A comparative study of mercury contamination in the Tagus estuary (Portugal) and major French estuaries (Gironde,Loire, Rhône)

Concentrations of mercury were determined for the waters, suspended matter and sediments of the Tagus and of major French estuaries.The Tagus estuary is one of the most contaminated by mercury derived from the outfalls of a chloralkali plant and from other industrial sources. In deposited sediments the median level, 1·0 μg Hg g^?1, is twenty times higher than the natural background and Hg contents depend on the sediment grain-size, age and the distance from waste-outfalls. Suspended matter is more regularly and highly contaminated (median value: 4·5 μg Hg g^?1). In the French estuaries Hg levels in the suspended material decrease with salinity due to dilution and/or remobilization processes. In June 1982, in the Loire estuary, high values of Hg are observed in the middle estuary and attributed to urban and industrial sources.In the Tagus estuary, the general distribution of total dissolved Hg confirms the contamination: it increases seaward from 10 ng 1^?1 in the river to 80 ng 1^?1 in the estuary outlet. The dissolved Hg is almost totally organic in the river, inorganic in the middle estuary due to inorganic Hg effluents and again organic in the lower estuary. This variation is related to the dissolved organic carbon values. The dissolved Hg levels in the Loire Estuary (5–300 ng 1^?1) are much higher than in the Gironde estuary (3–6 ng 1^?1) and of the same order as those observed in the Tagus estuary.     

Mercury pollution in sediments,benthic organisms and inshore fishes of Haifa Bay,Israel

Total mercury concentrations were determined in surficial sediments, eleven species of benthic organisms and six species of fish from Haifa Bay, Israel. The results show that essentially all of the shallow water zone of the Bay receives anthropogenic mercury. A mercury-cell chlor-alkali plant was identified as the source of pollution. Surficial sediments in the vicinity of the plant, containing up to 0·99 μg Hg/g dry weight, were up to 157 times enriched in mercury relative to an unpolluted area. Mercury levels in the benthic organisms reflected the levels in the sediments. Maximal concentrations reaching 38·7 and 18·2 μg Hg/g dry weight were found in the carnivorous gastropod molluscs Arcularia circumcinta and Arcularia gibbosula, respectively. In all fish species, specimens caught in Haifa Bay had higher mercury concentrations in the muscle tissue than specimens caught south of the Bay. A maximal value of 1·66 μg Hg/g wet weight was recorded in Diplodus sargus.     

渤海湾沉积物中总汞的分布及本底值

本文就渤海湾沉积物中总汞的分布特征、本底值及其污染状况等问题作一初步探讨。 一、材料及方法 1978年6月(枯水期)、9月(丰水期)两次在渤海湾40个测站用大样50型采泥器取表层样,为进一步了解汞自陆源入海后的扩散范围及污染过程,于1979—1980年在含汞较高的北     

Baseline Sediment Trace Metals Investigation: Steinhatchee River Estuary,Florida, Northeast Gulf of Mexico

