| 1. |
- Åkerblom, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Wastewater treatment in Sweden 2018
- 2020
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Rapport (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Development over the last 200 years has taken Swedish society from dugout latrines, to underground sewers flowing into lakes or coastal waters, to advanced wastewater treatment plants. Wastewater issues have changed from resolving local sanitary problems to a global environmental issue.This paper ’Wastewater Treatment in Sweden’ is published by the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency (Swedish EPA) to provide an historical overview of development of urban wastewater treatment from 1900s to the present. The paper is published biannually and includes the most recent statistical data from 2016 for releases and sludge from wastewater treatment plants.This information is published in accordance with Article 16 of the Urban Wastewater Treatment Directive (91/271/EEC). The Directive applies to all wastewater collected in sewage systems, but specific requirements apply only to treatment plants serving more than 2,000 persons. For Sweden, this corresponds to over 400 wastewater treatment plants.
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| 2. |
- Ahrens, Lutz, et al.
(författare)
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Poly- and perfluoroalkylated substances (PFASs) in water, sediment and fish muscle tissue from Lake Tana, Ethiopia and implications for human exposure
- 2016
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Ingår i: Chemosphere. - : Elsevier BV. - 0045-6535 .- 1879-1298. ; 165, s. 352-357
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Lake Tana is Ethiopia's largest lake and there are plans to increase the harvest of fish from the lake. The objective of this study was to assess the levels of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in different compartments of the lake (water, sediment, and fish muscle tissue), and its implications for human exposure. The results showed higher PFAS concentrations in piscivorous fish species (Labeobarbus mega-stoma and Labeobarbus gorguari) than non-piscivorous species (Labeobarbus intermedius, Oreochromis niloticus and Clarias gariepinus) and also spatial distribution similarities. The Sigma PFAS concentrations ranged from 0.073 to 5.6 ng L-1 (on average, 2.9 ng L-1) in surface water, 0.22-0.55 ng g(-1) dry weight (dw) (on average, 0.30 ng g(-1) dw) in surface sediment, and non-detected to 5.8 ng g(-1) wet weight (ww) (on average, 1.2 ng g(-1) ww) in all fish species. The relative risk (RR) indicates that the consumption of fish contaminated with perfiuorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) will likely not cause any harmful effects for the Ethiopian fish eating population. However, mixture toxicity of the sum of PFASs, individual fish consumption patterns and increasing fish consumption are important factors to consider in future risk assessments.
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| 3. |
- Berg, Björn, et al.
(författare)
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Late stage pine litter decomposition : Relationship to litter N, Mn, and acid unhydrolyzable residue (AUR) concentrations and climatic factors
- 2015
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 358, s. 41-47
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of this paper is to evaluate relationships between decomposition rates of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta var. contorta) needle litter in the late stage of decomposition (>30% accumulated mass loss), and the progressively changing concentrations of manganese (Mn), nitrogen (N), and acid unhydrolyzable residue (AUR), as well as mean annual temperature (MAT) and mean annual precipitation (MAP). Using available long-term decomposition studies on pine needle litter in a climate gradient in Sweden, we calculated annual mass loss and related to concentrations of Mn, N, and AUR at the start of each one-year period as well as to MAT and MAP. We investigated these relationships for (i) all data on annual mass loss combined and (ii) annual mass loss for five different decomposition categories as defined by accumulated mass loss. We found highly significant, negative, and dominant relationships between annual mass loss and N (R2=0.39) and AUR (R2=0.39), a slight but significant positive relationship to Mn (R2=0.08) and a significant negative relationship to MAT (R2=0.06). The relationships were dynamic, and changed with accumulated mass loss. The rate-dampening effect of N decreased to be a rate-enhancing effect at c. 60-80% accumulated mass loss. A similar trend was found for AUR, becoming rate-enhancing at 70-80% accumulated mass loss. For Scots pine needle litter the effect of MAT on mass loss decreased with increasing accumulated mass loss and changed to a rate-dampening effect at c. 50-70% accumulated mass loss. Mn showed a stimulating effect on mass loss rate in all categories whereas MAP showed no effect in this mainly boreal climatic gradient. The current approach indicates a method for detailed studies of rate-regulating factors for litter decomposition.
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| 4. |
- Berg, Björn, 1943-, et al.
