Long-term investigation of benthic fauna and the influence of treated ballast water disposal in Port Valdez,Alaska

Benthic faunal structure and hydrocarbon concentrations in sediments were examined annually for 10 years (1989-1998) in Port Valdez, Alaska, where a near-bottom permitted discharge of treated tanker ballast waters containing residual petroleum has occurred since 1977. Measured concentrations of hydrocarbons in sediments near the discharge showed detectable increases in concentration, but on only one occasion were these increases either to levels exceeding ecotoxicological thresholds (Effects-Range Low, ER-L) or associated with alterations in the benthic community. Changes in faunal structure indicating disturbance were observed at one station near the discharge from 1995 to 1997 and were apparent as increased numbers of opportunistic taxa and anomalous trends in abundance and diversity. Minimum-effect (ME) hypotheses provided evidence of negligible to small effects on benthic infauna from disposal of treated ballast water. ME hypotheses have the potential to assist both researchers and managers by providing a tool to relate scientific results to ecological importance and decision criteria.     

Vergleich von traditionellen und neuartigen Adsorberpolymeren bei der Adsorption von 1,2-Dichlorethan aus Wasser

Comparison of Traditional and Novel Polymeric Adsorbents with Regard to the Adsorption of 1,2-Dichloroethane from Water The adsorption of 1,2-dichloroethane from water onto traditional and novel polymeric adsorbents was studied in this publication. It was found that the novel (cross-linked) polymeric adsorbents have a higher loading than the traditional (not crosslinked) polymeric adsorbents. The main reason for that is the larger specific surface. There is no remarkable difference between the crosslinked and not crosslinked polymeric adsorbents due to the kinetics of adsorption.     

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in Sediments of the Elbe Catchment Area – Analytical Methods and Status of Pollution

A survey was conducted to determine the status of pollution of surficial sediments in the Elbe catchment area (Germany, Czech Republic) for the period 1992 to 1994. Chlorinated benzenes, PCBs, DDT and its metabolites, and HCH isomers were determined by GC/ECD following a simultaneous steam distillation-extraction procedure. Most of the investigated compounds showed increased concentration levels in sections of the Elbe or its main tributaries exceeding the target value II (quality criteria ARGE Elbe). Patterns of chlorinated hydrocarbons could be traced back from the Elbe into tributaries, and in some cases, links between patterns and inputs or long-term effects of former chemical production sites were supposed.     

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Polysaccharides in River Sediments from the Odra Basin after the 1997 Flood

Fourteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), six monosaccharides (SA) formed following the hydrolysis of polysaccharides, as well as water and organic matter contents were determined in river sediments sampled in thirteen points in the Odra basin after the catastrophic flood of 1997. The water content is related to the water absorbing capacity of the soil in the Odra catchment area. The PAH content increases together with the increase in the organic matter (OM) content which suggests that these species are mainly of anthropogenic origin. On the other hand, SA and OM contents decrease with increasing water content, which implies that both enhance biological life. The PAH content tends to decrease when the SA content increases. This relation goes hand in hand with the quality of water resources, which is greater when the quantity of polysaccharides is higher.     

Chlorinated Hydrocarbons in River Sediments of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania – Patterns,Levels, and Regional Distribution

As a first contribution to the assessment of organic microcontaminants in rivers of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania, the patterns, levels, and regional distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons (PCB, HCH, DDT, and HCB) in river sediments were investigated. The sediment sampling was carried out at selected stations in rivers of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania (Peene, Uecker, Randow, Zarow, Ziese, Warnow, Elde, and Elbe) in August/September 1996. The chlorinated hydrocarbons were determined by GC/ECD following ultrasonic extraction. Generally, the contents of chlorinated hydrocarbons in the river Warnow and rivers of West Pomerania were at a low level, up to 15 ng/g (given for TOC). In Elde sediments, three to ten times higher contents of CHC were found, due to a higher degree of industrialization in the catchment area. Much higher CHC contents up to a factor of 100 higher than in the river Warnow occurred in Elbe sediments between the towns Dömitz and Boizenburg. A comparison of the CHC contents in river sediments of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania with those in Elbe sediments reflects the difference between rivers with a large and highly industrialized catchment area and much smaller rivers, only affected by agriculture and municipal sewages. The contribution from rivers of Mecklenburg-West Pomerania to the riverine input of organic microcontaminants into the innercoastal waters (boddens, hafts, and sounds) and the adjacent Baltic Sea seems to be low.     

