Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the North Pacific and Indian Oceans

PCBs, DDT compounds and HCH isomers were detected in the air and surface waters of the North Pacific and Indian Oceans, including the Bering Sea, East China Sea, South China Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea. The general concentrations of each chlorinated hydrocarbon were as follows: water PCBs 0.1 to 1.0, DDT 0.01 to 1.0, HCH 1.0 to 10 ngl ^–1; air DDT 0.01 to 1.0, HCH 0.1 to 10 ng m^–3. PCB concentrations in surface waters were slightly lower than those of the North Atlantic and North Sea previously reported, while DDT concentrations in the air and water were higher. Remarkably high concentrations of DDT and HCH were found in the air off the western coast of India. Also in the Pacific site off Central America, a fairly high concentration of DDT was observed in an air sample. These data suggest that large amounts of DDT and HCH are being used in the tropical zone, especially in southern Asia. Furthermore, high concentrations were observed both in the air and water of the Northwest Pacific between 30°N and 40°N latitude. There is a possibility that both pesticides are not only still being used in lower latitude countries but also in the mid-latitude ones of the Asian continent excluding Japan. In addition to this atmospheric circulation may also contribute to the concentration of these pesticides in the mid-latitudinal zone.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the seawater and surface sediments of Blanca Bay,Argentina

In order to characterize our study area and to provide reference values to be used in the future to measure the changes produced by an increase in contamination, the concentrations of chlorinated hydrocarbons have been investigated in fifty-one samples of seawater, taken at four different depths: air-sea interface, surface, one metre and bottom waters, and in twenty-three samples of surface sediments from Blanca Bay, Argentina. Of eleven organochlorine compounds we were looking for (α BHC, lindane, heptachlor, δ BHC. aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, dieldrin, o-p′DDD, p-p′DDD, o-p′DDT and p-p′DDT), seven could be detected in seawater and three in surface sediments with the following mean concentrations: α-BHC=48·2 ng l^?1; lindane=54·2 ng l^?1; heptachlor=45·0 ng l^?1; δ BHC=12·5 ng l^?1; aldrin=61·8 ng l^?1 and ΣDDT=67·0 ng l^?1; and δ BHC=3·2 ng g^?1; lindane=4·2 ng g^?1 and heptachlor=1·0 ng g^?1 for seawater, regarding the surface waters, and sediment samples, respectively.Concentration factors among the different water layers were also studied to see if there was any correlation between chlorinated hydrocarbon contents and the water depths from which the samples were taken. As a mean value, the air-sea interface water contains 18 times more of these compounds than that of the water near the bottom. A comparison of the values corresponding to seawater and surface sediments from our study area with those levels measured in samples from other geographic locations is also presented.With the purpose to detect a relationship between chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations and the contents of particulate matter (PM) on the one hand, and particulate organic material (POM) on the other hand, four groups of samples containing different amounts of PM and POM, respectively were formed. From a comparison of the results obtained, lindane, heptachlor and δ BHC showed a tendency to lower concentrations in those samples containing little PM whereas α BHC and aldrin remained without important changes. No significant correlation was found between organochlorine levels and contents of POM.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in pelagic organisms from the open Mediterranean Sea

Pelagic organisms from the central and eastern basins of the Mediterranean Sea were surveyed for chlorinated hydrocarbon residues. Levels in selected macrozooplankton and nekton, as well as mixed microplankton, were compared with those in similar species from other oceanic areas. Although data are sparse, PCBs in macrozooplankton and nekton do not appear to differ significantly from concentrations in similar species measured elsewhere. In the case of mixed microplankton, there was a trend towards slightly lower values in the Mediterranean samples. Differences between our results and those reported previously for other oceanic regions are discussed.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons and hatching success in Baltic herring spring spawners

Eggs from 69 females of spring spawning herring from the German Baltic coast (Travemünde, April 1979) were incubated in clean sea water (20‰ S, temperature 8°C) under standard conditions. Sixty-one trials could be used for the evaluation of hatching success. Viable hatch was taken as a measure to evaluate the effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons accumulated in gonads, liver and muscle of parental fish.PCB levels in running ripe females ranged on a wet weight basis between 19 and 241 ng g^?1 (gonad), 20 and 377 ng g^?1 (liver) and 11 and 1820 ng g^?1 (muscle). Concentrations of other chlorinated hydrocarbons (DDD, DDE, γ-HCH, etc.) were in the same range as reported by other authors for Baltic herring (Huschenbeth, 1973, 1977). Viable hatch was significantly affected at ovary DDE concentrations higher than 18 ng g^?1 (wet wt) and PCB concentrations of more than 120 ng g^?1 (wet wt).Results are compared with data obtained during earlier investigations with flounder eggs.     

