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The safe disposal of pulp and paper mill effluent is still a threat to the environment due to the presence of several unknown organic pollutants. The comparative physico-chemical analysis of pulp and paper mill effluent-contaminated sediment (PPECS) of site 1 and site 2 showed that the sediment had an alkaline nature and was loaded with several organic pollutants and heavy metals. SEM-EDX examination showed a porous structure with a heterogeneous distribution of particles, allowing the adsorption of metal and other complex organic ions. FTIR analysis depicted the presence of a variety of functional groups, i.e., alkyl halides, phenolics, and lignin, in the contaminated sediment. GC-MS analysis showed the major presence of organic pollutants, i.e., 2-methyl-4-keto-2-pentan-2-ol and 3,7-dioxa-2,8-disilanonane,2,2,8,8-tetramethyl-5-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy], in the site 1 sediment contaminated with pulp and paper mill waste, while 2-methyl-4-keto-2-trimethylsiloxypentane, 4-ethyl-2-methoxyphenol, ethyl-2-octynoate, cis -9-hexadecenoic acid, and octadecenoic acid were detected in the site 2 sediment contaminated with pulp and paper mill waste. The genotoxicity of PPECS determined by examining Allium cepa root cell division showed chromosomal aberration. In this study, several compounds that have not been reported before were identified.

A halotolerant bacterial strain was isolated from oily-contaminated sites of Persian Gulf, which characterized as Pseudomonas aeruginosa (AHV-KH10) by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. This strain was used for bioremediation of diesel-contaminated sediments. Biosurfactant production was initially screened by using oil displacement test and drop-collapse method, followed by measurement of surface tension (ST) of growth medium. Produced biosurfactant was a rhamnolipid type biosurfactant and lowered the ST to 33.4 mN/m at the given critical micelle concentration (CMC) of 75 mg/L. Addition of 3 CMC rhamnolipid, inoculums size of 15 mL, biodegradation in slurry phase and salinity level of 6% led totally to a diesel biodegradation rate of 70% for initial concentration of 1000 mg/kg after 35 days. The maximum diesel removal occurred at the salinity content of 6% indicating the moderately halo-tolerant characteristics of isolated strain. Evaluation of bacterial growth showed a biomass yield of 0.33 mg VSS/mg diesel in selected conditions. The field performance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AHV-KH10 was proved through the removal of the TPH content in unwashed sediment, which varied from 2390 to 1875 mg/kg within four months.

Recent studies aiming at a fluorine mass balance analysis in sediments combined the determination of extractable organic fluorine (EOF) with target analysis. They reported high fractions of unidentified organic fluorine (UOF) compounds, as the target analysis covers only a limited number of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). For this reason, in this study, a comprehensive approach was used combining target analysis with an extended PFAS spectrum, the EOF and a modified total oxidisable precursor (TOP) assay, which includes trifluoroacetic acid, to determine the PFAS contamination in sediments ( n =41) and suspended solids ( n =1) from water bodies in Northern Germany (Lower Saxony). PFAS are ubiquitous in the sediments (detected in 83% of the samples). Perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs) were found in 64% of the samples; perfluorinated sulfonic acids (PFSAs) were detected less frequently (21%), with the highest concentration observed for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS). Levels of precursors and substitutes were lower. Applying the TOP assay resulted in an increase in PFCAs in 43% of the samples analysed. In most cases, target analysis and the TOP assay could not account for the EOF concentrations measured. However, as the fraction of UOF decreased significantly, the application of the TOP assay in fluorine mass balance analysis proved to be an important tool in characterising the PFAS contamination of riverine sediments.

Abstract Microbial communities that support respiration of halogenated organic contaminants by Dehalococcoides sp. facilitate full-scale bioremediation of chlorinated ethenes and demonstrate the potential to aid in bioremediation of halogenated aromatics like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). However, it remains unclear if Dehalococcoides-containing microbial community dynamics observed in sediment-free systems quantitatively resemble that of sediment environments. To evaluate that possibility we assembled, annotated, and analyzed a Dehalococcoides sp. metagenome-assembled genome (MAG) from PCB-contaminated sediments. Phylogenetic analysis of reductive dehalogenase gene (rdhA) sequences within the MAG revealed that pcbA1 and pcbA4/5-like rdhA were absent, while several candidate PCB dehalogenase genes and potentially novel rdhA sequences were identified. Using a compositional comparative metagenomics approach, we quantified Dehalococcoides-containing microbial community structure shifts in response to halogenated organics and the presence of sediments. Functional level analysis revealed significantly greater abundances of genes associated with cobamide remodeling and horizontal gene transfer in tetrachloroethene-fed cultures as compared to halogenated aromatic-exposed consortia with or without sediments, despite little evidence of statistically significant differences in microbial community taxonomic structure. Our findings support the use of a generalizable comparative metagenomics workflow to evaluate Dehalococcoides-containing consortia in sediments and sediment-free environments to eludicate functions and microbial interactions that facilitate bioremediation of halogenated organic contaminants. Combined read- and assembly based metagenomics of taxonomically similar Dehalococcoides-containing microbial communities in the presence of either halogenated aromatics or tetrachloroethene (PCE) yields a Dehalococcoides mccartyi MAG from PCB-contaminated sediments that lacks known bi-functional PCE/PCB reductive dehalogenase genes and reveals differentially abundant functional genes involved in cobamide remodeling and horizontal gene transfer.

