Contamination by As, Hg, and Sb in a region with geogenic As anomaly and subsequent human health risk characterization

Güney, Mert; Karatas, Tuna; Özkul, Cafer; Akyol, Nihat Hakan; Acar, Recep

doi:10.1007/s10661-019-8024-9

Cited by 12 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…The climate of Central and North Kazakhstan regions is classified as an extreme continental climate with strong winds, sharp seasonal changes between cold winters (average temperature of −15 °C in January), and warm summers (average temperature of +20 °C in July) Hg adsorption also differs in soil types, and the highest sorption of low-mobility Hg is attributed to the finest size fraction, e.g., in clay, loams, and sands [13]. Hg sorption is also attributed to the elevated specific surface area and cation exchange capacity in clays [49]. Water-soluble and highly mobile Hg fraction is significantly correlated with total organic carbon content in the soil, assuming that total organic carbon binds the mobile forms of Hg [13].…”

Section: Effect Of Site-specific Conditions On Hg Mobilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Sites in Kazakhstan: Review of Current Cases and Site Remediation Responses

Güney

Akimzhanova

Kumisbek

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Mercury (Hg) emissions from anthropogenic sources pose a global problem. In Central Asia, Kazakhstan’s central and northern regions are among the most severely Hg-contaminated territories. This is due to two former acetaldehyde (in Temirtau) and chlor-alkali (in Pavlodar) plants, discharges from which during the second half of the 20th century were estimated over 2000 tons of elemental Hg. However, the exact quantities of Hg released through atmospheric emissions to the environment, controlled discharges to the nearby aquatic systems, leakages in the cell plant, and contaminated sludge are still unknown. The present review is the initiation of a comprehensive field investigation study on the current state of these contaminated sites. It aims to provide a critical review of published literature on Hg in soils, sediments, water, and biota of the impacted ecosystems (Nura and Irtysh rivers, and Lake Balkyldak and their surrounding areas). It furthermore compares these contamination episodes with selected similar international cases as well as reviews and recommends demercuration efforts. The findings indicate that the contamination around the acetaldehyde plant site was significant and mainly localized with the majority of Hg deposited in topsoils and riverbanks within 25 km from the discharge point. In the chlor-alkali plant site, Lake Balkyldak in North Kazakhstan is the most seriously contaminated receptor. The local population of both regions might still be exposed to Hg due to fish consumption illegally caught from local rivers and reservoirs. Since the present field data is limited mainly to investigations conducted before 2010 and given the persisting contamination and nature of Hg, a recent up-to-date environmental assessment for both sites is highly needed, particularly around formerly detected hotspots. Due to incomplete site remediation efforts, recommendations given by several researchers for the territories of the former chlor-alkali and acetaldehyde plant site include ex-situ soil washing, soil pulping with gravitational separation, ultrasound and transgenic algae for sediments, and electrokinetic recovery for the former and removal and/or confinement of contaminated silt deposits and soils for the latter. However, their efficiency first needs to be validated. Findings and lessons from these sites will be useful not only on the local scale but also are valuable resources for the assessment and management of similar contaminated sites around the globe.

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Section: Effect Of Site-specific Conditions On Hg Mobilitymentioning

confidence: 99%

Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Sites in Kazakhstan: Review of Current Cases and Site Remediation Responses

Güney

Akimzhanova

Kumisbek

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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“…Particularly, As concentrations were extremely high. As could also be abundant in a wide variety of soils due to geogenic sources [72], unlike most PTEs studied in the present review. However, the extremely high concentrations reported by Bausinger et al [23] and Thouin et al [70] were also well beyond the ranges in soils containing geogenic As.…”

Section: Soil Contamination By Potentially Toxic Elementsmentioning

confidence: 87%

Soil Contamination in Areas Impacted by Military Activities: A Critical Review

et al. 2020

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Military activities drastically affect soil properties mainly via physical/chemical disturbances during military training and warfare. The present paper aims to review (1) physical/chemical disturbances in soils following military activities, (2) approaches to characterization of contaminated military-impacted sites, and (3) advances in human health risk assessment for evaluating potential adverse impacts. A literature search mainly covering the period 2010–2020 but also including relevant selected papers published before 2010 was conducted. Selected studies (more than 160) were grouped as follows and then reviewed: ~40 on the presence of potentially toxic elements (PTEs), ~20 on energetic compounds (ECs) and chemical warfare agents (CWAs), ~40 on human health risk assessment, and generic limits/legislation, and ~60 supporting studies. Soil physical disturbances (e.g., compaction by military traffic) may drastically affect soil properties (e.g., hydraulic conductivity) causing environmental issues (e.g., increased erosion). Chemical disturbances are caused by the introduction of numerous PTEs, ECs, and CWAs and are of a wide nature. Available generic limits/legislation for these substances is limited, and their contents do not always overlap. Among numerous PTEs in military-impacted zones, Pb seems particularly problematic due to its high toxicity, abundance, and persistence. For ECs and CWAs, their highly variable physiochemical properties and biodegradability govern their specific distribution, environmental fate, and transport. Most site characterization includes proper spatial/vertical profiling, albeit without adequate consideration of contaminant speciation/fractionation. Human health risk assessment studies generally follow an agreed upon framework; however, the depth/adequacy of their use varies. Generic limits/legislation limited to a few countries do not always include all contaminants of concern, their content doesn’t overlap, and scientific basis is not always clear. Thus, a comprehensive scientific framework covering a range of contaminants is needed. Overall, contaminant speciation, fractionation, and mobility have not been fully considered in numerous studies. Chemical speciation and bioaccessibility, which directly affect the results for risk characterization, should be properly integrated into risk assessment processes for accurate results.

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Risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in soils and vegetables around coal-fired thermal power plant: a case study of Dhanbad, India

Raj

Maiti

2020

Environ Monit Assess

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Contamination by As, Hg, and Sb in a region with geogenic As anomaly and subsequent human health risk characterization

Cited by 12 publications

References 29 publications

Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Sites in Kazakhstan: Review of Current Cases and Site Remediation Responses

Mercury (Hg) Contaminated Sites in Kazakhstan: Review of Current Cases and Site Remediation Responses

Soil Contamination in Areas Impacted by Military Activities: A Critical Review

Risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in soils and vegetables around coal-fired thermal power plant: a case study of Dhanbad, India

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