Natural and anthropogenic hydrocarbons in sediments from the Chubut River (Patagonia, Argentina)

In March of 2001 a study was carried out to evaluate hydrocarbon levels in the lower course of the Chubut River. The study included 12 sample stations along the river from San Cristóbal Bridge to the confluence with the sea, in a 25 km straight-line extension in a urbanized area. In the first 11 stations, resolved aliphatic (RAli) hydrocarbons presented low values, between 0.07 and 0.96 microg/g dry weight (dw); the unresolved complex mixture (UCM) between 0.42 and 2.72 microg/g dw, and the total aliphatic (TAli) hydrocarbons between 0.55 and 3.07 microg/g dw. In the last station, at the mouth of Chubut river, these values increased to 460, 284, and 741 microg/g dw for RAli, UCM and TAli, respectively. The n-alkanes distribution indices and the compositional parameters suggested a predominantly biogenic origin in eleven stations, and a predominantly anthropogenic origin in the last station, with the highest hydrocarbon values. It is possible to conclude that the stations with low hydrocarbon values and biogenic origin predominance would constitute the baseline of aliphatic hydrocarbons for river sediments at this zone. The station with the highest hydrocarbon concentration and predominantly anthropic origin was related to the presence of Rawson city's port, where its activities (harbor and fishing vessels) generate hydrocarbon wastes unrelated to the river base profile in the study zone. Offshore, but within the river influence, there is an important fishing area of Argentine Red and Patagonian shrimps (Pleoticus muelleri and Artemesia longinaris, respectively).     

Nitrogen isotope ratios in estuarine biota collected along a nutrient gradient in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA

Stable nitrogen isotope ratios were used to study the incorporation of anthropogenically-derived nitrogen into the food webs of salt marsh systems along a contamination gradient in Narragansett Bay. Nitrogen isotope ratios (delta(15)N) were measured in six estuarine species collected from three marshes along this gradient, monthly from June to October between 1997 and 1999. A significant decrease in delta(15)N was found with distance along the estuary for four of the six species. Significant differences were found among monthly isotope ratios for some species. Nitrogen isotope ratios in sea lettuce (Ulva lactuca) increased during the summer season with highest delta(15)N values measured during September and October. This trend was most pronounced at the station receiving the highest nutrient inputs. Elevated delta(15)N values at this station appeared to correlate with seawater ammonia/nitrate concentration ratios. The temporal variations in delta(15)N suggest that care should be taken in species selection and the design of sampling schemes of studies using delta(15)N for monitoring anthropogenic nutrients in aquatic systems. Sampling programs designed to determine long-term trends should consider species that do not show rapid fluctuations in isotope ratios. The mud snail, Nassarius obsoletus, responded this way in the present study. Studies designed to measure short-term changes should include species such as U. lactuca, which rapidly respond to isotope changes. The results from this study also help to establish a baseline for nitrogen isotope values in Narragansett Bay. This information can be used to monitor future trends in nitrogen inputs to this estuary.     

Influence of the oceanographic conditions during spring 2003 on the transport of the Prestige tanker fuel oil to the Galician coast

Hydrographic data collected during the cruise HIDROPRESTIGE were combined with meteorological and dynamic data provided by remote sensors and drifting/moored buoys, to describe the surface circulation of the Northern Iberian basin in March-April 2003. Sea surface winds transported the floating Prestige oil slicks from the sinking area to the continental slope off the Rías Baixas in 1/2 month: the surface current intensity was 2% of the wind intensity and it was rotated clockwise 5 degrees from the wind direction. Mesoscale cyclonic and anticyclonic structures west of 10 degrees W increased the residence time of oil patches in the Northern Iberian basin, as compared with the expected southwards flow of the Iberian current (IC). On the other hand, the Iberian poleward current (IPC) formed a marked surface front with coastal waters, preventing the entry of fuel oil into the rías. PAHs in the surface layer during the cruise were <0.5 microgL(-1), except in the Galicia bank (approximately 1 microg L(-1); where the Prestige tanker was still leaking) and the vicinity of Cape Fisterra (approximately 1.5 microg L(-1); where the convergence front between the IPC and coastal waters vanished).     

OT阳离子乳化沥青初步研究

阳离子乳化沥青是六十年代初在国际上出现的一种新型材料。鉴于它具有与砂粒粘结力强、对水质要求低、乳化剂用量少、耗能低和对植物无毒害等特点,被誉为第三新型工程材料。本文利用国产的阳离子乳化剂十八烷基三甲基氯化铵(OT),从理论计算和实验分析两个方面,对其用量进行了选择,确定了中裂型OT阳离子乳化沥青配方;研究并推导了乳化温控方程。     

Evaluation of the presence of major anionic surfactants in marine sediments

The contamination of aquatic environments has become the focus of increasing regulation and public concern due to their potential and unknown negative effects on the ecosystems. The present work develops a monitoring and statistical study, based on the analysis of variance test (ANOVA) and the multivariable analysis, both for insoluble soap and LAS in order to compare the behavior of different anionic surfactants in this environmental compartment. First, a novel and successfully validated methodology to analyze insoluble soap in these samples is developed. The matrix effect and the comparison of different extraction techniques were also performed. The optimized analytical methodologies were applied to 48 representative samples collected from the Almeria Coast (Spain) and then a statistical analysis to correlate anionic surfactant concentration and several variables associated with marine sediment samples was also developed. The results obtained showed relevant conclusions related to the environmental behavior of anionic surfactants in marine sediments.     

Ecosystem under pressure: ballast water discharge into Galveston Bay, Texas (USA) from 2005 to 2010

Ballast water exchange processes facilitate the dispersal and unnatural geographic expansion of phytoplankton, including harmful algal bloom species. From 2005 to 2010, over 45,000 vessels (≈ 8000 annually) travelled across Galveston Bay (Texas, USA) to the deep-water ports of Houston (10th largest in the world), Texas City and Galveston. These vessels (primarily tankers and bulkers) discharged ≈ 1.2 × 10(8) metrictons of ballast water; equivalent to ≈ 3.4% of the total volume of the Bay. Over half of the ballast water discharged had a coastwise origin, 96% being from US waters. Galveston Bay has fewer non-indigenous species but receives a higher volume of ballast water discharge, relative to the highly invaded Chesapeake and San Francisco Bays. Given the magnitude of shipping traffic, the role of Galveston Bay, both as a recipient and donor region of non-indigenous phytoplankton species is discussed here in terms of the invasibility risk to this system by way of ballast water.