Determination of sediment metal background concentrations and enrichment in marine environments – A critical review

Birch, G.F.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.12.028

Cited by 218 publications

(124 citation statements)

References 135 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

116

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Manganese was used as the reference background element due to a lack of Al data, with its feasibility confirmed by Loska et al (1997), as Mn is mainly of lithogenic origin and its anthropogenic sources are minimal. Principal component analysis (PCA) can assist when selecting the reference background element (Birch 2017), as can a high correlation with the elements studied (N'guessan et al 2009). In our study, using Mn as the reference metal was justified through PCA, which identified it as being of lithogenic origin and in significant correlation with most of the studied elements, in particular with Cr and Ni.…”

Section: Calculation Of the Enrichment Factor And Ecological Risk Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentially toxic elements in the riparian soils of the Sava River

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Purpose Riparian zone contamination is a growing problem for several European catchments due to high anthropogenic pressures. This study investigates As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in the Sava River riparian zone, characterized by wide agricultural areas, various geological substrates, and different types of industrial pollution. The accumulation and mobility of these elements were studied because they are listed as priority substances in the Water Framework Directive and environmental objectives for surface waters. Materials and methods Sampling was performed during the sampling campaign of the EU 7th FW-funded GLOBAQUA project in September 2015 during a low-water event. Soil samples were collected along the Sava River at 12 selected sampling sites, from a depth of 0–30 cm, at a distance of 10–15 m from the river bank. The extent of pollution was estimated by determining total and readily soluble element concentrations in the soils. Potential ecological risk and the source of the selected elements in the soils was determined using the enrichment factor (EF), potential ecological risk index (RI), and statistical methods such as the principal component analysis (PCA) and multiple linear regression analysis (MLRA). Results and discussion This study showed that concentrations of the selected elements increase along the Sava. In terms of origin, PCA and MLRA indicated that Cr and Ni in soils are predominantly lithogenic, while As, Cd, Pb, and Zn are both lithogenic and anthropogenic (ore deposits, industry, and agriculture). PCA singled out Cu since its origin in soil is most probably from specific point-source pollution. EF was generally minor to moderate for most of the examined elements, apart from Cu, for which the EF was significant at one sampling site. Overall ecological risk (RI) fell within the low-risk category for most sites, apart from Belgrade sampling site (BEO), where high total Cd content affected individual and overall ecological risk indicators, indicating Cd could represent a considerable ecological risk for the downstream riparian zone. Conclusions At downstream sites, there was a noticeable increase in PTE content, with Cd, Cr, Ni, and Zn exceeding the proposed threshold values for European soils, indicating rising contamination in riparian soils. In terms of the ecological risk, only Cd could pose a potential ecological threat for the downstream riparian zone.

show abstract

Section: Calculation Of the Enrichment Factor And Ecological Risk Indexmentioning

confidence: 99%

Potentially toxic elements in the riparian soils of the Sava River

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Aluminum and Fe demonstrated strong relationships with fines content and were useful in addressing the main goal of the present study. However, the hydrofluoric acid–based digestion protocol used in the present study can release normalizing metals from sedimentary mineral matrices (e.g., materials other than clays) and reduce sensitivity to subtle changes in contaminant concentrations . To counter this, Li is recommended (not analyzed in the present study) as a normalizing factor because of its reduced presence in nonclay sediment constituents and linear relationships with various trace elements .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Different variables can be used to normalize data to account for grain size variation. These can include defined particle size categories (e.g., fines content) or other covariates such as Al, Fe, lithium (Li), Ti, cesium, and rubidium [27][28][29][30]. The present data were normalized to percentage of fines, Al, and Fe contents.…”

Section: Numerical Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Open‐water and under‐ice seasonal variations in trace element content and physicochemical associations in fluvial bed sediment

Doig

Carr

Meissner

et al. 2017

Enviro Toxic and Chemistry

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Across the circumpolar world, intensive anthropogenic activities in the southern reaches of many large, northward-flowing rivers can cause sediment contamination in the downstream depositional environment. The influence of ice cover on concentrations of inorganic contaminants in bed sediment (i.e., sediment quality) is unknown in these rivers, where winter is the dominant season. A geomorphic response unit approach was used to select hydraulically diverse sampling sites across a northern test-case system, the Slave River and delta (Northwest Territories, Canada). Surface sediment samples (top 1 cm) were collected from 6 predefined geomorphic response units (12 sites) to assess the relationships between bed sediment physicochemistry (particle size distribution and total organic carbon content) and trace element content (mercury and 18 other trace elements) during open-water conditions. A subset of sites was resampled under-ice to assess the influence of season on these relationships and on total trace element content. Concentrations of the majority of trace elements were strongly correlated with percent fines and proxies for grain size (aluminum and iron), with similar trace element grain size/grain size proxy relationships between seasons. However, finer materials were deposited under ice with associated increases in sediment total organic carbon content and the concentrations of most trace elements investigated. The geomorphic response unit approach was effective at identifying diverse hydrological environments for sampling prior to field operations. Our data demonstrate the need for under-ice sampling to confirm year-round consistency in trace element-geochemical relationships in fluvial systems and to define the upper extremes of these relationships. Whether contaminated or not, under-ice bed sediment can represent a "worst-case" scenario in terms of trace element concentrations and exposure for sediment-associated organisms in northern fluvial systems. Environ Toxicol Chem 2017;36:2916-2924. © 2017 SETAC.

show abstract

“…The age of these levels, according to sedimentation rates up to 33 cm y -1 , determined by a previous study for cores AU3 and AU10, are older than 1950, when industrial activities started . The recovery of sediments not affected by anthropogenic influence is of basic importance for the environmental assessment, which identifies the extent of deviation from natural condition, and for the identification of local background levels of metals and trace elements Birch, 2017). The higher similarity of GVT and VBR profiles both considering pattern and concentration values at AU3 station may be explained by the lower degree of physical and chemical anthropogenic impact in the central sector of the harbor, with respect to the southern one, which seems to determine high spatial variability and patchy distribution of chemical and textural characteristics of sediment (Romano et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Differences in acquisition of environmental data in strongly impacted marine sediments using gravity and vibro corers: The case-study of Augusta harbor (Eastern Sicily, Italy)

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Sediment cores are used to reconstruct the chronological evolution of contamination in impacted areas while deep core levels may be considered as reference conditions for the assessment of environmental status. For this purpose, the collection of undisturbed cores is essential. Vibro and gravity corers are the most used devices for environmental research. In this study, chemical (Ba, Hg and PCBs) and grain size data obtained by means of gravity (SW-104) and vibro (Rossfelder ® ) corer from 3 stations of the heavily contaminated Augusta harbor (Sicily, Italy) were considered. Their vertical profiles were compared considering the different technical characteristics of corers, in order to highlight differences in data acquisition. Results showed that, for areas characterized by high sedimentation rates, the vibrocorer is the best choice for the higher penetration capacity. No significant differences were recognized for sediment compaction and potential downward drag of the contaminants.

show abstract

Determination of sediment metal background concentrations and enrichment in marine environments – A critical review

Cited by 218 publications

References 135 publications

Potentially toxic elements in the riparian soils of the Sava River

Potentially toxic elements in the riparian soils of the Sava River

Open‐water and under‐ice seasonal variations in trace element content and physicochemical associations in fluvial bed sediment

Differences in acquisition of environmental data in strongly impacted marine sediments using gravity and vibro corers: The case-study of Augusta harbor (Eastern Sicily, Italy)

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About