Total Copper Concentrations Research Articles

Copper(II) Binding by Dissolved Organic Matter: Importance of the Copper-to-Dissolved Organic Matter Ratio and Implications for the Biotic Ligand Model

The ratio of copper to dissolved organic matter (DOM) is known to affect the strength of copper binding by DOM, but previous methods to determine the Cu(2+)-DOM binding strength have generally not measured binding constants over the same Cu:DOM ratios. In this study, we used a competitive ligand exchange-solid-phase extraction (CLE-SPE) method to determine conditional stability constants for Cu(2+)-DOM binding at pH 6.6 and 0.01 M ionic strength over a range of Cu:DOM ratios that bridge the detection windows of copper-ion-selective electrode and voltammetry measurements. As the Cu:DOM ratio increased from 0.0005 to 0.1 mg of Cu/mg of DOM, the measured conditional binding constant ((c)K(CuDOM)) decreased from 10(11.5) to 10(5.6) M(-1). A comparison of the binding constants measured by CLE-SPE with those measured by copper-ion-selective electrode and voltammetry demonstrates that the Cu:DOM ratio is an important factor controlling Cu(2+)-DOM binding strength even for DOM isolates of different types and different sources and for whole water samples. The results were modeled with Visual MINTEQ and compared to results from the biotic ligand model (BLM). The BLM was found to over-estimate Cu(2+) at low total copper concentrations and under-estimate Cu(2+) at high total copper concentrations.

Feasibility of Estimating Cu Contamination in Floodplain Soils using VNIR Spectroscopy—A Case Study in the Le’an River Floodplain, China

Heavy metal accumulation can influence the physical, chemical, and ecological processes in the soil ecosystem, and the accumulation of heavy metals has become a serious environmental issue in China, especially in the floodplains downstream from mining and smelting sites. A novel method of estimating the heavy metal contamination of soil is proposed using visible and near-infrared (VNIR) spectroscopy and partial least squares regression (PLSR). Our study focuses on the Le’an river floodplain, Jiangxi Province, China, which houses the largest copper mining operation in China and has suffered a series of environmental setbacks from the extraction of copper. Our study employs PLSR to summarize the relationship between VNIR reflectance spectra and the copper content of collected soil samples, and then estimates copper contamination of the soil using VNIR spectroscopy and the calibrated model. More specifically, with 71 soil samples collected from the Le’an River floodplain, our study aims at (1) exploring the correlation between VNIR and soil constituents, including soil organic matter, total copper, and iron content; (2) assessing the relationship between VNIR determination of copper and the pre-processing of soil samples; and (3) evaluating the performance of data transformation methods in PLSR. The correlation analysis revealed that the mechanism of estimating Cu content lay in its correlation with Fe content. The PLSR model with logarithmic scale transformed copper content and the standard normal variate spectra was chosen for estimating copper contamination from untreated soil samples; the model with logarithmic scale transformed copper content and reflectance spectra was selected for pretreated soil samples. The correlation analyses and regression results in the PLSR models both suggest that the main mechanism for estimating Cu content in this case study lies in its correlation with Fe content. Therefore, the coupling of VNIR spectroscopy and PLSR could serve as an alternative method of monitoring heavy metal contamination of soil.

Physicochemical laws of the atmospheric sulfuric acid leaching of the copper—nickel concentrates from the beneficiation of disseminated ores

A physicochemical substantiation is performed for the organization of a combined flotation hydrometallurgical technology for the processing of the copper—nickel concentrates from the beneficiation of disseminated ores. This technology is used instead of the traditional pyrometallurgical technology providing the production of a sulfide concentrate with a total nickel, copper, and cobalt content of 14.64% for the through extraction of (wt %) 92.2 Ni, 74.0 Cu, 95.3 Co, 91.9 Pt, 95.9 Pd, and 96 Rh to the concentrate.

