Considerations of temperature in the context of the persistence classification in the EU

Simulation degradation studies for industrial chemicals, biocidal products and plant protection products are required in the EU to estimate half-lives in soil, water and sediment for the comparison to persistence criteria for hazard (P/vP) assessment, and for use in exposure assessments. There is a discrepancy between European regulatory approaches regarding the temperature at which degradation half-lives should be (1) measured in simulation degradation testing of environmental compartments, and (2) compared to the P/vP criteria. In this paper, an opinion is provided on the options for the experimental temperature and extrapolation to other conditions. A review of the historical development of persistence criteria did not give conclusive evidence of the temperature at which the half-lives that underpin the P-criteria were measured, but room temperature is likely. Half-lives measured at 20 °C are in line with the intentions of some international agreements, but in the EU there is a continued political debate regarding the relevant temperature for comparison with persistence criteria. Measuring degradation at 20 °C has the advantage that metabolites/transformation products can be identified with greater accuracy, and that kinetic fits to determine half-lives for parent compounds and metabolites carry less uncertainty. Extrapolation of half-lives to lower temperatures is possible for assessing environmental exposure, but the uncertainty of the persistence classification is smaller when measured half-lives are used for direct comparison with P/vP criteria, without extrapolation. Model simulations demonstrate the pattern of concentrations that can be expected for realistic worst case climate scenarios in the EU based on the half-life of 120 days in soil at 20 °C and of 40 days in water at 20 °C, and their temporal and spatial variability.     

Geochemical Characteristics of the Acid Mine Drainage in the Water System in the Vicinity of the Dogye Coal Mine in Korea

This study investigated geochemical characteristics of the acid mine drainage (AMD) discharged from the abandoned mine adits in the vicinity of the Dogye coal mine in Korea. Acid mine drainage discharged from Jeoncha pit adit of the Dogye coal mine, which is the main source of the AMD in the study area, had a pH value of 3.0 and concentrations of 2148mg SO₄ ^2– L^–1, 229mg Fe L^–1, 71mg A1 L^–1 and 11mg Mn L^–1. The reduction of some metal concentrations downstream from the discharge point could be explained on the basis of dilution and precipitation. The order of removal of metal ions downstream from the discharge point was Fe>A1, Cu>Zn, Mn. Acidity could be used as a good determining factor offering comprehensive and quantitative values for the polluting extent of acid mine drainage. The acidities existing in all acidic water samples in the Gunahan district originated primarily from mineral acidity, especially in the upper Nahan Creek from dissolved Fe and Al and in the middle and down Nahan Creek from dissolved Al. From the application of the WATEQ4F program, it was determined that predominant species of dissolved Fe in all water samples was Fe²⁺, and those of dissolved Al were AlSO₄ ⁺ and Al³⁺ except for IW2 sample which was associated with white precipitates. The species of dissolved Al in IW2 sample include also AlOH²⁺ and Al(OH)₂ ⁺. The saturation indices of goethite and haematite were positive in the water samples associated with ochrous precipitates (usually called Yellow Boy), therefore these solids might be precipitated. For the IW2 sample, the saturation indices of amorphous Al(OH)₃ and gibbsite were positive, so theoretically these solids might also be precipitated. By XRD analysis, it was found that goethite occurs in ochrous precipitates, and gibbsite in white precipitates.     

滆湖东岸生态修复试验区的水质净化效果

在滆湖东岸的小庙港湾,构建由沉水、浮叶和挺水植物组成的生态修复试验区,研究其水质净化效果.于2009年12月至2010年11月,跟踪监测敞水区(对照区)和试验区的水体理化指标.结果表明:(1)试验区水体悬浮物(SS)的去除效果较好,周年平均去除率达24.85％.(2)试验区水体透明度改善较明显,比敞水区提高11.24％. (3)试验区水体总磷(TP)和叶绿素a(Chl-a)的去除效果明显,两者浓度周年平均值分别比敞水区下降21.90％和22.83％.(4)试验区水体总氮(TN)、氨氮(NH3-N)和高锰酸钾盐指数(CODMn)的周年去除率较低.与敞水区相比,CODMn和NiH3-N浓度的周年平均值分别仅下降9.49％和3.52％,TN浓度周年平均值比敞水区增加6.69％.(5)试验区水体水质的净化效果受季节、水生植物生长状况等因素的影响.     

