Concentrations of PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) in various marine organisms in relation to those in sediments and to trophic level

Sediments and marine organisms such as mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), fish (Mullus barbatus, Serranus scriba), crabs (Polybius henslowi) and shrimp-like crustaceans (mysids, euphausiids) were sampled on European coasts, France, Spain) and analysed for their PAH content by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The PAH concentrations determined in the organisms were significantly negatively correlated with logK_ow values, but to different extents according to the species. This was explained by the greater exposure of the organisms to the lower molecular weight compounds with differences resulting from different feeding habits, habitat, and biotransformation capacities of the organisms in relation to trophic levels. The influence of these observations on the use of different sentinel species in biomonitoring programmes is discussed.     

Momentum and energy balance equations for compacting sediments

Coupled energy and momentum balance equations are derived for a one-dimensional sequence of compacting sediments. These transient, nonlinear partial differential equations represent the one-dimensional equations of state for an accumulating sedimentary basin. A numerical solution is presented which provides a first-order approximation for porosity, temperature, and fluid pressures in the northern Gulf of Mexico. It seems that compaction disequilibrium is the primary mechanism for development of excess fluid pressures. Furthermore, the coupling of the equations demonstrates that temperature and pressure cannot be treated independently as may have been done in diagenetic studies. Some areas for further investigations are indicated.     

Heavy metal pollution of coastal river sediments, north-eastern New South Wales, Australia: lead isotope and chemical evidence

 Heavy metal and metalloid concentrations within stream-estuary sediments (<180-μm size fraction) in north-eastern New South Wales largely represent natural background values. However, element concentrations (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn) of Hunter River sediments within the heavily industrialized and urbanized Newcastle region exceed upstream background values by up to one order of magnitude. High element concentrations have been found within sediments of the Newcastle Harbour and Throsby Creek which drains into urbanized and light industry areas. Observed Pb enrichments and low ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb ratios are likely caused by atmospheric deposition of Pb additives from petrol and subsequent Pb transport by road run-off waters into the local drainage system. Sediments of the Richmond River and lower Manning, Macleay, Clarence, Brunswick and Tweed River generally display no evidence for anthropogenic heavy metal and metalloid contamination (Ag, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb, Sb, Zn). However, the rivers and their tributaries possess localized sedimentary traps with elevated heavy metal concentrations (Cu, Pb, Zn). Lead isotope data indicate that anthropogenic Pb provides a detectable contribution to investigated sediments. Such contributions are evident at sample sites close to sewage outlets and in the vicinity of the Pacific Highway. In addition, As concentrations of Richmond River sediments gradually increase downstream. This geochemical trend may be the result of As mobilization from numerous cattle-dip sites within the region into the drainage system and subsequent accumulation of As in downstream river and estuary sediments. Received: 5 September 1997 · Accepted: 4 November 1997     

Variability of sediment diatom assemblages in an upland,wind-stressed lake (Loch Fleet,Galloway, S.W. Scotland)

The variability of diatom distribution in an acidified, upland wind-stressed lake (Loch Fleet, Galloway, S. W. Scotland) was assessed by analysis of 28 surface sediment samples and 11 cores. Correspondence analysis (CA) and cluster analysis were used to illustrate the variability of the surface sediment and core samples. There was reasonable uniformity of taxa in most of the surface sediment samples, although 7 samples, as indicated by both CA and cluster analyses were atypical. Most cores recorded clearly the acidification of the lake, although percentages of individual taxa varied up to 20% between cores. Two cores had old, preacidification diatom assemblages (of indeterminate age) close to the sediment surface. These old sediments were probably the source of the re-worked diatoms found in the atypical surface sediment assemblages. Diatom trends, as CA ordinations and pH profiles, were less variable than the surface sediment assemblages. It is argued that non-uniform sediment accumulation rates and diatom deposition cause variability in surface sediment diatom samples. This variability may be reduced in core profiles by homogenization during further resuspension/deposition cycles and burial. Cores, and the associated time component they offer, may be useful in assessing the variability of surface sediment assemblages.     

Holocene environmental change in South Georgia: Evidence from lake sediments

The Holocene environmental history of South Georgia is important because of the island's location in the Southern Westerlies in an oceanic zone of the world devoid of high resolution terrestrial records. This is the first attempt to interpret a palaeoenvironmental record from lake sediments in South Georgia. It is based on a wide variety of analyses undertaken on cores from two lakes. Both are in the same, unglaciated, drainage basin, but one is at 80 m above sea-level and near the altitudinal limit for vegetation growth, whereas the other is at 25 m and within the zone of continuous vegetation cover. Results from both lakes indicate shifts of vegetation boundaries, which, together with evidence for changing biotic productivity within the lakes themselves, are interpreted as indicating climatic changes. Radiocarbon dates on the main changes identify a climatic optimum, beginning before 5620 ± 290 ¹⁴C yr BP, and ending at around 4815 ± 330 ¹⁴C yr BP, when conditions in the upper part of the catchment were more conducive to plant growth than they are today. The record obtained from the lower lake was shorter, but indicates two periods of harsher climate relative to the present since 4000 yr BP. This interpretation of the lake evidence agrees with other dated evidence of environmental change from peat sections, glacial stratigraphy and geomorphology in South Georgia. Together the work allows an overall reconstruction of environmental change in the Holocene.     