Ecological risk assessment (ERA) is used to determine potential effect of human activities and industries on the natural environment. Numerous ERA management approaches exist and vary based on jurisdiction or ecological media. This ERA focused on contaminants within an aquatic ecosystem in sediments and surface water at South Baymouth port facility in Ontario, Canada. Contaminants were evaluated using the Canada-Ontario Decision-Making Framework for Assessment of Great Lakes Contaminated Sediments (COA). Following COA, this study (1) examined historical data from South Baymouth to determine contaminants of potential concern, (2) delineated potential contamination by comparing sediment and surface water concentration data to sediment quality guidelines and water quality guidelines from Canada and from different jurisdictions if Canadian guidelines were unavailable, (3) compared sediment concentrations to reference concentrations, and (4) developed an ERA decision matrix (used to inform management decisions at this aquatic site). Although sediments exhibited negligible potential for ecological risk and required no remedial management action, this case study highlights strengths of using COA for this ERA which included use of iterative and consistent approaches, but also highlights weaknesses which included unclear linkages between cause and effects of aquatic contaminants. Recommendations for future ERAs at contaminated aquatic sites include use of passive samplers and incorporating recent macroecology techniques.

The Aare river system in Switzerland, with two nuclear power plants on the banks of the river, and its intermediate lakes and reservoirs, provides a unique opportunity to analyze the contribution of different sources to the radioactive contamination. Sediment cores were collected from two lakes and a reservoir, all connected by the river Aare. In order to study the influence of the Chernobyl accident, one sediment core was collected from a lake in the southern part of Switzerland. The sediment cores were sliced and analyzed with gamma ray spectrometry. Plutonium, americium, and uranium were extracted radiochemically, and their concentrations were measured with a sector field ICP-MS. The uranium isotope ratios were further measured with a multi collector ICP-MS. The maximum 137 Cs activity from the Chernobyl accident and the Pu and 137 Cs activities associated to the 1963 global fallout maximum were well identified in sediments from all three lakes. High-resolution records of plutonium isotopes in the zone of the sediments corresponding to the period of maximum fallout from the atmospheric nuclear weapon testing showed distinct fingerprints, depending on the different test activities. Pu isotope ratios could be used to detect non-global fallout plutonium. The ratio 241 Am/ 241 Pu was used to determine the age of the plutonium. Despite of very low 241 Pu and 241 Am concentrations, the calculated plutonium production dates seemed to be reasonable for the sediment layers corresponding to the NWT tests. The calculated production date of the plutonium in the upper most 15 cm of the sediment core seemed to be younger. The reason for this could be additional non-global fallout plutonium. For the lake sediments, natural ratios for 235 U/ 238 U and enriched or depleted ratios for 234 U/ 238 U were measured, depending on the lake. A small increase of the 236 U/ 238 U ratio could be recognized for the NWT zone in all three lakes and, for Lake Lugano, a further distinct increase in the Chernobyl layer.

Historical industrial activities at the Horn Richterwil, on the shore of Lake Zurich (Switzerland), caused widespread metal contamination on land and in the adjacent lake sediments. This study provides an estimation of the age and source of the contamination by using XRF core scanning, ICP-OES, and Hg-AFS for quantitative measurements of trace metals and MC-ICP-MS for the stable isotope analysis of mercury. Radiometric dating ( 137 Cs, 210 Pb, and Pu dating) of two proximal cores and varve chronology in a distal core suggest two different contaminations, one stemming from around 1960 (Zn, Cd) and an earlier one from 1880 (Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn). The XRF data suggest two different contamination pathways: one by landfill of contaminated soil and another one by industrial wastewater effluents. Maximum concentrations found within all samples are in the range of per mil (dry weight) for Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb, Sn, and Zn and lie within the top 10 cm of the sediment cores. The analysis of the mercury isotopic composition ( δ 202 Hg and Δ 199 Hg) shows a significantly different signature for one of the cores, indicating a second mercury source. We could not identify the exact source or process leading to the isotopic fractionation of mercury, but the isotopic data confirm two different sources.

