The toxicity of aluminum to aquatic species in the US

In August 1988 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published an ambient water quality criteria document for the protection of aquatic organisms from the toxic effects of aluminum. The EPA water quality criteria were developed utilizing procedures described in theGuidelines for Deriving Numerical National Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Aquatic Organisms and Their Uses, and after careful analysis of the latest toxicological information available to EPA on the adverse effects of aluminum on aquatic vertebrates, invertebrates and plants.The EPA criteria recommend that the four-day average concentration of aluminum not exceed 87 g L^–1 more than once every three years on the average when the ambient pH is between 6.5 and 9.0 to provide protection from chronic toxicity. The criteria also recommend that the one-hour average concentration of aluminum not exceed 750 g L^–1 more than once every three years on the average when the ambient pH is between 6.5 and 9.0 to provide protection from acute toxicity.Acute toxicity data for 20 species of freshwater aquatic organisms and chronic toxicity data for five species of freshwater aquatic organisms were utilized to develop the EPA water quality criteria. Striped bass and brook trout were observed to be the two most sensitive North American species to the toxic effects of aluminum. Aluminum toxicity was also observed to be increased at lower pH.     

物种敏感度分布的非参数核密度估计模型

针对目前物种敏感度分布参数方法建模所存在的缺点,首次提出基于非参数核密度估计方法的物种敏感度分布模型,并提出相应的最优窗宽和检验方法。选用无机汞作为案例研究对象,利用非参数核密度估计方法和3种传统参数模型分别推导了保护我国水生生物的无机汞的急性水质基准值。结果表明,非参数核密度估计方法在推导无机汞水质基准中的稳健性和精确度都大大优于传统参数模型,能够更好地构建物种敏感度分布曲线。该方法的提出丰富了水质基准的理论方法学,为更好地保护水生生物提供了有力的支撑。     

模拟酸雨对红壤铝形态的影响

用动态淋洗试验，研究了不同pH的模拟酸雨对红壤中铝形态和性质的影响．结果表明，酸雨淋洗引起红壤中盐基离子的淋失和土壤铝的溶出．随着酸雨溶液pH的降低，盐基淋矢量和铝溶出量增加．酸雨淋洗影响土壤铝形态的转化，使红壤中交换态铝上升，吸附态羟基铝有所下降．这说明在酸雨长期作用下，羟基铝溶解，并转化为交换态铝和引起铝的溶出，使铝进入环境，危害生态系统．     

Heavy metals in water of the rivers Hooghly and Haldi at Haldia and their impact on fish

The paper deals with the measurement of five heavy metals viz., Cd, Cu, Mn, Pb and Zn in water of the rivers Hooghly and Haldi at Haldia during June 1999 to October 2002. The industrial effluent out fall (OF) at Patikhali, Haldia was also taken as sampling site along with above out fall (AOF) and below out fall (BOF) sites. Most of the metals exhibited their least concentration at the sampling site above the Haldia industrial area of river Hooghly. The average concentrations of the studied metals were Cd 2-14, Cu 5-19, Mn 8-88, Pb 17-41 and Zn 22-37 microg l(-1). Comparison of the data with the Criterion Continuous Concentration (CCC) of USA revealed that Cd, Cu and Pb were the pollutants present at alarming level to disturb the aquatic life process in the zone. The effect was found to reflect on the tissue level aberrations in the residential fishes. The other two metals viz., Mn and Zn were probably less harmful to the aquatic ecosystem. In India, necessity is felt to develop the CCC values, which will be more appropriate for protection of aquatic environment than comparing with drinking water standards.     

Environmental effects of aluminium

Aluminium (Al), when present in high concentrations, has for long been recognised as a toxic agent to aquatic freshwater organisms,i.e. downstream industrial point sources of Al-rich process water. Today the environmental effects of aluminium are mainly a result of acidic precipitation; acidification of catchments leads to increased Al- concentrations in soil solution and freshwaters. Large parts of both the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are affected.In the aquatic environment, aluminium acts as a toxic agent on gill-breathing animals such as fish and invertebrates, by causing loss of plasma- and haemolymph ions leading to osmoregulatory failure. In fish, the inorganic (labile) monomeric species of aluminium reduce the activities of gill enzymes important in the active uptake of ions. Aluminium seems also to accumulate in freshwater invertebrates. Dietary organically complexed aluminium, maybe in synergistic effects with other contaminants, may easily be absorbed and interfere with important metabolic processes in mammals and birds.The mycorrhiza and fine root systems of terrestrial plants are adversely affected by high levels of inorganic monomeric aluminium. As in the animals, aluminium seems to have its primary effect on enzyme systems important for the uptake of nutrients. Aluminium can accumulate in plants. Aluminium contaminated invertebrates and plants might thus be a link for aluminium to enter into terrestrial food chains.     

