Treatment of wastewater ammonium under varying salinity conditions within the marshland upwelling system.

Coastal wetlands and estuaries are impacted by nutrient loads from a variety of sources including infrequently occupied hunting and fishing camps. The marshland upwelling system (MUS) was designed to treat wastewater in the coastal environment where traditional septic systems or centralized wastewater collection and treatment are not viable. A laboratory macrocosm study was designed to simulate field conditions in which domestic wastewater is treated via injection into a marsh subsurface. Treatment of wastewater nitrogen (N) utilizing the MUS was examined under high (∼20 ppt) and low (∼2 ppt) salinity conditions. Two N wastewater solutions were used, one treatment consisted of 100 mg NH4-N L-1, while a second treatment consisted of 80 mg NH4-N L-1/20 mg NO3-N L-1. The 20 ppt salinity treatment was found to have a negative impact on NH4-N sorption. The potentially mineralizable N rate was higher in the low salinity treatment, which could potentially be offset by the higher sorption capacity at lower salinities. The background salinity of the local groundwater should be considered as the salinity will play a role in the longevity of the system.

Export of dissolved organic carbon from a ponded freshwater marsh receiving diverted Mississippi River water.

A series of diversion projects has been implemented to reintroduce Mississippi River water into Louisiana's coastal wetlands in order to reduce wetland loss. The export of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was measured in a 3,700-ha ponded freshwater marsh that receives diverted Mississippi River water. Results show that highly organic marsh soil and plant material are a source of DOC. DOC, on average, was 3 mg/l greater in outlet water as compared to the concentration in river water entering the wetland. DOC in water leaving the marsh was higher in summer months, with a concentration up to 18 mg/l. Based on a discharge of 1,000 ft3/sec (28.3 m3/sec), it was estimated that the equivalent of 7,335 kg/day of DOC would be exported from the marsh into Lake Cataouatche, located in the northern portion of the Louisiana Barataria Basin estuary. Results suggest that river diversion would likely increase the export of DOC from the marsh as compared to normal transport associated with rainfall and tidal exchange.

Linking ecological impact to metal concentrations and speciation: a microcosm experiment using a salt marsh meiofaunal community.

Microcosm experiments addressed the impact of a mixture of Cu, Cr, Cd, Pb, and Hg at three concentrations after 36 h, 12 d, and 30 d on a meiofauna-dominated salt marsh community. In addition to analyzing effects on meiofaunal abundances, the study quantified the sediment metal concentrations of all five metals and pore-water concentrations, speciation, and ligand complexation of Cu. Abundances of deposit feeders such as the polychaete Streblospio benedicti, gastropods, and bivalves were impacted at lower metal concentrations than the mainly algal-feeding copepods, ostracods, and nematodes. We suggest that this might be due to bulk ingestion of metal-contaminated sediments resulting in relatively higher metal exposure in the deposit feeders than in the other, nondeposit feeding taxa. Copepod and ostracod abundances decreased only in the highest metal treatment, where levels of inorganic Cu ([Cu']) in pore waters were similar to levels associated with both acute and subacute toxicity in published in vivo toxicity studies of marine copepods. The higher metal treatments yielded disproportionately higher pore-water [Cu] compared with sediment [Cu], suggesting saturation of sediment-associated ligands with increased additions of Cu. Similarly, the higher metal treatments appeared to reach saturation of the organic Cu ligands, with the excess pore-water [Cu] present in the more toxic, inorganic species of Cu. Acid-volatile sulfide (AVS) concentrations at sediment horizons inhabited by meiofauna were low and AVS was not considered a significant metal ligand at these depths. Since meiofauna are predominantly associated with oxic surface sediments, it is doubtful that AVS is a major factor controlling availability of free metal for exposure to these taxa.

Developing a method to track oil and gas produced water discharges in estuarine systems using salinity as a conservative tracer.

