Contamination of organotin compounds and imposex in molluscs from Vancouver,Canada

Gastropods and bivalves were collected at 15 sites at Vancouver and Victoria, Canada between 24 May and 7 June, 1999, to establish tissue concentrations of butyltin and phenyltin compounds, to record imposex symptoms in gastropods, and to assess the present status of organotin contamination around Vancouver. No neogastropods (such as Nucella lima) were found around Vancouver. Neogastropod populations could have been extirpated by severe TBT contamination in Vancouver, as relatively high concentrations of TBT were detected in tissues of Mytilus trossulus from Vancouver, and the neogastropods distributed in Vancouver might be sensitive to TBT. Recovery from imposex, however, was observed in neogastropod populations from three sites at Victoria and Mission Point. TBT contamination has continued around Vancouver, arising from continuous use of TBT in antifouling paints for vessels larger than 25 m in length; however, TBT has decreased around Victoria and Mission Point. Different patterns of TBT accumulation in tissue were observed among the bivalve species from Vancouver. The highest TBT concentration detected in Tresus capax suggested some possible adverse effects. TBT was the most predominant butyltin component in almost all bivalve specimens surveyed, suggesting a low rate of TBT metabolism. Phenyltin compounds were not detected in any molluscan specimens in this study.     

Effects of prolonged exposure to 4-tert-octylphenol on toxicity and indices of oestrogenic exposure in the sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus, Pallas)

Alkylphenolic compounds are present in estuarine and marine environments. They are moderately bioaccumulative, and oestrogenic to fish following three week, in vivo, exposures. The effects of prolonged exposure are, as yet, unclear. Sand goby (Pomatoschistus minutus) were exposed to measured concentrations of 4-tert-octylphenol (OP) in a 28-day, dose-ranging study, and a six month temporal response study. Following 28-days exposure to measured 31+/-6 or 101+/-47 microg l(-1) OP (mean+/-SD), immature male sand goby showed elevated vitellogenin (VTG) mRNA expression. Plasma alkali-labile phosphate concentrations were elevated in both sexes and were higher in females than males. Although measured OP concentrations were variable, they were significantly different for each treatment and a range of concentration-dependent effects were observed. The LC(50) for chronic OP exposure (8 weeks) was 29+/-6 microg l(-1), and both sexes demonstrated concentration and duration dependent increases in VTG mRNA expression. Exposure to 28+/-20 microg l(-1) OP (median+/-95% CI) for 6 months inhibited development of male nuptial colouration and sperm duct glands. These findings are discussed in relation to environmental concentrations of alkylphenols and ecological concerns.     

137Cs示踪的渤海湾黄骅港两侧海区的沉积特征

取自黄骅港防波堤两侧海区的7个无扰动柱状沉积物岩心的^137Cs示踪研究显示．该区^137Cs曲线可以分为3种类型：①不连续的^137Cs曲线（表层未检测到^137Cs）,②连续的^137Cs曲线（表层检测到^137Cs）,③未检测到^137Cs的曲线。^137Cs示踪的沉积速率结果显示：①NE向伸展的防砂堤截断原SE向的沿岸流后,造成了黄骅港防波堤两侧近岸差异性现代沉积过程,即堤北侧距岸约4km以内海区现代沉积速为0．69～1．12cm／a,堤南侧距岸约4km处的站位8以内无沉积物沉积;（2）防砂堤南侧的岸外10km、水深约-4m处,存在一个速率高达1．36cm／a的现代沉积中心。上述结果与前人的工作成果对比表明,黄骅港建港前后,现代沉积速率的空间分布特征发生了明显的变化,进一步说明与人类活动密切相关的地质环境变化主导了现在的地质环境变化．应当引起人们的更多重视。     

Deep-sea smokers: windows to a subsurface biosphere?

Since the discovery of hyperthermophilic microbial activity in hydrothermal fluids recovered from "smoker" vents on the East Pacific Rise, the widely accepted upper temperature limit for life (based on pure culture data) has risen from below the boiling point of water at atmospheric pressure to approximately 115 degrees C. Many microbiologists seem willing to speculate that the maximum may be closer to 150 degrees C. We have postulated not only higher temperatures than these (under deep-sea hydrostatic pressures), but also the existence of a biosphere subsurface to accessible seafloor vents. New geochemical information from the Endeavour Segment of the Juan de Fuca Ridge indicative of subsurface organic material caused us to re-examine both the literature on hyperthermophilic microorganisms cultured from deep-sea smoker environments and recent results of microbial sampling efforts at actively discharging smokers on the Endeavour Segment. Here we offer the case for a subsurface biosphere based on an interdisciplinary view of microbial and geochemical analyses of Endeavour smoker fluids, a case in keeping with rapidly evolving geophysical understanding of organic stability under deep-sea hydrothermal conditions.     

