Dissolved and acid available particulate beryllium in eastern UK surface waters.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Hydrogeology
• Ecotoxicology

Background:

• Beryllium (Be) is a trace element with potential environmental impacts.
• Understanding Be concentrations in surface waters is crucial for assessing aquatic ecosystem health.
• Previous studies on Be in UK rivers are limited, necessitating broader investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify dissolved and acid-available particulate beryllium (Be) concentrations in eastern UK rivers.
• To investigate the relationship between Be levels and environmental factors like drought and land use.
• To assess the potential ecological stress posed by Be in aquatic environments.

Main Methods:

• Water quality surveys were conducted as part of the Land Ocean Interaction Study (LOIS).
• Measurements included dissolved Be (filtered through 0.45-microm filters) and acid-available total Be.
• Concentrations were analyzed in relation to river flow, land use (rural vs. industrial/urban), and sediment characteristics.

Main Results:

• Dissolved Be concentrations were generally low (<1 microg l(-1)), but spiked significantly (up to 29 microg l(-1)) in eastern UK rivers during a 1995 drought.
• Higher dissolved Be was observed in industrial/urban rivers, especially in the southern Humber basin, and showed a north-to-south increase.
• Acid-available particulate Be (AAPBe) concentrations were low (mean 0.02 microg l(-1)) and correlated with suspended sediment and pollutants, with higher levels in industrial rivers.

Conclusions:

• A significant, unexpected dissolved Be stress to lowland aquatic environments was identified, potentially exacerbated by climate instability.
• Industrial and urban catchment systems appear to be linked to increased dissolved Be, particularly during drought conditions.
• While AAPBe concentrations are lower, their correlation with pollutants highlights catchment sources, and Be flux requires further monitoring.