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ABSTRACT: A geochemical baseline provides the means to distinguish between the pedogenic origin and the anthropogenic origin of the
trace element in the environmental compartments. We collected 271 soil samples representative of different parent rocks and
soil types from the whole territory of Hong Kong and analyzed the composition of clay mineralogy and the contents of 15 chemical
elements (Fe, Cd, As, etc.) for these samples. The baseline was predicted with the method of the normalization procedure combined
with the relative cumulative frequency curve. The result indicated that Fe was the best reference element for the normalization
procedure among the five potential reference elements (Fe, Al, Sc, Ti, and Mn), followed by Sc and Ti. A poor correlation
was found between Sc, Ti, and Cu. The predicted baseline was much lower than the A-value of the Dutch List used usually in screening the polluted soil of Hong Kong, implying that the extent of heavy metal
pollution might have been underestimated with respect to local lands. We also applied the cluster analysis to distinguish
the geochemical associations of the trace elements due to its importance to the baseline. Approximately three major associations
including the Fe–Mn-oxides related, Al oxides or Al-bearing-clay-mineralogy related and sulfide- related associations were
observed from the dendrogram.
Environmental Geology 01/2007; 52(5):843-851. · 1.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Surface soil (0-10 cm) samples from 53 sampling sites including rural and urban areas of Hong Kong were collected and analyzed for 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total PAH concentrations were in the range of 7.0-410 microg kg(-1) (dry wt), with higher concentrations in urban soils than that in rural soils. The three predominant PAHs were Fluoranthene, Naphthalene and Pyrene in rural soils, while Fluoranthene, Naphthalene and Benzo(b + k)fluoranthene dominated the PAHs of urban soils. The values of PAHs isomer indicated that biomass burning might be the major origin of PAHs in rural soils, but vehicular emission around the heavy traffic roads might contribute to the soil PAHs in urban areas. A cluster analysis was performed and grouped the detectable PAHs under 4 clusters, which could be indicative of the PAHs with different origins and PAHs affected by soil organic carbon contents respectively.
Environmental Pollution 06/2006; 141(1):107-14. · 3.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: It was short of research on the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) residues in the soils of Hong Kong. Sixty-six representative soil samples were collected from the 46 sites covering five types of land uses in Hong Kong. Hexachlorohexanes (HCH) and 7 Stockholm Convention OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a Nickel 63 electronic capture detector (muECD). The results presented that HCH and 5 Stockholm Convention pesticides were detected in Hong Kong soils although the detectable ratio varies to a great extent. The concentration sequence of the five detectable OCPs was HCH > dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) > hexachlorobenzene (HCB) approximately = Endrin > alpha-endosulfan. Among the OCPs and their homologues or isomers, beta-HCH and p,p'-DDE were the two predominant substances according to the concentrations and detectable ratios, concentrations of which in soils were averagely 6.12 microg kg(-1) and 0.41 microg kg(-1) respectively. Soil horizon samples of 0-10 cm, 10-30 cm and >30 cm depth were selected from nine soil profiles to demonstrate the depth distributions of DDT and HCH in soil profiles. Concentrations of HCH tended to increase gradually from the topsoil to bottom layer while the lowest concentration of DDT is usually found in the subsoil (10-30 cm) in most sampling sites. In addition, close correlations of pH(KCl) and total organic carbon (TOC) with HCH indicated an effect on the residues of HCH caused by these two soils properties, but such relationships were not found with DDT or other OCPs.
Chemosphere 04/2006; 63(4):633-41. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Plants that hyperaccumulate metals are ideal subjects for studying the mechanisms of metal and mineral nutrient uptake in the plant kingdom. Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) has been shown to accumulate moderate levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu. In this experiment, 10 levels of Cd concentration treatments were imposed by adding 10–190 mg Cd kg–1 to the soils as cadmium nitrate [Cd(NO3)2]. The effect of Cd on phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and the micronutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in B. juncea was studied. Plant growth was affected negatively by Cd, root biomass decreased significantly at 170 mg Cd kg–1 dry weight soils treatment. Cadmium accumulation both in shoots and roots increased with increasing soil Cd treatments. The highest concentration of Cd was up to 300 mg kg–1 d.w. in the roots and 160 mg kg–1 d.w. in the shoots. The nutrients mainly affected by Cd were P, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn in the roots, and P, K, Ca, and Cu in the shoots. K and P concentrations in roots increased significantly when Cd was added at 170 mg kg–1, and this was almost the same level at which root growth was inhibited. Zn concentrations in roots decreased significantly when added Cd concentration was increased from 50 to 110 mg kg–1, then remained constant with Cd treatments from 110 to 190 mg kg–1. However, Zn concentrations in the shoots seemed less affected by Cd. It is possible that Zn uptake was affected by the Cd but not the translocation of Zn within the plant. Ca and Mg accumulation in roots and shoots showed similar trends. This result indicates that Ca and Mg uptake is a non-specific process.