in the studied area. The research method used is the survey method and samples were taken by means of the purposive sampling technique. Heavy metal concentrations were analyzed by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS). The results showed that the concentrations of Pb and Cu in the mangrove clams and sediments in the studied area had not yet passed the threshold level. Pb and Cu concentrations found in clams were 0.0468 ?g/g and 0.1043 ?g/g respectively. Meanwhile, the concentration of Pb in the sediment was 0.10185 ?g/g and Cu 0.3313 ?g/g. Mangrove clams on the north coast of Bengkalis Island have the ability to accumulate Pb and Cu with a low ability (BCF<1). The maximum Tolerable Intake of the clams for humans with a bodyweight of 70 kg is 0.0983 kg/week (Lead) and 7.3010 kg/week for Copper

Copper leaching from recreational vessel antifouling paints in freshwater: A Berlin case study

Copper leached from recreational vessel antifouling paints can pose a threat to aquatic organisms. To date, leaching rates have mainly been studied in seawater and brackish water. The aim of this study was to investigate the copper input from antifouling paints to freshwater using field and laboratory studies. Therefore, a large sailing area in Berlin was sampled. According to a risk assessment, the use of copper containing antifouling paints in Berlins is predicted to have no significant impact on aquatic organisms. An exception was found in sport boat marinas where, in dependence on the boat number, the sediment copper concentrations were up to 2 times higher than the German environmental quality standard for sediments. The most important result revealed by the laboratory batch tests is that the copper leaching rate in freshwater is much lower compared to seawater and brackish water. The dissolution of copper from antifouling paints into freshwater is overestimated up to now. Nevertheless, the leached copper from antifouling paints is the second largest anthropogenic copper source in the urban area of Berlin and the third largest anthropogenic copper source in German freshwaters.

Hypolimnetic oxygenation 5. Copper, zinc, iron, and manganese declines in Camanche Reservoir downstream of an abandoned mine

Horne, AJ, Jung R. 2022. Hypolimnetic oxygenation 5. Copper, zinc, iron, and manganese declines in Camanche Reservoir downstream of an abandoned mine. Lake Reserve. Manage. XX:XXX–XXX. An abandoned mine upstream of Camanche Reservoir in California had increased sediment copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations by 10-fold. Regulators and environmentalists claimed that a hypolimnetic oxygenation system (HOS) on the reservoir bed would stir sediments and increase metal toxicity in the hypolimnetic water supplied to steelhead and Chinook salmon in the Mokelumne River and its large fish hatchery. On the contrary, after HOS, small decreases in the concentrations of Zn and Cu and large decreases in iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) occurred. Before HOS, ΣCu concentrations were relatively low (mean deep, 3.3 µg/L, surface, 2.4 µg/L) but in the soft water sometimes exceeded an aquatic life criterion of 3 µg/L. After HOS, the long-term mean ΣCu dropped 12% to 2.9 µg/L (deep); surface concentrations were unchanged. Before HOS, bottom water ΣZn (mean = 17.7 µg/L) occasionally exceeded the criterion of 27 µg/L, but after HOS the long-term mean fell 36% to 11.3 µg/L. In contrast, ΣFe dropped 40-fold, dissolved Fe dropped 150-fold, ΣMn dropped 30-fold, and dissolved Mn dropped 400-fold. Fe and Mn declines were consistent with oxide precipitation. However, declines in Cu and Zn were due to homogenization of the deeper hypolimnion by mixing in the oxygenated HOS plume and not due to oxidation itself or the HOS-induced 79% reduction in algae. Important for reservoir management, HOS slightly reduced heavy metals in the reservoir outflows, benefiting the downstream river and fish hatchery. Similar results are predicted for mixing by aeration or propellers.