Sub-Lethal Effects of Copper to Benthic Invertebrates Explained by Sediment Properties and Dietary Exposure

The next generation of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) requires better established causal links between the chronic exposure and effects of metals from both dissolved and dietary sources. The potential for dietary exposure from sediment metals to cause toxic effects to benthic invertebrates is strongly influenced by the metal-binding properties of the sediments. For relatively oxidized sediments, sublethal effects of copper to the epibenthic deposit-feeding amphipod, Melita plumulosa, and the benthic harpacticoid copepod, Nitocra spinipes, were investigated. Effects on reproduction were strongly influenced by the properties of the sediments and sediment-bound copper was found to be the major contribution to the toxicity. For sediments with the same total copper concentrations, effects were less for sediments with greater concentrations of fine particles (<63 μm sediment) or particulate organic carbon (OC). The OC-normalized copper concentration in the <63 μm sediment fraction provided a single effects threshold for all sediment types. For M. plumulosa and N. spinipes, the 10% effect concentrations (EC10s) were 5.2 and 4.8 mg <63 μm Cu g(-1) OC. These chronic EC10s indicate that a SQG of 3.5 mg <63 μm Cu g(-1) OC, that was previously proposed based on a species sensitivity distribution of acute no effects thresholds data for 12 benthic organisms, will be protective for these species. The study confirms the appropriateness of using SQGs that vary with sediment properties and that SQGs of this form provide adequate protection for metal exposure via both dissolved and dietary exposure pathways.

Arsenic and heavy metal pollution in wetland soils from tidal freshwater and salt marshes before and after the flow-sediment regulation regime in the Yellow River Delta, China

Summary Soil samples were collected in tidal freshwater and salt marshes in the Yellow River Delta (YRD), northern China, before and after the flow-sediment regulation. Total concentrations of arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometry to investigate the characteristics of heavy metal pollution in tidal wetlands before and after the regulation regime. The results demonstrated that marsh soils in both marshes had higher silt and total P contents, higher bulk density and lower sand contents after the flow-sediment regulation; moreover, soil salinity was significantly decreased in the tidal salt marsh. As and Cd concentrations were significantly higher in both marsh soils after the regulation than before, and there were no significant differences in the concentrations of Cu, Pb and Zn measured before and after the regulation. No significant differences in heavy metal concentrations were observed between freshwater and salt marsh soils, either before or after the regulation. Before the regulation regime, soil organic matter, pH and sulfer (S) were the main factors influencing heavy metal distribution in tidal freshwater marshes, whereas for tidal salt marshes, the main factors are soil salinity and moisture, pH and S. However, bulk density and total P became the main influencing factors after the regulation. The sediment quality guidelines and geoaccumulation indices showed moderately or strongly polluted levels of As and Cd and unpolluted or moderately polluted levels of Cu, Pb and Zn; As and Cd pollution became more serious after the regulation. Factor analysis indicated thatthese heavy metals including As were closely correlated and orginated from common pollution sources before the flow-sediment regulation; however, the sources of As and Cd separated from the sources of Cu, Pb and Zn after the regulation regime, implying that the flow-sediment regulation regime contributed to As and Cd accumulation in the YRD.

Teores totais de metais pesados no solo após aplicação de dejeto líquido de suínos

A utilização de lavoura e pastagens tem sido uma importante senão a principal alternativa de descarte do dejeto líquido de suínos. Porém, seu uso, muitas vezes, tem sido feito em quantidades superiores às exigências das culturas e com aplicações sequenciais que podem potencializar o efeito poluidor desse resíduo, já que o solo tem uma capacidade limitada de suporte. O presente estudo teve por objetivo determinar os teores totais de zinco (Zn), cobre (Cu), cromo (Cr), níquel (Ni), manganês (Mn) e cádmio (Cd) em áreas que são usadas como local de descarte de dejeto líquido de suínos. Para isso, foram coletadas amostras de solo em 13 propriedades rurais da região Oeste de Santa Catarina, usadas anualmente como local de descarte, e que possuíam um histórico de aplicação desse resíduo de 4 a 22 anos. Além disso, foi também realizada amostragem de solo em um experimento no município de Paraíso do Sul, RS, sob pastagem natural, que, durante um período de cinco anos, recebeu 28 aplicações de dejeto líquido de suínos. Zinco e cobre são os elementos que mais devem merecer a atenção com relação a um possível acúmulo no solo, em áreas com aplicação de dejeto líquido de suínos.

