scholarly journals Microplastic abundance and distribution in the open water and sediment of the Ottawa River, Canada, and its tributaries

FACETS ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 301-314 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse C. Vermaire ◽  
Carrington Pomeroy ◽  
Sofia M. Herczegh ◽  
Owen Haggart ◽  
Meaghan Murphy

Microplastic pollution is prevalent in the Ottawa River, with all open water samples ( n = 62) and sediment samples ( n = 10) containing microplastics. The median microplastic concentration of nearshore 100 L water samples was 0.1 fragments per L (ranged between 0.05 and 0.24 fragments per L). The larger volume Manta trawls samples taken in the middle of the Ottawa River had an overall mean concentration of plastics of 1.35 fragments per m3. Plastic concentrations were significantly higher downstream of the wastewater treatment plant (1.99 fragments per m3) compared with upstream of the effluent output (0.71 fragments per m3), suggesting that the effluent plume is a pathway for plastic pollution to the Ottawa River. The mean concentration of microplastic fragments recovered in the sediment samples was 0.22 fragments per g dry weight. The abundance of microplastics in the sediment was not significantly related to the mean particle size or the organic content of the sediment. The most common form of plastic particles found was microfibers. These made up between 70% and 100% of all plastic particles observed, although plastic microbeads and secondary plastic fragments were also recovered.

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thompson Faraday Ediagbonya ◽  
Adedayo Johnson Ogunjobi ◽  
Ademola Charles Adenikinju

Abstract The present research was performed to determine the concentration of heavy metals in the male and female specimens of the identified frog species: pyxicephalus edulis collected from the Igbekebo River in Igbekebo, Ese-odo local government. Adult frogs (male and female) were collected from the river bank, and sediment samples and water samples were also collected at five ( 5) separate locations in the river. The frogs were dried separately at 1050C for 6 hrs and then crushed into small particles (powder form). The sediment samples were air-dried for three days. Elemental components in frog samples and sediment samples were analyzed using Proton Induced X-Ray Emission (PIXE). Physiochemical parameters and heavy metals of the water samples were also analyzed. The findings showed that the concentrations of Si, P, Cl, Ni, Zn and Cd were higher in Male frog while Mg, Al, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zr, Pb and Sn were higher in female frogs, the explanation for this variability is not known but may be due to variations in the genetic make-up of Male and Female frogs. The concentration of heavy metals in both male and female frogs was substantially higher relative to the available WHO limits. The mean concentration of elemental constituents in sediment was higher than the IAEA limit. The values of enrichment and the Igeo values were very high.


Author(s):  
T A Adedosu

Well-water samples were collected from the vicinity of Balogun–biiro dump site located in Okebaale Osogbo, Osun state, Nigeria. The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons were determined qualitatively and quantitatively using GC-FID. The concentration of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the water samples ranged from 0.01235 µg/kg to 0.05365 µg/kg with mean concentration ranging from 0.00094 µg/kg to 0.00335 µg/kg respectively. The highest concentration of ∑16 𝑃𝐴𝐻𝑠was recorded in S6 and it was observed that there is decline in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons concentrations from point of water pollution. There was a significant concentration of both the lower and higher rings polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the samples. These distributions as well as various polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons diagnostic indices calculated showed that the sources of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the samples were both petrogenic and pyrogenic. The mean concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons recorded in the water samples showed a little bit enhanced values than the recommended tolerable limits, which indicated some level of pollution in the water samples


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Friederike Stock ◽  
Annkatrin Weber ◽  
Christian Scherer ◽  
Christian Kochleus ◽  
Georg Dierkes ◽  
...  

<p>Plastic pollution in the aquatic environment has gained worldwide attention in the last years. Microplastics have been investigated for over 45 years especially in the marine environment, but only in the past years research has also started to focus on freshwater environments. In the frame of the project about macro- and microplastics in German rivers, samples from 11 sites from the German part of the river Elbe were taken in order to study the plastic pollution in water and sediment, detect sinks of microplastics and better understand transport mechanisms.</p><p>The sediment samples were taken with a Van-Veen-grabber, the water samples from the Elbe with an Apstein plankton net (mesh size 150 µm) from the same location. The sediment samples were presorted with wet sieving, organic digestion and density separation and filtered on aluminium oxide filters. For the water samples, the organic matter was digested using a reagent composed of equal volumes of 10 M KOH and 30 % H2O2, then, the microplastic particles were isolated from remaining matrix by density floatation using 1.6 g/mL potassium formate solution and pressure filtration. Analysis was done by visual inspection, selected particles measured with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and masses calculated with a pyrolysis GC-MS.</p><p>The results of the sediments of the Elbe reveal that tentative microplastic concentrations differed intensively between the different river compartments. Microplastics in the sediments were in average 600,000-fold higher than in the water samples (when referring to the same volume). The amount of particles also varies significantly between the sampling sites. In sediment samples, microplastic concentrations decreased downstream, in water samples, concentrations varied stronger. The form of the particles is also site specific. In two samples, more than 80% spheres were counted whereas the 6 locations downstream reveal an increase in fragments. Polymer distribution differed between the water and sediment phase with mostly PE and PP in the water samples and a more diverse distribution in the sediments.</p>


