A recent history of metal accumulation in the sediments of Rijeka harbor, Adriatic Sea, Croatia

We studied metal pollution in the sediments of Rijeka harbor, including anthropogenic influence during recent decades and at the present time. Sediment profiles were collected at ten sampling points. The concentrations of 63 elements in bulk sediment were obtained using ICP-MS, and the concentrations of selected elements were evaluated by statistical factor analyses. We also calculated metal-enrichment factors and geoaccumulation indices and constructed spatial-distribution maps.Mercury (Hg) was the heaviest pollutant, with concentrations exceeding 4 mg/kg. Silver (Ag) was the second most important pollutant, with constantly increasing values. The average concentrations of the most toxic elements were comparable to those found in sediments of other ports throughout the world, and their toxicity ranged from threshold values [chromium (Cr), arsenic (As)] and midrange-effect values [cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni)] to extreme-effect values (Hg). Metal pollution has decreased during recent decades, except for Ag and barium (Ba).     

Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in soils and sediments, southeast China: A case study in Xinghua Bay

This study evaluated the contamination status and distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) between Xinghua Bay and adjacent watersheds in Putian region, southeast China. Twenty-five surface soil samples and two sediment cores were collected from two watersheds and the Xinghua Bay, respectively. Results showed that the concentrations of OCPs in samples of the Mulan River Watershed (MRW), the Qiulu River Watershed (QRW), the inner bay core (IBC) and the open bay core (OBC) were in the range of 4.96-38.20 ng/g, 4.62-22.80 ng/g, 1.84-80.46 ng/g and 1.87-23.43 ng/g, respectively. The mean concentration of OCPs was in an order: IBC > MRW > QRW > OBC. The higher concentration of OCPs in recent periods may suggest that a certain amount of OCPs were still input to this area.     

Variability of the dissolved nutrient (N,P, Si) concentrations in the Bay of Annaba in relation to the inputs of the Seybouse and Mafragh estuaries

Dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), phosphate (PO₄) and silicic acid (Si(OH)₄) loads from the Seybouse and the Mafragh estuaries into the Bay of Annaba, Algeria, were assessed at three stations of the Bay over three years. The Seybouse inputs had high levels of DIN and PO₄, in contrast to the Mafragh estuary’s near-pristine inputs; Si(OH)₄ levels were low in both estuaries. The DIN:PO₄ molar ratios were over 30 in most samples and the Si(OH)₄:DIN ratio was less than 0.5 in the Seybouse waters, but nearly balanced in the Mafragh. The specific fluxes of Si–Si(OH)₄ (400–540 kg Si km⁻² yr⁻¹) were comparable in the two catchments, but those of DIN were several-fold higher in the Seybouse (373 kg N km⁻² yr⁻¹). The inner Bay affected by the Seybouse inputs had high levels of all nutrients, while the Mafragh plume and the outer marine station were less enriched.     

Evaluations of heavy metal pollution in sediment and Mullus barbatus from the Izmir Bay (Eastern Aegean) during 1997-2009

Izmir Bay is one of the great natural bays of the Mediterranean. The surface sediment and fish samples were collected during 1997-2009. The sediment concentrations of inner bay showed significant enrichments during sampling periods. Outer and middle bays exhibited low levels of metal enrichments except the estuary of Gediz River. The concentrations were generally higher than the background levels from the Mediterranean and Aegean except Cd and Pb levels gradually decreased. Metal EF is used as an index to evaluate anthropogenic influences of metals in sediments. Maximum metal enrichment was found for Hg in the outer bay, while Pb indicated maximum enrichment in the middle-inner bays. Metal levels were evaluated in sediments in accordance with the numerical SQG of the USEPA. The levels of fish tissues were lower than the results reported from polluted areas of the Mediterranean. The highest BAFs were detected for Hg and Cd in fish.     

