Neutron-activation analysis of the elementary composition of the marine phanerogamPosidonia oceanica from a reference area in Port Cros National Park (French Mediterranean)

The marine phanerogamPosidonia oceanica (L.) Delile was collected from a presumably unpolluted reference area in Port Cros National Park, Mediterranean Sea, in November 1985, and its elemental composition was studied by gamma spectrometry after neutron activation and by atomic-absorption spectrophotometry. Neutron-activation analysis revealed 23 elements and atomic-absorption spectrophotometry 4 others. Including all known records by other investigators, this brings the total of elementary components identified inP. oceanica up to 42: antimony, arsenic, barium, bromine, cadmium, cesium, calcium, carbon, cerium, chromium, cobalt, copper, europium, gold, hafnium, hydrogen, iodine, iron, lanthanum, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, rubidium, samarium, scandium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, terbium, thorium, uranium, ytterbium, zinc, zirconium. These elements display significant differences in their distribution in the various parts of the plant (roots, rhizomes, and growing and freshly budded leaves).     

Risk assessment of potentially toxic elements in smaller than 100-μm street dust particles from a valley-city in northwestern China

Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn and Mo) in smaller than 100-μm street dust particles from Xining, a typical valley-city in northwestern China, were determined using X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and their potential risks to local ecosystem and human health were assessed using potential ecological risk index and health risk model. The results indicate that the concentration of As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sr, V, Zn and Mo in the smaller than 100-μm street dust particles from Xining ranges from 0.8 to 11.1, 339.4 to 767.7, 27.2 to 110.2, 185.7 to 5134.5, 15.1 to 115.2, 150.1 to 623.5, 16.8 to 74.1, 24.4 to 233.0, 169.9 to 475.7, 47.4 to 96.8, 33.1 to 231.1 and 0.2 to 4.3 mg kg^?1, with an arithmetic mean of 3.6, 415.6, 50.1, 573.0, 40.6, 409.1, 22.6, 52.7, 257.8, 57.1, 108.6 and 2.5 mg kg^?1, respectively. Compared to the background value of local soil, the smaller than 100-μm street dust particles from Xining have elevated concentrations of Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sr and Mo. The contamination levels of Ba, Co, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Sr and Mo are higher than As, Mn, Ni and V. The comprehensive potential ecological risk levels of PTEs were moderate to considerable. The non-carcinogenic risks of PTEs studied on children and adults due to dust exposure are limited except for Cr to children. Cr in the dust may pose a potential health risk to children; this should draw more attention.     

Book reviews

PROGRESS IN ENVIRONMENTAL MUTAGENESIS AND CARCINOGENESIS, PROGRESS IN MUTATION RESEARCH, VOLUME 2, by A. Kappas, Biology Department, Nuclear Research Center Democritus, Athens (Greece), 205 pages (including 49 tables, 69 figures, concluding remarks of 3 pages, and a subject index of 3 pages), linen, format 246×171 mm, ISBN 0–444–80334–3, Elsevier/North‐Holland, Biomedical Press, Amsterdam 1981, USS 76.50, hfl. 180.00

CHEMICAL MUTAGENESIS, HUMAN POPULATION MONITORING, AND GENETIC RISK ASSESSMENT, PROGRESS IN MUTATION RESEARCH, VOLUME 3, by K, C. Bora, G. R. Douglas and E. R. Nestmann, Environmental Health Directorate, Ottawa (Canada), 364 pages (including 103 tables, 45 figures, an appendix of seven pages with the Report of the WHO Consultation on Genetic Monitoring for Environmental Effects, and a subject index of 20 pages), linen, format 246 ×171 mm, ISBN 0–444–80352–1, Elsevier/North‐Holland, Biomedical Press, Amsterdam 1982 USS 80.75, hfl. 190.00.

