A Comparative Study of Distribution of Heavy Metal Concentrations in the Pomacea insularum Collected from Polluted and Unpolluted Sites of the Freshwater Ecosystem in Malaysia

The snails (Pomacea insularum) were collected from polluted and unpolluted sites at Juru River and the Universiti Putra Malaysia Lake, respectively. Besides the shells, the soft tissues of snails were dissected into 6 different parts: intestine, operculum, foot, pennial sac, lung sac and the remainder. They were analyzed for the concentrations of Cu, Cd, Zn, Pb, Ni and Fe. The present study found 6 interesting points. First, all the metal levels found in the different parts of P. insularum collected from Juru River were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those in the snails of unpolluted lake. These results were also supported by the sediment data in which the Juru River sediment had significantly (p<0.05) higher levels of metal than those in the unpolluted lake. Second, the high levels of Cd and Pb were found in the shell of P. insularum, indicating that it is a potential biomonitoring material for these metals. Third, intestine accumulated elevated levels of Zn, Ni and Fe and thus is a potential biomonitoring organ for the 3 metals. Fourth, high levels of Cu were found in the lung sac and this phenomenon could be related to this metal binding to metallothionein in this organ. Fifth, elevated level of Pb found in the soft tissues of P. insularum indicated that this snail is not suitable for human consumption since its pollution level was higher than the food safety guideline for Pb. Sixth, there was no significant difference (p>0.05) between the different sizes (small sizes: 30.5-33.2 mm; large sizes: 37.7-40.4 mm) of P. insularum. The first 5 points supported the use of different soft tissues of P. insularum as biomonitoring organs of heavy metal pollution in the freshwater ecosystem in Malaysia although further validation is required.     

阿尔泰南缘克朗盆地铁木尔特花岗岩体年龄、地球化学特征及成因

铁木尔特黑云母花岗岩出露于阿尔泰造山带南缘克朗盆地北西侧,岩体主要为黑云母花岗岩。锆石的SHRIMPU-Pb定年结果表明该岩体结晶年龄为459±4.9Ma。岩石具有高的SiO_2(71.92%～76.58%)和Al_2O_3(12.92%～14.55%)含量,富碱(K_2O+Na_2O=7.09%～8.11%)、高钾(K_2O/Na_2O=1.1～1.62)、低P_2O_5(0.14%)和MgO+FeO(5%)含量,强过铝质(ACNK=1.13～1.34);富集LREE和Th、U、Pb,贫Ba、P、Sr、Ti、Nb,呈现明显的Eu负异常(δEu=0.33～0.53);并具有低的Al_2O_3/TiO_2(100)比值和高的CaO/Na_2O(0.3)比值。以上特征表明该岩体属高钾钙碱性高温型强过铝花岗岩。同时岩石具有低的Sr初始值(~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr=0.701727～0.709951)和相对高的ε_(Nd)(459Ma)(-1.43～-0.98)值,两阶段Nd模式年龄较为均一(t_(2DM)=1.2～1.3Ga)。岩体的原始岩浆可能是富含白云母和黑云母的变泥质岩在大于875℃的条件下脱水熔融的产物,在部分熔融过程中有磷灰石、斜长石、钛铁矿等矿物的残留,并混入少量的幔源物质。结合阿尔泰南缘的区域地质背景综合分析,推测岩体形成于俯冲作用的初期,可能是在挤压背景下由于局部伸展减压以及异常地幔和深部热流不均匀上升提供的热影响发生的部分熔融产生。     

Heavy Metal Concentrations in Sediment and Intertidal Gastropod Nerita lineata from Two Opposing Sites in the Straits of Malacca

The concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni and Fe were determined in the surface sediment and marine gastropod Nerita lineata collected in May 2005 from the intertidal zone of Dumai, Sumatera, Indonesia and Johor, Peninsular Malaysia. The results showed that metal concentrations in sediment and the soft tissue of N. lineata varied at different sampling stations. Mean heavy metal concentrations were 0. 92 μg/g(Cd) ;6.40 μg/g(Cu) ;32.77 μg/g(Pb) ;54.41μg/g(Zn) ;11.56 μg/g(Ni) and 2.97%(Fe) in sediment from Dumai and 1.15 μg(Cd) ;26.73 μg/g(Cu) ;53.45μg/g(Pb) ;130.77 μg/g(Zn) ;20.79 μg/g( Ni ) and 2.72% (Fe) in sediment from Johor. Concentrations of metals in gastropod N. lineata were 0.71 μg/g(Cd) ;15.16 μg(Cu) ;9.35 μg/g(Pb) ;94.69 μg/g(Zn) ;5.08 μg/g(Ni) and 397.97 μg/g(Fe) in samples from Dumai and 1.24 μg(Cd) ;18.02 μg/g(Cu) ;19.75 μg/g(Pb) ;95.09 μg/g(Zn) ;5.57 μg/g ( Ni ) and 473. 56 μg/g (Fe) in samples from Johor. Although they were not statistically significant (p >0.05), heavy metal concentrations in N. lineata were correlated with the concentrations of respective metals in sediment in both samples from Dumai and Johor. In general, samples of sediment and gastropod from Johor accumulated significantly higher heavy metal concentrations when compared to samples from Dumai(p < 0. 05). Higher concentrations of metals were recorded in samples collected from the stations close to the industrial and anthropogenic activities in both Dumai and Johor areas. However, most of the concentrations were still comparable to the previous reported studies from other geographical areas.     

A preliminary investigation of winter air pollution potential at fort simpson,northwest territories

Based on radio‐sonde data collected during nine consecutive days in February 1974, an examination was made of the daytime variation of the winter mixing depth and air pollution potential in the Fort Simpson area of the Mackenzie Valley. Under anti‐cyclonic weather conditions, mixing depths were generally low (< 100 m) or non‐existent. The generation of a mixed layer was found to be primarily associated with extensive low‐ to mid‐level cloud cover and precipitation. During this period of investigation, ventilation coefficients were extremely low. This suggests that the area has a great risk of high pollution potential in winter.     

Periglacial phenomena in the wooded areas of Northern Sweden - relicts from the Tärendö Interstadial

Frost-shattered bedrock and ventifacts interpreted to be abraded by drifting snow or ice particles occur frequently in the wooded areas of northernmost Sweden. Ice-wedge casts and periglacial involutions are encountered more sporadically. The phenomena cannot be explained by the present or the Holocene climate and demonstrably pre-date the last deglaciation. The relation to glacial and non-glacial stratigraphy, and to ice flow during the latest glacial stade, strongly suggests that the periglacial activity dates from the local Tärendö Interstadial, tentatively correlated with Odderade. The presence of the periglacial features implies not only that different morphological formations survived the erosive impact of the last continental ice sheet but also that in wide areas the very ground surface, including ventifacts in primary position, is the same today as during the interstadial. A similar situation appears to prevail in northernmost Dalecarlia and parts of Härjedalen and Jämtland in central Sweden.     

BIOMONITORING OF AMBIENT CONCENTRATIONS OF CADMIUM,COPPER, LEAD AND ZINC IN THE COASTAL WETLAND WATER BY USING GILLS OF THE GREEN- LIPPED MUSSEL PERNA VIRIDIS

1 INTRODUCTIONThe use of marine mussels for the biomonitoringpurposes is widely found in the literatures. However,the use of a particular tissue/organ for more accurateindicators of metal bioavailability and contaminationwere continually reported. For exa…     

BIOMONITORING OF AMBIENT CONCENTRATIONS OF CADMIUM, COPPER, I,EAD AND ZINC IN THE COASTAL WETLAND WATER BY USING GILLS OF THE GREEN- LIPPED MUSSEL PERNA VIRIDIS

The distribution and concentrations of Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined in the gills and remaining soft tissues of Perna viridis collected from 12 geographical sites （ 10 from the west and 2 from the east coastal waters） of Peninsular Malaysia. All samples showed that the levels of Cd, Pb and Zn were generally higher in the gill than those in the remaining soft tissues. These results could be due to the fact that gills are the first organ of metal accumulation and larger surface area with mucus sheets in the organ. Since the mussel gill is a better accumulator of Cd, Pb and Zn of ambient seawater than remaining soft tissue, it is a potential indicator of ambient levels of dissolved metals in the ambient seawater. However, further validations based on laboratory conditions are needed.