This Florida Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Manage ment Service Cooperative Study provides baseline data for major and trace metal concentrations in the sediments of the Steinhatchee River estuary. These data are intended to provide a benchmark for comparison with future metal concentration data measurements. The Steinhatchee River estuary is a relatively pristine bay located within the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area on the North Central Florida Gulf of Mexico coastline. The river flows 55 km through woodlands and planted pines before emptying into the Gulf at Deadman Harbor. Water quality in the estuary is excellent at present. There is minimal development within the watershed. The estuary is part of an extensive system of marshes that formed along the Florida Gulf coast during the Holocene marine transgression. Sediment accretion rate measurements range from 1.4 to 4.1 mm yr on the basis of lead-210 measurements. Seventy-nine short cores were collected from 66 sample locations, representing four lithofacies: clay- and organic-rich sands, organic-rich sands, clean quartz sands, and oyster bioherms. Samples were analyzed for texture, total organic matter, total carbon, total nitrogen, clay mineralogy, and major and trace-metal content. Follow ing these analyses, metal concentrations were normalized against geochemical reference elements (aluminum and iron) and against total weight percent organic matter. Metals were also normalized granulometrically against total weight percent fines (0.062 mm). Concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for all metals except mercury. Mercury concentrations were determined by cold-flameless atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Granulo metric measurements were made by sieve and pipette analyses. Organic matter was determined by two methods: weight loss upon ignition and elemental analysis (by Carlo-Erba Furnace) of carbon and nitrogen. X-ray diffraction was used to deter mine clay mineralogy. Trace-metal concentrations were best correlated when normalized with respect to sediment aluminum concentrations. Normalizations indicate that most major and trace-metal concentrations fall within 95 % prediction limits of the expected value. This finding suggests that little significant metal contamination occurred within this system prior to 1994 sediment sampling. Exceptions include lead, mercury, copper, zinc, potassium, and phosphorous. Lead and mercury are elements that generally enter this watershed through atmospheric deposition; thus, anomalous levels of these metals are not necessarily associated with activities within the watershed of the Steinhatchee River estuary. Anomalous concentrations of other metals such as zinc, copper, and phosphorous probably do originate within the Steinhatchee watershed. Copper failed to correlate well with any geochemical or granulometric normalizer, and this condition was not limited to a single facies or area within the estuary. This finding may indicate copper contamination in the system. Increased zinc and copper levels may be attributed to marine paints. Phosphorous levels also appeared to be elevated in a few locations in the two marsh facies sampled. This may be due to nutrient loading from two small communities, Jena and Steinhatchee, or from the application of this element in fertilizer to reduce moisture stress to young planted pines on tree farms within the watershed.     

Baseline Sediment Trace Metals Investigation: Steinhatchee River Estuary, Florida, Northeast Gulf of Mexico

This Florida Geological Survey U.S. Department of the Interior, Minerals Manage ment Service Cooperative Study provides baseline data for major and trace metal concentrations in the sediments of the Steinhatchee River estuary. These data are intended to provide a benchmark for comparison with future metal concentration data measurements. The Steinhatchee River estuary is a relatively pristine bay located within the Big Bend Wildlife Management Area on the North Central Florida Gulf of Mexico coastline. The river flows 55 km through woodlands and planted pines before emptying into the Gulf at Deadman Harbor. Water quality in the estuary is excellent at present. There is minimal development within the watershed. The estuary is part of an extensive system of marshes that formed along the Florida Gulf coast during the Holocene marine transgression. Sediment accretion rate measurements range from 1.4 to 4.1 mm yr on the basis of lead-210 measurements. Seventy-nine short cores were collected from 66 sample locations, representing four lithofacies: clay- and organic-rich sands, organic-rich sands, clean quartz sands, and oyster bioherms. Samples were analyzed for texture, total organic matter, total carbon, total nitrogen, clay mineralogy, and major and trace-metal content. Follow ing these analyses, metal concentrations were normalized against geochemical reference elements (aluminum and iron) and against total weight percent organic matter. Metals were also normalized granulometrically against total weight percent fines (0.062 mm). Concentrations were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES) for all metals except mercury. Mercury concentrations were determined by cold-flameless atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). Granulo metric measurements were made by sieve and pipette analyses. Organic matter was determined by two methods: weight loss upon ignition and elemental analysis (by Carlo-Erba Furnace) of carbon and nitrogen. X-ray diffraction was used to deter mine clay mineralogy. Trace-metal concentrations were best correlated when normalized with respect to sediment aluminum concentrations. Normalizations indicate that most major and trace-metal concentrations fall within 95 % prediction limits of the expected value. This finding suggests that little significant metal contamination occurred within this system prior to 1994 sediment sampling. Exceptions include lead, mercury, copper, zinc, potassium, and phosphorous. Lead and mercury are elements that generally enter this watershed through atmospheric deposition; thus, anomalous levels of these metals are not necessarily associated with activities within the watershed of the Steinhatchee River estuary. Anomalous concentrations of other metals such as zinc, copper, and phosphorous probably do originate within the Steinhatchee watershed. Copper failed to correlate well with any geochemical or granulometric normalizer, and this condition was not limited to a single facies or area within the estuary. This finding may indicate copper contamination in the system. Increased zinc and copper levels may be attributed to marine paints. Phosphorous levels also appeared to be elevated in a few locations in the two marsh facies sampled. This may be due to nutrient loading from two small communities, Jena and Steinhatchee, or from the application of this element in fertilizer to reduce moisture stress to young planted pines on tree farms within the watershed.     