Here, we report on new data (75 analyses) of plutonium (Pu) isotopes to elucidate activity concentrations, inventories, sources, and their transport from the ocean surface to the seafloor from a collection of six deep-sea sediment cores (depths ranging from 257 to 3739 m) in the southern Gulf of Mexico. Sediment cores collected from the continental shelf and upper slope region of the Gulf of Mexico showed 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratios of 0.15 to 0.26, and 239+240 Pu-inventories ranging from 14.7 to 33.0 Bq m −2 . Inventories and ratios are consistent with global fallout Pu for this tropical region. In contrast, sediment cores collected from the lower slope region and abyssal plain showed low 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratios of 0.07 to 0.13 and much lower 239+240 Pu inventories below 6.8 Bq m −2 . This implies that only a small fraction of the expected global fallout Pu has reached the deep-sea sediments. The low 240 Pu/ 239 Pu isotope ratios indicate that fallout from the Nevada testing site was an important source of Pu in deep-sea sediments, and that this Pu was likely more efficiently scavenged from the water column than Pu from global fallout. We estimated that up to 44% of the total inventory of 239+240 Pu in deep-sea sediments is due to the Nevada source. Low values and a progressive decrease of 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratios and 239+240 Pu inventories with increasing water depth have been previously reported for the Gulf of Mexico. Analysis of Pu isotopes in two sediment traps from the upper slope regions shows 240 Pu/ 239 Pu ratios comparable to those observed in global fallout. These results indicate that global fallout Pu is currently the main source of Pu in sinking particles in the water column. Therefore, a significant fraction of global fallout Pu must still be present, either in a dissolved phase, or as biologically recycled material in the water column, or scavenged on the shelf and shelf break. Our results bring to light important questions on the application of Pu isotopes to establish sediment chronologies in deep-sea sediments, since global fallout features such as the 1963 maximum are not available.

This paper uses a new integrated method, namely PHDVPSS, which utilizes vacuum pressure (VP) coupled with prefabricated horizontal drain along with solidification/stabilization (SS) for the effective treatment of high-water content dredged contaminated sediment (DCS). This study sought to evaluate the physico-mechanical and microstructural behaviour of high-water content DCS treated with MgO-GGBS (MG) and Portland cement (PC) as PHDVPSS binders and compared to the traditional Portland cement solidification/stabilization (SS-PC) method. Physico-mechanical and microstructural characteristics of the DCS treated with the PHDVPSS method were evaluated by performing a number of tests such as unconfined compressive strength (UCS), toxicity characteristics of the leaching process (TCLP), pH, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) combined with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Treatment results showed that the DCS treated with the MG binder in the PHDVPSS method showed superior performance in terms of a significant reduction in the water content and leachability of zinc (Zn) along with higher mechanical strength and dry density of the samples compared to the traditional SS-PC method. After 56-day curing time, VP-MG cases showed 17.6 % and 50 % higher dry density values, resulting in 2.5 and 17.3 times higher UCS values than VP-PC and SS-PC cases, respectively. In contrast, VP-MG cases showed lower pH values than those of VP-PC and SS-PC cases. Moreover, VP-MG cases exhibited 37.5 % and 44.3 % lower leached Zn concentration during a TCLP test than VP-PC cases and SS-PC cases, respectively. XRD and SEM-EDS tests showed that more voluminous hydration products were produced in the VP-MG cases, which in turn produced a dense stabilized matrix and significantly reduced the leachability of zinc.

In this study, the anthropogenic contamination in Trasimeno lake (Central Italy) was investigated using three sediment cores spanning over the last 150 years (Anthropocene) to identify the primary sources of pollution and quantify the level of contaminant enrichment in the basin. First, based on the relative cumulative frequency and linear regression methods, we obtained a geochemical baseline for the lake using the deeper parts of the sediment cores. The geochemical baseline allowed us to determine the values of trace elements enrichment factors. On this knowledge, as a second result, we were able to reconstruct the natural sources and the anthropogenic impact on the lake with a biennial resolution. This goal has been obtained by combining different inorganic and organic chemical proxies such as trace elements, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and lead isotope ratios and exploiting both principal component and factor analysis to associate chemical proxies to human-driven contamination processes. Five different groups of elements have been identified, one of which is of natural origin and four of anthropogenic origin. In particular, it was possible to identify the times and impacts of the industrial activities during the Second World War, which dispersed heavy metals in sediments. Moreover, we found evidence of the recent human activities that have characterized the surroundings of the basin, such as Pb inputs related to the use of gasoline and the enrichment of certain elements generally used in agricultural activities (such as P, Cu, and Mn) due to the development of this sector in the last 40 years.