Chlorophyll a and primary production in the northeastern Pacific Ocean

The primary production and chlorophyll a concentration of picoplankton （0.2 - 2 μm） , nanoplankton （2 - 20μm） and micro- plankton （20 -200 μm） are described in the northeastern Pacific Ocean near the Hawaii Islands during the six survey cruises from 1996 to 2003：DY85-4, DY95-7, DY95-8, DY95-10, DY105-11 and DY105-12.14. The primary production of carbon was in range from 76.8 to 191.9 mg/（m^2 · d） with an average of 116.1 mg/（ m^2 · d） in the east region, and from 73.1 to 222.5 mg/（ m^2 · d） with an average of 127.1 mg/（ m^2 · d） in the west region, similar to the other oligotrophic regions of the Pacific Ocean investigated. The chlorophyll a concentration was about 0.1 mg/m^3 from the surface to the 50 m depth, about 0.2 -0.4 mg/m^3from 50 to 100 m, and gradually decreased below the 100 m depth. The picoplankton accounted for more than 70% of the total chlorophyll a in the upper layer （ surface to 125 m）, but it decreased to less than 50% in depth below 125 m. The nanoplankton and microplankton combined only accounted for less than 30% of the total chlorophyll a in the upper layer, but showed a more even vertical distribution.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the open mediterranean ecosystem and implications for mass balance calculations

Studies on the biogeochemical cycling of organic contaminants in the Mediterranean have demonstrated the importance of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as relatively stable markers of recent anthropogenic influence in ocean systems. This paper presents results of hydrocarbon analyses of deep water profiles, sediments and their associated surface flocculent layers, and zooplankton samples collected in the western basin. Seawater concentrations were higher than those previously reported for the eastern basin and were consistent with the presence of industrial sources in the northwestern segment. In the water column, the percent of PCBs associated with filterable particles was related to the ambient concentrations of total suspended matter, distance from coastal input sources and on depth. The occurrence of deep water residues primarily in the dissolved phase and observations of subsurface maxima in seawater concentrations during a season of high surface productivity were consistent with the predictions of vertical transport models based on residues associated with sinking particles and equilibrium partitioning. Flocculent layers at the sea/sediment interface contained two and three orders of magnitude, respectively, more PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) than their associated surface sediments. The flocculent particles also contained several biogenic hydrocarbons presumably originating from plankton and relatively soluble and labile contaminants such as hexachlorohexane isomers (HCH) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), thus confirming that the majority of the flux of hydrocarbons to sediments is carried on rapidly settling large particles. By combining the sediment and flocculents data with published sedimentation rates for the deep basins of the Mediterranean, a yearly flux rate of PCBs to the open sea sediments was estimated as 13 μg m⁻² yr⁻¹ or less than half of the rate measured in a coastal sediment trap experiment. Analytical results are placed in the context of other distribution data for PCBs and long-term flux studies to construct a partial mass balance budget for this semi-enclosed sea. The computed coastal inventory showed that about 35% remains suspended in the water column while the majority of residues are deposited in coastal sediments. However in the open sea, the deep water column may contain up to 70% of the total inventory and may be a continually increasing reservoir of stable organic contaminants reaching the ocean. The budget shows that priority for improved research and monitoring efforts in ocean systems should be given to continued advancement in techniques for the precise measurement of deep water concentrations and for measuring current atmospheric inputs and sedimentation rates in order to develop more accurate ocean flux models.     

赤道东北太平洋沉积物间隙水中溶解有机碳的分布特征

沉积物间隙水中的溶解有机碳(DOC)是沉积物有机质矿化过程中的中间产物[1],沉积物中的有机质通过微生物水解和(厌氧)发酵等方式溶解成各类具有不同分子量的有机化合物,通常总称为溶解有机碳,并释放到沉积物间隙水中.而溶解有机碳又进一步被细菌等微生物所利用,最终被氧化为溶解无机碳,完成有机质的矿化过程.因此,沉积物间隙水中DOC的浓度是消耗和生成之间平衡的结果[1].已有的研究表明,沉积物间隙水中DOC的含量显著高于底层水体中DOC的含量,导致其向底层水体的扩散;近期的研究也表明,来自海底沉积物的DOC通量是底层水体中DOC的重要来源,是海洋有机碳储库中的重要组成之一[2~4].     

