Geochemistry of Potentially Toxic Elements in Soil and Sediments of a Tanzanian Small-Scale Gold Mining Area

Small-scale gold mining is linked to significant environmental pollution by potentially toxic elements (PTEs). However, research on the pollution caused by such mining activities remains insufficient especially in developing countries. In the present study, a systematic investigation assessed the pollution and level of ecological risk of PTEs in soil and stream sediments in an active small scale gold mining area of Isanga, in Nzega, Tanzania. Samples amounting to 16 soil and 20 sediment were gathered from the study area and analyzed for five PTEs concentrations (As, Cd, Cr, Hg and Pb) using the AAS method. The contamination level and ecological risk were assessed using several pollution indices. The results suggest that the assessed environmental systems of the Isanga mining area and its vicinities are lowly contaminated by PTEs and have a low potential to pose ecological risks. Hg and Cd with mean concentrations of 0.09 mg/kg and 0.26 mg/kg respectively were found to be the most enriched PTEs in soil, compared to their average continental crust concentrations (0.056 mg/kg and 0.102 mg/kg respectively). The levels of the evaluated PTEs in the study area are susceptible to increase over time if proactive steps are not taken to control mining and waste disposal activities.

泰山油松空间分布特征及生长状态分析

为探究泰山油松的空间分布特征及生长状态的变化规律,分析环境变量对泰山油松生长状态的影响,基于数字高程模型(DEM)和森林资源清查“一张图”数据,建立油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)空间分布的地形信息图谱,提取研究区2000—2018年油松生长季的最大NDVI表征油松的生长状态并分析其在不同立地条件下的变化规律。结果表明:(1)油松纯林主要分布在海拔850~1500 m的北坡、东北坡和西北坡(面积占比为40%~90%),油松混交林主要分布在海拔400~1050 m、1300~1450 m的山坡、山谷、山脊和东北坡、东坡、西南坡(面积占比为20%~30%);(2)2000—2018年,油松整体的生长状态呈向好的趋势,NDVI显著增大(9.82%)和极显著增大(13.56%)区域的面积占比明显大于显著减小(4.48%)和极显著减小(2.69%)区域的面积占比;(3)油松林在海拔600~1400 m、坡度<5°和25°~55°、土层厚度>35 cm的区域和北坡、西坡、西北坡的生长状态较好。通过对泰山油松林的空间分布特征及其在不同立地条件下生长状态的分析,总结了利于油松生长的立地条件,为泰山油松林健康养护和古树名木保护提供了科学依据。

墨江哈尼族自治县生态环境质量时空变化及影响因子

调查区域生态环境质量时空变化有助于对生态环境的保护和改善提供指导和进行协调。基于2005—2020年Landsat遥感数据,运用遥感生态指数(RSEI)和地理探测器模型,探究墨江哈尼族自治县生态环境质量时空变化及影响因子。结果表明:(1)研究区2005—2020年遥感生态指数均值分别为0.5689、0.5824、0.5866、0.5985,呈现出逐年增长的趋势;(2)2020年研究区生境质量等级为优和良的面积超过一半,但流域生态环境治理仍需进一步改进;(3)研究区生态环境质量变化受多因子相互作用影响,干度因子与热度因子对生态环境质量空间分布的解释力最大。

安徽佛岭公路隧道某段塌方地质灾害综合分析

随着我国公路隧道建设的快速发展,隧道工程面临着各方面的地质灾害风险。隧道围岩塌方是隧道建设中的一大地质灾害,本文结合国内外发生塌方地质灾害案例,参照有关规范以及相关文献,运用统计分析的方法,提出造成围岩塌方的风险因子,分析影响塌方的各种风险因素,建立风险因子对于塌方发生概率的隶属度函数,提出了一套塌方地质灾害综合分析方法。以安徽佛岭地区为例,开展了塌方地质灾害综合评估,与施工监测结果对比,有较为一致的评估效果。

