A critical examination of the possible application of zinc stable isotope ratios in bivalve mollusks and suspended particulate matter to trace zinc pollution in a tropical estuary

Abstract

The application of zinc (Zn) isotopes in bivalve tissues to identify zinc sources in estuaries was critically assessed. We determined the zinc isotope composition of mollusks (Crassostrea brasiliana and Perna perna) and suspended particulate matter (SPM) in a tropical estuary (Sepetiba Bay, Brazil) historically impacted by metallurgical activities. The zinc isotope systematics of the SPM was in line with mixing of zinc derived from fluvial material and from metallurgical activities. In contrast, source mixing alone cannot account for the isotope ratios observed in the bivalves, which are significantly lighter in the contaminated metallurgical zone (δZn = +0.49 ± 0.06‰, 2σ, n = 3) compared to sampling locations outside (δZn = +0.83 ± 0.10‰, 2σ, n = 22). This observation suggests that additional factors such as speciation, bioavailability and bioaccumulation pathways (via solution or particulate matter) influence the zinc isotope composition of bivalves.

Evaluation of the phenyl-bonded silica-based sorbent for pre-concentration of the booster antifouling biocides Zinc Pyrithione, Zineb and Ziram using solid-phase extraction technique and Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry

“…4. The stock solution dissolutions of the booster antifouling biocides resulted a pH value of 6.5 in the ultrapure water fortified sample which is close to that found in tropical estuarine environment water 38,39 .…”

Assessment of the metal contamination evolution in the Loire estuary using Cu and Zn stable isotopes and geochemical data in sediments

“…Trace metals are released by anthropogenic activities (e.g. agriculture, industry, mining, metallurgy, energy production and transport) and dispersed among the different natural compartments such as the soil (Babcsányi et al, 2016;Bigalke et al, 2010;Fekiacova et al, 2015a;Juillot et al, 2011), the water (Araújo et al, 2017a;Borrok et al, 2008;Chen et al, 2008;Skierszkan et al, 2016;Thapalia et al, 2015) and the atmosphere (Dong et al, 2017;Gonzalez et al, 2016;Novak et al, 2016;Souto-Oliveira et al, 2018). To develop correct environmental management strategies, either for remediation actions appropriately targeted as well as to maintain emissions at sustainable levels, it is imperative to identify their sources, to understand their transport and fates in the environment and to examine at what extent the anthropogenic activities affect their biogeochemical cycling.…”

Sediment quality in a metal-contaminated tropical bay assessed with a multiple lines of evidence approach

“…Cd and Zn total concentrations in sediments can reach values as high as 200 and 40,000 mg g À1 , respectively, in a contamination hotspot near to the major source of metals in this coastal system (Barcellos and Lacerda, 1994), representing one of the worst cases yet described of metal pollution in coastal areas. Though chemical contamination of sediments (as reviewed by Molisani et al (2004)), suspended particulate matter (Lacerda et al, 1987;Araújo et al, 2017a) and benthic organisms (e.g., Lacerda and Molisani, 2006;Araújo et al, 2017b) have previously been studied for this bay, there is a lack of information on multiple LOEs for this impacted system.…”