Lead and Copper Concentration in Sediment and Blood Cockle (Anadara granosa) in the Coastal Waters of Panipahan, Rokan Hilir, Riau Province

This research was conducted in March 2020 with the aim of evaluating the heavy metal content of Pb and Cu in sediment and blood cockle (Anadara granosa). The sediment and blood cockle samples were taken from Panipahan coastal waters, Panipahan Village and Teluk Pulai Village, Rokan Hilir Regency, Riau Province. The results of this study showed that the highest content of Pb and Cu in sediments was found in the surrounding area of residential areas (47.4570 µg / g and 104.1320 µg / g), while in blood cockle, the highest content was found around areas far from anthropogenic activity. The Pb content in the sediments did not show a significant effect on the Pb content in blood cockles, as well as the Cu. The results of the calculation of the MPI (Metal Pollution Index) value showed that Panipahan coastal waters are still classified as low pollution level.

Assessment of trace metals, total organic carbon and total nitrogen of a shrimp farm system in Southern Brazil

The unconsumed food in shrimp farm systems is responsible for increasing the organic compounds in sediment, and it is a potential source of trace metals. This study evaluates the total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations in sediments from control sites, a shrimp pond, a sedimentation basin and receiving ecosystem effluents at a semi-intensive Litopenaeus vannamei farm in southern Brazil. Copper and zinc concentrations were also analyzed in shrimp tissue. The sediment samples were taken before the effluent discharge (BD), 1 day post discharge (1PD), 10 days post discharge (10PD) and 30 days post discharge (30PD). The TOC concentrations ranged from 0.12 to 0.67%, and the TN concentrations were <0.07% in all samples. The labile Cu and Zn concentrations in sediment ranged from 0.12 to 1.27 μg g−1 and from 0.51 to 3.07 μg g−1, respectively, while the more strongly adsorbed fraction of Cu ranged from 0.3 to 2.65 μg g−1, and that of Zn ranged from 30.44 to 121.4 μg g−1. Some significant differences (p < 0.05) were observed among the sites, but they were not related to the effluent discharge. Pearson correlation analysis showed no relationship between the effluent discharge and increased TOC, TN, Cu or Zn values in the sediment, except in the 1PD sampling. The Cu and Zn concentrations in the shrimp tissues were 6.63 ± 0.2 μg g−1 and 19.76 ± 0.2 μg g−1 in pond 1 and 7.6 ± 0.51 μg g−1 and 19.13 ± 0.32 μg g−1 in pond 2. All parameters were within in accordance with the guidelines levels, and this shrimp farm did not have adverse effects on the environment when considering these parameters.

Warming and pollutants interact to modulate octocoral immunity and shape disease outcomes.

Warming environments can alter the outcome of host-parasite relationships with important consequences for biodiversity. Warming often increases disease risk, and interactions with other environmental factors can intensify impacts by modifying the underlying mechanisms, such as host immunity. In coastal ecosystems, metal pollution is a pervasive stressor that influences disease and immunity in many organisms. Despite the crisis facing coral reefs, which stems in part from warming-associated disease outbreaks, the impacts of metal pollutants on scleractinian and octocoral disease are largely unknown. We investigated how warming oceans and copper pollution affect host immunity and disease risk for two diseases of the abundant Caribbean octocoral, the sea fan Gorgonia ventalina. Field surveys across a sediment copper concentration gradient in Puerto Rico, USA revealed that cellular immunity of sea fans increased by 12.6% at higher sediment copper concentrations, while recovery from multifocal purple spots disease (MFPS) tended to decrease. MFPS severity in the field increased at warmer sites. In a controlled laboratory experiment, sea fans were inoculated with live cultures of a labyrinthulid parasite to test the interactive effects of temperature and copper on immune activation. As in the field, higher copper induced greater immunity, but the factorial design of the experiment revealed that copper and temperature interacted to modulate the immune response to the parasite: immune cell densities increased with elevated temperature at lower copper concentrations, but not with high copper concentrations. Tissue damage was also greater in treatments with higher copper and warmer temperatures. Field and lab evidence confirm that elevated copper hinders sea fan immune defenses against damaging parasites. Temperature and copper influenced host-pathogen interactions in octocorals by modulating immunity, disease severity, and disease recovery. This is the first evidence that metal pollution affects processes influencing disease in octocorals and highlights the importance of immune mechanisms in environmentally mediated disease outbreaks. Although coral conservation efforts must include a focus on global factors, such as rapid warming, reducing copper and other pollutants that compromise coral health on a local scale may help corals fight disease in a warming ocean.

