Chronic pollution of freshwater bodies: Data on accumulation of pesticides,oil products,and other toxic substances in bottom deposits

The results of studies aimed to assess the information significance of the coefficients of bottom accumulation of hydrophobic organic substances and heavy metals as indicators of pollution of freshwater bodies are presented. It is shown that the same value of the coefficient of bottom accumulation may correspond to different situations in water bodies. Methods for the interpretation of data on the state of water bodies based on the coefficient of bottom accumulation and its components are proposed to reliably determine the level and character of pollution. Chronic pollution of a number of freshwater bodies of the Russian Federation is assessed by data on the accumulation of pesticides, oil products, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals in bottom deposits.     

Biohydrochemistry of marine environment and transformations of biogenic substances and oil hydrocarbons on the southeastern Sakhalin shelf

Mathematical simulation is used to study the biotransformation conditions of compounds of organogenic elements (C, N, P, Si) and oil hydrocarbons in the water of southeastern Sakhalin shelf. The input data for calculations were evaluated with the use of Sakhalin Shelf GIS or taken from the reference literature and materials of expedition studies. The values of water discharges through the boundaries of the zones chosen within the shelf water area and through the interface with the Sea of Okhotsk were derived from the characteristics of currents estimated by means of Bergen University oceanic model based on normal long-term monthly thermohaline parameters obtained from the Sakhalin Shelf GIS. The intraannual variations of the concentrations of organic and mineral compounds of C, N, P, and Si, as well as oil hydrocarbons because of biotransformation of substances by organisms of the community (bacteria, phytoand zooplankton) were evaluated in calculations with CNPSi-model. The results of calculations, revealing the features of the dynamics of substances, the biomass of organisms, and their activity in matter biotransformations were analyzed.     

Biogenic hydrocarbons and their effect on oil pollution estimates of the Sea of Azov

The results of studies on the efficiency of identification criteria for the origin of hydrocarbons in the ecosystem of the Sea of Azov. Their amount in the cells of major planktonic and benthic organisms of the Sea of Azov. The share of biogenic hydrocarbons in their total amount determined by monitoring the oil pollution of the sea is also evaluated.     

Methodological approaches to pollution assessment in water bodies within the operation zone of mining plants

A series of methods for assessing water body pollution by chemical characteristics are considered as applied to water bodies in the operation zone of mining plants. In some methods, the estimate of water body pollution may reflect regional features of waters, rather than their pollution. Evaluating the environmentally allowable concentrations of elements and their biogeochemical tolerance has shown those values to increase with increasing water body pollution, a fact that contradicts the essence of those characteristics. The most simple and universal is a procedure for evaluating water pollution index with the use of regional MACs, taking into account the geochemical background concentrations of the elements and their toxicity using as a criterion the value of MAC for water bodies used for fishery.     

Bioconcentration factors for petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, LABs and biogenic hydrocarbons in the blue mussel

Bioconcentration factors (K_bc) for petroleum hydrocarbons, PAHs, LABs and biogenic hydrocarbons in Mytilus edulis were measured in field experiments using time-integrating water samplers. Seven deployments at five sites gave lipid weight K_bcs for total hydrocarbons ranging from 0.99 × 10⁶ to 3.1 × 10⁶ (mean 1.6 × 10⁶)—a narrower range than has been obtained previously. Bioconcentration factors for the PAHs were similar to those for total hydrocarbons where the major hydrocarbon source was oil. However, at other sites the factors for PAHs were an order of magnitude lower than those for petroleum and for hydrocarbons originating from algae. Compositional profiles for the linear alkyl benzenes (LABs) suggested that these compounds were assimilated primarily from the dissolved phase, despite their greater abundance on particles.     

Geochemical characteristics and origin of light hydrocarbons in biogenic gas

The light hydrocarbon geochemical characteristics of biogenic gases from Sebei 1 gas field in the Qaidam Basin, Baoshan gas field in the Baoshan Basin and Alaxin gas field, Puqian gas pool, Aonan gas pool in the Songliao Basin are studied and the origin is discussed based on the composition and isotope data of gases. The isoalkane contents among light hydrocarbons in natural gas show a negative relationship with δ13C1 values. The isoalkane contents of the gases with δ13C1 values of less than ?60‰ are also h...     

The effect of oil pollution in Bantry Bay

The biological damage caused by the large oil spill in Bantry Bay and the clean-up measures adopted to deal with it (already reported in the Marine Pollution Bulletin) has been followed up in the months following the oil spill. This report refers to damage to algae and lichens.     

The role of external ammonium inputs in freshwater acidification

Gaseous ammonia released into the atmosphere from animal manure, fertilizer and industrial processes, neutralizes acid oxidation products of sulphur and nitrogen oxides in precipitation. This results in a substantial increase in pH of precipitation. Once deposited in soil or water, the ammonium compounds may be oxidized to nitric acid. This means that hydrogen ions neutralized in the atmosphere are now released. This paper concerns bulk precipitation sampled at some selected northern Italian and Dutch sites, representing areas with different regional industrial and agricultural impact. In addition the role of external loads of ammonium in freshwater acidification is discussed considering an ammonium sulphate polluted subalpine lake in northern Italy and the results of experimentla studies on susceptible soft water systems in The Netherlands. In these cases the acidifying effect of biochemical ammonium conversions, particularly ammonium oxidation, was evident, reaching pH values below 4. Regarding the deleterious chemical and ecological effects, a reduction in the emission of gaseous ammonia is programmed for The Netherlands. In the Alpine region atmospheric ammonia and ammonium also constitute a threat for sensitive ecosystems.     