中国南方雨雪冰冻灾害受损森林植被研究进展

2008年年初我国南方遭受了一场极为罕见的大范围持续低温雨雪冰冻极端气候灾害,这场灾害给我国人民的生产生活造成了重大损失,其中,林业受损尤为严重。我国学者针对受损森林生态系统进行了多方面的调查与研究。对现有的调查研究工作进行综述,重点概述了森林结构、功能和经济效益的受损状况,总结了天气条件、地理因素、树种及其生长情况,分析了林分特征等方面的森林受损机制以及受损森林的恢复与重建对策,对现有的研究在内容、水平及方向上的不足之处提出建议,以期对未来的相关研究提供帮助。     

2008年初特大冰雪灾害对粤北地区杉木（Cunninghamia lanceolata）人工林土壤理化性质的影响

2008年8月,选择具有代表性的样地（受冰雪灾害较轻、受到冰雪灾害影响、受到冰雪灾害后皆伐清理样地）,用野外调查和室内分析相结合的方法,对广东省天井山林场杉木人工林土壤理化性质进行分析。结果表明：（1）粤北地区杉木人工林在受到冰雪灾害后,0-60 cm的土壤容重比未受到损害的上升8.1%-16.4%,孔隙度下降8.9%-11.9%,自然含水量减少17.1%-28.6%,皆伐清理后,土壤容重比未受到损害的下降1.5%~9.5%;孔隙度上升1.2%~5.9%,自然含水量增加44.2%~68.1%。（2）受损后,土壤pH值未发生变化,浅层（0-40 cm）有机质质量分数比未损样地下降（1.3%-9.4%）,深层（〉40 cm）有机质质量分数提高30.5%;各层土壤全氮、全磷、有效氮、有效磷和有效钾质量分数分别下降13.4%、30.3%、16.7%、37.6%和37.2%,全钾质量分数上升21.0%,且与未损样地的差异显著;土壤交换性钙和交换性镁大幅减少,分别为28.1%和43.4%。进行皆伐清理后,有机质质量分数比未损样地提高207.9%,土壤全氮、全钾、有效氮和有效磷质量分数升高138.7%、10.2%、161.3%和540.0%,全磷、有效钾、交换性钙和交换性镁的质量分数下降2.6%、9.0%、28.7%和24.3%,各土层变化不一致。（3）冰雪灾害的发生使杉木人工林林下土壤紧实度增加,不利于土壤呼吸、空气传导和土壤养分的累积;而经过清理后,土壤变得较为疏松,通透性增强,含水量增加,有利于土壤团粒结构的增强、土壤微生物活动和土壤养分的累积及转化。因此,冰雪灾害后对受损林地进行及时的清理对植被恢复重建尤为重要。     

Analytik von Umwandlungsprodukten des Schwefellosts (S-LOST)

The results of investigations of the aquatic ecotoxicity of sternutators and their metabolites (phenyl arsenic compounds) are presented. The standardized luminescence inhibition test (LumisTox, Dr. Lange) with the marine bacteriaVibrio fischeri was applied according to the German norm DIN 38412, part 34. All investigated organic AS(III) compounds exhibit EC₅₀-values (50 % inhibition of the luminescence) of less than 1 mg/l, whereas all investigated organic As(V) compounds and inorganic arsenic show EC₅₀-values exceeding 100 mg/l     

Inorganic element uptake by barley from soil supplemented with flue-gas desulphurisation waste and fly-ash

Fresh snow and streamwater samples were collected on a daily basis throughout the winter and spring periods of 1984 and 1985 at a remote, upland catchment located within the Cairngorm Mountains, Scotland. Laboratory based partial-melt experiments undertaken on the snow samples demonstrated that both fractionation and preferential elution of trace-elements occur during melting, with the concentrations being 1.3 to 5.4 times greater than in the first 10 percent meltwater fractions than in the bulk snow (Abrahamset al., in press). At the onset of snowpack melting, the ions may be mobilised and redistributed within the snow profile, concentrating at depths from where they may be quickly removed during the early spring run-offf. The raised major- (Ca, Mg, Na, Cl, NO3 and SO4) and trace-element (Al, Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn and Pb) concentrations recorded in the streamwaters during the acid-flush episodes at the time of the first major periods of snow-melt, reflect both the meltwater composition and the influence of the catchment soils (Abrahamset al., submitted for publication). Differences in streamwater chemistry during the two periods of snow-melt which were studies can probably be related to the fact that snow-melt occurs under a variety of circumstances with significant variations in the sequence of precipitation, melt-events, temperature and snowcover occurring from year to year, even in the same catchment. The high concentrations of Al (up to 330 g L^–1) in the sireamwaters at the time of snow-melt, probably reflect leaching of this element from the soil. These elevated concentrations, in combination with other streamwater parameters, may prove toxic to aquatic life-forms at this time of year.     