CDOM and its contribution to the underwater light climate of a shallow, microtidal estuary in south-western Australia

Light attenuation (K_d) of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) by chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), total suspended solids (TSS) and chlorophyll a (Chl a) were measured at nine stations along an estuarine gradient in the Swan River, Western Australia, over 15 months. There were strong spatial gradients associated with the marine-freshwater transition along the 32 km of estuary sampled, as well as seasonal gradients mainly associated with rainfall, 80% of which occurs between May and September. CDOM absorbances at 440 nm reached a maximum of 10.9 m⁻¹ with the freshwater inflow but concentrations of suspended matter remained low throughout the sampling period (1.0–21.0 mg l⁻¹) under the diurnal tides of the estuary. CDOM was the dominant constituent of K_d and a stepwise multiple regression showed that 66% (p < 0.0001) of the variation in K_d can be explained by CDOM and an additional 8% (p < 0.0001) by TSS. As a consequence of this result, analysis into the influence of river discharge rates on CDOM absorbance levels was examined for 2002 using data collected during this study, and for 2000 and 2001 using historical dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and river discharge data. The outcome of this analysis infers that greater river discharge rates result in increased CDOM absorbances in the Swan River estuary.     

Organic matter and surface properties of solid particles in the estuarine mixing zone

Two physicochemical parameters: specific surface area (SSA) and heat-of-wetting (Δ_wH) were measured in order to characterize the surface of sediments from river and marine environments. The data for the sediment samples of the Krka River Estuary were compared with polluted river and shelf marine sediment samples. It was found that organic free samples from the polluted river sediments show two to three times larger SSA compared to native samples. At the same time, Δ_wH was two to three times higher for native samples. The inverse of this trend was found for marine sediment samples. In the Krka River Estuary a narrow transition zone is evident, where such an inversion occurs. This inversion is attributed to significant compositional changes of organic matter within the estuary.     

Selenium in sediments, pore waters and benthic infauna of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales, Australia

Measurements of selenium in sediments and benthic infauna of Lake Macquarie, an estuary on the east coast of Australia, indicate that sediments are a significant source of selenium in the lake's food web. Analysis of surficial sediment samples indicated higher selenium concentrations near what are believed to be the main industrial sources of selenium to the lake: a smelter and a power station. Sediment cores taken from sediments in Mannering Bay, near a power station at Vales Point, contained an average of 12 times more selenium in surficial sections than sediment cores from Nord's Wharf, a part of the lake remote from direct inputs of selenium. The highest selenium concentration found in Mannering Bay sediments (17.2 μg/g) was 69 times the apparent background concentration at Nord's Wharf (0.25 μg/g). Pore water concentrations in Mannering Bay were also high, up to 5 μg/l compared to those at Nord's Wharf which were below detection limits (0.2 μg/l). Selenium concentrations in muscle tissues of three benthic-feeding fish species (Mugil cephalus, Platycephalus fuscus, Acanthopagrus australis) were significantly correlated (p<0.05) with surficial sediment selenium concentration. Selenium concentrations in polychaetes and molluscs of Mannering Bay were up to 58 times higher than those from Nord's Wharf. Two benthic organisms, the eunicid polychaete Marphysa sanguinea and the bivalve mollusc Spisula trigonella, were maintained at different densities in selenium-spiked sediments. Both animals accumulated selenium from the spiked sediment, confirming that bioaccumulation from contaminated sediments occurs. Collectively, these data suggest that benthic food webs are important sources of selenium to the fish of Lake Macquarie.     

