Trace Element Concentration Patterns Research Articles

Trace element bioaccumulation in the hepatic tissue of juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) stranded along the Campos and Espírito Santo basins, southeastern Brazil

This study analyzed the concentrations of 15 (Al, As, Ba, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, V, Zn) toxicologically important trace elements in the livers of 110 green turtles stranded in two areas of the Brazilian coast. These areas are essential for the refuge, feeding, and reproduction of the species, and the information obtained is intended to support the development of conservation strategies. Higher concentrations were observed in the Região dos Lagos, RJ in almost all elements, except for Al, Mo, Pb, and V. This location showed statistically higher differences in the concentrations of Cd (4.66 ± 2.33 μg.g−1), Fe (846.62 ± 583.06 μg.g−1), and Zn (27.17 ± 10.90 μg.g−1). The differences in trace element concentration patterns between the two study areas are likely influenced by multiple factors, including the bioavailability of trace elements, oceanic upwelling events, anthropogenic activities, habitat characteristics, and organism-specific metabolic processes.

White Mica Geochemistry: Discriminating Between Barren and Mineralized Porphyry Systems

AbstractThe Grasshopper prospect, located 23 km west-southwest from Dillon, Montana, presents exposed zones of phyllic alteration assemblages comprising the early and late phyllic styles. The mineral chemistry of white micas from both phyllic alteration zones was evaluated by short-wave infrared spectroscopy, electron microprobe analysis, and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS). The early phyllic expression consists of white to green micas characterized by longer Al-OH absorption wavelengths (2,204–2,210 nm), whereas the late phyllic phase contains white micas with shorter Al-OH absorption wavelengths (2,197–2,204 nm). Correlation with electron microprobe data found that the Tschermak substitution in the white micas is mainly controlled by Mg concentrations. Based on LA-ICP-MS data, higher Mn and Sr concentrations characterize white micas from the early phyllic alteration, whereas higher concentrations of B, Ba, Cr, Cs, Cu, Li, Rb, Sc, Sn, Ti, Tl, V, and W are present in white micas from the late phyllic style. Systematic zoning patterns of trace element concentrations in white micas from the early and late phyllic alteration styles were confirmed at Grasshopper. In general, increasing trends toward the center of the system were observed in V, Cu, Sc, Sn, W, and Zn, whereas increasing trends outward from the hydrothermal center were reported in Li and Cs. Comparison of the trace element concentrations of white micas from the early phyllic style from the barren system of Grasshopper and the mineralized system of Copper Cliff indicates significant differences in Zn, Cr, B, Tl, Sn, and Cs. Therefore, we propose a preliminary discrimination (Zn + Cr + B vs. Tl + Sn + Cs) plot that can be used to differentiate white micas from the early phyllic alteration among mineralized and weakly to unmineralized systems.

Crust-mantle interaction inferred from the petrology and Sr-Nd-Pb isotope geochemistry of Eocene arc lavas from the Kahrizak Mountains, north-central Iran

The Eocene volcanic rocks from the Kahrizak Mountains in north-central Iran are part of the Urumieh-Dokhtar magmatic arc, which runs parallel to the Main Zagros Thrust segment of the Neo-Tethys suture. These volcanic rocks, similar to those from eastern Pontides and northern Anatolia, Turkey, were mainly produced during the Eocene magmatic flare-up associated with the Arabia-Eurasia convergence. The rock suite includes basalt, trachyandesite/andesite and trachydacite/rhyolite lavas and pyroclastic deposits that evolved compositionally from calc-alkalic to shoshonitic. Their normalized trace element concentration patterns are moderately enriched in light rare earth element and depleted in high field-strength elements (HFSE; e.g., Nb, Ta, Ti). They have narrow ranges of initial Pb isotopic ratios and 143Nd/144Ndi, but highly variable 87Sr/86Sri. The new analyses indicate that the parental magmas of the volcanic rocks were derived from a mantle source that had been enriched by fluids released from a subducted oceanic slab. The fluids introduced significant amounts of large ion lithophile elements, but negligible HFSE to the source. The parental magmas underwent fractional crystallization and assimilation of upper crustal materials to produce the range of volcanic rocks. Integration of new analyses with regional data suggests that the Eocene volcanic rocks from north-central Iran, together with ~coeval volcanic rocks in eastern Pontides and northern Anatolia, were most probably derived from a lithospheric mantle source that had been previously metasomatized by fluids derived from a subducted slab before and during the Arabia-Eurasia collision.