Environmental DNA Metabarcoding Supporting Community Assessment of Environmental Stressors in a Field-Based Sediment Microcosm Study.

Conventional ecological risk assessment on toxic stressors in sediment is limited to a small and selected fraction of benthic communities. Ecogenomic approaches provide unprecedented capacity to monitor the changes of biodiversity and community composition in the field, but how to utilize it to assess ecological impact by contaminates remains largely unexplored. Here, an environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding approach was used to assess the effect of copper on changes in biodiversity and community composition across the tree of life (including bacteria, protists, algae, fungi, and metazoa) in a field-based microcosm. Many microorganisms across a broad range of taxa groups changed their relative abundance in response to increased copper concentrations in sediments. Changes in community structure of microbiota appeared to be more sensitive to copper than survival of laboratory-bred organisms and indigenous macroinvertebrates. Copper caused a significant shift in prokaryotic community composition via substitution of dominant species. Network heterogeneity and Shannon diversity of the bacterial community decreased in the high copper treatments. eDNA metabarcoding assessed the effects of copper-contaminated sediment with less effort than manually processing samples. Our study highlighted the value of community profiling by an eDNA-based approach in prospective and retrospective risk assessment of environmental stressors.

Lethal and sublethal effects of metal-polluted sediments on Chironomus sancticaroli Strixino and Strixino, 1981.

The Cantareira Complex is one of the most important water supplies of the metropolitan region of São Paulo, Brazil. Previously, it was demonstrated that the sediments in this complex were polluted with metals and that Paiva Castro Reservoir-the last reservoir in the sequence, which receives water from the five previous reservoirs-was the reservoir with the greatest concentration of pollutants. Based on field data, it was noticed that copper concentrations in sediments were related to morphological alterations in chironomids. The present study provides novel monitoring methods and results for the complex by isolating the environmental and biological sources of variation. An adaptation of the in situ assay proposed by Soares et al. (Arch Environ Contam Toxicol 49:163-172, 2005), which uses a native tropical Chironomus species and low-cost materials, is also provided. The aim of this study was to isolate the effects of sediments from Paiva Castro on controlled populations of C. sancticaroli larvae using an in situ assay. A seven-day experiment was performed in triplicate. Third instar larvae were inoculated in chambers containing sediments from two distinct regions of Paiva Castro reservoir and a control site with sand. Five biological responses were considered: mouthpart alterations, larval length, width of cephalic capsule, mortality and total damage. The results suggest the effects of sediment toxicity on larvae include a reduction in length and a higher occurrence of total damage.

Geochemical markers of human occupation in the lower Argens valley (Fréjus, France): from protohistory to Roman times

Sediments deposited in the lower Argens valley at Fréjus, a well-known Roman Imperial harbor in northwestern Mediterranean, reveal pollutant metal imprints since the Iron Age. Lead, copper and zinc concentrations in sediments above a facies transition from sand (lower) to silt (upper) at 1820–1946cal.BP (65–130cal.CE) are four times higher than in the non-contaminated geochemical background unit at the bottom of the core. These correlated chemical and sedimentological shifts in the ancient marine bay follow the growth of the Augustan city subsequent to the building of the Roman harbor during the late first century BCE. Trace metal enrichment factors (calculated from background concentrations) display a slight but significant increase (1.3 to 1.5) in sediments deposited during the Fréjus protohistoric period, just below the facies transition. This enrichment is corroborated by mean 206Pb/207Pb isotope ratios that vary from 1.179 (±0.002) to 1.193 (±0.002) and 1.202 (±0.002) in the Roman, protohistoric and background units respectively. These findings are the first evidence of pollutant metal release into the lower Argens ria during the protohistoric period, as far as 2600years ago. Lead isotope signatures in the protohistoric sediment layers shed light on several possible geographic origins for ores from which accumulated pollutant metals may originate. These include copper mines in the Alps or the Languedoc regions. Cyprus may also be isotopically invoked as a source that is not supported by archaeological findings and would constitute, if proven true, a new insight regarding metal trades in protohistoric Gaul.