渤海湾老狼坨子海岸带^14C,^137Cs、^210Pb测年与现代沉积速率的加速趋势

通过对渤海湾西岸L剖面中同一关键层的碳酸钙和原生腹足类壳债权的^14C测年对比研究，确定了晚全新世的2800cal BP的层位及沉积速率0.045cm/a;8个样柱的^137Cs和^210Pbex强度、蓄积量揭示了距今约120年来堤后盐沼的平均沉积速率约为0.35cm/a，而面向开放海湾的潮坪上部则达到约2-3cm/a。研究区近1个世纪以来沉积速率的加速趋势，是渤海湾西岸泥质海岸带的特征之一。     

天津地区构造沉降及控沉远景问题

使用第四纪地质、统计地貌学和历史水准点调查等手段,研究了天津地区的构造沉降背景,讨论了控制地面沉降远景目标问题。研究工作使用天津地区第一海相层底板埋深、全新统地层钻孔、深层基岩标和历史水准点等一系列资料,获得天津市和邻近地区构造沉降的平均速率为1.7mm a左右。研究还发现了基底构造沉降背景具有这样一些规律:(1)从西部到东部沿海,区内沉降有逐渐增加的趋势。(2)沿海河发育了一条北西方向的构造沉降异常带。(3)以海河为界,沉降分布的方向不同,北部为北西西向,南部为北东方向,整体活动规律反映了活动断裂和基底构造的控制作用。     

大同市(平原区)地下水超采现状及治理措施

通过分析大同市平原区地下水超采现状,指出地下水超采容易引起的水环境问题,针对日益紧张的水资源供需矛盾和地下水起采引起的水环境问题,提出了超采区的治理措施.     

渤海湾海岸带地区~(137)Cs参考剖面——意义、方法及初步结果

海岸带地区近百年来的现代地质过程重建必须以精确的年代学研究为基础,~(137)Cs时标法和~(210)Pb_(exc)测年法是目前广泛应用的方法。由于易受到河流沉积物供给变化、潮位状况、极端天气事件等的影响,海岸带现代过程的定量研究一直是高分辨率研究的瓶颈。区域性参考剖面可以提升现代沉积物测年方法在海岸带应用中的可靠性。因此,建立区域性的~(210)Pb_(exc)和~(137)Cs比活度-深度参考剖面,将改善对海岸带及邻近海区实测数据的解释。以渤海湾海岸带为研究区,选取沉积环境相对稳定、水平搬运作用较小的地区,采用人工探坑、Eijkelkamp槽型取样器获取了2个柱状岩心,通过γ能谱仪对样品进行~(210)Pb、~(226)Ra及~(137)Cs比活度测试,绘制剖面图,结合研究区已有数据,总结出6类海岸带常见的~(210)Pb_(exc)和~(137)Cs比活度-深度剖面类型,并重建了渤海湾海岸带~(137)Cs区域性参考剖面。结果显示,~(137)Cs在渤海湾地区的最大峰值指示1963年,可以作为区域性主要参考时标。但是,最大峰值上部的次峰在不同区域指示不同的时标,S4和S5两个站位该峰值指示的并非1986年时标。     

莱州湾南岸全新世相对海平面变化重建

在对莱州湾南岸8个钻孔沉积物沉积结构及有孔虫特征分析基础上,识别相关海面标志层位,辅以加速器质谱AMS14C测年,重建了全新世相对海面变化历史,并讨论了海面变化的沉积响应及控制因素。约9200cal BP以前,海面快速上升,研究区海侵时海面于-21.5m左右;9200~8400cal BP海面上升速率减缓至约2mm/a;8400~8000cal BP海面由-14m快速上升至-5.5m,速率约为33mm/a;8000~7600cal BP,海面持续数百年停滞或微弱下降;7600~7000cal BP海面由-5.5m快速上升至0m以上,速率至少约为13mm/a;7000~6000cal BP海面缓慢上升至+2~+3m位置,速率约为3mm/a;约6000cal BP以后海面缓慢下降至现今水平。约9200cal BP以前、8400~8000cal BP、7600~7000cal BP时期的3次海面快速上升,是MWP-1C融水脉冲、诱发8.2ka冷事件的融水脉冲,以及MWP-2融水脉冲的中纬度地区响应。中全新世全球冰融趋于停滞后,由于研究区沉积盆地沉降速度较慢,在冰川均衡调整效应下,使+2~+3m的相对高海面得以呈现。