Produced water is a high salinity by-product resulting from oil and gas production. Disposal methods include surface water discharge from a point source. The current field method used for fate and effect determinations in open water estuarine systems involves extending a compass oriented transect (COT) from the point source discharge--a method designed for a uniform offshore environment that might be inappropriate for the hydrologic and geomorphologic complexities found in estuarine systems. Research was conducted in a canal and a small, semi-enclosed bay to observe effluent behaviour and to determine if salinity could be used to track the effluent. A salinity/conductivity/temperature (SCT) probe measured water properties within 1 cm of the sediment surface and identified a thin, bottom salinity plume that would have gone undetected by conventional instruments. The plume flowed across the sediment surface and towards greater depths. Plume-affected sampling stations exhibited higher levels of sediment contaminant indicators (SCIs) and indicated that station location could affect impact conclusions.

Mercury contamination and potential impacts from municipal waste incinerator on Samui Island, Thailand.

In recent years, mercury (Hg) pollution generated by municipal waste incinerators (MWIs) has become the subject of serious public concern. On Samui Island, Thailand, a large-scale municipal waste incinerator has been in operation for over 7 years with a capacity of 140 tons/day for meeting the growing demand for municipal waste disposal. This research assessed Hg contamination in environmental matrices adjacent to the waste incinerating plant. Total Hg concentrations were determined in municipal solid waste, soil and sediment within a distance of 100 m to 5 km from the incinerator operation in both wet and dry seasons. Hg analyses conducted in municipal solid waste showed low levels of Hg ranging between 0.15-0.56 mg/kg. The low level was due to the type of waste incinerator. Waste such as electrical appliances, motors and spare parts, rubber tires and hospital wastes are not allowed to feed into the plant. As a result, low Hg levels were also found in fly and bottom ashes (0.1-0.4 mg/kg and

Cadmium concentration in sea bottom sediment and its potential risk in the upper Gulf of Thailand.

Untreated or partially treated waste water discharge from industrial and domestic sources entering the Upper Gulf of Thailand have been reported to increase cadmium concentration in bottom sediment. This study was directed at providing a better understanding of cadmium transformation in the sediment from the area. Sediment samples collected from Chao Phraya River mouth (CPY), Bang Pakong River mouth (BPK) and Klong Dan estuary (KD) located in the Upper Gulf of Thailand were analyzed for cadmium concentration in various sediment particle size fractions. Using laboratory microcosms, cadmium release from sediment as affected by salinity and sediment redox condition was studied. A higher concentration of cadmium (0.2-0.6 microg/g dry weight) was measured in finer sediment particle size fractions (<0.075 mm) as compared to courser fractions at all sampling stations. Cadmium release from the sediment to water was influenced by both salinity and redox condition. Sediment was spiked with 10 ppm cadmium which is the cadmium level in sediment adopted by the Australia and New Zealand sediment quality guidelines which can cause adverse environmental impacts. Experiments conducted showed soluble cadmium concentration at sediment oxidation reduction conditions representative of bottom sediment were at levels that can adversely impact aquatic organisms, according to the PCADMIUM water quality guideline. In Thailand, there is no sediment quality guideline. Based on these experiments, 10 ppm of cadmium in sediment was recommended as a regulatory guidelines for allowable levels of cadmium in sediment in the study area.

Metal concentrations and trace metal Al and Fe ratios in soil of the Chenier Plain, southwest Louisiana coastal zone.

Soil baseline metal concentrations were determined in 220 surface soil samples collected from the Chenier Plain area of southwest coastal Louisiana. Regression relationships between Al, Fe, and various metals were calculated from the data set. The use of these relationships to identify enhanced metal contents in the Chenier Plain soils is presented. Statistical analyses showed an average Al concentration of 1.6% with a maximum concentration of 4.8% and a minimum concentration of 1.3 mg kg(-1). Al concentration in the sediments was positively correlated at the 1% significance level to Cu (r = 0.577**), Pb (r = 0.936**), Cr (r = 0.969**), Ni (r = 0.830**), Cd (r = 0.617**), and Zn (r = 0.506**), but only a 5% significance correlation was found with Mn (r = 0.148*). Average Fe concentration was 1.2% with a maximum value of 3.4% and a minimum concentration of 9.3 mg kg(-1). Fe concentration in the sediments was positively correlated at the 1% significance level to Cu (r = 0.586**), Pb (r = 0.847**), Cr (r = 0.875**), Ni (r = 0.932**), Cd (r = 0.803**), Zn (r = 0.551**), and Mn (r = 0.479**). These relationships were used to evaluate sites for metal contamination. Data from two known contaminated sites, Capitol Lake (Baton Rouge, LA) and Bayou Trepagnier (LA), fell well outside the prediction limits developed with the Chenier Plain Al and Fe metal regression lines for Cr and Zn. Pb and Cd at Capitol Lake were also elevated beyond the metal/Al prediction developed for the Chenier Plain, but the prediction was not out of range when using the metal/Fe regression. Samples from additional sites with no known metal contamination fell within the predictive limits of the regression equations except for Cd and Pb at some sites. Data presented showed that metal/Al and metal/Fe regression relationships can be used as a tool for identifying areas of potential metal contamination in the coastal zone, but must be regionally correlated.