(författare)
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Magnesium dynamics in decomposing foliar litter - a synthesis
- 2021
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Ingår i: Geoderma. - : Elsevier. - 0016-7061 .- 1872-6259. ; 382
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We synthesized available data for magnesium (Mg) dynamics in newly shed and decomposing foliar litter of mainly pine (Pinus) species, Norway spruce (Picea abies), and birch (Betula) species. Using original, measured data from 40 stands organized in climatic gradients we intended to determine patterns of Mg concentration and net release vs accumulated mass loss of the litter. This synthesis is likely the first synthesis of Mg dynamics in decomposing litter.In paired stands, litter of both Norway spruce and lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) had higher Mg concentrations than Scots pine (Pinus silvestris), with concentrations in Norway spruce litter even twice as high.In decomposing litter, Mg concentrations followed a quadratic (X2-X) function vs accumulated mass loss and consequently had minima, different for Norway spruce and Scots pine litter. Out of 68 decomposition studies 53 gave minimum concentration. The Mg minimum concentration during decomposition was positively related to initial Mg concentration for Scots pine and Scots pine plus lodgepole pine but not for Norway spruce. The increase in concentration suggests that after the minimum Mg was temporarily limiting.For Norway spruce litter there was a relationship between minimum concentration of Mg and the limit value. There was no such relationship for Scots pine and not for the combined pine data.Magnesium net release started directly after the incubation and was linear to accumulated mass loss of litter, giving a slope coefficient (release rate) for each study. The net release rate was linear to initial Mg concentration and all studies combined gave a negative linear relationship.
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| 5. |
- Bergman, Inger, et al.
(författare)
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The influence of sulphate deposition on the seasonal variation of peat pore water methyl Hg in a boreal mire
- 2012
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Ingår i: PLOS ONE. - : Public Library of Science (PLoS). - 1932-6203. ; 7:9, s. e45547-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- In this paper we investigate the hypothesis that long-term sulphate (SO42-) deposition has made peatlands a larger source of methyl mercury (MeHg) to remote boreal lakes. This was done on experimental plots at a boreal, low sedge mire where the effect of long-term addition of SO42- on peat pore water MeHg concentrations was observed weekly throughout the snow-free portion of 1999. The additions of SO42- started in 1995. The seasonal mean of the pore water MeHg concentrations on the plots with 17 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) of sulphur (S) addition (1.3 +/- 0.08 ng L-1, SE; n=44) was significantly (p<0.0001) higher than the mean MeHg concentration on the plots with 3 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) of ambient S deposition (0.6 +/- 0.02 ng L-1, SE; n=44). The temporal variation in pore water MeHg concentrations during the snow free season was larger in the S-addition plots, with an amplitude of >2 ng L-1 compared to +/-0.5 ng L-1 in the ambient S deposition plots. The concentrations of pore water MeHg in the S-addition plots were positively correlated (r(2)=0.21; p=0.001) to the groundwater level, with the lowest concentrations of MeHg during the period with the lowest groundwater levels. The pore water MeHg concentrations were not correlated to total Hg, DOC concentration or pH. The results from this study indicate that the persistently higher pore water concentrations of MeHg in the S-addition plots are caused by the long-term additions of SO42- to the mire surface. Since these waters are an important source of runoff, the results support the hypothesis that SO42- deposition has increased the contribution of peatlands to MeHg in downstream aquatic systems. This would mean that the increased deposition of SO42- in acid rain has contributed to the modern increase in the MeHg burdens of remote lakes hydrologically connected to peatlands.
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| 6. |
- Bishop, Kevin, et al.
(författare)
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The Effects of Forestry on Hg Bioaccumulation in Nemoral/Boreal Waters and Recommendations for Good Silvicultural Practice
- 2009
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Ingår i: Ambio. - : Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences. - 0044-7447 .- 1654-7209. ; 38:7, s. 373-380
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mercury (Hg) levels are alarmingly high in fish from lakes across Fennoscandia and northern North America. The few published studies on the ways in which silviculture practices influence this problem indicate that forest operations increase Hg in downstream aquatic ecosystems. From these studies, we estimate that between one-tenth and one-quarter of the Hg in the fish of high-latitude, managed forest landscapes can be attributed to harvesting. Forestry, however, did not create the elevated Hg levels in the soils, and waterborne Hg/MeHg concentrations downstream from harvested areas are similar to those from wetlands. Given the current understanding of the way in which silviculture impacts Hg cycling, most of the recommendations for good forest practice in Sweden appear to be appropriate for high-latitude regions, e.g., leaving riparian buffer zones, as well as reducing disturbance at stream crossings and in moist areas. The recommendation to restore wetlands and reduce drainage, however, will likely increase Hg/MeHg loadings to aquatic ecosystems
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| 7. |
- Campeau, Audrey, et al.