AQUATIC TOXICOLOGY, Volume 1 of a Series, by Lavern J. Weber, Marine Science Center, Oregon State University, Newport, 238 pages (including 35 tables, 18 figures, and a subject index of 13 pages), linen, format 243 × 163 mm, ISBN 0–89004–439–2, Raven Press, New York 1982, US$ 36.72.

CARDIOVASCULAR TOXICOLOGY, TARGET ORGAN TOXICOLOGY SERIES, by Ethard W. van Stee, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, USA, 400 pages (including 17 tables, 58 figures, and a subject index of 12 pages), linen, format 243 × 163 mm, ISBN 0–89004–576–3, Raven Press, New York 1982, USS 61.20.     

Uncommon heavy metals,metalloids and their plant toxicity: a review

Heavy metals still represent a group of dangerous pollutants, to which close attention is paid. Many heavy metals are essential as important constituents of pigments and enzymes, mainly zinc, nickel and copper. However, all metals, especially cadmium, lead, mercury and copper, are toxic at high concentration because of disrupting enzyme functions, replacing essential metals in pigments or producing reactive oxygen species. The toxicity of less common heavy metals and metalloids, such as thallium, arsenic, chromium, antimony, selenium and bismuth, has been investigated. Here, we review the phytotoxicity of thallium, chromium, antimony, selenium, bismuth, and other rare heavy metals and metalloids such as tellurium, germanium, gallium, scandium, gold, platinum group metals (palladium, platinum and rhodium), technetium, tungsten, uranium, thorium, and rare earth elements yttrium and lanthanum, and the 14 lanthanides cerium, dysprosium, erbium, europium, gadolinium, holmium, lutetium, neodymium, promethium, praseodymium, samarium, terbium, thulium and ytterbium.     

Elemental concentrations in Jamaican peat

The peat of the Negril Morass in Western Jamaica was sampled at depths down to 7 m in directions parallel and perpendicular to the seashore, and the samples were analysed for Al, As, B, Br, Ca, Ce, Cl, Co, Cr, Cs, Dy, Eu, Fe, Hf, I, La, Mg, Mn, Na, Sb, Sc, Sm, Sr, Ti, U and V by instrumental neutron activation analysis and by spectrophotometry. The peat is high in ash content, but the concentrations of most elements are below crustal abundances and therefore provide no evidence of nearby mineralisation. The elemental concentrations indicate that no particular environmental hazards are to expected from the use of this peat in electricity generation.     

Geochemistry of the barkinite liptobiolith (Late Permian) from the Jinshan Mine,Anhui Province,China

This paper discusses the geochemistry and mineralogy of the barkinite liptobiolith of the Late Permian age from the Jinshan Mine, Guangde County, Anhui Province, China. Samples were examined using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometry, ion-selective electrode, sequential chemical extraction, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy-dispersive X-ray, and optical microscopy. The coal is a medium-ash and high-sulfur resource. Minerals in the coal are composed of kaolinite, pyrite, calcite, and quartz. Pyrite and calcite are derived from seawater during peat accumulation. Quartz in the coal is of authigenic origin. Part of the kaolinite is from a land-source region, and part occurs as cell-fillings and is of authigenic origin. The results also indicate that the barkinite liptobiolith contains some toxic elements in high concentrations. Elements including Li, Be, Si, Sc, Ti, V, Cr, Fe, Ga, Se, Y, Zr, Mo, the rare earth elements (REEs), W, Hg, Tl, Pb, Th, and U in the coals are enriched in the barkinite liptobiolith. Results of sequential chemical extraction showed that Li, Sc, Ti, Cr, Y, Zr, REEs, and Th in the coal mainly occur as silicates, while Be and W are related to organic matter. Pyrite is the dominant source of S, Mo, Hg, Tl, and Pb. Gallium only occurs in silicate, and U and V occur both in organic and silicate associations.     

