Evidence of methylmercury production and modification of the microbial community structure in estuary sediments contaminated with wastewater treatment plant effluents

The Seine’s estuary (France) waters are the receptacle of effluents originating from wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). In this estuary, mudflats are deposition zones for sediments and their associated contaminants, and play an essential role in the mercury (Hg) biogeochemical cycle mainly due to indigenous microorganisms. Microcosms were used to assess the impact of WWTP-effluents on mercury methylation by monitoring Hg species (total dissolved Hg in porewater, methylmercury and total mercury) and on microbial communities in sediments. After effluent amendment, methylmercury (MeHg) concentrations increased in relation with the total Hg and organic matter content of the WWTP-effluents. A correlation was observed between MeHg and acid-volatile-sulfides concentrations. Quantification of sulfate-reducing microorganisms involved in Hg methylation showed no increase of their abundance but their activity was probably enhanced by the organic matter supplied with the effluents. WWTP-effluent spiking modified the bacterial community fingerprint, mainly influenced by Hg contamination and the organic matter amendment.     

Enormous PCBs increase in oysters from the coast of Guangdong, China

PCBs equivalent to Aroclor 1242 and 1254 in soft tissues of oysters Crassostrea rivularis from the Guangdong coast, China, were measured using a GC-ECD. PCB concentrations (ng g⁻¹ d.w.) ranged from 30 to 2040 with an average of 315 in 2003-2007, and 0.35-1.43 with an average of 0.56 in 1989-1991. Annual averages were 0.61, 0.65, 313, 290 and 342 ng g⁻¹, respectively in 1989, 1991, 2003, 2006 and 2007. In east Guangdong, the Pearl River Estuary, and west Guangdong, regional means were 444, 273, 194 ng g⁻¹, respectively in 2003-2007, and 0.43, 0.78, 0.38 ng g⁻¹, respectively in 1989-1991, indicating PCB levels in oysters have risen greatly by ratios of 350-1032 compared with earlier data. PCB sources may derive from older transformers, printing materials and pressworks. Fortunately, current residual PCBs in the oysters were 0.004-0.253 mg kg⁻¹ (w.w.), still below hygienic criteria of China and developed countries.     

Impacts of maintenance dredged material disposal on macrobenthic structure and secondary productivity

The results of a monitoring programme to assess the spatial impacts associated with ongoing dredged material disposal activity at a dispersive, coastal disposal site (southwest UK) are described. Benthic impacts were assessed using benthic community structure and secondary productivity estimates.Analyses of univariate indices (including secondary production) and multivariate community structure revealed differences between stations inside and those outside the disposal site were minimal. Generally, stations within and outside the disposal site were characterised by the same species. Regression models indicated that the variability in biological structure and secondary production was predominantly accounted for by natural variables (e.g., depth, sediment granulometry) with only a small amount of residual variability being due to contaminant variables. Thus, the elevated levels of certain contaminants in the vicinity of the disposal area were not sufficient to result in significant ecological or ecotoxicological changes. We ascribe such findings partly to the dispersive nature of the disposal site.     

应力激活电流与软化岩石

当岩石受到机械应力作用时,隐藏的电子缺陷就被激活.这种激活会产生通过释放高移动性的缺陷电子使岩石电导率增加的电子空穴对,相当于O~2-点阵中存在的O-,叫做正空穴,用符号h˙表示.这种电荷载体h˙能够从受到应力作用的岩石中扩散到周围未受应力作用的岩石中.阻止h˙流出改变了岩石的力学属性:使它们得到软化和弱化.进行中的研...     

考虑系统柔度影响的水压致裂法测量深部岩石应力

为了有效测量水压致裂方法中的重张压力,必须使用具有足够小柔度的试验设备,否则无法从重张压力估计垂直钻孔平面的最大水平应力.仅通过替换水压致裂系统中的某一部件来大幅度降低系统柔度是很难的.但如果流量计尽可能安装在靠近跨接式封隔器隔离出的钻孔测试区.那么系统柔度就会大大降低.为此,我们研制出配有井下流量计的试验系统,并在野...     