环雷州半岛海域表层沉积物与鲬鱼汞污染研究

对2018年1月在广东环雷州半岛近海海域采集的海底表层沉积物、鲬鱼(Platycephalus indicus)进行汞含量的测定,分析比较了鲬鱼不同部位汞含量的差异,并采用单因子污染指数法对沉积物和鲬鱼的汞污染状况进行了风险评价。结果表明,环雷州半岛海域表层沉积物中汞含量范围为0.005×10^-6～0.359×10^-6,平均值为0.081×10^-6,雷州半岛东部海域表层沉积物汞含量高于南部和西部海域。鲬鱼的鳃中汞含量范围为0.032×10^-6～0.034×10^-6,平均值为0.033×10^-6;肌肉中的汞含量范围为0.065×10^-6～0.080×10^-6,平均值为0.073×10^-6;肝脏中的汞含量范围为0.228×10^-6～0.270×10^-6,平均值为0.249×10^-6。鲬鱼样品的汞含量都呈现出肝脏＞肌肉＞鳃。单因子污染指数评价结果显示,雷州半岛海域鲬鱼受到汞的轻微污染,雷州半岛东部海域表层沉积物存在汞污染生态风险,而其南部、西部海域尚未受到汞污染的威胁。     

Marine sampling by scuba diving. 3. Sampling procedures for measurement of mercury concentrations in estuarine waters and seawater

A method for sampling estuarine waters and seawater by scuba diving is described. Samples taken from the Krka River Estuary on the eastern Adriatic coast were analysed for mercury content using cold vapour atomic absorption spectrometry (CVAAS). Mercury levels as low as 1 ng dm⁻³ were determined and these are among the lowest values reported to date. A simple contamination free procedure for the preconditioning of sample containers in the sea was applied. Sampling of water by divers is particularly useful when the intermediate layer in an estuary has to be identified and sampled, as well as for obtaining detailed vertical concentration profiles for mercury and other trace elements.     

Lifespan mercury accumulation pattern in Liza aurata: Evidence from two southern European estuaries

Mercury accumulation throughout the lifespan of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) was analysed in four tissues (muscle, gills, liver and brain) in two southern European coastal ecosystems with distinct mercury contamination. Specimens from four to five age classes were captured in two sampling sites in the Ria de Aveiro (Laranjo bay and Mira), a system historically contaminated by industrial mercury, and in one site in the Mondego estuary, assumed as a mercury-free ecosystem. Mercury concentration in all tissues was found to be significantly higher in the Ria de Aveiro (Laranjo bay) compared to the Mondego, in accordance with the environmental contamination (water, sediments and suspended particulate matter). Significant differences inside the Ria de Aveiro (between the Mira and Laranjo bay) were only detected in the liver. This tissue registered the highest levels of mercury (ranging from 0.11 to 4.2 μg g⁻¹) in all sampling sites, followed by muscle, brain, and gills. In all sampling sites and tissues was denoted a mercury dilution pattern along the lifecycle (except in liver at the Mondego, the reference area where the concentrations are always very low). An exponential trend was found in the metal age variation patterns in Laranjo (the most contaminated area) and a linear trend in the Mira and the Mondego (the least contaminated areas). Organic mercury concentration in muscle generally accounted for over 95% of total mercury concentration, and followed the same accumulation pattern of total mercury. This fish species is of lesser importance in mercury transfer to adjacent coastal areas and although the consumption of fish from Laranjo may present some risk for the humans, this risk decreases with fish age/size.     