Geochemical baselines of heavy metals in the sediments of two large freshwater lakes in China: implications for contamination character and history

The aim of this study was to estimate the geochemical baseline concentrations of various heavy metals in the surface sediments of two large freshwater lakes in Taihu and Dianchi, China, and to assess the character and history of heavy metal contamination around the two lakes. Heavy metal concentrations in the sediments were obtained by field surveys and were supplemented with published data. The statistical methods of cumulative frequency and normalization were employed to obtain the baselines. The respective baseline concentrations for As, Sb, Hg, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn were 9.92, 1.67, 0.14, 22.62, 100.56, 31.63, 31.97, 33.05 and 97.01?mg/kg, respectively, in Taihu, and 24.60, 4.29, 0.25, 36.78, 135.68, 90.05, 50.76, 73.56 and 208.76?mg/kg, respectively, in Dianchi. The baseline concentrations of these heavy metals in Lake Taihu were equivalent to the pre-industrial concentrations determined from lakes in Sweden and Europe. Conversely, those in Lake Dianchi were much higher than the pre-industrial values. Li, Fe, Sc, Ti, V and Al were found to be the suitable reference elements for normalization, and one of these elements could be used to predict the baseline concentrations of heavy metals except Hg. Most of the heavy metals had one inflexion, and only Cu and Pb in Taihu, Sb, Pb and Zn in Dianchi, were found to have two inflexions in the cumulative curves, suggesting remarkable anthropogenic inputs of Cu and Pb in Taihu, Sb, Pb and Zn in Dianchi, which are generally consistent with the respective industrial structure around Taihu and Dianchi.     

野生及养殖背角无齿蚌中元素的生物积累特征

作为建立渔业生态环境“淡水贝类观察”体系的基础研究之一,以宜兴养殖水域（N=7）和太湖三山岛自然水域（N=7）采集的背角无齿蚌（Anodonta woodiana）为对象,运用电感耦合等离子质谱仪测定了背角无齿蚌软组织中元素Na、K、Ca、Mg、Mn、Fe、Co、Ni、Se、Cu、Cr、Cd的质量分数范围,并对各种元素积累水平的差异进行比较研究。结果表明,两水域中背角无齿蚌对元素的积累高低顺序具有相似的趋势。其中Ca质量分数最高,Co、Cr的质量分数最低,其它元素界于其间。养殖蚌样中的常量元素Na、K、Ca、Mg和微量元素Mn、Co的积累质量分数高于或接近自然水域蚌样中的相应元素,但后者中的重金属元素Cr、Cu、Cd、Ni质量分数显著地高于前者。养殖水域蚌样中的Mg-K、Mg-Ca、Mg-Ni、Mg-Mn、K-Ca、K—Co、K．Mn、Ca—Co、Ca—Ni、Ca．Mn、Ni—Mn、Cr-Co、Cu-Cd以及自然水域蚌样中的Mg—K、Ca-Cr、Ca—Mn、Ca-Ni、Ca-Cd、Cr—Mn、Cr-Ni、Cr-Cd质量分数之间呈现显著的相关性。     

毒死蜱、马拉硫磷和氰戊菊酯对赤子爱胜蚓（Eisenia foetida）的急性毒性

采用滤纸接触法和土壤培养法研究了毒死蜱(Chlorpyrifos)、马拉硫磷(Malathion)和氰戊菊酯(Fenvalerate)对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia foetida)的急性毒性效应.滤纸接触法试验浓度分别设置为,毒死蜱:3.14、6.28、9.42、12.56、15.70、18.84μg·cm-2;马拉硫磷:3.10、6.20、12.40、18.60、24.80、31.40μg·cm-2;氰戊菊酯:0.31、0.62、1.24、1.86、2.48、3.14μg·cm-2.土壤培养法试验浓度分别设置为,毒死蜱:100、125、150、175、200、225、250mg·kg-1;马拉硫磷:350、400、450、500、550、600mg·kg-1;氰戊菊酯:20、30、40、50、60、70、80mg·kg-1.结果表明:采用滤纸接触法测得的各农药对蚯蚓48h的半数致死浓度(LC50)分别为毒死蜱12.26μg·cm-2、马拉硫磷19.61μg·cm-2、氰戊菊酯1.03μg·cm-2;采用土壤培养法测得的各农药对蚯蚓7d的LC50分别为毒死蜱427.67mg·kg-1、马拉硫磷742.53mg·kg-1、氰戊菊酯81.81mg·kg-1,14d的LC50分别为毒死蜱182.21mg·kg-1、马拉硫磷497.29mg·kg-1、氰戊菊酯37.46mg·kg-1.根据《化学农药环境安全评价试验准则》,这3种农药对蚯蚓的毒性均为低毒级.     