Water regime of Vrana Lake in Dalmatia (Croatia): changes,risks and problems

Abstract

Vrana Lake in Dalmatia is a karstic kryptodepression connected to the nearby sea through the karstic subsoil and a canal. Due to interactions with the sea, lake water salinity increases greatly during severe dry periods, seriously endangering the ecosystem. Trend analysis (1961–2010) reveals a decrease in precipitation and surface inflow, but an increase in air temperature, and in sea and lake water levels. Lake inflow and water losses are only partially monitored. Average annual inflow from the monitored part of the catchment is 1722 m³ s^-1, but total inflow is significantly greater; the average difference between total inflow and cumulative water losses is 3072 m³ s^-1. The paper uses modelling to evaluate total inflow into the lake system, taking into consideration projected climate changes/variations till 2100 from the RegCM3 and ALADIN climate models. The analysis indicates marked decrease in discharge values by the end of this century, by as much as 60%.

Editor Z.W. Kundzewicz     

Biological risk and pollution history of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Nansha mangrove,South China

Chinese government has taken various measures to alleviate pollution caused by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the region of Pearl River Delta since the economic reform in 1978, but the effectiveness of these measures remains largely unknown. This study aimed to elucidate the biological risk and pollution history of PAHs by measuring the concentrations of 28 PAHs in the surface and core sediments, respectively, in Nansha mangrove. Results found that the biological risk of PAHs was low without obvious spatial variation. The PAH concentration along the depth gradient indicated that PAH pollution was stabilized since the early 1990s while the source of PAHs has gradually changed from combustion of coal to petroleum products. This implied that the mitigation measures taken by the Chinese government were effective. Compared to marine bottom sediment, we propose that using mangrove sediment can provide a more accurate and precise estimate of pollution history of PAHs.     

A time series of mercury accumulation and improvement of dietary feed in net caged Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

The study was undertaken to investigate the uptake of mercury in salmon throughout the entire farming period at the net cage. Mercury concentrations in muscle, liver, kidney, and gill and responses to the various dietary mercury concentrations were determined. The accumulation of mercury is in the order of kidney>gill=liver>muscle. The highest mercury peak concentrations were observed for both kidney and gill at the parr-smolt period, while liver and muscle mercury peaked one month later after caging at the grow-out site. High dietary sodium and calcium fed to the salmon contributed to the elevation of mercury in kidney and gill during the smolting process. The mercury burden over the grow-out period increased sharply with a linear relationship of mercury uptake. The tissue mercury burden per gram of growth was calculated using the slope of mercury burden and the slope of growth over the period of each stage. The results showed dietary mercury loadings on marketable salmon were within tolerance limits of FDA and US EPA. Rapid growth of salmon and low dietary mercury progressively reduces the uptake of mercury in salmon. The time series of mercury monitoring showed that mercury concentrations in salmon were greater at the parr stage in freshwater than at the grow-out stage in salt water.     

Distribution,characteristics and potential impacts of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) in Hudson Strait and Hudson Bay,Canada

The characteristics of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) were studied in Hudson Bay and Hudson Strait in the Canadian Arctic. Hudson Bay receives a disproportionately large influx of river runoff. With high dissolved organic matter (DOM) concentrations in Arctic rivers the influence of CDOM on coastal and ocean systems can be significant, yet the distribution, characteristics and potential consequences of CDOM in these waters remain unknown. We collected 470 discrete water samples in offshore, coastal, estuarine and river waters in the region during September and October 2005. Mixing of CDOM appeared conservative with salinity, although regional differences exist due to variable DOM composition in the rivers discharging to the Bay and the presence of sea-ice melt, which has low CDOM concentrations and low salinity. There were higher concentrations of CDOM in Hudson Bay, especially in coastal waters with salinities <28$<28$, due to river runoff. Using CDOM composition of water masses as a tracer for the freshwater components revealed that river runoff is largely constrained to nearshore waters in Hudson Bay, while sea-ice melt is distributed more evenly in the Bay. Strong inshore–offshore gradients in the bio-optical properties of the surface waters in the Hudson Bay cause large variation in penetration of ultraviolet radiation and the photic depth within the bay, potentially controlling the vertical distribution of biomass and occurrence of deep chlorophyll maxima which are prevalent only in the more transparent offshore waters of the bay. The CDOM distribution and associated photoprocesses may influence the thermodynamics and stratification of the coastal waters, through trapping of radiant heating within the top few meters of the water column. Photoproduction of biologically labile substrates from CDOM could potentially stimulate the growth of biomass in Hudson Bay coastal waters. Further studies are needed to investigate the importance of terrestrial DOM in the Hudson Bay region, and the impact of hydroelectric development and climate change on these processes.     