Sedimentary facies and evolution in the Qiantang River incised valley,eastern China

This paper deals with the sedimentary facies and evolution of the Qiantang River (QR) estuary, and the characteristics and formation of the incised valley sequences and the related shallow biogenic gas reservoir, on the basis of analysis of over 500 cores.The result shows that, since the last glaciation, the Late Quaternary formation of the QR estuary area underwent three stages: (1) deep-cutting stage; (2) rapid-filling stage; and (3) burial stage. The fall of global sea level during the last glacial maximum enhanced the fluvial gradient and river cutting, resulting in the formation of the large-scale QR and Taihu incised valleys, with the interfluve being exposed to air on both flanks of the incised valley. Fluvial terraces at the elevations are present near the present QR estuarine mouth, corresponding to 60–70, 90–100 and 115–125 m burial depths. The valleys were filled rapidly with fluvial sediments during the post-glacial period; with the rise of sea level, the river mouth migrated to landward, and backwater and retrogressive aggradation was enhanced. The QR and Taihu incised valleys are associated with an early filling and transgressive channel-infilling sequence formation, and a late filling and transgressive floodplain-estuary formation. Subsequently, the QR valley was buried under estuarine-marine and estuarine sand bar sediments. From bottom to top, the incised valley successions can be grouped into four sedimentary facies: river channel, floodplain-estuary, estuary-shallow marine, and estuary sand bar.The thickness of the river channel-infilling deposits is controlled mainly by base level rising, backwater, retrogressive aggradation and neotectonism. Further, localized thickening took place where deeper scour pools were present in the incised valley or fluvial terraces were formed during the fall of elative sea level.During the deposition of the floodplain-estuary facies, the conditions of sea level rise, tidal regime, sediment supply and accommodation space were suitable for the development of a tidal ridge system; the sand lenses associated with this facies may represent a tidal ridge system in the incised valley. At the later stage when the estuarine sand bars were formed, the sedimentary conditions were no longer favourable, resulting in absence of sand ridge deposits. Biogenic gas is stored in the floodplain-estuary sand lenses of the incised valleys. The Changjiang River provides the major sediment supply for the QR estuary sand bar, and the QR carried sediments constitute only a small portion of the deposits.     

Salt-wedge propagation in a Mediterranean micro-tidal river mouth

The dynamics of a seasonally formed salt-wedge propagating along the micro-tidal channel of Strymon River estuary, Northern Greece, and its consequences on river water quality, are thoroughly studied through intensive sampling campaigns. The wedge is developed at the downstream river part, under the summer limited freshwater discharge conditions (Q < 30 m³/s). The geometric features of the wedge (length and thickness) appeared directly related to Strymon River discharge. A maximum intrusion length of 4.7 km along Strymon River estuary was observed under minimum river discharge of almost 6 m³/s. Relations produced from in situ data illustrate that limited river flow expands the wedge horizontally, reducing its vertical dimension, while higher flows lead to increased wedge thickness. Estuarine flushing time ranges between 0.2 and 1.5 days, exponentially dependent on Strymon River discharge. Wedge velocities depicted tidal asymmetry between tidal phases, with consistent inward motion, even under the ebb tidal stage. Strong vertical stratification prevails throughout the tidal cycle, proving the limited vertical mixing between the two layers, although higher interfacial stresses are produced in ebb. Bottom topography plays an interesting role in wedge propagation, as the presence of an underwater sill either prevents saline intrusion during flood or isolates the front of the wedge from its core at the ebb. Ecological consequences of salt-wedge propagation in Strymon River estuary are the frequent evidence of bottom hypoxic conditions and the increased TSS levels, leading to the occurrence of a turbidity maximum at the tip of the salt-wedge. Higher BOD and ammonium levels were mostly observed at the river end, associated to point and non-point pollution sources. Nitrates and silicates were found associated with freshwater fluxes, while ammonia levels were related to saline intrusions. The reduced phosphorus freshwater fluxes, resulting from phosphorus uptake at the upstream reservoir (Kerkini Lake) and the increased bottom turbidity induced by the salt-wedge seem responsible for the limited chlorophyll-a levels along Strymon River estuary.     

