Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-g8jcs Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-23T05:31:45.908Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Controls on surface water quality in the River Clyde catchment, Scotland, UK, with particular reference to chromium and lead

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  13 November 2018

J. M. Bearcock ,
P. L. Smedley ,
F. M. Fordyce ,
P. A. Everett  and
E. L. Ander
J. M. Bearcock*
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK. Email: [email protected]
P. L. Smedley
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK. Email: [email protected]
F. M. Fordyce
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK.
P. A. Everett
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, The Lyell Centre, Research Avenue South, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK.
E. L. Ander
Affiliation:
British Geological Survey, Environmental Science Centre, Keyworth, Nottingham NG12 5GG, UK. Email: [email protected]
*
*Corresponding author
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Three collated geochemical surveys of surface water in the Clyde catchment have established the spatial variability in water composition, primarily under baseflow conditions. The waters are broadly pH-neutral to alkaline (maximum pH 8.7) in the lowlands, but mildly acidic in uplands on the catchment periphery. Electrical conductance is relatively high in lowland streams (maximum 8320μgL–1), with lower values in the uplands. Dissolved chromium (Cr; <0.05–971μgL–1) and lead (Pb; <0.05–19.4μgL–1) are of importance due to recognised pollution sources within the catchment. High aqueous Cr concentrations (>5μgL–1) are recorded in urban areas associated with the disposal of alkaline industrial chromite ore processing residue. Under such conditions, Cr probably occurs as Cr(VI). Numerous relatively high Pb values occur in the upland and urban areas. These are likely to be associated with a combination of soil reactions, diffuse pollution and contamination from Pb mineralisation/mining. Pb has a stronger correlation with water pH than with stream sediment Pb content, suggesting that pH has a greater control on Pb mobility than host-rock Pb. Exceedances of water-quality standards are <1% for both Cr and Pb across the catchment. Absolute exceedances are more extreme for Cr than for Pb, highlighting the scale of the Cr pollution problem for urban surface water within the catchment.

Keywords

conductivitypHpollutionstream water
Type
Articles
Information
Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of The Royal Society of Edinburgh , Volume 108 , Issue 2-3: The Geosciences in Europe’s Urban Sustainability: Lessons from Glasgow and Beyond (CUSP) , June 2017 , pp. 249 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © British Geological Survey UKRI 2018 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

6. References

Aisemberg, J., Nahabedian, D. E., Wider, E. & Guerrero, N. R. V. 2005. Comparative study on two freshwater invertebrates for monitoring environmental lead exposure. Toxicology 210, 45–53.10.1016/j.tox.2005.01.005Google Scholar
Al-Hogbi, B. G. 2006. Chromium contamination in the Glasgow environment and the potential for remediation. PhD Thesis, University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK.Google Scholar
Ander, E. L. 2014. Quality control of 2010 Clyde catchment stream and river water sample data. Keyworth, British Geological Survey Open Report.Google Scholar
Assem, L. & Zhu, H. 2007. Chromium: general information. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/chromium-general-information-incident-management-and-toxicology (accessed July 2014).Google Scholar
Bearcock, J. M., Scheib, A. J. & Nice, S. E. 2011. A report on the G-BASE field campaign of 2010: the Clyde Basin. Keyworth: British Geological Survey Internal Report.Google Scholar
Bearcock, J. M. & Perkins, W. T. 2007. The use of green rust to accelerate the precipitation of ochre for mine water remediation. Water in Mining Environments. Proceedings of the IMWA Symposium 2007, 27–31 May 2007, Cagliari, Italy, 135–140.Google Scholar
BGS. 1993. Regional geochemistry of Southern Scotland and part of Northern England. Keyworth: British Geological Survey.Google Scholar