Distribution of stable organic molecules in the marine environment: physical chemical aspects. Chlorinated hydrocarbons

The relative concentrations of non-polar organic compounds in seawater and suspended particulate matter can be explained by an equilibrium sorption mechanism. The value of the quasi-equilibrium constant, K, was calculated with reasonable accuracy for polychlorinated biphenyls from a relatively simple equation which relies on both measurable physical parameters and a number of molecular terms estimated from fundamental physical chemical considerations. This model represents an approach to defining the accumulation of stable organic molecules on marine particulate interfaces within a coherent theoretical framework. As such, it provides a guide for selecting appropriate ecosystem parameters which influence the distribution and accumulation potential of these chemicals in the marine environment.     

Property differences in the central northeastern Pacific between April 1976 and July 1977

Hydrographic data taken at 25 equally spaced stations along 35°N in April 1976 and again in July 1977 are compared for the longitude range 139–163° W and the depth range 0–1,000 m. A continuous subsurface layer is found, centered at 100 m and extending more than 2,000 km in the east-west direction, in which the temperature and salinity were significantly lower and the density and concentrations of oxygen and three nutrients were higher in the summer of 1977 than in the spring of 1976. In the upper 50 m the temperature and salinity were higher and the density and concentrations of oxygen and nutrients were lower in the summer of 1977 than in the spring of 1976. These relationships are concluded to be due to an annual variation by association with other existing data sets in the same region. The annual variation of hydrographic properties in the upper 200 m can be qualitatively explained by an annual variation in the north-south component of the permanent circulation, which is caused by an annual variation in the large-scale north-south pressure gradient (related to the northward temperature gradient). The observations are consistent with a northward current near the surface and a southward current near 100 m which are both faster in summer than in winter (and spring).     

Observation of abnormal solubility behavior of aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater

The Setschenow and McDevit—Long equations are applied to aromatic hydrocarbons in seawater by using solute surface area and recently available solubility data to evaluate the Setschenow constant. It is demonstrated that this approach avoids a previously encountered problem with the McDevit-Long equation while also pointing out fundamental theoretical discrepancies. Compounds that do not fit the presented semi-empirical relationship are of interest as they may exhibit abnormal partitioning behavior in seawater. Using this approach it is suggested that 1,2-benzanthracene and benzo(a)pyrene exhibit abnormal solution behavior in seawater.     

Fugacity analysis of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons between microplastics and seawater

Recently, the accumulation of plastic debris in the marine environment has become a great concern worldwide. Although plastics are biologically and chemically inert, plastic debris has been suspected of causing adverse effects on ecosystems due to the increase in reactivity by size reduction and/or micropollutants associated with plastics. Because of the high sorption capacity of microplastics toward organic micropollutants, it is suspected that microplastics may play roles in the distribution and fate of micropollutants. In order to quantitatively evaluate the “net flow” of environmental contaminants in water-plastic-organism systems, a fugacity analysis was conducted using concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in open oceans and in polyethylene as a representative material of plastic debris. Ratio of fugacity in polyethylene to that in seawater showed a decreasing trend with increasing partition coefficient between polyethylene and seawater (K_PE/sw). This indicates that phase equilibrium between polyethylene and seawater is not attained for higher molecular weight PAHs. Disequilibrium of high molecular weight PAHs suggests that transfer from seawater to plastic debris is thermodynamically driven and the role of plastic debris as a vector to transfer them to living organisms would be minimal. However, additives may slowly migrate from plastics into the environment causing potentially serious effects on ecosystems.     

Influence of ENSO variability on sinking-particle fluxes in the northeastern equatorial Pacific

A time-series sediment trap was operated from July 2003 to July 2008 at a station located in the 10°N thermocline ridge of the northeastern equatorial Pacific (10°30′N, 131°20′W), with the aim of understanding variations in natural background sinking-particle flux and the influence on such fluxes of ENSO (El Niño-Southern Oscillation). Each one of weak El Niño, moderate El Niño and moderate La Niña were observed during the monitoring period. During non-ENSO periods, total mass fluxes varied from 4.1 to 36.9 mg m⁻² d⁻¹, with a distinct seasonal variation, ranging from an average flux of 14.0 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the warm season (June-November) to 25.3 mg m⁻² d⁻¹ in the cold season (December-May). This seasonal fluctuation was characterized by a distinct difference in CaCO₃ flux between the two seasons. The enhanced particle fluxes during the cold season are attributed to the supply of nutrient-enriched subsurface water by wind-driven vertical mixing, supported by a simultaneous reduction in sea surface temperature and enhanced trade winds. The weak El Niño event occurred in the monitoring period had no recognizable effect on particle fluxes in the study area, but the moderate El Niño event was accompanied by a significant reduction in particle fluxes to 60% of the average background value in the warm season. In contrast, particle fluxes during the moderate La Niña increased to a maximum value of 129.9 mg m⁻² d⁻¹, almost three times the average background value. Organic carbon and biogenic silica fluxes were most sensitive to the El Niño and La Niña conditions. The observed variations of particle fluxes are synchronized with those of chlorophyll-a, suggesting primary productivity for the main cause of flux change. The present data indicate that marked seasonal variability in background fluxes commonly exceeds the variability associated with ENSO and post-ENSO signals, which should be taken into account when evaluating the influence of ENSO on sinking particle fluxes in the 10°N thermocline ridge area.     