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine sediments from industrialized bays of Korea

Concentrations of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) were determined in coastal sediments from heavily industrialized areas and major harbors in Korea. SummationPBDE(20) concentrations in sediments ranged from 2.03 to 2253ng/g dry weight. PBDE concentrations were higher at estuarine and inner bay locations close to industrial complexes and large harbors, indicating that the PBDE contamination in the sediments is due to local discharges from industrial complexes. Deca-BDE was the predominant congener and the concentrations were comparable to or higher than those reported from other countries. Non-parametric multidimensional scaling (MDS) ordination showed that deca-BDE technical mixture is the main source of PBDE contamination in Korean coastal waters, with minor contamination by octa-BDE product. This result is consistent with the consumption pattern of brominated flame-retardants (BFRs) in Korea. Significant correlations existed among BDEs 28, 47, 99, 100, 153, and 154; however, BDEs 183 and 209 showed little correlation with less highly brominated congeners.     

太湖梅梁湾有色可溶性有机物的空间分布及光学行为

2004年3月对太湖梅梁湾有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)的吸收和荧光等光学行为进行研究,并由此探讨了CDOM的空间分布．结果表明,溶解性有机碳(DOC)的浓度在10．48-19．72 mg／L间变化,其均值为13．20±2．79 mg／L;CDOM在280 nm,355 nm和440 nm的吸收系数分别为18．73-31．91 m-1(平均值23．19±4．36 m-1)、4．63-7．14 m-1(平均值5．76±0．91 m-1)、1．45-2．99 m-1(平均值1．92±0．40 m-1);355 nm波长处CDOM的比吸收系数为0．34-0．57 L／(mg·m),平均值0．44±0．06 L/(mg·m);表征CDOM分子大小的比值a(250)／a(365)变化范围为5．05-7．55;355 nm的激发波长、450 nm的发射波长处的荧光值的变化范围0．79-3 04 nm-1(平均值1．69±0．77 nm-1)．CDOM吸收系数、DOC浓度、荧光强度的分析显示CDOM浓度呈现从河口往湾内、湾口递减的趋势．CDOM吸收与DOC浓度的相关性随波长的降低而增加,在短波部分存在明显的正相关．355 nm处的荧光值、DOC浓度与CDOM吸收系分别存在如下显著性正相关关系:Fn(355)=0．692(±0．135)a(355)-2．297(±0．786),a(355)=0．233(±0．061)DOC 2．690(±0．816)．280 -500 nm、280-360 nm、360-440 nm指数函数斜率S值分别为13．86±0．91、18．54±1．11、12．93±0．92μm-1,S值与比吸收系数之间存在显著的负线性相关关系,而与a(25)／a(365)值则存在显著的正线性关系．比吸收系数越大,a(250)／a(365)值和S值就越小,对应的CDOM分子量就越大,腐质酸的比例就越高．     