Content of bioactive compounds in semi-dry red wine

The aim of the present work was to compare the content of bioactive compounds (polyphenols and minerals) in semi-dry wines. The material for the study consisted of 6 types of semi-dry red wine originating from Bulgaria (Sofino Melnik), Hungary (Loci), France (Bongeronde) and Spain (Don Kichot). The wines were subjected to organoleptic scoring assessment, followed by analyses of crude ash, anthocyanins, the total content of phenol compounds, zinc, manganese, copper, iron and magnesium. Additionally, the browning index was determined. All the samples attained positive organoleptic assessment. The highest score for the color was given to the wines from France and Spain. The total acidity in the analyzed red wines ranged between 4.97 g dm –3 (Spanish wine) and 5.56 g dm –3 (Bulgarian wine), which fulfills the quality requirements for grape wine. Grape wine contains from 1.0 to 4.0 g dm–3 of polyphenols. The analyzed wine samples contained a slightly lower concentration of phenolic compounds: 1.28 g dm –3 on average. The average content of p-coumaric acid in the examined samples was 1.85 mmol dm –3 . The concentration of anthocyanins, compounds responsible for the color of wine, was significantly lower in Bulgarian and Hungarian wine samples (26.05±0.25 mg dm–3 and 23.60±0.80 mg dm–3 respectively), in comparison with French (59.90±0.20 mg dm–3) and Spanish wine particularly (75.90±2.40 mg dm –3 ). All the analyzed wine samples, independently of their place of manufacture, achieved high organoleptic assessment, especially for clarity and color. The highest rated wines from France were characterized a high level of bioactive compounds: total polyphenols and anthocyanins. They also had a high content of crude ash and minerals such as Mg, Mn, Zn. Relatively high concentrations of polyphenols, anthocyanins and crude ash were also determined in Spanish wines.

Tolerance and accumulation of copper in the salt-marsh shrub Halimione portulacoides

The present study evaluated the tolerance and accumulation potential in the salt-marsh shrub Halimione portulacoides under moderate and high external Cu levels. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of a range of external Cu concentrations (0 to 60mmoll−1) on growth and photosynthetic performance by measuring gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigments. We also determined total copper, nitrogen, phosphorus and sulfur concentrations in the plant tissues. H. portulacoides survived with external Cu concentrations of up to 35mmolCul−1, although the excess of metal resulted in a biomass reduction of 48%. The effects of Cu on growth were linked to a drastic reduction in net photosynthesis. However, H. portulacoides tolerated Cu levels of up to 15mmolCul−1 without suffering adverse physiological effects. Our results indicate that this species could play an important role in the restoration of Cu-contaminated soils.

Elemental composition of agricultural soils in Japan in relation to soil type, land use and region