钻孔千斤顶压裂测量技术的发展和原地测量

为了测量距地表1 000 m以下位置的地壳应力状态,我们研究并开发了钻孔千斤顶压裂技术.技术的原理是:当钻孔千斤顶对钻孔壁加载时,与钻孔轴向平行的方向将会产生两个相对的新裂隙;卸载之后,如果千斤顶对钻孔壁的同一个地方进行施压,这对裂隙将会再次张开.与钻孔轴向垂直的平面上的两个主应力的大小和方向分别是由重张压力和裂隙的方...     

基于钻孔截面变形方法(CBDM)测量岩石应力变化

本文发展了一种基于钻孔技术来监测岩石应力变化的钻孔截面变形法(CB-DM),该方法可以用来测量垂直于钻孔轴线的岩体的二维应力状态变化.本文通过载有激光位移传感器的样机,对该方法进行详细介绍,理论上分析测量结果的影响因子,证明该方法能够有效估测岩体的应力变化.     

俄罗斯达吉斯坦地区早白垩世小嘴贝腕足动物的地层意义

在俄罗斯达吉斯坦共和国早白垩世地层中,极少见到菊石化石,但是可以利用地层中腕足动物化石组合为基础划分贝利阿斯阶(Berriasian)、凡兰吟阶(Valanginian)、上下欧特里夫维阶(Lower and Uppet Hauterivian)和下巴雷姆阶(Lower Barremian)地层.     

An inventory of trees in Dublin city centre

While urban areas are often considered to be comprised chiefly of artificial surfaces, they can contain a substantial portion of green space and a great diversity of natural habitats. These spaces include public parks, private gardens and street trees, all of which can provide valuable environmental services, such as improved air quality. Trees play a particular role in cities as they are often placed along roadsides and in the median strip of busy streets. As such they regulate access to sunshine, restrict airflow, provide shelter, scavenge air pollutants and manage noise at the street level. A tree planting policy can be an important part of a broader environmental strategy aimed at improving the quality of life in urban areas but this requires up-to-date knowledge of the current tree stock, which does not exist for Dublin. This article presents an inventory of trees in Dublin's city centre, defined as the area between the Grand and Royal canals. The results show that there are over 10,000 trees in the study area representing a density of 684 trees km-2 or one tree to approximately every 50 residents of the city centre. The tree canopy extent when in full foliage was nearly 1 km2 in extent or 6% of the study area. A more detailed analysis of those trees planted along streets shows little species variation but clear distinction in the sizes of trees, which is indicative of the age of planting. These data are used to estimate the carbon stored in Dublin's trees.     

2010年10月25日明打威海啸地震（Mw7．8）和浅层巨大逆冲断裂引起的海啸灾害

2010年10月25日印度尼西亚明打威地震（Mw7.8）,致使苏门答腊近海明打威群岛向海一侧的俯）中带浅部发生破裂,在巴盖群岛西南的沿海地带引发了3～9m高的海啸,并夺去了至少431人的生命。对有限断层震源破裂特征的远震P波、SH波及瑞雷波的分析说明,在倾角为10。的巨大逆）中断层上破裂过程持续了大约90s,破裂速度相对较低,约为1．5km／s,在约为100km长的震源区总滑动量约为2～4m。根据地震矩所计算的能量释放为1．4×10^-6,小于2006年7月17日爪哇海啸地震（Mw7．8）的能量释放量2．4×1^-6。明打威地震致使2007年9月12日群岛地震（MW7．9）的滑动区上倾部位发生破裂,结合沿岛弧锡默卢岛西北方向近海的1907年1月4日（M7．6）海啸地震,说明印度尼西亚和其他地方发生特大俯冲地震的上倾地区的浅层逆冲破裂,特别容易引发海啸灾害。