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Evaluation of a nanoscale zero-valent iron amendment as a potential tool to reduce mobility, toxicity, and bioaccumulation of arsenic and mercury from wetland sediments

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Abstract

Gold mining in the 1800s has led to the contamination of wetlands with introduced mercury (Hg) and geogenic arsenic (As). In situ risk management tools to reduce mobility and toxicity of Hg and As are needed to support natural restoration of impacted ecosystems. Here, we explored whether a nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) slurry injected into two different contaminated wetland sediments can reduce Hg and As mobility to the overlaying water and toxicity to two aquatic invertebrates, burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia spp.) and Chinese mystery snails (Cipangopaludina chinensis). Total water Hg and As concentrations overlying both contaminated sediments were reduced by at least 75% and 88% respectively when treated with nZVI slurry. In the first sediment, juvenile snail survival increased from 75% in the untreated sediment to 100% in all nZVI treatments. The 2% nZVI treatment level was the only one with surviving mayflies (33%) and growth of juvenile snails. No snails or mayflies survived in the second sediment, regardless of nZVI treatment level. However, snails survived longer in this sediment with 4% and 8% nZVI. To improve reactivity of nZVI without increasing nZVI dose, future studies should investigate matrix-supported nZVI for reducing mobility and toxicity of As and Hg in wetland sediments.

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Funding

This project was supported by a grant from the National Wetland Conservation Fund (ECCC GCZEC110) Environment and Climate Change Canada, NSERC Discovery Development Grant (DDG-2017-00036) to Dr. Linda Campbell. Interns who assisted with the project were also supported by SMUworks Work-Study funding from Saint Mary’s University and Clean Leadership Internship program.

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  1. Department of Environmental Science, Saint Mary’s University, 923 Robie Street, Halifax, NS, B3H-3C3, Canada

    Ellen Emily Vanessa Chapman & Linda M. Campbell

  2. Intrinsik Corp, 5121 Sackville Street, Suite 604, Halifax, NS, B3J 1K1, Canada

    Christine Moore

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  1. Ellen Emily Vanessa Chapman
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Correspondence to Ellen Emily Vanessa Chapman.

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Chapman, E.E.V., Moore, C. & Campbell, L.M. Evaluation of a nanoscale zero-valent iron amendment as a potential tool to reduce mobility, toxicity, and bioaccumulation of arsenic and mercury from wetland sediments. Environ Sci Pollut Res 27, 18757–18772 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-020-08347-6

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