Modelling of sediment movement in the surf and swash zones

Under the action of marine currents, non-cohesive sediments evolve by bed-load, by saltation or suspension depending on their granulometry. Several authors have considered that the movement of sediment...     

山东半岛北部滨浅海区表层沉积物铝物源鉴别

Surface sediment samples in the near shore area of the north Shandong Peninsula are collected for grain size and element analyses. The results indicate that the surface sediments in the study area are primarily composed of the silt-sized components similar to the Huanghe River. The total concentration of aluminum varies from 5.57% to7.37%(average(6.33 ± 0.40)%), and its spatial distribution is mainly controlled by the grain size. Correlations between the ratio of aluminum to titanium concentration and aluminum concentration, titanium concentration and the mean grain size indicate that aluminum in the near shore surface sediments is affected majorly by the terrigenous source, and partially by the anthropogenic source. The ratios of aluminum to titanium concentrations are larger than the background value of loess matter at some stations due to the existence of excess aluminum associated with human activities. Thus, the sources of aluminum should be identified firstly when aluminum is used as an index of terrigenous matter even in the near shore area dominated by terrigenous deposits.     

因子克里格分析支持的重金属元素空间多尺度变化特征——以北部湾东北部海域为例

将因子克里格分析方法应用于海底沉积物重金属元素空间多尺度变化的研究中,分析了北部湾东北部表层沉积物中7种重金属元素,Ni、Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、As和Cd的空间多尺度结构特征,识别并分离了重金属元素不同尺度的空间变化,并探讨了各个尺度上重金属的物源及控制因素。结果显示,研究区重金属存在块金效应、变程为30km的球状结构(短变程尺度)和变程为140km的球状结构(长变程尺度)等三种尺度的空间结构,并拟合了研究区7种重金属元素的线性协同区域化模型。短变程尺度上,7种重金属元素的空间分布表现为"点状"或"条带状"的局部尺度的空间变化特征;长变程尺度上,7种重金属元素的空间分布反映出"片状"的区域尺度的空间变化特征。局部尺度上,Zn、Cr、Ni、Cu、Pb和Cd等元素主要源于海南岛、雷州半岛、广西大陆等陆地母岩物质,其空间分布特征受到了沉积物粒度的控制作用;而As主要受到海南岛、雷州半岛的人为污染成分的影响。区域尺度上,Zn、Cr、Ni和Cu主要来源于雷州半岛、海南岛的母岩物质,其次为广西大陆;As主要来源于海南岛的母岩物质,其次为雷州半岛、广西大陆。这些重金属元素在北部湾终年逆时针大环流的控制下,进行搬运、迁移并沉积在"汇聚中心",形成了研究区重金属元素区域尺度上NWW-NNW向的分布格局;而As不同于其他元素的亲陆的NNW向分布特征,主要源于其不同的地球化学行为。     

Hydrogeochemical models locating sulfate-methane transition zone in marine sediments overlying black shales: A new tool to locate biogenic methane?

Precise hydrogeochemical modeling of early diagenesis is a key in the reconstruction of sedimentary basin models. This determines the mineralogical evolution of the sediment and consequently the porosity of the rock. During early diagenesis also part of the initial organic matter is converted into biogenic gas: CH₄ CO₂, and H₂S. These processes are part of complex reaction chains during sedimentation, and biogeochemical reactions leave different signals that can be observed today. In this work, we reproduce the early diagenetic processes as integrated signals over geological times in sediments of the Demerara Rise by applying chemical thermodynamics using the PHREEQC (version 2) computer code. The investigated sediments are characterized by the presence of black shales in 410–490 mbsf and by a diagenetic barite layer above in 300–350 mbsf at depth of sulfate-methane transition (SMT). We determine the parameters that influence the location of diagenetic barite peaks in sediments overlying black shales by means of a novel modeling approach. Crucial parameters are the amount of bacterial organic matter mineralization, sedimentation rates and bottom water sulfate concentrations. All parameters are intertwining and influence the sulfate-methane cycle. They affect the location of the SMT visualized by diagenetic barite peaks. However, our model approach opens a wide field in exploring early diagenetic reactions, processes and products (such as biogenic methane) over geological times mirrored by diagenetic minerals and pore water concentration profiles that can be detected in present-day sediments.