The occurrence of selected human pharmaceutical compounds in UK estuaries

This report describes a scoping study conducted in order to establish whether pharmaceutical compounds may be present in UK estuaries. Surface water samples collected from five UK estuaries were analysed for the presence of 14 pharmaceutical compounds selected from the priority lists of the UK Environment Agency and the Oslo and Paris Commission (OSPAR). The pharmaceutical compounds/metabolites clofibric acid, clotrimazole, dextropropoxyphene, diclofenac, ibuprofen, mefenamic acid, propranolol, tamoxifen and trimethoprim were detected at measurable concentrations in the samples collected. The concentrations of erythromycin, lofepramine, paracetamol, sulfamethoxazole and acetyl-sulfamethoxazole were all below the limits of detection of the methods used (between 4 and 20 ng l(-1)). The anti-fungal agent clotrimazole was the most frequently detected at a maximal concentration of 22 ng l(-1) and a median concentration of 7 ng l(-1). The analgesic compound ibuprofen was detected at a maximal concentration of approximately 930 ng l(-1) and a median concentration of 48 ng l(-1), whilst the other pharmaceutical compounds were detected between the limits of detection of the method used and 570 ng l(-1).     

Application of harmonic analysis of water levels to determine vertical hydraulic conductivities in clay-rich aquitards

A harmonic analysis method was used to determine vertical hydraulic conductivities (Kv) in geologic media between vertically separated piezometers using water level measurements. In this method, each water level time series was filtered and then decomposed using harmonic analysis into a sum of trigonometric components. The phase and amplitude of each harmonic function were calculated. These data were used to estimate Kv values between vertically separated data sets assuming one-dimensional transient flow. The method was applied to water level data collected from nested piezometers at two thick clay-rich till aquitards in Saskatchewan, Canada. At one site, routine water levels were measured in 12 piezometers (installed between 1 and 29 m below ground surface) since installation (1995). At the other site, water levels were measured in seven piezometers (installed between 4 and 53 m below ground surface) since installation (1998-1999). The Kv calculated using harmonic analysis decreased with depth below the water table at both sites, approaching matrix estimates of hydraulic conductivity between 10 and 11 m and between 21 and 43 m below ground surface. These depths reflected the depth of extensive vertical fracturing at the sites and showed that the depth of fracturing may be site specific.     

Interbasin underflow between closed Altiplano basins in Chile

Interbasin ground water movement of 200 to 240 L/sec occurs as underflow beneath a mountainous surface water divide separating the topographically higher Salar de Michincha from the topographically lower Salar de Coposa internally drained basins in the Altiplano of northern Chile. Salt-encrusted flats (salars) and saline lakes occur on the lowest parts of the basin floors and comprise the principal evaporative discharge areas for the basins. Because a surface water divide separates the basins, surface water drainage boundaries do not coincide with ground water drainage boundaries. In the region, interbasin ground water movement is usually not recognized, but occurs for selected basins, and at places is an important component of ground water budgets. With increasing development of water for mining industry and potential exportation of ground water from the Altiplano for use at coastal cities, demonstration and quantification of interbasin movement is important for assessment of sustainable ground water development in a region of extreme aridity. Recognition and quantification of interbasin ground water underflow will assist in management of ground water resources in the arid Chilean Altiplano environment.     

Cytochrome P4501A expression,chemical contaminants and histopathology in roach,goby and sturgeon and chemical contaminants in sediments from the Caspian Sea,Lake Balkhash and the Ily River Delta,Kazakhstan

Roach, goby and sturgeon were examined for cytochrome P4501A (CYP1A) expression and histopathology, in relation to contaminant burdens in fish and sediment. Gradients of induction of CYP1A were observed. Roach from the Ural and Ily River Deltas and roach and goby from the two stations nearest the Caspian Sea oil fields displayed higher levels of CYP1A expression in several organs than was observed in fish from further offshore. Great sturgeon and Russian sturgeon showed higher levels of CYP1A expression than was seen in starred sturgeon and gobies in the Ural delta. No fish showed evidence of contaminant-related histopathologies in the organs examined, despite the elevated CYP1A levels. Low levels of polychlorinated biphenyls and elevated levels of inshore and riverine petroleum hydrocarbons from these habitats suggest that this ongoing hydrocarbon exposure, and that from natural sources and long-term oil exploration on the Northeastern Caspian shore, contributed to the CYP1A induction observed.     