湿地对水中磷素净化作用的研究进展

随着对湿地功能认识的加强，湿地科学研究从资源考察开始向湿地过程研究转变，尤其是全球环境问题的加剧，使得湿地对营养物质的截留功能倍受关注。磷是农业非点源污染的重要元素之一，又是导致湿地及下游水体富营养化的重要原因，研究湿地对水中磷素的净化作用是湿地生物地球化学研究和流域水环境保护研究的重要环节。文章综述了湿地系统各因子(土壤、植被、水文、微生物)及其它环境因子(如温度、CO2浓度、污染物负荷)对磷的净化作用的影响以及湿地中磷的动态模型等方面的国内外研究进展，指出在研究手段、方法和内容方面的不足，强调今后研究应注重长期连续的湿地动态监测，湿地净化功能模型和净化能力阈值以及景观生态学在湿地净化功能方面的应用。     

雅鲁藏布江源区土壤侵蚀特征

以雅鲁藏布江源区所在的马泉河流域为研究区域,运用遥感和G IS技术对土壤侵蚀及其空间分布的地貌特征进行研究,结果表明:轻度及其以上强度土壤侵蚀面积为18 933.33 km2,占源区面积的71.86%;冻融侵蚀是土壤侵蚀的主要形式,占源区面积的82.53%;风力侵蚀占5.33%,集中分布在河谷宽谷段;水力侵蚀面积所占比例较小,以微度侵蚀为主。土壤侵蚀的地理分布规律受海拔高度的影响较大,垂直分异明显,主要发生在坡度等级较低、地势较平坦的地区。轻度以上冻融侵蚀主要分布在海拔4 600~5 200 m,且有20%以上集中在0°~5°坡地;风力侵蚀主要分布在海拔4 600~5 600 m、0°~25°坡地。极强烈风力侵蚀以西南坡向最大,南、西、东南坡和平地分布较少。强烈风力侵蚀以平地所占比例最大,东北和西2个坡向次之。坡向对冻融侵蚀影响较小。     

珠江三角洲第四纪各地层生成与存储天然铵能力的探讨与对比

珠江三角洲第四纪底部含水层当中的天异常高然铵,来自于第四纪沉积当中的有机质在厌氧条件下的矿化。珠江三角洲第四纪晚期的沉积序列,主要包括两层海相沉积层（M1和 M2）,以及两层陆相沉积层（T1和 T2）。然而,截至目前,上述地层对天然铵的生成与存储作用,尚不明确。从三角洲的内陆到近岸,选取重点钻孔BJ8、SD1、SD14和MZ4,利用准确的定年数据,以及钻孔剖面各类铵以及总有机碳等数据,探讨与比较了珠江三角洲第四纪各地层生成与储存天然铵的能力。结果表明：全新世时期的海相沉积层（M1）,具有高达17.4 g·kg-1的沉积有机质质量分数。对 SD14钻孔剖面上高精度的有机碳分析表明,M1、M2层平均有机质质量分数分别为11.7和10.1 g·kg-1。因此,相对于晚更新世时期的海相沉积层（M2）来说,全新世海相沉积层M1具备生成更多铵的能力。对SD14钻孔剖面上各类铵的分析表明,M1和M2总铵质量分数的平均值分别为0.41和0.31 g·kg-1;M1、M2和T2各地层单位面积所储存铵的平均值分别为28.6、11.25和0.34 kg·m-2。而不同地层铵含量的差异,在该研究关注的其他钻孔 BJ8,SD1和 MZ4也非常明显。因此得出结论,全新世海相沉积层M1,是主要的储铵层,而M2则是次要的储铵层。两个陆相沉积层T1和T2,不论在生铵和储铵的功能上,远远小于两个海相沉积层。在 M1层中,铵的量呈现随深度增加而升高的趋势,原因在于铵不断生成累积,并通过扩散作用向下运移。而M2层中铵的含量呈现由上至下递减的趋势,说明M2层中的铵主要来自于上部M1层的扩散,其本身生成铵的量比M1少。M1层在珠江三角洲广泛发育,M2层经过长期的风化和剥蚀,在珠江三角洲许多地方已缺失。珠江三角洲底部含水层中天然高铵的浓度,主要由M1层生成与存储的铵的总量所决定。     