1990—2020年南渡江流域景观格局变化特征及其对人为干扰动态响应机制

探讨南渡江流域景观格局变化特征及其对人为干扰动态响应机制,对维护自由贸易港建设背景下流域生态保护和土地利用决策具有重要意义。基于1990、2000、2010和2020年土地利用覆盖数据,采用景观格局指数、移动窗口法、人为干扰指数、地学信息图谱和GIS空间分析等方法,揭示南渡江流域景观格局特征动态变化,进而探讨其与人为干扰之间的相互关系。结果表明,30年间南渡江流域呈现以林地和耕地景观为主体的交错景观格局,林地和耕地景观的总面积分别减少69.95和43.56 km^(2),建设用地景观面积增长62.45%。南渡江流域整体景观破碎化增加、景观斑块单一化加剧及景观多样性增加,人为干扰是海口市中心城市群景观格局变化剧烈的主要原因。轻微干扰区域占据最大的面积比例,中度和重度干扰次之;轻微和强烈干扰面积显著增加,中度和重度干扰面积显著下降;人为干扰的空间分布格局是由西南(自然景观)向东北(人文景观)逐渐增强。2000—2010年和2010—2020年轻微→轻度干扰和重度→轻微干扰图谱面积变化最显著,分别占据转移图谱总面积的26.79%和11.99%,低干扰等级向高干扰等级区域转移明显。1990—2020年所有干扰区域与最大斑块指数(LPI)呈现显著相关性。综上所述,南渡江流域整体人为干扰上升,尤其以海口市最为明显,城镇化进程是人为干扰上升的主要因素,需要加强流域生态环境治理与监测。

Delineation of Potential Mineral Resources RegionBased on Geo-anomaly Unit

The geological anomaly unit method (GAUM) is a new way to delineate and evaluate ore finding targets in line with the “geological anomaly ore finding theory”. Comprehensive ore finding information from geological, geochemical and geophysical data is used for quantitative measurement of the “ore forming geological anomaly unit” in this paper. The main procedures are shown as follows: (1) The geo anomalous events associated with gold mineralization are analyzed in Tongshi gold field; (2) The zonation in the concentrated heavy minerals and the stream sediment elements of ore forming geo anomaly are studied in detail; (3) The deep geological structural framework is deduced by means of the synthetic geological interpretation of gravity and magnetic information; (4) The ore controlling geo anomalies and ore anomalies are chosen as the variables of the favorable ore forming indexes that can be used for the quantitative delineation and evaluation of the potential ore forming regions.

Joint Optimization of Satisfaction Index and Spectrum Efficiency with Cache Restricted for Resource Allocation in Multi-Beam Satellite Systems

Dynamic resource allocation(DRA) is a key technology to improve system performances in GEO multi-beam satellite systems. And, since the cache resource on the satellite is very valuable and limited, DRA problem under restricted cache resources is also an important issue to be studied. This paper mainly investigates the DRA problem of carrier resources under certain cache constraints. What's more, with the aim to satisfy all users' traffic demands as more as possible, and to maximize the utilization of the bandwidth, we formulate a multi-objective optimization problem(MOP) where the satisfaction index and the spectrum efficiency are jointly optimized. A modified strategy SA-NSGAII which combines simulated annealing(SA) and non-dominated sorted genetic algorithm-II(NSGAII) is proposed to approximate the Pareto solution to this MOP problem. Simulation results show the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm in terms of satisfaction index, spectrum efficiency, occupied cache, and etc.

Comparison between BCR sequential extraction and geo-accumulation method to evaluate metal mobility in sediments of Dongting Lake, Central China

