Asia-Pacific mussel watch: monitoring contamination of persistent organochlorine compounds in coastal waters of Asian countries

Contamination of persistent organochlorines (OCs) such as PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), DDT and its metabolites (DDTs), HCH (hexachlorocyclohexane) isomers (HCHs), chlordane compounds (CHLs), and HCB (hexachlorobenzene) were examined in mussels collected from coastal waters of Asian countries such as Cambodia, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Philippines, Far East Russia, Singapore, and Vietnam in 1994, 1997, 1998, 1999, and 2001 to elucidate the contamination status, distribution and possible pollution sources and to assess the risks on aquatic organisms and human. OCs were detected in all mussels collected from all the sampling sites investigated. Considerable residue levels of p,p(')-DDT and alpha-HCH were found in mussels and the concentrations of DDTs and HCHs found in mussels from Asian developing countries were higher than those in developed nations suggesting present usage of DDTs and HCHs along the coastal waters of Asian developing countries. On the other hand, lower concentrations of PCBs detected in mussels from Asian developing countries than those in developed countries indicate that PCBs contamination in mussels is strongly related to industrial and activities. To our knowledge, this is a first comprehensive report on monitoring OCs pollution in the Asia-Pacific region.     

Persistent organochlorine residues in green mussels from coastal waters of South India

Green mussels (Perna viridis) collected from nine locations along the South Indian coast were used as bioindicator to assess the organochlorine contamination (HCHs, DDTs, and PCBs) in the coastal environment of South India. Concentrations of ΣHCH and ΣDDT were found to be similar, ranging from 3 to 39 ng g⁻¹ on wet wt basis. On the other hand, PCB levels were apparently lower, varying from <1.0 to 7.1 ng g⁻¹ wet wt. The residue pattern of organochlorines in mussels are principally similar to those in Indian human samples, reported earlier. The coastal marine pollution by HCH in India ranks among the highly contaminated areas in the world.     

Coral bleaching on high-latitude marginal reefs at Sodwana Bay,South Africa

Coral bleaching, involving the expulsion of symbiotic zooxanthellae from the host cells, poses a major threat to coral reefs throughout their distributional range. The role of temperature in coral bleaching has been extensively investigated and is widely accepted. A bleaching event was observed on the marginal high-latitude reefs of South Africa located at Sodwana Bay during the summer months of 2000. This was associated with increased sea temperatures with high seasonal peaks in summer and increased radiation in exceptionally clear water. The bleaching was limited to Two-mile Reef and Nine-mile Reef at Sodwana Bay and affected <12% of the total living cover on Two-mile Reef. Montipora spp., Alveopora spongiosa and Acropora spp. were bleached, as well as some Alcyoniidae (Sinularia dura, Lobophytum depressum, L. patulum). A cyclical increase in sea temperature (with a period of 5–6 years) was recorded during 1998–2000 in addition to the regional temperature increase caused by the El Niño Southern Oscillation phenomenon. The mean sea temperature increased at a rate of 0.27 °C year⁻¹ from May 1994 to April 2000. High maximum temperatures were measured (>29 °C). The lowest mean monthly and the mean maximum monthly temperatures at which coral bleaching occurred were 27.5 and 28.8 °C, respectively, while the duration for which high temperatures occurred in 2000 was 67 days at 27.5 °C (4 days at 28.8 °C). Increased water clarity and radiation appeared to be a synergistic cause in the coral bleaching encountered at Sodwana Bay.     

Concentrations of organotin compounds in blue mussels from the wharves of Tokyo Bay

Organotin compounds (tributyltin (TBT), dibutyltin (DBT), monobutyltin (MBT), triphenyltin (TPT), diphenyltin (DPT), and monophenyltin (MPT)) were quantified in blue mussels, Mytilus edulis, in 1989 at 26 wharves along Tokyo Bay. Organotin compounds, other than DPT, were detected in all mussel samples (in case of DPT: 23 of 26). The concentration of DBT was highest among butyltin compounds and that of TPT was highest among phenyltin compounds. The results showed that relatively high concentrations of organotin compounds persist in blue mussels of Tokyo Bay, although the use of the paints containing these compounds has been limited for several years by regulations.     

