Indices for the assessment of environmental pollution of the Baltic Sea coasts: integrated assessment of a multi-biomarker approach

Two mathematical methods to assess the "health status" of flounder (Platichthys flesus), eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) and blue mussel (Mytilus spp.) populations of the Baltic Sea were applied on selected biomarker data collected during the EU project "BEEP" (Biological Effects of Environmental Pollution on Marine Coastal Ecosystems). The Bioeffect Assessment Index (BAI) and the Integrated Biomarker Index (IBR) combine different biomarkers to single values, which can be used to describe the toxically-induced stress level of populations in different areas. Both indices determined here produced essentially similar results, which in most cases agreed with the known contamination levels in the different study areas. Advantages and limitations of index applications and interpretations are critically discussed. The use of indices provides comprehensive information about biological effects of pollution in marine organisms and may therefore serve as a useful tool for environmental management by ranking the pollution status of marine coastal areas.     

Biomarker responses as indication of contaminant effects in blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) from the southwestern Baltic Sea

During a field study performed in spring and autumn 2001 and 2002, blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and female eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) were collected at three locations in the Wismar Bay (Baltic Sea), and several biomarkers of contaminant effects were analysed. Besides seasonal and inter-annual variations, biomarker signals were most pronounced at the location closest to Wismar Harbour (Wendorf) in both species. Lysosomal membrane stability (LMS) was lowest and acetylcholinesterase activity (AChE) was significantly reduced. Frequency of micronuclei (MN) was significantly higher (in blue mussels), indicating mutagenic effects. In eelpout elevated levels of DNA adducts, EROD induction and PAH-metabolites were measured. Metallothionein (MT), biomarker for trace metal exposure, showed a gradient only in spring. Organochlorine contaminant analyses (PCBs, DDTs) corresponded to the observed biomarker levels. The results obtained clearly demonstrate pollution effects in the southwestern Baltic Sea. Moreover, they show that a multibiomarker approach is also applicable in a brackish water environment.     

加纳的黄金勘查业

１５世纪以来，加纳一直在开采黄金。在１４９３－１６００年间，黄金海岸所产金占全世界金产量的３６％，从那时以后黄金产量一起呈下降趋势，到了１９８６年，加纳只生产了１１．５ｔ黄金。然而，１９８７年以年，加纳的工业迅猛发展，黄金产量达３２ｔ，这个国家通过财政和法律来鼓励投资的政策。     

日本含硒、碲热液金矿床的地球化学、矿物学和地质学特征

日本的低温热液金矿床可分成硒型和碲型2种类型。硒型金矿床赋存在沉积岩和火山岩中，而碲型金矿床则产在火山岩中。硒型由Ag、Pb、Zn和Mn矿化伴生，而碲型则与Cu和Bi、以及极少数与Hg和Tl共生。并且硒型以出现大量的冰长石、绢云母和碳酸盐，缺少重晶石为特征。碲型则以碲型金矿床中普遍存在有铜矿，象硫砷铜矿（还有铋矿如辉铋矿）为特征；但是在硒型金矿床中，铜矿稀少且没有铋矿。在碲型金矿区，绢云母蚀变是普遍的，而在硒型金矿区是以绿磐岩和钾蚀变为主。流体包裹体数据表明，碲型和硒型的形成温度分别为200－300℃和150－270℃。硒型和碲型硫化物的硫δ^34S分别为－8‰－＋5‰（平均0‰）和－3‰－＋7‰（平均＋2‰-3‰）同时表明碲型硫化物硫的火成源和硒型的火成源和沉积源。碲型硫化物硫的δ^34S范围为＋18‰－＋29‰，同时提出一个火山源的SO2气体的分布。碲型矿化流体硫和氧活度一直比硒型的高，而碲型矿化流体的pH值则一直比硒型的矿化流体低。这些地质、矿物学、地球化学上的特征以及这些特征同由低温热液矿化相伴生的那些活动地热系统的比较指出：（1）硒型和碲型存在于相同地热系统中不同的2个部分；（2）碲型形成比硒型更紧靠热源；（3）碲型形成矿化地点比酸－亚硫酸盐型远离火山中心；（4）火山源的SO2气体的分布和主岩的类型是重要的因素。矿体流体化学性质（氧活度、硫活度、pH值、硫同位素成分）的不同导致了日本含碲和硒低温热液金矿床的形成。     

Effects of heavy metals on the survival and feeding behaviour of the sandy shore scavenging gastropod Nassarius festivus (Powys)

The effects of Cu, Cd, Zn and Cr on the survival and feeding behaviour of the sandy shore scavenging gastropod Nassarius festivus were compared. The 96-h LC₅₀ for Cu, Cd, Zn and Cr were 0.36, 1.52, 1.76 and 36.9 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Four sublethal concentrations of each metal plus a control were prepared and the snails were exposed to experimental solutions for 96 h. Feeding behaviour was studied after the snails were starved for five days. As compared with the control, the number of individuals feeding was significantly reduced by exposure to 0.05 mg l⁻¹ Cu, 0.2 mg l⁻¹ Zn, 0.5 mg l⁻¹ Cd and 5 mg l⁻¹ Cr. The time spent feeding was greater for individuals exposed to greater concentrations of Zn and Cd but no effect was found for Cu and Cr. Chemoreception of food was studied by placing the snails at a fixed distance of 15 cm from the bait. The success rate of reaching the bait was less for individuals exposed to Cr but no effect was found for Zn, Cu or Cd. The time required for an individual to reach the bait decreased as the concentration of Zn increased. In contrast, a longer time was required for individuals exposed to Cr whereas the effect of Cd and Cu was insignificant. The potential of using feeding behaviour and chemoreception in contaminant evaluations is discussed.     

Domenico solution--is it valid?

The Domenico solution is widely used in several analytical models for simulating ground water contaminant transport scenarios. Unfortunately, many textbook as well as journal article treatments of this approximate solution are full of empirical statements that are developed without mathematical rigor. For this reason, a rigorous analysis of this solution is warranted. In this article, we present a mathematical method to derive the Domenico solution and explore its limits. Our analysis shows that the Domenico solution is a true analytical solution when the value of longitudinal dispersivity is zero. For nonzero longitudinal dispersivity values, the Domenico solution will introduce a finite amount of error. We use an example problem to quantify the nature of this error and suggest some general guidelines for the appropriate use of this solution.