富硒藻类研究进展

微量元素硒不仅是人和动物必需的营养元素,也是植物生长发育不可缺少的元素。硒酸盐在水体中溶解度高于其他环境介质,导致水生生物对无机硒(硒酸盐)有更高的利用率。藻类能吸收无机硒,可将无机硒有效地转化为有机形态。藻体内的硒主要以硒蛋白、硒核酸、硒多糖等生物大分子以及硒代半胱氨酸和硒代蛋氨酸等生物小分子有机化合物存在。在水生生态系统中,藻类是硒的主要吸收者。富硒藻类通过食物链将硒传递至浮游动物、贝和鱼等动物体内,能提高其抗氧化能力,从而导致其对重金属耐受性增强。本文综述了藻类在自然界硒生物有机化中的地位和作用,藻类对硒的富集方式及代谢途径,硒在藻类中的生物学效应,富硒藻类的开发利用现状及今后的发展方向,较全面地综述了富硒藻类研究进展。     

Removal of melanoidin present in distillery effluent as a major colorant: a review

Effluent originating from distilleries contain large amount of dark brown coloured wastewater called molasses spent wash (MSW). This MSW is the unwanted residual liquid waste to dispose because of low pH, high temperature, dark brown colour, high ash content, unpleasant odour and high percentage of organic and inorganic matter. Dark brown colour of MSW is due to the presence of melanoidin pigment. It reduces sunlight penetration in rivers and lakes which in turn decrease both photosynthetic activity and dissolved oxygen concentration affecting aquatic life. So the disposal of this effluent is one of the critical environmental issues. A number of treatment processes have been employed for the distillery waste management. This review paper present an overview of the pollution problems caused by melanoidin and the technologies employed globally for its removal.     

The hydrolytic products of aluminum and their biological significance

The relative distribution of Al between its various organic and inorganic complexes dictates its mobility in the environment, bioavailability, and toxicity. In recent years, there has been significant progress made in understanding the differential bioavailability and toxicity of various chemical species of Al to plants and certain aquatic organisms. Far less information concerning chemical speciation and differential uptake and transport of Al in humans is available. Among the important inorganic complexes of interest are the hydrolyzed-Al species, particularly the nonequilibrium, metastable polynuclear complexes, which form readily, have a fairly wide stability range, and have been demonstrated toxic to plants and fish. In recent years²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy has provided significant direct information on the polynuclear complexes existing in a wide range of aqueous solutions. The [Al₁₂O₄(OH)_24+n(H₂O)_12–n]^(7–n)+ polynuclear complex is often found to be the predominant species in partially neutralized Al solutions and has recently been demonstrated to be more toxic to certain plants than the hexaaqua Al cation. It is also the principal component of Al-chlorohydrate, a highly soluble antiperspirant, present in many hydrolyzed Al solutions utilized in water and waste water treatment, and, as hypothesized herein, a primary constituent of many hydroxide gels utilized as antacids. This polynuclear has a wide pH stability range, reportedly forms copolynuclears with Si, and contains tetrahedrally coordinated Al within its structure, all features that may be relevant to the recently reported properties of Al associated with neuritic plaque cores.     

重金属对水生生物的生态毒理效应及生物耐受机制研究进展

近年来,随着国民经济的快速发展,重金属以其特有的性质而被大量的应用于生产生活当中,同时也由于各种原因造成了水体重金属污染现象。水体重金属污染不仅对水生生物的生长和繁殖造成了严重的威胁,同时也威胁到人类的健康。因此,重金属污染具有潜在的生态与健康风险。本文主要概括介绍了重金属对水生植物、动物、微生物的生态毒理效应以及水生生物对重金属的各种耐受机制,展望了重金属对水生生物生态毒理效应的未来研究重点和方向。     

沉积物中汞的甲基化研究进展

汞是环境中存在的一种重要污染物质,其毒性与之化学形态密切相关。环境中的汞主要以无机汞形态存在,然而无机汞可以通过甲基化作用转化为毒性更强的甲基汞,从而给受到暴露的生物及人类带来更高的健康风险。沉积物是汞在水生环境系统中的主要分布相,也是无机汞甲基化过程发生的主要场所。沉积物中汞的甲基化过程受到生物种类、汞的生物可利用性等生物因素及温度、含硫化合物、有机质、氧化还原条件等环境理化性质的影响。本文对汞在沉积物中甲基化过程的作用机制及其影响因素的研究现状及最新进展进行了总结,并对未来更深入的研究进行了展望。     

Detection and removal of heavy metal ions: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - In aqueous systems, heavy metal ions, when present in excess than permissible limits, are dangerous for human beings and aquatic life. Heavy metals cannot be...     