环境中丙烯酰胺检测方法和健康危害的研究进展

丙烯酰胺广泛应用于工业生产,是一种潜在的环境污染物。本文从丙烯酰胺的检测方法和健康危害2个方面总结了目前的研究进展。检测方法上,以高效液相色谱-质谱串联法(HPLC-MS/MS)最为常用,一些新技术也逐渐应用到分析中。健康危害方面,丙烯酰胺可引起实验生物的神经、生殖、遗传和发育等毒性和潜在致癌性。其毒性机理为:直接损坏神经元;使活性氧(ROS)积累导致氧化损伤;诱发基因位点突变,或与DNA形成加合物而致其损伤等。鉴于目前研究存在的问题,对以后的工作进行了展望:加强监管与治理工作,保护生态环境和人类健康;深入开展丙烯酰胺对生物体的毒性效应研究;加强我国环境中丙烯酰胺的跟踪监测工作;建立一种快捷的生物测试系统来评估水体(尤其是海洋环境)中丙烯酰胺的毒性风险。     

Seasonal variations in microzooplankton grazing in the region of the Subtropical Convergence

Microzooplankton grazing and community structure were investigated in the region of the Subtropical Convergence (STC) during three cruises of the South African Antarctic Marine Ecosystem Study (SAAMES) in austral summer (January/February 1993; December 1994/January 1995) and winter (June/July 1993). Chlorophyll a concentrations were consistently dominated by the <20 m size fraction during all three cruises, while the contribution of the microphytoplankton (>20 m) to total chlorophyll a concentrations varied considerably between cruises. Microzooplankton communities were numerically dominated by protozoans comprising ciliates (aloricates and tintinnids) and dinoflagellates. Instantaneous growth coefficients of phytoplankton in the vicinity of the STC showed no seasonal trends. However, marked seasonal differences were observed in the size structure of the phytoplankton. The grazing impact of microzooplankton was highest when the <20 m chlorophyll fraction contributed >95% of the total. Under these conditions, the instantaneous grazing rates ranged between 0.15 and 0.66 d^-1. These correspond to daily losses of 14 to 48% of the inntial standing stock and between 45 and 81% of the potential primary production. At stations where microphytoplankton contributed significantly (-20%) to total chlorophyll concentrations, the grazing coefficients were lower, ranging between 0 and 0.53 d^-1. This corresponds to a loss of <41% of the initial standing stock, or between 0 and 56% of the potential production. Our data suggest that microzooplankton represent the main grazing sink for production when the <20 m chlorophyll size-class dominates total chlorophyll. These facts suggest that the efficiency of the biological pump may vary over time.     

Problems in the assessment of the package effect in five small phytoplankters

The magnitude of the package effect in five small phytoplankters [Thalassiosira sp., Clone 2601 (an unidentified eucaryote), Nannochloris atomus, Synechococcus Syn and Synechococcus WH 7803] was assessed by comparison of the absorption spectra of intact and disrupted cells. The package effect was considerably reduced with reductions in cell size and this was broadly in agreement with theoretical predictions based on Mie theory. However, the quantitative assessment of the package effect is confounded by an inability to assign attenuation (apparent absorption) measurements at =750 nm to either scattering or absorption. The magnitude of the apparent absorption at =750 nm was greatest with the smallest picoplankton species examined, and was reduced, but not eliminated, after cell disruption. Whilst the apparent absorption at =750 nm is commonly thought to be due to residual scattering losses, the available evidence does not exclude the possibility that this may be due in part to absorption by cells or cell constituents and this requires further examination. Although these difficulties are particularly evident with the small picoplankton species, there is no reason to expect that they will not complicate the assessment of the package effect in larger phytoplankton cells.