BGS. 1999. Regional geochemistry of Wales and part of West-Central England: stream water. Keyworth, Nottingham: British Geological Survey.Google Scholar
Broadway, A., Cave, M. R., Wragg, J., Fordyce, F. M., Bewlwy, R. J. F., Graham, M. C., Ngwenya, B. T. & Farmer, J. G. 2010. Determination of the bioaccessibility of chromium in Glasgow soil and the implications for human health risk assessment. Science of the Total Environment 409, 267–277.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2010.09.007Google Scholar
Bull, S. 2007. Lead: general information. https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/337731/LEAD__General_Information_v2.pdf (accessed July 2014).Google Scholar
Campbell, S. D. G., Merritt, J. E., O Dochartaigh, B. E., Mansour, M., Hughes, A. G., Fordyce, F. M., Entwisle, D. C., Monaghan, A. A. & Loughlin, S. 2010. 3D geological models and hydrogeological applications: supporting urban development – a case study in Glasgow-Clyde, UK. Zeitschrift der Deutschen Gesellschaft fur Geowissenschaften 161, 251–262.10.1127/1860-1804/2010/0161-0251Google Scholar
Casas, J. & Sordo, J. (eds) 2006. Lead: chemistry, analytical aspects, environmental impact and health effects. Amsterdam: Elsevier.Google Scholar
Chandler, D., Cromie, D., Breen, D. & Ramsay, C. 2012. Scottish Environment Protection Agency scoping study on metal contamination in the Glengonnar water. Lanarkshire: NHS, 32.Google Scholar
Davies, B. E. 1987. Consequences of environmental contamination by lead mining in Wales. Hydrobiologia 149, 213–220.10.1007/BF00048662Google Scholar
Davis, J. A. & Leckie, J. O. 1980. Surface-ionization and complexation at the oxide-water interface .3. Adsorption of anions. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science 74, 32–43.10.1016/0021-9797(80)90168-XGoogle Scholar
Drever, J. I. 1997. The geochemistry of natural waters: surface and groundwater environments. 3rd edn. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 436.Google Scholar
EA. 2011. Chemical standards. http://evidence.environment-agency.gov.uk/ChemicalStandards/Home.aspx (accessed August 2014).Google Scholar
EC. 2008. Directive 2008/105/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on Environmental Quality Standards in the Field of Water Policy.Google Scholar
Farmer, J. G., Graham, M. C., Thomas, R. P., Licona-Manzur, C., Licona-Manzur, C., Paterson, E., Campbell, C. D., Geelhoed, J. S., Lumsdon, D. G., Meeussen, J. C. L., Roe, M. J., Conner, A., Fallick, A. E. & Bewley, R. J. F. 1999. Assessment and modelling of the environmental chemistry and potential for remediative treatment of chromium-contaminated land. Environmental Geochemistry and Health 21, 331–337.10.1023/A:1006788418483Google Scholar
Farmer, J. G., Paterson, E., Bewley, R. J. F., Geelhoed, J. S., Hilier, S., Meeussen, J. C. L., Lumsdon, D. G., Thomas, R. P. & Graham, M. C. 2006. The implications of integrated assessment and modelling studies for the future remediation of chromite ore processing residue disposal sites. Science of the Total Environment 360, 90–97.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2005.08.027Google Scholar
Farmer, J. G., Broadway, A., Cave, M. R., Wragg, J., Fordyce, F. M., Graham, M. C., Ngwenya, B. T. & Bewley, R. J. F. 2011. A lead isotopic study of the human bioaccessibility of lead in urban soils from Glasgow, Scotland. Science of the Total Environment 409, 4958–4965.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.061Google Scholar
Farmer, J. G. & Lyon, T. D. B. 1977. Lead in Glasgow dirt and soil. The Science of the Total Environment 8, 89–93.10.1016/0048-9697(77)90064-XGoogle Scholar
Fendorf, S. E., Sparks, D. L., Lamble, G. M. & Kelley, M. J. 1994. Applications of x-ray-absorption fine-structure spectroscopy to soils. Soil Science Society of America Journal 58, 1583–1595.10.2136/sssaj1994.03615995005800060001xGoogle Scholar
Fordyce, F. M., Ó Dochartaigh, B. É., Lister, T. R., Cooper, R., Kim, A., Harrison, I., Vane, C. H. & Brown, S. E. 2004. Clyde tributaries: report of urban stream sediment and surface water geochemistry for Glasgow. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report.Google Scholar
