Mercury, arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River, Bethel, Alaska, USA

Belkin, Harvey E.; Sparck, Harold M.

doi:10.1007/bf00789322

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 16 publications

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“…Our study shows that high concentrations of heavy metals are distributed in soils across Alaska, suggesting permafrost thaw and associated changes in the environment may present an unaccounted-for pathway of heavy metal exposure. This conclusion is supported by previous observations in Alaska of suspended river and coastal sediments enriched in heavy metals [56,57], increased elemental and sediment loading into freshwater ecosystems as permafrost thaws [58,59], and of a seasonal signature of stream water metal concentrations that coincides with the depth of seasonal thaw [27]. Given recent observations of widespread and rapid permafrost thaw due to ongoing warming [60] and increases in wildfires that accelerate thermokarst expansion [61], more attention to the threat of heavy metal liberation from thawing permafrost is needed.…”

Section: Plos Onesupporting

confidence: 91%

Heavy metals in the Arctic: Distribution and enrichment of five metals in Alaskan soils

et al. 2020

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Metal contamination of food and water resources is a known public health issue in Arctic and sub-Arctic communities due to the proximity of many communities to mining and drilling sites. In addition, permafrost thaw may release heavy metals sequestered in previously frozen soils, potentially contaminating food and water resources by increasing the concentration of metals in freshwater, plants, and wildlife. Here we assess the enrichment of selected heavy metals in Alaskan soils by synthesizing publicly available data of soil metal concentrations. We analyzed data of soil concentrations of arsenic, chromium, mercury, nickel, and lead from over 1,000 samples available through the USGS Alaskan Geochemical Database to evaluate 1) the spatial distribution of sampling locations for soil metal analysis, 2) metal concentrations in soils from different land cover types and depths, and 3) the occurrence of soils in Alaska with elevated metal concentrations relative to other soils. We found substantial clustering of sample sites in the southwestern portion of Alaska in discontinuous and sporadic permafrost, while the continuous permafrost zone in Northern Alaska and the more populous Interior are severely understudied. Metal concentration varied by land cover type but lacked consistent patterns. Concentrations of chromium, mercury, and lead were higher in soils below 10 cm depth, however these deeper soils are under-sampled. Arsenic, chromium, mercury, nickel and lead concentrations exceeded average values for US soils by one standard deviation or more in 3.7% to 18.7% of the samples in this dataset. Our analysis highlights critical gaps that impede understanding of how heavy metals in thawing permafrost soils may become mobilized and increase exposure risk for Arctic communities.

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Section: Plos Onesupporting

confidence: 91%

Heavy metals in the Arctic: Distribution and enrichment of five metals in Alaskan soils

et al. 2020

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“…The metals in the sediments may re-solubilize in different chemical forms due to changes in environmental conditions such as pH, redox potential (Eh), dissolved oxygen and presence of organic carbon [13][14][15][16] . The analysis of heavy metals in sediments allows us to detect contamination and also provides information on the critical areas of aquatic systems 1,7,9,17,19,20 . Bioavailability of metals in sediments has a direct impact on some aquatic species, many of which can accumulate high concentrations of metals that can cause chronic effects on their populations 21 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water and Sediments From Affluents and Effluents of Mediterranean Chilean Reservoirs

Copaja

Nuñez

Muñoz

et al. 2016

J. Chil. Chem. Soc.

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RIVER flows have constant interaction between water and bed sediments; for this reason knowledge of the characteristics of the sediments is fundamental to understand water chemistry. This study determined the concentrations of heavy metals in water and sediments in the affluents and the effluents of the Mediterranean Chilean reservoirs Cogotí, Corrales, La Paloma, and Recoleta. We explore possible ecological risk and toxicity using the enrichment factor (EF), risk assessment code (RAC), threshold effect concentrations (TEC) and probable effect concentrations (PEC). The results showed that five metals: Al, Fe, Cu, Mn and Zn out of the ten measured metals were detected in both surface water and the sediments. The risk assessment code (RAC) suggested that Fe represents a medium risk in the affluent of Cogotí Reservoir: Cu, Zn and Mn represent a medium to high risk in all the dams and in both zones (affluents and effluents). The enrichment factor (EF) determined that the five metals were lithogenic. Fe, Cu, and Mn are the elements that present the greatest toxicity to microorganisms in these aquatic systems.

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“…13 Therefore, the analysis of heavy metals in sediments could indicate contamination that cannot be detected in water analysis and also provides information about critical areas in aquatic system. [14][15][16][17][18][19] The study of heavy metals in water and sediments is important due to their toxicity, persistence and rapid accumulation by living organisms. Heavy metals not only will affect the environmental health of an aquatic system directly, they can also do so indirectly, by releasing pollutants into the water column, making them available to the organisms living in it.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Heavy Metals Concentration in Sediment of Lluta River Basin

Copaja

Muñoz

2018

J. Chil. Chem. Soc.

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Northern Chile is characterized by water scarcity. The Lluta River, located in the XV region of Arica and Parinacota, is the one of the main rivers in northern Chile. The elevated levels of metals and metaloids in the river reduce the agricultural productivity and variety of species can be cultivated within the valley, which are of great importance for the consumption of the inhabitants of the area.Heavy metals in river bottoms may cause various effects on the water quality, as such the capacity to accumulate metals; levels of toxicity and metal stabilization in sediments have often been considered a pollution index of a territory.In this work the concentrations of Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Pb and Zn from the pseudo-total and labile fraction of Lluta river sediments were studied. Samples from 10 sites along the river were collected. The sediments were characterized determining: pH, electrical conductivity, organic carbon (OC), organic total carbon (OTC), available phosphorus and boron. Heavy metals were analyzed by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS).For the metals analyzed in the pseudo-total fraction, the highest concentrations found were: Al in the site 10, (17061 mg kg -1 ) and Fe on site 6, (29898 mg kg -1 ). For the labile fraction, highest concentrations of metals were: Al in site 6 (1079 mg kg ). Using the Risk assessment code (RAC), the site 6 presents the greatest risk with high values of Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn, followed by site 1 with high values of Mn, Cu and Zn, and site 9 with high values of Mn, Cu and Pb. On the other hand, the MacDonald PEC (probable effect concentration) and TEC (threshold effect concentration) toxicity criteria, showed that the sites 4 and 6 have levels above the TEC for Cu, Fe, Pb and Zn, and levels above the PEC at six sites for Mn.

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Mercury, arsenic, antimony, and selenium contents of sediment from the Kuskokwim River, Bethel, Alaska, USA

Cited by 12 publications

References 16 publications

Heavy metals in the Arctic: Distribution and enrichment of five metals in Alaskan soils

Heavy metals in the Arctic: Distribution and enrichment of five metals in Alaskan soils

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Water and Sediments From Affluents and Effluents of Mediterranean Chilean Reservoirs

Heavy Metals Concentration in Sediment of Lluta River Basin

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