Correlations between metal uptake in the soft tissue of Perna perna and gill filament pathology after exposure to mercury

The accumulation of metal in soft tissues, filtration rate and gill filament morphology are correlated in the southern African rock mussel, Perna perna, during exposure to mercury (24 days) and recovery (24 days). The amount of Hg in soft tissues increased from 0.13 to 87.5 μg/g dry weight after 24 days exposure, and declined to 13 μg/g during recovery. Mean filtration rate fell from 3979 to 1818 ml/h/g dry weight by day 2, but recovered slightly through days 4 and 8 (3037 ml/h/g), with a higher average rate (5030 ml/h/g) being maintained over the 24–48 days recovery period. The initial decline in filtration coincided with epithelial cell deterioration presented as interstitial oedema, neural and epithelial cell degeneration and reduced ciliation. Between days 8 and 24, cilia regenerated and there was a general improvement in cell morphology. Gill filament morphology returned to near normal during the metal-free recovery period. The usefulness of P. perna as an indicator of pollution is discussed.     

Weathering of an Arctic oil spill over 20 years: the BIOS experiment revisited. Baffin Island Oil Spill

A small experimental oil spill was conducted on the northern tip of Baffin Island Nunavut, Canada (72 degrees 31' N, 79 degrees 50' W) in August 1981, and the natural weathering of the oil has been followed by periodic visits. This paper reports on the chemical composition of oil collected in August 2001. The vast majority of the initial oil has gone, but small patches remain. Some samples remain essentially unaltered despite their 20 years of exposure to the elements, while others show that biodegradation and photooxidation can play important roles in removing the majority of the components of the oil. Using 17alpha(H)21beta(H)hopane as a conserved marker within the oil, we show that the most biodegraded sample has lost more than 87% of the hydrocarbons initially present, while another has lost a substantial proportion of its initial chrysene and alkylated congeners. Potential explanations for the different weathering patterns seen in samples collected from this small site are briefly discussed.     

地球电、磁力对成矿作用控制的可能联系

基于地球内核旋转产生地球电场和磁场的同时可使深部物质上涌，地球环境电磁场应与成矿作用间存在某种联系，故笔者设想地球电、磁力可能对成矿作用有一定的控制性，地球深部电场力和浅部磁场力能使导电矿物和磁性矿物发生分离或聚集，是地壳深部巨量太质预富集的重要形成过程，该过程与地壳大型超大型矿床的形成必有一定的内在关系。根据金和黄铁矿等本身所通过的电流来描述它们周围的磁场，相互作用力的大小和含金流体的性质，铁矿性矿物巨量富集与磁引力的关系。抗磁性有色多金属矿物巨量富集与磁斥力关系的讨论等，都表明地球电、磁力对成矿作用控制的可能联系，这种可能联系对中国东部中生代成矿的解释上充分显示出地球磁力，板块构造和环太平洋成矿带三者间的内在耦合关系。     

地球电、磁力对成矿作用控制的可能联系

基于地球内核旋转产生地球电场和磁场的同时可使深部物质上涌，地球环境电磁场应与成矿作用间存在某种联系，故笔者设想地球电、磁力可能对成矿作用有一定的控制性。地球深部电场力和浅部磁场力能使导电矿物和磁性矿物发生分离或聚集，是地壳深部巨量矿质预富集的重要形成过程，该过程与地壳大型超大型矿床的形成必有一定的内在关系。根据金和黄铁矿等本身所通过的电流来描述它们周围的磁场、相互作用力的大小和含金流体的性质，铁磁性矿物巨量富集与磁引力的关系，抗磁性有色多金属矿物巨量富集与磁斥力关系的讨论等，都表明地球电、磁力对成矿作用控制的可能联系。这种可能联系对中国东部中生代成矿的解释上充分显示出地球磁力、板块构造和环太平洋成矿带三者间的内在耦合关系。     

吉林磐石官马溶洞的洞穴特征及形成时代初探

吉林磐石官马溶洞发育在上石炭统石嘴子组厚层大理岩化石灰岩中,主要受北西向断层控制,发育有高度不同的5层洞穴。洞内化学沉积物多为重力水沉积,非重力水沉积物在洞中沉积稀少。溶洞内空气与洞外大气交换作用较强,具有良好的环境质量。通过与洞外饮马河河流阶地在高程及形成时代上的对比研究,结合在溶洞第4层采取年龄样的铀系法测年数据(30.6±2.3kaBP),初步推测官马溶洞发育起于早更新世。     

Statistical Properties of SGR 1806-20 Bursts

We present statistics of SGR 1806-20 bursts, combining 290 events detected with the Rossi X-Ray Timing Explorer/Proportional Counter Array, 111 events detected with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment, and 134 events detected with the International Cometary Explorer. We find that the fluence distribution of bursts observed with each instrument are well described by power laws with indices 1.43, 1.76, and 1.67, respectively. The distribution of time intervals between successive bursts from SGR 1806-20 is described by a lognormal function with a peak at 103 s. There is no correlation between the burst intensity and either the waiting times until the next burst or the time elapsed since the previous burst. In all these statistical properties, SGR 1806-20 bursts resemble a self-organized critical system, similar to earthquakes and solar flares. Our results thus support the hypothesis that the energy source for soft gamma repeater bursts is crustquakes due to the evolving, strong magnetic field of the neutron star, rather than any accretion or nuclear power.     

Methane and nitrous oxide fluxes in the polluted Adyar River and estuary, SE India

We measured dissolved N(2)O, CH(4), O(2), NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) on 7 transects along the polluted Adyar River-estuary, SE India and estimated N(2)O and CH(4) emissions using a gas exchange relation and a floating chamber. High NO(2)(-) implied some nitrification of a large anthropogenic NH(4)(+) pool. In the lower catchment CH(4) was maximal (6.3+/-4.3 x 10(4)nM), exceeding the ebullition threshold, whereas strong undersaturation of N(2)O and O(2) implied intense denitrification. Emissions fluxes for the whole Adyar system approximately 2.5 x 10(8) g CH(4)yr(-1) and approximately 2.4 x 10(6)gN(2)O yr(-1) estimated with a gas exchange relation and approximately 2 x 10(9) g CH(4)yr(-1) derived with a floating chamber illustrate the importance of CH(4) ebullition. An equivalent CO(2) flux approximately 1-10 x 10(10)gy r(-1) derived using global warming potentials is equivalent to total Chennai motor vehicle CO(2) emissions in one month. Studies such as this may inform more effective waste management and future compliance with international emissions agreements.     

Water column monitoring near oil installations in the North Sea 2001-2004

Fisheries have been vital to coastal communities around the North Sea for centuries, but this semi-enclosed sea also receives large amounts of waste. It is therefore important to monitor and control inputs of contaminants into the North Sea. Inputs of effluents from offshore oil and gas production platforms (produced water) in the Norwegian sector have been monitored through an integrated chemical and biological effects programme since 2001. The programme has used caged Atlantic cod and blue mussels. PAH tissue residues in blue mussels and PAH bile metabolites in cod have confirmed exposure to effluents, but there was variation between years. Results for a range of biological effects methods reflected exposure gradients and indicated that exposure levels were low and caused minor environmental impact at the deployment locations. There is a need to develop methods that are sufficiently sensitive to components in produced water at levels found in marine ecosystems.