Measurement of stress effects (scope for growth) and contaminant levels in mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from the Irish Sea

The objective of this research was to quantify the impact of pollution along the coastlines of the Irish Sea. Pollution assessment was based on the combined measurement of scope for growth (SFG), and chemical contaminants in the tissues of mussels (Mytilus edulis) collected from 38 coastal sites around the Irish Sea during June-July in 1996 and 1997. On the UK mainland coast, the SFG showed a general trend with a significant decline in water quality in the Liverpool and Morecambe Bay region. High water quality was recorded along the west coast of Wales, as well as southwest England and northwest Scotland (clean reference sites outside the Irish Sea). Along the coast of Ireland there was a similar trend with reduced SFG within the Irish Sea region. SFG was generally low north of Duncannon and then improved north of Belfast. The poor water quality on both sides of the Irish Sea is consistent with the prevailing hydrodynamics and the spatial distribution of contaminants associated with urban/ industrial development. The decline in SFG of mussels on both sides of the Irish Sea was associated with a general increase in contaminant levels in the mussels. Certain contaminants, including PAHs, TBT, sigmaDDT, Dieldrin, gamma-HCH, PCBs, and a few of the metals (Cd, Se, Ag, Pb), showed elevated concentrations. Many of these contaminants were particularly elevated in the coastal margins of Liverpool Bay, Morecambe Bay and Dublin Bay. A quantitative toxicological interpretation (QTI) of the combined tissue residue chemistry and SFG measurements indicated that at the majority of coastal sites, c. 50 to > 80% of the observed decline in SFG was due to PAHs as a result of fossil fuel combustion and oil spills. TBT levels were highest at major ports and harbours, but these concentrations only made a minor contribution to the overall reduction in SFG. At no sites were individual metals accumulated to concentrations that could cause a significant effect on SFG. The study identified many sites where the observed reduction in SFG was far greater than predicted from the limited number of chemical contaminants analysed, thus indicating the presence of additional 'unknown toxicants'. Sewage (containing domestic, agricultural and industrial components) appears to be an important contributor to reduced SFG and linear alkylbenzenes (LABs) and As may provide suitable 'sewage markers'. There was a highly significant positive correlation between SFG and As (P < 0.001). This relationship may be due to reduced As uptake by algal food material and mussels at sites with elevated P04 concentrations (e.g. at sites with sewage inputs). Phosphate is a known competitive inhibitor of As accumulation, at least in algae. The results highlight that further research is required on 'sewage markers' in mussels. The SFG approach therefore provides a rapid, cost-effective and quantitative measure of pollution impact, as well as a means of identifying the causes through a QTI of tissue contaminants levels. It also serves to identify the presence of unidentified toxicants and areas that require further study.     

Patterns of heritability of decreased EROD activity and resistance to PCB 126-induced teratogenesis in laboratory-reared offspring of killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from a creosote-contaminated site in the Elizabeth River,VA, USA

Killifish (Fundulus heteroclitus) from a highly contaminated site on the Elizabeth River are resistant to the acute toxicity and the cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A)-inducing activity of both the sediments from the site and chemically pure polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These effects are highly heritable for one generation, but heritable to a lesser degree by subsequent generations, in clean conditions in the laboratory. We show that offspring of this population of Elizabeth River killifish are also resistant to the teratogenicity and P4501A-inducing activity of PCB congener 126, a prototypical coplanar halogenated aromatic hydrocarbon (HAH). Furthermore, the pattern of greater resistance to acute toxicity and P4501A-inducing activity in the first generation and less in subsequent generations is also observed upon exposure to PCB-126.     

海上石油钻探,采油及其溢油事故的回顾

海上石油钻井平台乃是２０世纪末的技术奇迹，仅波斯湾，墨西哥湾，北海三个海域就有钻井平台１０００多座，目前钻探深度可达到１２ｋｍ，能够沉入海底或水中的钻井平台已经投入使用，８０年代海上石油，天然气的勘探和开采总投资已达７５００亿美元，海上石油开采总量已超过同期世界石油总开采量的１／３。重要的是海上石油开采比陆上石油开采更经济，可为人们提供更廉的石油，但是海上石油设施增多，钻井平台，油井等造成的石油泛     

1985年空间海洋学的状况和展望

1984年海洋学工程的主要措施是在空间建立海洋观察站。新的海军遥控海洋测向系统卫星(NROSS)和欧洲空间站的地球资源卫星(ERS—Ⅰ)已得到政府的批准,列入了预算项目,开展了利用卫星调查内容的计划和操作运行的计划。NROSS 的传感器有用于风的 NASA(国家航空和航天局)的传播计量器;用于水面温度,冰的性质和海冰边端的微波无线     