太湖水华蓝藻中元素的组成及其环境意义

利用电感耦合等离子质谱仪对2008年7、9和10月采自太湖南泉水域的水华蓝藻样本中19种元素(Na、Mg、K、Ca、Zn、Mn、Fe、Al、Cu、Cr、Co、Ni、As、Se、Mo、Ag、Tl、Cd和Pb)的质量含量(w)及组成变化进行研究。结果表明,在藻华中w较高(1 000μg.g-1,以干质量计)的常量元素或有益元素为Ca、K、Na、Mg、Al、Fe。其中,w(Ca)和w(K)较高(4 000μg.g-1),w(Ca)随月份变化不大,而w(K)、w(Mg)、w(Na)则逐月升高。w(Al)、w(Fe)变化较大,7月最高(1 000μg.g-1),之后迅速降低(400μg.g-1);藻华中w在10~100μg.g-1之间变化的元素为Mn、Zn、Ni、Cu,其中,7月这4种元素w均最高,9~10月则降低。藻华中还检出痕量元素Co、Mo和Se,Tl未检出。藻华中积累的有毒元素中w(As)较高(5~15μg.g-1),而w(Cr)、w(Cd)、w(Pb)、w(Ag)均较低(5μg.g-1)。有毒元素w最高值均出现在7月。基于上述结果,推算出2007—2009年采取物理方法除藻从太湖中移除的元素量约为:K595.89 t、Ca 544.03 t、Mg 181.18 t、Al 83.06 t、Na 63.97 t、Fe 55.45 t、Mn 2.99t、Zn 2.26 t、Ni 1.67 t、Cu 1.11 t、As 0.76 t、Cr 94.5 kg、Cd 82.70 kg、Se 45.01 kg、Pb 37.64 kg、Co 32.27 kg、Mo5.41 kg和Ag 2.46 kg。该研究不仅可为进一步寻找关键元素在蓝藻水华爆发过程中的限制作用及其机制提供基础数据,同时也可为评价利用物理除藻方法去除太湖中有毒元素和降低有可能促进藻华发展的营养元素的负荷量的有效性,从而保护和修复渔业环境提供理论依据。     

