Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources

Detalhes bibliográficos
Autor(a) principal: Ferreira, Célia Dias
Data de Publicação: 2016
Outros Autores: Pato, Rosinda L., Varejão, Jorge B., Tavares, Alexandre O., Ferreira, António J. D.
Tipo de documento: Artigo
Idioma: eng
Título da fonte: Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
Texto Completo: http://hdl.handle.net/10316/36332
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-y
Resumo: Purpose: This work analyzes polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and heavy metal contamination in fluvial sediments and soils in an urban catchment, according to the geo-accumulation index and to soil and sediment quality guidelines. The catchment is located in Coimbra, Portugal, being affected by frequent flooding, and its main stream is a tributary to one of the major rivers in Portugal (Mondego). Given the presence of industrial activities over time, some inputs of pollutants are expected, but so far, the legacy of historic pollution in this catchment has not yet been investigated. Materials and methods: Twenty-five samples were collected from nine sampling sites at the depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm (to provide a historic perspective) along longitudinal profiles (streamlines) and in soils downstream of pollution sources. These samples were analyzed for six heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni), organic carbon, pH and ten PCBs (IUPAC numbers 28, 30, 52, 101, 138, 153, 166, 180, 204, 209). Results and discussion: Total PCB concentrations ranged 0.47–5.3 ng g−1 dry weight (dw), and levels increase from the bottom to the top layers, suggesting an increased input over the last 100 years. PCB congener distribution shows the dominance of hexachlorobiphenyls, especially PCB138, suggesting the existence of local sources. PCB levels did not exceed sediment quality levels, placing sediments/soil under class 1 (not contaminated) or class 2 (trace contamination) with respect to PCB. All six metals exceeded the lowest effect level for sediment quality criteria, and three (Cd, Pb and Zn) largely exceeded the clean levels for dredged materials, placing sediments in class 5 (heavily contaminated). Sampling site S1 presented the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd, and historic vehicle traffic was identified as the most likely source, given the vertical and horizontal profiles. Conclusions: High levels of Pb, Cd and Zn were found in fluvial sediments at some locations of the Loreto catchment, likely from historic traffic sources. This urban area is frequently affected by flooding events and is currently being subject to urban redevelopment. During these events/actions, historic pollutants in the sediments might surface and be redistributed, impacting the downstream ecosystem of the major Mondego River or increasing the risk of exposure of the urban population.
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spelling Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sourcesHeavy metalsHistoric pollutionPbPCBRiver sedimentsTraffic emissionsPurpose: This work analyzes polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and heavy metal contamination in fluvial sediments and soils in an urban catchment, according to the geo-accumulation index and to soil and sediment quality guidelines. The catchment is located in Coimbra, Portugal, being affected by frequent flooding, and its main stream is a tributary to one of the major rivers in Portugal (Mondego). Given the presence of industrial activities over time, some inputs of pollutants are expected, but so far, the legacy of historic pollution in this catchment has not yet been investigated. Materials and methods: Twenty-five samples were collected from nine sampling sites at the depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm (to provide a historic perspective) along longitudinal profiles (streamlines) and in soils downstream of pollution sources. These samples were analyzed for six heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni), organic carbon, pH and ten PCBs (IUPAC numbers 28, 30, 52, 101, 138, 153, 166, 180, 204, 209). Results and discussion: Total PCB concentrations ranged 0.47–5.3 ng g−1 dry weight (dw), and levels increase from the bottom to the top layers, suggesting an increased input over the last 100 years. PCB congener distribution shows the dominance of hexachlorobiphenyls, especially PCB138, suggesting the existence of local sources. PCB levels did not exceed sediment quality levels, placing sediments/soil under class 1 (not contaminated) or class 2 (trace contamination) with respect to PCB. All six metals exceeded the lowest effect level for sediment quality criteria, and three (Cd, Pb and Zn) largely exceeded the clean levels for dredged materials, placing sediments in class 5 (heavily contaminated). Sampling site S1 presented the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd, and historic vehicle traffic was identified as the most likely source, given the vertical and horizontal profiles. Conclusions: High levels of Pb, Cd and Zn were found in fluvial sediments at some locations of the Loreto catchment, likely from historic traffic sources. This urban area is frequently affected by flooding events and is currently being subject to urban redevelopment. During these events/actions, historic pollutants in the sediments might surface and be redistributed, impacting the downstream ecosystem of the major Mondego River or increasing the risk of exposure of the urban population.Springer Verlag2016-11info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersioninfo:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://hdl.handle.net/10316/36332http://hdl.handle.net/10316/36332https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-yhttps://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-yeng1439-01081614-7480http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-yFerreira, Célia DiasPato, Rosinda L.Varejão, Jorge B.Tavares, Alexandre O.Ferreira, António J. D.info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessreponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)instname:Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãoinstacron:RCAAP2021-11-08T08:40:57Zoai:estudogeral.uc.pt:10316/36332Portal AgregadorONGhttps://www.rcaap.pt/oai/openaireopendoar:71602024-03-19T20:50:19.193721Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos) - Agência para a Sociedade do Conhecimento (UMIC) - FCT - Sociedade da Informaçãofalse
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
title Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
spellingShingle Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
Ferreira, Célia Dias
Heavy metals
Historic pollution
Pb
PCB
River sediments
Traffic emissions
title_short Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
title_full Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
title_fullStr Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
title_full_unstemmed Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
title_sort Heavy metal and PCB spatial distribution pattern in sediments within an urban catchment—contribution of historical pollution sources
author Ferreira, Célia Dias
author_facet Ferreira, Célia Dias
Pato, Rosinda L.