To evaluate representative elemental composition of agricultural soils in Japan and to investigate the relationship between elemental composition of agricultural soils and their soil type, land use and region in Japan, 180 soil samples were collected from the surface layer of paddy or upland fields in Japan and their total contents of 20 elements were determined. Total concentrations of aluminum (Al), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), titanium (Ti), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), barium (Ba), vanadium (V), strontium (Sr), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and nickel (Ni) were determined by ICP-AES and those of potassium (K) and sodium (Na) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry after wet digestion of the finely ground samples with nitric acid (HNO3), hydrofluoric acid (HF) and perchloric acid (HClO4). Total concentration of selenium (Se) was determined by HPLC after treatment of the wet digested solution (HNO3 and HClO4) of the samples with 2,3-diaminonaphthalene and extraction with cyclohexane. Total concentrations of carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) were determined by the dry combustion method, and those of silicon (Si) and oxygen (O) were determined by calculation. The medians of the total concentrations of the 10 major elements were 504 g O kg−1, 291 g Si kg−1, 76.6 g Al kg−1, 36.8 g Fe kg−1, 24.8 g C kg−1, 15.0 g K kg−1, 14.3 g Na kg−1, 11.9 g Ca kg−1, 8.78 g Mg kg−1 and 3.82 g Ti kg−1, which accounted for 98.7% of the total. The medians of the others were 2.15 g N kg−1, 1.43 g P kg−1, 705 mg Mn kg−1, 394 mg Ba kg−1, 140 mg V kg−1, 125 mg Sr kg−1, 90.5 mg Zn kg−1, 24.5 mg Cu kg−1, 14.3 mg Ni kg−1 and 0.42 mg Se kg−1. In terms of soil type, volcanic soils had relatively high Al, Fe, C, N and P contents and alluvial soils had relatively high Si, K and Ba contents, whereas red yellow soils had extremely low Ca, Mg and Na contents. In terms of land use, upland soils had significantly higher Al, Fe, C, Ca, Mg, Ti, N, P, Mn, V and Se contents and lower Si, K and Ba contents than paddy soils. Cluster analysis of elemental composition of agricultural soils grouped regions in Japan into three groups: (1) Okinawa region, (2) Hokkaido, Tohoku, Kanto, Chugoku and Kyushu regions, and 3) Hokuriku-Chubu, Kinki and Shikoku regions, reflecting their soil types. In conclusion, these data can be used as basic information on which development of sustainable agriculture and promotion of environmental conservation is to be established.

Distribution of Heavy Metals, Chemical Fractions and Ecological Risks around a Molybdenum Mine in Liaoning Province, China

The total contents of lead, arsenic, mercury, chromium, cadmium, zinc, copper, molybdenum and nickel were determined in soils collected from mining and agricultural areas around the molybdenum mine in Liaoning Province, China. The distribution, chemical fractions and ecological risks of heavy metals in soils were investigated and assessed. It was found that: the degrees of warning for all soils, both mining industry areas and agricultural areas, were serious warning. The results meant that all soils were contaminated seriously by heavy metals. The observed scheme of chemical fractions for heavy metals in soils of different sites was as follows commonly: residual>oxidable> reducible>acid soluble. The sources of heavy metals in top soils around the mine were as follows: dust fall, residue in the open air, higher background in soil-forming process, accompaniment element, automobile exhaust, wear of tires and brakes, release of heavy metals from ore tailing, the application of pesticides and irrigation with wastewater.

Chemical Characterization of Tomato Industry Wastewater, Florida, United States

Tomato packers often struggle to find ways to reuse the large volumes of wastewater generated during the tomato cleaning and sanitizing processes due to high transportation costs for off-site disposal and strict surface water discharge regulations in Florida. Information about the composition of tomato packinghouse wastewater and the likely sources of major wastewater constituents might provide insights to develop environmentally sustainable practices for wastewater reuse. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical composition of wastewater generated in tomato packinghouses. The wastewater samples were collected for 6 to 8 hours from dump tanks of two representative packinghouses at 30 minute intervals after start-up of packing operations during May-June 2009. Results showed that wastewater had high electrical conductivity (1.3 - 2.8 dS·m–1) and chloride (255 - 1125 mg·L–1) due to the use of chlorine as a sanitizer in the packinghouses. Concentrations of total phosphorus (P, 2.8 - 5.7 mg·L–1) and copper (Cu, 1.9 - 2.2 mg·L–1) in wastewater were elevated due to tomato cleaning and sanitizing. To reduce P and Cu concentrations, treatment or blending of wastewater may be needed before discharging wastewater to surface waters. Concentrations of P, potassium, calcium, magnesium, zinc, iron, and manganese were much higher in packinghouse 1 as compared to packinghouse 2 wastewater, probably due to the greater contact time of tomatoes with the dump tank water. Whereas concentrations of Cu were similar in both packinghouses wastewater. Greater concentrations of chemical constituents in the wastewater suggest that residues of pesticides, insecticides, and/or foliar-applied micronutrients on tomatoes may be the likely external sources of most constituents (especially P, Cu, and Zn) in wastewater.

