Sediments Of Water Bodies Research Articles

Determination of Distributions of Cd, Cu, and Pb Concentrations in Sediments of a Mexican Reservoir to Infer Their Environmental Risk

The José Antonio Alzate Dam in the State of Mexico, Mexico, receives wastewaters from domestic, industrial, and agricultural activities through the Lerma River. Chemical and physicochemical characteristics of the water were determined. Sediment has been studied in order to define the importance of its influence on the reservoir's state as a whole. The quantification of the metals, Cd, Cu, and Pb in total forms and the geochemical distribution and the chemical mobility of these metals in sediment have been established using a chemical sequential extraction scheme. The three metals showed a common characteristic, being more abundant in fraction F6 (residual), but the other fractions of the geochemical distribution were variable depending on the metal. First, the contamination level was evaluated with the results of the total metals, using the criteria of EPA, Thomas and Murdoch, and the Ontario Ministry of Environment for sediment in water bodies. Subsequently, the risk was assessed using the same criteria but considering the results of sequential extractions, where the geochemical distribution of each metal allowed a better understanding of metal portions with more influence on the risk, in which Cu and Pb presented low risk, but not Cd.

Organic Matter Decomposition in Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies under the Ice

Organic Matter Decomposition in Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies under the Ice

Migration Mechanism of Organic Pollutants in National Water-body Sediments

Water-body sediments are a main part of water biological system, sinks and sources of many water-body nutritional substances and pollutants, and carriers, end-results and cumulating places for large amount of contaminants. The article makes a summary of pollution of organic matters in natural water sediments, to provide scientific basis for dealing with polluted sediments.

Increase in the Intensity of the Process of Sulfate Reduction in Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies under the Influence of Anthropic Load

Increase in the Intensity of the Process of Sulfate Reduction in Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies under the Influence of Anthropic Load

Comprehensive Characteristics of Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies of Various Types in the Kiliya Delta of the Danube River

Comprehensive Characteristics of Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies of Various Types in the Kiliya Delta of the Danube River

Surface and subsurface flow effect on permanent gully formation and upland erosion near Lake Tana in the northern highlands of Ethiopia

Abstract. Gully formation in the Ethiopian Highlands has been identified as a major source of sediment in water bodies, and results in sever land degradation. Loss of soil from gully erosion reduces agricultural productivity and grazing land availability, and is one of the major causes of reservoir siltation in the Nile Basin. This study was conducted in the 523 ha Debre-Mawi watershed south of Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, where gullies are actively forming in the landscape. Historic gully development in a section of the Debre-Mawi watershed was estimated with semi structured farmer interviews, remotely sensed imagery, and measurements of current gully volumes. Gully formation was assessed by instrumenting the gully and surrounding area to measure water table levels and soil physical properties. Gully formation began in the late 1980's following the removal of indigenous vegetation, leading to an increase in surface and subsurface runoff from the hillsides. A comparison of the gully area, estimated from a 0.58 m resolution QuickBird image, with the current gully area mapped with a GPS, indicated that the total eroded area of the gully increased from 0.65 ha in 2005 to 1.0 ha in 2007 and 1.43 ha in 2008. The gully erosion rate, calculated from cross-sectional transect measurements, between 2007 and 2008 was 530 t ha−1 yr−1 in the 17.4 ha area contributing to the gully, equivalent to over 4 cm soil loss over the contributing area. As a comparison, we also measured rill and interrill erosion rates in a nearby section of the watershed, gully erosion rates were approximately 20 times the measured rill and interrill rates. Depths to the water table measured with piezometers showed that in the actively eroding sections of the gully the water table was above the gully bottom and, in stable gully sections the water table was below the gully bottom during the rainy season. The elevated water table appears to facilitate the slumping of gully walls, which causes the gully to widen and to migrate up the hillside.

