PAH body burden and biomarker responses in mussels (Mytilus edulis) exposed to produced water from a North Sea oil field: laboratory and field assessments

In order to study the impact of produced water (PW) from a North Sea oil field on blue mussels (Mytilus edulis), chemical and biological markers were selected. A laboratory exposure (0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5% of PW) and a field study (6 stations 0.2-2 km from a PW discharge point) were conducted. In the laboratory study, PAH bioaccumulation increased in mussel soft tissue even at the lowest exposure dose. Micronuclei frequency demonstrated a dose-response pattern, whereas lysosomal membrane stability showed tendency towards a dose-response pattern. The same markers were assessed in the field study, biomarker analyses were consistent with the contamination level, as evaluated by mussel polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons body burden. Overall, obtained results confirmed the value of an ecotoxicological approach for a scientifically sound characterisation of biological effects induced by offshore oilfield operational discharges.     

Natural cleanup of heavy fuel oil on rocks: an in situ experiment

Changes in the chemical composition of a heavy fuel oil, Bunker C, exposed to the elements for 556 days in the vicinity of Brest Harbour (France, (48 degrees 18(') N, 4 degrees 32(') W)) have been studied. Samples with exposure to full or reflected sunlight, and in the dark, were analysed by thin layer chromatography and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and compared with the initial oil. Using hopane as a conserved internal standard, an average of more than 56% of the total hydrocarbon in the residual stranded oil had been removed in the 556 days. The results indicate that dissolution, biodegradation and photooxidation all play important roles in the weathering process, with their respective contributions depending on the exposure.     

Plastic debris collars on juvenile carcharhinid sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) in southwest Atlantic

Three juvenile Brazilian sharpnose sharks (Rhizoprionodon lalandii) caught in gillnets in southeast Brazil, southwest Atlantic, were found with plastic debris rings around their gill or mouth region. The rings caused severe abrasion on the sharks' tissues as the animal grew, the collars probably hampering normal feeding and/or ventilation since two of the collared individuals were emaciated. The rings were identified as detachable lid parts from plastic bottles, likely thrown overboard by fishery and/or recreation boats. As several carcharhinid shark species dwells and reproduce in shallow waters, the impact of discarded plastic debris likely is greater on this shark type.     

动力系统转换与金成矿作用

动力系统转换与成矿是成矿作用动力学深层次的探索，它是在单一动力系统基础上进行系统与系统间成矿作用的研究，经对华北地台北缘夹皮沟金矿带的研究，认为它们主要分布在多性质动力系统之间，即海底扩张－－大陆张裂之间、古陆隆起－边缘滑脱之间、韧－脆性剪切之间和高序次－低序次之间的转换和过渡地带，各过渡地带的构造转换机制分别经历过分支拉压双生性、蠕变重熔活化性、对剪渗透萃取性和弯曲脉动贯入性四个阶段。对各阶段不同动力系统间的转换成矿机制的研究将加深对金矿床成因和成矿背景的认识，通过各自动力系统的鉴别，可将成矿预测集中转向于不同动力系统间的转换地段。     

矿物磁性与金元素富集的可能关系

金富集机制一直为国内外学者所关注。作者认为矿石矿物的磁性特征与金富集可能有成因上的联系 :(1)黄铁矿与磁黄铁矿、黄铜矿和方铅矿等相比 ,以极微弱的反铁磁性 ,不易受微弱外电和磁场的影响 ,在电性和晶体结构方面更具稳定性等特征 ,且易吸附纳米级金粒 ;(2 )压力可使矿石矿物出现压磁效应 ,矿石矿物磁性矢量产生各向异性 ,金粒易在磁矢量加大方向发生富集 ;(3)颗粒细小、受多次压力作用、温度接近居里点等因素都能使矿石矿物的磁性加强 ,形成金富集的有利条件。     

驱动板块动力源之一—地磁斥、引力初探

板块运动驱动力是当代全球动力学研究的核心问题这一。通过地磁斥，引力生产与板块运动密切关系的总结，地磁斥力与地磁引力驱使板块运动的同时效应，古－今和深－浅地磁斥，引务相对大小的计算，板块俯冲深处与地幔前缘间冷接触关系的确定，板块体磁针式转动，全球构造运动与磁暴和地磁斥，引力联合效应的讨论，初步提出地磁斥，引力可作为驱动板块动力源之一，驱动板块运动是地球自转力，重力，地幔对流和地磁力综合作用的结果。