Agrochemical and polychlorobyphenyl (PCB) residues in the Mekong River delta, Vietnam

An environmental survey on pesticide residues and polychlorobyphenyl compounds (PCBs), encompassing more than 70 polar and non-polar compounds quantifiable by the techniques used, was performed in the Mekong River delta based on analyses of water, sediment and bivalve mollusc samples. Few polar compounds, such as diazinon and fenotrothion, were detected in water but a high number of non-polar chlorinated compounds, such as DDT, HCH, endosulfan and PCBs, were detected in sediments and biota. The highest concentrations measured were of DDT with an average 6.3 ng g(-1) dry weight (range 0.32-67 ng g(-1)) in sediments and 38.6 ng g(-1) (range 5.5-123 ng g(-1)) in molluscs' soft tissues. Amongst chlorinated compounds, DDT concentrations were followed in decreasing order by those of PCB, endosulfan, hexachlorocyclohexane and chlordane. Residues of organochlorine compounds originate from local usage of agrochemicals although with a likely contribution also of atmospheric deposition of residues (not measured) originated elsewhere. Concentrations of PCB and pesticide residues in the aquatic environment of the Mekong River delta are lower than values reported for other regions of Vietnam and Asia. Nevertheless, current concerns about the effects of chlorinated compounds on public health advise improved control of chemical residue discharges in order to abate environmental contamination.     

Chlorinated hydrocarbons in the open mediterranean ecosystem and implications for mass balance calculations

Studies on the biogeochemical cycling of organic contaminants in the Mediterranean have demonstrated the importance of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) as relatively stable markers of recent anthropogenic influence in ocean systems. This paper presents results of hydrocarbon analyses of deep water profiles, sediments and their associated surface flocculent layers, and zooplankton samples collected in the western basin. Seawater concentrations were higher than those previously reported for the eastern basin and were consistent with the presence of industrial sources in the northwestern segment. In the water column, the percent of PCBs associated with filterable particles was related to the ambient concentrations of total suspended matter, distance from coastal input sources and on depth. The occurrence of deep water residues primarily in the dissolved phase and observations of subsurface maxima in seawater concentrations during a season of high surface productivity were consistent with the predictions of vertical transport models based on residues associated with sinking particles and equilibrium partitioning. Flocculent layers at the sea/sediment interface contained two and three orders of magnitude, respectively, more PCBs and petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs) than their associated surface sediments. The flocculent particles also contained several biogenic hydrocarbons presumably originating from plankton and relatively soluble and labile contaminants such as hexachlorohexane isomers (HCH) and hexachlorobenzene (HCB), thus confirming that the majority of the flux of hydrocarbons to sediments is carried on rapidly settling large particles. By combining the sediment and flocculents data with published sedimentation rates for the deep basins of the Mediterranean, a yearly flux rate of PCBs to the open sea sediments was estimated as 13 μg m⁻² yr⁻¹ or less than half of the rate measured in a coastal sediment trap experiment. Analytical results are placed in the context of other distribution data for PCBs and long-term flux studies to construct a partial mass balance budget for this semi-enclosed sea. The computed coastal inventory showed that about 35% remains suspended in the water column while the majority of residues are deposited in coastal sediments. However in the open sea, the deep water column may contain up to 70% of the total inventory and may be a continually increasing reservoir of stable organic contaminants reaching the ocean. The budget shows that priority for improved research and monitoring efforts in ocean systems should be given to continued advancement in techniques for the precise measurement of deep water concentrations and for measuring current atmospheric inputs and sedimentation rates in order to develop more accurate ocean flux models.     

Aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons in coastal Caspian Sea sediments

This investigation represents the first extensive study of the spatial distribution and sources of aliphatic (n-alkanes and unresolved complex mixture of fossil hydrocarbons) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coastal sediments from the Caspian Sea. PAH concentrations, n-alkanes and biomarker profiles all suggested that there was limited petrogenic contamination in the shallow North Caspian Sea sediments, which are coarse with a low total organic carbon content. In contrast, moderate to high petrogenic contamination was found in the South Caspian Sea, in particular in the offshore oil fields near Baku, Azerbaijan. Contaminant patterns indicated that the PAHs were mainly from fossil sources, with higher contributions of pyrolytic only near industrialized and urban areas. A high contribution of perylene, a geochemically derived PAH, to the total PAHs was found in the west and south at sites influenced by the Kura, Safid Rud, Terek, Sulak and Samur Rivers.     

巢湖北部地区海相地层黏土矿物特征及其地质意义

对巢湖北部地区以碳酸盐岩为主的寒武系—下三叠统海相地层的黏土矿物分析及伊利石结晶度测定的结果表明:伊利石是本区海相地层的主体矿物,平均体积分数为73%。黏土矿物的成岩转化特征表现为蒙皂石的伊利石化。按照伊利石结晶度的成岩-浅变质程度划分,本区寒武系—下三叠统的成岩作用已达到最高成岩阶段。伊利石结晶度的纵向变化总体上可分为上、下两部分:下部寒武系至志留系的结晶度为0.41～0.60°Δ2θ,结晶度与埋深具有一定的相关性,成岩作用是下部地层黏土矿物特征的主控因素;上部泥盆系至下三叠统的结晶度为0.45～0.77°Δ2θ,呈波动变化,蒙皂石连续出现,地层没有被显著埋藏,沉积因素是上部地层黏土矿物特征的主控因素。下三叠统地层中蒙皂石的分布特征以及上泥盆统五通组顶部高岭石的普遍富集具有重要的古气候研究意义。     