Perylene dominance in sediments from a subtropical high mountain lake

Perylene formation in sediments of water bodies has been a topic of continual discussion and debate. We report the concentration and age (ca. 660 yr) profiles of perylene and other polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a sediment core from Emerald Peak Lake, the largest high mountain lake in Taiwan. Perylene is dominant at all depths of the sediment (ranging from 60% to 98% of total PAHs), a feature not commonly found in other sediments. The concentration profile of perylene with sediment age fits a first order kinetic model, which might be an indication of a steady sedimentary environment.

Surface-water exposure to quinoxyfen: Assessment in landscape vineyards

Protection of surface- and ground-water quality is critical for economic viability, as well as for human health and the environment. Furthermore, maintenance of the biodiversity of natural aquatic ecosystems is very important. The objective of this paper is to report methodology developed for the assessment of the surface-water exposure to pesticide using as example the fungicide quinoxyfen because persistent, lipophylic and hazard for the aquatic organisms. Exposure monitoring was carried out over two years (2005 and 2006) following historical and subsequent applications in Italian vineyards and to investigate the presence of residue in non-target areas close to the crop receiving repeated applications. After development of the monitoring procedures, surface-water contamination and biota exposure were determined during and after field treatments. Very low concentrations were found in sediments, often in contradiction with model and laboratory results, leading to the conclusion that even the historical use of quinoxyfen in vineyards within the catchment was not contaminating sediment in water bodies, which was regarded as the natural sink for such a pesticide due to its strong sorptive properties. For biota, quinoxyfen residues in benthic macroinvertebrates and fish in the vast majority of the samples were below the corresponding limit of detection (LOD). Thus long-term accumulation of quinoxyfen in sediments and organisms of the aquatic ecosystems would not be expected due main to the environmental conditions of the landscape that mitigate the overall exposure.

Seasonal Dynamics of the Process of Sulfate Reduction in Bottom Sediments of Water Bodies

Seasonal dynamics of the process of sulfate reduction in water bodies differing in their geographic situation, trophic level, pH, Eh, water salinity, sulfate content, temperature regime, and other factors were investigated. It has been found that in various lakes the maximum rate of bacterial reduction of sulfate was registered mainly in summertime.

Sulfate reduction in natural water bodies: 2. Empirical models for process rate assessment

Empirical models that are used to assess sulfate reduction rates in the aquatic environment and bot- tom sediments of water bodies are discussed. Such models, with different detail, take into account the effect of the major habitat factors (the concentrations of organic matter, its components, and sulfates; ambient tempera- ture; the numbers and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria) on matter oxidation transformation during the sul- fate reduction process. Improvements in the empirical models are proposed with the aim to more adequately account for the effect of environmental factors on the sulfate reduction rate distribution in water bodies. Vali- dation of such models and the assessment of their parameters are demonstrated against available observational data collected at appropriate water bodies.

Sulfate reduction in natural water bodies. 1. The effect of environmental factors and the measured rates of the process

Sulfate reduction is an important oxidation process involving transformation of organic matter and its components and taking place in the aquatic environment and bottom sediments of water bodies (both fresh and marine) under anaerobic conditions. The intensification of sulfate reduction in water bodies is a sign of a stronger anthropogenic impact on the environment and natural water bodies. The development of sulfate reduc- tion under natural conditions reflects the influence of many environmental factors. The effect of the most impor- tant factors (the concentration of organic matter and its components and sulfates, the temperature of aquatic environment, and the abundance and activity of sulfate-reducing bacteria) on the process of sulfate reduction in the aquatic environment and bottom sediments in water bodies is considered.

Fungal biomass and diversity in sediments and on leaf litter in heavy metal contaminated waters of Central Germany

Ergosterol, as indicator of fungal biomass, was measured in the CPOM (coarse particulate organic matter; ≥ 5 mm) and FPM (fine particulate matter; ≤ 1 mm) sediment fractions of 11 heavy metal contaminated streams, springs and ponds in Central Germany. At 7 sites, ergosterol concentrations of FPM were below the detection limit. At the remaining sites, they corresponded to a fungal biomass of 0.03 - 0.06 % of FPM. Corresponding values for the CPOM fractions were 0.1 - 1.3 %. Both fractions produced conidia of aquatic hyphomycetes, either directly upon aeration (CPOM) or indirectly by colonization, followed by spore release, of sterile target disks. Between 0.05 and 63 conidia per mg substrate were released from naturally deposited leaves upon aeration and from Alms glutinosa leaves that had been exposed for four weeks, recovered and aerated. Canonical analysis of principal coordinates, based on presence/absence of fungal species, did not reveal significant correlations with site or substrate. The survival of an impoverished fungal community in and on the sediments of water bodies under severe anthopogenic stress suggests the maintenance of at least basic ecological functions and raises the possibility of recovery upon removal of the stress.

