Boron isotopic geochemistry of karst groundwater in Guiyang City, China

Boron has two stable isotopes （^10B and ^11B） with relative abundances of about 20% and 80%, respectively. Boron isotopic ratios in natural materials show a huge range of variations, from -70‰ to ＋60‰, when expressed with the classical δ^11B notation. Most of these isotopic variations occur at the surface of the Earth. Hence, boron isotopic composition can be used as a sensitive tracer in geochemical study, for instance, to identify the different sources of contamination and factors controlling the salinity of groundwater. During the last decade, boron isotopes have been used to discriminate between the influences of seawater intrusion and anthropogenic discharge. But few of those researches can precisely identify the different sources of contamination. We measured the boron concentrations and boron isotopic ratios of groundwater samples collected in Guiyang City, as well as the major ions. The results indicate that the major ion composition of the groundwater in the investigated area is mainly controlled by the interactions between water and the dominant rock i.e. carbonates. All the water compositions are characterized by high concentrations of Ca^2＋, Mg^2＋, HCO3^-, SO4^2-, and NO3^-, which are the dominant contaminants. Both dissolved boron concentrations and isotopic ratios show large variations among the ground waters, from 2 μg/L to 90 μg/L and from -6‰ to ＋26‰, respectively. The boron concentrations and isotopic ratios indicate that the river across the studied city has been seriously contaminated by urban discharge. Boron concentrations of fiver water samples varied from 20 μg/L to 140 μg/L, with an average δ^11B value of ＋2.0‰. Using boron isotopic compositions and different geochemical indices allowed us to clearly identify and distinguish the two major sources of contamination, agricultural activity and urban wastewater. Both of the two sources are characterized by high boron concentrations but their boron isotopic compositions significantly differ.     

Occurrence of microorganic pollutants in the atmosphere of Singapore during haze and non-haze periods

Microorganic pollutants such as polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons （PAHs）, organochlorine pesticides （OCPs）, polychlorinated biphenyls （PCBs） and total petroleum hydrocarbons （TPHs） are known to be present in urban ambient air. These organic compounds are prone to atmospheric transport and deposition over long distances, thus enabling them to accumulate even in regions remote from their sources. Deposition from the atmosphere can be via direct deposition and exchange with crops that may be directly or indirectly ingested by humans. It can also take place via wet and dry deposition and air-water exchange. Following their deposition, these microorganic pollutants tend to accumulate in soils, sediments and in human and ecological food chains. There are many reports in the literature on the atmospheric concentrations of microorganic pollutants, but there are few reports and data in Asia. This study was performed in Singapore to determine the relative amounts of persistent organic pollutants and TPHs in ambient aerosols. One of the important sources of these organic compounds in Southeast Asia is thought to be biomass burning （vegetation fires）. Hence, air sampling was conducted during both smoke haze and non-haze periods. The data obtained from this study will be presented and discussed.     

城市化过程中土地征用风险表征及对策

从土地征用基本概念和基本特征着手，描述了土地征用的主要风险，其表现为土地征用权力滥用、侵害失地农民的权益、诱发集体土地黑市、诱发社会矛盾等方面。分析了产生风险的“公共利益需要”缺乏明确界定、土地征用的补偿标准偏低或滞后、土地征用及相关制度不健全或存在缺陷等主要原因。提出了控制与规避风险的对策与措施：严格限定公益性用地范围，提高征地补偿标准，扩大补偿范围，完善相关制度，严格土地征用程序。     

Total gaseous mercury emissions from mercury-enriched soil in Guizhou, China

Guizhou is located in the Circum-Pacific Global Mercuriferous Belt, and mercury concentrations in soil in this area are enriched. In-situ total gaseous mercury （TGM） exchange fluxes between air and soil surface were intensively measured at four sampling sites in Guiyang from 21 May to 16 June, 2003, and five sites in the Lanmuchang mercury mining area in December 2002 and May 2003, respectively. The in-situ Hg flux measurement was conducted with a dynamic flux chamber （DFC） of quartz. Overall, net emissions were obtained from all sampling sites. Soil mercury concentration and solar radiation have been proved to be the two most important parameters to control mercury emissions from soil. Meanwhile, rain events can enhance mercury emission rate significantly.     