Elemental Composition of Honeys from Greece-Possible Use as Environmental Indicators

The evaluation of trace element concentration patterns of honey samples was tested either to indicate the authenticity of the sampling location, or to indicate environmental contaminations. Greece was selected because of its heterogenous structure, having plains (<100 m above sea level), hills (100-500 m) and mountains, as well as big industrial cities (Athens, Patras), small towns and rural areas at rather close distances to one another, as well as occasionally proximity to the seaside. Contrary to plant leaves, honey samples might be indicative for an area of 7 km². 4 grams of honey were gently digested with nitric acid in open Erlenmeyer flasks on a hot plate, made up to 25 ml with water, and submitted to multi-element determinations by ICP-OES (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy), reading 25 elements, of which 16 could be finally used; others were below detection limits. In addition, Cd-Cr-Mo-Pb were determined by graphite furnace AAS (atomic absorption spectrometry). The botanical origin largely dominated the trace element concentration patterns based on sample weights. Honeydew honeys were higher in ash and most element contents, except boron. Because honeydew honeys were largely found in the mountains and rural areas, this counteracted effects of enviromental pollution. Ash-based concentratin data, however, might reflect dust immission within the area of the bees´ activity. Within ash-based concentration data, some environmental trends could be noticed. Na-B-Cr-Mo-V-Zn decreased with the distance to the sea, B-Li-Na-V increased with increasing population, and Cr-Li-Ni increased with increasing height above sea level, the latter reflecting abrasion of the Greek basic rocks. With respect to their mean occurrence in the earth crust, K-P-S, and particularly B get enriched in ash-based concentration data of honey samples. Possible environmental contaminations were defined as outliers within the ash-based sample dataset.

Benthic foraminiferal assemblages and trace element contents from the lagoons of Orbetello and Lesina

The Italian marginal areas of Orbetello and Lesina lagoons have been investigated in order to assess the response of benthic foraminifera to the trace element contents in the sediments. The investigated lagoons are deeply affected by high values of trace elements. The lagoon of Orbetello shows the highest values of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg, whereas the lagoon of Lesina exhibits the highest values of As. On the basis of the trace element contents, both lagoons can be considered from moderately to strongly polluted. Biotic and abiotic factors have been investigated with multivariate technique of statistical analysis. On the basis of the trace element content, the cluster analysis reveals the occurrence of three main clusters. These natural groupings are also confirmed by the principal component analysis. The comparison of trace element concentration patterns with the Foraminiferal Abnormality Index shows a possible influence of these pollutants on the benthic foraminiferal assemblages. Generally, the highest concentrations of trace elements in the investigated areas are remarkably mirrored by the highest percentages of deformed specimens.

Trace element and Nd-isotopic evidence for sediment sources in the mid-Proterozoic Vindhyan Basin, central India