Helium isotope geochemistry of mid-ocean ridge basalts from the South Atlantic

We report new helium isotope results for 49 basalt glass samples from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between 1°N and 47°S.³He/⁴He in South Atlantic mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) varies between 6.5 and 9.0 R_A (R_A is the atmospheric ratio of1.39 × 10⁻⁶), encompassing the range of previously reported values for MORB erupted away from high³He/⁴He hotspots such as Iceland. He, Sr and Pb isotopes show systematic relationships along the ridge axis. The ridge axis is segmented with respect to geochemical variations, and local spike-like anomalies in³He/⁴He, Pb and Sr isotopes, and trace element ratios such as(La/Sm)_N are prevalent at the latitudes of the islands of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough to the east of the ridge. The isotope systematics are consistent with injection beneath the ridge of mantle “blobs” enriched in radiogenic He, Pb and Sr, derived from off-axis hotspot sources. The variability in³He/⁴He along the ridge can be used to refine the hotspot source-migrating-ridge sink model.

MORB from the 2–7°S segment are systematically the least radiogenic samples found along the mid-ocean ridge system to date. Here the depleted mantle source is characterized by⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr of 0.7022, Pb isotopes close to the geochron and with²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb of 17.7, and³He/⁴He of 8.6–8.9 R_A. The “background contamination” of the subridge mantle, by radiogenic helium derived from off-ridge hotspots, displays a maximum between 20 and 24°S. The HePb and HeSr isotope relations along the ridge indicate that the³He/⁴He ratios are lower for the hotspot sources of St. Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Gough than for the MORB source, consistent with direct measurements of³He/⁴He ratios in the island lavas. Details of the HeSrPb isotope systematics between 12 and 22°S are consistent with early, widespread dispersion of the St. Helena plume into the asthenosphere, probably during flattening of the plume head beneath the thick lithosphere prior to continental breakup. The geographical variation in theHe/Pbratio deduced from the isotope systematics suggests only minor degassing of the plume during this stage. Subsequently, it appears that the plume component reaching the mid-Atlantic ridge was partially outgassed of He during off-ridge hotspot volcanism and related melting activity.

Overall, the similar behavior of He and Pb isotopes along the ridge indicates that the respective mantle sources have evolved under conditions which produced related He and Pb isotope variations.     

Identification and characterization of lipolytic and proteolytic bacteria isolated from marine sediments

Lipolytic and proteolytic bacteria were isolated from sediments at two sampling stations in the New York Bight Apex and one sampling station each in Sandy Hook Bay and Great Bay, New Jersey. The stations in the Bight Apex and Sandy Hook Bay have received industrial wastes and sewage for several decades, while Great Bay has received little of such materials. Proteolytic counts were 2–4 times higher and lipolytic counts generally 4 times higher in the polluted areas. Of the isolates taken from casein and lipid plates, 76% were Gram-negative rods; 80% of the latter were identified as Vibrio and Pseudomonas. The vibrios comprised more than 60% of the isolates from Station 4 (Great Bay) and Station 1 (Bight Apex), and were tested for their ability to break down casein, lipid, starch, and chitin. From Station 1, 75% of the Vibrio were active in degrading one or more substrates in addition to the substrate of the initial isolation medium; from Station 4, 52% of the Vibrio were active.     

Influence of water temperature and salinity on seasonal occurrences of Vibrio cholerae and enteric bacteria in oyster-producing areas of Veracruz, México

The influence of temperature and salinity on the occurrence of Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli and Salmonella spp. associated with water and oyster samples was investigated in two lagoons on the Atlantic Coast of Veracruz, Mexico over a 1-year period. The results indicated that seasonal salinity variability and warm temperatures, as well as nutrient influx, may influence the occurrence of V. cholera. non-O1 and O1. The conditions found in the Alvarado (31.12 °C, 6.27‰, pH = 8.74) and La Mancha lagoons (31.38 °C, 24.18‰, pH = 9.15) during the rainy season 2002 favored the occurrence of V. cholera O1 Inaba enterotoxin positive traced in oysters. Vibrio alginolyticus was detected in Alvarado lagoon water samples during the winter season. E. coli and Salmonella spp. were isolated from water samples from the La Mancha (90–96.7% and 86.7–96.7%) and Alvarado (88.6–97.1% and 88.6–100%) lagoons. Occurrence of bacteria may be due to effluents from urban, agricultural and industrial areas.     

