Spatial variability of metal pollution in groyne fields of the Middle Elbe--implications for sediment monitoring.

High spatial heterogeneity of physical and chemical sediment properties was observed in both horizontal and vertical directions of deposits in a groyne field of the Middle Elbe. The respective sediment cores were less polluted on the top compared to consolidated deeper layers, indicating a decreasing trend of contamination in the river basin. In contrast to water quality monitoring, the impact of the large Elbe flood in 2002 was still visible in the deeper layers (5-30 cm) of the groyne field sediments six years after the event. Due to the fact that the environmental risk increases with erosion potential of discharge and contamination level of sediments, monitoring for environmental risk must capture not only surface sediments but also deeper layers up to an anticipated erosion depth.

Sorption of aqueous antimony and arsenic species onto akaganeite.

Two akaganeite materials were tested for the removal of antimonate, trimethyl antimonate, arsenate, arsenite, and dimethyl arsenate from water: a commercial product (GEH) and a synthesized akaganeite. The two materials show similar q(max) values, but differ in their K(L) values. This could be a result of their different crystal sizes indicated by sharper XRD reflections of the synthesized akaganeite compared with GEH. Batch experiments were carried out using all species to investigate the influence of the pH on their sorption onto the commercial material. The best results for the removal of antimonate and arsenate were achieved under acidic conditions, while the sorption of arsenite has an optimum at pH 7. The maximum loadings vary from 450 mg g(-1) (antimonate at pH 2.2.) to 2 mg g(-1) (trimethyl antimonate at pH 7). Competition reactions (up to a 10-fold excess of the competitor ion) were studied with antimonate, arsenate, and phosphate. The sorption capacity of arsenate decreases up to 12.5% by adding phosphate (ratio 1:10), but the addition of antimonate did not influence the sorption of arsenate. Conversely, the sorption of antimonate decreases due to the addition of 10-fold concentration of arsenate (31%) or phosphate (27%).

In situ and ex situ study of the enhanced modification with iron of clinoptilolite-rich zeolitic tuff for arsenic sorption from aqueous solutions.

Adsorption methods have been developed for the removal of arsenic from solution motivated by the adverse health effects of this naturally occurring element. Iron exchanged natural zeolites are promising materials for this application. In this study we introduced iron species into a clinoptilolite-rich zeolitic tuff by the liquid exchange method using different organic and inorganic iron salts after pretreatment with NaCl and quantified the iron content in all trials by XRF spectroscopy. The materials were characterized by XRD, FTIR, FTIR-DR, UV-vis, cyclic voltammetry, ESR and Mössbauer spectroscopies before and after adsorption of arsenite and arsenate. The reached iron load in the sample T+Fe was %Fe(2)O(3)-2.462, n(Fe)/n(Al)=0.19, n(Si)/n(Fe)=30.9 using FeCl(3), whereby the iron leachability was 0.1-0.2%. The introduced iron corresponded to four coordinated species with tetrahedral geometry, primarily low spin ferric iron adsorbing almost 12 mug g(-1) arsenite (99% removal) from a 360 mug(As(III)) L(-1) and 6 mug g(-1) arsenate from a 230 mug(As(V)) L(-1). Adsorption of arsenite and arsenate reached practically a plateau at n(Fe)/n(Si)=0.1 in the series of exchanged tuffs. The oxidation of arsenite to arsenate in the solution in contact with iron modified tuff during adsorption was observed by speciation. The reduction of ferric iron to ferrous iron could be detected in the electrochemical system comprising an iron-clinoptilolite impregnated electrode and was not observed in the dried tuff after adsorption.

Spatial and temporal variability of sediment deposition on artificial-lawn traps in a floodplain of the River Elbe.

Artificial-lawn mats were used as sediment traps in floodplains to measure sediment input and composition during flood events. To estimate the natural variability, 10 traps were installed during two flood waves at three different morphological units in a meander loop of the River Elbe. The geochemical composition of deposited and suspended matter was compared. The sediment input showed weak correlations with concentration and composition of river water. It also correlated poorly with flood duration and level as well as distance of trap position from the main river. This is due to the high variability of the inundation, different morphological conditions and the variability of sources. The composition of the deposits and the suspended matter in the river water was comparable. Hence, for the investigated river reach, the expected pollution of the floodplain sediments can be derived from the pollution of the suspended matter in the river during the flood wave.

Ineffectiveness of nickel in augmenting the hepatotoxicity in protein deficient rats.