Formation of PCDD/Fs in the Cooling Down Process of Incineration Flue Gas

Total concentrations (11.8–29.3 ng I-TEQ/g approximately) of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) in the fly ash discharged from a laboratory waste incineration process (375 kg/h) have frequently been found to exceed the limit set by Taiwan’s EPA (1.0 ng I-TEQ/g).PCDD/Fs can generally be decomposed in incineration chambers at the temperature range of 1173–1273 K. The main objective of this work was thus to determine how the PCDD/Fs in fly ash are formed when the incineration flue gas is cooling down. The results show that concentrations of total (290 mg/kg) and leachable (9.4 mg/L) copper in the deposited ashes on the internal walls of the cooling towers are greater than those of other toxic elements. To better understand how the relatively high PCDD/Fs concentrations in the cooling towers and bag filter ashes are associated with copper species during the cooling process of the flue gas, the chemical structure of these were studied by synchrotron X-ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) spectroscopy. Notably, it seems that a high fraction of CuO in the cooling tower ashes may lead to relatively high PCDD/F concentrations in the fly ashes. In contrast, copper in the form of CuSO4 may depress the formation of PCDD/Fs. The correlation of molecule-scale data for copper species with the PCDD/F concentrations of ashes in the commercial-scale waste incineration process can provide useful information for the reduction of PCDD/F.

Zinc tolerance and accumulation in the salt-marsh shrub Halimione portulacoides

The halophytic shrub Halimione portulacoides is known to be capable of growth in soils containing extremely high concentrations of Zn. This study evaluated in detail the tolerance and accumulation potential of H. portulacoides under moderate and high external Zn levels. A greenhouse experiment was conducted in order to investigate the effects of a range of Zn concentrations (0–130mmolL−1) on growth and photosynthetic performance by measuring relative growth rate, total leaf area, specific leaf area, gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters and photosynthetic pigment concentrations. We also determined the total zinc, nitrogen, phosphorus, calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, iron and copper concentrations in the plant tissues. H. portulacoides demonstrated hypertolerance to Zn stress, since it survived with leaf concentrations of up to 2300mgZnkg−1dry mass, when treated with 130mmolZnL−1. Zinc concentrations greater than 70mmolL−1 in the nutrient solution negatively affected plant growth, in all probability due to the recorded decline in net photosynthesis rate. Our results indicate that the Zn-induced decline in the photosynthetic function of H. portulacoides may be attributed to the adverse effect of the high concentration of the metal on photosynthetic electron transport. Growth parameters were virtually unaffected by leaf tissue concentrations as high as 1500mgZnkg−1dry mass, demonstrating the strong capability of H. portulacoides to protect itself against toxic Zn concentrations. The results of our study indicate that this salt-marsh shrub may represent a valuable tool in the restoration of Zn-polluted areas.

Transition metal abnormalities in progressive dementias

Abnormal distributions of transition metals inside the brain are potential diagnostic markers for several central nervous system diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), bipolar disorders and depression. To further explore this possibility, the total concentrations of iron, zinc, copper, manganese, aluminum, chromium and cadmium were measured in post-mortem hippocampus and amygdala tissues taken from AD, DLB and Control patients. A statistically significant near fifty percent reduction in the total copper levels of AD patients was observed in both the hippocampus and amygdala. The statistical power of the hippocampus and amygdala copper analysis was found to be 86 and 74% respectively. No statistically significant deviations in the total metal concentrations were found for zinc, manganese, chromium or aluminum. Iron was found to be increased by 38% in AD amygdala tissues, but was unchanged in AD hippocampus tissues. Accounting for differences in tissue water content, as a function of both tissue type and disease state, revealed more consistencies with previous literature. To aid in the design of future experiments, the effect sizes for all tissue types and metals studied are also presented.