长江中下游湖泊沉积物生物可利用磷分布特征

利用化学提取方法对太湖6个样点,巢湖4个样点和龙感湖3个样点的表层沉积物和沉积物柱样进行了生物可利用磷(BAP)测定．北太湖表层沉积物的平均含量为259．5mg／kg,而西部湖区平均含量为114 6mg／kg,湖心区平均含量为40．6 mg/kg,而东太湖平均含量为50．7 mg／kg,呈显著北高南低的特点．巢湖西部湖区表层沉积物的BAP平均含量为 254．2 mg／kg,而东部湖区BAP含量降低为101．9mg／kg．龙感湖表层沉积物BAP平均含量为67．8 mg／kg．显著表明污染程度较高的湖区沉积物的BAP相应较高．BAP在沉积物中随深度呈指数降低,显示生物可利用磷在沉积作用下向稳定的非活性磷转化．夏季沉积物中的BAP由于生物活性的增强向溶解态活性磷转化过程增强,显示为较低的BAP含量．BAP 含量与水体溶解态活性磷呈正相关关系,且该相关性在BAP含量较低的样点好于高BAP的样点．     

武汉市东湖沉积物重金属与城市污染环境的关系

应用主成份分析原理,按照主成份提取的信息超过原始信息84％的原则,对武汉市东湖的主体湖区(郭郑湖和塘林湖)的0 cm-7 cm的沉积物30个代表性样品12种元素进行分析,确定其沉积物的重金属的污染源的主要类型．结果表明,郭郑湖第一污染源(占56％)为湖区周围的工业燃煤尘埃,其次(占16％)为交通尾气、生活污水和雨水片流,再次 (占12％)为电镀、印刷等行业的工业污水．塘林湖第一污染源(占65％)为湖区周围的生产性煤燃烧的粉尘,其次(17％) 为生活污水、医院污水和周围土壤的淋溶作用,再次(占9％)为废旧电池、报章杂志和农用物资等．采用均方根综合污染指数法评价分析东湖主体湖区的沉积物的污染程度为轻度污染,其中郭郑湖的污染程度高于塘林湖．     

山西临汾、太原、大同盆地小地震活动A(b)-N 法时序列特征对比研究

利用模拟地震观测资料,对临汾盆地、太原盆地、大同盆地小地震活动时间序列,运用A(b)-N法得到的地震活动参数曲线与地震的对应关系作对比研究,得到地震预测的可信度,发现A(b)-N法对不同盆地的地震活动作出的预测不尽相同,进一步明确了A(b)-N法的应用范围.对今后山西断陷带地震活动的研究提供了一定的参考价值.     

不同来源有色溶解性有机物光化学/微生物降解过程

城市非点源污染向水生生态系统中输入大量的溶解有机物(DOM),对生态系统健康产生重要影响.有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)是广泛分布于自然水体中的一类成分和结构复杂、含有多种高活性化学官能团的大分子聚合物,是DOM的重要组分,对水生生态系统健康、能量流动及生物地球化学循环有重要影响.光化学反应和微生物代谢过程被认为是控制水体CDOM转化、降解和循环的主要影响因素.然而,对城市化如何影响CDOM组成以及光化学和微生物如何相互作用影响城市水体CDOM动态的理解是不足的.因此,为评估光化学过程和微生物代谢对不同城市水体CDOM降解与转化的贡献,解析不同城市水体CDOM光化学/微生物降解作用机理,本研究在英国伯明翰选择3类具有典型DOM来源的水体样本,通过实验室9 d受控培养实验,对比分析光化学以及微生物影响下CDOM来源和组成的变化.结果表明:(1)城市河流由于接受上游污水排放及较短的水力滞留时间,含有丰富的芳香性碳,其CDOM光化学活性明显高于湖泊,光化学降解率为16.60%;(2)城市湖泊CDOM受人类活动影响,自生源类荧光成分富集,生物活性高,在微生物培养过程中CDOM增加了62.16%,...     