Fordyce, F. M., Lass-Evans, S.Ó. & Dochartaigh, B. É. 2013. A case study to identify urban diffuse pollution in the light burn catchment, Glasgow, UK. Stage 3 contribution to: Wade R. et al. (2013) A critical review of urban diffuse pollution control: methodologies to identify sources, pathways and mitigation measures with multiple benefits. Aberdeen: Centre of Expertise for Waters (CREW), James Hutton Institute.Google Scholar
Fordyce, F. M., Everett, P. A., Bearcock, J. M. & Lister, T. R. 2018. Soil metal/metalloid concentrations in the Clyde Basin, Scotland, UK: implications for land quality. Earth and Environmental Science Transactions of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. DOI: 10.1017/S1755691018000282.Google Scholar
Guertin, J., Jacobs, J. A. & Avakian, C. P. 2004. Chromium (VI) handbook. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 784.10.1201/9780203487969Google Scholar
Hem, J. D. 1992. Study and interpretation of the chemical characteristics of natural water. Washington: United States Government Printing Office.Google Scholar
Herald Scotland. 2005. Whole heap of trouble for the staff at Greengairs landfill, every day is rubbish. http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/spl/aberdeen/whole-heap-of-trouble-for-the-staff-at-greengairs-landfill-every-day-is-rubbish-holds-her-breath-and-visits-the-dustbin-of-europe-1.40570 (accessed August 2014).Google Scholar
Hillier, S., Roe, M. J., Geelhoed, J. S., Fraser, A. R., Farmer, J. G. & Paterson, E. 2003. Role of quantitative mineralogical analysis in the investigation of sites contaminated by chromite ore processing residue. Science of the Total Environment 308, 195–210.10.1016/S0048-9697(02)00680-0Google Scholar
Hodgson, P. & Evans, J. G. 1997. Continuous pH, electrical conductivity and temperature measurement at Plynlimon: towards an integrated, reliable and low maintenance instrument system. Hydrology and Earth System Sciences 1, 653–660.10.5194/hess-1-653-1997Google Scholar
Johnson, C. C. 2005. The G-BASE field procedures manual. Keyworth: British Geological Survey.Google Scholar
Johnson, C. C., Breward, N., Ander, E. L. & Ault, L. 2005. G-BASE: baseline geochemical mapping of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Geochemistry: Exploration-Environment-Analysis 5, 347–357.Google Scholar
Jones, D. G., Lister, T. R., Strutt, M. H., Entwistle, D. C., Harrison, I., Kim, A. W., Ridgway, J. & Vane, C. H. 2004. Estuarine geochemistry: report for Glasgow City Council. British Geological Survey Commissioned Report.Google Scholar
Kabata-Pendias, A. & Pendias, H. 2001. Trace elements in soils. 3rd edn. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 413.Google Scholar
Keim, M. F. & Markl, G. 2015. Weathering of galena: mineralogical processes, hydrogeochemical fluid path modeling, and estimation of the growth rate of pyromorphite. American Mineralogist 100, 1548–1594.10.2138/am-2015-5183Google Scholar
Landrigan, P. J. 2002. The worldwide problem of lead in petrol. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 80, 768.Google Scholar
Liu, C. & Huang, P. M. 2003. Kinetics of lead adsorption by iron oxides formed under the influence of citrate. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 67, 1045–1054.10.1016/S0016-7037(02)01036-0Google Scholar
MacKinnon, G., MacKenzie, A. B., Cook, G. T., Pulford, I. D., Duncan, H. J. & Scott, E. M. 2011. Spatial and temporal variations in Pb concentrations and isotopic concentration in road dust, farmland soil, and vegetation in proximity to roads since the cessation of use of leaded petrol in the UK. Science of the Total Environment 409, 5010–5019.10.1016/j.scitotenv.2011.08.010Google Scholar
Mielke, J. E. 1979. Composition of the Earth's crust and distribution of the elements. In Siegel, F. R. (ed.) Review of research on modern problems in geochemistry, 13–37. Paris: UNESCO.Google Scholar
Moles, N., Kelly, M. & Smyth, D. 2016. Environmental legacy of 19th century lead mining and mineral processing at the Newtownards Lead Mines. Journal of the Mining Heritage Society of Ireland 15, 41–43.Google Scholar
Nakayama, E., Kuwamoto, T., Tsurubo, S. & Fujinaga, T. 1981. Chemical speciation of chromium in sea-water .2. Effects of manganese oxides and reducible organic materials on the redox processes of chromium. Analytica Chimica Acta 130, 401–414.Google Scholar
