Trace metal distribution in the bed, bank and suspended sediment of the Ravensbourne River and its implication for sediment monitoring in an urban river

Purpose This study aims to identify a suitable sediment compartment for sediment quality monitoring by: (a) studying the concentration of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the bed, bank and suspended sediment compartments of the Ravensbourne River to establish any differences in trace metal concentrations with compartment; (b) determining the influence of sediment particle size fractions ( 0.05) in the concentrations of metals between the suspended sediment and the < 63 μm bed sediment fraction, but there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the suspended sediment and the < 63 μm bank sediment fraction. There were also significant differences between the concentrations of metals in the < 63 μm and the 63 μm–2 mm fractions. Generally, the Ravensbourne River did not comply with the draft UK sediment quality guidelines for the metals analysed. Conclusions This study shows the importance of identifying a suitable sediment compartment to sample for compliance with sediment quality standards. The bed and suspended sediments are the most widely used sediment compartments for sediment monitoring, but collecting sufficient mass of the < 63 μm sediment fraction for monitoring presents a challenge for urban gravel bed rivers like the Ravensbourne River. It seems appropriate to establish individual monitoring regimes for different rivers

Optimization of operating parameters of the measuring apparatus in elemental analysis of soft tissues using laser ablation technique with the detection in the mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma

Operating parameters of measurement equipment for the laser ablation of detection in the mass spectrometer with inductively coupled plasma were optimized. Optimization was employed in order to choose the conditions for carrying analyzes to ensure high analytical signal intensities and low values of relative standard deviation. Optimization was performed on a model sample with physicochemical properties similar to those of real samples of soft tissue. The following parameters underwent optimization: the energy of the laser pulse frequency, beam diameter and scanning speed. The selection of the optimal operating parameters was determined based on the intensity of the signal analysis, RSD value and visual evaluation of the process of ablation. Measurements were made using a quadrupole ICP-MS spectrometer (Elan DRC II PerkinElmer) with a laser ablation system (LSX-500 Cetac)

Analiza zmiennych kanonicznych zawatości chlorofilu w roślinach eksponowanych na różne stężenia ołowiu w powietrzu atmosferycznym

This paper presents the results of biomonitoring of Pb in ambient air. For this purpose Italian ryegrass was used to evaluate Pb level. Additionally chlorophyll forms (a+b, a and b) were measured in leaves. Plants were exposed at 5 sites varying in environmental characteristics in the 2011 growing season. A similar set of plants was conducted in control conditions. Three 28-day long exposure series were performed. The aim of this study was to analyse the relation between Pb level and chlorophyll content in various exposure sites and series using multivariate analysis of variance. The analysis revealed variability of Pb and all chlorophyll forms contents in different exposure sites and series. The lowest level of Pb concentrations was noted at a suburban site together with the highest level of all chlorophyll forms contents. Canonical variate analysis could be a proper tool for a graphical data presentation of Pb level in plants exposed to various environmental conditions.Praca prezentuje rezultaty biomonitoringu ołowiu w zróżnicowanych warunkach środowiskowych. Do oceny zawartości poziomu ołowiu wykorzystano rośliny życicy wielokwiatowej. Dodatkowo w liściach oznaczono zawartość chlorofilu (a+b, a oraz b) w świeżej masie. Rośliny eksponowano w okresie wegetacyjnym roku 2011 na pięciu stanowiskach badawczych różniących się parametrami środowiskowymi oraz w warunkach kontrolnych. Rośliny eksponowano w 28-dniowych okresach badawczych. Wyniki zawartości Pb oraz poziomów chlorofili w różnych miejscach ekspozycyjnych oraz seriach testowano z zastosowaniem wielowymiarowej analizy wariancji. Wykazano zmienność zawartości Pb oraz poziomów wszystkich form chlorofilu w różnych miejscach ekspozycyjnych i seriach. Najniższe zawartości ołowiu oraz najwyższe poziomy wszystkich form chlorofilu zaobserwowano na stanowisku podmiejskim. W pracy wykazano przydatność analizy zmiennych kanonicznych do graficznej prezentacji wyników biomonitoringu powietrza