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health 05/2004; 26(2):319-324. · 1.62 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A laboratory incubation study was conducted using a paddy soil spiked with two quantities of Zn as soluble Zn(NO3)2 and unamended controls. Three single extractants (1 M ammonium acetate (pH 7.0), 0.43 M acetic acid and 0.05 M EDTA) were used to assess the bioavailability of Zn. Biological community assessments were made microbial biomass (chloroform fumigation), soil basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity. During the 84-day period of the experiment, addition of Zn at both 500 and 1,000 mg kg(-1) had little detectable effect on soil pH. The concentration of NH4OAc-extractable Zn decreased rapidly within the initial six weeks. The concentration of HOAc-extractable Zn showed no decrease during 84 days incubation. EDTA-extractable Zn was greater than NH4OAc- and HOAc-extractable fractions, and showed a similar trend to NH4OAc-extractable after incubation. Microbial biomass, soil basal respiration and dehydrogenase activity all decreased over time during 84 days incubation. Addition of Zn resulted in a significant increase in specific respiration (qCO2). Microbial biomass and dehydrogenase activity did not appear to be influenced by added Zn, probably due to the strong buffering capacity of the soil. The Zn extracted by EDTA, HOAc and NH4OAc showed close relationships with each other (p < 0.001). Zinc extracted by 0.05 M EDTA and NH4OAc were highly correlated with soil basal respiration and specific respiration rate (p < 0.01). The results suggest that NH4OAc-extractable Zn combined with soil specific respiration could be used as parameters for risk assessment.
Chemosphere 03/2003; 50(6):855-61. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Small soil suction samplers have been used for several years to sample soil solution for chemical analysis in laboratory and glasshouse experiments. They are very cheap, effective and convenient. Here we describe for the first time their use in studies on sediment porewater. Bulk sediment from West Lake, a shallow hypereutrophic lake in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province, China, was placed in laboratory microcosms and incubated in the dark at 25 degrees C for 182 days to evaluate the feasibility of using the samplers to extract sediment porewater and to estimate NH4+ flux across the sediment-water interface under anaerobic conditions. The results show that the samplers were capable of sequentially extracting sediment porewater, 15 ml of which could be readily extracted for analysis within 30-45 min by vacuum applied using a plastic syringe. The NH4+ flux under laboratory conditions was characterized by a fast phase during the initial 18 days of incubation followed by a slower linear phase, with average release rates of 11.6 and 3.6 mg N m(-2) d(-1), respectively.
Chemosphere 03/2003; 50(6):711-5. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: A pot experiment was conducted to investigate the influence of EDTA on the extractability of Cd in the soil and uptake of Cd by Indian mustard (Brassica juncea). Twenty levels of soil Cd concentration ranging from 10 to 200 mg kg(-1) were produced by spiking aliquots of a clay loam paddy soil with Cd(NO3)2. One week before the plants were harvested EDTA was applied to pots in which the soil had been spiked with 20, 40, 60...200 mg Cd kg(-1). The EDTA was added at the rate calculated to complex with all of the Cd added at the 200 mg kg(-1) level. Control pots spiked with 10, 30, 50... 190 mg Cd kg(-1) received no EDTA. The plants were harvested after 42 days' growth. Soil water- and NH4NO3-extractable Cd fractions increased rapidly following EDTA application. Root Cd concentrations decreased after EDTA application, but shoot concentrations increased when the soil Cd levels were >130 mg kg(-1) and Cd toxicity symptoms were observed. The increases in soil solution Cd induced by EDTA did not increase plant total Cd uptake but appeared to stimulate the translocation of the metal from roots to shoots when the plants appeared to be under Cd toxicity stress. The results are discussed in relation to the possible mechanisms by which EDTA may change the solubility and bioavailability of Cd in the soil and the potential for plant uptake and environmental risk due to leaching losses to groundwater.
Chemosphere 03/2003; 50(6):813-8. · 3.21 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Surface soil (0–10 cm) samples from 53 sampling sites including rural and urban areas of Hong Kong were collected and analyzed for 16 EPA priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Total PAH concentrations were in the range of 7.0–410 μg kg−1 (dry wt), with higher concentrations in urban soils than that in rural soils. The three predominant PAHs were Fluoranthene, Naphthalene and Pyrene in rural soils, while Fluoranthene, Naphthalene and Benzo(b + k)fluoranthene dominated the PAHs of urban soils. The values of PAHs isomer indicated that biomass burning might be the major origin of PAHs in rural soils, but vehicular emission around the heavy traffic roads might contribute to the soil PAHs in urban areas. A cluster analysis was performed and grouped the detectable PAHs under 4 clusters, which could be indicative of the PAHs with different origins and PAHs affected by soil organic carbon contents respectively.
Environmental Pollution.