The form in which a metal exists strongly influences its mobility and thus, the effects on the environment. Operational methods of speciation analysis, such as the use of sequential extraction procedures, are commonly applied. The Dongting Lake, the second largest fresh-water lake in China, contains three China wetlands of international importance, the East Dongting Lake, South Dongting Lake, and West Dongting Lake. In this work, an optimized BCR sequential extraction procedure was used to assess the environmental risk of Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in contaminated sediment of the Dongting Lake. The procedure was evaluated by using a certified reference material, BCR701. The results of the partitioning study indicated that in the lake sediments, more easily mobilized forms (acid exchangeable) were predominant for Cd, particularly in the samples from the East Dongting Lake. In contrast, the largest amount of Pb was associated with the iron and manganese oxide fractions and Cu, Zn, Cr, and Ni analyzed were mainly distributed in residual phase at an average percentage greater than 60% of the total metals. The potential risk to the lake's water contamination was highest in the East Dongting Lake based on the calculated contamination factors. On the other hand, the total metal content was determined as well by inductively coupled plasma and mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and assessed by using geo-accumulation index. The assessment results using geo-accumulation index were compared with the information on metal speciation. Both were correspondent with each other.

Contamination and Ecological Risk Assessment of Heavy Metal in the Sediment of Turag River, Bangladesh: An Index Analysis Approach

Encroachment, disposal of untreated domestic and industrial wastewater and dumping of solid wastes have degraded the overall quality of the river Turag, which is located in Dhaka—the Capital City of Bangladesh. The present study investigated the extent of pollution of sediments of this river and analyzed the regional variability for the concentrations of Cr, Pb, Zn, Cu and Cd—all of concern because of their potential toxicity, using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. As per US EPA sediment quality guideline, metal concentrations ranged between Cd: 0.00 - 0.80, Cr: 32.00 - 75.50, Cu: 46.30 - 60.00, Pb: 28.30 - 36.40, and Zn: 94.60 - 190.10 mg/kg in the Turag river sediments. Cr, Cu, Zn belongs to moderately to highly polluted, Pb and Cd belongs to not polluted for Turag river. The heavy metals contamination in the sediments were also evaluated by applying Index of geo-accumulation (Igeo), contamination factor (Cf), pollution load index (PLI) etc. Toxicity characteristics leaching procedure (TCLP) test (US EPA 1311) for sediment samples have been performed also for metals (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) to determine the readily toxicity level of heavy metals. Sieve analysis of sediment performed in this study to determine the physical characteristic of sediment samples. The metal concentrations are well below the regulated level as per US EPA. This index can be complemented with the contamination index, which allows more site-specific and accurate information on contaminant levels. If the aim of work on contamination evaluation is to assess the overall contamination of a study area, the indices are highly appropriate.

The Geochemistry of Heavy Metals in the Mudflat of Salinas de San Pedro Lagoon, California, USA

Sediment core samples were collected from the Salinas de San Pedro to assess the pollutant deposition processes in response to extensive human activities. Analysis of the sediment samples for heavy metals and some trace elements was conducted with ICP-OES for 20 sites showing enrichment for some of trace and heavy metals. The results demonstrated that heavy metal concentrations in mud varied greatly for each metal, with concentration values (mg/g) ranging from 1.05 - 4.8 (Al);0.003 - 0.011(As);0.001 - 0.005 (Cd);0.02 to 0.82 (Cr);0.085 - 0.47 (Cu);5.98 - 14.22 (Fe);0.06 - 0.19 (Mn);0.03 - 0.67 (Ni);0.05 - 0.38 (Pb);- 0.069 (Se);0.18 - 0.63 (Ti);0.040 - 0.091 (V) and 0.149 - 0.336 (Zn). The Index of Geo-accumulation factor showed highest values for Pb, Mn, As, and Cu. Enrichment factors >1for these elements suggest anthropogenic inputs for most metals. The bioavailability of metals in lagoon sediments has the potential to be highly dynamic with local waste and natural H2S discharge from existing fault line.

