Declining Arctic Ocean oil and gas developments: Opportunities to improve governance and environmental pollution control

There has been global interest in the exploitation of rich hydrocarbon resources in the Arctic for decades. However, recent low oil prices, a low carbon economy climate agenda, and technical challenges of Arctic oil extraction have curbed interest in these Arctic resources. Despite a recent reluctance to explore and develop an offshore Arctic drilling industry, a resurgence in oil and gas prices could spark renewed interests that could pose unacceptable risks of pollution from oil spills. These risks are further compounded by complex governance and sovereignty issues between circumpolar nations. This paper (i) compares cycles of Arctic hydrocarbon exploration and exploitation activity with global energy prices; (ii) outlines current pollution abatement techniques under pan-Arctic national regulations to identify potential gaps; (iii) describes current international frameworks for Arctic governance to highlight how problems could arise if offshore oil drilling returns to the Arctic and associated spills migrate to international waters; and (iv) provides policy recommendations to aid both national and international policy-makers regarding pollution abatement methods for future Arctic drilling.     

基于面板数据的海洋环境污染对海洋经济发展影响的实证研究

文章基于我国沿海11个省(自治区、直辖市)海洋环境和海洋经济的面板数据,将海洋产业结构和海洋产业劳动力要素投入作为控制变量,构建双对数面板数据模型,就海洋环境污染对海洋经济发展的影响进行实证分析。结果表明:海洋环境污染与海洋经济发展存在负相关关系,海洋产业结构与海洋经济发展存在正相关关系,海洋产业劳动力要素投入与海洋经济发展存在负相关关系。基于此,为促进海洋经济的可持续发展,提出加强海洋环境保护和治理、优化升级海洋产业结构以及培养和引进海洋专业人才的建议。     

Relocation effects of dredged marine sediments on mercury geochemistry: Venice lagoon,Italy

Understanding the biogeochemical process of Hg is critical in the overall evaluation of the ecological impacts resulting from the reuse of Hg-contaminated dredged sediment. Sediment banks (V1 and V2) were constructed with freshly dredged sediments from a navigational channel in Venice Lagoon, Italy, with the goal of clarifying potential differences in the biogeochemistry of Hg between the reused dredged sediments and those from surrounding sites (SS1 and S2). Toward this purpose, Hg and monomethylmercury (MMHg) concentrations, and Hg methylation rates (MMRs) in the surface 2.5 cm sediments were monitored, along with ammonium, iron, sulfate and sulfide concentrations in the pore waters of banks and surrounding sites from November 2005 to February 2007. Pore water analyses indicate that the bank sediments are characterized by lower levels of sulfate and iron, and by higher levels of ammonium and sulfide compared to the surrounding sediments. With respect to Hg speciation, the fractions of MMHg in total Hg (%MMHg/Hg) and the MMRs were significantly lower in the bank V1 compared to those in the reference site SS1, whereas the %MMHg/Hg and the MMRs were similar between V2 and S2. A negative correlation is found between the logarithm of the particle-water partition coefficient of Hg and the MMR, indicating that the reduced MMRs in V1 are caused by the limited concentrations of dissolved Hg. Organic matter appears to play a key role in the control of MMR via the control of Hg solubility.     

Cu2+、Zn2+、SDS、DBS对脊尾白虾的毒性试验

选用铜、锌2种常见重金属和十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)、十二烷基苯磺酸钠(DBS)2种阴离子表面活性剂对脊尾白虾Palaemon carincauda仔虾进行96h急性毒性试验。结果表明,Cu2 、Zn2 、SDS、DBS对脊尾白虾仔虾的96h LC50分别为0.34、0.82、14.3和14.4 mg.L-1。将脊尾白虾仔虾对这4种毒物的敏感性与文献报道的其它动物进行了比较,结果认为可以将其作为毒性测试的标准试验生物。     

粤西湛江港海底沉积物重金属的分布特征与来源

2004年9月23日至10月5日对湛江港海洋沉积物中金属元素的含量及分布进行了调查。共采集样品20个,采用王水-氢氟酸消解,电感耦合等离子体发射光谱法测定样品中的金属元素As、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Ni、Pb、Zn、Al、Ca、Fe、Mg和Mn。结果发现,湛江港大多数区域的沉积物未受污染,但霞山区港务局码头附近海域受到Cd、Cu和Pb的轻度污染,特呈岛养殖区也受到Cu的轻度污染。主成分分析结果表明,Al、Cd、Co、Cr、Cu、Fe、Ni、Pb和Zn主要通过陆源输入进入近岸水域的沉积相中,Ca、As、Mg和Mn主要通过海洋环境中水相和沉积相的相互作用进入沉积相中。结合其它调查结果认为,湛江港的Cd污染在水相、沉积相和生物相中均已存在,应引起有关部门的高度重视。     