武汉月湖水体主要元素与浮游植物的PCA与CCA分析

通过2007年1—12月对武汉月湖不同的取样点进行监测,并选择汉江琴台段水域作为研究对照,调查了月湖水体硅藻、蓝藻与水体主要元素的种类,采用PCA、CCA分析法探讨了月湖水体硅藻、蓝藻与水体元素种类的关系。结果表明:月湖水体中所含元素全年监测出28种;汉江琴台段水域中所含元素全年监测出27种。经PCA分析表明,月湖水体中累计贡献率较大为磷(P)、砷(As)、铁(Fe)、铜(Cu)、锰(Mn);汉江琴台段水域累计贡献率较大为硅(Si)、锑(Sb)、镉(Cd)、钒(V)、钡(Ba)、Ag(银)、钼(Mo)。月湖水体中蓝藻密度大于硅藻,汉江琴台段水域硅藻密度大于蓝藻。经CCA分析表明,月湖硅藻密度与硒(Se)、锶(Sr)、银(Ag)、Ba、铝(Al)呈正相关关系;月湖蓝藻密度与P、Cu、铬(Cr)呈正相关关系,月湖蓝藻密度与镁(Mg)、镍(Ni)、钙(Ca)、锌(Zn)、硫(S)呈负相关关系。CCA分析中,汉江琴台段硅藻密度与铅(Pb)、硼(B)、As、Cr、Zn、Al、Cu、Mn、Fe、P呈负相关关系,汉江琴台段硅藻密度与Mo、Ca、钴(Co)、V、Sr、Ag呈正相关关系;汉江琴台段蓝藻密度与钠(Na)、S、Mg、Ni、钾(K)呈负相关关系。月湖水体缺乏可溶硅(dissolved silicon,DSi),硅藻会提升对其他元素(Se、Sr、Ag、Ba、Al)的吸收能力,这些元素会起到缺乏元素(Si)近似的作用,替代性可能出现。水中各种元素的组态是导致月湖浮游植物群落发生演变的重要原因之一。     

池塘养殖及野外移殖三角帆蚌元素积累的差异

以从湖北公安养殖池塘移殖到三峡库区童庄河自然水域试养1 a和仍在原池塘养殖的同1批次三角帆蚌(Hyriopsis cumingii)为对象,用电感耦合等离子质谱仪测定了2地三角帆蚌软组织中K、Mg、Ca、Fe、Zn、Mn、Cu、As、Al、Cr、Ni、Se、Mo、Ag、Cd、Ti、Pb 17种元素的含量.结果表明,虽然2水域中三角帆蚌软组织内各元素含量间的高低差异具有相似的趋势,体现了三角帆蚌对元素积累的特征,但自然水域蚌中有9种元素的水平高于养殖水域,提示不同栖息环境背景对元素的积累水平能产生重要影响.自然水域单个三角帆蚌体内软组织中元素积累的平均负荷量普遍高于养殖池塘的个体,提示三角帆蚌具有显著的元素吸收、净化能力.本研究为今后通过大规模移殖双壳贝类来监测自然水域元素污染提供了依据.     

Relationship between heavy metal concentrations of herbaceous plants and soils at four Pb-Zn mining sites in Yunnan, China

This paper studied the relationship between heavy metal concentrations of herbaceous plants and soils at four Pb-Zn mining sites in Yunnan, China. 50 herbaceous plant samples of 9 plant species from 4 families and 50 soil samples were collected and then ana1yzed for the tota1 concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn. The results showed that the average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn in soil samples were 3772.83, 168.81, and 5385.65 mg/kg, respectively. The average concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn were 395.68, 28.14, and 1664.20 mg/kg in the shoots, and 924.12, 57.25, and 1778.75 mg/kg in the roots, respectively. Heterospecific plants at the same site and conspecific plants at various sites had different average levels of Pb, Cd, and Zn, both in the shoots and the roots. Enrichment coefficients of Pb, Cd, and Zn were greater than 1 in 2, 3, and 9 herbaceous plant samples, respectively. Translocation factors of Pb, Cd, and Zn were greater than 1 in 10, 17, and 25 herbaceous plant samples, respectively. In all 50 samples, the concentrations of Pb, Cd, and Zn between the shoots and the roots, the shoots, and the soils, and the roots and the soils had significant positive relationships.     

Ecological and human health risks from metal(loid)s in peri-urban soil in Nanjing,China