Varejão, Jorge B.
Tavares, Alexandre O.
Ferreira, António J. D.
author_role author
author2 Pato, Rosinda L.
Varejão, Jorge B.
Tavares, Alexandre O.
Ferreira, António J. D.
author2_role author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.author.fl_str_mv Ferreira, Célia Dias
Pato, Rosinda L.
Varejão, Jorge B.
Tavares, Alexandre O.
Ferreira, António J. D.
dc.subject.por.fl_str_mv Heavy metals
Historic pollution
Pb
PCB
River sediments
Traffic emissions
topic Heavy metals
Historic pollution
Pb
PCB
River sediments
Traffic emissions
description Purpose: This work analyzes polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and heavy metal contamination in fluvial sediments and soils in an urban catchment, according to the geo-accumulation index and to soil and sediment quality guidelines. The catchment is located in Coimbra, Portugal, being affected by frequent flooding, and its main stream is a tributary to one of the major rivers in Portugal (Mondego). Given the presence of industrial activities over time, some inputs of pollutants are expected, but so far, the legacy of historic pollution in this catchment has not yet been investigated. Materials and methods: Twenty-five samples were collected from nine sampling sites at the depths of 0–20, 20–40 and 40–60 cm (to provide a historic perspective) along longitudinal profiles (streamlines) and in soils downstream of pollution sources. These samples were analyzed for six heavy metals (Cu, Cr, Pb, Cd, Zn, Ni), organic carbon, pH and ten PCBs (IUPAC numbers 28, 30, 52, 101, 138, 153, 166, 180, 204, 209). Results and discussion: Total PCB concentrations ranged 0.47–5.3 ng g−1 dry weight (dw), and levels increase from the bottom to the top layers, suggesting an increased input over the last 100 years. PCB congener distribution shows the dominance of hexachlorobiphenyls, especially PCB138, suggesting the existence of local sources. PCB levels did not exceed sediment quality levels, placing sediments/soil under class 1 (not contaminated) or class 2 (trace contamination) with respect to PCB. All six metals exceeded the lowest effect level for sediment quality criteria, and three (Cd, Pb and Zn) largely exceeded the clean levels for dredged materials, placing sediments in class 5 (heavily contaminated). Sampling site S1 presented the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd, and historic vehicle traffic was identified as the most likely source, given the vertical and horizontal profiles. Conclusions: High levels of Pb, Cd and Zn were found in fluvial sediments at some locations of the Loreto catchment, likely from historic traffic sources. This urban area is frequently affected by flooding events and is currently being subject to urban redevelopment. During these events/actions, historic pollutants in the sediments might surface and be redistributed, impacting the downstream ecosystem of the major Mondego River or increasing the risk of exposure of the urban population.
publishDate 2016
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2016-11
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dc.type.driver.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.uri.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10316/36332
http://hdl.handle.net/10316/36332
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-y
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-y
url http://hdl.handle.net/10316/36332
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-y
dc.language.iso.fl_str_mv eng
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1614-7480
http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11368-016-1542-y
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eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Verlag
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Springer Verlag
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto de Portugal (Repositórios Cientìficos)
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