长江口水域四种鱼类的耳石微化学研究

利用X-射线电子探针微区技术(electron probe microanalysis, EPMA),对长江口不同水域中捕获的焦氏舌鳎、皮氏叫姑鱼、鮸鱼和光泽黄颡鱼耳石中的Sr含量进行耳石微化学研究,结果发现,焦氏舌鳎是典型的海水鱼类,不仅Sr:Ca比(按惯例标准化为Sr:Ca×10~3)的移动平均值高(7),而且Sr含量面分析图亦呈现为对应高盐度海水的黄色或红色图谱。虽然皮氏叫姑鱼和鮸鱼从出生直至被捕Sr:Ca比的移动平均值都在3—7间波动,总体上属河口半咸水栖息鱼类,但从Sr含量面分析图来看,皮氏叫姑鱼生活史履历更为复杂,可包括淡水(对应蓝色图谱)和半咸水生境(对应绿色图谱);而鮸鱼仅在长江口较高盐度半咸水或海水生境中活动,未见进入过淡水的履历。光泽黄颡鱼表现出仅利用淡水生境的履历,其Sr:Ca比的移动平均值仅在1.5—3间窄幅波动,整个生活史均在淡水区域里活动,表现为长江口典型的淡水栖息鱼类。本研究从新的角度提供了较为客观、直观和最新的信息,用以较为准确地重建和掌握长江口这些不同鱼类的生境利用特征。     

Composition of the organic matter of the water,suspended matter,and bottom sediments in Nha Trang Bay in Vietnam in the South China Sea

Research has been conducted in Nha Trang Bay (Southern Vietnam, the South China Sea) at the section from the estuary of the Cai River to the marine part of the bay, as well as in the area of coral reefs. The objects of the studies are the river and sea waters, the suspended matter, and the bottom sediments. Data on the dissolved organic carbon and the total nitrogen in the water are obtained. The organic carbon content is estimated in the suspended matter; the organic carbon and the molecular and group composition of the n-alkanes are determined in the bottom sediments. The molecular and group composition of the n-alkanes in the bottom sediments of the landfill have made it possible to identify three types of organic matter (OM): marine, mixed, and of mainly terrigenous origin. All the types of OM are closely related to the specificity of the sedimentation and the hydrodynamics of the waters in this water area.     

Behaviour of proteinaceous substances in the estuary of the Tama River

Behaviour of dissolved and particulate proteinaceous substances in the estuary of the Tama River was investigated through field observations and laboratory experiments. Concentrations of dissolved proteinaceous substances in estuarine water were determined at eight stations between the mouth of the Tama River (TA-15) and a point 16km upstream (TA-8), using the colorimetric method of Lowryet al. (1951) that employs Folin phenol reagent. The results were expressed in terms of Folin phenol active substances (FPAS). It was found that FPAS decreased with increasing salinity and that the proportion of high molecular weight FPAS (molecular weight greater than 100,000) decreased rapidly in the estuary.The shapes, sizes and numbers of amorphous particulate substances stained by Amido Black 10B, called Amido Black active substances (ABAS), were determined under a microscope. The numbers of ABAS retained on Millipore HA filters (mean diameter: 10–80µm) amounted to 450ml^–1 in the estuarine water about 6km from the mouth of the estuary (Station TA-12M). Some of these aggregates are considered to be producedin situ by flocculation of high molecular weight FPAS during estuarine mixing. ABAS were also produced in experiments by mixing filtered river water with sea water.     

Distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments from Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay,Bohai Sea (China)

The levels of 19 kinds of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the aqueous phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM), pore water and sediments from Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay (Bohai Sea) in northeast China were investigated to evaluate their potential pollution risks. The total OCPs concentrations in the aqueous phase, SPM, pore water and sediments were 3.7–30.1 ng l⁻¹, 4.6–52.6 ng l⁻¹, 157–830 ng l⁻¹ and 2.1–21.3 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of OCPs, in the Daliao River estuary, are in the mid-range, as compared to those reported in other estuaries worldwide. The distribution of HCHs and DDTs were different indicating different contamination sources. Lindane is the main type of HCH and continuing use in northeast China of ‘pure’ HCH (lindane) rather than technical HCH accounts for the source. The ratios of (DDE + DDD)/DDT in the samples indicate no recent inputs of these chemicals to the estuary.     