In order to investigate the ecological and human health risks of metal(loid)s (Cu, Pb, Zn, Ni, Cd, Mn, Cr, and As) in peri-urban soils, 43 surface soil samples were collected from the peri-urban area around Nanjing, a megacity in China. The average contents were 1.19, 67.8, 37.6, 105, 167, 44.6, 722, and 50.8 mg kg^?1 for Cd, Cr, Ni, Pb, Zn, Cu, Mn, and As, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, and As (p < 0.01), and Cr had a significant positive correlation with Ni (p < 0.01). Geoaccumulation indices indicate the presence of Cd and As contamination in all of the peri-urban soil samples. Potential ecological risk indices show that the metal(loid)s in the soil could result in higher ecological risks. Cd is the main contributor to the risk, followed by As. The levels of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, Mn, and As in stomach and intestinal phases show a positive linear correlation with their total contents. Mn, Zn, Ni, Cd, and Pb in stomach phase showed higher bioaccessibility, while in intestinal phase, Cu, Cr, and As had the higher bioaccessibility. The carcinogenic risk in children and adults posed by As, Pb, and Cr via ingestion was deemed acceptable. The non-carcinogenic risks posed by these metal(loid)s via ingestion to children are higher than to adults and mainly result from As.     

Some characteristics of the distribution of heavy metals in urban topsoil of Xuzhou,China

An assessment is presented of distribution characteristics of heavy metals in the urban topsoil from the city of Xuzhou. The concentrations of Ag, Al, As, Au, Ba, Be, Bi, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ga, Hg, Li, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Pd, Pt, Sb, Sc, Se, Sn, V and Zn have been determined from 21 soil samples. Examination of lognormal distribution plots indicates that the diagrams of Al, Be, Fe, Ga, Li, and V are almost linear suggesting that these metals are almost unaffected by anthropogenic activities while the plots for As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Pd, Pt, Se, Zn and others are not linear probably due to anthropogenic activities from which these metals are delivered to the soils. Al is used for mineralogical normalization of these data. An evaluation of background values for topsoil is also carried out by means of lognormal distribution plots. The results show our background values obtained from the lognormal distribution plots are comparable to those values of uncontaminated soils of Xuzhou obtained by previous work except for Cd and Hg. At present, no explanation for the exceptions Cd and Hg can be given.     

土壤重金属X射线荧光光谱非标样测试方法研究

采用粉末压片制样,用X射线荧光光谱非标样测试方法测定土壤中Ti、V、Cr、Mn、Fe、Ni、Cu、Zn、Ga、As、Cd、Sn、Sb、Pb、Hg等15种重金属元素。研究了样品制备方法和元素测量条件等影响测试准确度的因素。结果表明此方法不需对固体样品进行消化处理,无需制备标准样片,快速、简便、效率高,是一种非破坏性的分析方法,方法的检出限、准确度和精密度基本能够满足土壤中有毒有害重金属的快速筛查要求。     

A contribution to the distribution of some chemical elements inMolinia caerulea andEriophorum vaginatum during reinstatement of the Leegmoor,Emsland, FRG

The concentrations of Ag, Al, Ba, Be, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, K, La, Li, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, P, Pb, Rb, Sr, Ti, V and Zn were determined by AES/ICP inMolinia caerulea andEriophorum vaginatum grown in the Leegmoor, which is in reinstatement. In the soil substrate analytical detection limits were obtained for Ag, Co, Li, Mo and Rb and additionally for Al, Be, Cd, Cr, La, Li, Ni, Pb, Ti and V in plants. Compared with mineral soils, the concentration of elements in peat is low. The elements K and P were enriched byMolinia caerulea andEriophorum vaginatum, and in addition Mn and Zn byEriophorum vaginatum. Altogether the ability of accumulation essential elements seem to be more efficient byEriophorum vaginatumthan byMolinia caerulea, which can be an ecophysiological advantage on peats, whereMolinia caerulea is normally not distributed.     