1999 ◽  
Vol 62 (10) ◽  
pp. 1218-1222 ◽  
Author(s):  
FILMORE I. MEREDITH ◽  
OLGA R. TORRES ◽  
SANDRA SAENZ de TEJADA ◽  
RONALD T. RILEY ◽  
ALFRED H. MERRILL

Fumonisin B1 (FB1) is a common contaminant of corn worldwide and is responsible for several diseases of animals. In the preparation of tortillas, corn is treated with lime (producing nixtamal) that when heated hydrolyzes at least a portion of the FB1 to the aminopentol backbone (AP1), another known toxin. This study analyzed the amounts of FB1 and AP1 in tortillas and nixtamal from two communities in the central highlands of Guatemala where corn is a major dietary staple (Santa Maria de Jesus, Sacatepequez, and Patzicia, Chimaltenango). The amounts of FB1 and AP1 in tortillas from Santa Maria de Jesus were, respectively, 0.85 ± 2.0 and 26.1 ± 38.5 μg/g dry weight (mean ± SD), and from Patzicia were 2.2 ± 3.6 and 5.7 ± 9.4 μg/g dry weight. Less than 6% of the tortillas from both locations contained ≥10 μg FB1/g dry weight; whereas, 66% of the samples from Santa Maria de Jesus and 29% from Patzicia contained ≥10 μg AP1/g dry weight. The highest amount of AP1 (185 μg/g dry weight) was found in tortillas from Santa Maria de Jesus. The highest amounts of FB1 were 6.5 and 11.6 μg/g dry weight in tortillas from Santa Maria de Jesus and Patzicia, respectively. The mean concentration of FB1 in nixtamal was significantly higher in Santa Maria de Jesus compared to Patzicia. Surprisingly, AP1 was not detected in any of the nixtamal samples. The human impact of exposure to these amounts of fumonisins is not known. However, based on findings with other animals, where corn is a dietary staple, long-term consumption of FB1 and AP1 (especially at ≥10 μg/g of the diet) may pose a risk to human health.


Author(s):  
Syed Hilal Farooq ◽  
Amrit Kumar Mishra ◽  
Sandip Kumar Muhakud ◽  
Prasannajit Acharya ◽  
Pradipta Ranjan Muduli ◽  
...  

A complete halt on all anthropogenic activities and human movement due to COVID-19 lockdown has provided a great opportunity to assess the impact of human activities on coastal marine ecosystems. The current study assessed the concentration of the metals in water samples of the largest brackish water lagoon of Asia; the Chilika lagoon in the state of Odisha, India between pre-COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 lockdown scenarios. Monthly water samples (n=30 stations) from 0.3 m depth were collected from three sectors of the lagoon seasonally; pre-monsoon, monsoon, and post-monsoon. In addition to various physical parameters [pH, salinity, alkalinity, (DO) dissolved oxygen, (TDS) total dissolved solids, and (EC) electrical conductivity] the collected water samples were analysed for 18 trace metals (Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr, Th, Tl, U, V). Most of the physical parameters showed a significant variation between pre-and post-COVID-19 scenarios, except for pH and DO. The concentration of five metals (Be, Cd, Co, Ni, and Pb) remained below detection limits in all water samples. The impact of COVID-19 lockdown on the concentration of the metal in the water samples was noticed along with the three sectors of the lagoon. However, eight metals (Al, As, Cr, Fe, Mn, Th, U, and V) were significantly different between the COVID-19 scenarios and the remaining five metals were not statistically significant. The mean concentration of Al, As, Fe, Th, and V were higher in the pre-COVID-19 scenarios, whereas only Cr and Mn were higher in the post-COVID-19 scenarios. The mean concentration of U was similar among both COVID-19 scenarios, even though there were seasonal and sectoral differences. The seasonal influence of riverine influx was more evident on metal concentration during the monsoon season, whereas the difference between sectors was more prominent during the post-monsoon season. An increased number of correlations between physical parameters and metal concentration were observed in the post-monsoon season and post-COVID-19 scenario. This study provides evidence that the imposition of COVID-19 lockdown reduced metal influx in the water column and improved the water quality of the Chilika lagoon. Our results can be used as baseline for metal concentration in surface waters of the lagoon.


2008 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 281-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Orapin Thapsingkaew ◽  
Vilailuck Kijjanapanich ◽  
Werawan Ruangyuttikarn

The efficiency of ozonation in comparison to chlorination for removal of microcystins and production of trihalomethanes (THMs) in water was investigated. One hundred and ninety water samples of ozone and chlorine treated water were collected at a water treatment plant between August 2004 and March 2005. The level of THMs, total organic carbon and residual chlorine were determined. Protein phosphatase 2A inhibition assay was used to detect microcystins and the presence of microcystins was confirmed by HPLC. The results show that 91.5% of the THM species in treated water was chloroform and 8.5% was bromodichloromethane. The mean THM level± standard error of mean in chlorinated water (CW) (45.1±3.0 μg/L) was higher than the mean of THM level in ozonated water (OW) (18.6±2.2 μg/L). In addition, no OW sample exceeded the first stage U.S. EPA maximum THM contaminant level for drinking water (80 μg/L) and only 8% of these samples exceeded the second stage level (40 μg/L). On the other hand, 3% of CW samples exceeded 80 μg/L and 68% exceeded the 40 μg/L level. The microcystin level in all water samples was below the WHO guideline value (1 μg/L) for drinking water.