The role of suspended matter in the biogeochemical cycles in the Adige River estuary (Northern Adriatic Sea)

Suspended matter and sediments from the Adige River mouth were analysed in an attempt to elucidate the transfer of heavy metals from the river to the sea. The vertical profile of grain-size spectra of suspended matter in front of the river mouth has shown that the riverine particles are limited to the upper brackish layer.Particulate matter was found to have a large specific surface area, up to 20 m² g⁻¹ in the estuarine sample. High quantities of quartz and phyllosilicates (micas and clay minerals) were found in the riverine suspended matter. The quartz content of the suspended matter from the brackish layer was found to be diminishing and with the organic matter becoming the essential component (22%). Higher levels of trace metals were usually detected in suspended matter samples (40 ppm Ni, 200 ppm Cr, 60 ppm Pb, 100 ppm Cu, 320 ppm Zn, and 0·9 ppm Cd) than in sediments.The observed similarity of physico-chemical, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of riverine suspended matter and recent marine sediments, indicates that most of the riverborne particulate matter is deposited in the proximity of the Adige River mouth.The peculiar characteristics of the chromium level (high bulk concentration and its abundance in the organic fraction of the particular matter) when compared to the other trace metals, indicates the anthropogenic influence on its biogeocycle.     

226Ra and 228Ra in the mixing zones of the Pee Dee River-Winyah Bay,Yangtze River and Delaware Bay Estuaries

²²⁶Ra and ²²⁸Ra have non-conservative excess concentrations in the mixing zones of the Pee Dee River-Winyah Bay estuary, the Yangtze River estuary, and the Delaware Bay estuary. Laboratory experiments, using Pee Dee River sediment, indicate desorption of ²²⁶Ra to increase with increasing salinities up to 20‰. In Winyah Bay desorption from river-borne sediments could contribute almost all of the increases for both isotopes. Desorption adds only a portion of the excess ²²⁸Ra measured in the Yangtse River and adjacent Shelf waters and Delaware Bay. In the Yangtze River the mixing zone extends over a considerable portion of the Continental Shelf where ²²⁸Ra is added to the water column by diffusion from bottom sediments, while ²²⁶Ra concentrations decrease from dilution. Diffusion of ²²⁸Ra from bottom sediments in Delaware Bay primarily occurs in the upper part of the bay (< 22‰ water) where fine grained sediments predominate. A diffusive flux for ²²⁸Ra of 0·33 dpm cm^?2 year was determined for Delaware Bay.     

Distribution and sources of organic carbon, nitrogen and their isotopes in sediments of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and adjacent shelf, Southern China

The isotopic composition (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) and organic carbon (OC) and total nitrogen (TN, organic plus inorganic) content of 37 carbonate-free surficial sediments of the subtropical Pearl River estuary and the adjacent shelf of South China Sea (SCS) was determined. The δ¹³C values indicate that the sediment organic material is a mixture from two sources, terrestrial and marine. Several of the sediments have extremely low (< 4) OC / TN ratios, which could be due to low OC contents and/or to a significant fraction of the TN present as inorganic nitrogen adsorbed on clays. In general, the spatial patterns of OC, TN, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N are similar. Values are low at the river mouth and on the western coast, suggesting proportionally greater accumulation of terrestrial particulate organic matter relative to marine phytodetritus, which is limited by low productivity in the turbid plume of the Pearl River. Algal-derived organic carbon (al-OC) content is estimated to be low (≤ 0.06%) at the river mouth and higher (up to 0.57%) on the adjacent inner shelf based on a mixing model of end members.