Seasonal variability in nitrogenous nutrition of phytoplankton assemblages in the northeastern subarctic Pacific Ocean

Nitrogen uptake rates, and physical, chemical and biological characteristics of the euphotic zone were studied in winter, spring and late summer during the period 1992–1994 along a transect (Line P) extending from the continental slope off the southwest corner of Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada; station P4; 49°N, 127°W) to open waters in the NE Pacific (OSP; 50°N, 145°W). Nitrate (NO₃⁻) and silicic acid (Si(OH)₄) concentrations increased offshore during every season. Lowest NO₃⁻ and Si(OH)₄ values were observed during late summer and spring, and highest during winter throughout the euphotic zone. For spring and late summer, surface depletion of NO₃⁻ was observed at the inshore end of the transect, while offshore concentrations were never limiting for phytoplankton growth. Silicic acid was never depleted at any depth or station during the period covered by this study. Ammonium (NH₄⁺) and urea concentrations exhibited a patchy distribution along the transect, with no seasonal variations. Chlorophyll a and particulate nitrogen did not show a consistent longitudinal pattern from year to year. In general, the highest concentrations of chlorophyll a and particulate nitrogen were measured during the late summer cruises, with lower values in spring and lowest in winter. Phytoplankton assemblages were numerically dominated by flagellates <5 μm throughout the water column on each cruise transect. Ammonium, urea and NO₃⁻ uptake rates represented on average 55, 24 and 21% of the depth-integrated total nitrogen uptake, both longitudinally and seasonally; hence, phytoplankton utilized nitrogen in the following order: NH₄⁺>urea>NO₃⁻ along Line P. Ammonium may have inhibited the uptake rates of NO₃⁻ and urea. Urea uptake rates were lower than those of NH₄⁺, but higher values were occasionally observed at a few depths along the transect, particularly during the spring of 1993. Depth-integrated NH₄⁺ uptake rates were generally higher inshore, while NO₃⁻ uptake rates showed higher values offshore during most seasons. In contrast, urea uptake rates did not exhibit a consistent longitudinal trend. The depth-integrated f-ratio ranged from 0.05 to 0.37 with an average of 0.21 for all stations and cruises, and was overestimated on average by 36% when urea was excluded from the calculation. On a yearly basis, primary productivity in the NE subarctic Pacific was based on regenerated nitrogen.     

Analytical fractionation of dissolved copper, lead and cadmium in coastal seawater

The speciation of dissolved Cu, Pb and Cd in twelve seawater samples from the Inner Oslofjord, Norway, has been examined by an operational scheme which involves ultrafiltration followed by determination of labile, acid soluble and total Cu, Pb and Cd by differential pulse anodic stripping voltammetry (DPASV). The techniques employed are discussed and evaluated. It was found that Cd was present entirely in low molecular weight (LMW) labile species; Pb was mainly in non-labile LMW species, with half of the total Pb probably occurring in LMW organo-metallic compounds; Cu distribution was irregular, with extensive organic and colloidal association.     

西北太平洋低纬度区域海水中溶解氨基酸的分布及组成研究

本文对2018年秋季西北太平洋低纬度区域上层海洋(5~200 m)中溶解氨基酸(THAA)的分布和组成进行了研究。结果表明,该海域表层海水中THAA的浓度范围为0.40~0.97μmol/L,平均浓度为0.58±0.14μmol/L;5~200m垂直断面上THAA的平均浓度为0.59±0.16μmol/L,范围为0.30~1.05μmol/L。调查海域内THAA浓度明显低于中国近海,在5~200m内的垂直分布基本表现出随深度增加而增加的趋势。将表层和垂直水体中的THAA分别与DOC、Chla等环境因子进行相关性分析,结果显示均无显著相关性。西北太平洋低纬度区域海水中的优势氨基酸是天冬氨酸(Asp)、谷氨酸(Glu)、丝氨酸(Ser)、甘氨酸(Gly)、苏氨酸(Thr)和丙氨酸(Ala)。基于氨基酸的碳归一化产率(THAA-C%)、降解因子(DI)值,表明该海域表层海水中的有机质降解程度较高,且随深度的增加而降低。     