Ancient sediments reflect the compositions of old eroded continental crustal material and preserve geochemical signatures of paleo-tectonic and volcanic events. Geochemical study of such sediments provides insight into tectonic events that shaped the face of the Earth. Nd isotopes are best suited for such studies because rare earth elements (REE), specifically Sm and Nd are not fractionated during post-depositional processes such as erosion, transportation and diagenesis of organic-poor sediments and hence reflect the source composition of these sediments. Sedimentation in the Proterozoic Vindhyan Basin of central India with a ∼4 km thick succession of unmetamorphosed and mostly undeformed sediments lasted over 1000 Ma from ∼1630 Ma up to the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary. These sediments provide an ideal opportunity to study the evolution of ancient continental crust as well as the tectonic evolution of Peninsular India. The occurrence of porcellanites in the lower part of the basin indicates active volcanism during deposition of the Vindhyan sediments. These tuffs show large ion lithophile element (LILE) enrichment as well as depletions in Nb and Ta in primitive mantle-normalized plots, characteristic of an arc volcanic source. In combined trace element ratio plots, these volcanic rocks indicate mixing between mantle-derived melts and the continental crust and overlap with the composition of global arcs. Their initial ɛ Nd at 1630 Ma, ranging from −5.7 to −0.9, is similar to those observed in ‘Andean-type’ continental margin arcs. Trace element concentration patterns as well as Nd isotopic compositions of the clastic and non-clastic sediments of the Vindhyan Basin, from one of the type-localities of the Vindhyan stratigraphy in the Son valley, are vastly different from those of the Bundelkhand granite, which is the basement for these sediments, indicating that these granitic rocks were not a major source of sediments for the Vindhyan Basin. Our Nd isotopic study clearly indicates that sedimentation in the Vindhyan Basin, which lasted over ∼1 Ga, was not continuous. The boundaries between the Semri and Kaimur Groups as well as the Rewa and Bhander Groups are characterized by abrupt changes in the Nd isotopic compositions indicating changes in provenance, with sediments in the Kaimur and Bhander Groups being derived from more juvenile sources compared to the Semri and Rewa Groups, respectively. This inference is also supported by changes in T DM and f Sm/Nd for the sediments across these boundaries. The strikingly different trace element patterns of the Rewa Group sediments compared to the underlying Kaimur sediments indicates that sediment sources also changed across the Kaimur–Rewa boundary. Multiple changes in provenance in the Vindhyan sediments indicate that this basin was tectonically active during the entire span of sedimentation. While there is some uncertainty in determining the exact sources of sediments for the Vindhyan Basin, we argue on the basis of our geochemical, in particular Nd-isotopic ratios data, and available paleocurrent data that majority of the sediments were derived from a now-extinct Andean-type arc source in the south that resulted from a southerly dipping subduction prior to the collision of the Bhandara and Bundelkhand cratons. According to this reconstruction, the Vindhyan Basin was initiated as a foreland Basin after the collision of these two cratons.

Statistical evaluation of ecosystem properties influencing the uptake of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn in seaweed ( Fucus vesiculosus) and common mussel ( Mytilus edulis)

In order to evaluate the influence of geographically varying marine ecosystem properties on the uptake of trace elements in bioindicators, samples were taken of seaweed ( Fucus vesiculosus) and common mussel ( Mytilus edulis) along the North Sea and Baltic Sea coast. Seasonal variations of the bioindicator status were minimized by sampling within 1 month. Ecosystem properties considered were the geographical position, the salinity and the concentrations of the macroelements Ca, Fe, K, Mg, Na, P and S in the bioindicators. Trace elements studied were As, Cd, Co, Cu, Hg, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn. Factor analysis of the concentration patterns in the bioindicators and of salinity as a function of location confirmed the influence of the geographically varying salinity on the biological uptake of macroelements and trace elements. This influence of salinity was higher in the case of seaweed than in the case of mussel. Comparison of the geographical courses of the macroelement and trace-element concentrations by cluster analysis revealed corresponding courses for As and Hg in both bioindicators. All other elements showed different courses in seaweed and mussel. Subsequent cluster analysis comparing locations with respect to the macroelement or trace-element concentration patterns in the bioindicators, indicated a clear separation of North and Baltic Sea locations. However, the trace-element concentration patterns provided a regionally less distinctive ecosystem arrangement than those of the macroelement ones. The results of the cluster analysis were verified by discriminant analysis forming groups of locations with respect to geographical position and salinity. Results of discriminant analysis demonstrated, both for seaweed and for mussel as bioindicators, that the location groups formed according to the macroelement concentration patterns corresponded well with the geographical regions in the order of salinity. On the other hand, location groups based on the trace-element concentration patterns again showed a modified less distinctive ecosystem arrangement than the location groups based on macroelement concentration patterns. This confirms modified conditions for the uptake of trace elements in seaweed or mussel in comparison to the uptake of macroelements.