Impact of copper sulfate application at an urban Brazilian reservoir: A geostatistical and ecotoxicological approach

A landscape ecotoxicology approach was used to assess the spatial distribution of copper in the recent bottom sediment (surficial sediment) of a Brazilian subtropical reservoir (the Guarapiranga reservoir) and its potential ecotoxicological impacts on the reservoir ecosystem and the local society. We discuss the policies and procedures that have been employed for the management of this reservoir over the past four decades. Spatial heterogeneity in the reservoir was evaluated by means of sampling design and statistical analysis based on kriging spatial interpolation. The sediment copper concentrations have been converted into qualitative categories in order to interpret the reservoir quality and the impacts of management policies. This conversion followed the Canadian Water Framework Directive (WFD) ecotoxicological concentration levels approach, employing sediment quality guidelines (SQGs). The SQG values were applied as the copper concentration thresholds for quantitative-qualitative conversion of data for the surficial sediment of the Guarapiranga. The SQGs used were as follows: a) interim sediment quality guideline (ISQG), b) probable effect level (PEL), and c) regional reference value (RRV). The quantitative results showed that the spatial distribution of copper in the recent bottom sediment reflected the reservoir's management policy and the copper application protocol, and that the copper concentrations varied considerably, ranging from virtually-zero to in excess of 3gcopper/kgds. The qualitative results demonstrated that the recent bottom sediment was predominantly in a bad or very bad condition, and could therefore have impacts on the local society and the ecosystem. It could be concluded that the management policy for this reservoir was mainly determined by the desire to minimize short-term costs, disregarding long-term socioeconomic and environmental consequences.

Aerial application of copper for dothistroma control in New Zealand\u2019s planted forests\u2014effect on stream environments

Limited information is available on the risk to aquatic environments from the aerial application of copper fungicides to treat dothistroma needle blight in managed forests. Cuprous oxide was aerially applied to three catchments of Pinus radiata of varying age classes in the central North Island of New Zealand. Copper was monitored in stream water and sediments prior to and for 1 month after application. Copper deposits collected from tracer plates deployed above the water surface along the stream channels within the treated areas at each site ranged from 13 to 406 ppm. Lowest concentrations occurred above small stream channels with dense overhead riparian vegetation. Peak copper concentrations in stream water across the three sites ranged from 28 to 60 μg L−1 and were below the analytical detection limit within hours. Copper concentrations were higher and persisted for longer in stream sediment (range 1.7–6.1 mg kg−1, sampled at two sites only). Copper concentrations in sediments were below environmental guidelines. Copper concentrations in water and sediment indicated a low risk to aquatic organisms based on the exposure times to the concentrations measured in this study.

Sediment Copper Concentrations, In Situ Benthic Invertebrate Abundance, and Sediment Toxicity: Comparison of Treated and Untreated Coves in a Southern Reservoir

Copper-based algaecides are used to control algae that compromise uses of lakes and reservoirs. However, there are concerns regarding potential adverse effects to benthic macroinvertebrates following long-term, repeated applications. Multiple lines-of-evidence are useful for evaluating potential ecological risks. These lines-of-evidence are encompassed in the sediment quality triad (SQT) and include sediment copper concentrations, in situ benthic invertebrate abundance, and sediment toxicity testing. The objective of this study was to measure potential ecological risks associated with long-term applications of copper algaecides in coves in Lay Lake, Alabama. Sediments from three coves treated for 7, 10, and 20 years were compared to sediments from three untreated coves in terms of copper concentrations, in situ benthic macroinvertebrate total abundance, and survival of Hyalella azteca and Chironomus dilutus in laboratory sediment toxicity tests. Sediment copper concentrations were not different between treated and untreated coves, with the exception of one treated cove (PC-1S) that contained elevated sediment copper concentrations compared to all other coves. However, the copper was not bioavailable to organisms based on in situ macroinvertebrate abundance and laboratory toxicity tests. In situ benthic invertebrate abundance was not different between treated and untreated coves. In all sediments tested, there were no measurable adverse effects to H. azteca and there were no significant differences in survival of C. dilutus between treated and untreated coves. Based on the weight-of-evidence approach utilized in this study, long-term copper use in three Lay Lake coves has not resulted in adverse effects to benthic invertebrates compared to untreated coves.