Nelson, Y. M., Lion, L. W., Shuler, M. L. & Ghiorse, W. C. 2002. Effect of oxide formation mechanisms on lead adsorption by biogenic manganese (hydr)oxides, iron (hydr)oxides, and their mixtures. Environmental Science and Technology 36, 421–425.10.1021/es010907cGoogle Scholar
Pandey, P. K., Sharma, S. K. & Sambi, S. S. 2010. Kinetics and equilibrium study of chromium adsorption on zeoliteNaX. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology 7, 395–404.Google Scholar
Plant, J. 1973. A random numbering system for geochemical samples. Transactions of the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy B82, 63–66.Google Scholar
Prosi, F. 1989. Factors controlling biological availability and toxic effects of lead in aquatic organisms. Science of the Total Environment 79, 157–169.Google Scholar
Pyatt, F. B., Gilmore, G., Grattan, J. P., Hunt, C. O. & McLaren, S. 2000. An imperial legacy? An exploration of the environmental impact of ancient metal mining and smelting in southern Jordan. Journal of Archaeological Science 27, 771–778.Google Scholar
R Development Core Team. 2013. R: a language and environment for statistical computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.Google Scholar
Richard, F. C. & Bourg, A. C. M. 1991. Aqueous geochemistry of chromium – a review. Water Research 25, 807–816.Google Scholar
Rowan, J. S., Barnes, S. J. A., Hetherington, S. L., Lambers, B. & Parsons, F. 1995. Geomorphology and pollution: the environmental impacts of lead mining, Leadhills, Scotland. Journal of Geochemical Exploration 52, 57–65.Google Scholar
Salomons, W. 1988. Impact of metals from mining and industry on the hydrosphere. In Stringel, G. (ed.) Metals and metalloids in the hydrosphere; impact through mining and industry, and prevention technology, 1–41. Paris: UNESCO.Google Scholar
SEPA. 2007. Leachate Treatment Plant, variation to PPC Permit WRG Waste Services Limited, Greengairs Landfill non-technical summary. http://www.sepa.org.uk/air/process_industry_regulation/pollution_prevention__control/public_participation_directive/ppd_consultations/idoc.ashx?docid=d183a41e-0878-4cb5-aeb5-68fe7070acce&version=-1 (accessed July 2014).Google Scholar
SEPA. 2011. Review of metal concentrations data held for Glengonnar Water and Wanlock Water, South Central Scotland. 20.Google Scholar
SEPA. 2017. Environmental Standards for Discharges to Surface Waters. Supporting Guidance (WAT-SG-53). Version 6.1. 34.Google Scholar
Smedley, P. L., Bearcock, J. M., Fordyce, F. M., Everett, P. A., Scheib, A. J., Chenery, S. R. N. & Ellen, R. 2017. Stream-water geochemical atlas of the Clyde Basin. Open Report OR/16/015. Keyworth: British Geological Survey.Google Scholar
Taillefert, M., Lienemann, C. P., Gaillard, J. F. & Perret, D. 2000. Speciation, reactivity, and cycling of Fe and Pb in a meromictic lake. Geochimica Et Cosmochimica Acta 64, 169–183.10.1016/S0016-7037(99)00285-9Google Scholar
The Coal Authority. 2011. The impacts of mining on the Glengonnar Water, Leadhills, South Lanarkshire. 122. https://www.sepa.org.uk/media/218985/impacts_mining_glengonnar_water.pdf.Google Scholar
Tukey, J. W. 1977. Exploratory data analysis. Reading: Addison-Wesley.Google Scholar
UNECE. 1993. ECE standard statistical classifications for the environment. Chapter 4: surface freshwater quality. In Readings in international environment statistics, 53–89. New York: United Nations. https://www.unece.org/fileadmin/DAM/env/documents/1993/esc.pdf.Google Scholar
USGS. 1999. More than broken jars and roof tiles, the environmental legacy of a Roman mineral industry at Plasenzuela, Extremadura, Spain. https://minerals.usgs.gov/east/plasenzuela/background.shtml (accessed 24 October 2017).Google Scholar
WHO. 2011. Guidelines for drinking-water quality. 4th edn. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar
WSR. 2001. The Water Supply (Water Quality) (Scotland) Regulations. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2001/207/pdfs/ssi_20010207_en.pdf (accessed February 2015).Google Scholar
WSR. 2014. The Public Water Supplies (Scotland) Regulations 2014. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2014/364/pdfs/ssi_20140364_en.pdf (accessed May 2018).Google Scholar
Zachara, J. M., Cowan, C. E., Schmidt, R. L. & Ainsworth, C. C. 1988. Chromate adsorption by kaolinite. Clays And Clay Minerals 36, 317–326.Google Scholar