Temporal and Spatial Changes in Spruce Bark Acidity at the Scale of the Czech Republic in the Last Two Decades, and the Current Abundance of Epiphytic Lichen Hypogymnia physodes

Two large-scale national monitoring cam- paigns investigating changes in spruce bark extract acidity and long-term monitoring of bark acidity along elevation transects have been carried out in the Czech Republic. The investigations have revealed significant average changes in the pH values of bark extracts (4 g: 16 ml) from 2.35 to 2.60 between 1989 and 1995, and from 2.60 to 3.25 between 1995 and 2005. In comparison with 1990, the H + concentrations in bark extracts had decreased by 10-15% in 1995 and by 70% in 2005. National emissions of acidic com- pounds were reduced by about 58% (1995) and 62% (2005), and the mean annual H + deposition was reduced by about 60% (1995) and by about 80% (2005). However, neither inventoried current absolute amounts nor specific regional amounts of emitted acidic pollutants correlated significantly with bark acidity in 1995 and 2005. Bark acidity was not significantly affected by the elevation of the sampling plots or by the average tree defoliation. Along the altitudinal transects, considerably defoliated trees near the top of mountain ridgesshowedpermanentlylowerbarkaciditythantrees lower downthe mountainslopes. Significantdifferences in average bark acidity were found between defined mountain, highland and lowland elevation zones. In 2005, the epiphytic lichen Hypogymnia physodes was found at almost all sampling plots, with the exception of the most industrialised areas of two coal basins. The abundance of the lichen correlated significantly and negatively with spruce bark acidity and with total nitrogen and copper concentrations in moss growing at the bark sampling plots in 2005.

Ecological study on Uyun Layla in Saudi Arabia

Soil characters and vegetation types have been investigated in the desiccated Uyun Layla lakes from October, 2007 till May, 2010, except during the summer months. The vegetation in and between the 23 dolines was very poor. Twenty xerophytic species were recorded mainly Zygophyllum coccineum , Zygophyllum simplex , Salsola spp., Traganum nudatum , Haloxylon salicornicum , Zilla spinosa , Rhanterium epapposum and Gymnocarpos decandrum . The importance value (I.V.) of all the species has been calculated and their taxonomic position has been described. The soil was sandy, yellowish white and very poor in minerals. In spite of that, the total soluble salts, calcium and copper contents were considerably high. The results have been discussed and interpreted according to the environmental changes occured in this area. Key words: Al-Aflag, Uyun Layla, soil characters, vegetation.

Guidelines for copper in sediments with varying properties

A major weakness of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) is their poor ability to predict how toxicity thresholds change for different sediment types. Using species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) of copper effects data, new guidelines were derived for copper in non-sulfidic marine sediments in which organic carbon (OC) and particle size strongly influence copper bioavailability. The derived SQGs varied in a predictable manner with changes in sediment particle size and organic carbon (OC), and were shown to offer a significant improvement on the existing ‘single value’ SQG. Adequate protection for all benthic organisms is expected to be achieved for a OC-normalised copper concentration of 3.5 mg Cu g −1 OC in the <63 μm sediment fraction. For short-term exposures, the equivalent acute guideline is 11 mg < 63 μm Cu g −1 OC. The new SQGs incorporate a high degree of conservatism owing to the use of copper-spiked sediments and laboratory-based bioassays that were expected to result in greater metal exposure of organisms to bioavailable copper than would be expected for field-contaminated sediments with similar total copper concentrations. SQGs that vary with sediment properties were prepared in an easily referenced tabular format.