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[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Plants that hyperaccumulate metals are ideal subjects for studying the mechanisms of metal and mineral nutrient uptake in the plant kingdom. Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea) has been shown to accumulate moderate levels of Cd, Pb, Cr, Ni, Zn, and Cu. In this experiment, 10 levels of Cd concentration treatments were imposed by adding 10-190 mg Cd kg(-1) to the soils as cadmium nitrate [Cd(NO3)2]. The effect of Cd on phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and the micronutrients iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn) in B. juncea was studied. Plant growth was affected negatively by Cd, root biomass decreased significantly at 170 mg Cd kg(-1) dry weight soils treatment. Cadmium accumulation both in shoots and roots increased with increasing soil Cd treatments. The highest concentration of Cd was up to 300 mg kg(-1) d.w. in the roots and 160 mg kg(-1) d.w. in the shoots. The nutrients mainly affected by Cd were P, K, Ca, Fe, and Zn in the roots, and P, K, Ca, and Cu in the shoots. K and P concentrations in roots increased significantly when Cd was added at 170 mg kg(-1), and this was almost the same level at which root growth was inhibited. Zn concentrations in roots decreased significantly when added Cd concentration was increased from 50 to 110 mg kg(-1), then remained constant with Cd treatments from 110 to 190 mg kg(-1). However, Zn concentrations in the shoots seemed less affected by Cd. It is possible that Zn uptake was affected by the Cd but not the translocation of Zn within the plant. Ca and Mg accumulation in roots and shoots showed similar trends. This result indicates that Ca and Mg uptake is a non-specific process.
Environmental Geochemistry and Health 26(2-3):319-24. · 1.62 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Information on carbon (C) storages and the changes under the shifting of land use is of particular interest for estimating the gains and losses of soil C at a regional scale. The present study attempted to quantify the soil organic carbon (SOC) storage in the Hong Kong soils for the first time as well as to demonstrate the changes of SOC density after the transformations of paddy fields to other land usages due to the decline of agricultural activities. SOC storages were estimated by combining the land-use areas and profile data derived from our recent soil survey (248 samples were collected) and other reports. The results indicated that SOC densities to the upper 100 cm ranged from 25.06 Mg ha− 1 of urban park land to 288.65 Mg ha− 1 of swamp and mangrove, and total SOC storage in the upper 100 cm was 8.8548 × 106 t, approximately 0.51% of that in the soils of Guangdong Province China. Approximately 46.5% to 70.5% of the SOC pool was stored in the upper 40-cm depth, and SOC densities were much consistent in depth distributions under different land uses. Different changes of SOC density were evidenced after the conversion from paddy fields to orchards, vegetable land and grassland. The uncertainties were also discussed for lack of the data from a long term survey at a particular location.
Geoderma.
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[show abstract]
[hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: It was short of research on the organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) residues in the soils of Hong Kong. Sixty-six representative soil samples were collected from the 46 sites covering five types of land uses in Hong Kong. Hexachlorohexanes (HCH) and 7 Stockholm Convention OCPs were analyzed by gas chromatograph (GC) equipped with a Nickel 63 electronic capture detector (μECD). The results presented that HCH and 5 Stockholm Convention pesticides were detected in Hong Kong soils although the detectable ratio varies to a great extent. The concentration sequence of the five detectable OCPs was HCH > dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) > hexachlorobenzene (HCB) ≈ Endrin > α-endosulfan. Among the OCPs and their homologues or isomers, β-HCH and p,p′-DDE were the two predominant substances according to the concentrations and detectable ratios, concentrations of which in soils were averagely 6.12 μg kg−1 and 0.41 μg kg−1 respectively. Soil horizon samples of 0–10 cm, 10–30 cm and >30 cm depth were selected from nine soil profiles to demonstrate the depth distributions of DDT and HCH in soil profiles. Concentrations of HCH tended to increase gradually from the topsoil to bottom layer while the lowest concentration of DDT is usually found in the subsoil (10–30 cm) in most sampling sites. In addition, close correlations of pH(KCl) and total organic carbon (TOC) with HCH indicated an effect on the residues of HCH caused by these two soils properties, but such relationships were not found with DDT or other OCPs.
Chemosphere.
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ABSTRACT: A total of 66 surface (0–10 cm) soil samples covering the whole territory of Hong Kong were collected for analysis of the seven PCB congeners. The detectable concentrations of PCBs in the soils of Hong Kong ranged from 0.07 to 9.87 μg kg− 1, with a higher concentration in the urban area than in the countryside. PCB patterns were dominated by the low chlorinated congeners. PCB118, a dioxin-like congener, was found in samples from Tsuen Wan and Sha Tin and was assumed to be deposited from local sources. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that the sources of PCBs were mainly associated with Aroclor 1242 and Aroclor 1248. A significant linear correlation between the concentrations of soil organic matter (SOM) and the sum of 7 PCBs and of SOM and PCB153 was observed. In total, PCBs were not a severe contamination in the soils of Hong Kong from the current results. However, long-term monitoring is still recommended to keeping, especially in the landfill deposits and some urban parks.
Geoderma.