Origin and three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum of the chromophoric dissolved organic matter in Yangtze estuary, East China

Dissolved organic matter （DOM） is an important chemical component in natural water. Chromophoric dissolved organic matter （CDOM）, a fraction of optical properties, plays art important role in the biogeochemical cycle of nutrients in aquatic environment. People realized that DOM cycle is crucial in the global carbon and nitrogen flux, and also is inherently related to nutrients and trace metal elements. Therefore, CDOM was concerned by scientists in global oceanography and limnology fields. Water samples were collected from three sections （North Channel, South Channel and Zhuyuan） of the Yangtze （Changjiang River） estuary in March 2006 Three-dimensional excitation emission matrix （3-DEEM） fluorescence spectra were analyzed for those filtrates through Whatman GF/F filters. Dissolved organic carbon （DOC） was also measured by TOC analyzer. The tidal variety was also taken into account. The 3-D EEM fluorescence scans suggested the fluorescence characteristics of humic acid （Ex=332-344 nm, Em=439-451 nm） and fulvic acid （Ex=250-254 nm, Em=472-478 nm） were obvious, and the fluorescence group of protein-like and tyrosine （Ex=230 nm, Em=283 nm） was also found. They are mainly composed of CDOM in the Yangtze estuary. Further data analysis, especially the fluorescence index （f 450/500）, showed that terrestrial signal was rather strong （1.41-1.65） in the surface water, however, some terrestrial CDOM signals of bottom water showed excursions （1.28-1.39）. On the other hand, anthropogenic sign was impressed in the waters of Zhuyuan, which is one of the main drain outlets of Shanghai Metropolis. DOC concentrations ranged from 2.2 mg/L to 3.4 mg/L in Zhuyuan and South Channel, and from 2.0 mg/L to 2.4 mg/L in North Channel. The tide effect played a role in the composition of the CDOM measured by 3-D fluorescence scan technology.     

Heavy metals in freshly deposited sediments of the river Subernarekha, India: an example of lithogenic and anthropogenic effects

Heavy metal distribution patterns in river sediments aid in understanding the exogenic cycling of elements as well as in assessing the effect of anthropogenic influences. In India, the Subernarekha river flows over the Precambrian terrain of the Singhbhum craton in eastern India. The rocks are of an iron ore series and the primary rock types are schist and quartzite. One main tributary, the Kharkhai, flows through granite rocks and subsequently flows through the schist and quartzite layers. The Subernarekha flows through the East Singhbhum district, which is one of India’s industrialised areas known for ore mining, steel production, power generation, cement production and other related activities. Freshly deposited river sediments were collected upstream and downstream the industrial zone. Samples were collected from four locations and analysed in <63-μm sediment fraction for heavy metals including Zn, Pb, Cd and Cu by anodic stripping voltammetry. Enrichment of these elements over and above the local natural concentration level has been calculated and reported. Sediments of the present study are classified by Muller’s geo-accumulation index (I _geo) and vary from element to element and with climatic seasons. During pre-monsoon period the maximum I _geo value for Zn is moderately to highly polluted and for Cu and Pb is moderately polluted, respectively, based on the Muller’s standard. Anthropogenic, lithogenic or cumulative effects of both components are the main reasons for such variations in I _geo values. The basic igneous rock layer through which the river flows or a seasonal rivulet that joins with the main river may be the primary source for lithogenic components.     

Distribution of cadmium, chromium, copper, lead and zinc in marine sediments in Hong Kong waters

Partitioning of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn) in marine sediments collected from various sites in Hong Kong waters were determined using sequential extraction method. Sediments from Kellette Bank, located in Victoria Harbour, had higher metal concentrations especially Cu and Zn than most other sites. Slightly over 20% of total Cu and Cr existed as readily available forms in Peng Chau and Kellette Bank. At most sampling sites, over 15% of the Cu existed as the exchangeable form indicating that Cu could be readily released into the aqueous phase from sediments. A significantly higher percentage of Pb and Zn was associated with the three non-residual fractions. Hence, there is a greater environmental concern for remobilization of Pb and Zn compared with Cr. The high amount of residual Cd (>50%) and the relatively lower Cd content indicate that little environmental concern is warranted for the remobilization of Cd. Distribution of metals in sediments collected from different depth at Kellette Bank shows that metal concentrations decreased with profile depth. The levels of Pb and Zn associated with the two readily available fractions increased sharply in the surface sediment. These metals represented the pollutants, which were introduced into the area in the mid-eighties through early nineties as a result of rapid economic and industrial development in the territory. As significant portions of these metals were bound to the readily available phases in the surface sediments, metal remobilization could be a concern. An erratum to this article can be found at