Chemical Characterization of Carbonated Natural Mineral Waters Produced in Turkey: Compliance with European Water Quality Standards

In this study, a total of 100 samples from 25 brands of carbonated natural mineral waters (CNMWs) produced in Turkey were analyzed for a total of 36 water quality constituents to determine their suitability for human consumption. Parameters examined include pH, electrical conductivity, ammonia, nitrate, nitrite, sulfate, sulfite, orthophosphate, chloride, fluoride, bicarbonate, and 25 major/trace elements analyzed by inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (ICP‐MS). The presence of these constituents in this type of water was investigated considering recent concerns about their quality and the lack of trace element information on the manufacturer labels. The analytical results obtained in this study were compared to the European Union (EU) norms, labeled values on bottles, as well as values from the literature. Results of this study have shown that Turkish CNMWs may contain high concentrations of sulfite, which is a known allergen, especially for chronic asthmatic population. CNMWs surveyed in this study have also appreciable amounts of fluoride (>1.5 mg L^?1) that may have detrimental effects on health of children. The EU standards for As, Ba, Mn, and Ni were exceeded in seven CNMWs classified as “high mineral”. Compared to similar type of bottled waters from Europe and North America, CNMWs from Turkey generally contained higher elemental concentrations.     

The relevance of bisphenol A adsorption during Fenton’s oxidation

The aim of this research was to assess the efficiency of Fenton’s oxidation for degradation of endocrine disruptor bisphenol A (BPA) with emphasis on extent of accompanying adsorption. Adsorption on the waste sludge resulting from the Fenton’s oxidation could represent a significant impact on the final removal efficiency of BPA. Fenton’s oxidation was accomplished at two concentrations of BPA (0.228 and 22.8 mg L^?1); both at the selected molar ratio of reagents Fe²⁺:H₂O₂ (1:10), as a function of reaction time. The kinetics of adsorption of BPA on waste sludge was determined for the same two concentrations of BPA at two concentrations of waste sludge (0.1 and 6.0 g L^?1). In addition to changing concentrations of BPA and sludge, the adsorption process was also influenced by parameters such as temperature, pH and contact time. Adsorption isotherms were determined. Oxidation and adsorption were monitored by gas chromatography combined with mass spectrum. It has been confirmed that BPA is not completely oxidized in Fenton’s oxidation, because it is adsorbed to formed waste ferric sludge and thus necessary precautions for sludge deposition must be observed.     

Evaluation of groundwater quality in the Cihanbeyli basin, Konya, Central Anatolia, Turkey

The Cihanbeyli basin is located in the northern part of Konya in the Central Anatolian region, Turkey and is characterized by semi-arid climatic conditions and scarcity in water resources. The suitability of groundwater quality for drinking and agricultural purposes in the Cihanbeyli basin was assessed by measuring physicochemical parameters, including major cation and anion compositions, pH, total dissolved solid, electrical conductivity, and total hardness. For this purpose, 54 samples were collected from different sources viz. deep wells, shallow wells, and springs. Results from hydrochemical analyses reveal that groundwater is mostly affected by salty and gypsiferous lithologies. Evaporite minerals such as gypsum, anhydrite, and chloride salts make high contributions from the recharge areas (west, northwest, and southwest parts) toward the discharge area (central and eastern parts). High values of total dissolved solids in groundwater are associated with high concentrations of all major ions. A comparison of groundwater quality in relation to drinking water standards showed that most of the water samples are not suitable for drinking. Based on sodium absorption ratio values and percent sodium, salinity appears to be responsible for the poor groundwater quality, rendering most of the samples unsuitable for irrigation usage. It is concluded that evaporation and mineral dissolution are the main processes that determine major ion compositions.     

Competitive effects of fish in structurally simple habitats: perch,invertebrates, and goldeneye in small boreal lakes

We determined the associations between Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis, invertebrates, and common goldeneye Bucephala clangula in boreal lakes. Our aim was to test the hypothesis that perch play a controlling role in small, oligotrophic, acidic, and poorly vegetated boreal lakes, affecting both invertebrate numbers and community structure. In addition, we predicted that perch impact lake usage by goldeneye. In the observational part of our study, we first explored the association between perch, invertebrates and goldeneye (pairs and broods per shore km) in 18 boreal, poorly vegetated lakes. Perch densities were associated negatively with invertebrate abundance and lake usage by goldeneye broods. In the experimental part in three fish-free lakes, we found that upon successful perch introductions, the number and biomass of invertebrates, the proportion of large dytiscids, and lake usage by goldeneye broods significantly decreased. We conclude that perch apparently plays a key role as a predator of invertebrates in boreal lakes with few aquatic macrophytes. It is evident that perch can strongly affect their prey populations and communities, and this predation may have an indirect effect on species, e.g. goldeneye, that consume the same prey.     