Rare Earth and Metal Geochemistry of Land and Submarine Phosphorites in the Baja California Peninsula,Mexico

The geochemical composition of phosphorites and phosphatic sediments in the Baja California peninsula is studied and used to assess the environment in which phosphogenesis took place. The deposits are classified in three groups: (1) stratified phosphorites, (2) phosphatic sandy sediments from beaches and dunes, and (3) submarine sediments. Some of the elements that might have substituted Ca and PO₄ during francolite mineralization were studied by means of ICP-AES. Significant differences are seen in the concentration of these metals (e.g., Cr = 72-406 μg g^?1 and V = 17-198 μg g^?1), indicating that their concentration is not only controlled by the P₂O₅ concentration, but also by paleo-environmental conditions existing during francolite precipitation. Shale normalized REE patterns suggest two main environments of formation: (1) a strong negative Ce anomaly (< ? 0.3) and La enrichment (La/Nd ≥ 1) enrichment, suggesting well oxygenated shelf environments and probably lower light REE weathering, and (2) a weak negative Ce anomaly (> ? 0.3) and La depletion (La/Nd ≤ 1) suggesting shallower waters or restricted circulation and probably LREE weathering.     

Seston transport and deposition in Pelorus sound,south Island,New Zealand

Transport of seston (suspended sediment) in Pelorus Sound is controlled by tides and freshwater inflow. During high freshwater inflow, a moderately stratified estuarine circulation may be superimposed on the tidal circulation, but the latter dominates and transports seston seawards and landwards with the ebb and flood phases respectively. With extreme freshwater inflow, the estuarine circulation gains impetus and most seston is rapidly transported seaward in the low saline surface layer.

Irrespective of circulation there is a persistent trend in seston concentrations. Highest values occur at the sound's head because of the influence of nearby Pelorus and Kaituna Rivers and because of resuspension of bottom sediment by strong tidal currents. Seston concentrations wane along the sound until near the entrance, where values increase as a result of greater production of biogenic seston and because additional seston is brought in from Cook Strait with the flood tide. This trend parallels variability in the thicknesses of muddy bottom sediments. Muds are thick at the head where an extensive delta extends from the river mouths; muds gradually thin seaward and then thicken markedly in the vicinity of the sound entrance.

Seston weight and composition patterns and 3.5 kHz seismic profiles indicate Pelorus Sound acts as a double‐ended sediment trap. The upper reaches receive and retain river‐derived seston, whereas the sound entrance traps seston derived from Cook Strait. This situation appears to hold for both high and extremely high influxes of sediment.     

Copper,chromium, and lead in Manukau Harbour sediments

A limited survey was undertaken to determine the concentrations of copper, lead, and chromium in sediments of the upper Manukau Harbour, New Zealand. The concentrations of copper and chromium (33–70 and 70–107 μg g^‐1 respectively) were of the same order of magnitude as those reported for other New Zealand harbours. However, lead concentrations (98–247 μg g^‐1) were higher than those found for the other harbours. This may be a consequence of higher traffic densities in the surrounding area.     

柴油分散液对马粪海胆细胞色素P450 活性的影响

试验研究了不同质量浓度下(5、20、50 mg/L)三组柴油分散液,对马粪海胆的肠体、性腺、体液三个部位的抗氧化还原系统细胞色素P450活性变化的影响。结果表明,随着污染暴露时间的增加,三个部位的细胞色素P450活性均呈现出先被诱导、后被抑制的规律,并且油浓度越高,出现诱导和抑制效应的时间越早,活性变化的幅度也越大。海胆P450活性变化在一定程度上能够反映油污染的强度及其对海洋生物的毒性效应,可作为海洋石油烃污染监测的毒理学指标。     

广西北仑河口红树林保护区表层海水溶解态重金属时空分布及其影响因素

根据2013年5月(春季)和8月(夏季)对广西北仑河口红树林保护区的现场调查监测数据,研究了表层海水中溶解态重金属Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd、Cr、As、Hg的时空分布特征,探讨了其影响因素,并对其污染水平进行了评价。结果表明,表层海水各溶解态重金属的浓度、空间波动程度在春、夏季均存在一定的差异;Hg的污染明显超过国家一类海水水质标准,且夏季污染水平高于春季。Cu-Zn、Cu-Cd、Zn-Pb、Zn-Cd之间存在显著正相关,春、夏季As以及夏季Cr分别与盐度之间呈显著正相关,其他重金属与盐度之间无显著相关性。各重金属的时空分布主要受到陆源输入、沿岸江河冲淡水和海水盐度变化等因素的影响。