Impact of Mussel Culture on Macrobenthic Community Structure in Saldanha Bay, South Africa

The impact of raft mussel-culture in Saldanha Bay, South Africa on macrobenthic community structure (abundance and biomass) was studied. Sampling was conducted in January between 1993 and 1996 to assess: (1) the composition of macrobenthos below rafts relative to outside the farm; (2) effects of raft position and age within the farm; and (3) recovery rate of benthos after raft removal. Analyses included ABC plots, hierarchical clustering and species diversity indices. Disturbed communities were found under 78% of raft sites sampled. The level of disturbance (Warwick Statistics) and the dominant opportunistic species (Bray–Curtis Similarities) changed from year to year, polychaetes and scavenging gastropods being most common. The degree of disturbance appeared related to raft sites positioned in the middle of the farm rather than raft age. Whereas ABC plots and hierarchical cluster analyses best identified the disturbance of benthic communities, diversity indices detected marginal recovery four years after raft removal. Although deposit feeders dominated all sites, suspension feeders increased in number and biomass at reference sites. This study presented a “yes/no” scenario that will be addressed in subsequent research in the modelling of culture ecosystems.     

Bioenergetic responses in green lipped mussels (Perna viridis) as indicators of pollution stress in Xiamen coastal waters, China

Samples of green lipped mussels (Perna viridis) were collected from three sites (Huoshao, I’Maluan and Tong’an) around Xiamen coastal waters, where levels of various trace organic pollutants have been studied. Samples were also collected at a “cleaner” reference site near Dongshan Island for comparison. Clearance rate, absorption efficiency and oxygen consumption of the mussels were measured under controlled laboratory condition; organic pollutants in their tissues were also analyzed. Scope for growth (SFG) was employed as a general biomarker to evaluate the stress of pollutants. Specimens from Tong’an site had the lowest SFG values (1.14 J/h/g); while specimens from the I’Maluan site and Huoshao site had SFG values of 5.01 and 6.72 J/h/g, respectively. Specimens from Dongshan (reference site) had a relatively high SFG value of 10.96 J/h/g. There was a significant negative correlation between the SFG of the different populations of green lipped mussels and the concentration of DDT in their tissues.     

Contaminant exposures at the 4H shell mounds in the Santa Barbara Channel

Remobilization, bioavailability, and potential toxicity of chemical contaminants were evaluated at the 4H shell mounds – the site of abandoned offshore oil and gas production platforms in the Santa Barbara Channel region of the Southern California Bight. Evaluations used a weight-of-evidence approach based on results from bulk phase chemical analyses and laboratory toxicity testing of shell mound cores, in situ field bioassays using caged mussels, and surficial sediment chemistry. Shell mound cores contained elevated concentrations of metals associated with drilling wastes (e.g., Ba, Cr, Pb, and Zn), as well as monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The highest concentrations along with pockets of free oil were associated with the middle “cuttings” stratum. Sediments composited from all core strata caused significant acute toxicity and bioaccumulation of Ba and PAHs in test organisms during laboratory exposures. In contrast, caged mussels placed at each of the shell mounds for a period of 57–58 days had greater than 90% survival, and there were no significant differences in survival of mussels placed at the shell mounds and corresponding reference sites. While all mussel samples exhibited increases in shell length, whole animal weight, and tissue lipid content, in some cases growth metrics for the shell mound mussels were significantly higher than those for the reference sites. Concentrations of metals, PAHs, and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in tissues of the shell mound mussels were not significantly different from those at reference sites. The presence of labile aromatic hydrocarbons in shell mound cores and absence of significant contaminant accumulation of tissues of caged mussels indicated that chemical contaminants are not being remobilized from the 4H shell mounds. Surficial bottom sediments near the shell mounds contained elevated Ba concentrations that probably were associated with drilling wastes. However, concentrations did not exhibit clear spatial gradients with distance from the shell mounds. Despite a number of storm events during the mussel exposures, maximum currents were 34 cm s⁻¹ and unlikely to erode materials from the shell mounds. Thus, Ba distributions in bottom sediments probably were due to episodic disturbance such as platform removal or trawling rather than ongoing erosion and dispersion of shell mound solids by near-bottom currents. These results suggest that, in the absence of physical disturbances, contaminants are expected to remain sequestered in the shell mounds.     

