The variations of labile arsenic diffusion driven by algal bloom decomposition in eutrophic lake ecosystems

Abstract

The vertical labile arsenic (As) concentration and diffusion pattern variations in eutrophic lakes were investigated using in situ techniques of diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT) and high-resolution dialysis (HR-Peeper) in the typical eutrophic system of Lake Taihu in China. In addition, simulation experiments were used to reveal labile As distributions in sediment profiles under the influence of algae blooms and wind fluctuations. Our results indicated that eutrophication could lead to the migration and transformation of As fractions, including increased As bioavailability, as well as varied diffusion patterns. The sulfate released from algae decomposition reduced to H₂S and formed FeS, which weak adsorbability contributed to the increased mobility of the As fractions. Meanwhile, further decomposition released a large quantity of algae-derived organic matter which competed with the adsorbed As, leading to more endogenous As migrating to the overlying water. Accordingly, the H₂S production presented a likely explanation for the changed distribution of labile As and contributed to labile As concentrations in the sediment profiles significantly increasing at depths of -20 mm to -60 mm in the early stages of the simulation experiment. Moreover, the areas of enhanced diffusion patterns with high concentrations of As obviously expanded. However, following the complete decomposition of the algae, the organic matter component significantly changed, suggesting an explanation for the variations in distribution of labile As. All the diffusion pattern variations showed similar trends. Consequently, variation of labile As diffusion patterns could indicate the decomposition and eutrophication levels of freshwater ecosystems.

Keywords: Algae blooms; Diffusion patterns; Eutrophic lake; In situ technique; Labile Arsenic.