Dynamic adjustment of training sets (‘moving-window’ reconstruction) by using transfer functions in paleolimnology—a new approach

This paper presents a new method (moving-windows) that optimizes diatom-based paleolimnological reconstructions of past environmental conditions from supra-regional training sets. The moving-window method identifies the best number of nearest neighbours (window size) from a merged supra-regional EDDI and local (MV) training set (n = 429) for each fossil diatom assemblage and the best type of transfer function (ML, WA-PLS) based on the error statistic of each transfer function (highest cross-validated R ², lowest cross-validated average bias, maximum bias and RMSEP). At first we evaluated the moving-window approach by comparing measured TP-values with inferred TP-values using both the moving-window approach and the WA-PLS method. The relative errors of the moving-window approach were not significantly different for 208 samples that had an error <15 μg/l TP using the WA-PLS method. However, for the remaining 221 samples with errors >>15 μg/l TP using the WA-PLS method, the moving window approach significantly reduced the relative error of the inferred TP levels. Secondly, the moving- window approach was used to reconstruct epilimnetic total phosphorous (TP) for Lake Dudinghausen, Lake Rugensee, Lake Tiefer See and Lake Drewitzer See (Northern Germany) using both the supra-regional EDDI training set and a local training set from Northern Germany (MV training set). The moving-window inferred TP-levels of the four study lakes were compared with published reconstructed TP-values and with inferred TP-values based on the local MV training set. Overall, the moving-window and the published TP-trends agree well with each other. However, the moving-window reconstructions generally indicated lower TP-levels throughout the past ∼5,000 to 12,000 years, including past maxima. Thus, the moving-window method seems to generate more realistic absolute TP levels due to the optimized window size (highest number of modern analogues, best error statistics). The identification of more realistic absolute historic TP-values is important for the validation of reference conditions for inland waters. This study also demonstrates that a robust local training set may, similar to moving-window training sets, also lead to reliable reconstructions, if the geological settings of the local training set lakes and the study lakes are similar.     

Understanding data noise in gravity field recovery on the basis of inter-satellite ranging measurements acquired by the satellite gravimetry mission GRACE

Spectral analysis of data noise is performed in the context of gravity field recovery from inter-satellite ranging measurements acquired by the satellite gravimetry mission GRACE. The motivation of the study is two-fold: (i) to promote a further improvement of GRACE data processing techniques and (ii) to assist designing GRACE follow-on missions. The analyzed noise realizations are produced as the difference between the actual GRACE inter-satellite range measurements and the predictions based on state-of-the-art force models. The exploited functional model is based on the so-called “range combinations,” which can be understood as a finite-difference analog of inter-satellite accelerations projected onto the line-of-sight connecting the satellites. It is shown that low-frequency noise is caused by limited accuracy of the computed GRACE orbits. In the first instance, it leads to an inaccurate estimation of the radial component of the inter-satellite velocities. A large impact of this component stems from the fact that it is directly related to centrifugal accelerations, which have to be taken into account when the measured range-accelerations are linked with inter-satellite accelerations. Another effect of orbit inaccuracies is a miscalculation of forces acting on the satellites (particularly, the one described by the zero-degree term of the Earth’s gravitational field). The major contributors to the noise budget at high frequencies (above 9?mHz) are (i) ranging sensor errors and (ii) limited knowledge of the Earth’s static gravity field at high degrees. Importantly, we show that updating the model of the static field on the basis of the available data must be performed with a caution as the result may not be physical due to a non-unique recovery of high-degree coefficients. The source of noise in the range of intermediate frequencies (1–9?mHz), which is particularly critical for an accurate gravity field recovery, is not fully understood yet. We show, however, that it cannot be explained by inaccuracies in background models of time-varying gravity field. It is stressed that most of the obtained results can be treated as sufficiently general (i.e., applicable in the context of a statistically optimal estimation based on any functional model).     

Systematic paleontology,biostratigraphy, paleobiogeography of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Loftusia</Emphasis> (foraminifera) and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rudist</Emphasis> assemblages in a regressive sequence in the Hekimhan-Malatya area (Eastern Anatolia) Turkey

The Maastrichtian regressive sequence of the Hekimhan-Malatya area in Eastern Turkey consists of dolomitic limestones, limestones and calcareous mudstones which are dominated by rudists and Loftusia (foraminifera) assemblages. Several Loftusia species indicating middle to late Maastrichtian age such as Loftusia anatolica Meriç, L. baykali Meriç, L. coxi Henson, L. harrisoni Cox, L. minor Cox and L. morgani Douvillé have been recorded. Other benthic foraminifers present include Orbitoides medius d’ Archiac, Omphalocyclus macroporus (Lamarck), Laffitteina conica Drooger, Laffitteina mengaudi (Astre) and Laffitteina oeztuerki Inan. The rudists are abundant in the dolomitic limestones in the study area. The genus Miseia Patrulius is dominant and represented by Miseia bilacunosa Özer and Miseia hekimhanensis Karacabey-Öztemür. The Loftusia species and the Rudists assemblage indicates middle to late Maastrichtian age for the formation. The paleobiogeographic distribution of the assemblage has been discussed taking this find into account.     

