Trace metal

About: Trace metal is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 5125 publications have been published within this topic receiving 181046 citations.

Trace metal distribution in pristine permafrost-affected soils of the Lena River delta and its hinterland, northern Siberia, Russia

Abstract: Soils are an important compartment of ecosys- tems and have the ability to buffer and immobilize substances of natural and anthropogenic origin to prevent their move- ment to other environment compartments. Predicted climatic changes together with other anthropogenic influences on Arctic terrestrial environments may affect biogeochemical processes enhancing leaching and migration of trace ele- ments in permafrost-affected soils. This is especially impor- tant since Arctic ecosystems are considered to be highly sen- sitive to climatic changes as well as to chemical contamina- tion. This study characterises background levels of trace met- als in permafrost-affected soils of the Lena River delta and its hinterland in northern Siberia (73.5-69.5 N), representing a remote region far from evident anthropogenic trace metal sources. Investigations on the element content of iron (Fe), arsenic (As), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), cop- per (Cu), lead (Pb), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), and mercury (Hg) in different soil types developed in different geological parent materials have been carried out. The highest median concentrations of Fe and Mn were observed in soils belong- ing to ice-rich permafrost sediments formed during the Pleis- tocene (ice-complex) while the highest median values of Ni, Pb and Zn were found in soils of both the ice-complex and the Holocene estuarine terrace of the Lena River delta region, as well as in the southernmost study unit of the hinterland area. Detailed observations of trace metal distribution on the micro scale showed that organic matter content, soil texture and iron-oxide contents influenced by cryogenic processes, temperature, and hydrological regimes are the most impor- tant factors determining the metal abundance in permafrost- affected soils. The observed range of trace element back- ground concentrations was similar to trace metal levels re- ported for other pristine northern areas.

Trace Metals in Health and Disease

Abstract: Trace elements often have a bimodal or even a trimodal effect. Severe deficiency of certain trace metals can result in death or severe crippling of an animal or in birth defects of the newborn. The next level of intake is the nutritional level where chronic deficiency over a lifetime may cause major diseases such as cancer and heart disease. The next level of intake is the toxic level which may result in severe crippling or death of the animal. The primary area of concern in this chapter will be the nutritional intake level and the deficiency level and their relationship to animal or human disease. The trace elements described in this chapter are: chromium; cobalt; copper; fluorine; iodine; iron; manganese; molybdenum; nickel; silicon; selenium; tin; vanadium; and zinc.

A Novel Voltammetric In-Situ Profiling System for ContinuousReal-Time Monitoring of Trace Elements in Natural Waters

Abstract: This article describes a novel voltammetric in-situ profiling system (VIP System) for continuous, real-time monitoring of trace elements in fresh and seawater down to 500 meter depth. The VIP System has been designed using advanced microprocessor and telemetry technology. The heart of the submersible voltammetric probe is a Hg-plated Ir-based microsensor covered with an antifouling gel membrane. This gel integrated microsensor allows direct voltammetric measurements of trace metals in complex media without physical and chemical interferences of the test solution. A detailed description of the system is given and examples of environmental applications are reported for in-situ trace metal monitoring in oxygen saturated seawater as well as for in-situ profiling of MnII in anoxic lake water. The results indicate that the VIP System is robust and reliable and that in-situ measurements of mobile fraction of trace metals can be achieved down to very low concentration levels (ca. 5 ppt).