Determining of mineral oil—petroleum hydrocarbons in river sediments

Sediment is an essential and dynamic part of our river basins. As surface-water flow rates decline in lowland area, transported sediment settles along the river and banks by sedimentation. Water body sediments and their characterization from viewpoint of microelements and especially heavy metals and potentially hazardous substances represent an important ecosystem and indicator of environmental quality assessment of the long-term significance. Memory effect, mainly in dated sediment cores as historical records reflect variations of pollution intensities in a catchments area. In order to comply with the Directive 76/464/EEC of the EU that requires monitoring of persistent, toxic and bio-accumulated substances commonly designated as hazardous substances, the samples of water, sediment and biota from the Danube River and its main tributaries Sava, Tisza, Velika Morava and Pek were investigated [1]. Samples were collected from 3 to 18 July 2002 at 17 localities (32 sampling points). This work presents the results for petroleum hydrocarbons in bottom sediments in the Danube and Sava rivers. The results indicate that in mouth area of the Sava River located in lowland on the both river sides the concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons are higher than Target value (50 mg/kg) but less than intervent value (5000 mg/kg) according to the Dutch legislative [2]. The concentrations ranged between 170 and 842 mg/kg in dried sediment and increased with the depth. Same situation is in sediments along the Danube River. Concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons are between 98 and 1340 mg/kg in dried sediment.

Environmental impacts of mercury and its detoxification from aqueous solutions

There has been an increased concern over the level of heavy metals in the environment because of the serious environmental hazards these metals pose. Mercury is one of these heavy metals present in the environment. Mercury undergoes complex chemical and physical transformation once released to the air, land or rivers. The main sources of mercury are the natural and anthropogenic sources. Mercury may be emitted to the atmosphere as a gas or particulate matter, which may return to the earth’s surface either dry by gravitational settling or wet by precipitation. While it circulates and changes its form, it becomes persistent. It tends to accumulate in sediments of water bodies. Mercury constitutes a considerable hazard to vertebrates including man and it is bioaccumulating in biota. The detoxification of mercury from aqueous solutions has been achieved by conventional methods such as precipitation, coagulation, reverse osmosis, ion exchange and adsorption using activated carbon. Recent advances in mercury remediation include the use of agricultural by-products and microorganisms as adsorbent. The application of biosorbents has proved to be a very good process for mercury remediation from aqueous solutions. This paper reviews the toxicity of mercury and its remediation processes. Key words: Mercury, detoxification, pollution, environment, heavy metals.

INVESTIGATION AND EVALUATION OF SURFACE WATER POLLUTION WITH HEAVY METALS AND OIL PRODUCTS IN KAIRIAI MILITARY GROUND TERRITORY

Water pollution with heavy metals, oil and its products is a very important environmental problem. Major part of chemical elements penetrating into the environment gets accumulated in the soil and bed sediment of water bodies. They may also migrate into surface, ground and underground water and spread at great distances. From here, they may enter again nutritional chains and poison living organisms. It is very important and necessary to investigate military territories and evaluate their environmental condition in order to identify the works of their cleaning and optimization of their environmental condition as well as their scope. However, not all the military territories in Lithuania have been sufficiently investigated so far, damage to the environment is not known. Therefore, investigation of such territories is of utmost importance, it is of scientific and environmental significance. This work is dedicated to the investigation and evaluation of surface water and bed sediment pollution with heavy metals and oil products in one of the biggest military grounds of Lithuania ‐ Kairiai Military Ground. Results of the investigation allowed answering the main questions about the most common pollutants, spreading in the environment because of military activities, to determine the level of pollution and most vulnerable territories.