Zur Adsorption von Dichlormethan und 1,1,1-Trichlorethan aus Modellabwässern mit Adsorberpolymeren und Aktivkohlen

Adsorption of Dichloromethane and 1,1,1-Trichloroethane from Synthetic Wastewaters with Polymeric Adsorbents and Activated Carbons Isotherms, kinetics, and dynamics of adsorption of dichloromethane and 1,1,1-trichloroethane from synthetic wastewaters onto novel polymeric adsorbents were investigated in comparison to traditional polymeric adsorbents and activated carbons. The polymeric adsorbents and the activated carbons showed no large differences in adsorption kinetics, whereas the novel, crosslinked polymeric adsorbents exhibited at times higher adsorption capacities than the traditional, not crosslinked polymeric adsorbents and activated carbons.     

A new fluid factor and its application using a deep learning approach

Amplitude interpretation for hydrocarbon prediction is an important task in the oil and gas industry. Seismic amplitude is dominated by porosity, the volume of clay, pore-filled fluid type and lithology. A few seismic attributes are proposed to predict the existence of hydrocarbon. This paper proposes a new fluid factor by adding a correct item based on the J attribute. The algorithm is verified through stochastic Monte Carlo modelling that contains various rock physical properties of sand and shale. Both gas and oil responses are separated by the new fluid factor. Furthermore, an approach based on the neural network model is trained using the deep learning method to predict the new fluid factor. The confusion matrix shows that this model performs well. This model allows the application of the new fluid factor in the seismic data. In this study, the Marmousi II data set is used to examine the performance of the new fluid factor, and the result is good. Most hydrocarbon reservoirs are identified in the shale–sandstone sequences. The combination of deep learning and the new fluid factor provides a more accurate way for hydrocarbon prediction.     

Mugil curema as a PAH bioavailability monitor for Atlantic west sub-tropical estuaries

This work aimed to evaluate the use of Mugil curema as a biomonitor for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) bioavailability. Fish biliary metabolites from low-contaminated (Cananéia) and contaminated (Santos) Brazilian estuaries were analysed using a high-performance liquid chromatography apparatus coupled to fluorescence detectors connected in a series. In the Cananéia and Santos estuaries, total metabolite levels ranged from 0.85 to 34.4 μg g^? 1 of bile and from 4.06 to 528 μg g^? 1 of bile, respectively. Metabolite levels were not influenced by feeding status or sexual hormones (p < 0.05), thus suggesting that M. curema is a good biomonitor for PAH bioavailability. In estuarine regions, it is possible to sample both the male and female genders of this species in any reproductive period.     

Occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of San Diego Bay marinas

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have garnered much attention due to their bioaccumulation, carcinogenic properties, and persistence in the environment. Investigation of the spatial distribution, composition, and sources of PAHs in sediments of three recreational marinas in San Diego Bay, California revealed significant differences among marinas, with concentrations in one site exceeding 16,000 ng g^? 1. ‘Hotspots’ of PAH concentration suggest an association with stormwater outfalls draining into the basins. High-molecular weight PAHs (4–6 rings) were dominant (> 86%); the average percentage of potentially carcinogenic PAHs was high in all sites (61.4–70%) but ecotoxicological risks varied among marinas. Highly toxic benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) was the main contributor (> 90%) to the total toxic equivalent quantity (TEQ) in marinas. PAHs in San Diego Bay marina sediments appear to be derived largely from pyrogenic sources, potentially from combustion products that reach the basins by aerial deposition and stormwater drainage from nearby streets and parking lots.