我国铜的淡水生物水质基准研究

铜是生命体必需的一种微量元素,当铜的浓度超过一定范围时,又会对机体产生一定的毒害作用.为了有效控制铜给水生生物带来的不利影响,亟需开展铜的水质基准研究工作.以我国淡水生态系统为保护对象,收集和筛选了淡水水体中的生物物种和相应的毒性数据.用评价因子法、毒性百分数排序法和物种敏感度分布法分别推导了我国铜的淡水生物水质基准....     

汞在海洋浮游植物中的生物累积和毒性效应

浮游植物是海洋生态系统的主要初级生产者,同时作为食物也是许多水生生物摄取汞的主要途径。本文综述了近年来汞在海洋浮游植物中的最新研究进展,包括汞在浮游植物中的吸收、累积规律及其影响因素,汞对浮游植物的毒性效应(生长抑制、光合作用影响)以及生物的适应机制(汞的还原、螯合解毒、矿化固定等),最后对浮游植物中汞累积和毒性的未来研究方向进行了展望。     

Managing water for life

Water is essential for life. In spite of the entire engineering infrastructure devoted to the treatment, regulation and beneficial uses of water, occasionally sufficient quantities and qualities of water become scarce. When this happens, just how do we decide how much less water to allocate to all of us and the activities we engage in to sustain and enhance our quality of life? This paper addresses some of the complexities of answering such a question, especially as society increasingly recognizes the need to provide flow regimes that will maintain healthy aquatic and floodplain ecosystems that also impact the economic, physical and even the spiritual quality of our lives. For we depend on these ecosystems to sustain our wellbeing. We are indeed a part of our ecosystems. We depend upon on aquatic ecosystems to moderate river flow qualities and quantities, reduce the extremes of floods and droughts, reduce erosion, detoxify and decompose waterborne wastes, generate and preserve flood plain soils and renew their fertility, regulate disease carrying organisms, and to enhance recreational benefits of river systems. This question of deciding just how much water to allocate to each water user and for the maintenance of viable aquatic ecosystems, especially when there is not enough, is a complex, and largely political, issue. This issue is likely to become even more complex and political and contentious in the future as populations grow and as water quantities and their qualities become even more variable and uncertain.     

Modeling outcomes of approaches to sustained human and snow leopard coexistence

The snow leopard (Uncia uncia) is in danger of extinction. Killing to protect livestock is among the primary causes of its decline. Efforts to mitigate this threat have focused on balancing the need to conserve the snow leopard with the needs of local people in snow leopard habitat, many of whom rely on raising livestock for their livelihoods. Conservation of the snow leopard has the characteristics of a public good, and outside funding is required to support conservation efforts. There are 5 commonly discussed approaches to resolving this issue: (1) direct payments for conservation, (2) investments in protection from predation, (3) damage compensation payments, (4) investments in better livestock husbandry, and (5) leases of pastureland for wild prey. After a review of these 5 conservation strategies, an economic–ecologic model, which includes the interactions between the snow leopard, its wild prey, and livestock, is used to evaluate the 2 most promising conservation strategies. The model reveals that investments in protection from predation and leases of pastureland for wild prey are effective but only in delaying the eventual extinction of the snow leopard. To preserve the snow leopard, these approaches must be applied more aggressively and new ones explored.     

Differential effects of energy and mass influx on the landscape synchrony of lake ecosystems

Interannual variation of 45 annually resolved time series of environmental, limnological, and biotic parameters was quantified (1994-2009) in six lakes within 52,000 km2 to test the hypothesis that influx of energy (E; as irradiance, heat, wind) varies synchronously among sites and induces temporal coherence in lakes and their food webs, whereas influx of mass (m; as water, solutes, particles) reduces synchrony because local catchments uniquely modify hydrologic inputs. Overall, 82% of parameters exhibited significant (P < 0.05) synchrony (S) estimated as mean pair-wise correlation of Z-transformed time series. Influx of E as atmospheric heat and irradiance was both more highly synchronous and less temporally variable (months-to-decades) than influx of m as summer precipitation, snow, or river discharge. Similarly, S of limnological parameters varied from 0.08 to 0.85, with variables known to be regulated by E influx (ice melt, gas solubility) up to twofold more coherent than those regulated by m inputs (organic solutes). Pairs of variables linked by simple direct mechanisms exhibited similar S values (air temperature and ice melt, nutrients and algae), whereas the coherence of other parameters (water temperature, mixing) was intermediate to that of multiple regulatory agents. Overall, aggregate measures of plankton density varied more coherently among lakes than did constituent taxa. These findings suggest that environmental variability is transmitted to most levels of aquatic ecosystems, but that the precise effects depend on whether E or m fluxes predominate, the coherence of each forcing mechanism, and the strength of linkages between exogenous forcing and lake response.