Scientific Opinion on safety and efficacy of di copper chloride tri hydroxide (tribasic copper chloride, TBCC) as feed additive for all species

The assessment carried out by the FEEDAP Panel is based on di copper chloride trihydroxide (tribasic copper chloride, TBCC) and TBCC formulated with starch to reduce dusting potential. Based on three studies in chickens for fattening and one in laying hens, the FEEDAP Panel concludes that TBCC is a safe source of copper for poultry with a margin of safety ≥ 10; the FEEDAP Panel extended this conclusion to the safety of TBCC for all animal species/categories up to the maximum total copper content authorised in feedingstuffs. The FEEDAP Panel does not expect substantial differences in the metabolic behaviour, particularly in the deposition of copper in edible tissues and products from copper sulphate and TBCC. Consequently the FEEDAP Panel considers that exposure of the consumer to copper from food of animal origin would not be essentially modified by the replacement of copper sulphate by TBCC in feed. In the absence of data, TBCC should be considered as a potential irritant to skin and eyes, and a potential skin sensitiser. The risk of respiratory exposure for the formulated TBCC/starch product is considered to be minimal. The FEEDAP Panel considers that the use of TBCC in feed does not represent additional risks to the environment, compared to other sources of copper which it will substitute, provided that the maximum authorised total copper content in feedingstuffs is not exceeded. Bioequivalence between TBCC and copper sulphate with regards to copper liver deposition, plasma levels of ceruloplasmin and copper, egg weight and laying hen performance, and growth of piglets was demonstrated in 11 experiments. The FEEDAP Panel concludes that TBCC is an effective source of copper for all animal species.

Heavy metals contamination in water and sediments of an urban river in a developing country

Water and sediment samples were collected from 20 location of the Buriganga river of Bangladesh during Summer and Winter 2009 to determine the spatial distribution, seasonal and temporal variation of different heavy metal contents. Sequential extraction procedure was employed in sediment samples for the geochemical partitioning of the metals. Total trace metal content in water and sediment samples were analyzed and compared with different standard and reference values. Concentration of total chromium, lead, cadmium, zinc, copper, nickel, cobalt and arsenic in water samples were greatly exceeded the toxicity reference values in both season. Concentration of chromium, lead, copper and nickel in sediment samples were mostly higher than that of severe effect level values, at which the sediment is considered heavily polluted. On average 72 % chromium, 92 % lead, 88 % zinc, 73 % copper, 63 % nickel and 68 % of total cobalt were associated with the first three labile sequential extraction phases, which portion is readily bioavailable and might be associated with frequent negative biological effects. Enrichment factor values demonstrated that the lead, cadmium, zinc, chromium and copper in most of the sediment samples were enriched sever to very severely. The pollution load index value for the total area was as high as 21.1 in Summer and 24.6 in Winter season; while values above one indicates progressive deterioration of the sites and estuarine quality. The extent of heavy metals pollution in the Buriganga river system implies that the condition is much frightening and may severely affect the aquatic ecology of the river.

A Minimum Data Set of Water Quality Parameters to Assess and Compare Treatment Efficiency of Stormwater Facilities

Urban stormwater runoff is often of poor quality, impacting aquatic ecosystems and limiting the use of stormwater runoff for recreational purposes. Several stormwater treatment facilities (STFs) are in operation or at the pilot testing stage, but their efficiencies are neither well documented nor easily compared due to the complex contaminant profile of stormwater and the highly variable runoff hydrograph. On the basis of a review of available data sets on urban stormwater quality and environmental contaminant behavior, we suggest a few carefully selected contaminant parameters (the minimum data set) to be obligatory when assessing and comparing the efficiency of STFs. Consistent use of the minimum data set in all future monitoring schemes for STFs will ensure broad-spectrum testing at low costs and strengthen comparability among facilities. The proposed minimum data set includes: (i) fine fraction of suspended solids (<63 μm), (ii) total concentrations of zinc and copper, (iii) total concentrations of phenanthrene, fluoranthene, and benzo(b,k)fluoranthene, and (iv) total concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen. Indicator pathogens and other specific contaminants (i.e., chromium, pesticides, phenols) may be added if recreational or certain catchment-scale objectives are to be met. Issues that need further investigation have been identified during the iterative process of developing the minimum data set.