This study was designed to determine the toxic effects of nickel sulfate on the biochemical and elemental profile of liver in protein deficient rats. Nickel sulfate in the dose of 800mg/l in drinking water was administrated to Sprauge Dawley (S.D) normal control as well as protein deficient rats for a total duration of eight weeks. The effects of nickel treatment and protein deficiency when given separately and in combination were studied on rat liver marker enzymes like Alkaline phosphatase (ALP),Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and also on the status of essential elements in rat liver. Protein deficient, Ni treated as well as combined protein deficient and nickel treated rats showed significant reductions in the body weight and hepatic protein contents as compared to normal control rats. Hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity and alanine aminotransferase showed a significant elevation in rats subjected to protein deficiency, nickel treatment and combined protein deficiency and nickel treatment. As regards to hepatic levels of aspartate aminotransferase a significant elevation was observed in protein deficient and nickel treated protein deficient animals. Nickel administration to normal and protein deficient rats has resulted in a significant increase in concentrations of nickel, phosphorus and sulfur in liver tissue. The concentration of zinc and copper in liver tissue decreased significantly in protein deficient, nickel treated and nickel treated protein deficient animals. Tissue iron concentrations were found to be decreased in protein deficient animals, but the concentrations of iron got elevated significantly in nickel treated and nickel treated protein deficient animals. It has been observed that selenium got decreased significantly in protein deficient, nickel treated and nickel treated protein deficient animals when compared to normal animals. The elevation of selenium in nickel treated protein deficient animals was also significantly higher when compared to protein deficient animals.

Ineffectiveness of Nickel in augmenting the hepatotoxicity in protein deficient rats / Eficacia del níquel en aumentar la hepatotoxicidad en ratas con deficiencia en proteínas

This study was designed to determine the toxic effects of nickel sulfate on the biochemical and elemental profile of liver in protein deficient rats. Nickel sulfate in the dose of 800mg/l in drinking water was administrated to Sprauge Dawley (S.D) normal control as well as protein deficient rats for a total duration of eight weeks. The effects of nickel treatment and protein deficiency when given separately and in combination were studied on rat liver marker enzymes like Alkaline phosphatase (ALP),Glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (GOT), Glutamate pyruvate transaminase (GPT) and also on the status of essential elements in rat liver. Protein deficient,Ni treated as well as combined protein deficient and nickel treated rats showed significant reductions in the body weight and hepatic protein contents as compared to normal control rats. Hepatic alkaline phosphatase activity and alanine aminotransferase showed a significant elevation in rats subjected to protein deficiency, nickel treatment and combined protein deficiency and nickel treatment.As regards to hepatic levels of aspartate aminotransferase a significant elevation was observed in protein deficient and nickel treated protein deficient animals. Nickel administration to normal and protein deficient rats has resulted in a significant increase in concentrations of nickel, phosphorus and sulfur in liver tissue. The concentration of zinc and copper in liver tissue decreased significantly in protein deficient, nickel treated and nickel treated protein deficient animals. Tissue iron concentrations were found to be decreased in protein deficient animals, but the concentrations of iron got elevated significantly in nickel treated and nickel treated protein deficient animals. It has been observed that selenium got decreased significantly in protein deficient, nickel treated and nickel treated protein deficient animals when compared to normal animals. The elevation of selenium in nickel treated protein deficient animals was also significantly higher when compared to protein deficient animals (AU)

Este estudio fue diseñado para determinar los efectos tóxicos del sulfato de níquel sobre el perfil bioquímico y de oligoelementos del hígado en ratas con deficiencia de proteínas.Se administró sulfato de níquel, a la dosis de 800 mg/l, en el agua de bebida de ratas Sprauge Dawley (S-D) normales control y con deficiencia de proteínas, durante 8 semanas. Se estudiaron los efectos del tratamiento con níquel y de la deficiencia de proteínas, por separado y en combinación,sobre marcadores enzimáticos hepáticos de la rata como la fosfatasa alcalina (FA), la glutamato oxalacetato transaminasa (GOT), la glutamato piruvato transaminasa (GPT) y también el estado de oligoelementos en el hígado de la rata. Las ratas con deficiencia de proteínas, las ratas tratadas con níquel, así cómo aquéllas con la combinación de deficiencia de proteínas y tratamiento con níquel mostraron reducciones significativas en el peso corporal y en el contenido hepático de proteína, en comparación con las ratas normales control. La actividad hepática fosfatasa alcalina y alanina aminotransferasa mostró una elevación significativa en las ratas sometidas a deficiencia de proteínas, a tratamiento con níquel, y a la combinación de deficiencia de proteínas y tratamiento con níquel. Con respecto de las concentraciones hepáticas de aspartato aminotransferasa, se observó una elevación significativa en los animales con deficiencia de proteínas y en aquellos tratado con níquel y con deficiencia de proteínas. La administración de níquel a ratas normales y con deficiencia de proteínas ha producido un aumento significativo de las concentraciones de níquel, fósforo y azufre en el tejido hepático. La concentración de cinc y cobre en el tejido hepático disminuyó significativamente los animales con deficiencia de proteínas, los tratados con níquel, y aquellos con deficiencia de proteínas tratados con níquel. Se halló que las concentraciones tisulares de hierro estaban disminuidas en los animales con deficiencia de proteínas, pero aumentaron significativamente en los animales tratados níquel y aquellos con deficiencia de proteínas tratados con níquel. Se observó que el selenio disminuyó significativamente en los animales con deficiencia de proteínas, los tratados con níquel, y aquellos con deficiencia de proteínas tratados con níquel, en comparación con los animales normales. La elevación de selenio en los animales con deficiencia de proteínas tratados con níquel también fue significativamente superior en comparación con los animales con deficiencia de proteínas (AU)