Perturbation of gene expression and steroidogenesis with in vitro exposure of fathead minnow ovaries to ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is a fungicidal drug that inhibits function of cytochrome P450s in the synthesis of steroids. To examine if inhibition of P450 function affects gene expression in a dynamic manner, we conducted in vitro exposures of ovary tissue from fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to 0.5 microM ketoconazole to investigate effects on steroid production and gene expression over time. Expression of four key steroidogenesis genes was examined at 1, 6, and 12h of exposure. 11 beta- and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were down regulated at 1h and Cytochrome P450 17 was down-regulated at 12h, consistent with the absence of steroid production. In contrast, cytochrome P450 19A was up-regulated at 6h, indicating feedback regulation. Microarray analysis of 12h exposures indicated enrichment of biological processes involved in neurotransmitter secretion, lymphocyte cell activation, sodium ion transport, and embryonic development. These data suggest that, with the exception of cytochrome P450 19A, these steroid metabolic genes are regulated in a feed forward manner and that the effects of ketoconazole may be broader than anticipated based on the mechanism of action alone.     

Survey of tar,hydrocarbon and metal pollution in the coastal waters of Oman

Quantitative beach sampling conducted after the S. W. monsoon season yielded average standing stocks of tar ranging from 5 to 2325 g m^?1 of shoreline with overall average of 224 g m^?1. Values are among the highest reported for any world area and show a trend of increasing levels of oil residues close to the Strait of Hormuz. Data support the premise that tanker deballasting is a major source of oil pollution on the Omani coast. Locally high levels were seen near offshore tanker loading facilities. Petroleum hydrocarbons in rock oysters increased in a south to north gradient consistent with beach tar observations. But relatively low hydrocarbon levels in biota coupled with observations of very little floating tar suggests that oil released in Omani coastal waters aggregates, sinks, and reaches the coast as heavy tar lumps. Except for elevated levels of Cd at two stations, heavy metal and chlorinated hydrocarbon concentrations were low compared to more industrialized world areas. Suggestions are made to improve the effectiveness of future pollution studies in the Gulf Region.     

Caractérisation par résonance paramagnétique électronique (RPE) de quartz naturels issus de différentes sources

Natural quartz crystals coming from Madagascar, Angola, Brazil, and Spain were studied by EPR after β irradiation in order to characterise the paramagnetic centres due to impurities, and examine in which way their relative proportion could constitute a useful criterion for origin researches. In all our samples, EPR experiments revealed germanium centres [GeO₄/M⁺]° with M = Li or Na, aluminium ones [AlO₄/h]° and two titanium centres ([TiO₄/H⁺]° and [TiO₄/M⁺]°) also appeared, except for samples coming from Spain. The comparison of the relative concentrations of paramagnetic species led us on to draw diagrams that allowed distinguishing the origins of the studied samples using only EPR spectra. To cite this article: M. Duttine et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 949–955.     

Determination of the drainage structure of a watershed using a digital elevation model and a digital river and lake network

Distributed hydrological models require a detailed definition of a watershed's internal drainage structure. The conventional approach to obtain this drainage structure is to use an eight flow direction matrix (D8) which is derived from a raster digital elevation model (DEM). However, this approach leads to a rather coarse drainage structure when monitoring or gauging stations need to be accurately located within a watershed. This is largely due to limitations of the D8 approach and the lack of information over flat areas and pits. The D8 approach alone is also unable to differentiate lakes from plain areas.

To avoid these problems a new approach, using a digital river and lake network (DRLN) as input in addition to the DEM, has been developed. This new approach allows for an accurate fit between the DRLN and the modelled drainage structure, which is represented by a flow direction matrix and a modelled watercourse network. More importantly, the identification of lakes within the modelled network is now possible. The proposed approach, which is largely rooted in the D8 approach, uses the DRLN to correct modelled flow directions and network calculations. For DEM cells overlapped by the DRLN, flow directions are determined using DRLN connections only. The flow directions of the other DEM cells are evaluated with the D8 approach which uses a DEM that has been modified as a function of distance to the DRLN.

The proposed approach has been tested on the Chaudière River watershed in southern Québec, Canada. The modelled watershed drainage structure showed a high level of coherence with the DRLN. A comparison between the results obtained with the D8 approach and those obtained by the proposed approach clearly demonstrated an improvement over the conventionally modelled drainage structure. The proposed approach will benefit hydrological models which require data such as a flow direction matrix, a river and lake network and sub-watersheds for drainage structure information.     

Upper Triassic shallow water limestones in the Sinta Ridge (Banda Sea,Indonesia)

Ten rock samples were dredged during the Banda Sea I cruise in the northern slope of the Sinta Ridge, which separates the North and South Banda basins. Some of the samples are limestones from a very shallow marine environment, with Upper Norian (to Rhaetian?) benthic Foraminifera. Similarities with eastern Sulawesi, Buru and Seram are consistent with an independant Upper Triassic block and the origin of the Banda Sea microcontinents is questionable.