1973 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. E. MILTIMORE ◽  
J. L. MASON ◽  
J. M. McARTHUR ◽  
C. C. STRACHAN ◽  
J. B. CLAPP

An experiment, using a total of 127 cattle on one ranch over a 2-yr period and 82 cattle at two separate locations on a second ranch in 1 yr, tested injections of copper (Cu) and injections of selenium (Se) with vitamin E, separately and in combination. Injections of 100 mg Cu as copper calcium edetate resulted in an increased overall daily gain of 118 g or 22%. The injections of Se and vitamin E did not significantly increase gain and there was no synergistic effect when the two materials were given together. The crude protein, inorganic sulfate, S, P, Ca, K, Mg, Cu, Mo, Fe, Mn, Zn, and B concentrations were determined on grass from the experimental pastures and from grass growing in fields around one ranch. These latter forages were collected in seven paired locations with one member forage of each set being harvested from an organic groundwater soil and the other from an adjacent clay soil where there was good drainage. Forage growing on well-drained soils had a Cu/Mo ratio of 1.9, which was almost treble the 0.7 ratio found in forage grown on the groundwater soil. Cu levels in hair from cattle on ranch B, given only Cu injections, averaged 13.4 ppm Cu on an oven-dry weight basis, which was 54% higher in Cu than hair from the control cattle. The mean concentration of Se in hair of cattle receiving Se with vitamin E was 60 ppm, which was not significantly different from the control at 58 ppm.


Author(s):  
Odai Attili ◽  
Rashed Al-Sa'ed

This paper investigated the effectiveness of natural wetlands (Phragmites australis) along Wadi Zomer in reducing the organic and inorganic pollution loads from diverse industrial discharges including occasional emergency discharges from Nablus West Sewage Treatment Plant (NWSTP), Palestine. We monitored physical and chemical parameters at four selective sampling stations (S1-S4) along Wadi Zomer with a length of 5 km downstream of NWSTP to assess the purification capacity of Wadi Zomer treatment wetlands (water, sediment, and vegetation) with Phragmites australis in pollution loads reduction. The results showed that S2 (0+0.5 km) and S3 (0+3.0 km) reflected an increase in pollution loads due to illicit industrial discharge and sewer overflow discharge from NWSTP during emergency conditions. BOD values varied significantly along the sampling sites from 6.64 mg/l (S1) to 437.10 mg/l (S3). The BOD at S1 and S2 in water samples were below the Palestinian Water Standard (PWS) compared to S3 and S4 with 437.1 and 333.9 mg/l, respectively. Water samples from all sites (S1-S4) showed a decreasing tendency in heavy metals concentrations (Fe>Cu>Zn>Cr >Ni) and were below the PWS limits, sediment samples followed the same decrease pattern for Zn, Cr, and Ni content with Wadi Zomer flow course. The concentration of Fe (6687 mg/kg) and Cu (1384.7 mg/kg) were highest in the sediment samples (S1-S4); this might be due to non-point sources of pollution. The research demonstrated that phytoremediation is a sustainable nature-based technology for the restoration of heavily polluted surface water bodies in Palestine.


Author(s):  
Montoya-Mendoza ◽  
Alarcón-Reyes ◽  
Castañeda-Chávez ◽  
Lango-Reynoso ◽  
Zamudio-Alemán

Concentrations of cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), vanadium (V), and zinc (Zn) were measured in the muscle of 30 specimens of Pterois volitans, captured on April 2018, in the Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP), Veracruz, Mexico. Concentrations, in the samples, were quantified with atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS), after microwave digestion. Results of the mean concentration, in descending order were V = 7.3 ± 0.7; Pb = 0.66 ± 0.07; Zn = 0.43 ± 0.14; and Cd = 0.03 ± 0.01 mg kg−¹ dry weight. These values did not exceeded limits established in the Mexican National Standard (NOM-242-SSA1-2009), of Cd and Pb (0.5 mg kg–¹) wet weight. This means that consumption of lionfish from this site does not pose a potential risk for human health.


2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 264-272
Author(s):  
Olayinka Abidemi Ibigbami

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were seasonally determined in water and sediments of the Elemi River, Nigeria using gas chromatography analysis. Samples were collected in two consecutive seasons for six months, monitoring the program every month. Three BDEs congeners (28, 47 and 154) were only detected with the mean concentration of ND - 0.001 µg/L and ND - 0.143 µg/kg in water and sediments, respectively. BDEs (99, 100, 153, 183 and 209) were consistently absent in both seasons. The distribution of BDEs showed that BDE 28 was consistently found in the water samples throughout the months of sampling, while the sediments sparingly contained BDE 28 and 47. The study proposed the need for effective measures to reduce the deleterious contribution of these persistent compounds into the rivers.


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