Intermittent exposure to reduced oxygen levels affects prey size selection and consumption in swimming crab Thalamita danae Stimpson

Portunid crabs Thalamita danae (carapace width: 46–56 mm) were exposed to low oxygen level (4.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹) and hypoxia (1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹) for 6 h each day with three size classes (large: 15.0–19.9 mm, medium: 10.0–14.9 mm, small: 5.0–9.9 mm) of mussels Brachidontes variabilis offered as food. Consumption rate, prey size preference, and prey handling including breaking time, handling time, eating time and prey value, were studied during the time the crabs were exposed to reduced oxygen levels and results were compared with the crabs maintained at high oxygen level (8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹) throughout the experiment. Consumption of mussels from all size classes was significantly higher at high oxygen level than at reduced oxygen levels. No mussel size preference was observed for crabs exposed to 4.0 or 8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹ but those crabs exposed to 1.5 mg O₂ l⁻¹ preferred medium mussels. Both breaking time and handling time increased with mussel size but did not vary with oxygen level. Prey value of each mussel consumed (mg dry wt eaten crab⁻¹ s⁻¹) was calculated by dividing the estimated dry weight of the mussel by the observed handling time. Mean prey value varied significantly with mussel size, with values obtained for large mussels being higher than small mussels at 4.0 and 8.0 mg O₂ l⁻¹; the effect of oxygen level, however, was insignificant. In view of portunid crabs as major predators of mussels, results may help explain dominance of mussels in eutrophic harbours in Hong Kong.     

Size effects of suspended particles on gill damage in green-lipped mussel Perna viridis

The green-lipped mussels Perna viridis were exposed to <500 μm suspended solids (SS) with concentrations of 0 (control), 250, 500, 750 and 1000 mg/L for 14 days, followed by transferring to clean, filtered seawater for 28 days. Results of scanning microscopy showed significantly higher damages to the cilia on the frontal surface of the gill filaments than that on the abfrontal surface in both demibranchs. Percent ciliary depletion varied with SS concentrations and time. No sign of recovery of the gill filaments was observed after the mussels were transferred to clean seawater. In a second experiment, mussels were exposed to SS with size range from <63, >125–<250 and >250–<500 μm at 600 mg/L, together with a control (0 mg/L) for 14 days, followed by transferring to clean, filtered seawater for 28 days. Results of scanning microscopy showed significant ciliary damages in both the ascending and descending lamellae under the three particle size groups as compared with the control. Percent depletion of frontal cilia was most serious for the >250–<500 μm size group and least for the <63 μm size group. However, percent depletion of abfrontal cilia was most serious for the >125–<250 μm size group and least for the <63 μm size group. No recovery of ciliary damages was observed. The effects of particle size of suspended sediments on the morphological damages of gill filaments in the green-lipped mussels were discussed.     

Impacts of domestic sewage effluent on phytoplankton from Bedford Basin, eastern Canada

The impact of domestic sewage effluent (SE) on the dynamics of phytoplankton assemblages from Bedford Basin was evaluated in the laboratory. Phytoplankton production and chlorophyll a increased proportionally with SE enrichment. Phytoplankton species composition also changed. The potentially harmful diatoms, Pseudonitzschia spp., present initially in small numbers (600 cells 1⁻¹) in Bedford Basin seawater, and became dominant (3–5×10⁶ cells 1⁻¹) when the seawater was enriched with 0.5–5% untreated SE. With higher proportions of SE, other harmful species such as Fragilaria spp. and Euglena spp. became dominant (7−15×10⁶ and 2.2×10⁴ cells 1⁻¹, respectively). Treatment of SE with UV light or activated charcoal seems to favour growth of benign species, such as Chaetoceros socialis, Skeletonema costatum and Thalassiosira spp., but not harmful species such as Pseudonitzschia spp. Further research on UV treatment of domestic sewage is recommended.     

Trace organic contamination in biota collected from the Pearl River Estuary, China: a preliminary risk assessment

The marine ecosystem of the Pearl River Delta, located on the southern coast of China, has been heavily exploited following the rapid economic growth that has occurred since the 1980s. This investigation aimed to elucidate trace organic contamination in marine biota inhabiting the Pearl River Delta area. Biota samples, including green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis), oysters (Crassostrea rivularis) and shrimp (Penaeus orientalis) were sampled from 16 stations fringing the Estuary. Elevated concentrations (on a dry weight basis) of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (27.8–1041.0 ng/g), petroleum hydrocarbons (1.7–2345.4 μg/g), polychlorinated biphenyls (2.1–108.8 ng/g), DDTs (1.9–79.0 ng/g), and hexachlorocyclohexanes (n.d.–38.4 ng/g) were recorded. A human health risk assessment was conducted to estimate the risk to local residents associated with the consumption of biota collected from the Pearl River Estuary. The results indicated that PCBs were at levels that may cause deleterious health effects in populations that consume large amounts of seafood. However, it would be instructive to establish health criteria for trace organic contaminants that are specific to the local populations, in order to derive a more accurate and relevant health risk assessment.     