Geochemical Assessment of Impact of Mine Spoils on the Quality of Stream Sediments within the Obuasi Mines Environment, Ghana

Stream sediment samples were analyzed for the concentrations of some trace metals in the Obuasi gold mining environment, Ghana. The objectives were to determine the possible impacts of mining operations in the area on sediments’ trace metal load, and the resulting effects on agriculture and livelihoods. The concentrations of arsenic (As), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), with calcium (Ca) as reference element, were compared to their respective background concentrations to calculate the enrichment and contamination factors, and also geo-accumulation and pollution load indices of each trace metal. These were in turn compared to standard tables to determine the status of contamination. Q-mode hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) was then applied to the samples for spatial classification. This study suggests probable contribution of mining and associated activities in the Obuasi area to the concentrations of trace metals especially arsenic, in the stream sediments. Three spatial relationships were revealed based on the concentrations of these trace metals from the Q-mode HCA. The samples presented generally high concentrations, which were more profound for samples taken closer to holding pond and tailings dams, and decreased downstream.

Assessment of Heavy Metal Contamination in Sea Bed Sediment of the Bight of Bonny, Southern Atlantic Coast of Nigeria Using Index Model Analysis

The heavy metal contamination status of Bight of Bonny sea bed sediment was investigated. Sediment samples were collected from eleven locations grouped into three stations. The samples were analyzed to determine the heavy metals (Fe, Pb, Ni, Zn, Mn, Co, Cd, Cu, Cr) concentration using atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Index model analyses, such as geo-accumulation index (I-geo), Enrichment factor (EF), and Pollution load index (PLI) were used for pollution assessment of sea bed sediment. The most predominant heavy metals in the upstream sediment were Fe;13.57 ± 1.838 mg/kg, cobalt;7.987 ± 3.550 mg/kg, and Ni;1.020 ± 0.802 mg/kg, midstream sediment were Fe;8.554 ± 3.010 mg/kg, Co;8.520 ± 4.00 mg/kg, and Ni;1.140 ± 0.879 mg/kg, while the downstream sediment result had Fe;11.12 ± 3.825 mg/kg, Co;7.275 ± 1.700 mg/kg, and Cd;1.025 ± 0.159 /kg. The I-geo results indicate that Cu, Mn, Pb, Cr, Fe, Zn, Ni, and Co were in their background concentrations while Cd had I-geo > 3 which implies a moderately or heavily polluted environment. The EF indicates metal enrichment from anthropogenic sources for Co, Ni, Pb, Cd, Cu, and Cr while Fe and Mn predicate biogenic origin. The PLI of the heavy metals in the three sample stations of sea bed sediment was found to be generally low (<1). The Enrichment Factor and geo-accumulation index strongly suggest the Bight of Bonny sea bed sediment contamination by Cd from anthropogenic sources.

延河底泥的重金属分布特征和生态风险评价

为了评估延河底泥的重金属分布特征和污染风险,以延河为研究对象,采集底泥样品,测定延河流域9个代表性断面中Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn、Ni、As、Cd和Hg等8种重金属的含量。运用潜在生态风险指数法和地累积指数法计算延河底泥重金属的生态风险,并通过Pearson相关系数甄别底泥中重金属的来源。结果表明:延河底泥中Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn、Ni、As、Cd和Hg平均含量分别为124.56、98.21、66.00、46.20、22.64、4.45、0.14、0.11 mg·kg^(-1),其中Pb、Hg、Cu、Cr、Cd分别超过陕西省环境背景值5.8、4.4、3.2、1.8、1.4倍,Ni、As和Zn低于陕西省环境背景值;延河底泥重金属的潜在生态风险指数平均值为303.14,从高到低依次为S8>S1>S5>S7>S2>S3>S6>S9>S4,中等生态风险和强生态风险为11.1%和88.9%,主要由Hg导致;同时,底泥中的Cr、Pb、Hg和Cu的地累积指数大于0,属于轻度-中度污染,Cd的地累积指数在-0.37~0.11之间,属于无-轻度污染,Ni、Zn和As的地累积指数小于0,属于无污染;延河底泥Ni、Cd和Cu呈现高度相似性,产业布局、道路交通和地质活动是其主要污染源。

