RESUMEN
In order to evaluate suitable remediation strategies for Cu-polluted soils, the growth, tolerance, and Cu accumulation of Sarcocornia perennis and Limonium brasiliense were studied in hydroponic culture using different Cu concentrations, with and without Undaria pinnatifida compost. Most measured variables (e.g., water content, aboveground dry weight, malondialdehyde, pigments concentrations, tolerance index) showed a negative effect of high Cu levels in plants without compost but not in plants with compost. Plants accumulated high Cu levels in belowground tissues (bioaccumulation factor > 1) showing low translocation to aboveground parts. Based on the results, we suggest two remediation strategies: a short-term strategy: root absorption of Cu by halophytes, and a long-term strategy: using halophytes and U. pinnatifida compost, involving absorption of Cu by the plants together with metal immobilization in the substrate. This last strategy offers an additional advantage: it provides a use for seaweed waste, considered a problem for several coastal cities.
Asunto(s)
Chenopodiaceae , Compostaje , Restauración y Remediación Ambiental , Metales Pesados , Algas Marinas , Contaminantes del Suelo , Biodegradación Ambiental , Plantas Tolerantes a la Sal , Suelo/química , Contaminantes del Suelo/análisisRESUMEN
Soil metal pollution in two Sarcocornia salt marshes within the Bahía Blanca estuary (Argentina, South America) was evaluated through pseudo-total and bioavailable metal levels and pollution indexes. Soil conditions were also studied. The pseudo-total metal concentrations were similar in both salt marshes and followed the same decreasing order: Fe > Zn > Cu > Cr > Ni > Pb > Cd. Bioavailable metals presented different patterns between salt marshes. The percentages of the bioavailable fraction varied between 28 and 80%, being higher than 60% for Cu, Zn and Pb. Organic matter ruled the distribution of all metals, except Pb. Using shale average concentration as background level, indexes did not show pollution nor enrichment, whereas using as background levels local values, anthropogenic enrichment was found for all metals and most metals showed moderate metal pollution. Our results showed that bioavailable metals levels and indexes using local background values provide an adequate assessment of metal pollution in salt marsh soils.
Asunto(s)
Metales Pesados , Contaminantes del Suelo , Argentina , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Estuarios , Metales Pesados/análisis , Medición de Riesgo , Suelo , Contaminantes del Suelo/análisis , América del Sur , HumedalesRESUMEN
Composting represents a suitable and cheap method for handling and processing seaweeds accumulated on the coast. Within this framework, two seaweed composts were prepared, one with Undaria pinnatifida accumulated in spring-summer and other with a mixture of seaweeds accumulated in autumn-winter, both from Central Patagonian beaches. The effect of these two composts was evaluated experimentally as an amendment for the growth of Sarcocornia perennis (chickenclaws), a plant species dominating Patagonian salt marshes. Both composts were applied at 75, 50, and 25% doses with perlite. The analysis of the compost properties (phytotoxicity test, C/N, electrical conductivity, pH, and metal content) allowed characterizing both composts as matures and stables. The growth results showed that both composts allow the growth of S. perennis in all doses tested; however, Undaria compost was better in the stimulation of vegetative growth when applied in dose 50%, followed by 75% of both composts. For these reasons, both composts from seaweed waste accumulated on Patagonian coasts could be used in the growth of S. perennis and potentially other plant species, giving value to the seaweeds that currently are considered a waste that disturb these coasts and are discarded without use.