Electrical imaging of sliding geometry and fluids associated with a deep seated landslide (La Clapière,France)

This paper deals with the applicability of electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) for the recognition of large landslide structures at depths, which have never previously been imaged accurately. One of the most studied and instrumented deep landslides in Europe is taken as an example: the La Clapière landslide. The first stage of the study consisted of an accurate geological mapping taking into account a morphological analysis of gravitational deformations. This allowed a very fine definition of the landslide structure, that could be compared with three provided ERT profiles performed within the landslide body. Very good correlations were obtained for the determination of sub‐horizontal structures and associated fluid circulations. It confirmed the position of the sliding surface that reached a maximum depth of 100 m. Forward computing was however necessary to determine the influence and then the presence of vertical discontinuities. It supports the use of ERT as an efficient tool for large scale landslide imaging, such as deep seated landslides. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interelement relationships and age-related variation of trace element concentrations in liver of striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) from Japanese coastal waters

Concentrations of 19 trace elements (V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Cu, Zn, Se, Rb, Sr, Mo, Ag, Cd, Sb, Cs, Ba, Tl, Hg, and Pb) were determined in the liver of the striped dolphins (Stenella coeruleoalba) collected around Japan during 1977–1982 to examine the sex difference, age dependence, and interrelationships among trace elements. Tissue distribution of trace elements was also investigated in one adult and one fetus specimens. Generally, concentrations of Se, Sr, Ag, Cd, Cs, Ba, Hg, and Pb were higher in the tissues of adult than those of fetus, whereas the opposite trend was observed for Cr and Tl. There were no significant sex differences in the trace element levels in the liver. Significant positive correlations between age (0–26.5 years) and hepatic concentrations were found for Ag, Se, Hg, V, Fe, Pb, and Sr, suggesting their age-dependent accumulation in the liver. In contrast, hepatic concentrations of Mn and Zn decreased with age. Significant positive relationships were observed between Se, and Hg, Ag, V, Fe, and Sr in the liver.     

太湖有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)对COD及BOD5的指示意义

化学需氧量(COD)、五日生化需氧量(BOD_5)及溶解性有机碳(DOC)是指示湖泊水质的重要指标,然而上述指标测定通常耗费大量时间、试剂及人力物力且排放大量有害废液.有色可溶性有机物(CDOM)是溶解性有机物(DOM)中可以强烈吸收光谱中的紫外光和可见光的部分,数据测定耗时短、方便快捷,且样品处理过程环境友好,能在很大程度上反映湖泊水质.本研究基于2016年2、5和8月在太湖均匀布设的32个采样点进行样品采集,运用光谱吸收与三维荧光-平行因子分析(EEMs-PARAFAC)探究太湖CDOM的光谱吸收和荧光组分,探讨CDOM光谱指标对湖泊BOD_5、COD及DOC浓度等湖泊环境质量指标的可替代性.结果表明:(1)运用EEMs-PARAFAC方法解析出3种荧光组分:类腐殖酸C1、类酪氨酸C2和类色氨酸C3.(2) COD和BOD_5和DOC在空间上呈现出相似的分布趋势,不同水期的最高值均出现在竺山湾和梅梁湾,由西北湖区至中部敞水区、东南湖湾递减.(3)在不同水期,COD、BOD_5、DOC浓度和C1组分均表现为丰水期极显著大于枯水期和平水期,a_(254)在丰、平、枯水期间无显著性差异,最大值出现在丰水期;C2与C3组分均在枯水期和平水期极显著大于丰水期.(4)在不同水文时期,COD、BOD_5和DOC浓度均与a_(254)、类腐殖酸C1呈显著正相关,丰水期太湖COD、BOD_5和DOC浓度与CDOM光谱指标的线性相关性要优于枯水期和平水期.(5) CDOM光谱指标在不同水文时期均能很好地替代COD、BOD_5和DOC等作为反映太湖水体中有机物污染程度及湖泊水质的指标.     

Investigation on age and genesis of silcretes in Queensland (Australia)–Preliminary results

Silcretes from Queensland (Australia) were dated by means of the electron spin resonance dating technique. The results range from 1.5 to 10.8 million years; therefore, these silcretes were formed between the upper Miocene and the early Pleistocene. For a conclusive interpretation of the data geochemical and thin section analyses were also carried out. ESR dating of silcretes for the first time offers a direct approach to a chronostratigraphic framework of the genesis of these duricrusts, and of the palaeoclimatic events attributed to them.