Barbara Gworek

Mercury in Marine and Oceanic Waters—a Review

Mercury contamination in water has been an issue to the environment and human health. In this article, mercury in marine and oceanic waters has been reviewed. In the aquatic environment, mercury occurs in many forms, which depend on the oxidation-reduction conditions. These forms have been briefly described in this article. Mercury concentrations in marine waters in the different parts of the world have been presented. In the relevant literature, two models describing the fate and behavior of mercury in saltwater reservoirs have been presented, a conceptual model which treats all the oceans as one ocean and the “ocean margin” model, providing that the ocean margins manifested themselves as the convergence of continents and oceans, covering such geological features, such as estuaries, inland seas, and the continental shelf. These two conceptual models have been summarized in the text. The mercury content in benthic sediments usually reflects is level in the water reservoir, particularly in reservoirs situated in contaminated areas (mines, metallurgical plants, chemically protected crops). The concentrations of mercury and its compounds determined in the sediments in surface waters in the different parts of the world have been presented. Due to the fact that the pollution caused by mercury is a serious threat for the marine environment, the short paragraph about mercury bioaccumulation in aquatic organisms has been included. The cited data demonstrated a large scatter of mercury contents both between the fish species and the water areas. Mathematical models, valuable tools which provide information about the possible responses of ecosystems, developed to simulate mercury emissions, both at a small scale, for local water reservoirs, and at a global scale, as well as to model mercury bioaccumulation in the chain web of aquatic systems have been described.

Influence of a municipal waste landfill on the spatial distribution of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs) in the natural environment

The paper presents the influence of a municipal waste landfill on the pollution of soil, plants and groundwater by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDDs/Fs). Analysis of their migration in the environment was made in relation to the direction of groundwater flow in the study area. Determination of PCDDs/Fs was performed by isotope dilution high resolution chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (ID-HRGC/MS-MS) on a Thermo Scientific GCQ-1100/Trace2000 system equipped with an Xcalibur data acquisition and analysis software. The content in soil was in the range of 0.04-27.3pg I-TEQg(-1) of soil dry mass and decreased with depth. Similar values were obtained for plants: in Solidago virgaurea L. there were 0.13-1.9pg I-TEQg(-1) dry mass and in grass from the Family Poaceae - 0.12-3.18pg I-TEQg(-1) dry mass. The concentration in groundwater reached 1.16-6.6pg I-TEQdm(-3); the highest concentration was obtained in water samples collected from a ditch collecting leachates from the landfill. The study has shown that the analyzed object is not responsible for PCDDs/Fs emission to the environment. The increased concentration of these compounds in the topsoil may be influenced by processes linked with waste management (transportation and unloading) and other localized sources of low emission located beyond the landfill.

Influence of a municipal waste landfill on the spatial distribution of mercury in the environment

The study investigations were focused on assessing the influence of a 35-year-old municipal waste landfill on environmental mercury pollution. The total Hg content was determined in the soil profile, groundwater, and the plants (Solidago virgaurea and Poaceae sp.) in the landfill area. Environmental pollution near the landfill was relatively low. The topsoil layer, groundwater and the leaves of Solidago virgaurea and Poaceae sp. contained 19–271 μg kg-1, 0.36–3.01 μg l-1, 19–66 μg kg-1 and 8–29 μg kg-1 of Hg, respectively. The total Hg content in the soil decreased with the depth. The results are presented as pollution maps of the landfill area based on the total Hg content in the soil, groundwater and plants. Statistical analysis revealed the lack of correlation between the total Hg content in the soil and plants, but a relationship between the total concentration of Hg in groundwater and soil was shown. The landfill is not a direct source of pollution in the area. The type of land morphology did not influence the pollution level. Construction of bentonite cut-off wall bypassing MSW landfill reduces the risk of mercury release into ground-water environment.