Influences of human activities and agriculture on groundwater quality of Kayseri-Incesu-Dokuzpınar springs,central Anatolian part of Turkey

Human activities and agriculture have had direct and indirect effects on the rates of contamination of groundwater in the Incesu-Dokuzp inar spring area. Direct effects include dissolution and transport of excess quantities of fertilizers with associated materials and hydrological alterations related to irrigation and drainage. Indirect effects may include changes in water–rock reactions in soils and aquifers caused by increased concentrations of dissolved oxidants, protons, and major ions. Agricultural activities have directly or indirectly affected the concentrations of a large number of inorganic chemicals in groundwater, for example NO ₃, N ₂, Cl, SO ₄ ², H ⁺, K, Mg, Ca, Fe, Cu, B, Pb, and Zn, as well as a wide variety of pesticides and other organic compounds. For reactive contaminants like NO ₃, it is recommended that a combination of hydrochemical and environmental-tracer analytical approaches might be required to resolve changing inputs from subsequent alterations as causes of concentration gradients in groundwater. The water type of Dokuzp inar springs is mainly Na–Mg–Ca–Cl–HCO ₃. Note that the water types of the springs were directly related to the hydrogeochemical properties of outcrops at the study area. Thus, the high concentration of Ca ²⁺ and HCO ₃ is mainly related to the high CO ₂ contents in the marbles, whereas the high Na concentration arises from the existing syenite, volcanic ash, basalt, and clay units, although the Incesu-Dokuzp inar springs cover most of the drinking and irrigation water demands of this area. The high concentrations of NO ₃ and NaCl show that the area around the springs is continuously being contaminated by untreated sewage and agricultural wastes, especially during dry periods. Therefore, this approach is based on the vulnerability studies of the catchment area, determination of the transfer time of the pollutant, and the water-bearing formations of Incesu-Dokuzp inar springs. Vulnerability in this study is defined as the intrinsic hydrogeochemical characteristics of an aquifer, which may show the sensitivity of groundwater to be contaminated by different human activities.     

Environmental changes and the Migration Period in northern Germany as reflected in the sediments of Lake Dudinghausen

Paleolimnological techniques were used to identify environmental changes in and around Lake Dudinghausen (northern Germany) over the past 4800 yr. Diatom-inferred total phosphorus (DI-TP) changes identify four phases of high nutrient levels (2600-2200 BC, 1050-700 BC, 500 BC-AD 100 and AD 1850-1970). During these high DI-TP phases, fossil pollen, sediment geochemistry and archaeological records indicate human activities in the lake catchment. Although the same paleo-indicators suggest increased human settlement and agriculture activity during the late Slavonic Age, the Medieval Time and the Modern Time (AD 1000-1850), DI-TP levels were low during this period. In the sediments, iron and total phosphorus were high from ∼AD 100 to 1850, likely due to increased inflow of iron-rich groundwater into the lake. Increased iron input would have lead to a simultaneous binding and precipitation of phosphate in the upper sediment and overlying water column. As a result, anthropogenic impact on Lake Dudinghausen was masked by these phosphorus-controlling processes from AD 1000 to 1850 and was not evident by means of DI-TP. In accordance with fossil pollen, sediment geochemistry and limited archaeological records, DI-TP levels were low from AD 100-1000. Groundwater levels likely rose during this period as the climate gradually changed toward colder and/or moister conditions. Such climate change likely led to reduced settlement activities and forest regeneration in the catchment area. Our results are concordant with similar studies from central Europe which indicate rapid decreasing settlement activities from AD 100 to 1000.     

Behaviour of zircon in high-grade metamorphic rocks: evidence from Hf isotopes,trace elements and textural studies

Hf isotopic data of minerals in a mafic pyroxene granulite from the southern Bohemian Massif, together with their major and trace element composition and petrological observations were used to decipher the metamorphic history and behaviour of zircon in the granulite. The Hf isotopic composition in the minerals was used to estimate whether the decompression reaction, namely the consumption of garnet and rutile, could have provided Zr for the formation of newly grown metamorphic zircon. The age of the decompression reaction indicated by the evolution of Hf isotopes in garnet and orthopyroxene is between 333 and 331 Ma, i.e. ca. 7 Ma younger than the available U–Pb zircon ages from the Moldanubian granulites and than the newly obtained 343 ± 2 Ma laser ablation ICP-MS U–Pb age of zircons. The combination of bulk and in-situ Hf isotopic data, major and trace element composition and petrological modeling of P–T evolution revealed that the formation of zircons can not be related to the decompression phase of the evolution of the mafic granulites. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.