Major and trace element concentrations in surface organic layers, mineral soil, and white oak xylem downwind from a coal-fired power plant

White oak (Quercusalba L.) xylem tissues, associated mineral soils (0 to 25 cm), and surface organic layers (O2 horizon) were sampled downwind from a 623 MW coal-fired power plant to determine whether major or trace element concentration patterns were affected by changes in emission stack heights during a 32-year operating period. Four sites with Hazleton (Typic Dystrochrept) soils located at 0.25, 1.2, 2.0, and 10.3 km downwind from the power plant were sampled. In surface O2 layers, Fe and Co concentrations varied inversely with distance from the power plant. Inductively coupled plasma–atomic emission spectroscopy was used to determine concentrations (ppm) of P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, B, Na, Sr, Ba, Cu, Al, Si, Cr, Ni, Co, Pb, and Cd in xylem tissues during four separate time periods: one preoperation and three periods concurrent with power plant operation. Only Sr concentrations showed a consistent pattern of greatest accumulation in the xylem during periods when emission stacks were lowest, and at sites closest to the power plant. Potentially toxic elements were not detected at elevated levels in xylem tissues; however, xylem Sr may be a sensitive bioindicator of historical fly-ash deposition.

The use of multi-element concentration datasets obtained by INAA in the identification of sources of environmental pollutants

Trace element concentration patterns can be used for the identification of objects or materials. Early applications were related to the elucidation of identity or origin of objects. Recently, a number of applications have been reported of the use of trace element concentration patterns to recognize and identify components of mixtures of materials, mainly of environmental interest. In the present paper two examples are discussed of application of Target Transformation Factor Analysis to trace element concentration patterns, to identify sources of heavy metal air pollution. The materials studied are air particulate matter and epiphytic lichens used as biological accumulator.

Characterisation of Shotgun Pellets and Gunshot Residues by Trace Element Concentration Patterns by Neutron Activation Analysis Using the Slowpoke Reactor

ABSTRACTThe new Canadian SLOWPOKE reactor has unique capabilities compared with conventional pool reactors, making multi-element trace analysis by neutron activation analysis (NAA) faster and simpler for applications such as forensic science.In this work, trace element concentration patterns obtained by NAA using the SLOWPOKE reactor have been evaluated for the characterisation of shotgun pellets, the analysis of hand samples for gunshot residues (GSR) and target to muzzle distance determinations. Little work has been reported on the characterisation of shotgun pellets, despite their frequent presence in criminal cases and the impossibility of identifying them due to the lack of rifling marks. Analysis by NAA can be performed within 3 minutes and the comparison of several samples done in 3 stages viz. qualitative examination of X-Y gamma ray spectra to eliminate obviously different samples, examination of antimony and arsenic concentrations of similar samples and finally a more conclusive characterisation...

The roles of trace elements in foetal and neonatal development.

Manganese, zinc and copper are essential for normal prenatal and neonatal development. Manganese deficiency causes skeletal abnormalities, congenital ataxia due to abnormal inner ear development, and abnormal brain function. Depression of mucopolysaccharide synthesis and manganese superoxide dismutase activity may be fundamental to ultrastructural and other defects. In copper deficiency, neurological and skeletal abnormalities are due to impairment of phospholipid synthesis and collagen crosslinking, and possibly to low activity of copper metalloenzymes. The fundamental defect leading to the extremely teratogenic effects of zinc deficiency is related to depressed synthesis of DNA. In the neonatal period, poor survival and growth and depressed function of the immune system are salient features. Developmental patterns of trace element concentrations in various tissues suggest that important changes in metabolic regulation of trace elements may occur during the neonatal period. This hypothesis is being investigated by studies of molecular localization of trace elements in certain neonatal tissues, in conjunction with similar observations in milk.