Field validation of antioxidant enzyme biomarkers in mussels (Perna viridis) and clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) transplanted in Hong Kong coastal waters

Green-lipped mussels, Perna viridis, and Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum were sourced from “clean” sites in the Hong Kong region, depurated in a laboratory using uncontaminated filtered seawater for 8 days, and transplanted to a suspected gradient of chemically polluted sites in Hong Kong. After 14- and 28-days of field exposure, several antioxidant parameters including glutathione S transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) were quantified in gill and hepatopancreas tissues. Whole body tissue concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) were determined in pooled site samples. Chemical analyses indicated that: (a) clams had higher levels of PAHs, PHCs, DDTs and PCBs, whereas mussels had higher hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) and there was no difference between species for dieldrin and remaining OCs; (b) Kat O should not be continued as a “clean” reference site for Hong Kong, because of the levels of contaminants measured and (c) PAH concentrations in the current survey were similar to those previously measured. Toxicological conclusions were: (a) antioxidant responses were different between species; (b) CAT and GST have highest utility in clams for field use in Hong Kong, whereas CAT in both gill and hepatopancreas tissue showed most potential in mussels; (c) significant induction of antioxidant responses over day 0 (excluding GPx in both tissues, and GST in mussel hepatic tissue); (d) groups of contaminants do not consistently induce antioxidant responses and (e) organochlorines and PCBs correlated significantly with CAT and GST in clam hepatopancreas and with CAT in mussel gill and hepatic tissue. Multivariate statistical techniques indicated little relationship between the site patterns for antioxidant responses and the contaminant gradients identified in body burden analysis.     

South China Sea

The South China Sea is poorly understood in terms of its marine biota, ecology and the human impacts upon it. What is known is most often contained in reports and workshop and conference documents that are not available to the wider scientific community. The South China Sea has an area of some 3.3 million km² and depths range from the shallowest coastal fringe to 5377 m in the Manila Trench. It is also studded with numerous islets, atolls and reefs many of which are just awash at low tide. It is largely confined within the Tropic of Cancer and, therefore, experiences a monsoonal climate being influenced by the Southwest Monsoon in summer and the Northeast Monsoon in winter. The South China Sea is a marginal sea and, therefore, largely surrounded by land. Countries that have a major influence on and claims to the sea include China, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam, although Thailand, Indonesia and Taiwan have some too. The coastal fringes of the South China Sea are home to about 270 million people that have had some of the fastest developing and most vibrant economies on the globe. Consequently, anthropogenic impacts, such as over-exploitation of resources and pollution, are anticipated to be huge although, in reality, relatively little is known about them. The Indo-West Pacific biogeographic province, at the centre of which the South China Sea lies, is probably the world's most diverse shallow-water marine area. Of three major nearshore habitat types, i.e., coral reefs, mangroves and seagrasses, 45 mangrove species out of a global total of 51, most of the currently recognised 70 coral genera and 20 of 50 known seagrass species have been recorded from the South China Sea. The island groups of the South China Sea are all disputed and sovereignty is claimed over them by a number of countries. Conflicts have in recent decades arisen over them because of perceived national rights. It is perhaps because of this that so little research has been undertaken on the South China Sea. What data are available, however, and if Hong Kong is used, as it is herein, as an indicator of what the perturbations of other regional cities upon the South China Sea are like, then it is impacted grossly and an ecological disaster has probably already, but unknowingly, happened.     

The West Falmouth oil spill after 20 years: Fate of fuel oil compounds and effects on animals

The barge Florida spilled No. 2 fuel oil into Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts on 29 September 1969. Sediments from five of the original stations were sampled in August 1989 and analysed for fuel oil hydrocarbons. Two subtidal and one intertidal marsh station showed no evidence of fuel oil. One subtidal mud core had traces of biodegraded fuel oil at 10–15 cm. One marsh core contained 10⁻⁶ g g⁻¹ dry wt of weathered and biodegraded fuel oil aromatic hydrocarbons and cycloalkanes at 5–10 cm with lesser concentrations at 0–5 and 10–15 cm. Although present in trace concentrations, these hydrocarbons appear to be slightly inducing cytochrome P4501A in marsh fish (Fundulus heteroclitus).     