Modified Wallschläger Sequential Extraction as a Tool for Evaluating the Mobility of Mercury

Abstract The presented studies were focused on evaluating the utility of one of sequential extraction methods for evaluating the bioavailability of mercury in soils polluted by this element. Soil samples collected from horizons 0-20 cm and 20-80 cm were subject to analysis of the basic physical and chemical properties of soils. Moreover, the total content of mercury was determined and sequential extraction of mercury was conducted using a modified five-stage Wallschläger method. The analyses show that the studied soils are characterized by a variable mercury content, the highest in the surface soil horizons. Sequential extraction of mercury in the analyzed soils has indicated that the highest percentage content in the total content had mercury linked with sulphides. A high content of mercury linked with organic matter was also noted. The content of bioavailable mercury did not exceed 1.5% of the total content. Streszczenie Celem podjętych badań była ocena przydatności wybranej metody ekstrakcji sekwencyjnej rtęci do oceny biodostępności rtęci w glebach zanieczyszczonych tym pierwiastkiem. Do badań pobrano próbki glebowe z warstw 0-20 cm i 20-80 cm. Przeprowadzono analizę podstawowych właściwości fi zycznych i chemicznych badanych gleb, oznaczono całkowitą zawartość rtęci oraz wykonano ekstrakcję sekwencyjną rtęci według zmodyfi kowanej pięcioetapowej metody Wallschlägera. Na podstawie dokonanych analiz stwierdzono, że badane gleby charakteryzowały się zróżnicowanymi zawartościami rtęci, przy czym największe jej zawartości stwierdzono w powierzchniowych warstwach gleby. Przeprowadzona ekstrakcja sekwencyjna rtęci w glebach wykazała, że największy procentowy udział w całkowitej zawartości rtęci stanowiła rtęć związana z siarczkami. Zaobserwowano także znaczący udział rtęci związanej z materią organiczną. Zawartość rtęci w formie biodostępnej nie przekraczała 1,5% zawartości ogólnej.

The Relation between Polyaromatic Hydrocarbon Concentration in Sewage Sludge and Its Uptake by Plants: Phragmites communis, Polygonum persicaria and Bidens tripartita

The aim of the study was to define the relationship between the concentration of PAHs in sewage sludge at a particular location and their amount in various plant materials growing on it. The credibility of the results is enhanced by the fact that sewage sludge from two separate sewage-treatment plants were selected for their influence on the content of PAHs in three plant species growing on them. The investigations were carried out for a period of three years. The results demonstrated unequivocally that the uptake of PAHs by a plant depended on polyaromatic hydrocarbon concentration in the sewage sludge. The correlation between accumulation coefficient of PAH in a plant and the content of the same PAH in the sewage sludge had for three-, four- and five-ring hydrocarbons an exponential character and for six-ring hydrocarbons was of a linear character. The accumulation coefficients calculated for three-ring aromatics were several times higher than for four-ring PAHs; further the coefficient values calculated for five-ring PAHs were several times lower than for four-ring hydrocarbons. Finally, the accumulation coefficient values of six-ring PAHs were the lowest in the series of studied polyaromatic hydrocarbons.

Content and mobility of strontium in forest soils according to north-south transect in Poland

Abstract The investigation was carried out on forest soils collected from areas subject to variable pollution. The fraction of strontium was analyzed in soil samples from north-eastern Poland (Borki forest division), treated as a non-polluted region (natural background) and in soil samples from central (Rogów forest division) and south-western Poland (Świerklaniec forest division). The sequential extraction procedure was applied in this study to separate the fractions of strontium. Five fractions were analyzed in every genetic horizon according to the Tessier method. The concentration of strontium was also analyzed in the plants. Both results were compared in order to evaluate the mobility and bioavailability of the trace elements in the environment. The content, distribution and bioavailability of the strontium fractions were investigated with particular emphasis on the contaminated study sites. Total content of strontium in surface horizons depended on the localization. Among analysed fractions strontium, in organic soil horizons, regardless of localization, occurred predominantly in mobile fractions in all examined soils. Streszczenie Obiektem badań były gleby i rośliny pochodzące z kompleksów leśnych zlokalizowanych na terenach o zróżnicowanej antropopresji. Dlatego też obiekty badań zlokalizowano na obszarach o wzrastającym gradiencie zanieczyszczeń począwszy od Polski północnej przez centralną do południowej (Górny Śląsk). Frakcje strontu oznaczano w próbkach gleb rdzawych i płowych. Frakcje strontu w glebach oznaczono metodą sekwencyjnej ekstrakcji według Tessier’a i in. Zawartość strontu oznaczono także w wybranych gatunkach roślin. Celem badań było zidentyfi kowanie form mobilnych strontu i określenie z jakimi składnikami gleby związany jest ten pierwiastek. Otrzymane wyniki wskazują na wyraźny wzrost całkowitej zawartości oraz form mobilnych strontu w poziomach powierzchniowych w zależności od lokalizacji. Ponadto stront w formach mobilnych dominował jedynie w poziomach organicznych badanych gleb.