中俄边境同江—抚远地区地质资源环境承载力评价与功能区划

为促进中俄边境同江—抚远地区地质资源环境保护和新型城镇化建设,在查明区域资源禀赋、水文地质、工程地质、环境地质条件和人类活动方式的基础上,综合运用层次分析法、专家会商法和GIS技术,建立地质资源环境承载能力评价指标体系,并分别进行地质资源环境承载本底和状态评价。通过耦合承载本底和状态评价结果进一步实现承载能力综合评价,同时结合区域社会经济发展需求开展地质资源环境功能区划。结果表明,研究区地质资源环境承载能力整体为中等—强,占全区面积的98%,地下水环境质量问题是制约承载能力的主要因素,界河塌岸等地质灾害风险和易发性较低。基于对评价结果的分析,将研究区划分为生态型、宜居型和农业型3类地质资源环境功能区,提出了加强生态保护修复、改善人居环境、加强面源污染源头管控等措施,为促进边境地区特色旅游产业和农业经济发展提供科学参考。

重庆稻田土壤重金属污染特征分析及风险评价

【目的】探究重庆稻田土壤重金属元素的含量特征并对其进行风险评价,为土壤重金属污染防控及耕地土壤保护提供参考依据。【方法】采集重庆市7个典型水稻主产区的稻田土壤样品230个,分析测定土壤样品的pH及Cd、Hg、As、Pb、Cr等5种重金属元素含量,利用内梅罗污染指数评价法与地累积指数评价法进行污染程度分析,并与重庆土壤重金属背景值和农用地土壤风险筛选值进行比对,分析评估重庆稻田土壤重金属污染特征,再通过皮尔逊相关性分析和聚类分析探究土壤重金属污染可能来源。【结果】研究区土壤中Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Hg等5种重金属元素的平均含量分别为25.4、0.312、66.8、4.71、0.0827 mg/kg。通过单因子污染指数与内梅罗污染指数评价法分析,研究区稻田土壤有19.57%的点位处于Cd元素轻污染状态,0.43%的点位处于Hg元素中污染状态,其余点位处于无污染状态。地累积指数分析发现,稻田土壤中Cd处于轻污染水平,其余重金属元素属于无污染水平,但存在极少部分土壤的Hg元素地累积指数极高(4.03,属于强-极强污染等级)。与重庆市土壤背景值比对发现,Cd、Hg元素含量均超过了重庆土壤背景值,分别是背景值的2.84倍、1.38倍,有累积效应;Pb、Cr、As元素含量略低于重庆土壤背景值,基本无富集。通过与农用地土壤风险筛选值比对,所调查的稻田土壤重金属含量均值均小于对应的农用地土壤风险筛选值。相关性及聚类分析发现,重金属污染主要源于成土过程及人为因素。【结论】重庆稻田土壤总体处于清洁状态,但存在Cd、Hg元素的污染风险。

外源废水输入对福州东湖湿地水体污染元素浓度和分布特征的影响

滨海湿地作为一种特殊的湿地类型,对人类活动和环境污染响应十分敏感。近年来,外源废水输入导致滨海湿地水体污染严重,对生态环境和人类健康产生威胁。该研究以福州东湖湿地为研究对象,分析上游径流、生活污水、工业废水、养殖塘废水、退塘还湿以及天然湿地等外源水输入对福州东湖水体Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Pb和Mn浓度及分布特征的影响,并对养殖塘水体与沉积物中污染元素浓度进行分析和生态风险评估。研究结果表明,福州东湖湿地水体中Cr、Cu、Zn、As、Pb、Mn的质量浓度分别为(0.50±0.20)、(3.87±1.54)、(34.48±1.71)、(4.72±0.48)、(0.77±0.38)、(151.96±58.81)μg/L,各污染元素浓度符合地表水Ⅱ类水标准。工业废水和养殖塘废水输入是福州东湖水体中污染元素的主要来源,其中工业废水的Mn浓度、养殖塘废水的Cr、Cu、Pb和Mn浓度较高。由于养殖饵料与消毒剂的添加,部分养殖塘沉积物Cr和Mn存在轻度或偏中度污染,呈现轻度生态风险。为防止水质进一步恶化,应改良工业废水处理设施,优化农业养殖模式,控制周边地区污染源。