夏季珠江口水体中多环芳烃的分布、组成及来源

利用1999年7月对珠江口海域的调查资料,对该区表层海水中优控多环芳烃的分布、组成及来源进行了分析和讨论,结果表明:(1)夏季珠江口海域表层海水中14种溶解态多环芳烃[苊、芴、菲、蒽、荧蒽、芘、苯并(a)蒽、艹屈、苯并(b)荧蒽、苯并(k)荧蒽、苯并(a)芘、二苯并(a,h)蒽、苯并(g,h,i)艹北、茚并(1,2,3-cd)艹比]的质量浓度为63.8~171.7 ng/L,且沿着冲淡水流向呈降低趋势;(2)颗粒态中15种多环芳烃[萘、苊、芴、菲、蒽、荧蒽、芘、苯并(a)蒽、艹屈、苯并(b)荧蒽、苯并(k)荧蒽、苯并(a)芘、二苯并(a,h)蒽、苯并(g,h,i)艹北、茚并(1,2,3-cd)艹比]的质量浓度为60.7~186.7 ng/L,其分布与水体载沙量及悬浮颗粒物的性质、粒径有关,具有从河口内向外海降低的分布特征;(3)多环芳烃组成和特征参数比值的分析表明,珠江口海域高温裂解来源的多环芳烃在伶仃洋海区输入最多,且主要为人类活动中煤燃烧排放的,而在香港岛周围海区的输入则相对较少,且主要为油燃烧排放的;(4)与法国塞纳河及长江口等河口相比,珠江三角洲海域水体中存在高菲含量排放源。     

东海表层水体中的多环芳烃及其沉积通量估算

以东海陆架水体中溶解态多环芳烃(PAHs)含量为基础,引入颗粒相-水相间的物质吸附系数(Koc)计算悬浮颗粒物中PAHs有机碳归一化含量,结合陆架沉积物有机碳的年埋藏通量,估算东海陆架沉积物中PAHs沉积通量。结果显示:水体中溶解态的15种PAHs总含量为(701±392)ng/L,变化范围为412~1 032ng/L,PAHs组成以3环为主。计算得到的悬浮颗粒物中15种PAHs有机碳归一化含量为20~28μg/g,对应的PAHs沉积通量为150~210t/a。估算结果与实测沉积物中PAHs含量和沉积通量结果基本吻合,表明实验室模拟实验获取的化合物Koc值适用于东海颗粒相-水相间的分配模型,证实悬浮颗粒物有机碳含量在控制PAHs两相分布过程中起着重要作用。同时,该方法为海洋沉积物中PAHs沉积通量的估算提供一种新途径。     

Provenances and dispersal patterns of turbidite sand in Escanaba Trough,northeastern Pacific Ocean

Escanaba Trough, the median valley of Gorda Ridge, is partly filled with terrigenous sediment which was eroded mostly from rocks in the Klamath and Columbia River drainage basins and transported across the sea floor to the trough by turbidity currents. Basal or lower cores contain sand derived from the south-central metamorphic belt of the Klamath Mountains, whereas the upper cores have sand derived from the Columbia River drainage basin. Columbia River sediment reached Escanaba Trough either after a barrier at Blanco Valley had been destroyed by tectonic movement or after a gradient, sufficient to maintain turbidity current momentum, had developed between the Astoria Fan apex and the trough. Sediment in Escanaba Trough is young and most probably was deposited when sea level was lower than at present, perhaps during the Wisconsin Glacial Age.     

赤道东北太平洋悬浮体物源示踪元素的研究

2005年7月在赤道东北太平洋的3个测站分层采集了悬浮体水样.利用ICP-MS对悬浮体的元素组成进行了测试,从测试的47种元素中筛选出了钡和铝分别作为悬浮体生源组分和陆源组分的示踪元素.悬浮体中钡含量为0.02~0.19μg/dm3,其中生源钡含量为0.01~0.13μg/dm3,铝含量为0.33~18.54μg/dm3.生源钡和铝元素含量及其比值在水体中的分布特征与悬浮体含量的相对应,分为三段.水体透光层生物作用和近底层底质沉积物再悬浮作用是其在水体表层和近底层显著变化的原因.近底雾状层内生源钡和铝元素含量的比值从水体向底质沉积物中降低,至底质沉积物降到最低,显示出底质沉积物再悬浮对悬浮体组分和含量的影响,可以作为近底雾状层颗粒物质运移的示踪指标.