Asunto(s)
Chenopodiaceae , Compostaje , Algas Marinas , Metales , Suelo , VerdurasRESUMEN
Salt marshes are capable of reducing metal pollution in coastal waters, but this capacity is highly dependent on the metal, the physico-chemical characteristics of the sediment, the plant species, the production of biomass, the time of the year, etc. The aim of this study was to assess the uptake and accumulation of Pb, Ni, Cu and Zn in Spartina alterniflora from three salt marshes within the Bahía Blanca estuary (BBE), a human-impacted Argentinean system. Metal concentrations in sediments and plants showed the same order at all sites: Znâ¯>â¯Cuâ¯>â¯Pbâ¯≥â¯Ni. The site with lower organic matter and fine sediment content had lower metal concentrations in the sediments, but not a lower metal content in the plant tissues, meaning that the sediment characteristics influenced the metal concentrations in the sediment and their uptake by plants. Despite differences in sediment characteristics between sites, metals were always higher in the belowground tissues than in aboveground ones and, in general, higher in dead than in live tissues. Some metals were accumulated in plant tissues, but not others, and this is dependent on the metal and the sediment characteristics. Allocation patterns of metals in tissues of S. alterniflora were mainly dependent on metal concentrations, determining higher belowground pools, but the aboveground pools were important in some cases due to higher biomass. Partitioning of metals in above or belowground pools determines their fate within the estuarine system, since tissues can decompose in situ (belowground) or be exported (aboveground). Seasonal dynamics were important for some variables but were less noticeable than the differences between sites and tissues. Our results indicate that S. alterniflora from the BBE is efficient in accumulating some metals, despite usually low metal concentrations in sediments and plants. This accumulation capacity has implications for the whole system through the fate of the tissues.
Asunto(s)
Monitoreo del Ambiente , Sedimentos Geológicos/química , Metales Pesados/metabolismo , Poaceae/metabolismo , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/metabolismo , Argentina , Estuarios , Poaceae/química , Poaceae/crecimiento & desarrollo , HumedalesRESUMEN
Coastal areas are urbanized and industrialized environments, affected by dredging operations, discharges of untreated municipal wastewaters, and farming. Developing countries are in continuous growth and will deal, in a close future, with the highest rate of coastal transformation, posing serious risks for the ecological and environmental value of ecosystem assets. This research aims to study the dissolved and particulate Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn values within an argentinean estuarine environment which is currently under human-induced pressures. Concentrations of all the metals under analyses showed seasonal variability of both dissolved and particulate metals. An important outcome of this study was that dissolved Cr, Pb and Zn attained maximum values and overall increased concentrations with respect to previous records from the same area. Indeed, the highest concentrations were found during the dredging operations or in association with increases in the metal levels from wastewater discharges. The results also indicated that human activities contributed the least to the dissolved Ni concentrations. The particulate fraction of Cr, Ni and Zn showed an upward trend in the concentrations, particularly during the last two sampling dates, being also positively correlated between each other. Regarding their respective environmental quality standards, many samples achieved dissolved Cr and Zn concentrations above the maximum values recommended by international guidelines. Thus, this study highlights the possibility of stressors like dredging activities and municipal wastewaters to cause increases in the water column pollution levels.
Asunto(s)
Monitoreo del Ambiente , Estuarios , Metales/análisis , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Humanos , Metales Pesados/análisisRESUMEN
Four sites were selected in a salt marsh in the Bahia Blanca Estuary (Argentina): (1) low marsh (flooded by the tide twice daily) vegetated by S. alterniflora; (2) non-vegetated low marsh; (3) high marsh (flooded only in spring tides) vegetated by S. alterniflora; (4) non-vegetated high marsh. The pH and Eh were measured in sediments, while dissolved nutrients (ammonium, nitrate, nitrite and phosphate) and particulate organic matter (POM) were determined in pore water. pH (6.2-8.7) was only affected by vegetation in low areas. Eh (from -300 to 250 mV) was lower at low sites than at high ones; in the latter, the values were higher in the non-vegetated sediments. The POM concentration was greater in the high marsh than in the low marsh, with no effect of vegetation. Ammonium was the most abundant nitrogen nutrient species in pore water, except in the non-vegetated high marsh where nitrate concentration was higher. All nitrogen nutrients were affected by both flooding and vegetation. Phosphate was always present in pore water at all sites throughout the year and its concentration varied within narrow limits, with no effect of flooding and greater values always at non-vegetated sites. Our results showed that the variability of the pore water composition within the marsh is greater than the temporal variation, meaning that both tidal flooding and vegetation are important in the dynamics of nutrients and organic matter in the sediment pore water.