Chalcophile elements (Hg, Cd, Pb, and As) in bottom sediments of water bodies of the white sea catchment area on the kola peninsula

The north of European Russia including the Murmansk Region contains unique mineral resources. Many mining, processing, and smelting enterprises, the largest in Russia, are situated in the Murmansk Region, recovering annually millions of tons of rocks and ores to the surface, ejecting and discharging thousands of tons of contaminants, including highly toxic metal and organic compounds, into the atmosphere and water areas and streams. Heavy metals, particularly highly toxic chalcophile

Oil products in bottom sediments of water bodies in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug

Concentration of oil hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments of water bodies in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug has been analyzed. Statistical methods have been used to confirm the dependence of contamination level on the frequency of accidents in oil fields. Areas with heavily contaminated bottom sediments have been singled out.

Assessingjhum-induced forest loss in Dibang valley, Arunachal Himalayas — A remote sensing perspective

There has been a significant advancement in the application of remote sensing from various space altitudes for inventorying and monitoring ofjhum (shifting) cultivation associated forest loss. The dynamic nature ofjhum system, complex physiography, small size of individualjhum plots and their discontinuous nature of distribution, highly heterogeneous vegetation and ever-changing atmospheric condition in the Arunachal Himalaya posses a great challenge to local flora and fauna. Indian Remote Sensing (IRS)-1C/1D LISS-III data were used to classify the current and abandonedjhum areas in Dibang valley district. The amount of area occupied by current and abandonedjhum corresponds to 199.34 km2(1.53%) and 225.40 km2(1.73%) respectively. Field data were collected following stratified random sampling method to gather information on plant community occurring in abandonedjhum cultivated areas. It was observed that only nine species out of 45 contribute to 50% of the important value index (IVI). Of the 45 species, 7 species (15.56%) have been found to be endemic to Eastern Himalayas. Population inducedjhum cultivation has led to deforestation, biodiversity loss, increased surface soil erosion, and sedimentation of water bodies in this area. The potential use of satellite-derived maps can best be used for better management and land use planning.

Recognition of and Allocation Among Multiple Sources of PAH in Urban Sediments

The presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in urban sediments around the U.S. is well established. The toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic characteristics attributed to this class of hydrocarbons typically warrant their close monitoring, removal (e.g., dredging), or isolation (e.g., capping) in order to protect or revitalize the local urban environments. The high costs and other liabilities associated with any remedial action of urban sediments, combined with the common occurrence of multiple potentially responsible parties (PRPs) with properties bordering urban waterways, is a recipe for legal wrangling among PRPs. Environmental forensic investigations, conducted appropriately, provide the insight necessary to defensibly identify both historic and/or current, point and non-point sources of PAH to an urban water body's sediments. The results from such investigations are sufficiently robust to support technical allocation strategies for determining responsibility among PRPs involved in oil spill assessments, Superfund allocation issues, 3rd party claims, or natural resource damage assessments (NRDA).

The crisis in shifting cultivation practices and the promise of agroforestry: a review of the Panamanian experience

Deforestation is proceeding at alarming rates in the Central American Republic of Panama. This is leading to high losses of biodiversity, local wood shortages, increased erosion, and the sedimentation of water bodies. One of the principal causes of deforestation is the expansion of the agricultural frontier through extensive shifting cultivation systems. These land use systems are becoming increasingly unsustainable as populations increase and the amount of agricultural land available declines, and are often associated with low crop productivity, and reduced soil fertility. Agroforestry, or the association of trees with crops and livestock, has the potential of providing both socio-economic and ecological advantages to smallholders. While the number of agroforestry projects has increased dramatically over the past two decades in Panama, there is little information on the impacts these projects have had. This review provides a brief history of agroforestry in Panama, and outlines the current projects underway. In addition, the main factors impeding the increased adoption of agroforestry are examined, and recommendations are provided.