Understanding Fate and Effects of Copper Pesticides in Aquatic Systems

Copper sulfate and other chelated or complex copper forms are commonly used to manage nuisance and noxious algae and invasive weeds through direct application to aquatic systems. Regulatory scrutiny and perceived non-target species impacts supported the need for an accurate risk assessment of fate and effects of copper applied as a pesticide. Copper inputs to aquatic systems originate from numerous sources (e.g. natural, storm water, industrial) whereas direct pesticide applications account for approximately 13%. Following a pesticide application, copper rapidly partitions to suspended algae and particulates and the majority (>90%) of applied copper is transferred to sediments within 2 days. Copper subsequently shifts to less bioavailable forms and risks to non-target species are significantly decreased. Additionally, the copper that partitions to sediments is diluted through migration to greater sediments depths and accretion. Even when elevated sediment copper concentrations were measured following chronic applications or high treatment levels, no adverse effects to non-target species were observed with laboratory or field experiments. When used appropriately copper can be an effective tool for water resource managers with negligible environmental impact.

Copper and cadmium in bottom sediments dredged from Wyścigi Pond, Warsaw, Poland--contamination and bioaccumulation study.

This research covered an evaluation of the copper and cadmium concentrations in bottom sediments dredged from one of the ponds in Warsaw. The samples of sediments, soil, and plants were analyzed in terms of Cu and Cd content. The research concerned the heap of dredged bottom sediments from Wyścigi Pond, Warsaw, Poland. Two boreholes were made to obtain sediment cores with depths of A 162.5 cm and B 190.0 cm. The cores were divided into 10 sub-samples with a thickness of about 15–20 cm. A control sample of soil was taken from the horse racecourse several hundred meters away from the heap. The vegetation was sampled directly from the heap. The predominating plants were tested: Urtica dioica, Glechoma hederacea, Euonymus verrucosus, and Drepanocladus aduncus. A control sample of U. dioica taken outside of the heap was also tested. The commercial PHYTOTOXKIT microbiotest was applied to evaluate the influence of heavy metal-contaminated sediments (used as soil) on germination and growth of the chosen test plants. The analyses of cadmium and copper concentrations revealed that the metal concentration in sediments was diverse at different depths of sampling, probably reflecting their concentration in stored layers of sediments. Moreover, the metal content in core A was four to five times lower than that in core B, which reveals heterogeneity of the sediments in the tested heap. In core A, the copper concentration ranged from 4.7 to 13.4 mg/kg d.w. (average 8.06 ± 0.71 mg/kg d.w.), while in core B, it ranged from 9.2 to 82.1 mg/kg d.w. (average 38.56 ± 2.6 mg/kg d.w.). One of the results of the heavy metal presence in soils is their bioaccumulation in plants. Comparing plant growth, more intensive growth of roots was observed in the case of plants growing on the control (reference) soil than those growing on sediments. The intensive development of both primary and lateral roots was noticed. During this early growth, metal accumulation in plants occurred.

An integrated investigation of biomarkers’ response in crabs (Liocarcinus depurator) and benthic indices at a metalliferous waste discharge area in North Evoikos gulf, Greece

This study applied biomarkers and benthic indices at an area in North Evoikos Gulf, Greece, affected by metalliferous slag disposal. Biomarkers of antioxidant defense (catalase, glutathione S-transferase), and neurotoxicity (acetylcholinesterase) were measured in crabs Liocarcinus depurator. Iron (Fe), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in sediments and crabs were also measured. High levels of all metals were found in sediments at the disposal area. Metal levels in the crabs were also higher in the disposal area although spatial differences were not as marked as in the sediments. Accordingly, biomarker responses of crabs in the disposal area were also noted suggesting impact on the antioxidant defense of the organisms against oxidative stress. Benthic indices showed disturbance in the disposal area. The combined approach of measuring biomarkers and contaminant levels in the crabs and sediment was complementary to the benthic indices approach providing indications of metal exposure related effects. Our results support the idea that a twofold monitoring approach of assessing both the benthic community structure shifts and the biomarkers and metal accumulation levels may integrate and capture both the structural and the toxicological effects of dumping onto the benthic communities.