Role of zinc in regulating the levels of hepatic elements following nickel toxicity in rats.

This study was designed to determine the protective effects of zinc on the hepatotoxicity induced by nickel in rats. Female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats received either nickel sulfate alone in the dose of 800 mg/L nickel in drinking water, zinc sulfate alone in the dose of 227 mg/L zinc in drinking water, and nickel plus zinc or drinking water alone for a total duration of 8 wk. The effects of different treatments were studied on activities of rat liver marker enzymes like alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), and aspartate aminotransferases (AST) and on the status of essential elements in rat liver. The study revealed a significant increase in the activities of enzymes ALP and ALT in rats subjected to nickel treatment. Interestingly, zinc supplementation to rats treated with nickel brought back the raised activities of these enzymes to within normal limits. Further, the levels of elements in liver that include zinc, copper, selenium, and potassium were found to be significantly suppressed following nickel treatment, whereas the levels of iron and sulfur were elevated. However, zinc treatment alone did not cause any appreciable change in the concentration of these elements. To the contrary, when zinc was given to nickel-treated rats, the concentrations of zinc, copper, potassium, and phosphorus were not significantly different from that of normal controls, whereas the levels of iron, selenium, and sulfur were improved in comparison to nickel-treated rats but were not within the normal limits. The present study concludes that zinc has the ability to maintain the levels of hepatic elements and has bearing in regulating the liver functions by maintaining the activities of marker enzymes in conditions of nickel toxicity.

Bioleaching of heavy metal-contaminated sediments by indigenous Thiobacillus spp: metal solubilization and sulfur oxidation in the presence of surfactants.

The efficiency of surfactant application to improve or inhibit metal solubilization and sulfur oxidation kinetics during the bioleaching of heavy metal-contaminated sediments was studied in suspension-leaching experiments. The river sediment used contained large amounts of fine particles and organic matter. Three types of surfactants were tested: sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS), a C(12/14)-alkanolethoxylate (Präwozell F1214/5N), and a wettable sulfur (Netzschwefel 80 WP). Adding 10 mmol SDS/l led to transient inhibition of acidification, metal solubilization and sulfur oxidation. Inhibiting bioleaching for just 14 days required about ten times more SDS than the amount used for mine waste mitigation. The use of Präwozell resulted in poor inhibition; and using of wettable sulfur did not improve leaching efficiency. The bulk of these surfactants was sorbed onto the solid particles immediately on application, while the remainder in the aqueous phase disappeared within a few days.

Toxic oxide deposits from the combustion of landfill gas and biogas.

Oxide deposits found in combustion systems of landfill gas fired power stations contain relatively high concentrations of elements which form volatile species such as P, As, Sb and Sn. These deposits should be handled with care because of their potential toxicity. By contrast, deposits in biogas system engines were found to contain much lower levels of such elements. The enrichment of these elements can be attributed to a hypothetical multistage process. The elements form volatile species in the landfill body. They are selectively transported as part of the landfill gas into the gas-burning devices. Inside the burners, they are immobilized as nonvolatile oxides.

Control of particulate emissions from stationary fuel burning sources in the core area of the Metropolitan Boston air quality control region.

Strategies to control emissions were investigated to develop a plan to meet secondary ambient particulate standards in Metropolitan Boston. Each strategy was evaluated for emission reduction potential, cost, and feasibility. The strategy selected by the State, a periodic inspection and maintenance plan for combustion sources, meets the goal of clean air at minimum cost.