(författare)
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Sources of riverine mercury across the Mackenzie River Basin; inferences from a combined Hg C isotopes and optical properties approach
- 2022
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Ingår i: Science of the Total Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0048-9697 .- 1879-1026. ; 806, s. 150808-150808
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The Arctic terrestrial environment harbors a complex mosaic of mercury (Hg) and carbon (C) reservoirs, some of which are rapidly destabilizing in response to climate warming. The sources of riverine Hg across the Mackenzie River basin (MRB) are uncertain, which leads to a poor understanding of potential future release. Measurements of dissolved and particulate mercury (DHg, PHg) and carbon (DOC, POC) concentration were performed, along with analyses of Hg stable isotope ratios (incl. ∆199Hg, d202Hg), radiocarbon content (∆14C) and optical properties of DOC of river water. Isotopic ratios of Hg revealed a closer association to terrestrial Hg reservoirs for the particulate fraction, while the dissolved fraction was more closely associated with atmospheric deposition sources of shorter turnover time. There was a positive correlation between the ∆14C-OC and riverine Hg concentration for both particulate and dissolved fractions, indicating that waters transporting older-OC (14C-depleted) also contained higher levels of Hg. In the dissolved fraction, older DOC was also associated with higher molecular weight, aromaticity and humic content, which are likely associated with higher Hg-binding potential. Riverine PHg concentration increased with turbidity and SO4 concentration. There were large contrasts in Hg concentration and OC age and quality among the mountain and lowland sectors of the MRB, which likely reflect the spatial distribution of various terrestrial Hg and OC reservoirs, including weathering of sulfate minerals, erosion and extraction of coal deposits, thawing permafrost, forest fires, peatlands, and forests. Results revealed major differences in the sources of particulate and dissolved riverine Hg, but nonetheless a common positive association with older riverine OC. These findings reveal that a complex mixture of Hg sources, supplied across the MRB, will contribute to future trends in Hg export to the Arctic Ocean under rapid environmental changes.
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| 8. |
- Eklöf, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Impact of stump harvest on run-off concentrations of total mercury and methylmercury
- 2013
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Ingår i: Forest Ecology and Management. - : Elsevier BV. - 0378-1127 .- 1872-7042. ; 290, s. 83-94
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Forest harvesting operations have been reported to increase the levels of both total mercury (THg) and methylmercury (MeHg) in runoff water and downstream biota. Mobilization of such harmful substances by logging may pose ecological risks that may be influenced further by site preparation and stump harvest. Stump harvest is currently being explored as a method to increase the supply of biofuels. In this catchment study we investigated the effects of stump harvest, in comparison with ordinary site-preparation, on the runoff concentrations of THg and MeHg as well as several other chemistry parameters. Both treatments were also compared with unharvested reference catchments. Water samples from watercourses draining these catchments were analyzed for various variables including THg, MeHg, total organic carbon, absorbance and total suspended solids. One year of pre-treatment data, starting when the treated areas were just logged, and 2 years of post-treatment data, after stump harvest or site-preparation, were collected with a sample frequency of twice a month. The concentrations of THg and MeHg in the treated areas were decreasing after both stump harvest and site preparation relative to the reference catchment. Further, our results indicate that stump harvest has not caused increased concentrations of any of the studied parameters in relation to traditional site preparation. Two factors are proposed to be responsible for the lack of response to stump harvest and site preparation; (1) the areas are still undergoing recovery from the former logging which may have led to greater Hg export and/or (2) there is variability among sites in how they respond to forestry operations, depending on the biogeochemical and hydrological status of the area. Although no forestry response caused by stump harvest or site preparation was found, we noted that the concentrations of both THg and especially MeHg were high (median THg: 4.5-10.4 ng L-1, median MeHg: 0.7-2.1 ng L-1) in all catchments both before and after treatment, compared to other studies. Variables indicating the organic carbon content were the ones most strongly correlated to the variation of both THg and MeHg in the PLS models based on the dataset from the whole sampling period and all catchments. The relatively high concentrations of THg and MeHg during the study period appeared to be more influenced by organic carbon, but also hydrology and temperature as well as possibly the initial logging rather than by the soil disturbance caused by either stump harvest or site preparation.
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| 9. |
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| 10. |
- Fritsche, Johannes, et al.
(författare)
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Evasion of Elemental Mercury from a Boreal Peat land Suppressed by Long-Term Sulfate Addition
- 2014
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Ingår i: ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 2328-8930. ; 1:10, s. 421-425
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- We investigated the evasion of TGM (total gaseous mercury) from experimental plots on a boreal peatland that had been exposed for 15 years to different combinations of atmospheric sulfur (5) and nitrogen (N) deposition as well as greenhouse treatments simulating climate change. Shaded dynamic flux chamber measurements during the summer in 2009 showed emission of TGM to the atmosphere from most of the treated plots (0.7 +/- 0.94 ng m(-2) h(-1)). However, TGM exchange rates were significantly lower, occasionally indicating Hg uptake, on plots subjected to S addition at rates of 20 kg ha(-1) year(-1). Enhanced nitrogen deposition and greenhouse treatment had no significant effect on TGM fluxes. We hypothesize that the lower Hg evasion from the sulfur-treated plots is related to either earlier Hg evasion or Hg binding to S in organic matter, making, Hg less susceptible to volatilization and more prone to transport in runoff.
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