Trends In Trace Element Concentrations Research Articles

Implications of Water Quality Index and Multivariate Statistics for Improved Environmental Regulation in the Irtysh River Basin (Kazakhstan)

The selection of sites for permanent environmental monitoring of natural water bodies should rely on corresponding source apportionment studies. Tools like the water quality index (WQI) assessment may support this objective. This study aims to analyze a decade-long dataset of measurements of 26 chemical components at 26 observation points within the Irtysh River Basin, aiming to identify priority zones for stricter environmental regulations. It was achieved through the WQI tool integrated with geoinformation systems (GISs) and multivariate statistical techniques. The findings highlighted that both upstream sections of tributaries (Oba and Bukhtarma rivers) and the mainstream of the basin are generally in good condition, with slight fluctuations observed during flooding periods. Areas in the basin experiencing significant impacts from mining and domestic wastewater treatment activities were identified. The rivers Glubochanka (GL) and Krasnoyarka (KR) consistently experienced marginal water quality throughout the observation period. Various contaminant sources were found to influence water quality. The impact of domestic wastewater treatment facilities was represented by twofold elevated concentrations of chemical oxygen demand, reaching 22.6 and 27.1 mg/L for the KR and GL rivers, respectively. Natural factors were indicated by consistent slight exceedings of recommended calcium levels at the KR and GL rivers. These exceedances were most pronounced during the cold seasons, with an average value equal to 96 mg/L. Mining operations introduced extremal concentrations of trace elements like copper, reaching 0.046–0.051 mg/L, which is higher than the threshold by 12–13 times; zinc, which peaked at 1.57–2.96 mg/L, exceeding the set limit by almost 50–100 times; and cadmium, peaking at levels surpassing 1000 times the safe limit, reaching 0.8 mg/L. The adverse impact of mining activities was evident in the Tikhaya, Ulba, and Breksa rivers, showing similar trends in trace element concentrations. Seasonal effects were also investigated. Ice cover formation during cold seasons led to oxygen depletion and the exclusion of pollutants into the stream when ice melted, worsening water quality. Conversely, flooding events led to contaminant dilution, partially improving the WQI during flood seasons. Principal component analysis and hierarchical cluster analysis indicated that local natural processes, mining activities, and domestic wastewater discharge were the predominant influences on water quality within the study area. These findings can serve as a basis for enhanced environmental regulation in light of updated ecological legislation in Kazakhstan, advocating for the establishment of a comprehensive monitoring network and the reinforcement of requirements governing contaminating activities.

Diel variation of arsenic, molybdenum and antimony in a stream draining natural As geochemical anomaly

The Mokrsko Stream in the central Czech Republic is an oxic and slightly alkaline stream that drains a natural As geochemical anomaly. Although long-term monitoring has characterized the general seasonal trends in trace element concentrations (i.e., As, Mo, Cu, Zn) in this stream, little is known about solubility controls and sorption processes that influence diel cycles in trace element concentrations. Trace elements (including As species, Cu, Mn, Mo, Pb and Sb) and other parameters were monitored over two 24-h periods in unfiltered and filtered (0.1μm) samples collected in August 2010 and June 2011. Copper and Pb were predominantly (>92% of the mass) associated with the particulate fraction (>0.1μm). Arsenic, Mo and Sb were predominantly (>88% of the mass) in the “dissolved” (<0.1μm) form. Particulate-associated elements displayed up to a factor of 13 differences between minimum and maximum concentrations, most likely due to increased streamflow related to rainfall events. Dissolved concentrations of the trace metal cations (Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb) were consistently low and displayed no diel trends. Dissolved As(V), Mo and Sb varied on a diel cycle, with increased concentrations (up to 36%) during the late afternoon and decreased concentrations during the nighttime. Diel trends in trace anionic elements are explained by temperature-dependent sorption, as the diel changes in pH during base flow were very small (0.07 std. units). Very low concentrations of As(III), which have been shown to vary in a diel cycle, were attributed to enhanced hydraulic exchange with As(III)-rich hyporheic water during rainfall events.

Temporal and geographic trends in trace element concentrations in moose from Yukon, Canada

The Yukon Contaminants Committee has conducted a hunter survey since 1994, annually requesting tissue samples from successful moose hunters in the Yukon. Moose kidney, liver and muscle tissue were analyzed for arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, molybdenum, selenium and zinc. Levels of most trace elements measured were not of concern toxicologically or in terms of deficiencies. Although hepatic selenium concentrations in Yukon moose were high compared to moose from other locations, and to domestic cattle, no indications of selenium toxicity have been observed. Renal and hepatic concentrations of cadmium in Yukon moose were also high when compared with moose from other locations. Results from this study suggest that 1) some moose in this area may be suffering from sublethal effects of Cd toxicity, 2) moose in this area may have evolved a high level of natural cadmium tolerance, 3) moose in this area may have developed a high level of cadmium tolerance over their lifetimes, or 4) moose, as a species, have a high level of Cd tolerance. Health Canada has recommended limiting consumption of Yukon moose kidneys and livers to one/year/person. Cadmium concentrations were positively correlated with age in moose kidneys, while arsenic, copper, molybdenum and selenium showed a negative correlation. Renal chromium and zinc showed an increasing trend from 1994–2001, while copper showed a decreasing trend, although in all three cases the r-values and the changes over time were low. None of the other elements tested exhibited a significant change over time. Analysis of moose renal element concentrations with stream sediment element concentrations was carried out on an ecoregion basis, a game management zone basis and a moose home range basis. Results suggest that, at least to some degree, renal element concentrations in moose are affected by the geology of their environment, particularly for cadmium, arsenic and lead. The results of these analyses are consistent with the hypothesis that the high levels of cadmium found in Yukon moose are coming from naturally occurring geological sources, likely via hyperaccumulating plants such as willows.

Trace element distributions in fractionated oceanic basalts

Oceanic tholeiites show a range of chemical composition, even from within the same dredge haul. Some concentration variations result from fractional crystallization and are initially governed by precipitation of either olivine or plagioclase. In those tholeiites characterized by olivine as the first mineral to crystallize, the early stages of fractional crystallization show decreasing concentrations of Cr and Ni. Those oceanic tholeiites characterized by plagioclase as the first mineral to crystallize do not show systematic trends in trace element concentrations in the early stages of fractionation. If the ratio FeO/MgO is used as an indicator of the degree of fractionation, then those oceanic tholeiites in which plagioclase crystallized first have higher concentrations of Sr and lower concentrations of Cr, Ga, Ni, Pb and V than samples with similar FeO/MgO ratios but in which olivine was the first mineral to crystallize.