The role of surfactants in coastal sea pollution

An analysis of the physico-chemical aspects in the distribution of pollutants in the presence of surfactants is reported for coastal marine waters. Three different situations are considered in the interaction of surfactants with soluble components and particle dispersions. The environmental and human health risk is considered as a function of the partition phenomena at the air/water interface and of the effects of weather conditions. The MBAS/Cl⁻ ratio is suggested as an index for assessing coastal sea pollution.     

Compensation for oil pollution damage caused by oil spills from ships and the international oil pollution compensation fund

Liability and compensation for pollution damage caused by oil spills from laden tankers is governed by two international conventions: the 1969 Civil Liability Convention and the 1971 Fund Convention. The Civil Liability Convention established a system of strict liability for tanker owners and introduced compulsory liability insurance. The Fund Convention created a system of supplementary compensation administered by an intergovernmental organization, the International Oil Pollution Compensation Fund (IOPC Fund), which at present has 56 member states (August 1993). The IOPC Fund pays compensation to victims of oil pollution in member states when the compensation from the shipowner and his insurer is insufficient. Over the years (up to August 1993), the IOPC Fund has been involved in 66 incidents and has paid US$92 million to victims. Only three of these incidents have been taken to court, whereas in all other cases claims have been settled out of court. The IOPC Fund has developed a policy on the admissibility of claims covering clean-up costs, measures to prevent pollution, damage to property and economic loss suffered by fishermen, hotel-owners and others who depend directly for their livelihood on sea-related activities.     

The distribution and transformation of oil hydrocarbons in Onega Lake bottom sediments

The distribution of oil hydrocarbons in bottom sediments of Onega Lake was examined. Their qualitative and quantitative composition was examined by methods of IR-spectroscopy and chromatography-mass spectrometry. The background concentrations of oil hydrocarbons in bottom sediments are evaluated and the polluted area is determined. The major regularities in oil hydrocarbon transformations under natural conditions and anthropogenic impact are identified. The quantitative development of the bacterial groups that take part in the transformation of complex organic substances and oil product derivatives in the case of emergency pollution of Petrozavodsk Bay water area by oil products is demonstrated.     

The initial assessment of trace metal pollution in coastal sediments

Coastal sediments are important hosts for pollutant trace metals, but analytical difficulties can prevent them being included in routine environmental monitoring programmes. In order to identify a suitable approach to the problem, an established simple technique has been evaluated for the initial assessment of trace metal pollution in coastal sediments. The technique, which involves leaching the samples with cold 0.5 N HCl, has been applied to surface sediments from two Greek gulfs and has been shown to provide a rapid, inexpensive way of initially establishing the gross degree to which a sediment population has been subjected to trace metal pollution from the overlying waters.     

The significance of identification of nano-size particles in freshwater bodies: Case study of Lake Ladoga

The effect of abiotic and biotic factors on the properties of nano-size particles in freshwater bodies is considered. Field studies of the aquatic environments of Lake Ladoga ecosystem provided an experimental confirmation of the total water mineralization and organic matter content in the formation of nano-size particle properties under natural conditions.     

Origins of hydrocarbons in the Sagara oil field, central Japan

Abstract   We collected free-gas and in situ fluid samples up to a depth of 200.6 m from the Sagara oil field, central Japan (34°44'N, 138°15'E), during the Sagara Drilling Program (SDP) and measured the concentrations and stable carbon isotopic compositions of CH₄ and C₂H₆ in the samples. A combination of the CH₄/C₂H₆ ratios with the carbon isotope ratios of methane indicates that the hydrocarbon gases are predominantly of thermogenic origin at all depths. The isotope signature of hydrocarbon gases of δ¹³      < δ¹³     suggests that these gases in the Sagara oil field are not generated by polymerization, but by the decomposition of organic materials.     

The threat of oil pollution to north Scottish seabird colonies

A report of the recent oil pollution incident in northern Scotland in which 1,200 dead birds, mainly guillemots, were found and up to 10,000 may have died. It emphasizes that, with the increasing likelihood of oil pollution in this area, the seabird communities will need to be watched and protected not only during the breeding season but all the year round.     

Present state of oil pollution in the northern Indian Ocean

A consolidated picture of oil pollution for the northern Indian Ocean is presented. Oil slicks were sighted on 5582 observations, about 83.5% of the total observations of 6689. The range of concentrations, of the floating tar balls, is 0–6.0 mg/m² in the Arabian Sea. Similarly, the oil tanker route in the Bay of Bengal has the range of 0–69.75 mg/m². North of this route, the Bay of Bengal is comparatively free from this floating tar. Mean concentrations of dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbons for 0–20 m are 32.5 and 24.1 μg kg^?1, respectively, in the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.