Distribution and mobility of scandium and yttrium in selected types of soils in Poland

Abstract This study was conducted to investigate the chemical speciation of yttrium and scandium in selected types of soils and also determined the total content and profile distribution of those elements. The research was performed on soil samples from forest areas in Puszcza Borecka (Poland) known as a non-contaminated site. Soil samples were collected from natural brown, lessive and rusty soil profiles. The sequential extraction procedure was applied to separate fractions of scandium and yttrium according to the Tessier method. The range of total content of scandium and yttrium was respectively: 0.63-6.48 mg kg-1 and 2.25 to 27.93 mg kg-1. Scandium and yttrium occurred predominantly in residual fraction (F5) in each genetic horizon. Also both elements occurred mainly in fraction bound to organic matter (F4). The mean percentage content of scandium measured in mobile fractions (∑F1-F2) reached about 3% (in Bbr, Bt horizons) to 14% (in Bv horizons) in relation to the total content of the element in the analysed soils. The percentage content of yttrium measured in mobile fractions reached about 4% (in A, Bv horizons) to 28% in Bt horizons in relation to the total content of the element in forest soils of Puszcza Borecka.

Ecological risk assessment for land contaminated by petrochemical industry

Contamination with harmful chemical substances, including organic compounds of the BTEX and PAH groups, constitutes one of the major threats to the functioning of soil habitat. Excessive contents of the above substances can exert adverse effects on soil organisms, reduce biodiversity, and thus deteriorate soil quality. The threat to soil ecosystems within areas particularly exposed to contamination with accumulating chemical compounds was assessed using the Ecological Risk Assessment (ERA) with a multi-stage Triad (triage rapid initial assessment) procedure (taking into account the different lines of evidence). The article presents the results of chemical and ecotoxicological study of soils sampled at sites affected by contamination from petrochemical industry. The study results provided foundations for developing the site specific ERA framework for the area examined.

Evaluation of the impact of reducing national emissions of SO2 and metals in Poland on background pollution using a bioindication method

Changes in environmental pollution by S, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in 2006–2014 were evaluated using a bioindication method. This method was based on measurements of pollutants in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) needles. The measurements were performed in the Chojnowskie Forests, a region recognized as a background area for central Poland. The changes in the contents of sulfur (S) and metals in needles were not comparable with the changes in the global emissions of the pollutants in Poland. On average, the pollution level in the study area decreased by 9.9% for S, 61.4% for Pb, 22.5% for Cd, 11.7% for Zn and 10.4% for Cu. During the same period, global emissions in Poland decreased by 38.1% for S, 8.0% for Pb, 63.2% for Cd, 11.7% for Zn and 14.0% for Cu. Therefore, the differences in the changes in emissions and the needle contents of each element should be examined separately which was not a goal of this study. However, the discrepancy between these results did not prevent the use of bioindication methods. Evaluation of pollutant contents in plants reflected their incorporation in biological processes rather than air or soil pollution levels.

Distribution and Mobility of Vanadium in Profiles of Forest Soils of Various Texture

Profilowe Rozmieszczenie Oraz Mobilność Wanadu w Glebach Leśnych o Zróżnicowanym Uziarnieniu Distribution and Mobility of Vanadium in Profiles of Forest Soils of Various Texture The aim of research was to measure the profile distribution of vanadium in forest soils with various texture. The research was performed on soil samples in forest Luvisols from Rogów forest (central Poland). The content of five different forms of vanadium was determined using the Tessier method (1979). The sequential extraction procedure was applied in this study to separate mobile fractions of vanadium. The range of total content of vanadium, calculated as sum of determined fraction (F1-F5) was: 5.05-58.40 mg·kg-1. Vanadium occurred predominantly in fractions bounded to Fe or Mn oxides (SE-F1) and residual fractions (F5). Percentage content of vanadium measured in mobile fractions reached about 4%, in relation to the total content of the element. The impact of the soil type on the distribution of fractions and total content of the elements in Luvisols was observed.