3 forest simulation model

The 3 forest simulation model is a process model of tree growth, carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a single-species, even-aged forest stand. It is based on the model. Major changes include the computation of sun angle and radiation as a function of latitude and day of the year, the closed-form integration of canopy production as a function of day and hour, the introduction of tree number, height, and diameter as separate state variables, and different growth strategies, mortalities, and resulting self-thinning as function of crowding competition.The tree/soil system is described by a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the state variables: tree number, base diameter, tree height, wood biomass, nitrogen in wood, leaf mass, fine root mass, fruit biomass, assimilate, carbon and nitrogen in litter, carbon and nitrogen in soil organic matter, and plant-available nitrogen. The model includes explicit formulations of all relevant ecophysiological processes such as: computation of radiation as a function of seasonal time, daytime and cloudiness, light attenuation in the canopy, and canopy photosynthesis as function of latitude, seasonal time, and daytime, respiration of all parts, assimilate allocation, increment formation, nitrogen fixation, mineralization, humification and leaching, forest management (thinning, felling, litter removal, fertilization etc.), temperature effects on respiration and decomposition, and environmental effects (pollution damage to photosynthesis, leaves, and fine roots). Only ecophysiological parameters which can be either directly measured or estimated with reasonable certainty are used. 3 is a generic process model which requires species- and site-specific parametrization. It can be applied to deciduous and coniferous forests under tropical, as well as temperate or boreal conditions.The paper presents a full documentation of the mathematical model as well as representative simulation results for spruce and acacia.     

treedyn3 forest simulation model

The treedyn3 forest simulation model is a process model of tree growth, carbon and nitrogen dynamics in a single-species, even-aged forest stand. It is based on the treedyn model. Major changes include the computation of sun angle and radiation as a function of latitude and day of the year, the closed-form integration of canopy production as a function of day and hour, the introduction of tree number, height, and diameter as separate state variables, and different growth strategies, mortalities, and resulting self-thinning as function of crowding competition.The tree/soil system is described by a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations for the state variables: tree number, base diameter, tree height, wood biomass, nitrogen in wood, leaf mass, fine root mass, fruit biomass, assimilate, carbon and nitrogen in litter, carbon and nitrogen in soil organic matter, and plant-available nitrogen. The model includes explicit formulations of all relevant ecophysiological processes such as: computation of radiation as a function of seasonal time, daytime and cloudiness, light attenuation in the canopy, and canopy photosynthesis as function of latitude, seasonal time, and daytime, respiration of all parts, assimilate allocation, increment formation, nitrogen fixation, mineralization, humification and leaching, forest management (thinning, felling, litter removal, fertilization etc.), temperature effects on respiration and decomposition, and environmental effects (pollution damage to photosynthesis, leaves, and fine roots). Only ecophysiological parameters which can be either directly measured or estimated with reasonable certainty are used. treedyn3 is a generic process model which requires species- and site-specific parametrization. It can be applied to deciduous and coniferous forests under tropical, as well as temperate or boreal conditions.The paper presents a full documentation of the mathematical model as well as representative simulation results for spruce and acacia.     

Assessment of physico-chemical properties and metal contents of water and sediments of Bodo Creek,Niger Delta,Nigeria

Some physico-chemical properties and the concentrations of the metals Fe, Mn, Ni, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Pb, and Zn in water and sediments were examined from September 2011 to January 2012 in Bodo Creek, where oil spills have been recurrent. Temperature, pH, total dissolved solid, conductivity, salinity, dissolved oxygen, biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total hardness, sulfate, nitrate, and phosphate were determined in surface water. Particle size, total organic matter (TOM), and pH were also determined in the sediments. The parameters were within permissible limits except the mean values of BOD, COD, total hardness, and sulfate that exceeded levels permissible for domestic use. The sediments consisted mainly of sand, with TOM ranging from 0.2% to 5.5%. With the exception of cadmium that was below detection limit, metal levels (mg kg^?1) in the sediments were 12 (Mn), 1070 (Fe), 10 (Cu), 10 (Zn), 5.3 (Cr), 1.1 (Pb), 1.0 (Ni), and 0.5 (Co) while in water they were 24, 98, 21, 6.9, 4.0, 0.6, 0.18, and 0.16, respectively. The latter were higher than World Health Organization recommended permissible levels for both surface and drinking water.