Hotspots, Basalts, and the Evolution of the Mantle

The trace element concentration patterns of continental and ocean island basalts and of mid-ocean ridge basalts are complementary. The relative sizes of the source regions for these fundamentally different basalt types can be estimated from the trace element enrichment-depletion patterns. Their combined volume occupies most of the mantle above the 670 kilometer discontinuity. The source regions separated as a result of early mantle differentiation and crystal fractionation from the resulting melt. The mid-ocean ridge basalts source evolved from an eclogite cumulate that lost its late-stage enriched fluids at various times to the shallower mantle and continental crust. The mid-ocean ridge basalts source is rich in garnet and clinopyroxene, whereas the continental and ocean island basalt source is a garnet peridotite that has experienced secondary enrichment. These relationships are consistent with the evolution of a terrestrial magma ocean.

Hotspots, basalts, and the evolution of the mantle : Anderson, D.L., 1981. Science, 213(4503):82–89

The trace element concentration patterns of continental and ocean island basalts and of mid-ocean ridge basalts are complementary. The relative sizes of the source regions for these fundamentally different basalt types can be estimated from the trace element enrichment-depletion patterns. Their combined volume occupies most of the mantle above the 670 kilometer discontinuity. The source regions separated as a result of early mantle differentiation and crystal fractionation from the resulting melt. The mid-ocean ridge basalts source evolved from an eclogite cumulate that lost its late-stage enriched fluids at various times to the shallower mantle and continental crust. The mid-ocean ridge basalts source is rich in garnet and clinopyroxene, whereas the continental and ocean island basalt source is a garnet peridotite that has experienced secondary enrichment. These relationships are consistent with the evolution of a terrestrial magma ocean.

Particle-induced x-ray emission (PIXE) analysis of biological materials: Precision, accuracy and application to cancer tissues

An autopsy kidney, a human serum sample and NBS bovine liver were analyzed by both PIXE and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Several target preparation procedures were investigated. The reproducibility of the PIXE analysis, as determined by analyzing up to 20 targets from the same material, was of the order of 10% or better. For most elements a good agreement was obtained between PIXE and INAA, indicating that PIXE can yield data which are accurate to within 10%. The PIXE technique was also applied to cancerous and normal tissue sections of the same organ of patients, showing renal cell and other types of carcinoma. Substantial differences were often observed between the trace element concentration patterns of the cancerous and normal sections.

Activation analysis: A basis for chemical similarity and classification

It is shown that activation analysis is especially suited to serve as a basis for determining the chemical similarity between samples defined by their trace element concentration patterns. The general problem of classification and identification is discussed. The nature of possible classification structures and their approriate clustering strategies is considered. A practical computer method is suggested and its application as well as the graphical representation of classification results are given. The possibility for classification using information theory is mentioned. Classification of chemical elements is discussed and practically realized after Hadamard transformation of the concerntration variation patterns in a series of samples.

Deep-sea deposition of barium, cobalt and silver

The accumulation rates of barium, cobalt and silver have been determined in a Mid-Atlantic Ridge core from the South Atlantic (Lamont core V16–36) in which clay accumulation rate is about 0·1 g/cm 2/1000 yr and the concentrations of cobalt and barium were previously shown to be the highest in the Atlantic (on a carbonate-free basis). Comparison of accumulation rates with supply rates of these elements by streams as dissolved, desorbable and detrital loads indicate that continental supply is adequate to account for the observed accumulation rates in V16–36 and by deduction for the Atlantic as a whole. Trace element concentration patterns in the Atlantic Ocean are thus explainable on the basis of continental supply alone while not ruling out minor contributions from other sources.