Zinc in Fish, Crabs, Oysters, and Mangrove Flora and Fauna from Cleveland Bay

Zinc in muscle tissue from 28 species of fish, three species of sharks and rays, two species of squid and cuttlefish, and three species of crustacea collected from Cleveland Bay, together with some measurements made on oysters and mangrove flora and fauna are reported. In the fish species the mean Zn concentration in muscle tissue was 4.83 ± 2.82 μg/g wet weight, slightly lower than zinc measurements (7 μg/g wet weight) made in 14 fish species collected from the bay in 1975. Zinc in sharks and rays ranged from 3.5 to 7.2 μg/g wet wt, in squid and cuttlefish 13–16 μg/g wet wt, and in crustacea levels ranged from 14 to 18 μg/g wet wt. Zinc levels in fish varied between species with concentrations well below the ANZECC Maximum Residue Limit of zinc in seafood (150 μg/g wet wt). Although lower zinc concentrations were found in oysters collected from the Townsville Harbour area (2080 μg/g wet wt), compared with previous measurements made 25 years ago at this site, these levels are still above the Maximum Residue Limit for zinc in oysters (1000 μg/g wet wt). Concentrations of zinc in oysters from Orpheus Island (2547 μg/g wet wt), about 74 km away from industrial and urban activity, are also above the safe guideline values. Horseshoe Bay oysters transplanted to Ross Creek accumulated zinc at a rate of about 100 μg/g of oyster tissue per week, suggesting that dissolved zinc levels at this site are elevated, and that oysters rapidly accumulate zinc. Highest concentrations of zinc in mangrove leaves (30–65 μg/g dry wt) occurred in Osbornia octodonta, Exocaria agalocha, and Aegialitus annulata, compared with Ceriops tagal, and Avicennia marina (5–10 μg/g dry wt). No significant difference in zinc concentration occurred between leaves and litter fall for most of these species, with the sole exception of Exocaria, which showed almost a twofold increase in concentration. In seven species of mangrove fauna levels of zinc were very uniform and close to 50 μg/g (dry wt) Telescopium telescopium from the mouth of the Ross Estuary was the exception with levels at 400 μg/g (dry wt).     

Cadmium content, accumulation and toxicity in dog whelks collected around the Welsh coastline

The concentration of cadmium in sexually mature Nucella lapillus was investigated around the coast of Wales. Higher concentrations of cadmium were found in whelks located in the Bristol Channel compared with Cardigan Bay Nucella. Accumulation and toxicity of cadmium were investigated at 50–600 μg Cd l⁻¹ over a period of 21 days. At the lower concentrations of 50–100 μg Cd l⁻¹ all Nucella survived the 21 days of experimentation. The rate of cadmium uptake after exposure to cadmium was inconsistent and not related to the degree of site contamination. At all sites the concentration of cadmium in Nucella, after treatment with 50–600 μg Cd l⁻¹ for 21 days, was significantly different from controls, but after 7 days it varied with the site and cadmium concentration. Only samples collected at Fishguard, Dale, and Swansea survived 21 days at 600 μg Cd l⁻¹. Tissue cadmium concentrations did not significantly effect the whole body concentration of zinc.     

Alkaline syenites in eastern Cathaysia (South China): link to Permian–Triassic transtension

Two alkaline syenite plutons, the Tieshan and Yangfang plutons, have recently been recognized within NE-trending fault zones in eastern Cathaysia, South China. The rocks are very enriched in K₂O (6.28–9.39 wt.%), rare earth elements (REE; particularly light REE) and large ion lithophile elements, but are relatively low in high field strength elements. Isotopically, they are characterized by high initial ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7093 to 0.7123) and low _Nd(t) values (−5.64 to −10.63). The geochemical data suggest that the alkaline syenites most likely formed via fractional crystallization of enriched mantle-derived magmas. Sensitive High-Resolution Ion Microprobe zircon U–Pb dating indicates that these two intrusions have Late Permian (254±4 Ma) and Early Triassic (242±4 Ma) crystallization ages, respectively. Our data suggest that a tectonic regime dominated by transtension probably existed from at least the latest Permian into the Triassic and was responsible for the formation of the Tieshan and Yangfang alkaline syenites. When combined with previous paleomagnetic, structural, and sedimentology data, we suggest that the transtension along the NE-trending strike-slip fault zones was related to oblique subduction of the Pacific plate underneath South China.