Marine debris accumulation in the nearshore marine habitat of the endangered Hawaiian monk seal, Monachus schauinslandi 1999-2001

Large amounts of marine debris are present in shallow reefs adjacent to beach haulouts of the critically endangered Hawaiian monk seal, Monachus schauinslandi. These areas serve as seal pup nurseries, and injury and death caused by entanglement in marine debris are undermining population recovery efforts. We investigated the extent of this threat by measuring the accumulation of potentially entangling derelict fishing gear in nursery zones, 1999-2001. Plots of reef 1.0-1.3 km2 at three Northwestern Hawaiian Islands were initially cleaned of derelict fishing gear in 1999 then resurveyed in 2000 and 2001. Submerged debris densities across sites ranged from 16 to 165 debris items/km2. Resurveyed sites yielded annual marine debris accumulation rates from 0 to 141 debris items/km2. This large range was attributed to the physiography of reef areas surveyed. Trawl net webbing was significantly more common than other types of debris recovered and represented 84% of all debris encountered, suggesting that much of the debris originated from distant North Pacific Ocean fisheries. The likely source of most debris is the multinational trawl fisheries of the North Pacific Ocean. An international solution to this problem is needed. Targeted marine debris removal is a short-term, successful, entanglement mitigation strategy.     

青藏高原东北缘中新世红色土状堆积序列的成因及其对亚洲干旱过程的指示

对青藏高原东北缘堆积于河流阶地上的晚新生代红色土状沉积物进行了地貌与地层、沉积特征、土壤微结构和地球化学等的研究. 结果表明, 这套红色土状堆积物可分出25套发育较弱的黄褐色土壤(7.5YR6/4)和发育较强的红棕色古土壤(2.5YR5/4)组合, 与黄土高原典型的红黏土具有相似的结构和构造. 红色土状堆积序列的颗粒总体上偏细, 主要组分为粉砂和黏土, 砂粒级含量几乎为零. 显微镜下, 红色土状堆积物为黏土质结构, 粗颗粒组分主要包括石英、钾长石、云母和少量辉石、角闪石等, 且矿物颗粒都呈似棱角-棱角状; 其常量和微量化学元素的含量与特征、稀有元素的分配模式等与典型的第四纪黄土、古土壤具有可对比性. 上述证据表明, 这套沉积为风成起源. 磁性地层指示这套风成成因的红色土状堆积物底界年龄为约11.4 Ma, 证明中国西北地区晚新生代大面积的风尘沉积分布范围扩展到了青藏高原东北缘. 后湾红色土状堆积物与上覆晚第四纪黄土-古土壤序列有着相近的物源和相似的风力搬运系统. 与晚第四纪黄土-古土壤相比, 后湾红色土状堆积物的颗粒较细、沉积速率较小, 反映了搬运动力较弱和(或)源区干旱化程度较低. 古气候替代指标的变化表明源区干旱程度和(或)风搬运动力有多次的波动, 并且在约10 Ma BP和7~8 Ma BP前后, 各有一次干旱化加剧的过程, 可能表明了高原的隆升或(和)全球变冷促进了亚洲内陆干旱化进一步加剧. 10 Ma BP前后古气候由高频高幅波动转变为较为低频低幅变化, 指示了一次重要的环境转型. 这次环境转型事件可能是全球性的事件在青藏高原东北缘的表现.     

黄土研究的历史和展望

本文根据黄土研究内容和采用方法的不同,将黄土研究历史划分为早期的宏观特征和成因研究阶段,中期的物质成分和物理力学性质研究阶段和现代的年代学与生态环境研究阶段。还对未来黄土研究发展趋势进行了分析,认为未来生态环境研究的热点是环境要素定量化和特定环境事件,黄土特性研究的内容是查明黄白所属土壤类型,黄土应用研究的内容是从土壤学的角度解决黄土工程地质和水文地质方面存在的疑难问题。     

黄土高原晚更新世的植被与气候环境

在被认为孢粉贫乏的黄土中分析出了大量孢粉,首次作出了黄土地层的孢粉浓度图式。根据１０余个剖面上孢粉组合的变化,阐明了晚更新世的植被与气候在时间上演替与空间上分布的规律,证明了各地植被在时间上的演变韵律十分相似,说明它们同受全球气候变化的控制,但同一时期在空间上各地植被不尽相同,此乃局地自然环境差异所致。根据植被变化重建了古气温曲线。