大西洋中脊的热液矿泉

在过去10年中，通过国际合作，对大西洋中肯的热液矿泉及周围地质背景进行了研究。TAG热液矿泉位于26°N，45°W，距大西洋中脊轴数公里，它是世界卜已发现的最大热液矿泉之一．这个活动的热泉位于一直径为10m的烟囱上，该烟囱位于一直径为150－200m、高40m的椭圆形硫化矿山上．在这个硫化矿山附近几公里范围内还发现了几个不活动的热泉。TAG靠近两条转换断层之间的大西洋中脊．区域重力调查表明，TAG北部的剪切带在向北漂移．分析TAG海底玄武岩表明，源岩在10－15km深处．从旁侧声纳资料看出，TAG由两个复杂的烟囱组成．近海底地球…     

地中海东部的早中生代俯冲——土耳其西北部三叠纪榴辉岩提供的证据

地中海东部的早中生代俯冲——土耳其西北部三叠纪榴辉岩提供的证据ＡｒａｌＯｋａｙ等晚古生代古地理再造表明现今地中海东部地区是一辽阔的海域。虽然有地质证据证明这一地区存在过这个古生代海洋——古特提斯海，但是对于这个古特提斯俯冲史的资料是缺乏的。因此，我们...     

Release into the environment of metals by two vascular salt marsh plants

Metals in contaminated salt marshes are mainly locked in the anaerobic layer of sediments, where they are tightly bound as sulfides and organic complexes. Vascular plants survive in saturated soils in part by pumping O2 into their root zones, changing their microenvironment to an oxic one. This, along with chelating exudates, mobilizes metals, allowing uptake by the roots. We compared the common reed Phragmites australis and cordgrass Spartina alterniflora in lab and field studies for ways in which they handle trace metals. Both plants store most of their metal burden in their roots, but some is transported to aboveground tissues. Spartina leaves contain approximately 2-3 x more Cr, Pb, and Hg than Phragmites leaves, but equivalent Cu and Zn. Furthermore, Spartina leaves have salt glands, so leaf excretion of all metals is twice that of Phragmites. In-depth studies with Hg indicate that Hg excretion correlates with Na release but not with transpiration, which is 2.2 x higher in Phragmites; and that more Hg accumulates in early-appearing leaves than in upper (i.e. later) leaves in both species. Spartina thus makes more metals available to salt marsh ecosystems than Phragmites by direct excretion and via dead leaves which will enter the food web as detritus.     

The expression of CYP1A,vitellogenin and zona radiata proteins in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) after oral dosing with two commercial PBDE flame retardant mixtures: absence of short-term responses

The short-term effects of the commercial PBDE flame retardant mixtures Penta-BDE and cta-BDE on the expression of cytochrome P450 1A (CYP1A), vitellogenin (Vtg) and zona radiata proteins (Zrp) were investigated in juvenile salmon (Salmo salar). For this purpose, groups of fish were dosed twice (oral intake at days I and 4) with 10 and 50 mg/kg body weight of both commercial mixtures. The fishes were sacrificed at day 7 (n = 5 for each group) and 14 (n = 6 for each group), and blood, liver, fillet, and brain were collected. Blanks and positive controls were also part of the experiment. The expressions of Vtg, Zrp, and CYPIA were measured with several techniques (EROD, ELISA, Western, Northern and Slot Blot). The values in the groups of fish treated with Penta-BDE or Octa-BDE did not significantly differ from the reference group for any of the parameters tested. In contrast, the positive control groups treated with estradiol-17beta for Vtg and Zrp expression, and beta-naphthoflavone for CYP1A expression did show a significant response, indicating the potential sensitivity of the fishes for the parameters measured. Since the results of the chemical analyses showed concentrations of a number of PBDE congeners in liver, fillet, and brain that were about three orders of magnitude above those of fish from the North Sea, it is concluded that the short-term toxicity of both commercial PBDE mixtures for these endpoints was low.     

An aromatase inhibitor and tamoxifen decrease plasma levels of o,p'-DDT and its metabolites in Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

The objective of this study was to determine if tamoxifen or an aromatase inhibitor (4-hydroxyandrostenedione; 4-OHA) affected plasma concentrations of o,p' -DDT and its metabolites, o,p'-DDD and o,p'-DDE, in mature tilapia. Male and female tilapia were injected 6 times intraperitoneally with o,p'-DDT (40 mg/kg) alone or in combination with 4-OHA (2 mg/kg) over a 12 day period. An additional group of male fish was injected with tamoxifen (5 mg/kg) plus o,p'-DDT. At the end of the treatment period, plasma samples were extracted and analyzed by GC/ECD. Females injected only with o,p'-DDT had significantly higher levels of o,p'-DDT compared with males. Interestingly, females and males treated concomitantly with o,p'-DDT and 4-OHA or tamoxifen had significantly lower concentrations of plasma o,p'-DDT (about 50%) compared with fish treated with only o,p'-DDT. These initial results suggest that an interaction between endocrine-active compounds occurs in vivo in tilapia and may involve alterations in metabolism of o,p'-DDT.