Total Hg, methyl Hg and other toxic heavy metals in a northern Gulf of Mexico estuary: Louisiana Pontchartrain basin.

Concentration of total Hg, methyl Hg, and other heavy metals were determined in sediment collected along a salinity gradient in a Louisiana Gulf Coast estuary. Surface sediment was collected at established coordinates (n = 292) along a salinity gradient covering Lake Maurepas, Lake Pontchartrain, Lake Borgne and the Chandeleur Sound located in the 12,170 km(2) Pontchartrain basin estuary southeastern coastal Louisiana. Lake Maurepas sediment with lower salinity contained higher levels of methyl Hg (0.80 microg/kg) than Lake Pontchartrain (0.55 microg/kg). Lake Maurepas sediment also had higher levels of total Hg (98.0 microg/kg) as compared to Lake Pontchartrain (67.0 microg/kg). Average total Hg content of Lake Borgne and the Chandeleur Sound sediment was 24.0 microg/kg dry sediment and methyl Hg content averaged 0.21 microg/kg dry sediment. Methyl Hg content of sediment was positively correlated with total Hg, organic matter and clay content of sediment. Methyl Hg was inversely correlated with salinity, sediment Eh and sand content. Total Hg and methyl Hg decreased with increase in salinity in the order of Lake Maurepas > Lake Pontchartrain > Lake Borgne/ the Chandeleur Sound. Lake Maurepas containing several times higher amount of methyl Hg in sediment as compared to Lake Pontchartrain and Lake Borgne and the Chandeleur Sound is an area that could serve as potential source of mercury to the aquatic food chain. Methyl Hg content of sediment in the estuary could be predicted by the equation: Methyl Hg = 0.11670-0.0625 x Salinity + 0.05349 x O.M. + 0.00513 x Total Hg - 0.00250 x Clay. Concentrations of other toxic heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu and Zn) in sediment were not elevated and was statistically correlated with sediment texture and iron and aluminum content of sediment.

Trace and Toxic Metals in Wetlands-A Review.

The mobility and plant availability of many trace and toxic metals in wetland soils is often substantially different from upland soils. Oxidation-reduction (redox) and associated pH changes that occur in soils as a result of flooding or drainage can affect the retention and release of metals by clay minerals, organic matter, iron oxides, and, for coastal wetlands, sulfides. Except where a flooded soil or sediment becomes strongly acid upon drainage and oxidation, as sometimes occurs, the processes immobilizing metals tend to be complimentary such that large-scale metal releases from contaminated soils and sediments do not occur with changing redox conditions. Metals tend to be retained more strongly in wetland soils compared with upland soils.

Mercury distribution in sediment profiles of six Louisiana Lakes.

A study was conducted of six Louisiana Lakes to examine the relationship between sediment properties including mercury content and health advisories associated with mercury levels in fish. Comparison was made between three lakes with health advisories (Black Lake, Chicot Lake, and Henderson Lake) and three lakes where the levels of mercury in fish are below health advisory levels (False River, Lake St. John, and Miller Lake). Three sediment core samples were collected from each lake and sectioned into 2-cm increments to a depth of 20 cm. Sediment properties measured in each depth increment of the sediment profile included total mercury, 137Cs activity (for sedimentation rate), and sediment organic matter content. Of the lakes studied, those lakes that have health advisories for mercury tended to have higher total mercury contents, usually higher sediment organic matter contents, and higher sedimentation rates than sediments in lakes where health advisories for mercury are not issued.