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Abstract
Belgian coastal sediment serves as an important sink for trace elements, yet a systematic study covering a wide range of elements including redox-sensitive metals (Fe, Mn, and Co), cationic trace metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, Cu, and Zn), oxyanions (P, V, As, and Mo), and sulfide has not been performed and the mechanisms controlling their mobilization were not investigated. Here, a passive sampling technique, Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films (DGT), was used in situ to obtain high resolution concentration profiles of these elements in the sediment porewater. Our results revealed two mobilization mechanisms of cationic trace metals and oxyanions in Belgian coastal sediments, both strongly linked to the cycling of Fe. Mobilization of Co, Pb, Ni, and Cu is controlled by electrogenic sulfur oxidation, acidification of the porewater and dissolution of FeS, while that of oxyanions (P, V, and As) is controlled by reductive dissolution of Fe oxyhydroxides. Constant cationic trace metal to Fe molar ratios were established in FeS, while the oxyanion to Fe ratios in Fe oxyhydroxides differ significantly between sampling stations, which is primarily caused by competing effects. We found no evidence that cationic trace metal mobilization was related to Fe oxyhydroxides, or oxyanion mobilization to FeS. This suggests that particulate organic matter forms the major pathway for cationic trace metal input in coastal sediments and that oxyanions will not be incorporated in FeS but form their own oxyanion-sulfide compound. These findings will contribute to a better understanding of the mobilization mechanisms of cationic trace metals and oxyanions in coastal sediments, and of their biogeochemical cycling in coastal ecosystems.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 106140 |
Number of pages | 11 |
Journal | Environment International |
Volume | 145 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2020 |
Bibliographical note
Funding Information:C. Zhou is supported by Chinese Scholarship Council (PhD fellowship 201606190219). C. Gaulier and M. Luo are supported by NewSTHEPS project (BR/143/A2/NEWSTHEPS) and IRP project ( VUB, Belgium ). The authors would like to thank the FWO research grant ( 1529016 N), Hercules Foundation ( UABR/11/010, Belgium ) for LA- ICP -MS and SRP2 (Tracing and Modelling Past & Present Global Changes) for AMGC research unit at VUB (Belgium). The RV Belgica crew members, the scientific vessel of the Belgian government is thanked for the sampling campaigns. M. Leermakers is thanked for sample analysis.
Funding Information:
C. Zhou is supported by Chinese Scholarship Council (PhD fellowship 201606190219). C. Gaulier and M. Luo are supported by NewSTHEPS project (BR/143/A2/NEWSTHEPS) and IRP project (VUB, Belgium). The authors would like to thank the FWO research grant (1529016 N), Hercules Foundation (UABR/11/010, Belgium) for LA-ICP-MS and SRP2 (Tracing and Modelling Past & Present Global Changes) for AMGC research unit at VUB (Belgium). The RV Belgica crew members, the scientific vessel of the Belgian government is thanked for the sampling campaigns. M. Leermakers is thanked for sample analysis.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2020 The Author(s)
Copyright:
Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
Keywords
- cationic trace metals, oxyanions, mobilization mechanisms, metal/Fe ratios, Belgian coastal sediments, Diffusive Gradients in Thin-films
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- 1 Talk or presentation at a conference
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Anthropogenic activities influence the mobilization of trace metals and oxyanions in coastal sediment porewaters
Mingyue Luo (Speaker)
13 Jun 2022Activity: Talk or presentation › Talk or presentation at a conference